Minutes of a Meeting of the TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber, Drake Road, Tavistock on TUESDAY the 31st day of JULY 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 R Pike
Cllr Mrs J Ramsey
Cllr E D Sanders
Cllr P R Sanders
Cllr Mrs D Sellis
Cllr E Sherrell
Cllr D Whitcomb

In Attendance:
Town Clerk
Cllr Connelly DCC
One member of the press
One member of the public

QUIET REFLECTION. Members prepared themselves for the meeting by a few moments of quiet reflection led by Lt Col Joan Williams of the Salvation Army.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME.
There were no questions.

151. APOLOGIES.
There were apologies for absence from Cllr H Smith and Cllr B Trew.

152. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING 3rd JULY 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.

153. MATTERS ARISING.
There were no such matters.

154. PLANS COMMITTEE 5th JUNE 2007.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted

155. PLANS COMMITTEE 3rd JULY 2007.
Cllr Best presented the Minutes. He clarified that Minute 118 concerned the loss of public parking when developers used the road for scaffolding and dumping materials. RESOLVED that the minutes of this meeting be adopted

156. PROPERTIES COMMITTEE 17th JULY 2007.
Cllr Mrs Govier presented the minutes

a. Down Road. Concerning Minute 124a, the Council would write to Mr Start to update him on their response to his suggestion.

b. Old Folks Rest Room. Concerning Minute 130 the Mayor read out an email from the Managing Director of Stokes plc stating that they were a separate company to Hunstrete Estates. She then read out an email from the Chairman of the Old Folks Rest Room Committee asking for the Council’s support in opposing the demolition application. Members noted that there was to be a protest ‘sit in’ on Friday 3rd August, and that they were invited to join the Old Folks and Mr G Cox MP on that morning. The Clerk advised members of the Plans Committee not to take part as they would be considering planning applications concerning the Rest Room in due course.

c. Pixon Lane. Concerning Minute 132 some details of the DCC proposed Children’s Centre were tabled. Cllr P Sanders was concerned that events were proceeding too fast, and was assured by the Clerk that nothing was happening that was not in accord with the Council’s direction for a comprehensive conceptual plan to be developed for them to consider in September, with indicative costings. Members would be able to choose from a plan involving a new Depot, buildings for rental, the DCC centre, a service road and public parking facilities with lighting. DCC had a problem in that they needed to spend their budget for the Centre building in this Financial Year but they were not the drivers. They had agreed to undertake some initial planning investigations that would help the conceptual plan process ‘at risk’

d. Goose Fair. Concerning minute 133.

(i). Cllr Mrs Ramsey was concerned about the recommendation on car parking and did not wish to alienate the police. In contrast Cllr Sherrell was unhappy with the way that the police were ceasing to undertake certain tasks and demanding payment for others, and he felt this to be a fair way of recouping such costs. The Mayor informed Members of a meeting held that afternoon with Inspector Milligan, and that the free parking of police cars to encourage the retention of a police station in Tavistock was Community Objective 6 of the Best Value Plan.

(ii). Members felt unhappy with the way in which the police took arbitrary decisions on their role and charging, and felt that consultation and negotiations were a better way ahead. As there had been an increase in the police precept rather than an hand-over of money saved by, for example, not manning the local station 24 hours a day, it was felt that some stand needed to be taken to bring them to the negotiating table. The Clerk confirmed that the police would not be undertaking traffic management at the Fair from this year on, and he had written to the police saying that the Council did not expect to receive a bill for their crime prevention role at Goose Fair. The replacement traffic management was the subject of a meeting the next day with DCC and others.

(iii). Cllr Pike asked Members to consider again the recommendation from the Properties Committee. There was a possibility that a review of the number of spaces given over and the idea of charging for them should take place. He proposed an amendment to the recommendation that the Council first open a dialogue with the police about parking facilities in Guildhall Square. That was lost by 4 votes to 7. The Mayor then asked Members to vote on the substantive recommendation from the Properties Committee, and they RESOLVED by 3 votes for and 7 against to overturn it.

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

156. FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE 24th JULY 2007
Cllr Mrs Ramsey presented the Minutes.

a. Alcohol ban. Concerning Minute 140 the Clerk advised Members of the results of his survey into costs incurred by other councils. In general the costs of such bans were below £2,000 (for advertising and public meetings and for signs). In all cases he had heard from the District Council or the local Community Safety Partnership met those costs. No council expected any running costs other than the odd vandalised notice. It was confirmed that the police did not have powers to confiscate alcohol from the 18 to 25 age group who were the problem. The PCSO’s were attempting to move the small number of dysfunctional youths on, and were having some success in allowing the young people back to use the skate park for example. Cllr Mrs Govier said that the police had obviously thought the ban through before they asked the Town Council to support such a thing. Cllr P Sanders disliked seeing ‘prohibited’ notices around a town, and felt it was not helpful in attracting visitors. The situation around the town was, however, unacceptable. It was confirmed by Borough councillors that West Devon Borough Council did not propose to fund any ban, though applications for grants to the Community Safety Partnership might be made. It was then RESOLVED by 12 votes to 2 against that the Council support the police in their wish for an alcohol exclusion zone, and accordingly apply to the Borough Council for such action to be taken.

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

Cllr Sherrell left the meeting.

157. 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.

158. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:

a. The Clerk informed Members that an election for the vacancy in the North ward would be on the 6th September if contested. Members agreed to fund the cost of poll cards.

b. The Mayor informed members that a meeting of the group planning the ‘Green Garden’ would be held in Bannawell Open Space on Friday 3rd August. Cllr Jennings agreed to be the ‘green’ representative.

c. The Mayor informed members of the following diary dates:

Christmas Party - 20th December
Civic Ball - 28th March
Civic Service - 13th April
‘end of term’ party - 1st May

159. URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR
There was no such business.

160 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 8 15 p.m.

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

Town Council Offices Drake Road Tavistock Devon PL19 0AU