At the
ANNUAL MEETING of the LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN COUNCIL
Held in
the COMMUNITY CENTRE, King Georges Avenue, Leiston, on TUESDAY 14 MAY 2019 at
7.30pm
Councillor D E Bailey
Councillor Mrs S Betson
Councillor D Boast
Councillor A M Cooper
Councillor D Dix
Councillor Mrs S M Geater
Councillor C Ginger
Councillor P Harle
Councillor T E Hodgson
Councillor J N Last
Councillor Mrs S Levermore
Councillor D Morsley
Councillor S O’Reilly
Councillor M A Woolf
1.
Election of Chairman
It was proposed by Cllr
Betson and seconded by Cllr Levermore that Cllr Mrs Hill be appointed Chairman for 2019/2020. It was further
proposed by Cllr Cooper and seconded by Cllr Bailey that Cllr Last be appointed
Chairman. It was confirmed on a proposal from Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr
Ginger that voting would be by a secret ballot. Conducted by the Clerk the vote
was in favour of Cllr Mrs Hill. Cllr Mrs Hill thanked members for their
support and confidence.
2.
Apologies
All present.
3.
Minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr O’Reilly
and agreed that the minutes for the meeting of 2 April 2019 be signed as a true
record.
4.
Chairman’s Report for 2018/2019
(Cllr Hill)
A Chairman’s Diary for 2018/19
was tabled and Cllr Hill asked members and the public to note that it was her
intention, this year, not to read her report but table it at the meeting and to
publish it in the forthcoming newsletter. For the record the report follows below;
Leiston Town
Councillors have been heavily involved in discussing and making decisions and
recommendations on a very wide range of items and a number of issues that
affect our community. As well as the usual monthly Council meetings it had been
necessary to hold extra-ordinary meetings to assess information and take into
account the views of the community regarding the highly important Sizewell C
proposals contained in the Stage 3 consultation and the Scottish Power
Renewables East Anglia Two and Anglia One North proposals in order to make an
informed response by the consultation deadlines. In connection with the
Sizewell C proposals councillors also attended workshops run by Planning Aid
England which helped us in how to best format our response. A copy of the
Council’s agreed formal response on Sizewell C Stage 3 and Scottish Power
Renewables Stage 4 consultations are available to view on the Council’s website
or please visit the Council Offices to see a paper copy.
At our usual monthly
meetings held on the first Tuesday of the month, to which members of the public
are invited, we have had a number of presentations from guest speakers. These
are very informative and also allow Councillors and members of the public to
ask questions and to seek clarification on matters that arise.
A representative from
the East of England Ambulance Service was our first guest speaker and following
his visit, myself and two other councillors were able to visit the Ambulance
Response Unit in Norwich. A Planning Officer from the District Council and the
Head of Planning at Suffolk County Council came to explain the planning process
for Major Infrastructure projects. PC Simon Green came to talk about his role
as a Community Support Officer for our Safer Neighbourhood area. The Chair of
Governors and Head of School at Leiston Primary School briefed the meeting on
their Good OFSTED report and the other accomplishments of the school and during
the year EDF Energy – Nuclear New Build have updated the Council.
Our County Councillor
and District Councillors are invited to attend Council meetings to present reports and this is an opportunity for those present to ask
them questions relating to County and District matters. Following
this, there is a public forum for members of the public to address or
make representations to the Town Council before Councillors consider items on
the agenda.
I will report on some
other business undertaken by the Council but if you wish to find out more
please go on the Town Council website where Minutes of all the meetings are
available to view or alternatively go along to the Council Offices to see a
copy. There is also a quarterly Town Council newsletter delivered to households
in Leiston, which includes articles relating to council matters and other items
of local interest.
The Town Council have officially
taken over the centre section of the old Middle School site in Waterloo Avenue
for community use and the building is now referred to as The Waterloo Centre.
The Centre comprises four rooms, a gymnasium, the playground and playing field
together with a fenced multi sports area. Some redecoration work has been
undertaken and recently a small kitchen area fitted out for use by hirers. The
Council are looking at ways of further improving and developing the Centre and
will keep you informed on progress. All the facilities are available for hire
and there has been a good take up, especially for the gymnasium of an evening,
by various organisations. If you are interested in looking to hire either the
gymnasium, a room or the games court please contact the Council Offices.
You may have noticed
that the Leiston Film Theatre, owned by the Town Council, is also undertaking
changes. The building that adjoins the Film Theatre, also owned by the Council,
became vacant and is being developed to extend the foyer to improve and enhance
the experience when visiting this increasingly popular venue and major asset
for the town. A recent application for funding from the Town Council and
Leiston Together was granted from the Coastal Revival Fund to set up a Tourist
Information Point at the Film Theatre. This is being incorporated within the
foyer and will provide information for the many visitors that come to the area.
It will also enable information to be provided and shared for the benefit of
our local community. It is expected that
the project will be completed in time for the holiday season.
