Minutes of a meeting of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 31st day of MARCH 2009 at 7. 15p.m.

Present: Cllr H Smith   Chair
Cllr Mrs Govier
Cllr I Jennings
Cllr Mrs A Johnson   
Cllr Mrs J Metcalf
Cllr R Pike
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr Mrs D Sellis   Chair Properties
Cllr D Whitcomb

In Attendance:  Town Clerk 
Works Superintendent 
Cllr Connelly    DCC 
One member of the press 
One member of the public

690.  APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr M Harper and Cllr Mrs Ramsey.

691.   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.

692.   MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 24th February 2009, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 3rd March 2009, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

693. MATTERS ARISING
There were no such matters.

694.  MEETING OF THE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE HELD EARLIER THAT EVENING
~The Chairman of Properties informed Members that her Committee had discussed revised Goose Fair charges, revised Cemeteries charges, work on Crowndale as a grant in kind, and repairs to 26 Pannier Market on tenant handover.  Cllr Sanders felt that the young soccer players using Crowndale should be asked to assist in the tree planting.  The Thistles team would be contacted.

695.   MINUTES OF THE STAFFING SUB-COMMITTEE
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 18th March 2009 presented by Cllr Sanders.  Cllr Pike had been in attendance.   

696.   MINUTES OF THE TAVISTOCK PARKING FOCUS GROUP
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd February 2009.

697.   MINUTES OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd March 2009.   Members were concerned about the inaccuracies in Minute 9.19 and the confusion between the Town Council and the County Council concerning on-street parking and residents parking schemes being delayed until after the June elections.

698.   MINUTES OF THE TaVi DEVELOPMENT FORUM
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 19th February 2009.  There was some debate about Minute 9 and the need for more allotments in Tavistock

699.   MINUTES OF THE TAMAR VALLEY MINING HERITAGE PROJECT
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 9th February 2009.  Cllr Mrs Johnson was concerned about the amount of work undertaken on the Tavistock to Shillamill cycle route, and the total cost as it seemed that provision had been made for the planned railway line at the same time.  She wished the matter to be put to the Liaison Committee and the Southern Link Committees.

700.   MINUTES OF THE TAVISTOCK TOWNSCAPE HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 18h March 2009.

701.   MINUTES OF THE WDBC/TTC CONSULTATIVE LIAISON GROUP
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 25th February 2009.   Concerning minute 20(ii) Cllr Whitcomb was concerned at the delay in the Borough Council passing on details about the alcohol restriction signs that the Town Council had agreed to provide and affix.  Concerning minute 23 Cllr Mrs Johnson provided a list of parking ideas that would be circulated to Members.

702.  GENERAL FINANCE

a.   Accounts   Members considered the monthly accounts for submission to the next Council Meeting, a copy of which is at Annex A.  It was RECOMMENDED that they be passed for payment. 

b.   Outturn.       Members noted the phased budget reporting system print to 1st March 2009.

c.   Audit Parameters.      Members noted the latest Audit Commission instruction to our Auditors concerning Value for Money, and the concept of ‘Key Lines of Enquiry’.  Both our accountants and our internal auditors had copies and would assist in the implementation of the new requirements.

d.   Strategic Objectives.     Members noted the feedback from the Grant Thornton workshop session.  Cllrs Mrs Govier, Mrs Johnson, P Sanders, H Smith and the Mayor were reminded that they were the working party to set strategic objectives and performance indicators for the coming years.  Those Members not at the workshop had been asked to send their 6 most important objectives to that working party, but no contributions had yet been received.  Members asked to be reminded at Council about the request, and were to be given a week after that to respond.  Nil returns were requested by the working party.

703.   TRAINING COURSES
Cllr Trew wished to inform Members that he could put us in touch with Government funded courses.  These courses were completely free of charge to organisations providing the candidates met only two requirements; they were 19 years of age or older, and had worked (legally) in the UK for the last three years.  He felt this might not be something we were actively looking for but was something that would be of real use to the candidates, and from the due dilligence standpoint to the Council.   Nor was it something that could go out to tender because it was completely free.   The courses came as a package:

· Health and Safety Level 2

· Environmental Awareness Level 1

· Waste Management Level 2

All of these were QCA accredited.  Cllr Trew had been advised to declare a prejudicial interest about these matters having given Members the information about them.  He understood that the funding will not be there forever, and his experience was that such funding could be pulled at a week's notice, however, if candidates were registered the funding was guaranteed.  Members endorsed the use of these courses and RECOMMENDED that appropriate staff be given the opportunity to undertake them.704.   TACT AND STREET PASTORS

Members noted a paper on Street Pastors provided by TACT, and their request for Town Council endorsement.  The author was present to answer Members questions, and they RECOMMENDED that in general they endorsed the concept.  The matter of a Town Council representative and point of contact would be put to full Council.

705.   FURTHER DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR UNITARY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN DEVON
Members had received a copy of the Boundary Committee further proposals for consideration before the meeting.  Noted that comments were required by 14th May 2009.  They noted that there were two proposals in the document,:

· A Devon unitary authority comprising the existing county of Devon with no changes to Plymouth and Torbay, and

· An Exeter and Exmouth unitary authority and a unitary authority covering the remainder of the county, with no changes to Plymouth and Torbay.

The matter of financial viability had been slightly amended as this criteria could now be considered in aggregate.  Eg, so long as the benefits and drawbacks of the latter proposal in sum were positive, then the financial test had been met.  Members agreed that this would be the worse possible outcome for the ‘rump’ of Devon, and RECOMMENDED that the clerk draft a response in line with this new criteria and previous comments to be endorsed by full Council.

706. PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960
Pursuant to Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 it was RESOLVED that, because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, the public and the press leave the meeting during consideration of debtors to the Council.

707.   DEBTORS
Members received a list of all those who had a debt to the Council dating from earlier than the last quarter day.  They resolved that a response to a letter requesting remition of a rent review increase should be that the Council was not in a position to cancel such reviews that had been arrived at reasonably and in accordance with the leases, and that they did not wish to set such precedents.

708.   PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSIONS TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960
RESOLVED that the public and press be re-admitted to the Meeting.

709.  URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
There was no such business.

Rising 8. 10 p.m.

Signed………..………………….

Dated…………………………

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

Town Council Offices Drake Road Tavistock Devon PL19 0AU