Finance Minutes 4th September 2007
Minutes of a meeting of the FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 4th day of SEPTEMBER 2007 at 7.18 p.m.
Present:
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey - Chair
Cllr Mrs M Govier - Chair Properties
Cllr M Harper
Cllr I C Jennings
Cllr Mrs A Johnson - Town Mayor
Cllr Mrs J Metcalf
Cllr R Pike - Dep Town Mayor
Cllr P Sanders
Cllr H Smith
Cllr D WhitcombIn
Attendance:
Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
Cllr Connelly - DCC
One member of the press
188. APOLOGIES
There were no apologies for absence.
189. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 24th July 2007, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 31st July 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
190. MATTERS ARISING
There were no such matters.
191. MEETING OF THE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE HELD EARLIER THAT EVENING
The Chairman of Properties reported that no recommendations with a financial impact had been made. Cllr Sanders was opposed to any subsidy of land rental to DCC for the proposed SureStart buildings, and Members generally felt there to be a shortage of employment land in Tavistock, and that there would be no problem in letting any rental units on Pixon Lane.
192. MINUTES OF THE SOUTHERN PARISHES LINK COMMITTEE
Members received the minutes of the meeting held on 21st June 2007 which were noted without comment.
193. MINUTES OF THE WEST DEVON PARKING STRATEGY GROUP
Members received the minutes of the meeting held on 4th July 2007 which were noted without comment. Members were in favour of the phone ‘top up’ system being introduced, providing it worked satisfactorily.
194. MINUTES OF THE G10 LOCAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS GROUP
Members received the minutes of the meeting held on 20th July 2007, and Cllr Sanders reminded Members of the importance of the Local Development Framework and the consultation about the Core Strategy.
195. MINUTES OF THE WEST DEVON /TAVISTOCK CONSULTATIVE LIAISON GROUP
Members received the minutes of the meeting held on 25th July 2007, and concerning TCL7 wondered how much Okehampton Town Council were contributing to their signage improvements.
196. MINUTES OF THE TaVi DEVELOPMENT FORUM
Members received the minutes of the meeting held on 26th July 2007. Some Members objected to the use of e-mail for internal communications as not all had such facilities. So far as the constitution was concerned, it was explained that even though Mrs Keane was no longer a councillor, a year had to pass before she could be classed as a member of the public for organisational make-up.
197. MINUTES OF THE GUILDHALL SQUARE PUBLIC TOILETS MEETING
Members received the minutes of the meeting held on 1st August 2007 which were noted without comment. Members hoped that the rebuilding might be completed soon. Cllr Sanders discovered that no toilets were open in the town after 6.00 pm, and would raise the matter within WDBC.
198. NOTES OF A MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Members received the notes of the meeting held on 2nd August 2007. Members recalled that they had agreed to the police request for an alcohol free zone in the town, and felt that such prohibition should be given a chance to take effect before considering any expensive CCTV coverage. It was felt that CCTV equipment was not really appropriate in an old market town, and that a better police coverage of the trouble spots at night would solve many problems. The Mayor read out a letter she had received from residents overlooking Bedford Square that detailed a poor police response to vandalism. Members RECOMMENDED that CCTV was not appropriate at this time, but the matter could be re-visited at a later date.
199. 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. Best Value Members were pleased to hear that the Department for the Communities and Local Government had confirmed that the £30,000 grant to compensate for being a Best Value authority would be paid by the 30th November. This would be the last such payment.
200. DRAKES’S TRAIL
Members received a letter from WDBC inviting the Council to nominate a Member to represent the Council on the Drake’s Trail steering committee, and deferred the matter to full council.
201. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
The Clerk circulated a request for a grant for the Junior Life Skills event hosted by WDBC, and Members recalled that they had granted £100 for the last few years. The event was felt to be most valuable and they RECOMMENDED that a s.137 grant of £100 should be made for financial year 2007/2008.
Rising 8.10 p.m.