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General Purposes meeting on Monday 25th April 2022

Meeting of General Purposes on Monday, the 25th April 2022 at Wallingford Town Hall at 7.00pm

Those Present:

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Beauchamp

Councillors Beatty, Cattermole, Gibbon, Hendrie, Holder, Hughes, Kidley, Lester, Newcombe, and Whelan

In Attendance: The Town Clerk/RFO, Miss Michelle Taylor

Admin Officer, Mrs Jacqui Coker

Public Attendance: There were 10 members of the public present

621/21.THE CHAIRMAN TO ADVISE THOSE IN ATTENDANCE OF THE PROTOCOL FOR THE MEETING

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Beauchamp, advised attendees of standard meeting protocol

622/21.APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Councillors Harris, Holford, Keats-Rohan, McGregor, Newcombe and Sinkinson

623/21.DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

A Councillor with voting rights who has a disclosable pecuniary interest or another interest as set out in our Council’s Standing Orders code of Conduct (Item 13) in a  matter being considered at a meeting is subject to statutory limitations or restrictions under code of conduct and his right to participate and vote on the matter (guidelines are available and all Councillors have received a copy prior to the meeting)

Councillor Holder confirmed he would abstain from voting on item 9 due to his involvement in the process on behalf of the Town Council

624/21. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS

There was no news to communicate.

625/21.MINUTES

To adopt the minutes of the following committee meetings held in 2021/2022, copies previously circulated to Councillors:

General Purposes  21/03/2022     Pages 210-214

It was proposed by Councillor Lester, seconded by Councillor Kidley and RESOLVED THAT the minutes from the meeting of the General Purposes Committee be held on the 21st March 2022 as set out on pages 210-214, and amended with addition of Councillor’s Hendrie’s name on the list of those present, are a true and accurate record of that meeting, and the Chairman is authorised to sign them

626/21.PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – NOTIFIED

From Wallingford Town Council’s Standing Orders:

E) Members of the public may make representations, answer questions and give evidence at a meeting which they are entitled to attend in respect of the business on the agenda.

F) The period of time designated for public participation at a meeting in accordance  with standing order 3(E) above shall not exceed 15 minutes unless directed by the chairman of the meeting.

G) Subject to standing order 3(F) above, a member of the public shall not speak for more than10 minutes.

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting please email the Senior Administrator at senioradmin@wallingfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Three members of the public attended and spoke to the items minuted as 628/21 and 629/21.

627/21. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS

Members received a report from District Councillor Roberts which had been previously circulated.

628/21. COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW

Following the recommendation from the Planning Committee on the 22nd December 2021, minutes at 451/21 on pages 164-165 AND resolution from the  Full Council on the 10th January 2022, minuted at 462/21 on page 170:-

In accordance with number 7 and 9 of Wallingford Town Council’s Standing Orders and Financial Regulations this item was re-examined following a special motion sent to the Proper Officer by Councillor Whelan, Councillor Hendrie, Councillor Keats-Rohan and Councillor Kidley to review the boundary change request at Site A.

A member of the public attended and spoke to this item.

It was proposed by Councillor Hendrie, and seconded by Councillor Beatty, and

RESOLVED THAT the Council reverse its original recommendation in accordance  with number 7 and 9 of Wallingford Town Council’s Standing Orders and Financial Regulations

Councillor Hughes and Councillor Lester abstained.

629/21. COACH AND HORSES (KINECROFT) – HORSE CHESTNUT TREE UPDATE

The Committee discussed the application by Fullers Brewery for the long- standing horse chestnut tree, owned by the Council, and located immediately outside the pub, to be felled.

Two members of the public attended and spoke to this item.

It was proposed by Councillor Cattermole, and seconded by Councillor Whelan,  and

RESOLVED THAT that more definitive information be sought on the condition of the tree and on any structural movement in the pub’s building, before any firm decision is taken on remedial action.

630/21. QUARTER 3 ACCOUNTS

The Committee reviewed these accounts.

It was proposed by Councillor Lester, and seconded by Councillor Whelan, and

RESOLVED THAT the accounts for Quarter 3 be approved

631/21. TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE (TIC) YEAR-END REPORT

The Committee received the Quarter 4 and year-end statistics from Mrs Sue Ross of the Tourist Information Centre and thanked the staff for their work.

632/21. PARK FOREMAN’S REPORT

The Committee received the Park Foreman’s Report and in particular thanked Bryan Gibley for his 29 years of service, wishing him well for his         retirement, and thanked Councillor Holder for the significant contribution that he had been making.

633/21. FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY

The Committee considered the updated Film and Photography Policy.

It was proposed by Councillor Beatty and seconded by Councillor Holder, and

RESOLVED THAT the updated policy be approved.

634/21. TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS

The Committee considered its future pattern of meetings.

It was proposed by Councillor Lester, and seconded by Councillor Holder, and

RESOLVED THAT the Council revert back to its original timetable of meetings

635/21. WALLINGFORD ARTISAN MARKET PROPOSAL

The Committee considered a proposal for the establishment of a new market in in the town, a Wallingford Artisan Market.

It was proposed by Councillor Beatty, and seconded by Councillor Lester, and

RESOLVED THAT the proposal be approved.

Action: Office to go back to the applicant

636/21. REQUEST OF USE – WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL COAT OF ARMS

The Committee considered a request by the Army for the Coat of Arms to be used on a certificate and badge that they wished to issue to the Mayor’s Cadet, to symbolise the partnership between the town and regiment as part of a wider initiative by the Army.

This would be in addition to the badge currently presented by the Council each year to the Mayor’s Cadet.

It was proposed by Councillor Lester, and seconded by Councillor Whelan, and

RESOLVED THAT the Army have permission to use the portcullis if the certificate and badge is issued by them, but for the Coat of Arms to be used, the certificate and badge would need to come from the Council

Actions:

  •             Councillor Holder to go back to the Rifles with the Council’s decision;
  •             Office to ensure that the retiring Mayor’s Cadet has received their badge

637/21. NOMINATIVE TRUSTEE FOR WALLINGFORD MUNICIPAL CHARITIES

It was proposed by Councillor Lester, and seconded by Councillor Whelan, and

RESOLVED THAT Mr B Tyrell continue his role as Nominative Trustee for the Wallingford Municipal Charities.

638/21. FLYING THE UKRAINE AND YEMEN FLAGS/UKRAINIAN REFUGEES SCHEME

The Committee considered the Council’s approach to the continued flying of the Ukrainian flag from the Town Hall.

It was proposed by Councillor Lester and seconded by Councillor Whelan, and

RESOLVED THAT the Ukrainian flag continue to be flown subject to the flag schedule and the holding of weddings.

Councillor Beatty voted against.

The Committee thanked Councillor Kidley for his continued to work in maintaining the flag schedule

The Committee discussed the involvement of local residents as part of the Ukrainian refugees scheme.

After discussion, no resolution was proposed for the flying of the Yemen flag.

639/21. CLIMATE EMERGENCY UPDATE

This item was deferred to the next meeting due to the absence of Councillor Keats-Rohan.

640/21. WALLINGFORD YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The Committee discussed the use of YouTube as an external communication channel for the Council, for example events and projects such as the Agatha Christie statue.

It was proposed by Councillor Holder and seconded by Councillor Cattermole, and

RESOLVED THAT the YouTube channel be re-initiated.

Action: Councillors Beatty and Holder to develop an editorial policy and bring it back to the next meeting of the Council.

641/21. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

It was proposed by Councillor Hendrie and seconded by Councillor Lester, and

RESOLVED THAT the press and public be excluded from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

The meeting ended at 8.50 p.m.