NOTICE OF ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
WIVENHOE TOWN COUNCIL
All residents are invited to the Town Meeting that will be held in the William Loveless Hall on Wednesday, 13th May, 2015 at 7.30pm.
The following is the Agenda for the evening:
1Welcome from the Mayor
2Minutes of the last annual meeting
3To receive the annual report of the Town Council and financial statement
4To discuss any specific points which residents wish to raise
5To consider any resolutions which may be proposed
6Distribution of Mayor’s Charity Fund
If you wish to raise any specific points or submit any resolution to the Town Meeting, please return this form BEFORE Tuesday, 5th May 2015to the Town Clerk, Council Offices, High Street, WivenhoeCO7 9AB.
Successful resolutions will be considered by the Town Council, but are not bound by them.
Name......
Address......
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I wish to raise the following point:
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I wish to submit the following resolution:
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ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH2015
Your Representatives Were:
Cllr. K. Read(Town Mayor)Cllr. D. HenleyCllr. F. Richards
Cllr. I. Endean (Deputy Mayor)Cllr. P. KraftCllr. C. Kelly
Cllr. A. AldisCllr. N. LodgeCllr. A. Stinson
Cllr. I. Endean Cllr. R. NeedhamCllr. N. Tile
Cllr. K. Hall
During 2014/2015 the representatives of Wivenhoe on the Colchester Borough Council have been:
For Wivenhoe Quay ward: Cllr. C. Liddy and Cllr.R. Scott
For Wivenhoe Cross ward:Cllr. M. Cory and Cllr. J. Manning
Cllr. Julie Young represents Wivenhoe on Essex County Council.
Member of Parliament: Rt.Hon Bernard Jenkin
Wivenhoe Council Staff:
The Council staff during 2014-2015 were: Antoinette Stinson, Town Clerk; Christine Pettitt and Angela Daisleypart time Reception/Admin; Estates Team James Young and Andrew Hearn; Hall caretaker Mick Wells, Hall cleaner Lesley Wellsand Litter-picker James Eborn.
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2014 - 2015
A YEAR-END REVIEW:
This year was another extremely busy and productive one for the Town Council with a number of changes as well as good progress on many initiatives. In October 2014, Cllr. Claire Kelly was co-opted onto the Town Council following the resignation of Cllr. Brian Sinclair, after serving 10 years on the Town Council and in April 2014 the Town Clerk celebrated 40 years with the Town Council and was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a diamond and ruby ring. The Town Council itself was also 40 years old in April 2014 and a Roll of Honor is in the process of being commissioned to commemorate the event.
ECC’s decision that they will only fund school transport to the nearest geographical school that has spaces still remains controversial and the Town Council has battled strongly against the decision. CountyCllr. Julie Young has supported the Town Council in this and the latest news is that a deal has been agreed with Hedingham buses but firm details are unavailable yet.
In addition to Town Council responsibilities, nearly all councillors have other interests in the community as members or officers of a wide variety of local organisations that has added to the ability of this council to take a leading role in representing the Wivenhoe community.
New Truck
The Town Council’s 11 year old truck failed its MOT in December and with the aid of a very good Local Authority discount the Town Council was able for the first time ever to obtain a brand new vehicle from Lookers Ford of Colchester. The previous vehicle had been obtained at 1 year old and had served the Town Council well for over 11 years. Gone are the days of the old secondhand Landrovers!– the truck is the main workhorse of the Town Council and is vital to the work of the grounds maintenance team.
This year sees the end of another four year term of the current Town Council with Parish Elections taking place on 7 May 2015.
The Town Council continues being very busy and proactive in its outlook and not just reacting to events as they unfold. All members care passionately about Wivenhoe and devote a lot of their time to make it the best place in which to live.
Planning:
Chaired by Cllr. Vaughan, the Town Council’s Planning Committee met 15 times and dealt with 62 applications, in particular major issues such as encroachments along Wivenhoe Quay, and development by Taylor Wimpey of two amenity areas on DenePark estate and development at 82 Belle Vue Road.
There is much opposition against Network Rail’s proposal to close the Paget Road crossing and the Town Council voted unanimously for the crossing to remain open and will persevere to keep the crossing open. In April 2015, the s106 agreement is to be replaced with the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This is intended to provide new infrastructure to support development, rather than compensate by contributing towards providing amenities and funding projects in the area where development takes place. The importance of Wivenhoe’s Neighbourhood Plan will therefore be vital in securing the best for Wivenhoe.
