February 2012
TOWN AFFAIRS
At the meeting of Southwold Town Council held on 3rd January 2012
Notes from the Town Clerk
These notes are not a substitute for the report of the meeting, which will be published in due course as a basis for the adoption of formal minutes.
- Suffolk County Councillor John Goldsmith attended to provide a report from the County Council, and to take questions. Cllr Goldsmith advised the meeting that he had just attended a meeting at WDC to request allowance for Benacre Estate to protect their frontage from coastal erosion. Cllr Goldsmith emphasised the effect that coastal erosion could also have on Southwold. The Town Council agreed to contact the Environment Agency to ascertain what measures were being taken locally.
- Cllr Goldsmith was asked about the lack of cohesive transport routes as presently timetables for buses/trains do not match residents’ requirements. Cllr Goldsmith advised that he is the process of arranging a meeting with the officers at SCC to discuss this matter further.
- Waveney District Councillor Michael Ladd advised that there may be an opportunity to consider the options for Ladies Walk and that WDC will meet with the Town Council in due course.
- Cllr Ladd advised that WDC had agreed a Shoreline Management Plan in November 2011, and that this is a working document to which that input can still be given.
- PC Sadler advised that there had been 118 reported crimes in Southwold in 2011, compared to 139 in 2010. Over 5% of crime related to theft of pedal cycles which had been left unlocked. Just less than 10% of crime relates to shoplifting. The amount of crime for Southwold for one year is less than the crime in Lowestoft for one week.
- During December, PC Sadler advised that there had been the following incidents: two arrests for drink driving, criminal damage to a bike parked at the Swan Hotel, damage caused to toilets at pub, and a burglary at town-centre shop, where a small computer was stolen.
- PC Sadler advised that various premises in the town have CCTV and suggested that perhaps consideration could be given to installing a CCTV monitoring system at Mights Bridge. WDC Cllr Ladd advised that he would discuss the matter again at WDC, as the cost of CCTV systems had reduced since this had last been considered.
- PC Sadler advised that all hotels and pubs in Southwold are members of the Southwold Pub Watch scheme.
- PC Sadler advised that a person with a house in Southwold had been caught doing 69 mph in a 30 mph area in Reydon, where speeding continues to be a problem. In Southwold, the problems caused by inconsiderate parking continue. The police advised that the matched-funded PCSO will be a valuable addition to their staff.
- The Police were asked about the possible dangers from the Chinese lanterns that were being let off on New Year’s Eve. Discussion took place during the public section of the council meeting about the amount of firework parties on the beach on New Year’s Eve.
- Discussion took place during the public section regarding the process for a Town Plan – the Mayor advised that there is a public meeting being held on 12th March 2012 at St Edmunds Hall, which will be hosted by Suffolk Acre who will explain the process. WDC and SCC will also be assisting with the Plan process.
- The Council approved the recommendation from the Policy and Finance Committee for the Events Working Group to consider the organisation of all the Town Council events, including in 2012: Anzac Day, Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Torch visit.
- The Town Council were advised that the initial four grit bins had been purchased and installed at the previously agreed locations.
- The Town Council received the recommendation for the precept for 2012/13. Council advised that with all expenses increasing it was important to review all expenditure and to also ensure that the appropriate level of income is being received from assets. The budget is getting tight and it was acknowledged that a precept may be required in the future. However, for 2012/13, it was agreed that no precept would be collected, and WDC will be advised accordingly.
- The Council were advised that Mary Portas had completed a report for government on town centres.
- The first of the quarterly Town Council newsletters had been well received. It was agreed that an in house newsletter could be produced for the months when a newsletter was not being published with the Church Magazine, and this will be made available by e-mail, on the website or at the Town Hall.
- The Council received and agreed the report of the Traffic Committee. SCC Cllr Goldsmith is arranging a meeting with Mr Guy McGregor, the SCC Portfolio Holder for Roads, Transport and Planning, to discuss the matters of concern. These include the problems associated with the train and bus timetables which presently do not align with each other.
- A request will be made to SCC to ask them to consider Halesworth Road as another pilot site for placing 30 mph reminder speed-limit roundels on the road surface.
- One of the single spaces outside the URC will be considered for a disabled space.
- Council received a report from the Town Plan Working Group regarding the arrangements and publicity for the public meeting to be held on 12th March 2012. It was agreed that a publicity notice could be placed in the Parish Magazine, as well as the details being advertised within the town.
- The Council considered the planning applications. Council agreed to recommend to WDC that the application relating to 10 North Green be refused due to impact on neighbours, whilst the application for 3 Queen Street be recommended for approval.
- Council received a report from the Harbour and River Blyth Users Association. The Association were concerned that work on the north wall of the Harbour had not yet begun.
- Council received reports from two meetings recently attended by the Clerk; the first being a SALC course on property governance and the second being the quarterly town council clerks meeting with the management team at WDC.
- The Mayor advised the meeting that the previous Town Clerk, Jenny Hursell, has received the MBE for services to Southwold. Congratulations were extended by all.
