Agenda and minutes

To receive, note and where requested, approve the reasons for apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hardy, A. James, J Petherick and L. Petherick.

Resolved that the apologies be noted.

Resolved that the agenda between Parts I and II be agreed to.

To declare any disclosable interests relating to the forthcoming items of business (if any).

Cllrs Goodman-Bradbury and Cllrs Wrigley declared interests in relation to ‘Families in Need’ section of Item 8 Town Mayor’s Announcements as they were portfolio holders at Teignbridge District Council. They would speak but not vote. 

To receive and consider requests for dispensation (if any).

There were no dispensations.

To approve, sign and adopt the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 10 January, and 24 January 2024.

Members considered the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 10 January and 24 January 2024.

Resolved that the minutes of the Town Council meetings held on 10 January and 24 January 2024 be approved and signed as a correct and accurate record.

To receive and note an update about the Ditto Trail’s plans for 2024, and approve location at the Manor House.

Resolved that Item 9 on the agenda be moved to be discussed before Item 6 on the agenda.

Standing orders were suspended at 7.13pm to allow members of the public to speak.

Following the positive responses to the Ditto trail last year 45 were planned for 2024 with a new trail map which would be numbered. The first book had won an international award. Powderham Castle were now a sponsor of some of the leaflets.   Launch would be at the Council’s Easter event on Saturday 30^th March 2024 in the Manor House Gardens.

Standing orders were resumed at 7.19pm.

Resolved that the location of the Manor House Ditto was agreed and the report was noted.

To receive the Minutes of the following Committee(s) for adoption (if any) – Members are requested to refer to the Town Council’s website to view said Minutes:

·         Civic Amenities Committee – 15 November 2023

·         Events Committee – 14 November 2023

·         Finance & General Purposes Committee – 23 November 2023

·         Manor House & Riverside Centre Committee – 21 December 2023

·         Planning Committee – 7 December 2023

Resolved that the minutes set out below, approved by the relevant Committee and signed by the Chair as a correct record of that meeting, be adopted:

·         Civic Amenities Committee – 15 November 2023

·         Events Committee – 14 November 2023

·         Finance & General Purposes Committee – 23 November 2023

·         Manor House & Riverside Centre Committee – 21 December 2023

·         Planning Committee – 7 December 2023

To receive any updates from the Town Clerk (if any).

Resolved that the report was noted.

To receive the Town Mayor’s announcements (if any).

Cllrs Pyne and Weatherhead left the meeting at 7.31pm.

Resolved that Dawlish Town Council approach District Councillors Wrigley and Goodman Bradbury for funding appropriate books celebrating International Women’s Day 2024 that the Council would then give to local schools.

A number of issues relating to the desperate situation with housing were discussed.

Resolved with two councillors not voting that Dawlish Town Council write a letter to Homes England, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the MP adding the Council’s voice to those lobbying for more housing schemes and noting that Teignbridge District Council’s Housing Department was doing an excellent job despite the high demand. The letter should include reference that the Council was open to discussion to contributing to a campaign on empty homes if that would be helpful.

The Town Council is recommended to resolve to

(a)    adopt Section 29 of the Local Democracy, economic Development and Construction Act 2009 to permit it to grant the title of Honorary Freeman / Woman of the Parish of Dawlish, and

(b)   to create an additional standing order, to read:

“30.     Grant of the Title of Freeman/Woman of the Parish of Dawlish

The Council has formally adopted Section 29 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 allowing it to grant the title of Honorary Freeman or Freewoman of the Parish of Dawlish.

A decision to bestow such an honour is required to be made at a meeting of the Council specifically called for that purpose.  Additionally, at least two-thirds of those present and voting must vote in favour of the proposal to confer the honour.

The rights attached to the honorary position are not stipulated in legislation, therefore, this Council will invite its Honorary Freeman/Woman to all town and civic events and offer an open invitation to attend meetings of the Full Town Council and to speak (but not vote).  A scroll and badge of honour will be presented to the Honorary Freeman/Woman.

The office is to write a handbook regarding the Freeman/Woman/Person of the Parish procedure and within that it is explicitly stated that it is an exceptional and rare award.  

Resolved with three abstentions that Dawlish Town Council:

a.      adopt Section 29 of the Local Democracy, economic Development and Construction Act 2009 to permit it to grant the title of Honorary Freeman / Woman / Person of the Parish of Dawlish, and;

b.      amend standing orders to include:

30. Grant of the Title of Freeman/Woman of the Parish of Dawlish

The Council has formally adopted Section 29 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 allowing it to grant the title of Honorary Freeman, Freewoman, or Freeperson of the Parish of Dawlish.
A decision to bestow such an honour is required to be made at a meeting of the Council specifically called for that purpose. Additionally, at least two thirds of those present and voting must vote in favour of the proposal to confer the honour.

