These are draft minutes that have not yet been approved by the council. The minutes are subject to change and will be confirmed at the next meeting.

A24/057 PRESENT

Councillors Gray, Banks, Dalzell, Lowe and Wood.

A Keppel-Green (Town Clerk) and Cllr Hartley.

 

A24/058 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllrs Coan and McCulloch (health) and Gardiner (personal business)

 

A24/059 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

No member declared an interest in any item on the agenda.

 

A24/060 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

A resident spoke in relation to A24/066 stating that the council should confirm the building is required and that it will work with the landowner to develop the specification, but that the suggestion that the building be leased to The Welcome entirely should be rejected. The resident suggested a working group be established to develop the specification for the building.

 

A24/061 CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14th October 2024.

 

A24/062 REVIEW OF YEAR-TO-DATE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

The year to date income and expenditure report was noted.

 

A24/063 COUNCIL OFFICES DEDICATION OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY

It was noted that the establishment of a public right of way could create additional obstacles for the renovation of the building. It was RESOLVED to defer consideration of dedicating a right of way.

 

A24/064 MARKET HALL REFURBISHMENT: NEXT PHASE

Officers were congratulated on securing the additional £90,000 of funding to deliver a second phase of works.

It was RESOLVED to approve the proposed second phase of works to be delivered within the funding envelope of the Shared Prosperity Fund grant and authorise the Town Clerk in consultation with the Market Hall Refurbishment working group to tender the works, value engineer the project (as necessary) and appoint a contractor.

 

A24/065 COUNCIL OFFICES IMPROVEMENTS

It was RESOLVED to dissolve the Council Offices sub-committee and to establish a Council Offices Improvement Plan working group as per the terms of reference provided.

It was RESOLVED that all members be invited to express interest to join the working group, that if the number of members wishing to serve exceeds three that the committee members be polled on the appointments and that the Town Clerk appoints the top three members to the working group.

 

A24/066LONGRIDGE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BUILDING

It was RESOLVED to affirm that the building continues to be required and that the council is willing to engage with the landowner on developing the specification for the building and that it is willing to take ownership of the land and associated buildings.

It was RESOLVED to

  1. authorise the Town Clerk and committee Chairman and Deputy Chairman to engage in future meetings with the landowner concerning the development and operation of the building
  2. establish a working group to develop the specification for the building, its proposed operating model and a name.

It was RESOLVED that all members be invited to express interest to join the working group, that if the number of members wishing to serve exceeds three that the committee members be polled on the appointments and that the Town Clerk appoints the top three members to the working group. It was noted that community representatives would be invited to join the committee too.

 

A24/067 STRATEGIC PLAN

The progress on actions for the current year was noted. It was suggested that reducing the overgrowth on pavements to the cemetery would support the objective of boosting use of the chapel.

 

A24/068 QUESTIONS TO THE TOWN CLERK

The Town Clerk responded to a question in respect of the adequacy of town centre bins stating that the matter would be discussed by the Environment and Transport Committee at its next meeting.

 

A24/069 OUTSTANDING MATTERS LOG

The log was noted.

 

A24/070 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting will be held on 30th June at 7:30pm.

 

A24/071 60 KING STREET

It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

The update from Bruntwood was noted and the committee indicated support for continued progression of the proposals. It was RESOLVED to seek a more detailed update from Bruntwood, including the outcome of the condition survey, for the next meeting.

It was RESOLVED that a public update be issued as soon as possible.