Full Council Minutes – 26th November 2025

J Henderson, McLeod, Powell, Smith, Todd and Wade

None

Members acknowledged a list of recent engagements attended by Cllr Morrison, which had been previously circulated. She added that on Remembrance Day the Lieutenant Commander of the HMS Ventura was in attendance at the wreath laying in the morning.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of Harwich Town Council held on 14^th October (circulated separately) were approved as a correct record.

• MIN 076/25 – The clerk referred to several items of correspondence received regarding the Closure of Banks and Banking Hubs including from Barclays and TSB, which was discussed by members.  The council considered the recommendation to refer back to LINK to pursue the request for a hub to be created in the parish.  The chair felt that the MP should be taking this up on the council’s behalf and Cllr Calver suggested that the council asks his views, given constituents in Manningtree are being treated differently to those in Harwich.  Cllr J Henderson referred to whether the service being offered at CVST was still operating.

RESOLVED: To write to Bernard Jenkin MP and copy in LINK.

• MIN 140/24 – It was noted that the final invoice had been received and paid in relation to the VE-Day 80 celebrations and the total cost of all activities was £1592.93. The clerk confirmed that she would recommend closure of the EMR at the end of this financial year.

Members discussed what projects they would like to prioritise for delivery during 2026/27.  It was suggested the Allotments remained to include the addition of a new database; the Skate Park CCTV be removed since the project was complete; the Putting Green (ideas for future use) is removed owing to uncertainties over LGR; Hill School Site Maintenance is added since there is need to review the current programme during 2026; and LGR also be added as talks were in progress with the district council.

RESOLVED: To approve the Key Priorities for 2026/27 in Appendix A.

Cllr J Henderson asked members to consider supporting the motion to contact Greater Anglia Rail Company and request the provision of a later service on the Manningtree to Harwich branch line, to coincide with the last service arriving from London Liverpool Street.  The latest train currently leaving London, which connects at Manningtree, is at 22:30.  A later train leaves at 23:30 and arrives at Manningtree at 00.27 but there is no branch train to Harwich at that time, although there is one that goes to Clacton.  During the Shanty Festival, additional trains were put on.

RESOLVED: To write to Greater Anglia and make the request.

• Cllr Fay reported that the Henry Smith Charity has been formally disbanded following the handing back of the Harwich financial operations to the main charity, although Harwich based organisations may still make applications for funding, but will do so direct.  There is no longer a requirement for HTC to appoint a representative.  The clerk agreed to write to the charity to ask for the reasoning behind this decision and would remove this from the listing to be agreed at the annual meeting unless the decision is overturned before May 2026.

• Cllr Powell reported on the AGM of the Harwich Harbour Foot Ferry where they discussed repairs, running costs and fundraising from the partners.  Also they reported a drop in footfall and works needed to improve the service.  A representative of Freeport East agreed to see how they could assist.  It’s since been confirmed that the Harwich-Shotley-Felixstowe Foot Ferry service now forms part of their priorities under their masterplan but this could take a couple of years to bring to fruition.  Cllr I Henderson said the council should recognise the work which Cllr Powell has put into pushing for improvements.

• Cllr Davidson attended a Carless Haltermann meeting and report that the Harwich Office is to become the head office and are looking to a bright future.

• Cllr Morrison attended a meeting of the Ark Centre who have turned things around and with an impressive management structure, they are fully staffed and doing very well.  They are installing a defibrillator and following the council’s grant funding to them for councillor training, they are looking to train others to bring them up to a standard. They are updating their website and rebranding.  They are changing their operating hours too, to fit in better with family needs.

Members received the Minutes of the following meetings:

• Allotments Committee – 30^th October 2025

• Members were made aware of a request received from the Inner Wheel of Harwich & Dovercourt to illuminate the High Lighthouse for ‘Orange the World’, which is a similar campaign to White Ribbon Day and which was included in the Illumination Policy, adopted at the last meeting.  Council awaits the installation of the lights and confirmation of their working before confirming which day(s) the HL will be illuminated since they’d requested from 25^th November to 10^th December.  Members suggested a weekend would be appropriate.

• The chairman reported that she was is in receipt of a letter from former archivist Ray Plummer, which the clerk read aloud and would be retained in the archives.

• Personnel – Apprentice Administrative Assistant Appointment