Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Resources (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Resources seeking nomination of two Members to the Stow Maries Aerodrome Consultative Committee and consideration to cease to have a member nomination on the “Dawn” Sailing Barge Trust Limited.

It was noted that as part of a Section 106 planning obligation the Trustees of Stow Maries Aerodrome would be establishing a consultative committee as a means of advising the Trustees on the effects that the Aerodrome has on the local community.  The Council was requested to nominated two Members to this committee.

Members were advised that the Council had previously provided support to the “Dawn” Sailing Barge Trust due to her links to Maldon and Councillor R G Boyce was the Council’s nominee.  Members were asked to consider withdrawal of this nominee as the barge was now moored outside of the District and the Council had no more involvement with the Company or the management and use of the Dawn. 

Councillor A S Fluker proposed that Councillors Mrs P A Channer and Miss S White be nominated to the Stow Maries Aerodrome Consultative Committee.  He provided Members with information regarding the “Dawn” Sailing Barge Trust Limited and proposed that the Council ceases to have a nominee on the Trust.  These proposals were duly seconded.

In response to a question, Members were advised that the Council had received a business plan up to 2018 from Stow Maries Aerodrome and was currently awaiting the business plan for the period from 2019.

By way of clarification Councillor Boyce, the Council’s nominee, advised that he had never been invited to nor attended a meeting of the “Dawn” Sailing Barge Trust Limited.  He outlined the restoration costs involved and the costs incurred to the Council which included Officer time as an in-kind contribution. 

At this point a report from Officers in respect of the “Dawn” Sailing Barge Trust was requested but following further discussions Members were advised by the Monitoring Officer that there was nothing further to report as there had been a lack of information from the Trust.

The Leader of the Council commented that when Members were appointed to Outside Bodies they should report back and he requested that the Monitoring Officer ensure that this happened in the future. 

Following further discussion and in light of concerns raised Councillor Fluker proposed that a further recommendation be added requesting that a report regarding the Council’s involvement in the “Dawn” Sailing Barge Trust Limited and its potential demise be brought to a future meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  This proposal was duly seconded.  This proposal along with the earlier two were then agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)              That Councillors Mrs P A Channer CC and Miss S White are nominated to the Stow Maries Aerodrome Consultative Committee;

(ii)            That the Council ceases to have a nominee on the “Dawn” Sailing Barge Trust Limited;

(iii)          that a report regarding the Council’s involvement in the “Dawn” Sailing Barge Trust Limited and its potential demise be brought to a future meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.