Town Council Minutes 4th March 2008
Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 4th day of MARCH 2008 at 7.00 p.m.
Present: Cllr Mrs A Johnson Town Mayor
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs M Govier
Cllr M Harper
Cllr I C Jennings
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf
Cllr R Pike
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey
Cllr P. Sanders
Cllr E D Sanders
Cllr Mrs D. Sellis
Cllr W. Sellis
Cllr H Smith
Cllr B Trew
Cllr D Whitcomb
In Attendance: Town Clerk
Cllr Connelly DCC
One member of the press
Two members of the public
QUIET REFLECTION. Members prepared themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by the Reverend Jeff Moles of the Tavistock Methodist Church.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
There were no questions.
593. APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr C Jenkins and Cllr E H Sherrell.
594. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 5th FEBUARY 2008.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
595. MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.
596. PLANS COMMITTEE 5th FEBRUARY 2008.
Cllr Whitcomb presented the Minutes. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
597. PLANS COMMITTEE 19th FEBRUARY 2008.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
598. PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 26th FEBRUARY 2008.
Cllr Mrs Govier presented the minutes.
a. Concerning Minute 554 Cllr Best reminded Members that there was an agreement via the working group to provide a car park on Pixon Lane to alleviate the parking problems in the Town. The Town Council had at a later stage also decided to build a depot and other units on the site. The occupation by the Scouts of a large area of land meant that the Council had to think again, and he was concerned that enough priority was not being given to the Car Park element of the project. It was confirmed that Members would be given the opportunity to agree a two phase project, dealing with the car park first and then building the depot and units.
b. Concerning Minute 556, Cllr Sellis was concerned that the Golf Club had sight of the draft licence before the Properties Committee meeting. He was told that this happened so as not to delay the final agreement awaiting the monthly cycle of meetings. No-one got any advantage over the matter, it merely speeded up the negotiations. Members asked that it be made clear that the area could be ‘used for golf practice’, not that it was a ‘golf practice area’. They also wished it to be clear that competitions would not be allowed on that triangle of land.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
599. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 26th FEBRUARY 2008
Cllr H Smith presented the Minutes.
a. Concerning Minute 562, Cllr Trew was concerned at the possible cost of the Staffing Sub-Committee’s wish to have a consultant’s review into the manning of the Market and Town Hall.
b. Concerning Minute 563 the Mayor wished the concept of a future strategy for the Town to be on the next Finance and General Purposes Committee agenda. To include a town centre manager and the Guildhall.
c. Concerning Minute 569 the Mayor had declared a personal interest as governor of St Peter’s school.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
600. CORE STRATEGY CONSULTATION REPORT
a. Cllr Best introduced the Plans Committee draft response for Council endorsement. Members were clear that no areas for development should be identified until such time as a plan for the necessary infrastructure development was in place, as the existing services could not support the 750 houses planned. They were also concerned that developments outside the plan were ‘windfalls’ and did not count towards the Government imposed totals. There seemed to be a very limited opportunity to influence the LDF process, and frankly Members did not like any of the options put forward. There was concern that future developments would be imposed upon the Town and the Council would not be able to comment.
b. As the LDF stretched 18 years into the future, some thought it would be right to see how the Town coped with the currently approved developments before having to comment. However, the battle was worth fighting, and Members thought a stand should be made to protect what Tavistock had as a traditional market town. Members recalled that Mrs Hart, the WDBC planning officer, had seemed to accept central Government directives without any thought of querying them. As some members wished to make amendments to the draft, and in order to meet the deadline of 14th March, it was RESOLVED that a final revision would be undertaken by a Working Group consisting of:
The Mayor,
Cllr Harper,
Cllr Mrs Govier,
Cllr Best,
Cllr Trew,
Cllr Sellis,
Cllr Jennings,
Cllr Whitcomb.
601. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY STATEMENT
Cllrs Trew and Jennings had been tasked to produce an Environmental Policy Statement, and Cllr Trew introduced the document to Members. He felt that it had to satisfy both statute law and good practice, and be ‘commercially’ sensible. Members RESOLVED to accept the document, and asked that it be incorporated in Standing Orders. The Environmental Working Party would be selected at each AGM.
602. 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.
603. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
a. Members were informed that the application for listing of the Old Folks Rest Room had been turned down by English Heritage.
b. Some Borough Councillors informed the meeting of decisions made at a WDBC meeting that afternoon concerning the Guildhall Square toilets.
604. 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 8.50 p.m.
Signed.........……………...…..................
Town Mayor
Date...................................................