Minutes of the an ASSEMBLY

of the TOWN & PARISH OF LYDD

held at the Guild Hall

on Thursday12thNovember, 2009 at 7 p.m.

Present: The Town Mayor, Cllr.D. G. Kersey (Chairman)

Councillors: C. E. Albrow, T. Allen, Ms. V. M. Dawson, Mrs M.R.Masters, W.L.Richardson and G.F.A.Snell.

Town Clerk: Richard Styles

Town Clerk’s Assistant: Mrs. J. Mathews

Members of the public: 53

REASON FOR THE MEETING

The meeting was called by the following six (6) electors:

  1. Mrs. S. Robinson (DA 309)
  2. Mrs. R. G. Huxley-Williams (DA1762)
  3. Mr. T. D. Crompton (DA 964)
  4. Mr. D. Alford (DB 81)
  5. Mr. D. Donohoe (DB 82)
  6. Mr. A. J. Adams (DA 550)

The only item on the agenda was:

To consider the issues relating to the local governance review

The Mayor opened the debate and called for the six convenors of the meeting to express their views.

They were followed by some of the Councillors present and then the debate was opened to the floor.

In general terms the participants at this meeting expressed the view that the governance review should reject the proposed Greatstone Parish Council which would it is believed encompass Lydd DC electoral ward.

There was little sympathy expressed for the alternative view saving that expressed by the Chairman.

There was a brief debate on the stance that the local district Councillors should take on the matter, with Cllr Ms Dawson expressing concern that she had been given tardy and insufficient advice. Cllr Richardson held the view that District Councillors who fettered their decision before the District Council meeting that will decide the matter, may find themselves excluded from the vote. This view was challenged by a number of persons at the meeting.

A vote was called by Cllr Albrow which proposed the following:

The Parish electorate must be given the opportunity to exercise their choice, albeit in favour or against the proposals contained within the petition submitted to Shepway District Council by the Coastal Community group, and the only democratic and transparent method of achieving that end, is by putting in place a ‘community referendum’

Cllr Snell seconded the proposal.

The resolution was carried NEM CON

Further exchanges occurred in which the Coastal Community group and the Mayor were called on to resign but no further vote was called on this or any other subject.

The meeting closed at 8.40 p.m.

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Town Mayor and Chairman.