Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 4th day of SEPTEMBER 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 Mrs Sellis
Cllr B Trew 

In Attendance: 

Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
Cllr Connelly - DCC
One member of the Press

177. APOLOGIES
There were no apologies for absence.

178. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 24th July 2007, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 31st July 2007 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

179. MATTERS ARISING
There were no such matters.

180. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex A. Cllr Trew asked that the professional indemnity insurance for Fire Retardant Services be checked. 

181. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex B. 

182. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex C.  

183. OLD FOLKS REST ROOM

a. Members noted the letters from Geoffrey Cox MP and the Chief Executive of WDBC concerning the Rest Room, and the Chairman of the Rest Room had provided a copy of the 1,000-signature petition, which had been forwarded to Hunstrete estates as required by Minute 130. Member also noted the reply from their agent. The future of the Rest Room now depended upon the local Planning Authority, who would deal with the application for demolition and development according to planning law.

b. Members were informed that we had applied on the 5th July to English Heritage for a listing for the existing building. We have asked our surveyors for views on alternative locations should Members feel that facility needs to be replaced in due time.  Members were reminded that should the planning application fail, and the Rest Room remain, then the rental for the next 5 years from February 2009 would go up to 50% of the open market rental, and that had been estimated at over £15,000 a year.

184. PIXON LANE
Members were given more details about the SureStart children’s centre buildings that DCC wished to be allowed to erect on Pixon Lane. This was in advance of the full ‘conceptual plan’ being prepared that would include a new Depot, various rental buildings, car parking and a service access road. Mrs Jenny Coleman, Children’s Centre Manager for the Tavistock & Okehampton Children's Centre would be present at the Council meeting on the 11th September should Members have any questions. It was apparent that there will be contention for space for the various requirements and Members would have to decide their priorities for that land. (i.e., car parking, new Depot, rental buildings, DCC children’s centre, DCC youth centre). Some Members indicated that they would expect DCC to pay a market rental for any land provided for their community facilities. Cllr Trew also recalled that the Scout Hut trustees had asked for some changes a few years ago that had been deferred by the then council. He asked that we find out what these had been and contact the trustees about the matter again.

185. GOLF COURSE

a. In May the Golf Club had requested permission to replace a turf wall to the 16th tee with a drystone wall. As no Whitchurch Down Sub-Committee had been scheduled until October, the sub-committee chairman used his powers to consider this request, and denied it. The Golf Club now wished to appeal to this Committee against his decision. Members noted the correspondence, and heard reports from Cllr Trew and the Works Superintendent about the tee in question. As there seemed to be doubt about the need for stone walling the matter was deferred to the next meeting of the Whitchurch Down sub-committee to allow the Golf Club to present their case in person. Members were reminded that the matter of approving fencing around greens had been delegated to the Works Superintendent by previous council policy.

b. Members were informed that an amended Deed of Variation with the Club had been received, with all parties now agreeing the accuracy of the land map, and the clause regarding costs having been amended as required. Cllr Trew reported that he had been investigating documentary evidence dating back to 1956 of agreements with the commoners, football club and golf club, and compensation being paid for loss of grazing rights. He was asked to provide a written report to the next meeting of the properties committee, so that these matters could be debated along with the revised Deed of Variation.

186.   BUS SHELTERS

Members were informed that we currently own nine bus shelters, advertising on some of which has brought us an income of £1,327 in the last 3 years. We were in discussions with a different advertising company who would like to replace five of our bus shelters on main roads with designs suitable for modern advertising media, and to erect up to five in alternative locations. They would maintain (cleaning, maintenance and electricity) those 10 shelters for 20 years. This would leave us responsible for just 4 existing shelters in out-of-the way locations. Members were not keen on advertising on shelters in central locations, as that seemed not to fit in with the old market town ethos. However, some were in favour of the concept as a money saving exercise. They felt that a new shelter might be appropriate on the ‘down’ side of Down Road, at the halfway point. There was debate about one by the hospital in Spring Road, but there was doubt about the continued bus service there. The development at the Manor needed to be completed before any plans were made for shelters there. Members anyway felt that there was little space available for shelters on the close packed development.

187. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
There was no such business.

Rising 7.14 p.m.

Email: info@tavistock.gov.uk
Telephone:01822 613529

Town Council Offices Drake Road Tavistock Devon PL19 0AU