The Yarmouth Isle of Wight
Town Council
Minutes of a meeting of Yarmouth Town Council held at Yarmouth
Town Hall on Tuesday December 1st 2015 at 6:30pm
PRESENT: Councillors S Cowley, (Town Mayor), A Ingram, R Corbett, P Cronin, J Allen, J Jackson,
D McCleary and K Cowley
IN ATTENDANCE: B Jacobs (Town Clerk), Sarah Turvill (Harbour Commission Representative),
Sylvia Mence (Mayor’s Award winner), Tina Griffith (Yarmouth School) and 1 member of the
public.
138/2015
APOLOGIES
No apologies were received for absence.
139/2015
PUBLIC FORUM:
Mayor Cowley presented the annual Mayor’s Award to Sylvia Mence for her immense contribution to
Yarmouth and Thorley.
Tina Griffith of Yarmouth School made a presentation about fundraising for building projects at the
School. She reported that the School needed a new mobile classroom, forecast to cost £200K, of
which the School must contribute 10%, due to rising pupil numbers caused by other establishments
closing in the area. The timetable for commencing work is very tight, and must commence shortly.
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i)
POLICE MATTERS
A report was noted on current policing issues in Yarmouth.
ii)
HARBOUR ISSUES
Fire: A small fire broke out in the YHC mess room within the ferry terminal, which was due to a
toaster malfunction. The duty ferry terminal operative suppressed the fire with a powder fire
extinguisher and the fire service attended latterly. The mess room suffered some superficial damage
and will need to be redecorated. But for the actions of YHC staff, the damage may have been much
worse.
Dredging: The Harbours annual maintenance dredging operations are due to commence on the 4th
January 2016. A pre-dredge bathymetric survey has been carried out to determine which areas within
in the Harbour require attention.
Boat Numbers: YHC offer a number of winter berthing options for those who require them. Demand
for these berths has grown and YHC has seen an increase of 26% in comparison to 2014 figures.
Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) compliance: The Harbour undertook an annual review of its
safety management systems. Peter Nicholson of Nicholson Risk Management conducted the audit and
concluded that YHC fully comply with the PMSC guidelines.
iii)
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Cllr Hutchinson reported on a recent meeting with senior managers of Wightlink, at which they
conformed the continuation of the Yarmouth-Lymington ferry service. There had been no complaints
made recently, and the General Manager will shortly be replaced by his deputy.
Forthcoming IWC budget cuts had been discussed by a cross-party committee, and council tax will
increase next year by 1.99%. The cost of adult social care is forecast to increase by £1.3M financial
year, though demand indicates an increase of £1.8M isrequired. The cost of the increase in the
national minimum wage is forecast to be a further £1.8M, and must be found in addition to existing
savings.
Mayor Cowley queried the Planning Enforcement proposals recently circulated by the IWC, and Cllr
Hutchinson responded that adequate Planning Enforcement is of benefit to everyone.
iv)
THORLEY ISSUES
There were no Thorley issues.
v)
YARMOUTH ISSUES
Cllr Corbett was concerned about work currently being carried out along Coastguards Green.
Cllr Cronin that work to clear a wider passage along the cyclepath in the area of Wilmingham Lane
had still not been carried out by Island Roads. RESOLVED: Cllr Cronin to provide location details of
this part of the cyclepath to the Clerk, who will then pursue this issue with Island Roads.
The Clerk distributed a table received from Island Roads indicating that Wheatsheaf Lane was swept
daily. The Councillors undertook to monitor this area and report back to the next monthly meeting.
Cllr McCleary reported about the poor state of cleanliness of the bus shelter in Yarmouth Bus Station,
caused by rubbish, urinating and poor lighting. Cllr Allen reported that it had been cleaned the
previous Wednesday.
Sylvia Mence reported about the Coastal Defence Strategic Study which has now been delayed until
2016, due to similar funding problems which forced the abandonment of the last Study in 2007.
vi)
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
There were no further questions, and the Public Forum concluded at 19:20.
140/2015
DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL
INTERESTS
Councillor
Personal
S Cowley
Yarmouth Town Trust
CHOYD
A Ingram
CHOYD
2
AND
DISCLOSABLE
PECUNIARY
Pecuniary
Any issue involving Lee Farm
or buses
P Cronin
D McCleary
R Corbett
K Cowley
Shareholdings in BT
CHOYD
Any issue involving Yarmouth
CEP School, or the Bugle
Yarmouth Town Trust
Any issue involving Lee Farm
or buses
Multi-Service Marine
J Allen
141/2015
MINUTES
RESOLVED: To take as read and confirm as accurate the minutes the Monthly Town Council held
10/11/15.
142/2015
FINANCE
142/2015.1 Payment of Accounts.
