Councillors SJ Anderson, H Bettison, AR Bowlas, DGR Buckle, AB Douglas, GP Horsburgh, EI Hunter, JN Simpson, JE Smith, JW Stephenson and J Waterhouse.
44 IN ATTENDANCE :
Councillor A Hughes.
45 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor D McClymont.
46 1. MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF REFERENCE 1
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to agree the Membership and Terms of Reference for Town Committee for the ensuing year.
[Notes: (a) Councillor GM Elliott in the Chair for items 1 and 2 on the agenda; and (b) it was put to the meeting and resolved to amend the order of business by bringing forward Item 14: Seagulls, to follow Item 6: Minutes of the Town Committee Meeting held on 10th March 2004.]
43 2. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN 2
DECISION: (i) To elect Councillor J Waterhouse as Chairman of Town Committee for the ensuing year.
[Note: Councillor J Waterhouse in the Chair.]
44 3. ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN 2
DECISION: (i) To elect Councillor AR Bowlas as Vice-Chairman of Town Committee for the ensuing year.
45 4. DECLARATION OF INTEREST 2
[Notes : (i) Councillors H Bettison and GP Horsburgh declared an interest in Item 13: Requests for Financial Assistance.]
46 5. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME 3
No questions were received from members of the public.
47 6. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TOWN COMMITTEE HELD ON 10TH MARCH 2004 4
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of Town Committee held on 10th March 2004.
48 14. SEAGULLS 14
The Chairman invited Councillor AB Douglas, who had requested that this item be included on the agenda, to speak to the report.
Councillor Douglas requested that Members consider referring the matter to Policy (Environment) Committee with a view to a solution (or solutions) to the problems being caused by Herring Gulls in Berwick-upon-Tweed being identified, and suggested that these might include the introduction of a byelaw prohibiting the feeding of gulls and a cull of the birds.
DECISION: To refer the matter to Policy (Environment) Committee for consideration.
49 7. TOWN COMMITTEE BUDGET 2004/05 4
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to agree to carry forward to 2004/05 the earmarked reserve of £8,169.65.
50 8. ENVIRONMENTAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS 5
(a) Marygate Scheme
DECISION: To note the report
(b) A1 Safelink Campaign
In response to a question from Councillor Buckle concerning the form that the lobbying campaign would take, and the nature of the proposed publicity campaign, the Environmental Maintenance Manager advised that Border Visions had agreed to contribute £5,000 towards the cost of the campaign, which would be finalised after the summer recess.
DECISION: To note the report.
(c) Lady Jerningham’s Statue, Bankhill, Berwick-upon-Tweed
The Environmental Maintenance Manager reported that the Civic Society had advised that they would support the proposed application, to be made by Longridge Towers School, for Heritage Lottery Funding to meet the costs of remedial works to the statue.
DECISION: To note the report.
(d) Car Parking at Garden City, Castle Terrace and other areas in the proximity of Berwick Railway Station
The Environmental Maintenance Manager reported that Northumberland County Council had confirmed that improvement schemes would require traffic orders and that these schemes had been included in a programme of orders, but that no information had been provided as to when these orders might be made. Councillor GM Elliott had agreed to try and expedite the matter on behalf of Town Committee.
It was also reported that a scheme of improvements to the Railway Station Car Park was approved at Planning Committee on 1st June 2004. Discussions were ongoing with the Castlegate Area Residents Association (CARA) with a view to using an area to the north of the northbound platform as an extension to the car park and as a visitor centre focussing on Berwick Castle and environs.
The area would provide space for approximately 40-45 vehicles. GNER advised that they could not make a financial contribution towards any project costs because the east coast main line franchise was up for review.
Proposals for providing an additional tier of car parking at the Railway Station Car Park were in abeyance as a result of archaeological issues.
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to agree to receive a further progress report on this item at the October meeting of Town Committee.
(e) Car Parking at Dock Road, Tweedmouth
The Environmental Maintenance Manager reported that County Councillor MS Weightman had intimated that he would make a contribution from his small grants scheme allocation towards the cost of resurfacing and other works at Dock Road. Councillor JN Simpson proposed that Town Committee consider meeting the cost of additional picnic tables and benches, and that these be included in the improvement project.