Additional notes from the Editor
More detail on the Police report by PC Sadler. There had also been two other incidents reported in December: a fight between two teenage boys in the street and a minor assault on one women by another woman in a pub. Overall, crime was down by 15% compared with 2010. There had been a little run of crime last February. There had also been a joy ride that had crashed into the Harbour, quite a significant crime. The indecent assault still remained undetected despite widespread enquiries. Parking and waiting by motorists in Southwold remained an issue. Some people apparently thought restrictions did not apply on a Sunday. This was wrong: the restrictions applied 8 am–6 pm, seven days a week. Cllr Ladd was interested in the reasons given and also reported that he had seen the previous day a 4x4 completely blocking the pavement while it was loading up. Incredible, but it was a crazy time of year.
In the discussions about New Year’s Eve parties, Mr Stewart of the Southwold and Reydon Society recalled that 30 years ago he and some friends had left off four fireworks, the only such party. He was sorry if he had started something! On a more serious note, the Southwold and Reydon Society strongly supported the preparation of a Town Plan.
Also in the discussions about the Town Plan, the Town Mayor (Will Windell) said he wanted to encourage people to attend the meeting noted above. They would be looking for 15 to 20 volunteers to work with town councillors, who would then set up subgroups looking at aspects of the Town Plan, like transport, for example. Once it had been agreed with the Town Council, this would become the Town Plan.
Mr Bright made the point that individuals did not get minutes, so it would be difficult to give support in detail. For instance, the Traffic Management Committee had an item on the agenda for this meeting, but he did not know what had been decided, as he had been unable to attend its last meeting and he had no minutes. Cllr Bradbury responded that the Town Council website would be up and running as soon as possible. He hoped to have something online very quickly, which would include all draft minutes.
More details of the two planning applications: 10 North Green involved variation of condition no 2 of DC/10/1030/EXT – drawing no 113005B amended to reflect enlarged and reposition dormer window, additional rooflights to rear and reposition chimney; and 3 Queen Street involved Listed Building Consent for the removal and repositioning of internal walls, new plumbing, heating and electrics and replacement rear windows and doors.
There had also been a further planning application late in the day, for the Old Bakehouse Store, Blackmill Road. The Town Council had previously recommended refusal for a previous application for this property. It again recommended refusal for the current application on the grounds of change of use, lack of parking and the lack of a detailed report on drainage.
The meeting was also informed that Waveney had given its approval to the proposed development at 29 Stradbroke Road.
At the meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee held on 17th January 2012
More planning matters
The meeting was informed that Waveney had given its approval to planning applications for developments at Tittlemouse House, 6 Queens Road; 10 Market Place; 33 Field Stile Road; 10 Eversley Road; 10 North Green; 12 Mill Lane; The Haven, 3 Trinity Close; and 25 Market Place. It had refused permission for the planned development at the Old Bakehouse Store, Blackmill Road.
In other planning matters, the meeting had no comment to make on the notice of appeal lodged re APP/042/2011. The Planning Group had had no meeting about this. Cllr Bradbury noted it was out of their hands entirely and in the last throes of decision making. The meeting also noted but did not comment on or make a formal response to Suffolk consultation ‘A new Heritage organisation for Suffolk’.
Miscellaneous matters
There was quite a long discussion about the criteria for the proposed Citizen of the Year award. In the end, it was agreed to rename it the ‘Freedom of the Town Award’. Cllr Tucker noted that ‘freedom’ had connotations specific to each town or borough, for instance, the freedom to drive sheep in London, so there would have to be something specific to Southwold, like free tickets at the cinema etc. The meeting was happy with the criteria and agreed to leave the wording as it was.
The meeting considered the implications of the Localism Bill for town and parish councils. The Chairman (Cllr Ladd) personally thought it was a great piece of legislation, something he had wanted for a long time, bringing decision making closer to the community. It was good news for us. There were some concerns of course, but the Town Council had been doing some of it already, ie the Kilcock Cliff toilets and the Putting Green. The Town Mayor noted the key areas and was in favour. Combined with the Town Plan, which would say what we wanted and how we wanted to get it, this Bill would help us to do it. The Chairman agreed, saying it was going to be interesting. The right to build would be good for affordable homes. The right to buy local assets was not a right to buy per se but a right to bid for them. In general it was good and would keep them busy. More was to come. It was a move from the centralisation of 1974. They had to be ready for it and had been saying this for years.
Many suggestions were made for the guest speaker for the Annual Town Meeting, including someone from the PCT talking about the Healthy Living Centre, someone from Waveney to talk about the Coastline Management Plan, and others to talk about access to high-speed technology or local enterprise partnerships and enterprise zones.
The question of whether the Deputy Mayor should be elected directly had been considered. Cllr Betts had asked friends up and down the country what their councils did, and it appeared that 50% elected their deputy mayors. However, it was noted that this could lead to complications, namely both the Town Mayor and Deputy Mayor being inexperienced (particularly if the Town Mayor did not involve their deputy much in town affairs, leading to the latter taking over with no experience). Consequently, the meeting agreed to keep the current system of the Town Mayor automatically becoming the Deputy Mayor in the succeeding year.
Dates for the Diary (as of 1st February)
Next Town Council meeting: 28th February 2012 at 7.30 pm in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall.
Next Policy and Finance Committee meeting: 14th February 2012 at 7.30 pm in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall.
