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RAMSGATE TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the Council Meeting duly convened and held in
the Council Chamber, Albion House, Albion Place, Ramsgate on 2 November 2009
Present:     Councillors Byne, Dark, Doyle, Fenner, Hoult, Green, Kirby, Landi, Moore, Nicholson, O'Donnell, Rogers, Todd and Ward.
     Harvey Patterson, Head of Legal and Democratic Services, TDC.
Eileen Richford, Senior Democratic Services Officer, TDC.
Janet Dale, Town Mayor's Secretary, RTC
48     APOLOGIES

     Apologies were received from Councillor Carr and Poole.              

49     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None declared for this meeting of Council.

50     MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 5 October 2009 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

51     POLICING RAMSGATE

The Chairman welcomed Sergeant Rhiannan Simpson from Kent Police who addressed Council.  Formerly policing Ramsgate and Broadstairs, Sergeant Simpson was now solely in charge of the Ramsgate area of Thanet.  

She advised Members that she now has a compliment of six police officers - two based in the Central Harbour area, two in the Eastcliffe Area and two based in Newington.

Members noted the following;

The Dispersal Orders introduced for the town centre had helped, as had the night bus service, to reduce crime in the area.  The main problems had been `criminal damage' and `crimes against persons'.  The temporary night bus service had helped to get people out of the town centre quickly and prevent crimes taking place.  This service was to be reintroduced.  

The Ramsgate statistics were improved and the peak in crime during July and August 2009 was now reduced.

After talking to youths it had been found that they felt they did not have enough to do.  Funding had been put in with `Pie Factory' and other projects being created.

The night time atmosphere had improved and police being seen on the streets had helped.

Police officers were working with Licensees and bar staff with the police being contacted immediately anything untoward happened.

Schools were being visited talking to the pupils about litter and parking problems. This had the effect of involving parents as well.



Members were concerned that calls to the Police were going through to a Maidstone call centre where local knowledge was lacking and wanted to know if there was to be a local area control centre.  They were concerned that responses were delayed because of this.

Sergeant Simpson advised that it was a dedicated line at Maidstone and there were no plans to bring it back to a local point of call.  She advised also that there were a high number of calls and these were graded (after a series of questions were asked of the caller) according to the nature of the crime and responded to accordingly.  

Members were also concerned that businesses were pulling out of the area partly due to crime.  Sergeant Simpson advised that the Police were making progress and were going out with the Licensing Officers (TDC), viewing CCTV and looking into the problems.  Progress was being made and it was hoped that businesses would return.

On behalf of Council the Chairman thanked Sergeant Simpson for attending the meeting saying that her presentation had been helpful and informative.

52     TOWN MAYOR'S AND DEPUTY MAYOR'S REPORT

Since his last report the Mayor had represented the Town Council at the following events;

Fegan's open day
British Home Stores opening at Westwood
St Lawrence Scouts Centenary  Celebrations
Eastways Bus Company - launch of two new buses

The Mayor had presented Ramsgate Fund cheques to;

Pie Factory Music
Carnival
St Lawrence Scouts
Dumpton Youth Project
Fegan's Whitehall Project
Ramsgate Taekwondo

The Mayor thanked Councillors Byne, Moore and Ward for their support when presenting cheques and encouraged more Members to attend the presentations.

The Mayor advised Members that now there was a Carnival Committee it was hoped that things would be taken forward and a carnival would go ahead in the coming year.

The Mayor had represented Ramsgate at the following events outside of the area;

Speaker at the Cinque Ports Civic Day in Dover
Deal Charter Day
Kent County Council (KCC) Poppy Appeal launch
TDC - Parish Forum
Medway - Rochester Tour of Royal Engineers
Hythe Mayor's Charity Event
Fordwich Civic Service

The Mayor and Councillor Nicholson had met with Councillor Ezekiel, the Leader, and Richard Samuel, the Chief Executive, of TDC to discuss the Ramsgate Town Partnership (RTP).  The dissolution of the RTP had left a huge gap in the town with the loss of functions performed.

