Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors GM Elliott, GP Horsburgh, D McClymont and JN Simpson.
289 DECLARATION OF INTEREST 1
[Notes : (i) Councillor AR Bowlas declared a personal but non-prejudicial interest in Item 10: Requests for Financial Assistance (ii) Councillor SJ Anderson declared a personal but non-prejudicial interest in Item 11: Crime, Disorder and Drugs Audit Report.]
290 2. MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF TOWN COMMITTEE HELD ON 15TH JUNE 2004 AND 9TH SEPTEMBER 2004 1
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meetings of Town Committee held on 15th June 2004 and 9th September 2004.
291 3. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME 1
No questions were received from members of the public.
292 4. LICENSING ACT 2003 2
In response to questions from Members, Senior Licensing Officer David Wilson agreed that Members of Town Committee who were also Members of the Licensing Committee would not be able to serve on the Licensing Committee when it considered an application which had been the subject of discussions at a meeting of Town Committee at which they had been present. Whilst theoretically this could lead to problems as five Members of Town Committee are also Members of the Licensing Committee, David Wilson pointed out that only three Members of the Licensing Committee sit to consider an application, and the meeting would be quorate with only two Members present. As there are twelve Members of the Licensing Committee in total, it seemed unlikely that a problem would occur in practice.
Concerns were also raised with regard to licences for charitable events, and David Wilson explained the new process for temporary events for up to 499 people which will no longer require a licence, but will only have a requirement to notify the Council and the police of the intention to hold the event.
DECISIONS: (i) To note the forthcoming changes to the licensing of the sale and supply of alcohol, provision of regulated entertainment and late night refreshment; (ii) the dates for the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 and the transitional arrangements; and (iii) the rights of the Town Committee to make relevant representations in respect of applications for licences for premises within a certain area.
293 5. ENVIRONMENTAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS 8
(i) Marygate Scheme
The Environmental Maintenance Officer reported that work was on schedule, and after a break during the Christmas period work would resume and should be completed by Easter.
DECISION: To investigate the possibility of returning the Old Bridge to two-way traffic, controlled by temporary traffic lights, whilst the roadworks on Marygate are continuing.
(ii) Lady Jerningham’s Statue, Bankhill, Berwick-upon-Tweed
The Environmental Maintenance Officer reported that the application to the Heritage Lottery fund had now been submitted, and providing funding was approved, work would start in early Spring.
DECISION: To note the report.
(iii) Berwick Holiday Centre Extension
DECISION: To note the report.
(iv) Coach Drop-off Facilities in Berwick Town Centre
Members expressed concerns regarding the site of the temporary coach uplift/set down area, and requested assurances that this would be clearly designated with road markings, and would be properly monitored during the trial period. Members also asked that consideration be given to providing a shelter for people awaiting pick-up at the site.
DECISION: To note the report.
(v) Railway Station Car Park
DECISION: To note the report.
(vi) Public Noticeboards
DECISION: To note the report.
294 6. TOWN COMMITTEE BUDGET 2004/05 9
The Head of Revenue and Benefits tabled a report on the Town Committee budget for the year 2004-2005.
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; (ii) to delegate the Chair and Vice-Chair to spend up to £300 on three Christmas trees for North Road, Spittal and Spa Well; and (iii) to approach Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee to request funds to buy new lights for the trees.
295 7. RAIL SERVICES TO BERWICK-UPON-TWEED 9
The Senior Democratic Service Officer reported that tender documents were now with the rail companies which were going to bid for the east coast rail franchise, and that some initial information gathering meetings had already taken place between officers and these companies. Two of these companies had recently approached the Council for its views before submitting their franchise bids.
DECISIONS: (i) To refer the report to the full Council meeting; and (ii) to recommmend that Council invite representatives of the Strategic Rail Authority, the Rail Passengers Council and the franchisee companies to meet with elected Members to discuss the Council's input into the consultation process.
296 8. POST OFFICES IN BERWICK-UPON-TWEED 10
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to contact Post Office Ltd to request confirmation of the incentives which were promised to prospective operatives of the new West Street premises to make the business viable.
297 9. TWEED ESTUARY 12
DECISION: To note the report.
298 10. REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 13
DECISIONS: (i) To agree that Officers should draw up a process for funding bids, with robust criteria, to be considered at the next meeting of Town Committee; and (ii) to write to Northumberland NHS Care Trust postponing a decision on their request until such a process is in place.
299 11. CRIME, DISORDER AND DRUGS AUDIT REPORT 14
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to invite Members to endorse the Crime Audit Report and provide comments on the Report back to the Community Safety Officer by the deadline of 5th November 2004.
300 12. NEW REPRESENTATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITIES OF BERWICK, SPITTAL AND TWEEDMOUTH 16
DECISION: To note the report.
301 13. REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: 14TH NOVEMBER 2004 17
The Borough Secretary reported that letters will be sent out to all elected Members next week with full details of arrangements for Remembrance Sunday.
Councillor Bowlas requested that the Rose Garden should be cleared before Remembrance Sunday, and it was agreed that this request would be passed on to Environmental Maintenance.
DECISION: To note the report.
302 14. URBAN NESTING SEAGULLS 18
Members suggested that strengthened bye-laws and notices forbidding the feeding of seagulls should be introduced whilst the recommendations of the report under discussion were carried out.
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report and the decisions made at the meeting of Policy (Environment) Committee held on on 13th October 2004; and (ii) to request that Policy (Environment) Committee fund posters forbidding the feeding of seagulls, to be displayed as soon as possible.
303 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC 21
DECISION: The Committee agreed to pass the following resolution:
"That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the Meeting during consideration of the following items on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 Schedule 12A of the Act:
Minute 304 : Paragraph 7 : Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).
304 LANDING PONTOON AT THE CHANDLERY, BERWICK-UPON-TWEED 22
DECISION: (I) To note the report; (ii) to agree to investigate further the costs of insurance; and (iii) to facilitate a meeting between all concerned parties.
