Minutes Town Council General - Monday 29 June 2009
Members Present:
Councillor D Weekes (Town Mayor)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley
Councillor Ms T Edwards
Councillor Dr M Ireland
Councillor A Leech
Councillor Mrs M McDonald
Councillor A Raymond
Councillor P Stunèll
Councillor P Vachon
In Attendance:
D Bent (Town Clerk)
B Duke
Mrs J Nichols
Before proceeding with business, prayers were offered by Revd Mike Davies.
109. Apologies for Absence - Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of Councillors C Hodgson, C Letchford and H A Pirwany.
110. Deferment of Business - (for comment by the public) - There were no questions from members of the public.
111. ACOT Age Concern - Mr B Duke, of Age Concern, attended the meeting and informed of the role of this organisation. He explained it was a national movement comprising a federation of smaller organisations of which Okehampton was small, operated by 12 volunteers, with representatives in Doncaster, Cleveland and other locations concentrating on the promotion of Age Concern throughout the country. He said it was a separate, independent charity with a shop in Crediton Road operating a recycling scheme with a licence to deposit at the DCC centre. He explained Age Concern had been operating in Okehampton for 17 years and was spread across north- west Devon covering 800 square miles.
He explained the services were signposting with deferral or referral to other organisations as well as offering information and advice to the elderly including financial arrangements which were increasingly more complex, health and welfare and pension advice. He explained a specific role: working with Dartmoor and Channings Wood prisons, with pensioners therein plus music performances thereat. He explained their advocacy role, completion of forms, computer training and ability to assist anyone of sufficient age which was deemed 50 plus.
Mrs Janine Nichols advised of her role as leader of complex care team, where she sat on health and social services meetings representing the voluntary sector feeding information to and from clients with a general motivation to create a friendly scheme across Devon. As a second role, she advised of the foot care clinic filling the gap between private chiropody and the National Health Service.
Councillors acknowledged the shortage of funds for other organisations and questioned referral from other voluntary groups. Mr Duke replied in the affirmative and concurred that the voluntary sector were effectively supporting government.
Mr Duke advised that Age Concern was part of a national campaign belonging to Quality Counts with standards maintained for provision of information and advices. In response to a question linking Age Concern to the Senior Council, Mr Duke responded that there may have been double accounting, but Age Concern was working to its principles alongside the Senior Council. In conclusion, Mr Duke wished to thank the Mayor for nominating Age Concern as his charity.
112. West Devon Borough Council - Councillor J Young referred to the Core Strategy document and expressed the concern of the National Park over proposals to construct industrial land on the site adjacent to Mole Avon; noted. He further referenced Carmel bus services across Okehampton and questioned satisfactory service with any complaints forwarded to him. In conclusion he commented that at the Eastern Links Parish Council, the police had reported a reduction in crime statistics for this area.
113. Devon County Council - Councillor Mrs Marsh was not present at the meeting and offered no report.
114. Adoption of Minutes of Committees and to Receive Questions from Members Thereon -
114.1 Policy and Resources Committee - The Mayor invited Council to adopt the minutes of the meetings of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 27 April and 26 May 2009. Councillor P Stunèll proposed, Councillor A Leech seconded and there being no questions or amendments the minutes were resolved unanimously.
114.2 Planning Committee - Councillor Mrs M McDonald invited Council to adopt the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 5 May, 18 May, 1 June and 15 June 2009. Councillor M Ireland proposed, Councillor A Raymond seconded and there being no questions or amendments, was resolved unanimously.
114.3 Parks Committee - Councillor A Raymond invited Council to adopt the minutes of the Parks Committee meeting held on 20 April 2009. Councillor A Leech proposed, Councillor Ireland seconded and there being no amendments, was resolved unanimously.
114.4 Property Committee - Councillor A Leech invited the Council to adopt the minutes of the Property Committee meetings held on 6 April and 18 May 2009. On the proposal of Councillor Mrs M McDonald, seconded by Councillor M Ireland and there being no amendments was resolved unanimously.
115. Full Council Meeting Minutes - Members received the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 5 May 2009, the Annual General Meeting held on 11 May 2009 and the special meeting held on 26 May 2009 which were approved, signed and adopted on the proposition of Councillor A Leech, seconded by Councillor M Ireland.
116. Matters Arising -
116.1 Schedule of Meetings - Members were asked to note amendments to dates as below:
Planning and Policy & Resources Committee from Tuesday 25 August to Monday 24 August;
Full Council from Monday 31 August to Tuesday 1 September;
Property Committee from 12 October to 5 October.
117. Tour of Britain Cycle Race - The Clerk advised that a section of the Tour of Britain cycle race would pass through Okehampton on Friday 18 September at approximately 10.00 am. The race commenced at Hatherleigh and concluded at Yeovil on that day and this was seen as a major tourist attraction to be supported and promoted. It was noted this would be a very fast race through the town with road closure and an opportunity to promote cycling for fitness and to promote Okehampton. The meeting agreed to consult County Council for full details together with the Lions Club, Round Table and Rotary for their support, College and Primary School, OCRA, Chamber of Trade and any other parties who wished to be involved in this spectacle.
118. Mayor’s Civic Service - A letter from Revd M Davies, Chair of Christians Together in Okehampton, suggested that the civic service be transferred to April at the conclusion of the Mayor’s term of office. Members noted that the date formed part of a pattern of civic events across the county and was difficult to change, further past Mayors agreed this was the right timing for the event, announcing to the town the new Mayor. On the proposition of the Mayor it was resolved that the Council continues this tradition.
The Mayor expressed disappointment over low numbers attending the civic service and suggested the invitations be spread over a greater number of bodies including Dartmoor Rescue Group, schools, councils etc on a longer timescale.
119. Members’ Reports -
Okehampton Charity - the meeting was advised of funds available from this charity for youngsters pursuing study courses both at college and university, newspaper announcements/advertisements were acknowledged with an apparent reluctance by youngsters or parents to pursue funds. Representatives of the charity agreed to discuss this in depth at the next meeting.
120. Civic Diary Report - The Mayor expressed disappointment over the quantity of news relating to Okehampton in the Okehampton Times and it was agreed C Brent, Editor of the newspaper, be invited to discuss that newspaper’s policies relating to the above.
The Mayor advised that he had attended many functions in his first month including Launceston Mayor Choosing, the bell ringing competition which he noted as an interesting experience.
Meeting closed 8.40 pm.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|