Although there had been no commitment on either side the meeting had been positive, agreeing `in principle' that TDC would provide sizable funding, that RTC would match the funding and events that take place being jointly managed.  

The Mayor had brought this to Members with the view that Council agrees in principle the proposals above.  Members noted that more discussions were needed, that a Working Party may need to be set up, an agreement would need to be drawn up, administration costs looked into and that for RTC this would come under the remit of the Town Clerk.

Proposed by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor O'Donnell and resolved that Council agreed `in principle' that TDC would provide a sizeable sum, match funded by RTC to provide functions lost following the dissolution of the RTP.

The Deputy Town Mayor reported that since the last meeting of Council he had taken part in;

The Kent Association for the Blind (KAB) and the Thanet Lions `World Blind Awareness Day' event held at Westwood Cross on Thursday 8 October.  Twelve attendees, including the Mayor of Margate and Mayor of Broadstairs, were blindfolded for two hours.  They then had to shop, travel up and down an escalator and take lunch.  The Deputy Mayor said that this had been quite an experience and made those taking part more aware of the problems encountered by the blind.  He extended his congratulations to the Thanet Lions for a successful event.

Friday 16 October - attended the `World Food Day' event held at the Winter Gardens.  This included exhibitions and a buffet.

53     QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

     There were no questions from members of the public.

54     THANET LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CONSULTATION

     TDC is preparing a planning strategy (known as the Local Development Framework) for the District.  The key document within this strategy will be the "Core Strategy".  They are inviting comments on the Draft Core Strategy.

Proposed by Councillor Green and seconded by Councillor Hoult that;

“RTC forms a Working Party of three Members to develop a draft response to the Draft Core Strategy reporting back to Full Council at an Extraordinary meeting of RamsgateTown Council to be held on Monday 7th December 2009”.

Amendment moved by Councillor Kirby and seconded by Councillor O'Donnell that;

“Membership of the Working Party to be seven Members”

Amendment Lost.

Amendment moved by Councillor Ward and seconded by Councillor Dark that;

“Membership of the Working Party to be five Members”

Amendment Agreed.

The Chairman asked for nominations for the membership of the Working Party.  Nominations received were for Councillors;

Dark
Hoult
Landi
Moore
O'Donnell
Rogers

Resolved that Councillors Dark, Hoult, Landi, Moore and Rogers be elected as members of the Working Party;

The Chairman advised that the Core Strategy document was available on the TDC website and gave the members of the new Working Party a hardcopy of the document.

55     COMMITTEE MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING

     Town Improvement Committee - 21 September 2009

     There were no matters arising from the approved minutes.

The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor O'Donnell gave Members an update on the work of the Committee as detailed below;

Future Arrangement for Town Allotments

I attended meeting with Paul Verrall, TDC on the 29 September in company with Dave Nimmo to discuss future arrangements of the Town Allotments and the costs thereof.  For the year 2010/11 this will amount to £27,000.00.

I attended the Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting on the 1 October as did Councillor Rogers in her capacity as District Councillor. With respect to the Manston Road Allotments - it appears that TDC had made a request to GOSE to allow it to use the monies from the sale for other capital expenditures.

The provision of compost toilets at Chilton is ongoing. We noted the gates at Chilton West.  It is difficult to see how this can be dealt with without any alteration of the road layout.

Councillor Rogers and I had discussions with Southern Water about the improvement of the water supply at the Chilton Allotments. The costs of improved supply could prove prohibitive though we discussed an alternative supply from Chilton Lane. The supply of an additional 5 standpipes at Jackey Bakers would involve considerable cost.

We could ask TDC to continue the administration of the allotments for a further year at a cost of £27.000.00. In the meantime we are investigating self-administration for 2011 onwards.

Consulting the Electorate.

This is an on-going issue. We have had a number of welcome initiatives from other groups, ERA and Love, Hate, Hope. I had two meetings with the ERA, the second of which with Peter Landi.  Also I met with the Love Hate Hope executives. I suggested that they might help us with Consulting the Public. We identified, especially with Love Hate, Hope, a number of issues that the public already agree as being of particular importance: the beaches, harbour, architecture, heritage, and cafes/restaurants. These five items alone rated well above any of the other issues. Also similarly they rated litter, empty shops, the council (TDC), and anti-social behaviour as causes of concern.  What the people hoped for was more complex.

