Minutes of a meeting of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 27th day of MAY 2008at 7 15 p.m.

Present: Cllr H Smith   Chair 
Cllr B Trew    V Chair Properties
Cllr Mrs M Govier .  Deputy Mayor
Cllr Harper
Cllr I C Jennings
Cllr Mrs A Johnson   
Cllr Mrs J Metcalf
Cllr R Pike    Town Mayor
Cllr Mrs Ramsey
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr D Whitcomb

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

027.  APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs D Sellis.

028.   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

029.   MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 29th April 2008, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 6th May 2008, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman. 

030. MATTERS ARISING
There were no such matters.

031.  MEETING OF THE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE HELD EARLIER THAT EVENING
Cllr Trew reported that no matters with a financial content had been debated by the Properties Committee.  Cllr Sanders was concerned about the cost of vandalism, and Cllr Mrs Govier said she would speak to the new police superintendent.  Members agreed that the Council should complain to the police hierarchy more often, as well as reporting vandalism and getting a crime number.  The press should be involved as well to publicise the damage caused.

032.   MINUTES OF THE G10 MEETING
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 18th April 2008. 

033.   MINUTES OF THE TaVi DEVELOPMENT FORUM
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 17th April 2008  Cllr Jennings reported that he had attended a meeting, and had again commented on their use of abbreviations.

034.   MINUTES OF THE SOUTHERN PARISHES LINK COMMITTEE
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 20th March 2008.

035.   BRIEFING NOTES ON GUILDHALL SQUARE TOILETS.
Members noted the briefing notes, and Cllr Sanders commented that he was disappointed at the length of time it had taken to get the work underway.  There would be an update meeting on Monday 2nd June

036.  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.   Internal Audit.   Members noted the Auditing Solutions draft update report for 2007/08, and that their final visit will be in July which will complete their outstanding report for the last financial year. 

037.   DOG FOULING
Members noted the extract of the annual report from the WDBC Dog Warden.  There was some debate about how dog owners would cope when shops no longer gave away free plastic bags.  They asked that this problem be on the agenda for the next liaison meeting

038.  URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
The Chamber of Commerce had sent the Council a letter asking for support and financial help to fight the supermarket application.  It had arrived too late to be properly debated at this meeting, but was raised so that it could be considered at the Council meeting.  Cllr Sanders advised that the planning application might be before the Planning Authority in June, so time was of the essence.  He felt that the Town Council could properly become involved with the campaign.  Members asked if any other local Councils might have been involved in such campaigns?

Rising 7. 45 p.m.

Signed………..………………….

Dated……………………………

 

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

Town Council Offices Drake Road Tavistock Devon PL19 0AU