Another exciting and
far larger development project for Leiston are plans to regenerate the town
centre. After a period of time operating as a Steering Group the Leiston
Community Land Trust was officially incorporated in October 2018 and were able
to start recruiting for members. In December a public
meeting was held to elect the Board of Trustees. I served as the Town Council’s
representative on the Steering Group and was also elected as a Trustee
representing the Council on the Board. The CLT were invited to be represented
at Leiston Together meetings which comprises representatives from Leiston Town
Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council (now East Suffolk Council), Suffolk
County Council and other organisations. A significant step towards this project
being realised was the purchase of the 3 vacant properties and land in Sizewell
Road by Suffolk Coastal District Council. The properties have had some work
carried out on them to make a more pleasing street scene and the CLT have been
given the use of one of the shops as an office which will assist with promoting
the project and for gaining further members. Recently and very importantly a
CLT Project Group has been established with CLT Trustees and officers of East
Suffolk Council in order to work through all the various aspects required in
taking this project forward.
The Town Council has
set up a grants fund for local organisations to apply for financial
support. Over the past year we have been
pleased to be able to assist a number of organisations including Coastal
Accessible Transport (CATS), Leiston Town Pastors, Rose & Sweet William
Club, Leiston FC Youth Teams, Citizens Advice and the Suffolk Accident Rescue
Service.
To mark the end of my
term of office a Chairman’s Reception was held at the Community Centre where
guests included representatives from local clubs and organisations. This
occasion is an opportunity to thank all of those people who undertake a
considerable amount of work, many on a voluntary basis, supporting our
community, I would like to extend my
thanks to all of you who, whether as an individual or as part of an
organisation, offer help and support in our community. The Annual Chairman’s
Cup was this year awarded to Selena Levermore and Emma Mouser the main driving
force behind the Leiston Events Group. They have enriched the community spirit
in the town with the Leiston Big Weekend summer events and the Christmas
events. Local residents, the wider community and visitors to the area have
supported and thoroughly enjoyed these experiences.
This report marks the
end of our four-year term in office when the majority of us were elected, with
some of you, joining along the way. I would like to thank Councillors and our
Officers for the work they have undertaken in serving our community and for the
support they have given to me in my time as Chairman.
5.
Appointment of
Vice-Chairman
It was proposed by Cllr Betson and seconded by Cllr Morsley that Cllr
Last be re-elected Vice Chairman. Passed unanimously.
6.
Composition of Working
Parties and Representation on Other Bodies
Members gave their
preferences as to which Committees, Working Parties or Organisations requiring
a representative from the Council that they wished to be involved with for the
coming year. The Clerk noted the new compositions for the coming year and asked
members to look at the completed list, attached to these minutes, to ensure all
their wishes had been encapsulated.
7.
Signatories for Cheques
It was proposed by Cllr
Betson, seconded by Cllr Harle, and agreed that, in addition to the Town Clerk
(or Deputy Clerk), signatories for Town Council cheques should include any two
of the following Councillors: Cllr Ginger, Cllr Hodgson, Cllr Cooper, Cllr Boast
and Cllr Hill.
8.
General Power of
Competence
It was proposed by Cllr
Betson, seconded by Cllr Morsely that the Town Council, from 14 May 2019, until
the next relevant Annual meeting, having met the conditions of eligibility as
defined in the Localism Act 2011 and SI 965 – The Parish Councils (General
Power of Competence)(Prescribed Conditions) Order 2012 – adopts the General
Power of Competence.
9.
Appoint
member to be responsible for verifying bank reconciliations in accordance with
Finance Order 2.2
It was agreed that Cllr
Levermore retains the responsibilities required by Order 2.2.
10.
To
approve use of variable Direct Debits in respect of all utilities, software
contracts, NEST pensions, rates and photocopier hire for further two years
It was proposed by Cllr
Boast, seconded by Cllr Last and agreed that current bills signed up to direct
debit contracts continue for a further two years
11.
To
approve the continued use of BACS transfer for all wages, salaries, pensions and Film Company Invoices for further two years
It
was proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed that BACS transfers
be used for all wages, salaries, pensions and film company
invoices for a further two years.
12.
Loan of Artefacts
The Clerk reported that
various artefacts, including a working model steam tractor in a glass case, a
wooden model steam lorry, a Garrett bust on a plinth, a collection of Garrett
hats and a trunk, were on loan at the Long Shop Steam Museum. He further reported that the School Bell from
the former Church of England Elementary School in Waterloo Avenue was similarly
on loan at the Primary School. It was
proposed by Cllr Betson, seconded by Cllr Levermore
and agreed that these loans should continue.
There
being no more business the meeting closed at 7.55pm
Chair _______________________________
Dated _______________________________
LEISTON-CUM-SIZEWELL
TOWN MEETING
HELD IN THE COMMUNITY
CENTRE, KING GEORGE AVENUE
TUESDAY 14 MAY 2019 AT
8.00PM
The
Town meeting was attended by 7 residents and 15 Councillors.
The
meeting was chaired by Cllr Mrs Lesley Hill.
Cllr Cooper introduced new East Suffolk
Councillors representing Leiston and Aldeburgh. Along with himself the meeting met
Cllr T-J Haworth and Cllr Jocelyn Bond. T-J had been a cabinet member from 2011
and updated the meeting on the Leisure centre refurbishment and Alde Valley
Academy.
Cllr
Cooper thanked Susan Geater
The
meeting received reports from:
Mr
Paul Hartley on behalf of the Leiston Works Railway Trust
There
were written reports from:
Police
Safer Neighbourhood Team
A
recording of the meeting are available from the Town
Clerk.