Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 2nd day of OCTOBER 2007 at 7.00 p.m.

Present:

Cllr Mrs A Johnson - Town Mayor
Cllr D Best
Cllr Mrs M Govier
Cllr M Harper
Cllr I C Jennings
Cllr C Jenkins
Cllr Mrs J C Metcalf
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey
Cllr E D Sanders
Cllr H Smith
Cllr B Trew
Cllr D Whitcomb

In Attendance:

Deputy Town Clerk
Cllr Connelly DCC
One member of the press

QUIET REFLECTION. Members prepared themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by the Reverend Jeff Moles of the Tavistock Methodist Church.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
There were no questions.

272. APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr. Pike, Cllr. P. Sanders, Cllr. Mrs. D. Sellis, Cllr. W. Sellis and Cllr. Sherrell.

273. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 11th SEPTEMBER 2007.
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted and they were signed by the Mayor.

274. MATTERS ARISING.

a. Concerning Minute 227c, the Mayor referred to the three vacant representational posts and asked members to consider volunteering for them. They were not onerous tasks and contact could be made through herself, the Town Clerk or the Deputy Town Clerk. Cllr. Best said that he was involved with all three bodies and was happy to speak with anyone who was interested.

b. Concerning Minute 229, the Mayor said she had nothing further to report at this time. Cllr. Best said that the bus service this related to had originally been a school bus service, which had been open to the public. It was no longer needed as a schools service and so the service had been removed.

275. PLANS COMMITTEE 11th SEPTEMBER 2007.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted

276. PLANS COMMITTEE 25th SEPTEMBER 2007.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted

277. PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 25th SEPTEMBER 2007.
Cllr Mrs Govier presented the minutes.

a. Concerning Minute 253, it was noted that the geo-physical survey on the wall at Butcher Park had now been undertaken and the report was awaited.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

278. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 25th SEPTEMBER 2007
Cllr Mrs. J. Ramsey presented the Minutes.

a. Concerning Minute 263, Cllr. Smith referred to the report given by the Auditor and it was RESOLVED that when all the facts relating to the audit are known, a meeting will be called to discuss such matters and to which all members will be invited.

b. Concerning Minute 270, Cllr. Trew said that the Working Party had submitted their report and asked if it was the Council’s wish for these ideas to be taken forward to form a policy. After discussion it was RESOLVED that Cllr. Trew and Cllr. Jenkins would undertaken to write a draft environmental policy for presentation to Council.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted.

279. TO RECEIVE SUCH COMMUNICATIONS OR REPORTS AS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN MAYOR AND TO PASS SUCH RESOLUTIONS AS REQUIRED.
The Mayor gave a verbal report on her visit to Celle, saying that she had enjoyed a full weekend with excellent hosts. She displayed a photograph and an article from a Celle newspaper and a commemorative certificate of thirty years of twinning between Celle and Tavistock. The Mayor thanked Cllr. Whitcomb for his representing the Town Council and Cllr. Whitcomb said how much he had enjoyed the occasion, especially in the opportunity it afforded in speaking to the young people that had been present. He suggested that there were points that could be learned in ways to encourage our young people to be interested in their community. The Mayor would be now prepare a written report on the visit.

280. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:

a. The Mayor reminded Members of the Goose Fair reception to be held at 12.30 p.m. in the Town Hall on Thursday 11 October 2007 and asked that replies be made to the general office.

b. Members were invited to join the Mayor and Deputy Mayor at a meeting with Mr. Tim Selman of the Tamar Valley Group, at 2.30 p.m. on Friday 12 October in the Council Chamber. Mr. Selman will be discussing the lottery grant awarded to the Museum as well as other funding opportunities.

281. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
The Mayor reminded members that Cllr. Mrs. Ramsey had resigned as Chairman of the F&GP Committee and a new Chairman would need to be elected. She wished the election to be made at this meeting as the new Chairman would then be available for the next Forward Planning, Policy and Programme sub-committee meeting on Tuesday 16 October 2007. After a sealed ballot Cllr. H. Smith was elected as Chairman of the F&GP Committee.

282. 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 7.25 p.m.

Rising 7.25 p.m.

Email: info@tavistock.gov.uk
Telephone:01822 613529

Town Council Offices Drake Road Tavistock Devon PL19 0AU