Extraordinary Town Council Meeting 10th November 2008
Minutes of an Extraordinary Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on MONDAY the 10th day of NOVEMBER 2008 at 7.00 p.m.
Present: Cllr R Pike Town Mayor
Cllr Mrs M Govier Deputy Mayor
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs Johnson
Cllr I Jennings
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf
Cllr Mrs D Sellis
Cllr H Smith
Cllr B Trew
Cllr D Whitcomb
In Attendance: Town Clerk
Mr D Incoll Chief executive, WDBC
Seven members of the public
One member of the press
PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
The Mayor advised the meeting that he would delay any public questions and comments until the end of the meeting.
394. APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr M Harper, Cllr C Jenkins, Cllr Mrs J Ramsey, Cllr E D Sanders, Cllr J Sellis and Cllr E H Sherrell.
395. 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. Cllr Best and Cllr Whitcomb both declared personal interests.
396. TAVISTOCK CONSERVATION AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN AND CHARACTER APPRAISAL.
a. Minute 369 referred. Members had resolved to hold an extraordinary meeting to debate the two Conservation documents. Working towards this, during the last Council meeting they had been briefed by Mr Robert Plumb, the WDBC Regeneration Officer, on the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership. They noted that the public consultation on the Management plan ends on 5th December, after which the consultants would prepare a report on the comments. The Heritage Partnership hoped to have the plans adopted by April 2009.
b. The Mayor had spoken to the Chairman of the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership, and felt that there were three issues to be addressed. They should be referred to the appropriate committees for debate. They were:
(1). The Conservation Area shape and size to the Plans Committee.
(2). The survey of grounds and listed properties to the properties Committee,
(3). Financial implications and other matters - the Finance and general Purposes Committee.
c. Cllr Mrs Johnson gave a report as the Council representative on the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership. She believed the documents to be very important for the future of Tavistock, and they should have been produced 10 years ago. They would help to preserve and maintain the historic town. They would work towards gaining significant funding for the town. The three committee chairmen then spoke. Cllr Best for Plans said that he had raised the subject of the conservation area with the Borough Council some years ago. He hoped that the full and thorough reports would help. Cllr Mrs Sellis for Properties said her major concern was the accessibility of grants - could they go to publicly owned buildings that were not in municipal use? We needed a written policy statement from English heritage about the matter. She thought the documents would find favour with the Properties Committee. Cllr Smith for the Finance and General Purposes Committee was still concerned of the financial implications in that the document as drafted showed the Council loosing some income (car parking) yet having to pay out large sums of money (for the grants fund). If this were for the overall benefit of the town then the full council would have to approve. Cllr Mrs Johnson asked Members to look always at the Best Value for the town in the suggestions.
d. Members were concerned at the suggestion that shoppers car parks would be lost, and at the on-going costs to the council. The documents were professional but they did criticise the town in many ways. The problem with the conservation area was that over the years people had been allowed to do things contrary to best practice for traditional buildings. It was RESOLVED to suspend Standing Orders 1.11.5 and 1.11.11.
e. Members recalled that the last time a town centre manager had been recruited the project foundered at an early stage. They thought an open mind should be kept, and the post could be combined with other roles. The suggestion of a Pixon Lane based by-pass to improve traffic flow was also not new, and had been turned down by the County Council in the last year due to lack of funds. The Mayor was concerned at the short time frame for comments, and wondered if the deadline ought to be extended. The council should pick up the feelings of the public. Members seemed to think the documents were slightly flawed and there was a need to work with English Heritage to answer some important questions. Cllr Smith also felt that the wider conservation area would have an affect on the cost of tenders for property work. It was confirmed that a letter had been sent by the Borough Council to all those in the suggested new conservation area. It was RESOLVED to reinstate Standing Orders 1.11.5 and 1.11.11.
f. On a proposal by the Mayor it was then unanimously RESOLVED that in order to keep to the consultation timetable Members were asked to feed their comments to their committee chairman, who would have a meeting to formulate the reply. That should be endorsed by council on the 2nd December.
397. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
There was no such business.
398. 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.
After the meeting Mr Incoll confirmed the on-going efforts of the Town Council in protecting the old building in Tavistock, but said if the Reports claimed they were all perfect then there was less chance of getting suitable grants. The documents were still subject to consultation and it was only the start of the journey. Mr Eberlie, the chair of the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership, asked members to look very carefully at the Management Plan, as there was a large net benefit to the town in the long run. Members were asked to keep an open mind and take a long-term view.
Rising 7.50 p.m. Signed......... ... ..................
Town MayorDate...................................................