From this, taken in conjunction with ERA's proposals, it can be inferred that we already know what the questions should be. It was suggested that we identify no more than 12 questions to be put to the public otherwise. It has been suggested that the survey should be conducted on a Ward by Ward basis, perhaps with at least one or two questions identifying the needs of each Ward.  We must ensure that everyone feels included.

What did emerge is that we need to do more than just consult but to have a programme of initiatives. What all this is leading to, I think, is that we need to have a professional and ongoing marketing programme. With the loss of the Town Partnership, this is a matter of urgency

Lavatory Provision.

On the 1 October I had a meeting with Mark Seed, TDC. We discussed the closure of the Bathing Station lavatories during the summer and their re-opening dates for 2010.  It was explained to me that TDC is short of funding and must find savings.

Later on that evening I attended the Overview and Scrutiny committee meeting where I heard for the first time the possible future arrangements for the Cavendish Street lavatories. I have no doubt that we must set a contingency budget to ensure the continued provision of lavatories in Ramsgate, especially the Bathing Station lavatory where I fully expect that TDC will require a `contribution' next year.  

Whatever we think about the morality of the people of Ramsgate paying twice for the same service, the reality is we are between the rock and a hard place.

I received a letter from the Town Clerk of Broadstairs Town Council who outlined his thoughts on future lavatory provision. He also suggested that both Ramsgate and Broadstairs should negotiate together with TDC about future lavatory provision.

Lastly, I would like the Full Council to think seriously about a recommendation I made to the last TIC meeting that we consider appointing a marketing manager and having our own visitors' website.

Proposed by Councillor Ward, seconded by Councillor Hoult and resolved that;

 “Standing Order 27.1     (The Council shall approve written estimates for the coming financial year at its meeting before the end of the month of November. Any committee desiring to incur expenditure shall give the Clerk a written estimate of the expenditure recommended for the coming year no later than 30th October) be rescinded for the rest of the financial year”.

The Chairman advised Council that this would allow the Town Improvement Committee to put its proposals to the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

     Planning and Conservation Committee - 28 September 2009

     There were no matters arising from the approved minutes.

The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Kirby advised Members that the Extraordinary meetings of the Committee would only take place if a planning application submitted to TDC was called in by a Member of RTC and reminded Members of the rules of call in.

Councillor Kirby requested that the thanks of the Committee be formerly passed on to Nick Dermott, Heritage Development Advisor, TDC, for his attendance at Committee and for all information supplied.

56     APPLICATIONS TO THE RAMSGATE FUND

The Mayor's Secretary advised that the total funds available were £22,750.10 to year end 31 March 2010.

Members were advised that two applications had been received beyond the deadline for this meeting but would be put on the agenda of the Extraordinary meeting of Council to be held on 7 December 2009.

Council considered three applications, details of which are available from the Town Mayor's office, and resolved the payments as detailed below;


Organisation
Agreed
Financial
Assistance
£
Purpose of grant awarded and reason for refusal of grant as necessary
Reflections Support Group for the Blind
£0
Grant refused as the Group had received £400.00 in 2008 and Members viewed this further application as being for revenue purposes
The Chocolate Factory Art Workshop
£0
Grant refused as Members viewed this application as being partly for revenue purposes
Ramsgate Arts Festival
£1,800.00
The grant awarded to go towards equipment and materials only


57     OFFICE EQUIPMENT

Members received the report of Councillor Carr regarding the provision of Technology for the Mayor's office and the Town Clerk.  

Councillor Carr had been tasked by the Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee to assess the current state of the computing and associated technology provision for the Mayor and Town Clerk's office.

Proposed by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Hoult and resolved that the report be referred to the Finance and General Purposes Committee for implementation.

58     EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

     It was resolved that the public and press were not excluded from the meeting for Item 12 Appointment of Town Clerk - Progress Report.

59     APPOINTMENT OF TOWN CLERK - PROGRESS REPORT

     Councillor Nicholson, Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, advised Members that there was now a short list of six candidates for the post of Town Clerk.  