The rights attached to the honorary position are not stipulated in legislation, therefore, this Council will invite its Honorary Freeman/Woman/Person to all civic events. An illuminated scroll, held in a casket, and badge of honour will be presented to the Honorary Freeman/Woman/Person.

To receive an update from the Finance & Administration Officer regards the first rural skip service, and to clarify and highlight acceptable waste streams on the next service dates.

The Finance and Administration Officer reported on feedback from the recent skip service and was asked to confirm what happened to the non-recyclable waste collected in the skip service.

Resolved that the changes to the skip service be agreed as set out in the paper.

Cllr Heath left the meeting.

The Town Council is recommended to:

(a)    Approve the proposed job description for the role of Dawlish Town Crier; and

(b)   Approve the appointment of the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, Chair of the Events Committee, two external Town Criers, and one Officer to form the interview panel and delegate authority to the panel to appoint the successful candidate.

Resolved that job description for the role of the Dawlish Town Crier was approved as set out in the paper and the composition of the interview panel was agreed with the authority delegated to the panel to appoint the successful candidate.

To consider a notice of motion submitted by Cllr A. James, “that Dawlish Town Council lobbies the Government via our elected MP, Anne Marie Morris, with the aim of preventing individuals, groups, or companies from advertising, selling, and encouraging suicide over the internet in the form of suicide kits, information, and individual assistance.”

The item was withdrawn for next Town Council meeting.

To consider a notice of motion submitted by Councillor Foden, “that regional managers at One Stop Stores Ltd reconsider the decision to closure the Post Officer counters at their shop in Dawlish, to continue to be a community store for Dawlish by providing all the Post Office services at Post Officer counters and continuing to employ Post Office trained staff.  We also call for One Stop Stores Ltd to consider a public consultation with the people, businesses, and Town Council in Dawlish”.

Cllrs Pyne and Weatherhead returned to the meeting at 8.20pm

At the next banking hub stakeholders meeting the issue of whether the hub could include all post office services be raised.

Resolved that Tesco, One Stop Stores Ltd and the MP be written to, to reconsider the decision to close the Post Office counters at their shop in Dawlish, to continue to be a community store for Dawlish by providing all the Post Office services at Post Office counters and continuing to employ Post Office trained staff and that they consider a public consultation with the people, businesses and Town Council in Dawlish.

To appoint an interested Member to the Skate Park Working Group.

Resolved that Cllr Wrigley be appointed to the Skate Park Working Group with an understanding he would not be able to attend every meeting.

To appoint up to four interested Councillors to join the Tourism Working Group.

Resolved that Cllrs Dawson, Graham-Ellis, Mayne and Pyne join the Tourism Working Group.

To receive a report from the County Councillor (if any).

Councillor Wrigley reported that:

·         Devolution deal – there would be a period of public consultation from 12^th February. The combined county authority structure was not ideal in the voting members configuration.

·         Budget – there had been meeting to agree the budget and there would be cuts in services despite increases in care disability grants. The budget for SEN was overspent.

·         Teignmouth Hospital – The closure would now take place as the review failed. A review could be asked for of the review but it was unlikely to change the outcome. The focus was now on what to use the site for in the future and if it could be health related.

·         Pot holes – this was continuing to be reported.

·         Street lighting – a question was asked if these lights were cheaper to be kept on during the day rather then turned off as a number were on in the day. Other items raised by Town Councillors were: broken lights on the seafront bus stop, lack of flashing 20mph lights working at Elm Grove Road, markings at Weech Road needed re-doing, issues with the bus stop at Lady’s Mile and a wall at Cockwood being regularly knocked down by drivers. Cllr Wrigley will follow these items up and ask for an officer to visit on the last matter.

·         20mph speed limit in local areas was out to consultation.

Resolved that the report was noted.

To receive reports of District Councillors (if any).

Cllr Dawson

Cllr Dawson reported that she has an online meeting with the Drainage and Coastal Manager of Teignbridge District Council in the coming weeks regarding the bridge in the Manor Gardens and the current situation regarding the Brook after the recent flash flood. Cllr Dawson had also meet with the local bowling clubs.

Cllr Goodman-Bradbury

Cllr Goodman-Bradbury reported on working being undertaken as the Executive Member for Homes and Communities at the District Council.

Resolved that the reports were noted.

To receive reports of Town Councillors (if any).

There were no reports.

The Town Council is recommended to approve the following resolution:

“That in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting for the duration of the following items on the basis that the information to be disclosed would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted”.

Members resolved the following resolution:

That in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting for the duration of the following items on the basis that the information to be disclosed would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.

The member of the public left the meeting.

To receive and note a verbal update.

At 20.59 it was resolved to extend the meeting for up to half an hour.

Resolved that the report was noted.