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 FEBRUARY 2007 at 8.00 p.m.

Present:
Cllr Mrs N Woodcock Chairman
Cllr I Andrews Chair Properties
Cllr Mrs A Clish-Green
Cllr D Farrant
Cllr Mrs A Johnson
Cllr P Jones
Cllr Mrs C Keane Mayor
Cllr Mrs J Metcalf
Cllr Mrs Ramsey
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr M Taylor

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

572. APOLOGIES
There were no apologies for absence.

573. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 30th January 2007, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 6th February 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

574. MATTERS ARISING

a. Local Elections Minute 513 referred. WDBC had reported that they would be holding a prospective councillor evening from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm on Monday 19th March at Kilworthy. They were willing to make room for a Town Council ‘table’ with representatives to cater for those who wish to try for the Town Council, and would share advertising etc for the evening. Cllr Mrs Johnson agreed to take up this offer and liaise with the organisers.

b. Climate Change day Minute 527a referred. Members considered a copy of the proposed TTC questionnaire to be distributed at the Methodist Church Energy Day on the 10th March. Cllr Sanders queried if the Council yet had an agreed climate change policy, and if not, then the questionnaire should not seem to suggest that it had. Members seemed to have no problems with the actual questions, but with the pre-amble that had been written by DARE. It was then RECOMMENDED that the document be redrafted to hold the questions and perhaps one paragraph of introduction. The question ‘do you live in Tavistock area’ should be added. Four councillors had agreed to attend the energy day, and the Mayor asked for more volunteers if anyone was available.

c. Manor Development Cllr Andrews reported that he had been in contact with DCC about the concerns raised in Minute 519. The Clerk reported that he had also received a letter from DCC that would be tabled at the Council meeting. The matters of widening the footway, the excessive use of paving slabs on the bank and the fact that all off-site works had to be completed by the occupation of the 30th dwelling were covered.

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

576. MINUTES OF THE JOINT STAFFING FORUM AND STAFFING SUB-COMMITTEE
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 7th February 2007. Members wished that Minute 534 reflect that there had been discussion about the use of flexible working hours being Council policy rather than always paying overtime. They asked that this be part of all future contracts.

577. MINUTES OF THE WEST DEVON/TAVISTOCK CONSULTATIVE GROUP
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 6th December 2006.

578. MINUTES OF THE SOUTHERN PARISHES LINK COMMITTEE
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 30th November 2006

579. MEETING OF THE TAVI REGENERATION STEERING GROUP
The notes of the meeting held on the 21st February had not been received. Cllr Sanders reported that the Steering Group was awaiting a response from Tavistock Forward on the allegation that some members of their executive committee were unwilling to move the matter forward. Clarification had been requested. Members re-iterated that the Town Council wanted to be proactive, and to get the regeneration underway.

580. 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. They asked that we contact local suppliers to get information about comparative costs and response times etc in order to spread the Council’s support of local tradesmen. Payments for the photocopier and to TAVATA were queried.

581. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
An Annual Town Meeting (ATM) must be held between the 1st March and the 1st June. We had (as in past years) scheduled the next ATM for the 13th March. As the Town Hall will not be open as a venue by that date it was agreed that an alternative date would be found before the next elections.

582. CODE OF CONDUCT
A copy of the DCMS consultation on the revised Members’ Code of Conduct had been circulated on the 2nd February to allow Members ample time to read the document. We had until 9th March to send in any comments. No member had any comments at the meeting.

583 GREEN AUDIT
Members had been given a copy of the ‘Green Audit’ report by WestDen. The working party (Mayor, Cllr Taylor and Cllr Farrant) had met to consider the next step. The Mayor was disheartened over the long time that the report had taken to arrive, and in its content. She suggested that the Council adopt something like the Devizes Town Council statement followed by the Matlock Town Council strategies. After some debate about how to respond to WestDen it was RECOMMENDED that the Working Party look again at the original brief, and return to Council with a draft response.

584. DAPC BRIEF ON PUBLIC SERVICES IN DEVON
Members noted the DAPC submission to DCLG on public services, and had no problems with the content. They felt that much was concerned with the drive to unitary status, and that the Town Council would work in partnership as appropriate.

585. LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR ROBEY TRUST
Members noted a request from the Trust for a letter of support concerning applications for grants. They agreed that the Town Council was very much in support of the Trust and valued its presence in the Town. They RECOMMENDED that such a letter be sent.

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

Rising 8.20 p.m.

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