Interviews were to be held on the afternoon of Tuesday 24 November 2009.  

At least two final candidates would make a presentation to an Extraordinary meeting of Council to be held on the same date - Tuesday 24 November 2009.  

The final decision of appointment would be made by Council.

     It was resolved that the Extraordinary meeting would commence at 6.15 pm.



Meeting concluded at; 8.45 pm.

RAMSGATE TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting duly convened and held in
the Council Chamber, Albion House, Albion Place, Ramsgate on 24 November 2009
Present:     Councillors Byne, Dark, Doyle, Fenner, Hoult, Green, Kirby, Landi, Moore, Nicholson, O'Donnell, Rogers, and Todd.
Eileen Richford, Senior Democratic Services Officer, TDC.
60     APOLOGIES

     Apologies were received from Councillor Carr and Ward.              

61     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None declared for this meeting of Council.


62     APPOINTMENT OF TOWN CLERK - PRESENTATIONS FROM SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES

     The Interview Panel had interviewed five candidates and short listed two in the afternoon.

     Members received a ten minute presentation from each of the two short listed candidates.

63     EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

     It was resolved that the public and press were excluded from the meeting for Item 5 - Council Deliberations.

64     COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS

     Following deliberations it was resolved that Mr Richard Styles be offered the position of Town Clerk to the Ramsgate Town Council.

     Members agreed that if Mr Styles was unable to accept the offer, that the second short listed candidate be offered the position of Town Clerk to the Ramsgate Town Council.


Meeting concluded at; 7.05 pm.

RAMSGATE TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting duly convened and held in
the Council Chamber, Albion House, Albion Place, Ramsgate on 7 December 2009
Present:     Councillors Byne, Carr, Dark, Doyle, Green, Hoult, Kirby, Landi, Moore, Nicholson, O'Donnell, Poole, Rogers, and Todd.
Eileen Richford, Senior Democratic Services Officer, TDC.
65     APOLOGIES

     Apologies were received from Councillors Fenner and Ward.              

66     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None declared for this meeting of Council.

67     PRESENTATION BY THE RAMSGATE SOCIETY

The Chairman welcomed Mr Ken Read who addressed Council with reference to the Society's response to the Local Development Core Strategy document consultation by Thanet District Council (TDC).

The Society had been unofficially working with the RTC Local Development Framework Core Strategy Working Party (LDFWP) on the response to TDC and now requested that this would become an official joint project/response.

Mr Read had been working on amendments to the Core Strategy document and had passed these to the LDFWP.  These would be fed into the response for submission to TDC.

The response deadline was 18 December 2009 and the Society had arranged for a Town Planner to review it.  The fees for this were £65.00 per hour to a maximum of £1,000.00 and the Society requested that RTC help toward the fees and to endorse the response.

Members were concerned that they were being asked to endorse and fund a document which currently had no content and was still being worked on.

The Chairman thanked Mr Read for addressing Council.

68     REPORT OF THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CORE STRATEGY WORKING PARTY

     Members considered the verbal report of Councillor Hoult as detailed below;  

     Core Strategy Working Party set up.

At the Full Council meeting of 2nd November 2009 the Core Strategy Working Party
was elected as follows; - Councillors Dark, Hoult, Landi, Moore & Rogers.  The first meeting took place on 23 November 2009.  Councillor Hoult was elected as Chairman of the Working Party.

     Shaping Our Future

The Thanet District Council had several years and a full team of expert staff to back
their document “Shaping Our Future” - RTC had five Councillors and just 25 days to
create a smaller but equally important document.  With this in mind Mr Ken Read of the Ramsgate Society was invited to the first meeting as he had already carried out a great deal of work on a similar document for the Ramsgate Society.   He gave the Working Party an excellent presentation which in the main Members agreed with and invited him to continue with the document with a few of the Working Party's additions.

Ramsgate Societies Full Presentation

On the 27 November several of the Ramsgate Town Councillors, including the Councillor Hoult attended the Ramsgate Society's public meeting held at the Media Centre. Once again the presentation was well staged and well received by most of the large audience, giving it public support. Also, there were few more suggested changes.

