Properties Minutes 26th June 2007
Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 26th day of JUNE 2007 at 6.30 p.m.
Present:
Cllr Mrs M Govier Chair
Cllr D Best
Cllr C Jenkins
Cllr Mrs A Johnson Town Mayor
Cllr R Pike Dep Town Mayor
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey Chair F&GP
Cllr E Sanders
Cllr E Sherrell
Cllr B Trew
In Attendance:
Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
One member of the Press
061. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs Sellis.
062. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 29th May 2007, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 5th June 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
063. MATTERS ARISING
a. Down Road Triangle. Minute 681 referred. Members noted the response from DCC Highways that they did not agree with the suggestions put forward by a member of the public at the ATM, but suggest that additional hatching be added when the markings are renewed. They endorsed the proposal that such work be scheduled for next year, and asked that Mr Start be so informed.
b. Closure of Abbey Walk. Minute 051f referred. A meeting between the three deputed councillors, the Works Superintendent, Mr Bruce Newport (Environment Agency) and Mr Steve Cryer (South West Water) had been held on Monday 18th June.
a. The Works Superintendent gave a short verbal briefing on the results. The work would not now commence until 30th July, which would allow the Food Festival to take place without hindrance. The Environment Agency (who were acting as SWW’s principal contractor in the project) had agreed to repair the old slipway by Abbey Bridge, to undertake debris and litter removal in the river and some tree surgery on the banks during the work. They would also hold educational days for local children.
b. Cllr Trew believed that the project was involved with SWW wanting to draw off increasing amounts of water for power generation, and that the work was commercially driven. The Mary Tavy power generation was worth £1.6M per year to them. He felt that a landowner would normally expect rental for allowing the contractors right of access to land. He felt that £1,500 a week should be claimed. He offered to provide detailed information to support this claim to anyone who wished it but emphasised that he made no proposal regarding such charges.
c. Cllr Pike reminded members that SWW owned the canal and not the Town Council. He was the Council’s representative on the water extraction group, and understood that SWW would not be allowed to extract more water than they currently did. The Group believed it critical that the River was looked after. The Chairman believed that the work by the weir was primarily to do with EU regulations about protecting fish stocks, and not commercial in nature.
d. Cllr Best proposed that we ask our advisors what a suitable rental for Abbey Walk and the opposite bank might be, but when Members were reminded that such advice would be charged for, the proposal was defeated by 4 votes to 3.
064. MINUTES OF THE SUSTAINABLE GARDEN PROJECT
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 16th May 2007, and that nothing had happened since the short site meeting in the 17th May.
065. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex A. Mr Southall gave an up-date on the problems in disposing of arsenic contaminated waste soil from the cemetery during the road works. Perhaps all the waste could be used in a dry-stone wall being built in the cemetery, in building a raised hard-standing and by re-grading the existing road surface. Otherwise the waste would have to go to land fill near Swindon at a cost of some £20K. The roof report showed that some £163K would be needed for property roof repairs over the near future, and he suggested that Members agree to make maximum use of scaffolding when it was erected (to paint window frames for example) as the scaffolding was the major cost. Cllr Best queried why the tenants were not paying for repairs to the Auction Rooms, and after some discussion about the lease Members RECOMMENDED that our advisors be asked to ensure that the tenants undertake repairs to dilapidations in accordance with their lease.
066. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex B. Cllr Jenkins was concerned about rumours of a new supermarket development, but the Chairman ruled that such matters could not be debated until such time that any applications were made public.
067. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex C.
068. GARDEN FESTIVAL.
Members noted a report on the May bank holiday garden festival in the Market.
069. OVERGRAZING SURVEY OF WHITCHURCH DOWN.
Members received without comment a copy of the Natural England survey made earlier this year. The Commoners have received copies of the report, but no changes are required for two years.
070. BISHOPSMEAD PLAY PARK
We had received complaints from a member of the public about children playing games with hard balls (a sort of cricket) in the play park. The balls sometimes go onto neighbouring property and cause damage. The Works Superintendent had visited the complainant several times, and we have plans to plant vegetation on a raised bed to alleviate the ball problem. In some cases the damage had been caused by stones, not balls and was vandalism. The ward councillor and PCSO’s had also been involved. Members agreed that it would be impossible to enforce the banning of ball games in that small area, and there was anyway a basketball goal on the site erected with a Sport England grant some four years ago. The situation would be monitored.
071. PHYSICAL FITNESS EQUIPMENT
Some two years ago we investigated the provision of a ‘Trim Trail’ in the Meadows. For under £10,000 we could have erected ten pieces of fitness and agility equipment around the Meadows to provide a marked fitness route for all ages, though mainly aimed at adults. Cllr Jenkins wished to raise the matter again, feeling that such a trail would encourage people towards fitness. Perhaps sponsors could be found to help pay for such equipment, which ought not to be wooden as that might be vulnerable to the vandals. Cllr Ramsey raised the subject of the Meadows play park, and thought it needed more equipment and renovation. It should also be fenced. While there was £40,000 in the budget for play parks this year, most of that was earmarked for Courtlands Road. The Works Superintendent would investigate an adult trim-trail, and produce ideas for enhancing the Meadows for the 2008/2009 budget setting.
072. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
Rising 7.15 p.m.