The following payments are authorised for December 2015:
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1549
1549
1550
1551
DC
DC
DC
DC
DC
Friends of Freshwater Library
Brian Jacobs
Brian Jacobs
Post Office
SLCC
Brighstone Lanscaping
Brighstone Lanscaping
Brighstone Lanscaping
Information Commissioner
S Mence
Malwarebytes
Post Office
Post Office
Argos
Groupon
Grant
Clerk payroll November
Clerk's expenses
Clerk payroll November
Subscription
Recreation Ground
Football Pitch
Yarmouth cemetery
Data Protection Act
Mayor's Award 2015
Malware protection
Postage
Postage
Office fan heater/card reader
Rerplacement office laptop
£300.00
£638.81
£27.00
£176.91
£235.00
£70.00
£60.00
£1,330.00
£35.00
£130.00
£14.96
£6.30
£6.30
£22.48
£220.83
142/2015.2 Bank Reconciliation.
RESOLVED: That the bank reconciliation for November 2015 is accepted
143/2015.3 Draft Budget 2016/17
The above was considered. RESOLVED: To accept the Budget as presented, and to set the precept at
the February monthly meeting, when the impact of IWC devolved services should be known.
143/2015
PLANNING ISSUES
143/2015.1 Planning Applications
RESOLVED: To respond to the following planning applications as indicated:
P/01217/15: No objections
P/01180/15: No objections, provided the building is retained for local housing in accordance with the
Yarmouth and Thorley Housing Needs Survey and the Yarmouth and Thorley Community Plan.
143/2015.2 Other Planning issues
The following were noted:
Permission Granted: None
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Permission refused: None
Temporary Event Notices: None
TPOs:
Consent to the following:
THE OLD RECTORY, ST JAMES STREET, YARMOUTH: The TPO for T1 English Oak situated as
detailed in the application to remove the dead wood from the crown and reduce the overextended
branches by 10% to strong growth points that are at least one third the diameter of the adjacent pruning
point. Reason: To improve the trees form
Licensing Act 2003: None
Other: Proposed Diversion of part of Public Footpath Y5
144/2015
RECREATION GROUND COMMITTEE
Cllr K Cowley presented a report about progress of the Play Area refurbishment, indicating that
pledges had now reached over £41K.
145/2015
DEVOLVED SERVICES
The Clerk reported that a further meeting at County Hall had been arranged for 7/12/15.
146/2015
REQUESTS FOR GRANT FUNDING
RESOLVED: To make a grant of £170 to Wight Nature Fund for printing the Mill Copse leaflets.
147/2015
CLERK’S REPORT
147/2015.1 MEETING WITH ISLAND ROADS
It was noted that a meeting has been arranged between Island Roads and members of town and parish
councils for 12/1/16. No issues of a general nature were raised.
147/2015.2 BUDGET MEETING WITH IWC
It was noted that a follow-up meeting will be held on Monday 7 December at 5.30 pm in the Council
Chamber
147/2015.3 ISLAND ROADS ROAD FLOODING CAMPAIGN
The above initiative was noted.
147/2015.4 REMEMBRANCE DAY WREATHES
The email from Andre Usborne was noted. Mayor Cowley expressed thanks to Cllr Corbett for his
valuable help in preventing damage to the wreaths on Remembrance Day.
147/2015.5 REVIEW OF PLANNING SERVICES BY SCRUTINY COMMITTEE AND
PLANNING ENFORCEMENT
RESOLVED: To accept the IWC proposals as long as a minimum of 75% of the required funding is
forthcoming. The Clerk to liaise with Mayor Cowley to complete the IWC survey.
147/2015.6 HEDGECUTTING AT CHOYD
RESOLVED: To authorise maintenance of the shrubs and hedges outside CHOYD. The Clerk to
arrange for Brighstone Landscaping to provide an estimate for the work.
147/2015.7 GRANTS
RESOLVED: To make a grant of £200 to Yarmouth Carnival Committee towards the cost of the
Christmas Tree. To make a grant of £1000 to Yarmouth School towards the cost of providing an
additional mobile classroom.
147/2015.8 GOVERNMENT SPENDING REVIEW
It was noted that the government has published a joint Spending Review and Autumn Statement
where the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out £4 trillion of spending plans for the rest of the
Parliament.
148/2015
CORRESPONDENCE
RESOLVED: To accept the correspondence list for November as presented
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149/2015
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
RESOLVED: To include the following items in future agendas:
Litter in Yarmouth
2016/17 Precept
150/2015
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED: To note the date, time and venue of the next monthly meeting, 12/1/16 at Yarmouth
Town Hall
151/2015
EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS
RESOLVED: That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted it is
advisable in the public interest that the public and press be temporarily excluded and they are
instructed to withdraw.
Signed....................................................................................... (Town Mayor)
Date.................................
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