Minutes of the Annual Town Assembly - Monday 12 April 2010
Members Present:
Councillor D Weekes (Town Mayor)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley
Councillor C Hodgson
Councillor Dr M Ireland
Councillor A Leech
Councillor C Letchford
Councillor Mrs M McDonald
Councillor M Morse
Councillor A Raymond
Councillor Mrs D Smith
Councillor P Vachon
In Attendance:
D Bent, Town Clerk
Revd M Davies, Mayor’s Chaplain
West Devon Borough Councillors, K Williams and J Young
20 members of the public
Before proceeding with business, prayers were offered by Revd M Davies.
1. Apologies for Absence - Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of Councillor Ms T Edwards, Councillor Mrs C Marsh and West Devon Borough Councillor Mrs E Hicks.
2. Reports from Council -
(a) Town Mayor - The Town Mayor, Councillor D Weekes, welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that it was an honour for him to serve Okehampton. He enjoyed attending functions on behalf of the town which was a very busy role he enjoyed. He welcomed new Councillors to the Town Council with new ideas and explained the principal of the Council’s policies to reduce costs.
(b) Attendance Statistics - The Clerk offered attendance statistics for Members attending Council and Committee meetings to which they were appointed.
(c) Policy and Resources Committee - Councillor C Hodgson, Chairman, confirmed his resignation from the Council, but during his year as Chairman referenced the Council’s adherence to its mission statement for the social and economic improvement of the town. He explained the Council was due to be re-assessed for Quality Town status and the work of the Policy and Resources Committee was integral to that. He advised the Committee examined policies and that during the year a number of new policies had been introduced which were to the benefit of the staff and the Council, those policies were in line with other local government structures offering transparency. He explained his Committee was responsible for resources and invited the other Chairs to talk about their respective financial responsibilities. Councillor Hodgson advised there were currently five paid employees who were responsible for the efficient running of the Council and he wished to thank all members of staff for their efforts. He commented there was a vacancy which gave the Council an opportunity to look at staffing structure in changing local government times.
He acknowledged Councillors were volunteers with mixed ideas and views, representative of the town and further invited the public to inform of wishes and problems. Councillor Hodgson wished to thank Councillor Letchford for the legacy of comfortable reserves at £185,000, such sums used for emergency repairs etc and reported that the Council had held its precept level at £205,000 for three successive years. He confirmed the Council would continue to act with responsibility in its financial affairs, adhere to the mission statement to deliver services to the public and pursue Quality Town status.
(d) Property Committee - The Chairman, Councillor A Leech, advised following the DDA audit, much work had been completed to allow access in the Town Hall and Charter Hall for disabled people and following the installation of toilets for the disabled in Town Hall, which work had been contracted, all the requirements of that Act would be complete. He further reported he was undertaking a cyclical maintenance plan schedule for ten years with sufficient budget to accommodate this work. He reported staff had completed repairs and redecoration to the front of the Town Hall and wished to thank B Armstrong and C Brown for their work, he said the staff would be undertaking external redecoration to the façade in Market Street. Councillor Leech reported the Committee had been examining alternative energy sources which were limited to solar and was too expensive without generous grants. He presented a specimen pamphlet designed to promote the Council’s business affairs ie hire of the Charter Hall and Town Hall to earn income for the Council and to maintain the precept level. He suggested weddings be promoted in the Town Hall with the Charter Hall advertised for other activities. He reported the fish marine shop was successful, the cinema continued to be popular and research was currently ongoing over converting the toilets adjacent to the cinema for dual use. He further reported ventilation in the Charter Hall for summer months was under investigation through air conditioning or circulating fans with this a priority for a future Committee. Councillor Leech concluded the Council had purchased an information screen for placement in the foyer of the Charter Hall which would act as a diary for the town’s events, a shop window for organisations wishing to use this advertising facility and a showcase for the Primary School and College to display art works, with the College operating the software.
(e) Planning Committee - Councillor Mrs M McDonald, Chairman, explained the mechanics of the Council’s business, open meetings and opportunity for Members to ask questions. She explained the role of the Planning Committee to scrutinise applications relating to locations within the town boundary and to make recommendations and comments to the planning authority. She reported the Committee had been involved in the Alcohol Designation Order, now working satisfactorily, improvements to the traffic lights and crossings in Fore Street and Market Street, special reference to the issues relating to a covenant on land at the junction of Link Road and Crediton Road which was lost as the County Council were unable to enforce this covenant. Councillor Mrs McDonald referenced the housing development off Crediton Road and the problems associated with that, this Council’s involvement and results, speeding across the town including Mill Road and Upcott Hill, input with the job centre, licensing officer and local government review. She concluded further consultations on the Core Strategy had taken place and would continue with S Gill over the Borough Council’s Local Development Framework and this Council’s desire for an east/west split of any future development for Okehampton.
