Properties Minutes 27th May 2008
Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 27th day of MAY 2008 at 6.30 p.m.
Present: Cllr B Trew V Chair
Cllr Mrs M Govier D Mayor
Cllr C Jenkins
Cllr R Pike Town Mayor
Cllr E Sherrell
Cllr H Smith Chair F&GP
Cllr E Sanders
In Attendance: Town Clerk
Works Superintendent
Cllr R Connelly DCC
One member of the Press
018. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr D Best, Cllr Mrs Sellis and Cllr J Sellis.
019. 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.
020. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 29th April 2008, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 6th May 2008, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
021. MATTERS ARISING
a. TASS. The Chairman reminded Members that he had been tasked to investigate the validity of the TASS public liability insurance when hiring the Pannier Market for their charity bonanza. He was concerned that their insurance cover did not extend to the use of the Market. Liaison with Mr Podmore and Mr Lyle had proved inconclusive, and they had assured officers that they would get appropriate cover by the weekend. Contact with the insurance company had confirmed that they had UK wide cover, but there was doubt about the sub-letting concept. Cllr Trew advised members that we could not allow anyone to operate in the Market without appropriate cover. Officers would ask all participant charities for copies of their public liability cover.
b. Parking Bays in Duke Street. Cllr Mrs Govier had suggested that some parking bays in Duke Street might be of benefit. Members noted the DCC highways reply to this suggestion, and that they wished the Council to consider the pros and cons as they laid them out, and asked if the Council considered the right balance would be to reduce parking space to increase loading bays. Members felt that loading bays to service the shops in Duke Street would be a good idea providing no public on-street parking was lost. Cllr Mrs Govier suggested that the long bay in Brook Street be changed to also make one disabled bay, and that the disabled bay so saved could be taken from Duke Street and the space used as a loading bay. No public parking would be lost. Members agreed that loading bays were only effective if constantly monitored by traffic wardens. Cllr Jenkins advised that the Civic Enforcement Officers would commence work in a few weeks. Members then RECOMMENDED nem con that we ask DCC Highways to plan to move disabled bays from Duke Street to Brook Street and to add a loading bay in Duke Street in the space so vacated.
022. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex A. They asked that Mr Start be informed of the start date for the re-marking of the Down Road triangle.
a. The Works Superintendent advised that the tenders for the street lighting had been opened by a joint board led by the Mayor, and that SE Contractors had come in at the lowest bid of £63,803 (to be shared with WDBC).
b. Cllr Jenkins was concerned at the level and cost of the vandalism in the Meadows, and was worried about the safety of the planned Trim Trail. Members agreed that the vandalism was blatant and planned, and that the Town Council should continue to repair all such damage as soon as possible. Cllr Sherrell felt that it should be called ‘criminal damage’, and that efforts be made to get the police to put a higher priority on such anti-social behaviour.
023. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex B, and congratulated the Reeve and Deputy Town Clerk on a successful Garden Festival. Cllr Mrs Govier noted the comments about bad trading, and reminded Members that the zero rate of increase in market tolls had been agreed for such an eventuality.
024. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex C.
025. GOLF CLUB
Members noted the response to the latest draft of the licence to the Golf Club for use of the ‘triangle’. Members saw that they did not accept clause 4.1.3, agreed by Minute 631 (‘The Owner can terminate this Licence at any time upon giving 6 months written notice to the Licensee’). Members agreed that the matter had now gone on far too long, and cost too much. They RECOMMENDED by 5 votes for and one abstention to leave the draft as it was, and to inform the Golf Club that there would be no changes. If they could not sign the licence as it was then they should revert to the land boundaries of the 1957 lease and cease any use of the ‘triangle’.
026. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
There was no such business.
Signed………..…………………..Rising 7. 01 p.m. Dated……………………………