Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on MONDAY the 6th day of OCTOBER 2008 at 7.00 p.m.

Present: Cllr R Pike   Town Mayor
Cllr Mrs M Govier  Deputy Mayor
Cllr M Harper
Cllr I Jennings
Cllr Mrs Johnson
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr J Sellis
Cllr B Trew
Cllr D Whitcomb

In Attendance:  Town Clerk
Two members of the public

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.

A member of the public reminded Members of the petition being sent to Downing Street by Okehampton Council concerning the number of houses planned in the LDF for them.  She asked if it was accepted would the number of houses for Tavistock increase?  The housing list had over 1,000 names on it and she was concerned that as it was open and anyone could put their name on it the list would get un-manageable unless it was closed to locals only. 

Response.   The Mayor said he thought a petition was one letter with a lot of signatures, and he was not concerned by this one.   The Deputy Mayor explained about the procedures for adding names to the housing list, and that it was open to anyone.  However, affordable houses were often reserved for those with local connections.  One village development had asked for 10 years residence.  The member of the public was advised to check with the WDBC web site for full details of the housing procedures. 

311. QUIET REFLECTION. 
The meeting commenced with Members preparing themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by Mr Chris Wright of Kings Church.

312.  APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs J Ramsey, Cllr E D Sanders, Cllr D Best, Cllr C Jenkins, Cllr Mrs D Sellis, Cllr E H Sherrell and Cllr H Smith

313.   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.

314. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 9th SEPTEMBER 2008.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.   It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

315.  MATTERS ARISING.
Minute 245a referred.  Members wished to debate the Core Strategy and LDF concerning the number of houses for Tavistock.  Cllr Sellis said he had attended the WDBC exhibition in the Town Hall, and heard that a lot of people were unhappy as the estimate for development had risen from 500 houses to perhaps over 1,000.  He proposed that the whole matter needed to be debated in detail.  Cllr Harper concurred, and thought that development in Tavistock was the easy option, as there were outlying areas crying out for houses.  He felt there was ‘spin’ involved with the plans for services, and the green arguments did not stand up to examination.  Members felt that all councillors were needed to debate the matter, and it was unanimously RESOLVED to call an extraordinary meeting on the 21st October to debate the subject.  There was some discussion about holding a public meeting in the Town Hall, but in the end Members felt a normal council meeting to enable them to make resolutions was right.  A public meeting could come later if required.  Cllr Sanders thought Members should be clear what they wanted from a meeting.  Firstly they needed a sound reason to say No to large-scale development in Tavistock, and secondly they needed an alternative strategy, e.g. more dispersal and alternative sites.

316. MINUTES OF EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING 16th SEPTEMBER 2008.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.   Cllr Trew asked that his name be added to those apologising for absence.  It was then RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting as amended be adopted.

317.  MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.

318.   PLANS COMMITTEE 16th SEPTEMBER 2008.
Cllr Whitcomb presented the Minutes

a. Minute 255c referred.  Cllr Mrs Govier did not agree with the recommendation about changing meeting times.  She felt that the Plans Committee should move to another day for meetings.  It was agreed that it was too rushed to expect the Plans Committee to take 10 to 12 applications in 30 minutes.  The Committee should not be constrained by a set end time as these applications were very important.  After more debate it was RESOLVED to refer the matter back to the Plans Committee for them to make a recommendation at the next normal Council meeting.

b.   Minute 258 referred.  Cllr Sanders reported that the two supermarket applications would be taken by WDBC on the 14th October.  Cllr Harper was concerned that he and the Plans Committee had not seen the revised Sainsbury’s application.  Some Members disagreed, and thought that they had.  The Clerk said that the application was in the Chamber for Members to see, and had been distributed on the 30th September.  However there had been no Plans meeting since then.  The matter would be looked into and Members would be notified of the result.   Cllr Mrs Metcalf asked if members of the public could speak at the WDBC Plans meeting, and was informed of the procedures by Cllr Sanders.  It was decided there were too few Members present to find a replacement on the Plans committee following Cllr Mrs Metcalf’s resignation from it.  It would be deferred until the next Council meeting. 

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.  

319.   PLANS COMMITTEE 30th SEPTEMBER 2008.
Cllr Whitcomb presented the Minutes.  The Mayor reported that in accordance with Minute 281e he had considered the Minerals Strategy, and informed DCC that we agreed with it. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

320.   PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 30th SEPTEMBER 2008.
Cllr Trew presented the minutes.  Cllr Mrs Govier preferred the word ‘defunct’ to ‘dead’ in minute 294. It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting as amended be adopted.

321.   FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 30th SEPTEMBER 2008
The Mayor presented the Minutes.

a.   Concerning Minute 305 Cllr Trew had disagreed with the policy of making a grant to Whitchurch PCC but had not been supported at the sub-committee meeting.  Members noted that the grounds were maintained by volunteers so perhaps the grant was being channelled elsewhere, perhaps to the Exeter diocese.  Cllr Trew proposed that any automatic grant be cancelled, and Whitchurch PCC make an application for any grant with proven need.  The proposal was lost by 5 votes against to 4 in favour.  Cllr Trew then proposed that a similar grant be made to all the churches in Tavistock.  After some debate he withdrew the proposal and the matter was referred back to the FPP&P sub-committee. 

b.   Concerning Minute 309, the membership of the best value scrutiny was deferred until the next council meeting.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted. 

322. TO RECEIVE SUCH COMMUNICATIONS OR REPORTS AS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN MAYOR AND TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS AS REQUIRED.

a.  The Mayor thanked all for the support given to the Civic Service.

b. The Mayor reported that he and the Mayoress, the Deputy Mayor and Cllrs Whitcomb and E Sanders were visiting Pontivy on the 17th October.

c.  The Mayor reported that he had been given a display board concerned with the light railway link, and it was in the Chamber for Members perusal.

323.  URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
There was no such business.

324.   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 8.10 p.m.          Signed.........……………...…..................

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

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Town Council Offices Drake Road Tavistock Devon PL19 0AU