Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 3rd day of MARCH 2009 at 7.00 p.m.

Present: Cllr Mrs M Govier  Deputy Mayor
Cllr D Best
Cllr M Harper
Cllr I Jennings
Cllr Mrs A Johnson
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf
Cllr E D Sanders
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr Mrs D Sellis
Cllr J Sellis
Cllr H Smith
Cllr D Whitcomb

In Attendance:  Town Clerk
Cllr Connelly   DCC
One member of the press

QUIET REFLECTION
Members prepared themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by Reverend Michael Brierley of St Eustachius Church.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
There were no questions.

635.  APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr C Jenkins, Cllr E H Sherrell, Cllr Mrs Ramsey, Cllr B Trew and Cllr R Pike.

636.   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.

637. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 3rd FEBRUARY 2009.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.  
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

638.  MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.

639.   PLANS COMMITTEE 3rd FEBRUARY 2009.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes.  Concerning Minute 563a, Cllr P Sanders felt there was no such thing as a ‘deferred’ refusal, and reminded Members the application had been refused.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

640.   PLANS COMMITTEE 17th FEBRUARY 2009.
Cllr Whitcomb presented the Minutes. 
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.  

641.   PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 24th FEBRUARY 2009.
Cllr Mrs Sellis presented the Minutes.  Matters concerning Minute 603 were deferred until the end of the meeting.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

642.   FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 24th FEBRUARY 2009
Cllr Smith presented the Minutes.  Concerning Minute 617 Cllr Mrs Metcalf joined Cllr Mrs Govier and the Market Reeve as members of the Task and Finish Group for the Christmas lights.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

643. TO RECEIVE SUCH COMMUNICATIONS OR REPORTS AS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN MAYOR AND TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS AS REQUIRED.
There were no such matters.

644.  URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR

a.   The Clerk asked for Members direction concerning a poster about the Sainsbury’s inquiry that the Chamber of Commerce wished to display on the Town Hall.  Although the Council had recommended refusal of the planning application, Members felt generally that the poster as drafted was too partisan to display on a public building, and agreed to its use only if it was redrafted to remove the parts asking the public to object to the application.  They feared that were a poster displayed that clearly took a side, then posters from the other side would also have to be displayed to maintain a balance.  By 10 votes for to 2 against Members RESOLVED not to display the poster as drafted, and to refer it back to the Chamber for their consideration.

b.   We had received a note from Celle Town Council concerning a visit to Tavistock on the 21st May, and they had asked for permission to display up to 20 ‘Wiessman’ sports cars on Bedford Square as part of the visit.  The Clerk asked for directions on this as the Council policy had been to refuse to allow cars on the Square.  After some debate and noting that this was on behalf of our twin town, Cllr Mrs Sellis proposed that the car display be allowed on the Square.  Cllr Best proposed an amendment to add that the Club should cover any Town Council costs, but this was lost one vote for, 6 against and 5 abstentions.  Cllr Best then proposed another amendment to add the words ‘as a special concession’ the car display should be allowed on the Square, and this was accepted by Cllr Mrs Sellis.  A recorded vote was called for and Members then RESOLVED to accept the revised motion 6 votes for, 5 against and one abstention.

    For                        Against                         Abstain

   Cllr Best            Cllr Mrs Govier                 Cllr Harper

   Cllr Jennings      Cllr Mrs Johnson

   Cllr P Sanders   Cllr Mrs Metcalf

   Cllr J Sellis        Cllr E Sanders

   Cllr Mrs Sellis    Cllr Smith

   Cllr Whitcomb

645.    PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960
Pursuant to Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 and having regard to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed it was RESOLVED that the press/public be excluded from the Meeting for the following items of business dealing with leases and personal contracts.

646.  AUCTION ROOM AND CATTLE MARKET
Members now debated Minute 603 from the Properties Committee minutes.  Cllr Best declared a personal interest as the Council’s representative on the Refurnish board.  The Clerk asked for clear direction as to how to respond to the outstanding request from the tenant to sub-let the Auction Rooms.  Cllr Best briefed Members on the background to the matter, and the fact that Refurnish had to leave their present site immediately, and could go out of business if no suitable property could be found for them.  He felt that it would be better for the Auction Rooms to be occupied, and asked Members to agree in principle to the sub-letting.  Members also debated the history and location of the Cheese shop, and asked that its occupancy be regularised.  Members noted the advice given by Drew Pearce, but did not want to link the matters of the Cattle Market and the Auction Room.  They were concerned at the length of time it was taking to finally sign the Cattle Market lease even though clear heads of terms had been agreed months ago.  Cllr Best proposed that the Council agree to the under letting of the whole of the Auction Room to Refurnish, subject to the rental being paid up to date.    A recorded vote was called, and the motion was lost 4 votes for, 7 against with one abstention.

          For                     Against                      Abstain

      Cllr Best               Cllr Mrs Govier          Cllr Jennings

      Cllr Mrs Metcalf    Cllr Mrs Johnson

      Cllr J Sellis          Cllr Harper

     Cllr Mrs Sellis       Cllr E Sanders

                                Cllr P Sanders

                                Cllr Smith

                                Cllr Whitcomb

To avoid doubt, the Clerk then explained to Members that the result of this vote would be that he would now instruct our lawyers to inform Ward and Chowen that the Council objected to the request to sub-let the Auction Room.   Members concurred with this view.

647.   NOTES OF INFORMAL MEETING
Members approved the notes of the informal meeting held on the 17th February to hear presentations on the LDF and Core Strategy, and were informed that Mr Gill had accepted the invitation to advise the Council in these matters, and represent them at the public inquiry. 

648.   PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSIONS TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960
RESOLVED that the public and press be re-admitted to the Meeting.

649.   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 8. 42 p.m.          Signed.........……………...…..................

Town MayorDate...................................................

Email: info@tavistock.gov.uk
Telephone:01822 613529

Town Council Offices Drake Road Tavistock Devon PL19 0AU