Minutes of a meeting of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 24th day of APRIL 2007 at 7.25 p.m.

Present: 
Cllr Mrs Woodcock - Chair
Cllr Andrews - Chair Properties
Cllr Mrs A Clish-Green
Cllr P Jones
Cllr Mrs A Johnson
Cllr Mrs C Keane
Cllr Mrs J Metcalf
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr M Taylor

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

683. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr D Farrant

684. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 27th March 2007, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 3rd April 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman. 

685. MATTERS ARISING
a. Grants Policy.  Minute 636 referred. Members considered a proposed grants policy and application form. They asked that the word ‘Childguard’ be changed to ‘Child Protection’. They RECOMMENDED nem con that the policy and application form be accepted. The form would be made available ‘on-line’ in due course.

686. MEETING OF THE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE HELD EARLIER THAT EVENING
The Chairman of Properties reported that no recommendations with a financial impact had been made.

687. MINUTES OF THE WEST DEVON/TAVISTOCK CONSULTATIVE LIAISON GROUP
Members noted without comment the minutes of the meeting held on 28th February 2007. 

688. MINUTES OF THE TAVISTOCK PARKING FOCUS GROUP
Members considered the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd April 2007.  Concerning Paragraph 3 on Pixon Lane Cllr Mrs Keane was concerned that dedicated parking on Livestock Market days would stop the issuing of annual parking permits. Members asked that discussions be held with Ward and Chowen about the possibility of alternative parking being made available by them in the actual Market. The practice of lorries ‘washing-down’ in Pixon Lane should also be addressed. 

689. NALC REPORT
Members noted the annual report by the Chief Executive of NALC to the National Council.

a. The item on Unitary Status prompted Members to debate the unitary application for Exeter. They had all received a copy of a letter from the Lord Mayor of Exeter on the matter, and Cllr Sanders felt the letter to be intemperate and biased. The Mayor had attended a Stakeholders Forum in County Hall the day before, and reported on the 20% cut in County Council; rural services that might follow the severing of the link with Exeter. Members would be given a copy of the paperwork from that meeting. After some debate it was RECOMMENDED that a letter be written to Ruth Kelly (copied to the Lord Mayor of Exeter) stating that the Town Council feared that rural services would be dramatically affected should Exeter become a unitary authority, and that the hinterland remaining after such a change would suffer unacceptable cuts in all aspects of life. 

b. Cllr Mrs Johnson raised the loss of Quality Council status by the Town Council, and it was confirmed that we would be unable to re-quality, as after the coming elections we would not meet the 80% minimum level of elected members. Under the current rules the Town Council would only be able to re-qualify following a by-election to fill one of the four co-opted seats. We were not alone, as Ivybridge Town Council had also reported a similar problem.

690. MEETING OF THE TAVI REGENERATION STEERING GROUP
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 28th March 2007. Cllr Mrs Keane asked who would choose the persons selected to join the Group after the elections. The process had to be fair and transparent. The new council would have to be alert to watch over this matter.

691. GENERAL FINANCE
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. They noted the expenditure on the Newsletter, and thanked Mrs Kehoe for all her work in producing an excellent publication.

692. BEST VALUE
Cllr Sanders took Members through then final report of the scrutiny into the Town Hall and Markets. He thanked the Scrutiny Team, particularly the ‘critical friend’ (Mrs Johnson, Mrs Primmer and Mr Burgess), and Mrs Kehoe for sterling work as the secretary. He took Members through the recommendations explaining the background to each.  It was then RECOMMENDED that the report recommendations be accepted, and be reviewed after 4 months.  The Chairman thanked Cllr Sanders for leading the review over the last year.

693. CODE OF CONDUCT
Members considered the new model Code of Conduct for councillors, and noted that it would come into force from 3 May 2007. They RECOMMENDED nem con that the model Code and the ten General Principles be adopted without amendment on behalf of the new Council. 

694. GUILDHALL TOILETS
Members noted the e-mail from Mr Mettler, and the Notes of the meeting of the Steering Group held on the 4th April. Several Members were against the concept of the direct access toilets, and noted that WDBC were to look at both options for cost implications. They felt that there were two matters, one concerning whether the design was in sympathy with the area, and a second to do with the use of direct access as a modern and safe design. Cllr Sanders felt that direct access could be made sympathetic to the area, and awaited the architects suggestions.

695. STANNARY BAND AND TWINNING
Cllr Jones declared a personal interest. Members noted a letter from the Stannary Band concerning twinning visits to Pontivy in 2008, and RECOMMENDED that the response be that the Council was honoured that the Stannary Band was prepared to represent the Town at Pontivy. Cllr Jones explained the way in which the £1,000 annual grant to the band was expended, and that the ‘Tubes’ Town Band received equivalent help from the Council by the peppercorn rental of the practice room in Drake Road. Members asked why the two bands could not share a room and were informed that they both required a room at the same time and day.  Members asked that the Committee investigate in the future what Council owned properties could be made available for the Stannary Band. 

696. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
There was no such business. Cllr Mrs Johnson thanked Cllr Mrs Woodcock for her Chairing of the Committee over the past years. 

Rising 8.30 p.m.

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