Services A-Z
Meeting of General Purposes on Monday, the 21st March 2022
At Wallingford Town Hall at 7.30pm
Those Present: The Mayor, Councillor Harris
Councillors Beatty, Beauchamp, Cattermole, Gibbon, Holder, Hughes, Keats- Rohan, Kidley, Lester, Newcombe, and Whelan
In Attendance: The Town Clerk/RFO, Miss Michelle Taylor, Senior Officer/ Minute Taker, Mr Tracey Collins
Public Attendance: There were no members of the public present
634/21.THE CHAIRMAN TO ADVISE THOSE IN ATTENDANCE OF THE PROTOCOL FOR THE MEETING
The Mayor, Councillor Harris, advised attendees of standard meeting protocol
635/21.APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Councillors Holford, McGregor and Sinkinson
636/21.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)
No interests were declared
637/21. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS
- To trial a new TEAMS recording system at the next Full Council meeting to allow members of the public to view Councils meeting online
- Congratulations were given to Councillor Beatty for all his hard work in allocating the grant funding of £102,000 for the Agatha Christie project for the town
- Thanks were given to Councillor Beauchamp, Councillor Holder and Jacqui Coker-Local Government Officer for their help with Wallingford’s annual litter pick over the weekend
- An update was given on the opening of the Castle Gardens, which is in process and on track for the appointed opening date of 1st April 2022
638/21.MINUTES
To adopt the minutes of the following committee meetings held in 2020/2021, copies previously signed as a correct record and circulated to Councillors:
Extraordinary 07/03/2022 Pages 204 – 205
RESOLUTION REQUIRED
It was proposed by Councillor Kidley, seconded by Councillor Hendrie and RESOLVED THAT the minutes from the extraordinary meeting of Full Council on the 7th March 2022 as set out on pages 204 -205 are a true and accurate record of that meeting, and the Chairman is authorised to sign them
639/21.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
There was no public participation
640/21. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Members to note the reports from County Councillor Peter Sudbury, and District Councillors George Levy and Sue Roberts
Members noted District Councillor Robert’s report, which was previously circulated
641/21. BILLS SCHEDULES
Members to receive and approve the bills schedules from January and February 2022; previously circulated
RESOLUTION REQUIRED
It was proposed by Councillor Whelan, seconded by Councillor Keats-Rohan and RESOLVED THAT the Bills Schedules for January and February 2002 be approved
642/21. APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES
Members to approve the updated schedule (previously circulated)
RESOLUTION REQUIRED
It was proposed by Councillor Kidley, seconded by Councillor Beauchamp and RESOLVED THAT the appointments to outside bodies be updated to include Councillor Gibbon to join the Carnival Committee
643/21. WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL STRATEGY UPDATE
Members to receive an update from the Mayor
Thanks was given to Councillor Holder for all his assistance to date on this project and the Mayor announced stage two of the process is due to commence, of which will involve the wider community such as the local Council’s and school’s to gage their views and visions for the Town for the 10 year plan. Councillor Harris announced Wallingford School had been approached to involve sixth formers within the project to draft the plan to be taken to Council for discussion
644/21. GRANT APPLICATIONS
Members to discuss the following Grant Applications and to note that the remaining Grant Allocation for the financial year is £750.00:
- (a) Wallingford Accessible Boat Club
- (b) Life Education Wessex & Thames Valley
- (c) Oxfordshire Play Association
It was proposed by Councillor Keats-Rohan, seconded by Councillor Hendrie and RESOLVED THAT the Life Education Bus would receive £200 as requested, the Wallingford Accessible Boat Club and Oxfordshire Play Association would receive £275 each.
645/21. ELECTION OF MAYOR FOR 2022/2023 MUNICIPAL YEAR
Council to elect a Mayor for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year. Candidates to be proposed and seconded followed by a vote.
RESOLUTION REQUIRED
One Councillor had put himself forward to be elected as Mayor for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year.