Meeting with Colin Fitt

The second Working Party meeting was again attended by Ken Read and also in attendance was Colin Fitt, TDC.  Once again several suggested changes were noted.

Planning Consultant for Document.

A document now has to be produced to submit to TDC and Ken Read with his team
have agreed to carry out this work at no cost to RTC, delivering a professional document equal to “Shaping our Future” but smaller, to represent the Town of Ramsgate. To give this more impact they would need to involve a Professional Town Planning Consultant to look over the document and advise as necessary at the
cost of £1,000 which they would like the RTC to help with.

Why the Ramsgate Society?

Councillor Hoult advised Council that he had called for help from the experts, the Ramsgate Society, as he was new to politics and an Independent without the backing of a political party.

Moved by Councillor Hoult and seconded by Councillor Rogers that;

“Ramsgate Town Council, in principal adopt the final document, subject to any last minute changes it wishes to apply to it

And that

Ramsgate Town Council support the Ramsgate Society in the funding of the Planning Consultancy Costs”

Further debate followed where Members raised concerns about not having time to view the document before submission to TDC.  The chairman advised that there was a possibility that the deadline may be extended for the newly formed Town Council.

Amendment to the substantive motion moved by Councillor Carr and seconded by Councillor Rogers that;
“Ramsgate Town Council consider this matter again at its scheduled meeting to be held on 4 January 2010 and on adoption consider supporting the Ramsgate Society in the funding of the Planning Consultancy Costs”

AMENDMENT CARRIED.

A further amendment to the substantive motion moved by Councillor Green and seconded by Councillor Nicholson that;

“this be subject to the Chairman obtaining advice from the Town Clerk that this was legally acceptable”

AMENDMENT CARRIED.
     AMENDED SUBSTANTIVE MOTION ADOPTED.

ALBION HOUSE

In view of the urgency of the situation, retrospective authority was sought to instruct a solicitor and surveyor in support of Council's position regarding agreement of a lease for the ground floor and basement of Albion House.  The Draft Lease was attached to the agenda papers at Appendix A.

Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Hoult and resolved that Council approves the appointment of Mr Daniel of Daniel and Edwards, to represent the Council over the lease of Albion House.

Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Hoult and resolved that Council agree that the appointment of a surveyor to act for the Council in this matter be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

70     PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON COUNCIL'S BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR 2010/11

Agreement was sought to organise and advertise a series of Ward based public meetings in January 2010 in order to consult upon the Council's draft budget proposals for 2010/11.

Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Hoult and resolved that Council authorises the Chairman in consultation with the Ward Councillors concerned to arrange and advertise meetings in each Ward to consult on the Council's proposed programme and Budget for 2010/11

And

Meetings to take place in January 2010, so that they may inform Council's considerations at its February meeting.

71     RAMSGATE EVENTS 2010/11 - TALKS WITH THANET DISTRICT COUNCIL AND OTHERS

The Chairman advised Council that TDC had offered to put £30,000.00 towards an events programme provided that RTC matched the funding.  This had been agreed in principle with RTC being able to organise events with TDC's approval.

Moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Hoult and resolved that Council forms a Working Party  consisting of the Chairman, two Members of Council supported by the Town Clerk  to work with TDC's representatives and others to arrange events in Ramsgate for 20010/11

and

The Working Party to have full authority to act within the budget set and to report regularly to Full Council.

APPLICATIONS TO THE RAMSGATE FUND

Council considered two applications and resolved that the payments be awarded as detailed below;

Organisation
Agreed
Financial
Assistance
£
Purpose
St Mark's Parent and Toddler Group - Application 182
500.00
To replenish old and broken toys, purchase barrier/stair gate and new carpet.
Channel Dash Memorial Trust - Application 183
2,500.00
To manufacture and install an all-polished black granite plinth to support the `Channel Dash' memorial.

     Members noted that the Channel Dash Association received £3,500.00 in June 2009 for a different project which was abandoned.  The grant had been returned in full.

Meeting concluded at; 8.25 pm.