Environment Minutes 23rd September 2014
MINUTES of the Meeting of the ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
held at
The Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich
on
Tuesday 23rd September 2014 at 7.00pm
| Present: | Councillors Brown, Flavell, King, Thompson and McLeod |
| In the Chair: | Councillor Fowler |
| Clerk: | Mrs Michelle Townsend |
| Also present: | Horticultural Adviser Paul Preece One member of the public and no press |
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME:
Dr Rogers raised two issues regarding drainage in Lower Marine Parade with a view to them being submitted to the Local Highways Panel. As this was not a listed agenda item, Dr Rogers was asked to forward his comments to the office where they would then be forwarded to the appropriate officer for consideration.
| E35/14 | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from the Horticultural Adviser Chris Greenfield and Councillors Day, I Henderson, Todd and F Powell. |
| E36/14 | DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS None |
| E37/14 | MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING RESOLVED that the minutes of the Environment & Community meeting held on 15th July 2014(previously circulated) be approved by the Committee and signed by the Chairman as a true record. |
| E38/14 | MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES E22/14 – Tree Planting & Outdoor Spaces – Request sent to TDC for tree along the seafront to be replaced. Tree has not been replaced yet. Request sent to TDC for a new tree in Cox’s Pond. No action taken yet. Clerk agreed to forward a reminder to TDC to liaise with Cllr Flavell and Horticultural Adviser regarding exact location.E23/14 – Brooklyn Road/Oakland Road – Referral submitted to the LHP for consideration. Referral will be required to go through a validation process prior to review by the panel.E25/14 – Winter Salt Bag Scheme – New location for storage has been secured at ‘Well Worth a Pound’ and the application for the scheme has been submitted. Cllr Brown brought up the issue of amended bus routes and raised concerns over certain roads not being gritted in the future. Cllr Brown requested this to go on the next Full Council agenda. E26/14 – Local Highways Panel – Letter sent to LHP expressing HTC’s disappointment with the lack of action. Cllr I Henderson will be raising this issue at the next meeting scheduled for 18th September 2014. E27/14 – TDC Emergency Planning Meeting – HTC Emergency Planning webpage in progress – Cllr Fowler and Cllr F Powell. E29/14 – Rural Projects Panel – Letter of support sent. E30/14 – Proposal For Buoy at Gas House Creek – Extension of time for planning application submitted. Several meetings held to discuss the progress of the buoy. E31/14 – Cycling Along the Seafront – Initial discussions held with TDC and Councillor Flavell. Request for meeting sent to TDC. Cllr Flavell is hoping to meet with Ian Taylor over the next week. E32/14 – Placement of Additional Picnic Table on Harwich Green – Awaiting approval from TDC for design and location. |
| E39/14 | MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES E07/14 – Asset of Community Value – Full Council ratified the decision of the E&C Committee to nominate the Trafalgar Public House as an Asset of Community Value. Request and justification has been submitted to TDC.E08/14 – Putting Green (lifting of parking restrictions) – Ian Taylor has indicated that support would be given but would need to follow the correct procedures for submitting a Traffic Regulation Order request to the NEPP who will then consult with TDC. TRO submitted 9th July 2014. No update or response received. |
| E40/14 | TREE PLANTING & OUTDOOR SPACES The dead tree is now sprouting as a bush and will be moved to another location. The replacement tree is still outstanding from TDC.Members reviewed the planting recommendations submitted by Chris Greenfield. Members were made aware that this spend would exceed the tree planting budget by £18, however it is anticipated that up to £675 will be awarded to HTC from the TDC Tree Grant Programme. RESOLVED: Approval given for tree planting recommendations to be submitted as part of TDC’s Tree Grant Programme. FURTHER RESOLVED: Approval granted for the inclusion of a tree to be funded by a local resident as part of HTC’s Tree Planting Grant application.Paul Preece raised concerns regarding the sparse hedge planting surrounding the putting green. HTC had provided £600 towards the cost of planting subject to the following conditions: – the whole area being brought up to a good state of condition Members thanked Paul Preece and Chris Greenfield for their time and effort with compiling the planting recommendations. |
| E41/14 | JOURNEYER PROJECT – GRASS ON HARWICH GREEN Cllr Flavell highlighted the poor condition of the Morse Code landmark on the green which was installed by Essex County Council as part of the Public Realm Works in the Quay. Cllr Flavell felt that the lack of adequate maintenance and subsequent events on the green had caused the area not to prosper. RESOLVED: Clerk to write to Claire Cleary, ECC, to request remedial works are undertaken now. A review of the area to be carried out in the Spring, and if it is not looking good, request the green to be put back to its previous condition. |
| E42/14 | PUTTING GREEN The Working Party confirmed it is still awaiting details of costs and S106 funds available from TDC before they can continue to proceed with this project. |
| E43/14 | LOCAL HIGHWAYS PANEL Members reviewed the written update received from Cllr I Henderson following his meeting with the LHP on 18th September 2014. Cllr I Henderson confirmed that the Panel has received HTC’s correspondence expressing HTC’s dissatisfaction with proposed projects which do not seem to be coming to fruition. Members raised several queries regarding the on-going projects and suggested that an informal meeting should be held to gain updates. RESOLVED: Clerk to arrange an informal meeting for Cllr I Henderson to provide progress updates of all outstanding projects and answer any queries. |
| E44/14 | EMERGENCY PLANNINGDamian Williams attended the last Working Party meeting to offer guidance with the completion of the plan and discussed the possibility of running an ‘emergency’ event locally. Cllr C Powell expressed wishes to assist and will now be attending further meeting of the working party. Members reviewed the draft emergency plan which has been compiled with the assistance of Cllr Flavell and Cllr C Powell. RESOLVED: To approve HTC’s Emergency Plan subject to minor amendments which include a change to the order and submit to Full Council for approval and adoption. FURTHER RESOLVED: Full Council to consider an accessible format and content of the Emergency Plan for the public domain. Members discussed details of TDC’s Get Ready for Winter event and agreed to assist with promoting the event. |
| E45/14 | PROPOSAL FOR BUOY AT GAS HOUSE CREEK Several meetings have been held to discuss ECH’s conditions and estimated costs with taking this project further with the buoy in the original location. Members put forward alternative possible locations and the Clerk and Councillor Flavell will continue to liaise with TDC, ECC and Trinity House to secure a more suitable location. Thanks were given to Councillor Flavell and the Clerk for their time and perseverance. |
| E46/14 | MATTERS RECEIVED IN THE POST OR RAISED BY MEMBERSCouncillor Fowler wished to highlight the great job being done by the new Estates Supervisor who has recently arranged for repairs to the Flood Memorial and the bench near the telephone box and buoy which he has managed to arrange at no cost to the Council.
Councillor Brown confirmed that at the recent Beach Clean, 50 kilos of rubbish was collect on Saturday and 13 kilos on Sunday. |
| E47/14 | DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Environment & Community Committee will be held at the Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich on 18th November 2014 at 7pm. |
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9pm