Councillor J Waterhouse in the Chair; Councillors SJ Anderson, AR Bowlas, AB Douglas, EI Hunter, JE Smith and DS Stewart.
643.
1. Apologies
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors H Bettison, DGR Buckle, D McClymont and JW Stephenson.
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644.
2. Declaration Of Interest
Councillor J E Smith and the Senior Democratic Services Officer declared a personal and prejudicial interest in late Item 9: Requests for Financial Assistance with regard to the Maltings Youth Theatre.
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645.
3. Minutes Of The Meeting of the Town Committee held on 23rd January 2007
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Committee held on 23rd January 2007.
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646.
4. Public Question Time
No questions were received from members of the public.
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647.
5. Town Committee Budget
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; (ii) to agree to increase the amount set aside for a public noticeboard in Elizabeth Ward from £243.55 to £725.00.
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648.
6. Environmental Maintenance Projects
Stanks Lighting
Members welcomed news that this work was now being programmed, and hoped that it would not be long before the lights were finally working.
Marygate
Members expressed concern about the potential damage to the new pavements caused by cars parking on the pavement in Marygate.
Entrance to Co-op, Main Street, Tweedmouth
Members welcomed news that County Councillors were making money available from their budgets to help pay for the safety improvements at the Co-op entrance, but were told that there was still design work and consultation to be undertaken before any such scheme could begin.
Members requested that the Chair of Town Committee write to Northumberland County Council to stress the urgent need for improvements to be made to this junction, and also requested that the matter be put on the agenda for the next meeting of the Berwick Area Committee.
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to request a report on matters related to parking on pavements in Marygate and Golden Square to be presented to the next meeting of Town Committee; (iii) to request a further update on safety improvements at the entrance to the Co-op in Tweedmouth to be presented to the next meeting of Town Committee.
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649.
7. Tweed Estuary Signage
Members were assured that safety signage was being prepared, and should be in place before the summer holidays begin.
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650.
8. Berwick Town Council – Update
DECISIONS: (i) To agree to earmark £10,000 from the Town Committee’s 2007-08 budget towards the costs of elections to Berwick-upon-Tweed Town Council; to agree to earmark £21,000 from the Town Committee’s 2007-08 budget towards the one-off set up costs of the Town Council as detailed in the draft budget; (iii) to include updates on the Town Council on all Town Committee agendas during 2007-08; and (iv) to produce regular press releases relating to the Town Council during 2007-08.
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651.
9. Late Item: Requests for Financial Assistance
DECISIONS: (i) To award a grant of £500 to Berwick Community Development Trust towards the costs of the Border Green Festival in 2007; and (ii) to award a grant of £500 to the Maltings Youth Theatre towards the costs of taking a youth theatre production to the Edinburgh Fringe.
[Note: Councillor J E Smith and the Senior Democratic Services Officer left the meeting during discussion of the item set out above.]
