Annual Town Meeting 11th March 2008
Minutes of the ANNUAL TOWN MEETING of TAVISTOCK held in the Town Hall, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 11th day of MARCH 2008 at 6.30 p.m.
The following were present:
Cllr Mrs A Johnson – Mayor as Chairman
Cllr D V Best
Cllr Mrs M Govier
Cllr C Jenkins
Cllr Mrs J Metcalf
Cllr R Pike
Cllr E Sanders
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr E H Sherrell
Cllr D Whitcomb
11 members of the public
1 member of the Press
In Attendance: Town Clerk
1. MAYOR’S REPORT
The Mayor welcomed all present and gave a brief address, notes of which are attached at Annex A to these minutes.
2. ACCOUNTS
The Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee gave a report on the financial state of the Council, notes of which are attached at Annex B to these minutes.
3. JESSIE ANN ALFORD CHARITY
The Town Clerk made the following report:
The charity is to benefit spinsters and widows aged 60 and over living in the parish of Tavistock. It has assets of 822 income shares in the charities investment fund (current value £9,621. 92p, down from £9,839 last year) and receives some £240 of income each year. Distribution of money is made just before Christmas each year to a maximum of 8 deserving applicants selected by the trustees. Last year there were but 2 applicants for a grant, and they were each awarded £100. After this distribution and advertising costs a bank balance of £150. 18p was carried forward to 2008.
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
The Chairman then invited questions from the public.
Members of the public put the following questions:
a. Mrs Hall - Asked when a traffic survey had last been done on Callington Road.
Response – The question would be referred to the Highways Authority for an answer.
b. Mr Hall. - Asked what the Town Council comments on the Core Strategy 2008 might be.
Response – Cllr Best explained the process by which the draft comments on the consultation were being prepared and would be submitted to WDBC by the 14th March.
c. Mrs Airton. - Asked what evidence there was that more affordable houses were required.
Response – Cllr Best explained that comments on affordable houses were part of the draft response. Cllr Mrs Govier said that there were 1,500 persons on the WD housing register for the whole of West Devon, and housing surveys provided the evidence that affordable houses were required. Cllr P Sanders said that the H9 development was already in the adopted plan, and the extra housing that concerned Mrs Airton was earmarked for the railway proposal. Mrs Airton asked how many of the 1,500 had indicated that they wished to buy a house. Cllr Mrs Govier explained the split of 70% for rental and 30% for shared equity in affordable housing projects.
d. Mr Rose. - Asked when the Guildhall Square toilets might be ready. He also complained that there was no footpath into town from the Tiddy Brook development, and it was dangerous for pedestrians to walk along the A396.
Response – The Mayor explained that tenders were being opened on the 20th March, and work on the toilets was planned for 14th April to 20th June. Cllr Mrs Govier explained that the plans for the development included footpath and cycle routes through Bishopsmead into town.
e. Mrs Harding - Asked if the Town Council had been consulted about the changes to Drake’s Statue roundabout.
Response –The Myor explained that the Council had been given a briefing about the changes, but the decision was made by the West Devon HATOC, and the Town Council had no representation on that committee. We had put various concerns to DCC, but had no power over their decision.
f. Mrs Airton. - Asked how many of the houses at Tiddy Brook Meadows were for rent.
Response – Cllr Mrs Govier said that 52 were rented to persons on the housing list.
g. Mr Kirkpatrick. - Asked what the reason for the blanket ban on ‘A’ boards was. They did not obstruct the path and were helpful to visitors. He also felt that a hanging advertisement board over Paddons Row entrance would be helpful to visitors.
Response – Cllr P Sanders explained that the WDBC Planning and Development Committee had decided on a total ban on ‘A’ boards in Tavistock and Okehampton as so many were obstructing the pavement. So far as Paddons Row was concerned, the Town Council had no power there as it was private land, but the suggestion could be made to the retailers or the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Kirkpatrick then said that in the past an open topped bus had been used to transport the Mayor and lead the carnival procession, and it should be used again. Cllr Pike said that the bus had been sponsored by Plymouth Sound, but that this year local firms had agreed to sponsor limousines to transport the Mayor in the procession.
h. Mrs Hall. - Asked if there would be a revised LDF to comment upon.
Response – Cllrs Best and Sanders explained that comments from the public and organisations would be considered by WDBC after the 14th March, and a second consultative document would be issued as a result of this, perhaps with a third alternative. There would then be limited opportunity to comment before the document went to the secretary of state. There would also be a public enquiry as part of the process.
The Mayor then thanked everyone for coming to the Meeting.
The meeting ended at 7. 11 pm.