Dover Town Council

Councillor R Markham attended as an ex-officio member of all Committees.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Frayne, Mrs V Philpott, C Precious, R Royston and P Verrill.


706. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations of either personal or prejudicial interest were made by members present.


707. MINUTES

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 February 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.


708. COMMITTEE BUDGET

The Committee noted the latest out-turn against the Committee’s 2007/08 budget (handed out at the meeting).


709. TOWN COUNCIL LINKS

The Committee considered the current position regarding links with Calais, Split & Zeebrugge. The Committee noted that there was nothing to report at the present time.


710. DOVER/CALAIS FESTIVAL OF SPORT

The Committee considered the Technical Support Officer’s report of 25th February 2008 concerning arrangements for the Dover/Calais Festival of Sport. The Committee noted that there would be an over-commitment on the 2008/09 budget provision.

The Committee considered the current position concerning medals for the participants of the 2008 Dover/Calais Festival of Sport. The Committee considered samples obtained from the Trophy Shop and decided that, as the expected number of participants was likely to be in the region of 700 from both Dover and Calais, the smaller medal of the two samples be ordered.

RESOLVED: That 700 of the smaller medal be purchased from Dover Trophy Shop and that the engraving thereon be changed to “Dover Town Council 2008”, the cost of £1,190 +VAT be met from the Dover/Calais Festival of Sport provision in the Committee’s 2008/09 budget.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That £500 be vired from the Committee’s provision for Tourism to the Committee’s provision for the Dover/Calais Festival of Sport in the 2008/09 budget to cover the over-commitment caused by the preparations for the 2008 Dover/Calais Festival of Sport.


711. ST. GEORGE’S DAY/ZEEBRUGGE RAID COMMEMORATIONS 2008

The Committee considered preparations for the Town Council’s St. George’s Day/Zeebrugge Raid Commemorations on 23rd April 2008, which will be the 90th Anniversary of the Raid on Zeebrugge. The Committee noted that preparations were progressing well.

The Committee noted Enjoy England’s “Celebrate St. George’s Day” National Campaign booklet. The Committee agreed that details of the booklet be put on the weekly bulletin so that any interested Councillor can come and have a look at it.


712. HONOUR BOARDS

The Committee considered an oral report from the Chairman concerning the current position regarding the production of ‘Honour Boards’. The Committee noted that the Chairman had now met with Mr Towers from the Duke of York’s Royal Military School and was very impressed with what he was shown. Mr Towers is very keen to take on the project and the Chairman was waiting for an estimated cost from Mr Towers.

The Committee considered the Town Clerk’s report of 3rd March 2008 concerning the production of ‘Honour Boards’.

RESOLVED: a) That the Honour Board project be given to Mr Towers of the Duke of York’s Royal Military School subject to reasonable costings and these costs being agreed between the Committee members and then by an urgent decision by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman. Costs to be met from the Restorations provision in the Committee’s 2008/09 budget.

b) That a letter be sent to Mr Howard to thank him for his interest in the project.


713. DOVERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

The Committee considered the current position with regard to the Dovers throughout the world project. The Committee noted that details had been received from Mrs Sencicle from Dover, New Hampshire and Dover, Delaware and that the Dover Grammar School for Boys, Dover Grammar School for Girls and Charlton Primary School has expressed an interest in the ‘Pen Pal’ project. The Committee noted that progress with this project would be slow but was progressing nonetheless.

RESOLVED: That Mrs Sencicle be asked whether the schools mentioned for Dover Delaware are Primary or Secondary so that we can better match those interested.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That the Mayor send a letter of friendship to the Mayors of Dover, New Hampshire and Dover Delaware.


714. REPAIRS/RESTORATION

The Committee considered the Town Council Secretary’s report of 28th February 2008 concerning repairs to the Town Council’s Mace.

RESOLVED: That Company A (Ottewill, Ashford) be contracted to repair/re-gild the Town Council Mace as detailed in their quotation. The cost of £1,597.50 + VAT (£1,877.06), costs to be met from the Restorations Provision in the Committee’s 2007/08 budget.


715. LAPEL PINS

The Committee considered Miss J Stewart’s email of 9th February 2008 concerning a request for lapel pins. The Committee noted that the Mayor was prepared to answer Miss Stewart’s request.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That the Mayor respond to Miss Stewart’s request.


716. TOURISM

The Committee considered the current position concerning Tourism in Dover.

The Committee considered the Deputy Town Clerk’s report of 4th March 2008 concerning the Festival of Dover 2008’s International Kite Flying event, which the Committee resolved to support under Minute No. 344, together with the Deputy Town Clerk’s report of 6th March 2008 concerning the provision of toilets for the event (handed out at the meeting). The Committee expressed its concern at the extra high costs budgeted for this event. It was agreed that the matter be referred to the Town Council to make a final decision but should the event go ahead the costs can be taken from the Twinning provision in the Committee’s 2008/09 budget.

The Committee considered the Chairman of the Festival of Dover 2008’s report of 4th March 2008 concerning the International Kite Festival at Berck-Sur-Mer. The Committee agreed that Councillor Mrs Philpott be given the opportunity to attend the International Kite Festival at Berck-Sur-Mer with another Councillor who may wish to attend with her.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs Philpott be given the opportunity to attend the International Kite Festival at Berck-Sur-Mer with another Councillor who may wish to attend with her, reasonable costs up to a maximum of £200 be to be from the Twinning provision in the Committee’s 2008/09 budget.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That the Town Council discuss and take the final decision on the Deputy Town Clerk’s reports of 4th and 6th March 2008 concerning the International Kite Flying Event. Should the event go ahead costs would be met from the Twinning provision in the Committee’s 2008/09 budget.


717. HONOUR OF PORTSMAN

The Committee considered the Mayor of Dover’s letter concerning the Honour of Portsman. The Committee were concerned that the request was for an organisation not an individual and decided that clarification was needed from full Town Council.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That the Town Council consider the Mayor’s letter concerning the Honour of Portsman at its next meeting.


The meeting closed at 7.25pm






Councillor G Cowan
CHAIRMAN