Properties Minutes 30th September 2008
Minutes of a meeting of the PROPERTIES COMMITTEE held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 30th day of SEPTEMBER 2008 at 6.30 p.m.
Present: Cllr Mrs D Sellis Chair
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs M Govier D Mayor
Cllr R Pike 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
One member of the Press
284. APOLOGIES
There were apologies for absence from Cllr C Jenkins
285. 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.
286. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 2nd September 2008, previously circulated and adopted by Council on 9th September 2008 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
287. MATTERS ARISING
a. Minutes 194 and 248a referred. After the DCC presentation to Council on the 9th September, Mr Halliday had agreed to provide historic data about accidents and costs. These had been circulated, but Members found little in them to substantiate the changes made to the roundabout. They felt the changes had been uncalled-for.
b. Members had also asked that the details of the DCC offer concerning repairs to the Drake Statue railings be requested in writing, and the Clerk confirmed that he now had such information from Mr George. He had confirmed that so long as the Town Council arrange to reshape the corners of the fencing around the memorial so that the fence is at least 18 inches (450 mm) from the kerb line (i.e. short sections of fence need to be placed at an approximately 45 degree angle between the main sections of fence that remain) DCC will contribute a substantial sum to the cost of the Town Council doing this, or might even cover all the cost depending on the tender received for the work. Cllr Trew felt that the Town Council should not have to pay a penny for the repairs, and Cllr Sherrell felt that the DCC terms were not acceptable.
c. Cllr Best thought that safety had been improved in some ways, and that the situation regarding the layout of the roundabout and the damage to the railings should be treated separately in order to get them repaired. It was sensible to move the railings back 18” as DCC had asked. Cllr Trew proposed that the railings be repaired as they were before at the total cost to DCC. Cllr Best proposed an amendment that the railings be replaced 18” back from the curb (being curved) and that bollards be sited to protect them. The amendment was passed by 4 votes to 2, and the substantial proposal that the railings be replaced 18” back from the curb (being curved) and that bollards be sited to protect them all at the total cost to DCC was RECOMMENDED nem con.
288. WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Members noted the report at Annex A. Mr Southall updated members on the progress of the Meadows lights project, and work on the Pannier Market roof. He was thanked by the Mayor for the picnic table in Courtlands Road open space. Cllr Sherrell reported complaints of older children frightening off younger ones from the play park, but Members felt little could be done.
289. MARKET REEVE’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex B.
290. TOWN HALL MANAGER’S REPORT
Members noted without comment the report at Annex C. The Mayor thanked the staff for the successful Civic Service.
291. LEASE SCHEDULE
Members received a copy of the lease schedule as at September 2008 for information.
292. DOG BINS
We had received a request from the WI, as part of their Towns Tidy project, for more dog bins at the access to Whitchurch Down from Westmoor Park, the cut from Down Road to Whitchurch Down and the top of Down Road (near the cattle grid). Capital cost was £180 per bin, with emptying undertaken by WDBC contractors on repayment. Bins were emptied twice weekly at a current cost of £1.20 per bin per visit. Members supported the request, but felt it did not go far enough and the whole town should be looked at for such facilities. Cllr Trew wished a site by the cattle grid at Greenlands to be added. Members agreed to defer the matter to a later meeting in order to better define the locations and number required. They RECOMMENDED that we write to the WI to agree with their request, and to inform them that the whole town would be considered for more dog bins.
293. PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960
Pursuant to Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 and having regard to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed it was RESOLVED that the press/public be excluded from the Meeting for the following item of business relating to leases.
294. IDEAS FOR PANNIER MARKET AREA
The Clerk reported that Ms Jane Osborne’s concept for development of one of the buildings in the Pannier Market area was dead as she understood the main tenant was to sub-let to another organisation. Members agreed with Cllr Mrs Govier that we needed to decide exactly what our ‘vision’ was for our old buildings, and some agreed that they liked Ms Osborne’s concept more than the sub-letting that seemed to be in train. That change would exacerbate the traffic and parking problems in Market Road, and that might be a reason to object. Members wondered if such changes in tenants was acceptable bearing in mind the Works Superintendent’s belief that the 5 yearly electrical check of that building might well prove it to be dangerous without much work. They noted that the tenant had a lease until 2011 with the right to assign or sub-let, and RECOMMENDED that the Clerk contact the tenant with the Council’s misgivings, and that further discussion be deferred to a later date.
295. LIVESTOCK MARKET LEASE
Members noted the draft lease with Ward and Chowen and that since the heads of terms were agreed we had asked that Ward and Chowen confirm that in the event of the need to widen the Pixon Lane/Whitchurch Road junction, they would make provision for a small area of land by the side of the main entrance to the Market to be used. They RECOMMENDED that in principle they were happy with the draft.
296. PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSIONS TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960
RESOLVED that the public and press be re-admitted to the Meeting.
297. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN.
There was no such business.
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2007/2008. Members noted that Mr Peter Darlington of the auditors Grant Thornton would present the annual report on the 2007/2008 accounts at the commencement of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting. Members of the Properties Committee were invited to stay to hear the brief, and to ask any questions they may have. The reports were circulated to all Members with the F&GP agenda for the 30th September.
Signed………..…………………..Rising 7. 15 p.m. Dated……………………………