DECISION: To note the report.
(f) Berwick Holiday Centre Extension
The Environmental Maintenance Manager reported that the owners of Berwick Holiday Centre were in the process of preparing a detailed proposal for the extension.
DECISION: To note the report.
(g) Coach Drop-Off Facilities in Berwick Town Centre
The Environmental Maintenance Manager reported that following discussions with coach operators, a drop-off point adjacent to Kwik-Save in Walkergate had been identified as the most suitable location for such a facility.
A detailed report seeking approval to formally consult on the proposal would be considered at a meeting of Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee on 16th June 2004.
DECISION: To note the report.
(h) Castlegate
The Environmental Maintenance Manager reported that Northumberland County Council had allocated £250,000 towards road improvement works in the Castlegate area. CARA had also bid for regeneration monies for improvement works (mainly to the streetscape) to compliment the road improvements. These would involve enhancing car parking provision and the area around the War Memorial.
A plan of the proposed improvement scheme was displayed at the meeting.
A formal consultation on the proposals would be held in The Maltings in mid-July.
Members were reminded that the NCC allocation had to be spent by 31st March 2005.
DECISION: To note the report.
51 9. DOG BINS 8
DECISIONS: (i) To request that the Environmental Health Unit be instructed to install dog bins at the following locations:
• Spittal – Commercial Road, at the junction with North Greenwich Road
• Edward – Seaview at the junction with Newfields (on the grassed area adjacent to the railway line); and
• Prior – Sunnyside Mews (avoiding any complications caused by proximity to underground cables);
The Borough Secretary reported that the foundations for the skatepark had been laid and that the structure would be erected during the week commencing 21st June 2004. Formal launch arrangements had still to be confirmed.
The contractors had agreed to erect a protective fence around the site to prevent unauthorised access until such time as the skatepark was ready for operational use.
DECISION: To note the report.
53 11. PUBLIC NOTICEBOARDS 11
DECISIONS: (i) To request that the Borough Secretary pursues the erection of public noticeboards at the following locations, subject to obtaining wayleave agreements:
• Edward Ward – in the car park of The Elizabethan public house, or outside the Highfields Store
• Elizabeth Ward – subject to discussions with CARA, in the Castlegate or Walkergate areas
• Prior Ward – at the Swan Centre for Leisure
• Seton Ward – at a location to be identified by the St. Boisil and St. Bartholomew’s Residents’ Association
• Spittal Ward – in the proximity of St. Paul’s Church;
(ii) to set a ceiling of £1,650 for expenditure on the proposed noticeboards; and (iii) to agree that the local Ward Member(s) be responsible for the maintenance and management of the information displayed within the noticeboards.
54 12. NEW REPRESENTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITIES OF BERWICK, TWEEDMOUTH AND SPITTAL 12
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to request that arrangements be made for the Steering Group to meet within the next 6 weeks to consider consultation proposals and a timetable for the process.
55 13. REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 14
DECISIONS: (i) To agree to contribute £250 towards the running costs of the annual Spittal Gala event; (ii) to request that a report be made by the Gala organisers explaining what the money was spent on, to the next meeting of Town Committee; and (iii) to request that a protocol for dealing with requests for financial assistance, based on the application process for Grants to Voluntary Organisations, be prepared by the Borough Secretary and reported on to the next meeting of Town Committee.
[Notes: (a) Having declared an interest, Councillors H Bettison, GP Horsburgh and JN Simpson left the meeting during consideration of the item set out above; and (b) Councillor AB Douglas left the meeting following consideration of the item set out above and did not return.]
56 15. VENUES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS OF TOWN COMMITTEE DURING 2004/05 15
DECISION: (i) To agree that Town Committee meetings will be held at the following venues during the 2004/05 municipal year:
• Thursday 28th October 2004 @ 6.00pm – Prior Park First School (subject to confirmation)
• Thursday 27th January 2005 @ 6.00pm – St Mary’s First School, Newfields
• Thursday, 21st April 2005 @ 6.00pm – St Paul’s Church Hall, Spittal (subject to confirmation)
