Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 9th day of SEPTEMBER 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 C Jenkins 
Cllr I Jennings 
Cllr Mrs Johnson 
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf 
Cllr E D Sanders 
Cllr P Sanders 
Cllr W Sellis 
Cllr Mrs D Sellis 
Cllr E H Sherrell 
Cllr H Smith 
Cllr D Whitcomb

In Attendance: Deputy Town Clerk 
                      One member of the press 
                      Three members of the public

DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL HIGHWAYS PRESENTATION
Mr John Halliday, Chief Assistant Engineer of Area South Highway Management presented Members with the situation regarding the work at Drake’s Statue roundabout. He referred to a series of drawings showing the new layout, which showed that all class of vehicles could access. With regard to concerns of traffic flow and the damage to the railings around Drake’s Statue, DVD’s had been commissioned to monitor traffic movement, showing near misses to railings.  Causation factors were being considered in relation to the vulnerability of the railings from large vehicles, which needed to straddle two lanes to negotiate the roundabout. U-turns and lack of lane discipline exacerbated the situation. Mr. Halliday said that the good network of cycle paths allowed for cyclists being able to avoid most of the problems, although he acknowledged that cyclists and other vehicles could be vulnerable. The D.C.C. Highways Safety Audit did not consider the concerns referred to in Cllr. Trew’s report to be a problem. Further traffic schemes would incorporate the concerns of the Town Council insofar as was feasible.

Members voiced concerns over traffic backing up as far as the Cemetery at peak times and that the lane markings fed people into the centre of the road. Incidents of buses clipping the kerb and the number of near misses pointed to something that might work in theory, but in practice did not. It was generally agreed that none of these problems had existed before the new lay-out had been implemented and Mr. Halliday was asked to forward information from feasibility and safety audits, showing what incidents had been recorded and the costs involved. Mr. Halliday said that he had heard of no report of personal injury since the new scheme had been in place, but the relevant data would be forwarded and the Council’s comments would be referred back to his colleagues.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
There were no questions.

239.  QUIET REFLECTION. 
The meeting commenced with Members preparing themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by Major Carol Lockart, and accompanied by Captain Penny Sullivan, Salvation Army.

240.  APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs J Ramsey and Cllr B Trew.

241.   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.

242.   MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 29th JULY 2008.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.   It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

243.   MINUTES OF TOWN MEETING 30th July 2008.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.  With reference to 5d, Council agreed that this be referred to under Minute 222.  It was then RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

244.   MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.

245.   PLANS COMMITTEE 5th AUGUST 2008.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes.

a. Concerning Minute 173a, Cllr. J. Sellis and other members raised concern over the proposed number of new houses for Tavistock. It was noted that there was to be a public meeting on the 30th September and the matter would then be put on the Council’s agenda for discussion.

b. Concerning Minute 173b, Cllr. P. Sanders said he was not in favour of the Properties Committee meeting commencing at 6.30 p.m. or the rising of the Plans Committee meeting when they fell on the same evening. Some Members were concerned that this could ‘push’ meetings with long agendas late into the evening and Cllr. Sherrell felt strongly that no change should be made to what was historically so and that the Plans Committee was not a decision making committee. Cllr. Harper said that the Plans Committee should not seem to be downgraded and that ‘at the rising of’ was the compromise to enable it to undertake its business. It was generally agreed that Plans Meetings could become disrupted when others came into the Chamber whilst the meeting was still in progress and carried on conversations outside of the meeting. The Deputy Town Clerk spoke of the time frame with which the Plans Committee had to comply and what alternatives were possible. After much debate it was RESOLVED that the matter be referred back to the Plans Committee.  It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

246.   PLANS COMMITTEE 19th AUGUST 2008.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. 

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

247.   PLANS COMMITTEE 2nd September 2008.
Cllr Whitcomb presented the Minutes.  

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

Cllr. Sherrell left the meeting.

248.   PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 22nd JULY 2008.
Cllr Mrs Sellis presented the minutes. 

a. Concerning Minute 194, Cllr. Mrs. Govier made reference to the railings at Drake’s Statue and said that D.C.C. had said that they would find up to £1,000 towards new railings, but not if they were replaced with the same as existing. The meeting was of the opinion that there were no guarantees and that D.C.C.’s costings, options and offers needed to be received in writing. These and a report from the Works Superintendent should then be put on the agenda for the next meeting of the Properties Committee. In the meantime, the Works Depot would undertake a general tidying of the area around the statue.

b. Concerning Minute 195, Cllr. Best queries the need for another van. Cllr. Mrs. Sellis said that a full report had been presented to the Properties Committee, upon which they had made their recommendation.

c. Concerning Minute 195, Council wished to record its congratulations to Cllr. Jenkins on the success of the Trim Trail in the Meadows and to thank him for his hard work and efforts for what was already proving a great success.

d. Concerning Minute 200, it was clarified that this had been agreed in minute 352b at the meeting of Council on the 6th November, 2007.

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

249.   FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 22nd JULY 2008 Cllr Smith presented the Minutes.

a. Concerning Minute 222, The Mayor said that the period of consultation ends on the 26th September and asked if Council wished to consider this at this point. After some discussion, it was apparent that the feeling of the meeting was to maintain the status quo. However, due to the complexities of the issue, it was RESOLVED that the Mayor call an extraordinary meeting, to be held at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 16th September 2008, to address this.

b. Concerning Minute 225, The Mayor outlined the arrangements for the reception.

c.   Concerning Minute 227, Cllr. Mrs. Metcalf wished it noted that she objected to the content of the minute.

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

250.   TO RECEIVE SUCH COMMUNICATIONS OR REPORTS AS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN MAYOR AND TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS AS REQUIRED. 
The Mayor informed Members that the Civic Service was to be held on Sunday 28th September 2008 and asked that Councillors assemble outside the porch door of the Church at 6.00 p.m.

251.   URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
Cllr. Jenkins said that there was to be a Community Question Time to discuss the Boundary Committee’s draft proposal for unitary government in Devon. The meeting is to be held at the Alexander Centre on Wednesday 10th September.

252.   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 8.30 p.m.

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

Town Council Offices Drake Road Tavistock Devon PL19 0AU