Mrs M Woolacott expressed concern and requested better control of vehicles traversing the town; Members concurred.
(f) Parks Committee - Councillor A Raymond, Chairman, reported the park had been busy with the circus attending and a continental market due in September. He explained the Committee was reducing expenditure whilst installing three climbing boulders with grant monies obtained from Devon County RockETS and the United Charities. He explained a working party had been appointed to create a development plan for the long-term policy and future of the park. He reported the Committee had been involved in the skate park improvement scheme with youngsters, reservation of grave spaces with the church and were currently installing benches across the town. He concluded dog fouling was a particularly bad problem for Okehampton and a poster campaign across the town to encourage dog owners to clean up after their dogs was ongoing.
Mrs G Lower requested additional seating by the cricket field and putting in Simmons Park; noted.
3. Devon County and Borough Council -
(a) Devon County Council - Apologies had been presented on behalf of Councillor Mrs Marsh and no report was offered.
(b) West Devon Borough Council -
(i) Councillor K Williams - Councillor Williams described the problems faced by the Borough as a planning authority with regard to appeals, when lost financial penalties and implementation of government policy against the wishes of the local population. He expressed disappointment that covenants in planning could be bought and sold as was evidenced over the Link Road parcel of land referenced by the Planning Chairman. He commented there was a degree of uncertainty hanging over the Borough Council due to the local government review which was not yet resolved; there was no direction, the topic was subject to judicial review, the outcome of a general election and future government policies.
(ii) Councillor J Young - Councillor Young complimented the town on the state of Simmons Park, referenced his attendance at Town Council meetings, his interpretation of the Council’s planning policies which he transmitted back to the Borough whilst acknowledging constraints with the planning permission process, fierce objections, government policies and relative ease of appeal. He concluded the Council would not be intimidated by legal action. He further explained his role on the Borough Council in Overview and Scrutiny, Environment and as a member of the Dartmoor National Park Committee.
Councillor Young referenced Employment Opportunity Okehampton, commented these premises were empty, were constructed for specialist companies, however he concluded the units would now be let to businesses which did not originally meet the Borough’s criteria. He added that Dartmoor Railway was soon to produce a daily service to Exeter, land had been set aside for a station and confirmation of dates was awaited.
4. Questions by the Electorate - A written question by I Wonnacott questioned the illegal side entrance via Saddlers Way onto the new development at Crediton Road and whether the Council would oppose it. The Clerk advised he had sought an answer from the Borough Council which was awaited. Councillor Young commented that 56 days had expired, it was noted that some reinstatement works had been effected although the wall had not been rebuilt; a response from the Borough was awaited prior to advising Mr Wonnacott.
Mr E Cann, on behalf of the town, wished to thank the Council for the work done on behalf of the town which was reflected in a remarkable balance sheet with strong reserves. He also wished to compliment Councillor Letchford for his work on reserves. Mr Cann questioned legal expenses and was advised this covered solicitors’ fees, architects’ fees, professional fees and specifically, S Gill planning consultant’s fees in connection with the Core Strategy. It was also noted Councillor Leech had undertaken some professional fees on a no charge basis.
Mrs S Leech questioned the format of the meeting and was disappointed at the very low numbers attending. The Clerk advised the Annual Town Assembly had to be held between April and June in the format set out in the agenda. It was noted speakers had previously been invited which distracted from the purpose of the meeting. It was agreed the Council would address future agendas. M Davies complimented the Council on doing a good job as evidenced by minimal complaints. Councillor Ireland commented the structure was neither exciting nor dynamic and interesting topics should be added to this agenda. He suggested a working party be appointed to research the format for a future year. Mrs M Woolacott commented that the police liaison meeting offered the same apathy, whilst Councillors commented that it was a useful police meeting with issues in the town aired.
Mrs Brooks questioned action relating to cars parked on the side of Giblands Road at the junction of Exeter Road, the Mayor advised that he would pursue this ongoing problem. Mrs Brooks also questioned the early closure of the public toilets across Okehampton; the Mayor confirmed a new contract had been awarded, opening times would be amended, subject to specific request for certain events throughout the summer.
5. Okehampton Hamlets Annual Assembly - The Mayor reported that this event would take place on Tuesday 20 April 2010 at 7.00 pm at Meldon Village Hall.
Meeting closed 8.25 pm.
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