Properties Minutes 27th March 2007
Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 27th day of MARCH 2007 at 6.30 p.m.
Present:
Cllr R Pike V Chairman in the Chair
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs M Gibson
Cllr Mrs M Govier
Cllr Mrs A Johnson
Cllr E Sherrell
Cllr B Trew
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey V Chair F&GP
In Attendance:
Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
Market Reeve
One member of the Press
Cllr Connelly DCC
619. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr Mrs Keane, Cllr Andrews and Cllr Mrs Woodcock.
620. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 27th February 2007, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 6th March 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
621. MATTERS ARISING
Micro Hydro-Power. Minute 564 referred. Members received the notes of a meeting held with the manager of the Mary Tavy power station on 13th March. Cllr Pike gave a verbal brief on the matter, explaining that there was no possibility of further water extraction, and that anyway the Tavy already provided much electricity generation capacity for the local area. It was RECOMMENDED that the matter proceed no further, but would be monitored on occasion.
622. MINUTES OF THE CEMETERIES SUB COMMITTEE
Cllr Mrs Johnson presented the minutes of the meeting held on 19th February 2007 which were noted without comment.
623. MINUTES OF THE TOWN HALL AND MARKET SUB COMMITTEE
Cllr Trew presented the minutes of the meeting held on 13th February 2007 which were noted without comment.
624. MINUTES OF THE TOWN HALL AND MARKET SUB COMMITTEE
Cllr Best presented the minutes of the meeting held on 12th March 2007. Members considered the suggestion detailed in Minute 602a(i). The Market Reeve was present to explain the concept, and a full brief was tabled. Members felt the idea to be imaginative and that it would improve a quiet area of the Market. It was worth further investigation, and seemed to forecast that it would be economic within 2 years and produce a steady return thereafter. Members felt that it would improve the ‘footfall’ for the East End stores, but the lighting in the area needed to be addressed. A Health and Safety report should look into fire exits from existing units and the traffic flow and pedestrian safety. It was RECOMMENDED that the concept be accepted in principle, and further investigations made.
625. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex A. The Works Superintendent reported the plans to make Dolvin Road cemetery safe and enable it to re-open to the public. Two key areas would be backfilled, and the paths made more obvious. Appropriate notices about keeping to paths would be displayed.
626. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex B.
627. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex C.
628. SUSTAINABLE GARDEN
Members received the notes from the steering committee meeting on the 27th February, and a letter from Mrs Fisher with a sketch plan of a possible site at the North end of Pearce’s Meadow was tabled. Cllr Mrs Govier was against converting any part of the Meadows into a garden. She was not against the concept, but against where it was planned to be. Members were also concerned about paying for a workers time and training to maintain the garden. The Clerk had attended a Steering Group meeting that afternoon, and reported that the Group were hoping that the Council would agree to offer a plot or land, and that once that was known the Group would investigate fully funding the project from grants. They would prefer a plot of land in the centre of Town as they felt the garden would be visited by schools and would become a tourist attraction. They preferred Pearce’s Meadow, or the Plantation by Dolvin Road. They had concerns about parking at Bannawell. After some debate Members RECOMMENDED to offer part of the Bannawell Open Space (the old pony field) to the Group subject to a business plan being produced and a management structure and constitution being approved.
629. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
Cllr Mrs Johnson briefed members on problems the Youth Café had with their building, and that they would be looking for a temporary home during repairs.
Rising 7.08 p.m.