It was Proposed by Councillor Cattermole, Seconded by Councillor Kidley that Councillor Marcus Harris be nominated as Mayor (2022/2023)
RESOLVED: THAT Councillor Marcus Harris is elected as Mayor for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year (Proposer Councillor Cattermole, Seconder Councillor Kidley)
646/21. FLYING THE UKRAINE FLAG
Members to discuss flying the Ukraine flag from the Town Hall
RESOLUTION REQUIRED
Members debated flying the flag at the Town Hall.
Councillor Beatty was against flying the Ukrainian flag, as he believes as a Council we should remain independent and follow the flag flying schedule that is agreed by Council as there are a number of other flags that are not flown
It was proposed by Councillor Lester, seconded by Councillor Hendrie and RESOLVED THAT the Ukrainian Flag would be flown for 2 weeks on its own and be put on the agenda thereafter to be discussed again
Councillor Beatty voted against the motion and Councillor Cattermole abstained from voting
647/21. JUBILEE UPDATE
Councillor Lester to give an update
Councillor Lester updated members of the preparations for the Queens Jubilee, outlining all events currently being organised to take place during the celebrations
648/21. CLIMATE EMERGENCY UPDATE
Councillor Keats-Rohan to give an update
Councillor Keats-Rohan announced this was an action update raising from an impact report reviewed on Wallingford Town’s carbon footprint.
Issues were covered of which arose from the report and explained how the community can get involved to help reduce the carbon footprint impact in their own individual ways
649/21. TOWN HALL ELECTRICAL REPAIRS
Local Government Officer to update members on the electrical repair works required in the Town Hall and budget required
(i) Refurbishment of light fittings in the main chamber, committee room and halls (report previously circulated)
(ii) Upgrade to consumer unit (report previously circulated)
RESOLUTION REQUIRED
(i)The Town Clerk informed members of the electrical works required to the light
fittings in the Town Hall. Councillors discussed the two options available, either replace the light fittings incurring a cost of up to £1500 per fitting or refurbish the current fittings costing approx. £2,800 in all
It was proposed by Councillor Beauchamp, seconded by Councillor Lester and RESOLVED THAT the light fittings in the Town Hall should be refurbished, budgeting up to £2,800 in all
(ii) Upgrade to consumer unit was deferred awaiting further information
650/21. WAR MEMORIAL RAILINGS
Members to discuss funding the pre-application with SODC for LBC/PP
RESOLUTION REQUIRED
Members discussed applying for Listed Building Consent/Planning Permission to put railings around the war memorial. It was agreed to spend up to £200 on a pre-application to SODC in the first instance to discuss with District Councillors Roberts and Levy to gain their support
It was proposed by Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor Hughes and RESOLVED THAT a pre-application is sought to see if Listed Building Consent/Planning Permission could be granted
Councillor Kidley abstained from voting
651/21. WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL- DESIGNATED ONLINE PAYMENT PAGE
Members to discuss expanding the way Wallingford Town Council receives payments for Council services and bookings (report previously circulated)
RESOLUTION REQUIRED
The Town Clerk informed Members of a new page that could be added to the website to help members of the public pay for things such as weddings, moorings, allotments, hanging baskets etc using worldpay there would be an annual cost of up to £540 per annum
It was proposed by Councillor Whelan, seconded by Councillor Beatty and RESOLVED THAT World Pay be added to the website to allow another payment method option
652/21.FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
– Upgrade to consumer unit in Town Hall
– Staff team building/volunteer days
– Music in the Castle Gardens
– Community Emergency Plan
– Reinstatement insurance quotes
– Market Place poles
– Triangle space adjacent to Kinecroft
– Councillor Beatty to report back after liaison with the Arts and Development Officer
– Update on Committees and Outside Bodies
– Twinning
– Jubilee update
– Wallingford Town Signs
– Elections 2023 – Councillor McGregor
– March/April 2022: Estates Portfolio Review
May 2022: Renaming and reshuffling of Committees to establish the Estates committee
The meeting ended at 8.50pm
