Town Council Minutes 1st July 2008
Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 1st day of JULY 2008 at 7.00 p.m.
Present: Cllr R Pike Town Mayor
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs M Govier Deputy Mayor
Cllr M Harper
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey
Cllr E D Sanders
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr H Smith
Cllr B Trew
Cllr D Whitcomb
In Attendance: Town Clerk
Deputy Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
Deputy Works Superintendent
Market Reeve
Town Hall Manager
Deputy Market Reeve
One member of the press
One member of the public
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
There were no questions.
097. QUIET REFLECTION. The meeting commenced with Members preparing themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by the Reverend Jeff Moles of the Tavistock Methodist Church.
098. APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr C Jenkins, Cllr Mrs Johnson, Cllr I Jennings, Cllr E H Sherrell, Cllr Mrs D Sellis and Cllr W Sellis
099. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
Councillors were reminded to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in any item to be considered at the meeting
100. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 3rd JUNE 2008.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.
RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
101. MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.
102. PLANS COMMITTEE 10th JUNE 2008.
Cllr Whitcomb presented the Minutes. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
103. PLANS COMMITTEE 24th JUNE 2008.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
104. PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 24th JUNE 2008.
Cllr Trew presented the minutes.
a. Concerning Minute 083b Cllr Mrs Govier confirmed that the Council was not against the Garden Festival, and thanked the staff concerned with the excellent event this year for all their hard work and enthusiasm. She merely wanted the true costs to be shown so that Members could know what they were contributing to the Town. This had no adverse bearing on any of the officers. The Mayor concurred, saying that it had been a privilege to attend the event, it being the ‘Chelsea of the West’. The Clerk reminded Members that a revised report had been tabled for them that evening, showing the excess of income over expenditure to have been £204. Cllr Trew noted that in previous years some staff had worked over the weekend without payment. He said that staff should never have to undertake unpaid work for the Council.
b. Concerning Minute 085, Cllr Trew gave an update on his dealings with DCC about the Drake’s Statue roundabout works. In his opinion the video taken by DCC clearly showed a grave danger to cyclists entering the roundabout, and he commented that this was a fatality waiting to happen. He had asked DCC Highways to address this concern and would report to Council. Cllr Mrs Ramsey said that Members would recall rejecting the road layout proposal at first, having heard from Mr Halliday that it would cost £36,000 and that there had been no history of serious accidents. DCC should answer the Town Council reservations. Cllr P Sanders agreed, saying that in his view DCC had imposed unnecessary change on the Town and the collisions with the railings and video proved that it did not work. The Town Council should not have to pay to sort out a County Council problem. He agreed the roundabout layout was inherently unsafe for cyclists on the road. Cllr Best thought the railings should be removed to see what affect that would have, but others thought this would expose the Statue to danger. The Mayor thought that moving the railings up one step, and placing ‘bollards’ to protect the statue and floodlights was the answer. Cllr Trew warned that there might be a public liability danger if the Council moved the railings from their traditional place, but the Mayor wished the Council to have a contingency plan should DCC not back down.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
105. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 24th JUNE 2008
Cllr H Smith presented the Minutes. He said that in accordance with Standing Order 1.11.17 he wished to make a statement of personal explanation to Members before the taking of Minute 096a.
a. Concerning Minute 089, Cllr P Sanders queried the reference to Cllr Mrs Johnson not receiving her copy of the accounts, and said that she had reported the loss of mail to the Clerk. It was explained that it was impracticable for the office to keep a detailed record of everything that went into individual councillors mailings, and that the office did not know that Cllr Mrs Johnson had not received her copy of the accounts as she made no mention of not having it even after the agenda had been published. Cllr Best though that a small amendment to the minute would clarify matters, but got no support. The minute was left unchanged.
b. Concerning Minute 095b, Cllr P Sanders raised the matter of the joke about dyslexia being minuted. The Clerk explained that the matter had been included as a legal record of what occurred in case any Member wished to report the matter to the Standards Board or the Equality and Human Rights Commission. No amendment was offered and Members were content with the minute.
c. Concerning Minute 096a, Cllr Smith made the following statement:
“Mr Mayor, councillors, although used independently in the recorded minute, when taken collectively the words ‘level of service’ and ‘serviced equally’ can be adjudged to exhibit an opinion that the service provided is indecorous.
Based on my contribution to the debate the Town Clerk was of the opinion that indications of unprofessional behaviour were present and as such were of an incongruous nature.
It is, therefore, without reservation that I apologise to our most senior officer for the occurrence on the 24th June.
Mr Mayor, for the benefit of the council, debate at committee should be well researched and thought through. The events of the 24th June fell short of that benchmark. By falling short of the expected standard an unacceptable situation developed whereby comments made by a Member could be perceived as a public attack on the professionalism of our officers”.
The Clerk thanked Cllr Smith for his words which were accepted.
d. Concerning minute 096b, Cllr P Sanders reported that the DPPO had been passed by West Devon Borough Council the day before. He explained that what had been approved was a better solution than any blanket ban on alcohol which would affect Goose Fair, the Dickensian night and picnics in the Meadows for example. He was concerned at the estimate that 60 signs would be required and that this might affect the conservation area. The Borough officers were looking at what level of signage was required by law. Members felt the DPPO to be a good idea so long as there were police on the ground to enforce it. Cllr Harper explained that what he had objected to was the fact that the Borough Council had changed what the Town Council has asked for without consulting them. Cllr Mrs Govier felt that the DPPO was actually what we had asked for without being aware of the right wording. It was control over alcohol consumption by over 18’s without affecting Goose Fair and other proper events such as families picnicking in the Meadows, which she felt were so well presented and tidy. Cllr Whitcomb said this type of control was not what he had been telling his constituents was coming, but was reminded that the 28 day consultation period would allow the public to make comments.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
106. TO RECEIVE SUCH COMMUNICATIONS OR REPORTS AS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN MAYOR AND TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS AS REQUIRED.
a. The Mayor apologised about any perception of criticism of the staff. He was saddened at what he had found after the Finance and General Purpose Committee meeting, and was glad it had all been resolved. The Council had very good staff and councillors and they should work together. He did not want any baiting of staff or councillors, and said all should act as a team. The misunderstanding had been cleared up, and he now wanted all to work towards keeping the Town as it was known and respected throughout the land.
b. He then declared a personal interest, and reported that he had opened the Courtlands Road play park. It had cost £40,000 and was very well planned and presented, and he had been pleased to see so many children and parents there. It had been a ‘magic event’. He read out a letter from a local resident congratulating the Works Superintendent and the staff for all their work.
107. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
There was no such business.
108. SEAL.
RESOLVED that the seal be affixed to the various Deeds and Documents to be made or entered into for the carrying into effect the several decisions and matters approved.
Rising 7.40 p.m.
. Signed.........……………...….................Town Mayor
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