Minutes 30 October 2008

SOUTHBOROUGH TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Southborough Town Council meeting held on Thursday 30 October 2008 at 7.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 137 London Road, Southborough, Kent. TN4 0ND.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Cllrs Bothwell (Town Mayor), Burbidge (Deputy Mayor), Belchem, Chater, Elliott, Ms Hill, Jamil, Mrs Jedrzejewski, Mrs Markwell, Marsh, Mayall, Mrs Morton, Oakford, Poile and Mrs Reid-Moore.

OFFICER PRESENT:Brenda Wickens

129.APOLOGIES AND REASON FOR ABSENCE – Cllrs Bowie and Rumsey (work commitments) and Ooi (holiday).

130. PREJUDICIAL AND PERSONAL INTERESTS – No interests were declared.

131.PUBLIC OPEN SESSION – There were no members of the public present. A letter was read out to those present by the Chairman from a resident thanking Cllr Jamil for his assistance in obtaining a replacement brown bin from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

132. MINUTES – The Town Council RESOLVED that minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2008 be signed as a correct record providing that Cllr Mrs Markwell is added to the list of attendees.

133.TOWN MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS – The Town Mayor presented a written report on his recent engagements.

134. COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS – Members RESOLVED to approve the following committee minutes:-

Planning and Transportation: 29 September and 13 October 2008

Parks and Cemeteries:2 October 2008 providing the reference to 8a) in P86a) be changed to 88a) and the reference to 6a) in P88a) be changed to P86a)

Finance and General Purposes:16 October 2008 providing the numbering is changed from F112 to F110 and F113 to F111.

135.KALC REPORT– No meetings have taken place since the last Full Council meeting. The next is due to take place on the 12 December 2008.

136.ANNUAL RETURN – Members RESOLVED that the amendments to the annual return be signed off by the Chairman and the Clerk.

137.VAT INSPECTION – Members NOTED the letter from Her Majestys Revenue and Customs. The additional letter tabled regarding the football confirmed that VAT should be payable on the maintenance sums paid annually. Members agreed that the sums due covering the last three years would be borne by the Town Council with the Association of Southborough Football Clubs being invoiced for the maintenance and the VAT from next April 2009.

138. MOTION - The following motion was put to the Committee by Cllr Mrs Morton

“This Council urges the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to use covert surveillance

powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) sparingly and proportionately in relation to the offence for which the citizen is being investigated.”

Upon voting the Motion was LOST.

It was RESOLVED that the Clerk be requested to write to the Chief Executive of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to request an explanation of the powers she holds in relation to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

139.MEETING DATES – Members RESOLVED to maintain the Full Council meetings on a monthly cycle and that all committee meetings would take place on a Thursday except for Planning which would remain on Monday evenings.

140.CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS - It was RESOLVED that during consideration of the following items of business the public and press would be temporarily excluded (Standing Order 76).

a)Confidential Council and Committee Proceedings – Members RESOLVED to approve the following confidential minutes:-

  • Parks and Cemeteries:2 October 2008
  • Finance and General Purposes:16 October 2008

b)Town Centre Development – The amended Declaration was discussed and it was agreed that the amendments should be passed to the Joint Steering Group at its next meeting on 31 October 2008.

There being no further business the Chairman thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.35 p.m.

TOWN MAYOR