Minutes, Extraordinary Town Council, 2015

HTC/M4 HUNTINGDON TOWN COUNCIL An extraordinary meeting of the Town Council was held in the Town Hall, Market Hill, Huntingdon on Thursday 24th September 2015. Present: Councillors: A Beevor; A Blackwell; D Brown; J Dyne; T Forster; S Gifford: S Hassell; W Hensley; J Jacobs; P Kadewere; A Mackender-Lawrence; B Morrell; S Mulcahy; T Sanderson and R Valatka. Absent: Cllr L George In attendance: County Cllrs Mike Shellens; Julie Wisson and Peter Ashcroft, and 3 members of the public. 36. STANDING ORDERS Members were asked to approve the suspension for this meeting only of Standing Order 5.g (wearing of robes) as per Standing Order 26.d. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to do so. 37. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received and accepted from Councillors A Dovans; B Manning and S McAdam, as well as Sir Peter Brown and Peter Johnson. 38. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were none. 39. PUBLIC ADDRESS It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to adjourn the meeting for public address. Mr Bob Pugh noted that the Friends of the Cromwell Museum recognised the huge effort the Town Council had put in to the museum. He noted that everyone wanted what was best for the museum’s future. It was noted the Cambridgeshire County Council had made an offer of a 999 year lease of the museum to the Town Council, and suggested that in September 2014, accepting a lease of the museum had been considered. Mr Pugh asked the Town Clerk to clarify the Town Council’s position. The Town Clerk explained that the Town Council’s position had not changed since the beginning of negotiations, and that they had always asked for a transfer of the freehold and a grant. Cllr Mike Shellens pointed out that the people of Huntingdon were eager for the issue to be resolved. It was noted that County Councillors had called in the decision by the General Purposes Committee to be discussed at the upcoming Full Council meeting. Cllr Shellens explained that CCC were keen for the museum to remain a museum dedicated to Oliver Cromwell and felt a lease would help ensure this. Some County Councillors had stated that they felt the statement that the Town Council would ensure the museum remained a cultural/heritage museum was too open to interpretation. Cllr Shellens noted that CCC did not understand the problem with a 999 year lease, and noted that the Council just wanted to ensure the museum remained accessible to local people, and remained dedicated to Oliver Cromwell. Members thanked Mr Pugh and Cllr Shellens for their time, and it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to reconvene. 40. CROMWELL MUSEUM Members had before them a report from the Town Clerk regarding the negotiations on the Cromwell Museum. The Town Clerk reported that 27 Members of Cambridgeshire County Council had agreed to call in the decision on the Cromwell Museum, and 34 Members were needed to achieve a majority decision. It was noted that the Town Clerk and Mayor would attend the CCC meeting on the 13th October to address the issue. Cllr Shellens noted that if CCC Members agreed to reject the decision, it would only be referred back to the General Purposes Committee. A Member noted that there seemed to be a misunderstanding among Officers, and that both Councils wanted the same thing. The Town Clerk pointed out that the Town Council would guarantee the museum remained dedicated to Oliver Cromwell, and would be leased on a peppercorn rent to the Oliver Cromwell Trust. A Member also noted that without security of tenure the museum would lose its accreditation, and would be unable to apply for funding from the Art Council. It was noted that Huntingdon Town Council would be taking on all the building risk, and that being position across the Market Square from the museum put the Town Council in a good position to manage the building. The Town Clerk pointed out that if CCC felt a lease was more beneficial, they could have leased the museum directly to the Museum Trust. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to decline Cambridgeshire County Council’s offer of a 999 year lease for the Cromwell Museum building, and RESOLVED that Huntingdon Town Council, under the powers Local Government Act 1972, Section 144 – powers to encourage visitors; Offer support to the ongoing provision of the Cromwell Museum via the ownership of the building being transferred from the County Council to the Town Council for a peppercorn, with the Town Council maintaining the building externally on receipt of sum of £20k. from the County Council. In return the Town Council would guarantee in perpetuity that the building would remain a museum dedicated to Cromwell or as a museum or heritage asset or cultural asset; and that the museum building be leased, on a peppercorn rent, to the Cromwell Museum Trust Charity. 41. DEVOLUTION Members had before them a report from the Town Clerk regarding the devolution negotiation process with Huntingdonshire District Council. The Town Clerk reported that the leader of HDC had agreed to start negotiations, but had not yet been briefed on the Town Council’s intentions. A Member noted that the HDC had previously not passed down funding to the Town Council, and questioned whether the money would be passed over if the Town Council were to take on the extra work. The Town Clerk explained that the money in question was paid to the District Council with the recommendation that it be passed on to the Town Council, but this was not mandatory. It was also noted that in order to avoid double taxation, HDC would have to either pass on the funding to the Town Council, or reduce their council tax so the Town Council could raise tax. One Member noted that HDC did not seem to be aware of what devolution meant. It was suggested that the Town Council could improve the standard of service that local people would receive. Members suggested that anything the Town Council could do to the same or higher standard as HDC should be on the table for negotiations. A Member questioned whether the Town Council would take on personnel and equipment from the District Council. The Town Clerk explained that freedom of information requests had been submitted on personnel and equipment used by HDC. It was noted that a meeting between the Town Council and District Council would clarify issues such as this. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept recommendations 3.1 and 3.2 from the Town Clerk’s report. Members were asked to agree the scope for dialogue to commence between the Town Council and District Council. It was suggested that the scope for discussion should be: Devolution – take over funding and provision of service. No double taxation What the Town Council can do for the same or less cost What the Town Council could offer the same or higher level or service It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve this scope for discussion. Members were asked to approve Officers and Members to attend the meeting between the Town Council and District Council. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the Officers that should attend were: Town Clerk Deputy Town Clerk Head Groundsman Finance Officer, And that the Members that should attend were: Chair of the Finance Committee Vice Chair of the Leisure & Community Services Committee The Mayor Cllr Morrell It was also noted that the Chair of the Staffing Sub Committee would be involved in the discussions further down the line. 42. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS There were none 43. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The date of the next meeting of the Town Council was noted as Thursday 5th November 2015. MAYOR .

Load more