Fireworks at Combe Martin parish council meeting

By chubbard

THERE were fireworks from the very start of Combe Martin's annual parish meeting on Monday.

One woman was asked to leave the meeting, a man animatedly stormed out after his questions were repeatedly ignored and the police intervened after claims that a journalist was secretly taping the meeting.

Around 30 residents took the council to task on several hot topics — including the village coach park, the Parade, parking and lack of support for tourism.

The very first item mentioned caused uproar, when parish clerk Michelle Beaumont highlighted the fact that a newly elected councillor, Mark Bingham, had not been on the electoral roll when he joined the council — so was ineligible to be co-opted.

One member of the public claimed this meant the last meeting of the full council was invalid because Mr Bingham had sat as a councillor.

The man said: "He sat at the table and voted. The meeting from that point onwards isn't valid; must be null and void."

But parish council chairman Julia Clark would discuss the subject. The next item was Cllr Nicky Tossell's resignation, which was blocked from discussion throughout the meeting.

The issue of the Parade was the next matter for contention and the public asked for an update.

Cllr Clark said the council were in the process of carrying out a feasibility study in order to be able to apply for grant funding.

The council agreed to regularly update the village of progress on the Parade in the parish magazine.

The parish council's reduced funding to the Tourist Information Centre also came under-fire.

But Cllr Peter Spencer said: "The parish council cut the grant to the TIC quite simply because we don't have the cash."

One resident retorted: "But isn't there lots of money being wasted on the issue of the airspace and a bridge?"

But Cllr Clark, amplified on the PA system, cut off the discussion, saying: "I'm going to stop that discussion right now. That is a legal matter and we cannot discuss it. There is a limit to what we can afford and we set it out in November each year."

Next-up for the rebellious residents was the ongoing issue of the coach park, which residents argue is underused.

One woman, Clare Mountain asked several questions, including one about whether the coach park could be made into a much-needed car park.

But her questions rattled Cllr Spencer, prompting him to stand up and say: "Can you ask this woman to leave — her words are better off down the pub."

Glyn Howell-Williams tried to ask another question but was drowned out by the amplified chairman, who told Mrs Mountain to "pipe down".

After the meeting Mrs Mountain said she was disappointed that she had been told to leave the meeting.

She said: "The councillors had the use of a PA system, the public didn't, lots of parishioners were getting cross and lots of voices were raised.

"Is it so wrong to ask for the Coach Park to be made available as a car park? Or to ask anything else for that matter?"

When it came to the reports from the chairman of committees, Cllr Clark apologised for the fact that there was no report from the parks and gardens committee, because Cllr Tossell had resigned.

Cllr Spencer then began delivering a lengthy report on the parish's financial situation. But there was more controversy when councillors suspected the Journal was using a secretive recording device at the meeting, intending to upload it to the internet.

The Journal was then removed from the parish hall by a police officer and questioned, before being cleared and allowed to re-enter the meeting, only to be removed again by the parish clerk for further discussion, before eventually being able to rejoin the meeting around 20 minutes later.

The disruption raised eyebrows, and meant the Journal missed Cllr Spencer's report.

Cllr Clark offered an unreserved apology to the Journal in front of the whole meeting for the situation.

Following this Glyn Howell-Williams, who had become increasingly frustrated throughout, left the meeting, and threw his question at the chair on a piece of paper and stormed out, shouting: "Oh shut up you silly baggage."