Town Council Minutes 3rd June 2008
Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 3rd day of JUNE 2008 at 7.00 p.m.
Present: Cllr R Pike Town Mayor
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs M Govier Deputy Mayor
Cllr M Harper
Cllr I C Jennings
Cllr Mrs A Johnson
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey
Cllr E D Sanders
Cllr H Smith
Cllr B Trew
Cllr D Whitcomb
In Attendance: Town Clerk
One member of the press
Ten members of the public
The Mayor introduced Sgt Anning and PCSO Williams from Devon and Cornwall Police to Members. Crime statistics were tabled to all Members
039. QUIET REFLECTION. The meeting commenced with Members preparing themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by Cllr Trew.
040. APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr C Jenkins, Cllr P Sanders, Cllr E H Sherrell, Cllr Mrs D Sellis and Cllr W Sellis
041. 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
042. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 6th MAY 2008.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.
RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
043. MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters
044. MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 20th MAY 2008
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.
RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
045. MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.
046. PLANS COMMITTEE 14th MAY 2008.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. Cllr Jennings name was to be added to the list of attendees. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting as amended be adopted.
047. PLANS COMMITTEE 27th MAY 2008.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
048. PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 27th MAY 2008.
Cllr Trew presented the minutes.
RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
049. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 27th MAY 2008
Cllr H Smith presented the Minutes.
a. Concerning Minute 035, Cllr Mrs Johnson and the Mayor had attended a meeting of the Guildhall Square Toilets group on the 2nd June, and reported that the target completion date was now 18th July.
b. Concerning Minute 038, the Mayor reported that the Sainsbury’s planning application would not be heard by WDBC until the 22nd July. Members thus had time to debate this matter in the normal cycle of meetings. Members also agreed to hear a brief from Lidl’s before the next Council meeting. The letter from the Chamber of Commerce was discussed, and Members agreed that they were not being asked to fight against any such planning applications, but to support small businesses in the Town Centre. It was a proper thing for a Town Council to try to keep such businesses alive and viable. Some members thought that decisions could be made that night, but Cllr Smith asked that the Chamber produce a properly costed plan for supporting such businesses so that the Council could consider its budget. Members agreed to invite the Chamber to brief them before the 1st July council meeting, after the Lidl presentation. That meeting would commence at 6.15 pm to allow both presenters equal time.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
050. TO RECEIVE SUCH COMMUNICATIONS OR REPORTS AS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN MAYOR AND TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS AS REQUIRED.
The mayor reported that he had attended an artistic exhibition at the Wharf, and had been presented with a souvenir book about Helsinki.
051. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
a. Members agreed to field a bowls team consisting of Cllrs Pike, Jennings, Mrs Johnson and Mrs Govier.
b. Cllr Trew asked that Members debate the Boundary Review matter, as any comments had to be with the Committee by the end of June. The Mayor reminded Members of some of the local options being put:
· DCC 3 unitaries (Plymouth, Torbay, Rest of Devon with 28 local community Boards).
· Plymouth’s concept of 3 ‘drive to work’ unitaries based on Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter, with Plymouth extending as far as Lydford.
· WDBC/South Hams concept of 5 unitaries (Plymouth, Torbay, Greater Exeter, North and Mid Devon and South Devon and Dartmoor).
Cllr Smith was concerned about the ‘super councillor’ concept of the DCC idea, and Members were worried about the small number of representatives and the reversion to the Rural and Urban District Council concepts. Cllr Trew then proposed that the Council support the Mid Devon concept of 4 unitaries (Plymouth, Torbay, Eastern Devon and Western Devon). Cllr Mrs Johnson then proposed an amendment to change the Council’s support to the WDBC/South Hams concept. By 8 votes for and 3 against the amendment was accepted, and Members then RESOLVED by 8 votes to 3 to support the WDBC/South Hams proposal.
052. SEAL.
RESOLVED that the seal be affixed to the various Deeds and Documents to be made or entered into for the carrying into effect the several decisions and matters approved.
Rising 7.50 p.m
. Signed.........……………...…..................
Town MayorDate...................................................