Town Council Minutes 7th April 2009
Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 7th day of APRIL at 7.00 p.m.
Present: Cllr R Pike Mayor
Cllr Mrs M Govier
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 E H Sherrell
Cllr H Smith
Cllr B Trew
Cllr D Whitcomb
In Attendance: Town Clerk
Cllr Connelly DCC
One member of the press
Three members of the public
QUIET REFLECTION
Members prepared themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by Reverend Jeff Moles of the Tavistock Methodist Church.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
There were no questions.
721. APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr D Best and Cllr Mrs Ramsey. The Mayor announced the resignation of Cllr C Jenkins. It was agreed that he would write to thank Mr Jenkins for all his valuable services to the Town, and to wish him well in the future.
722. 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.
723. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 3rd MARCH 2009.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
724. MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.
725. PLANS COMMITTEE 3rd MARCH 2009.
Cllr Whitcomb presented the Minutes.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
726. PLANS COMMITTEE 17th MARCH 2009.
Cllr Whitcomb presented the Minutes.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
727. PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 31st MARCH 2009.
Cllr Mrs Sellis presented the Minutes.
a. Concerning minute 685, Cllr Sellis said that the car club display planned for Bedford Square was neither charitable nor commercial, and therefore not forbidden by the existing management agreement with DCC. Cllr Trew also opined there was no health and safety risk as movements would be under strict control.
b. Cllr Whitcomb felt that it was important to give our twin town the same hospitality as they always showed to Tavistock during civic visits. Members felt that there had been difficulties with Highways in the past, and the Mayor reminded members that while we managed the Square, DCC Highways actually owned it.
c. It was felt that it was time the Council met again with DCC Highways to re-negotiate and simplify the existing November 2004 agreement. Cllr Sherrell thought the Town Council had proved good judgement over the last 4 years of managing the Square, and the Square was no longer a major contentious issue with the town. It was time to revise and ratify the agreement. Cllr Smith was concerned that the Council avoid any possibility of legal action. Cllr Mrs Metcalf felt that the matter of cars on the Square would anyway be contentious.
d. Members were sure that this event was not a ‘free market’ for parking, but an event that required special provisions. They were also concerned that if the Town Council lost the right to manage the Square there could be problems with all the other events we controlled such as the farmers markets, trading stalls and exhibitions. It was suggested that the event could be held instead in the Guildhall Square car park, or even in Market Road. It was then unanimously RESOLVED to write to DCC Highways to ask them to urgently reconsider the matter and to come to a meeting to discuss revising and simplifying the management agreement. They were also to be asked for their rationale of the problem they saw in health and safety issues.
e. In the event that no agreement could be reached over the use of the Square, Members agreed to make the Guildhall Square available, while publicising that the loss of public car parking spaces for that period was not the fault of the Town Council but DCC Highways.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
728. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 31st MARCH 2009 Cllr Smith presented the Minutes.
a. Minute 695 referred. Cllr P Sanders reminded Members that the Deputy Town Clerk was to retire, and Standing orders said that any replacement for the post had to be agreed by Council. There had been a brief Staffing Sub-Committee meeting that evening at which some draft specifications had been tabled. There would be another meeting on Wednesday 15th April to look at duties and budgets and see if a like for like replacement was necessary. He asked Members to stop any rumours that they were doing away with the post, or were unappreciative of the work done by the current post holder. His committee needed to take a careful look at the post to see that it was correct for the future of the Council, and gave what was needed to support the work of the Town Clerk.
b. Minute 701 referred. Cllr Whitcomb asked about the Alcohol Designation Order and signs, and was informed that WDBC had ordered them in early March with a 10-day delivery. They were chasing up the matter, and a meeting with DCC Highways and the police was to be held within days to define where and how the signs were to be erected.
c. Minute 703 referred. Cllr Mrs Johnson reminded Members of the requirement for those not at the Objectives training to pass over their 6 priority objectives for the Council.
d. Minute 704 referred. Cllr Trew was concerned that the Street Pastor scheme was exclusive to Christians. It seemed a good thing, but secular bodies such as councils should not be seen to support one religious group over another. Would the council support a Moslem equivalent? Cllr Harper queried their role, and TACT members in the public gallery were allowed to answer his questions. They also confirmed that all participants would be CRB checked. Members agreed that they would need to be open minded and support other religious organisations if asked, and the Mayor reminded them that the Council already asked all religious groups in Tavistock to come to lead the ‘Quiet Reflection’ at the commencement of meetings. It was then RESOLVED to endorse the Street Pastor scheme. Members were invited to attend meetings for information should they wish, and Cllr Mrs Metcalf was confirmed as the point of contact with the Council.
e. Minute 705 referred. Members were happy with the draft comments to the Boundary Commission tabled, and RESOLVED they be sent off as the Council’s comments.
Cllrs Sherrell and Sellis left the meeting.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
729 DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES BEST VALUE REVIEW.
The notes of the Review had been circulated to Members but not yet formally taken by council. The full report when issued will be so taken. The Review had seven recommendations that were tabled for Members, and the Review Team had asked that Council now indicate acceptance or rejection of the recommendations. Cllr Smith also informed members of other recommendations not on the list, one being an option for a 6-week cycle of meetings rather than the monthly cycle now operated. After some debate on this it was agreed that the two draft meeting cycles be distributed to members early to allow them to consider the matter at length. Members then RESOLVED to endorse the tabled list of recommendations.
730. TO RECEIVE SUCH COMMUNICATIONS OR REPORTS AS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN MAYOR AND TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS AS REQUIRED.
a. Members were reminded that the next Council meeting would be the final one before the AGM. The Council photograph would be taken at 6.30 pm before that meeting on the 5th May.
b. Any Member who wished to submit to the Council a report on their representation on charities and other bodies should do so to the general office by the 29th April.
c. The Mayor raised the matter of the request from the Army Cadet Force to allow the post of ‘Mayors Cadet’. It was felt that the honour could alternate between the two main cadet forces in Tavistock, and it was RESOLVED to endorse this proposal, and it was agreed that the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Cllr Mrs Johnson meet with Flt Lt Newcombe of the Air Training corps and Major Pritchard of the Army Cadet Force to discuss the post.
731. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
a. Members were informed that a team from the BBC would be filming near the weir on Wednesday 15th April for the programme ‘Escape to the Country’.
b. The Clerk informed Members that the draft Core Strategy had been endorsed by WDBC Forward Planning and Housing Committee that day, and would now go to the full borough Council on 21st April.
732. 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. 20 p.m. Signed.........……………...…..................
Town Mayor
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