Boundary Consultation –two consultations have been taking place – a change to the administrative boundary to the North West of Cross Ward - the proposed change being that the boundary should follow the natural line of Salary Brook for its entire length of the border, and a Ward consultation with the number of CBC councillors being reduced from 60 to 51. Twenty seven Wards will reduce down to seventeen each with three councillors. This will ensure that residents in every part of the Borough will have the opportunity to vote for a councillor each year which is something that currently does not happen.
The Planning Committee ensuresthat Wivenhoe’s voice is heard in various consultation documents, such as the cyclepath from Wivenhoe to the University. Amongst its remit of consultation on planning applications is receipt of decision notices; responding to planning appeals; responding to the Colchester Local Plan Issues and Options consultation;Tendring District Local Development Framework andMinerals Consultation Documents.Section 106 and related matters are also discussed as are the Town Plan and related policies. Changes in the Government’s legislation concerning National Planning Policyhas resulted in it being difficult to defend our town from overdevelopment, but the Town Council will do all it can to preserve the town as it stands.
Neighbourhood Plan:
The Neighbourhood Plan has reached an important stage. Evidence gathered from the public information day held in the William Loveless Hall in July 2013 has been combined with the results of the questionnaire and on-line survey. Eight working groups are concentrating on the range of subjects and a draft vision for Wivenhoe is in the preparation stage. Volunteers have been crucial at every stage of the plan. As the plan moves forward volunteers will be needed again. If you feel that you would like to be part please contact
Public Conveniences
An approach was received by the Town Council from Colchester Borough Council concerning the future of the public conveniences in the High Street car park and the prospect of transferring these assets to the Town Council. When the Town Council learned that the annual costs for the facility were in the region of £10,000 a year it was decided that accepting such a transfer was impractical. However the Town Council still harbours aspirations to create a Civic Centre in the area of the Council Offices, supported by the fact that the Town Council owns the two adjoining plots. An approach has therefore been made to Colchester Borough Council that the public conveniences would only be considered as part of a package which included purchase of the Council Offices. This remains the stance of the Town Council and negotiations are still continuing.
Pavilion, Offices and Police Houses Group:
This very active committee has carried out good work, with negotiations continuing concerning the purchase of the Council Offices.
With UKPower renewing all overhead electric cables throughout Wivenhoe the Town Council took the opportunity of having the large chestnut tree at 83 High Street pollarded when power was off.
Cooks’ Shipyard.
The two visitors’ car parks are now up and running, although not being used much. The wet dock still has space for commercial fishing and leisure vessels, and the dinghy park still has plenty of spaces. The Fisherman’s Store has now been leased to Transition Town Wivenhoe for a year as a bike repair studio and the Town Council is currently investigating a public launching facility so that users can gain access to the river (see below).
Public Launching Facility:
The Town Council has carried out exploratory work to try and re-establish a public launching facility, due to the ‘slipway’ left by Taylor Wimpey on the Cooks’ site being virtually unusable. As a result of the Town Council’s investigations a planning application for a pontoon was submitted to Colchester Borough Council in January 2015 and has since been approved. This has received favourable support from the community and the Town Council will now explore funding sources for the facility.
Wivenhoe in Bloom
In their sixth year this active group has produced some wonderful displays and many congratulatory remarks have been received. The new flower bed at Vine Parade has been completed and planted up and the flower bed at the corner of De Vere Lane cleared of old shrubbery and re-planted with colorful perennials and ground cover. Enthusiastic volunteers are needed so please get in touch with the Secretary, Janie Grote, on 820836 or acting Chair, Cllr. Fran Richards on 825516.
Cemeteries:
This year has seen the Cemetery Chapel virtually finished and ready for its launch on 14 May as a small museum. Response from volunteers to help run the museum has been favourable.
A new initiative this year was the creation of a ‘Wall of Remembrance’ on the back of the Cemetery Chapel wall. Small plaques in either brass or laminate can be put up in remembrance of a loved one and look attractive as well as being informative. Please contact the Town Council offices for further details.
Once again the increase in dog fouling in both Cemeteries and the Churchyard is still of particular concern to the Town Council. Dog-owners are reminded of current legislation which is that under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, owners are required to clear up after their dogs in all public areas. Failure to do this will result in a fixed penalty charge of £50 or a fine in court of up to £1000.
Highway Matters:
Some of the roads on the Persimmon site have been adopted by Highways and a Residents Parking Scheme is currently in the consultation process.
A disappointing response had been received from the Local Highways Panel on the request for passing places on The Avenue and is being contested. Potholes still remain a contentious issue with Highways being unco-operative with their repair schedules.
