Properties Minutes 24th June 2008
Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 24th day of JUNE 2008 at 6.30 p.m.
Present: Cllr Mrs D Sellis Chair
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs M Govier D Mayor
Cllr E Sherrell
Cllr J Sellis
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
Two members of the public
078. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr R Pike and Cllr C Jenkins.
079. 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.
080. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 27th May 2008, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 3rd June 2008, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
081. MATTERS ARISING
There were no such matters.
082. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
a. Members noted the report at Annex A. Cllr Sherrell voiced his continued concern at the criminal damage being caused in the Meadows. It needed a regular police presence. Cllr Mrs Govier thought that as the vandalism was reported in the press the incidence went up. There had been 3 meetings with the police and they knew that the chain saw that had been used to cut up the bench had been stolen, used and sold on. Investigations were under-way, and there would be more police patrols in the Meadows. She hoped the alcohol ban would assist the police to control the small group of over-18’s.
b. Cllr Mrs Govier asked why no trees had been planted in the Abbey Chapel to replace the felled limes, and was reminded that English Heritage had forbidden any re-planting as the excavation and root balls might damage remains underground. The trustees had not asked for any other shrubs or plants to be planted. We had removed two old concrete posts as they had requested.
c. Cllr Mrs Govier asked if the Guildhall Square car park charges would remain the same when the new ticket machine was installed. She was assured that they would remain at £0.30p and £0.60p so long as Members so wished.
d. Cllr Smith hoped that the public would be given warning of the planned remedial work on the drains at the Market.
083. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
a. Members noted without comment the report at Annex B.
b. Garden Festival. Members noted the report and asked that it be re-worked with full costs (TOIL and stand-in costs) so they could make a decision as to future events. Cllr Trew felt that a minor loss should be acceptable as it was clearly for the benefit of the Town.
084. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex C, and asked that it be re-titled ‘List of Events’.
085. DRAKES STATUE ROUNDABOUT.
There had been 3 collisions with the railings around Drake’s Statue in the last month. DCC Highways had been contacted, and a copy of their traffic flow video had been lent to the Council and seen by Cllr Trew. DCC are undertaking further video surveys but say that the recent incidents were caused by bad driving and not the design of the roundabout. Cllr Trew held that the video showed that the computer modelling did not work. He would contact Brian George and John Halliday of DCC challenging them about the matter. Cllr Best asked if DCC could use some of the Harewood House land they were selling to enlarge the roundabout? Members agreed that the yellow no parking lines should be extended to stop one car parking so close to the roundabout that it was a hazard. It was said that there were 3 factors in the matter; the layout of the road, the drivers ability and the railings. Of these, 2 remained unchanged so it could only be the layout at fault. Members then unanimously RECOMMENDED that DCC should be billed for the costs of the repairs to the railings. Cllr Smith asked if we needed to replace the railings, and that there were various alternatives. From a health and safety standpoint Cllr Trew thought the Council had no liability to replace them, but from a moral standpoint it might be better to have some form of enclosure. The matter should be debated at full Council
086. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
There was no such business.
Signed………..…………………..Rising 7. 10 p.m. Dated……………………………