Properties Minutes 26th February 2008
Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 26th day of FEBRUARY 2008 at 6.30 p.m.
Present: Cllr Mrs M Govier Chair
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs A Johnson Town Mayor
Cllr E Sherrell
Cllr H Smith Chair F&GP
Cllr E Sanders
Cllr B Trew
In Attendance: Town Clerk
One member of the Press
Cllr Connelly DCC
548. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr C Jenkins, Cllr Mrs Sellis and Cllr R Pike
549. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 29th January 2008, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 5th February 2008, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
550. MATTERS ARISING
There were no such matters.
551. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex A.
552. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex B.
553. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex C.
554. PIXON LANE CAR PARK UPDATE
a. Members were informed of a problem in being able to develop Pixon Lane into a formal car park in accordance with the first draft plan. The lease for the Scout Hut also covered a rectangular grassy area of land on which 39 of the car parking spaces were situated. The Scouts had declined to give up the area as they used it for tent pitching and cooking. The loss of 39 spaces meant that only 63 fee-paying spaces could now be built according to the current plan. This had the effect of making the whole plan non-sustaining financially by more than £25,000 a year (and that assuming a 100% take up of parking spaces).
b. The Clerk asked Members to consider a number of options:
(1). To give the scouts notice to end their lease. This could next be done in December 2009, and the lease would end in March 2010. A new lease, less the open area, could then be offered. Even so, it appeared that the total project (£1M for Car Park, Depot and rentable units) would not be self-funding by over £15,000 a year.
(2). To leave the Scouts area alone, end the plans to build a new depot and rentable units, and concentrate on car parking slots on all the land that was available. That would give some 40 more spaces, to a total of 103 fee-paying spaces. The total cost would be in the region of £500,000, and should just be self sustaining at 100% occupancy.
(3). To leave the Scouts area alone, build the new depot and rentable units, but take the cost of that depot build out of the equation. The cost to the Council of the car park work alone would be sustainable from income at 100% occupancy, but treated as a cost for the good of the community if not. Only 63 car parking spaces would be available to the public.
c. Cllr Sherrell preferred option 3, and was supported by Cllr Trew who felt that while there might not be 100% occupancy of parking spaces at first, as time passed and the town got more crowded the spaces would fill. Cllr Best reminded Members of the background to the need for more car parking spaces, and the recommendations that had come from the joint working group on parking. The Borough Council had offered to take on the Pixon Lane development, but the Council has resolved to keep the project totally in-house. He felt that the town already needed the extra space for Summer time visitors. The sense of the meeting was that the scouts should be left with the ‘green’ area by their hut, and no alternative was available. Cllr Smith reminded Members of the case for building a new Depot and the rentable units. Both these would be an employment land bonus for the Town, and even if a future Council contracted out all its Depot services the building would be eminently rentable.
d. Members then RECOMMENDED by 5 votes for and one against that the Council take option 3 forward.
555. ALLOTMENTS
Minute 449 referred. Deputed members had met with the parties to the dispute at the Allotments, and Members were given a copy of the report and advice. The thanks of the council were passed to the Members involved.
556. GOLF CLUB
Members were given a copy of the first draft of the licence authorising the use by the Golf Club of the triangular area. They also noted the two amendments requested by the Golf Club. While they accepted the amendments in principle, they asked that these be passed to our lawyers for their advice. Members did not like the word ‘provision’ in clause 2.1 as this gave them concerns that the Club might take that to mean they could place holes, flags and bunkers on the triangle. They asked that the draft be re-worded to show that such construction was not allowed. They also asked that a clause be added showing that the area could not be use for purposes of gain or reward (ie, not to be used by the professional). A second draft would be available for the next cycle of meetings.
557. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
There was no such business.
Rising 7. 00p.m.
Signed………..…………………..
Dated……………………………