Agenda and minutes

All apologies must be notified to the Town Council offices by 5pm on the day of the meeting.

Apologies and reasons for absence were received and approved. (NC)

Cllrs J Hunt, M Lovering, L York, P Leaver, J Orange & K Stevenson as members of North Devon District Council, have a dispensation under SO66 to discuss and vote on any item on the agenda unless the item refers to a financial or legal agreement or dispute between the two authorities.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 19^th June 2023, are approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors approved to bring this item forward to earlier in the meeting (NC).

Devon County Council

Cllr C Leaver

-       The North Devon Link Centres consultation on whether to keep them open has been extended, still an opportunity to respond.

-       Devolution deal for the greater Devon region which includes Devon, Plymouth and Torbay is progressing.  The Government would prefer an elected Mayor, but this is not the local choice and may mean less funds being allocated.

-       The Highways & Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) meets three times a year and considers parking restrictions and other traffic matters.  If there are proposals required for Barnstaple it is important to get them in as it can take up to three years for them to be implemented.

North Devon Council

No reports received.

The Mayor reported the following:

-       Tim Steer, Town Centre Ranger and local rail campaigner has been awarded the Best Campaigner and best Social Media awards the Railfuture Rail User National Awards at the University of London, earlier this month.

-       At the same ceremony Devon County Council also received a special award for rail development and public transport.

Attended the Barnstaple Regeneration Board last week, the following was discussed:

-       The E-Scooter scheme will be receiving upgraded scooters.

-       The Pannier Market will be reopening on 1^st August, the Guildhall end, the theatre end is due to open mid September.

-       The Pannier Market fanlight window is being used as the new logo.

-       DCC will be undertaking a consultation for works to change the Longbridge Seven Brethren junction, significantly reducing the number of pedestrian crossings, works proposed to take place February / March 2024.  To be funded through S106 funds.

-       Also proposed is a widening of the Long Bridge to provide a new pedestrian / cycle lane.  This proposal is still at the early design stage and has not yet been costed.

-       Petroc College is moving its sports department to the new Tarka Leisure Centre.

Mayoral Engagements:

-       Pathway’s Pride Festival

-       Armed Forces Day event in Rock Park

-       Torrington Civic Service

-       Warrens Bakery new store opening (Deputy Mayor)

-       Bideford Mayor's Regatta Reception

-       Barnstaple in Bloom Judging Day

-       Holsworthy’s Pretty Maid Ceremony Luncheon (Deputy Mayor)

-       Exeter's Historic Lammas Fair

-       The Mole Resort Launch Event

-       NHS 75^th Birthday Tree planting (Deputy Mayor)

Diary Dates:

-       Councillors Surgeries in The Shambles 2^nd August.

-       Barnstaple Fair Proclamation, 13^th September.

-       Charity Quiz Night, 11^th October

-       The Really Big Quiz, 15^th November

Inspector A Wills provided his report in advance of the meeting (attached)

He also reported:

-       He has made application to the Proceeds of Crime fund to support two local charities, Barnstaple in Bloom and the Veterans Charity.

-       He will be attending the Barnstaple Street Cleanliness project meeting this coming Wednesday.

Cllr Questions:

Cllr L Dawson - Recent reports of graffiti on local roads, what is happening?

Insp AW – this can be reported to the Police but for any action to be taken witnesses and evidence are needed.

Cllr C Brown – Has there recently been more instances of suicide attempts on the Taw Bridge.

Insp AW – not recently and there is question as to whether the event are suicide or cries for help, particularly when it is the same person on multiple occasions.

Cllr I Williams – it’s good to see a second month of reduction in crime figures, thank you.

Insp AW – there are a significant number of people involved in achieving this including the Town Council, also the Safer Streets funding and the Street Marshalls, the uplift in Police Neighbourhood team.  The acknowledgement is much appreciated.

Cllr A Shah – Thank you for the sensitivity and discretion in which the community centre offences were handled.

Councillors thanked Inspector Wills for his report.

The minutes and resolutions of the following committee meetings were received and considered and it was resolved to adopt them en-bloc (NC)

The minutes and resolutions of the Rock Park Trust Committee meeting of 10^th June 2023 were received and considered and it was resolved to adopt them (NC).

The Mayor Cllr L York has been attending Age Concern committee meetings but had not been formally appointed by the Town Council as representative.

A request for nominations for a Town Council representative to Age Concern Barnstaple & North Devon CIO was taken Cllrs L York and J Challis both put themselves forward.

Cllr J Coates took the Chair for the vote, vote received:

Cllr L York     11

Cllr J Challis 5

Abs                 1

Cllr York is appointed and it was requested that the Town Clerk contact Age Concern to ask if they would consider a second representative.

Cllr L Dawson reported that he has been invited to the next meeting of the ND Archaeological Society and to two digs.

Cllr C Brown reported that he has been invited to the next meeting of the Tarka Rail Association.

Cllr L York informed the Council that the next NDVS Volunteer Awards ceremony will take place on 9^th November.

To consider and approve a letter of response to the consultation on the proposed closure of station ticket offices from Barnstaple Town Council (draft letter attached).

The consultation closes on Wednesday 26^th July.

Cllr C Brown proposed that the previously circulated letter to Great Western Railway be accepted as the Town Council response to the consultation (copy attached) (NC).

To appoint a working group to consider and develop a Barnstaple Town Council vision and Strategic Plan.

RESOLVED: To appoint a working group to consider and develop a Barnstaple Town Council vision and Strategic Plan, the following Councillors put themselves forwards:

P Leaver, M Pullen, A Shah, I Williams, J Coates, L Dawson, M Fowler, C Brown, K Stevenson, J Hunt, L York & J Phillips (in his absence).

The Town Clerk reported:

Devon County Council have a proposal for remodelling the Seven Brethren Longbridge Junction, it will:

-       Reduce the amount of pedestrian crossing points.

-       Change the traffic lanes to simplify vehicle movements.

-       Consultation in the autumn

-       Funded through S106

Pannier Market

-       The Guildhall end reopens next week.

-       The Guildhall Arches is closed due to being rewired today and tomorrow.

Historic England Architect visit to Guildhall

-       Heritage at Risk Register.

-       Potential access to funds

-       Condition survey

-       Possible link to FHSF funds for exterior redecoration.

Cultural Development Fund – a three year project to provide a collaborate approach to cultural activity in Barnstaple, the project includes:

-       A fund of approximately £3M has been awarded through the Arts Council.

-       A significant part of the project is renovation of part of the Bridge Chambers by 2026

-       Also included is a contribution to the 36/37 Boutport St development that NDC are delivering as part of the Future High Street Fund project.

-       Community Development Project

-       Festivals and Community Engagement

-       Wayfinding, trails and Public Art.

A Boards and Street licences.

Assistant Town Clerk Mr N Hampson updated the Town Council on a project he has been involved in, over the last couple of weeks, working with Devon Count Council and North Devon Council to help manage A-Boards and Street Licences in the town centre.

It had become clear that a significant number of businesses have been putting out A-Boards, tables and chairs and other obstructions within the town centre and not been complying with the relevant legislation and causing significant obstruction.

Following discussions with the two principal authorities the decision was taken to delegate some of the powers to the Town Council and Mr Hampson has been approaching the businesses not complying with the legislation.

The outcome has been a significant decrease in the number of obstructions in the town centre and an awareness by businesses of their obligations, there have not yet been the need to remove any of the obstructions and if this does happen it is likely that the principal authority action this.

Councillors thanked the Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerk for their reports.