Properties Minutes 29th April 2008
Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 29th day of APRIL 2008 at 6.30 p.m.
Present: Cllr Mrs M Govier Chair
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs A Johnson Town Mayor
Cllr R Pike
Cllr Mrs Sellis
Cllr E Sherrell
Cllr H Smith Chair F&GP
Cllr E Sanders
Cllr B Trew
In Attendance: Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
Cllr R Connelly DCC
One member of the Press
701. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr C Jenkins.
702. 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.
703. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 26th March 2008, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 1st April 2008, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
704. MATTERS ARISING
a. Cllr Trew drew Members attention to letters he had asked the Clerk to write to the Golf Club about their plans for use of an area between the first fairway and the road from Greenlands estate, where they had built a new and very large tee. The Club had referred to that area as a practice area for the Golf Professional, and Cllr Trew wished to know if they had in mind any other use apart from purely golf practice. He felt their replies were unacceptable and required clarification. Members had not seen the correspondence, but felt that it reasonable to ask for full clarification, and RECOMMENDED nem con that a further letter be written. Cllr Trew would provide a draft of the letter to the Clerk.
b. Cllr Mrs Sellis raised the subject of Cllr Trew’s declaration of a personal interest with the Golf Club at the Whitchurch Down Sub-Committee meeting, and felt that his interest was clearly prejudicial. Cllr Trew disagreed, and felt that he had been right to remain in the meeting as any interests that could be construed as prejudicial had not been raised at that meeting.
705. MINUTES OF THE WHITCHURCH DOWN SUB-COMMITTEE
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 15th April 2008 presented by Cllr Mrs Sellis. Concerning Minute 684c the matter of a large metal ‘rake’ had been raised with the Golf Club, and it had been moved as requested, but to an area that blocked a public footpath. Cllr Trew felt this to be a hazard to the public and asked that the Golf Club be requested to remove it from the Down.
706. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex A.
a. The quality of the stone wall in the Cemetery was admired.
b. Cllr Mrs Govier asked that the layout of the Guildhall square car park be changed to allow for larger car parking spaces. The layout of the car park would be reviewed before any re-marking took place.
c. Members complained that the scaffolding around the Town Hall seemed to be unused much of the time. The Works Superintendent explained the schedule of work, and that only two days had been lost so far due to inclement weather.
d. Members were informed that the revised plans for the Pixon Lane car park development would be with the Council next week.
e. The Works Superintendent was thanked for the draft planned maintenance document.
707. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex B.
708. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex C.
709. ROBEY TRUST
a. The trust occupied buildings to the south of Pixon Lane open space. They had no legal right to cross the Council land, yet seemed to have no other access to their buildings. In 1994 the Council agreed that a licence to cross the council land be granted subject to the Trust meeting all legal costs. For some reason now not known the licence was not proceeded with. Their Chairman had written to the Council asking if the Council would review the situation and the Trust’s needs. Members heard that a requirement to cross the proposed car park with very heavy vehicles would certainly add a considerable sum to the cost of the service road through the new car park. Cllr Sherrell said that the Council should support the Trust, and was morally bound to accommodate any organisation that had used the Pixon Lane open space for access over a period of years.
b. Members felt that the Trust might be able to ask for grants from others organisations to help defray the extra costs of the service road. They also said that any licence should be specific to the Trust and not be able to be passed on if the Trust sold their property to any other persons. Members then RECOMMENDED nem con that a licence to cross Pixon Lane be granted to the Robey Trust
710. PEACE WINDOW IN MARKET
Members considered a request from the ‘Flight of the Phoenix World Peace 2000’ movement to erect a world peace garden window in the Pannier Market, replacing an existing window. It would all be at no cost to the Council. Listed Building Consent would be required even though the fabric of the building would not be altered. Members RECOMMENDED nem con that the concept be accepted in principle, depending on the result of any planning application.
711. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
Cllr Pike tabled the minutes of the Goose Fair meeting held on the 28th April, and asked Members to consider the recommendation concerning charges for this year so that a decision could be made at the full Council meeting.
Rising 7. 15 p.m.
Signed………..…………………..Dated……………………………