Properties Minutes 24th July 2007
Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 24th day of JULY 2007 at 6.30 p.m.
Present:
Cllr Mrs M Govier - Chair
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs A Johnson - Town Mayor
Cllr R Pike - Dep Town Mayor
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey - Chair F&GP
Cllr E Sanders
Cllr Mrs Sellis
In Attendance:
Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
Cllr Connelly DCC
One member of the Press
122. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr E Sherrell, Cllr C Jenkins and Cllr B Trew.
123. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 26th June 2007, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 3rd July 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
124. MATTERS ARISING
a. Down Road Triangle. Minute 063a referred. Members had accepted the advice on road markings given by the DCC Highways experts at the last meeting. Mr Start did not accept this and had asked that a further letter be circulated to Members. They noted his views and agreed that when the area was re-marked his comments would be taken into consideration.
125. MINUTES OF THE TOWN HALL AND MARKETS SUB-COMMITTEE
The Chairman presented the minutes of the meeting held on 27th June 2007 which were noted without comment.
126. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex A.
127. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex B.
128. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex C.
129. ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION.
Members heard that we were very short of Depot accommodation for vehicles and equipment. The previous council authorised a search for suitable alternative accommodation, but none had yet been found, and the existing contract may not be easily ended until March 2012. A unit in Crelake industrial estate owned by WDBC had become available at £6,600 per year on a 3-year lease with 3-month break points. This additional room would greatly assist the Depot, and Members considered taking on this unit and finding the rental from reserves. Noting that the lease could be broken at short intervals if required, and that additional legal costs and the like could be managed within the existing budget they RECOMMENDED that the unit be leased. As the existing rented building was not large enough, Members then suggested that consideration be given to building a purpose built depot on land at Pixon Lane open space. An initial costed plan would be prepared and submitted to the Forward Planning, Policy and Programme Sub-committee.
130. OLD FOLKS REST ROOM
The Chairman read a letter from Cllr Sherrell asking that the Council object to the demolition application. Members also noted that the Planning Authority had been sent a petition of 179 names against the application to demolish the Rest Room. After some debate they RECOMMENDED nem con that a copy be sent to the developers with a covering letter emphasising the public disquiet about the plan, and asking if alternative accommodation would be provided within the developed property. Cllr Pike had heard a rumour that the land on which the Rest Room stood had been given to the public in perpetuity. He was informed that records showed that the Congregational Church trustees had sold the whole plot to Pearl Assurance Company in 1961 for the sum of £13,000. Members agreed that the room provided a valuable service to old people, and that the policy of the Council should be to support the Rest Room Committee in their endeavours. Alternative accommodation in a central area should be sought if needed. There was also talk of public action against the developers, such as boycotts of their retail outlets.
131. ALCOHOL EXCLUSION ZONE MEETING
Members were informed that a meeting of representatives from DCC, the Police, the Licenced Victuallers Association, WDBC, Tavistock Forward and TTC had been held on the 17th July to re-open discussions about a alcohol exclusion zone in the centre of Tavistock. The minutes would be circulated when available. The Police believe such a ban would be a tremendous help to them, and they are now in a position to enforce such a ban. DCC youth workers agreed that under 18’s would welcome such a ban, and it was up to the Town Council to request that West Devon Borough Council implement such a ban. Any exclusions could be moderated to allow freedom on certain special days (Goose Fair and Dickensian night for example). The timeframe could be 6 to 8 weeks from any such request, and public meetings to debate the issue were not a legal requirement. Members received an introductory brief from the Community Safety Committee together with a first draft zone map. The Chairman summed up the problem which involved groups of 18 to 25 year olds drinking excessively during the day in public places, and leaving dangerous and objectionable litter. The subject involved expenditure so was also on the agenda for the following Finance and General Purposes Committee. Members agreed that such bans seemed to be the rule rather than the exception in towns, and the feeling of the meeting was in favour of such a ban as it would assist public health and safety as well, but they were concerned that the individuals concerned would just move away from the town centre and continue their anti-social habits elsewhere.
Cllr Best left the meeting.
132. PIXON LANE
Two youth or young family related DCC organisations were looking for land on which to build new centres in Tavistock. Both had asked if Members might agree to release land in the north east corner of Pixon lane for this purpose. The County was keen to build on ‘protected’ land owned by other Authorities, and not be subject to short notice closure as might happen if land was commercially owned. Meetings were planned with the groups on Thursday 26th July, and more details would be passed on when they become available. In view of the idea mooted at Minute 129 above, members asked that a full conceptual plan for the future use of Pixon Lane be prepared.
133. GOOSE FAIR
Members noted that the police have just informed us that they will not be undertaking traffic management or road closures for Goose Fair 2007 as they have in the past. They have told us we have to use the Road Traffic (Special Events) Act 1994 for this and future years. For this we have to deal with DCC Highways Management. Any uniformed officer involved would be charged at £50 an hour. The Chairman read out a letter from Cllr Sherrell whose view was that the police should continue to undertake such tasks. Members were very concerned at the police seeming to abdicate their responsibilities over such matters, and felt that the Chief Constable should be asked to attend a Council meeting to explain why the police precept was increasing, yet they appeared to do less and less. It was noted that the Council still provided 7 free car parking spaces to the local police (at a cost to the Council of up to £10,920 a year). After more debate it was RECOMMENDED by 2 votes for, the rest abstaining, that this facility be withdrawn to demonstrate the Council’s depth of feeling.
134. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
There was no such business.
Rising 7.18 p.m.