At the
ANNUAL MEETING of the LEISTON-cum-SIZEWELL TOWN COUNCIL
Held in
the LEISTON COMMUNITY CENTRE, King Georges Avenue, Leiston, on TUESDAY 3 May
2022 at 7.30pm
Councillor D E Bailey
Councillor D Boast
Councillor A Cooper
Councillor Mrs N Corbett
Councillor D Dix
Councillor Mrs S Geater
Councillor P Harle
Councillor T Hawkins
Councillor Mrs L Hill
Councillor P Kyle
Councillor J Last BEM
Councillor Mrs S Levermore
Councillor D Morsley
Councillor Ms M Woolf
Prior to the start of the meeting Cllr Last presented the Chairman’s Cup
to Sharon Cuthbert, for her dedicated work to the Dementia Project and Leiston
Good Neighbour Scheme. Councillors gave
a round of applause in appreciation of all her commitment and hard work within
the community on both these projects.
1.
Election of Chairman
Cllr Cooper, as the
current Vice-Chairman, resigned from his role and did not wish to take the
Chairmanship. As there were no other
nominations, it was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr Levermore and
agreed that Cllr Last be appointed
Chairman for 2022/2023. Cllr Last read
and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Chairman and thanked
councillors for their support and confidence.
2.
Minutes
It was proposed by Cllr
Hill, seconded by Cllr Boast and agreed that the minutes for the meeting of 5
April 2022 be signed as a true record.
3.
Apologies
Apologies were received
from Cllr Ginger, County Cllr Haworth-Culf and District Cllr Rainger.
4.
Chairman’s Report for 2021/2022
(Cllr Last)
Cllr Last gave his
report thus:
Once again, it has been a privilege and honour to have been Chairman of Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town
Council for the last twelve months. I thank the Vice-Chairman, fellow
Councillors, the Town Clerk and office staff for the support they have given to
me in this last term of office. We had a new Leiston Change Manager during the
year in Helen Greengrass and I thank Helen for the support given to me and the
Town Council.
It has been a pleasure representing the Town
Council at many events this year and was good, being able to get out and about
amongst our community and being able to meet those that work so hard for our
community face to face.
A lot of ground has been covered during the
last twelve months, in working towards Leiston’s future and the progress made
will take this town forward and enable this community to be proud of the town
we live in.
Obviously, there have been many challenges
this year as the Council endeavors to ensure to get the best outcome for the town
and in particular in respect of the Sizewell C proposals, through the Relevant Representations,
Hearings and Examinations and all the work that entails. The next year will be to stake our claims for
appropriate funding for Leiston should Sizewell C be granted permission, to minimise the enormous impact this project will have on
Leiston and Sizewell as a parish. Therefore,
we must be prepared to fight our corner on every occasion for this community.
The Net Zero Leiston initiative was endorsed
by the Town Council and now gives us all the opportunities to become a greener
community. Work progresses well in this area.
After several months work, the Town Council’s
Transport Strategy was put forward to the County Council Highways that recognised the views of the community feedback through the public
consultation and now work progresses on the design concept.
The Community Land Trust has continued to work
hard and focused on the Town Centre Regeneration, with the Church Square
completion giving a flavour of what can be achieved
to inject a good feeling and appealing environment for all to enjoy. With the
appointment of a Town Centre Regeneration Manager to assist with the navigation
through all that needs to be followed, an exciting future for the aspirations
of the CLT looks very promising and the work involved there by everyone is much
appreciated by the Town Council.
The young people of our town is something I am
pleased the Town Council have continued to support in many ways and that
includes our schools, youth club, library, cadet forces and Haylings
Pond angling groups.
We have had a number of community events in
the last year, including Halloween, Christmas Fayre, Discover Leiston and we
look forward to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee events planned for the town. I really appreciate all the hard work that is
put into these events by the organisers and I thank
them on behalf of our community.
Let’s not forget, that we have still been in a
pandemic over the last twelve months, and this has been a very concerning time
for many. I know there are a number of unsung heroes who have continued to
support the vulnerable members of our community and acknowledge all the work
they have continued to carry out and I appreciate all the time they have given to
help others.
Finally, I would like just to say, that
Leiston-cum-Sizewell is a vibrant and thriving town and with all the work put
into the town we must feel proud of what has been achieved and also be excited
about the future.
5.
Appointment of Vice-Chairman
It was proposed by Cllr Morsley, seconded
by Cllr Hawkins and agreed that Cllr Hill be elected Vice-Chairman.
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 and asked members to look at the
completed list, attached to these minutes, to ensure all their wishes had been
encapsulated.
7.
Signatories for Banking/Cheques
It was proposed by Cllr
Cooper, seconded by Cllr Morsley and agreed the
current signatories for Town Council banking/cheques should remain the same to
include any two of the following councillors: Cllr Ginger, Cllr Geater, Cllr
Cooper, Cllr Boast and Cllr Hill, in addition to the Town Clerk (or Assets
Officer).
8.
Appoint
Member to be responsible for verifying bank reconciliations in accordance with
Finance Order 2.2
It was proposed by Cllr
Cooper, seconded by Cllr Geater and agreed that Cllr Levermore retains the
responsibilities required by Order 2.2.
9.
To
approve use of variable Direct Debits in respect of all utilities, software
contracts, NEST pensions, rates and photocopier hire
It was proposed by Cllr
Cooper, seconded by Cllr Levermore and agreed that current bills signed up to
direct debit contracts continue.
10. To approve the continued
use of BACS transfer for all wages, salaries, pensions and all invoices
It
was proposed by Cllr Levermore, seconded by Cllr Corbett and agreed that BACS payments
be used for all invoices, salaries, wages and pensions.
11. 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. She further
reported that the
School Bell from the former Church of England Elementary School in Waterloo
Avenue was similarly on loan at Leiston Primary School. It was proposed by Cllr Morsley,
seconded by Cllr Kyle and agreed that these loans should continue.
There
being no more business the meeting closed at 7.52pm
Chairman _______________________________
Dated _______________________________
LEISTON-CUM-SIZEWELL
TOWN MEETING
HELD IN THE COMMUNITY
CENTRE, KING GEORGES AVENUE, LEISTON
TUESDAY 3 MAY 2022 AT
8.00PM
The
Town meeting was attended by 7 residents and 14 councillors.
The
meeting was chaired by Cllr John Last BEM.
The
meeting received reports from:
Sharon Cuthbert on
behalf of the Dementia Project and Leiston Good Neighbour Scheme
Fraser
Hale on behalf of the Long Shop Museum
Margaret
Graver on behalf of Leiston Town Pastors
Bing
Boast on behalf of Leiston Town Bowls Club
There
were written reports from:
Police
Safer Neighbourhood Team and Leiston Youth Club – which the Clerk read
out.
A
recording of the meeting is available from the Town Clerk.