Town Council Minutes 2nd January 2007
Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 2nd day of JANUARY 2007 at 7.00 p.m.
Present:
Cllr Mrs C Keane Town Mayor
Cllr I Andrews
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs A Clish-Green
Cllr Mrs Gibson
Cllr Mrs Govier
Cllr Mrs A Johnson
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf
Cllr R Pike
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey
Cllr E Sherrell
Cllr M W Taylor
Cllr Mrs N Woodcock
In Attendance:
Town Clerk
One member of the press
QUIET REFLECTION. Members prepared themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by Reverend Joanna Abecassis of St Eustacious Church.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
There were no questions.
461. APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr D Farrant, Cllr P Sanders and Cllr B Trew.
462. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 5th DECEMBER 2006.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.
Concerning Minute 404b(1), it was confirmed that West Devon Borough Council allocated homes to applicants, not West Devon Homes.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting as amended be adopted and they were signed by the Mayor.
463. MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.
464. PLANS COMMITTEE 12th DECEMBER 2006. Cllr Best presented the Minutes. Concerning Minute 424c, Cllr Mrs Woodcock reminded Members that the long-standing tradition was to recommend the naming of roads in Tavistock after Honoured Burgesses, and there were several not yet so honoured. She believed that the naming of streets was anyway the purview of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, not Plans. Cllr Andrews and others agreed that a protocol should apply, but that the case in question was a special one and the recommendation should go forward. Cllr Mrs Clish-Green felt that this might set a dangerous precedent, and widen the honour too much. In the end Members RESOLVED to go with the recommendation in the Minute, but that the principle should be debated at the next Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting.
RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted
465. PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 19th DECEMBER 2006.
Cllr Andrews presented the minutes.
a. Concerning minute 431a, some Members had received a letter from the Tavistock Tree Preservation Group appealing against the felling of a number of trees. Cllr Andrews was concerned about the danger to the public of not following the advice of the professional report, and reminded Members of their responsibility to act to prevent injury and ensure that the level of risk was acceptable. The matter was deferred to the next Properties Committee agenda for debate.
b. Concerning Minute 434, Cllr Pike had been in contact with the Environment Agency, and the matter of micro hydro-power was deferred to the next Properties Committee agenda for debate.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.
466. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 19th DECEMBER 2006
Cllr Mrs Woodcock presented the Minutes.
a. Concerning Minute 437 Cllr Andrews confirmed that his meeting had been with Mr Arnold, not Mr Otter the new Chief Constable.
b. Concerning Minute 438, the Mayor confirmed that she would be pressing West Devon Borough Council to plan to use ‘grey’ water in the new toilet block. Cllr Mrs Govier advised that such use would be unlikely, as the site did not have space for the large storage tank required. Cllr Taylor asked that the Steering Group arrange for ‘grey’ water plumbing to be installed during the build anyway, to await a later siting of storage facilities.
c. Concerning Minute 446, as no report had been received from those attending the last TAVI Steering Group meeting, and neither Cllr Farrant nor Cllr Sanders was present that evening to update the meeting on these matters, it was not debated further. The subject would be on the next round of Committee meetings, and Members again reiterated their wish that the Town Council be a leading player in the revitalised TAVI. They noted that the Clerk had been invited to join the Steering Group. Members asked if the remit of the two deputed members of the TAVI Steering Group could be made clear. Were they there as individuals or as council representatives? Cllr Mrs Gibson spoke of her concern about the role Tavistock Forward had played in the past about the MCTi, and her worries about the future.
d. Concerning Minute 452, Cllr Sherrell thought that such matters were better not placed into Standing Orders, and it was agreed that such conventions should be part of the new councillor induction process so there could be no future misunderstandings.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting as amended be adopted.
467. TO RECEIVE SUCH COMMUNICATIONS OR REPORTS AS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN MAYOR AND TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS AS REQUIRED.
There were no such reports.
468. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
There were no such announcements.
469. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
There was no such business.
470. 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.