Minutes - Wednesday, 30 January 2008
FARINGDON TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of a Town Council meeting
held on Wednesday 30th January 2008
in the Council Chamber, the Corn Exchange, Faringdon
PRESENT: Cllrs. J.C.W. Gillman (Town Mayor)
Mrs. M.J. Barker (Deputy Mayor)
Mrs. J. Boulton
Miss J.C. Farmer
A.V. Hickmore
D. Hughes
S. Leniec
A. Marsden
D. Price
Mrs. S. Vinall
Dr. M. Wise
In Attendance: 3 Members of Public
The Town Clerk
15/08 Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Cllrs. R. Cox and D. Halsall.
16/08 Declarations of Interest
No declarations were made.
17/08 Minutes of last Meeting : 9th January 2008
The Minutes were signed as a correct record.
18/08Matters Arising
The Chairman proposed deferring this item to the next meeting, which was seconded and CARRIED.
19/08 Public Question Time
The Clerk read out the following question which was submitted to her before the meeting by Kate Harrison and Sophie Cave:
“We would like to know what measures are being taken towards the soundproofing of the Corn Exchange and realistically how long until this town has its music venue back? If no progress is being made, and this is not being carried out, would the Council take into serious consideration the virtually unused Pump House for a music and possible young person’s venue.”
Cllr. Price replied and explained that, whilst the Town Council were keen to improve the Corn Exchange to enable its use for live music events, they were not prepared to spend a large amount of Council tax payer’s money on a building for which it did not have a lease. He stated that, following a number of complaints from local residents about noise, which had been acted on by enforcement officers from the Vale, it was important to avoid any further complaints and this may result in the Corn Exchange not being suitable for some live music events.
Miss Harrison and Miss Cover were given a written transcript of Cllr. Price’s reply by the Clerk.
Cllr. Leniec stated that it was not up to the Town Council to decide what facilities the young people in the town required, but they should be working together with the youth to identify their needs.
20/08 Public Speaking Time
Miss Harrison suggested that the Town Council should provide a venue in the town centre where young people could meet informally and could employ 6th form students to run youth activities there. Miss Cover expressed the view that the Town Council should soundproof the Corn Exchange, whatever the cost.
Cllr. Marsden asked that the points raised by Miss Harrison and Miss Cover be fully discussed and they were invited to attend the next meeting of the Venues Committee. Cllr. Miss Farmer suggested that members of the Youth Council should also be invited to attend.
21/08 Precept 2008/09
Members received the recommendations from the Finance Committee meeting held on 23rd January 2008 and suggestions from the Town Meeting held on 28th January 2008.
Cllr. Gillman expressed the view that the use of reserves to support the budget was ill conceived and proposed that the sum of £3635 should be added back to the Precept requirement. This proposal was seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Vinall.
Following a lengthy discussion, Cllr. Gillman’s proposal was put to the vote, but was LOST.
Cllr. Leniec proposed that the Finance Committee’s recommendation for a Precept requirement of £238,840, based on a budget of £266,475 and using £27,635 from Reserves to support the budget and maintain the increase to Faringdon residents at 0%, be accepted. This was seconded by Cllr. Hickmore and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Minutes of a Town Council meeting
held on Wednesday 30th January 2008
in the Council Chamber, the Corn Exchange, Faringdon
PRESENT: Cllrs. J.C.W. Gillman (Town Mayor)
Mrs. M.J. Barker (Deputy Mayor)
Mrs. J. Boulton
Miss J.C. Farmer
A.V. Hickmore
D. Hughes
S. Leniec
A. Marsden
D. Price
Mrs. S. Vinall
Dr. M. Wise
In Attendance: 3 Members of Public
The Town Clerk
15/08 Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Cllrs. R. Cox and D. Halsall.
16/08 Declarations of Interest
No declarations were made.
17/08 Minutes of last Meeting : 9th January 2008
The Minutes were signed as a correct record.
18/08Matters Arising
The Chairman proposed deferring this item to the next meeting, which was seconded and CARRIED.
19/08 Public Question Time
The Clerk read out the following question which was submitted to her before the meeting by Kate Harrison and Sophie Cave:
“We would like to know what measures are being taken towards the soundproofing of the Corn Exchange and realistically how long until this town has its music venue back? If no progress is being made, and this is not being carried out, would the Council take into serious consideration the virtually unused Pump House for a music and possible young person’s venue.”
Cllr. Price replied and explained that, whilst the Town Council were keen to improve the Corn Exchange to enable its use for live music events, they were not prepared to spend a large amount of Council tax payer’s money on a building for which it did not have a lease. He stated that, following a number of complaints from local residents about noise, which had been acted on by enforcement officers from the Vale, it was important to avoid any further complaints and this may result in the Corn Exchange not being suitable for some live music events.
Miss Harrison and Miss Cover were given a written transcript of Cllr. Price’s reply by the Clerk.
Cllr. Leniec stated that it was not up to the Town Council to decide what facilities the young people in the town required, but they should be working together with the youth to identify their needs.
20/08 Public Speaking Time
Miss Harrison suggested that the Town Council should provide a venue in the town centre where young people could meet informally and could employ 6th form students to run youth activities there. Miss Cover expressed the view that the Town Council should soundproof the Corn Exchange, whatever the cost.
Cllr. Marsden asked that the points raised by Miss Harrison and Miss Cover be fully discussed and they were invited to attend the next meeting of the Venues Committee. Cllr. Miss Farmer suggested that members of the Youth Council should also be invited to attend.
21/08 Precept 2008/09
Members received the recommendations from the Finance Committee meeting held on 23rd January 2008 and suggestions from the Town Meeting held on 28th January 2008.
Cllr. Gillman expressed the view that the use of reserves to support the budget was ill conceived and proposed that the sum of £3635 should be added back to the Precept requirement. This proposal was seconded by Cllr. Mrs. Vinall.
Following a lengthy discussion, Cllr. Gillman’s proposal was put to the vote, but was LOST.
Cllr. Leniec proposed that the Finance Committee’s recommendation for a Precept requirement of £238,840, based on a budget of £266,475 and using £27,635 from Reserves to support the budget and maintain the increase to Faringdon residents at 0%, be accepted. This was seconded by Cllr. Hickmore and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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