Street Cleaning:
The Town Council’s litter-picker has continued to work diligently around the town and is much appreciated by the residents.Residents are asked not to put up posters in the bus shelters, as these will be removed. This year saw a CBC initiative Hand in Hand Day of Action in March where volunteers and Council staff all joined in for a litter pick and general tidy up of the top end of Wivenhoe, including cleaning street signs. The same is planned for the lower end of Wivenhoe later in the year.
Recycling: You can now obtain the following from the Town Council offices:
Green boxes – Free.
Clear bags – Free.
Food waste bins (small and large) – Free.
Food waste caddy liners £1.00 per roll.
Garden waste sacks - £3.70.
Dog Waste bags – £1 per pack.
You can also obtain hearing aid batteries as well, free of charge.
CBC also operate a ‘drop in’ morning for residents seeking online support at the Council Offices, each Wednesday morning. At the moment this is a pilot scheme and residents can call in to see a Colchester Borough Council operative and raise any concerns or issues.
Wivenhoe Wood:
The Wivenhoe Wood Working party continues to work diligently carrying out much clearing and planting in the woods. Residents need reminding that the coppiced wood piles are an important habitat for wildlife and they should be left in situ for at least seven years. Removal of this wood is an offence and a legal notice to this effect had been put up by the Wardens to remind residents. Most of the wood is under the control of Colchester Borough Council with a small area bordering the King George V Playing Field under the control of the Town Council.
Estates/Play Areas:
The EstatesCommitteehasbeen very productive. The skatepark has had a major refurbishment and the ‘Bumblebee’ springer installed in the play area. A very ancient Holm Oak on the KGV Playing Fields had to have a crown reduction following a tree inspection report. A Holm Oak tree donated by the Wivenhoe Society had also been planted on the KGV field in memory of the late Cllr. Steve Ford and a Centenary Seat had also been sited on the King George V Playing Field to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.
JubileeGardens
In the JubileeWildlifeGarden there has been good progress with a pathway laid, a bench installed and many plants coming to fruition this year. Children and young adults have enjoyed the benefits of learning about the wildlife, especially with the Wild About Wivenhoe project earlier in the year. The WildlifeGarden has been very successful and the Town Council has received many compliments on its design. The other area of the JubileeGarden is also well under construction now.
The William Loveless Hall:
The Town Council continues to maintain the high standard of the hall. This year a professional cooker heat extraction unit has been installed in the kitchen and a new fire alarm system installed. Grant funding for the cooker hood was obtained. Once again the whole project was very well thought out and planned by the William Loveless Hall Working Party. Their next project is the installation of a hearing loop.
The Hall continues to be extremely well used by a wide range of clubs and organizations. This year two theatrical productions have been held at the Hall, in addition to a travelling theatre company and the new venture of a local film club. The well running of the Hall is overseen by a Working Party, chaired by Cllr. Penny Kraft, two other Cllrs, one lay member and the caretaker. Bi-monthly meetings are held where all aspects of running the hall are discussed. Most of the maintenance is done by the Town Council’s groundstaff and some outside contractors. Wivenhoe is very fortunate to have such a facility.
Christmas Lights:
This year the Lighting Team although short of volunteers, managed to put on a good display. A big thank you to all involved! Anyone wishing to become involved in this scheme would be most welcome, please contact the Wivenhoe Business Association.
The official switch on took place at 6.00pm on 4th December, followed by the December Market at St Mary's Church and Late Night Shopping Evening.
Allotments:
The allotments are managed by Wivenhoe Allotments and Gardens Association with whom the Council enjoys close liaison.These days allotments are very popular, not only is there a long waiting list, but for those lucky enough to have one, the enthusiasm amongst the holders never ceases to amaze. The Town Council provides a skip on a regular basis for the allotmenteers and this is much appreciated by them. Along with officers of WAGA, Councillors inspect the allotments twice each year. On a lighter note each year WAGA stages the ‘Wivenhoe Show’ in the William Loveless Hall where fruit and vegetables jostle side by side with cakes, home-made jams and flowers and there is also a section for handicrafts. It brings a real taste of country life to Wivenhoe and can be great fun. All residents can enter, even children. This year the show will be held earlier in the year on Saturday 22 August.
A new initiative this year is the construction of a compost toilet which wascompleted in March. The Town Council has supported the project with WAGA obtaining most of the funding from local sources and s106 funding.
Health Centre
Latest news is that the Philip Road site looks like a go ahead with December as a target date for completion.
Wivenhoe Neighbourhood Policing Team:
Contact is PCSO Louise Neville, Telephone: 101 ext 438102Mobile: 07801 461697
Email: For Non emergency enquiries dial 101
To find out what is happening in your neighbourhood and all about your local neighbourhood policing team visit and enter your postcode.
Communication with Wivenhoe residents: