Minutes Town Council - Monday 5 July 2010
Members Present:
Councillor M Morse (Town Mayor)
Councillor Mrs M McDonald (Deputy Mayor)
Councillor Mrs K Bickley
Councillor Ms T Edwards
Councillor Dr M Ireland
Councillor A Leech
Councillor C Letchford
Councillor Mrs C Marsh
Councillor A Raymond
Councillor Mrs D Smith
Councillor P Vachon
Councillor D Weekes
In Attendance:
D Bent (Town Clerk)
D Waters, C Lonsdale, D Brown (representing New Life Church)
T Hoare (Royal British Legion)
Before proceeding with business, prayers were offered by Reverend D Waters86. Apologies for Absence - No apologies for absence were presented.87. Deferment of Business - (for comment by the public) - There were no questions by members of the public.
88. New Life Church - Refresh Café - Mr C Lonsdale, representing New Life Church, explained the vision of this church in a community café called Refresh. He explained this would address a need by providing a café in the church building for youngsters to attend in an informal, non-threatening venue. He said the project had been ongoing for three years, cost £48,000 and had the support of the College students endorsed by extensive consultation. The Council was informed completion works would cost £115,000 and subject to available funds and pledges, £35,000 was required. Mr Lonsdale sought the Council’s endorsement and financial support.Members noted this provision satisfied the need for mainstream youngsters, further that the café would be open all day for other users including young mothers with children, would be managed by salaried staff and run as a not-for-profit café.
On behalf of the Council, the Mayor thanked the representatives of the church for attending and advised it would be discussed at the P & R meeting.
89. Okehampton War Memorial - Mr T Hoare attended the meeting to discuss possible relocation of this memorial. He referred to a referendum some years previously on relocation to the town centre. He acknowledged the result, but commented Okehampton had changed with development to the east of the town and complaints that the memorial was out of sight, the wrong location with difficult access and not easily recognised. His personal opinion was to relocate the memorial at Fairplace to allow the public to see it. He commented other locations create the same problem as the churchyard, that you would have to visit the site whereas a town centre location would allow the public to see it every day. He commented he had approached the Council first for an opinion and the vicar who had no views.
Members concurred a referendum was held with a majority against relocation. The topic had been debated over the years and concluded to not relocate. Members were concerned over vandalism if located at Fairplace and the churchyard was a place of sanctuary and quietness, whereas Fairplace was open and subject to misuse. Members acknowledged the difficulty in accessing the church for Remembrance Service, offered transport which had been declined and suggested vandalism might occur wherever it was located. It was noted that the Borough and Town Councils maintained the churchyard and the memorial with attention paid prior to Remembrance Sunday.
It was noted the views of the Council were, like Mr Hoare’s, personal and to progress it Mr Hoare should carry out a survey or referendum of the town relating to the relocation for Council to reconsider. The Council declined to offer to undertake the survey, it was noted that the Council’s Archive Group meeting would research reasons for its placement in the churchyard. On behalf of the Council, Mr Hoare was thanked by the Mayor for his attendance.
90. West Devon Borough Council - Councillor Mrs Marsh reported that at a Borough Committee meeting a proposal had been tabled to close Mill Road public toilets as part of that Council’s cost cutting operations. She offered expenditure figures for the maintenance and operation of these toilets at £16,000 and suggested this Council pursue maintenance and operational costs. Members were anxious over the assessment of need calculated by the Borough, requested figures and it was agreed the Borough be consulted over this Council assuming responsibility for the toilets.
It was noted the toilets at Fairplace and Market Street were closed until 9.30 am on 21 and 28 June; it was agreed a letter of complaint be forwarded to the Borough.
91. Devon County Council - Councillor Mrs Marsh invited questions relating to her role. Councillor Mrs Bickley questioned young people housing targets which Councillor Mrs Marsh responded she would research.
92. Adoption of Minutes of Committees and to Receive Questions from Members Thereon -
92.1 Policy and Resources Committee - Councillor Mrs M McDonald invited Members to adopt the minutes of the meetings of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 19 April and 24 May 2010. Councillor A Raymond proposed, Councillor A Leech seconded and there being no questions or amendments the minutes were resolved unanimously.
92.2 Planning Committee - Councillor Mrs K Bickley invited Council to adopt the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 4 May, 24 May and 7 June 2010. Councillor Mrs M McDonald proposed, Councillor M Ireland seconded and there being no questions or amendments, was resolved unanimously.
92.3 Parks Committee - Councillor Ms T Edwards invited Council to adopt the minutes of the Parks Committee meeting held on 29 March 2010. Councillor Mrs C Marsh proposed, Councillor D Weekes seconded and the minutes were resolved unanimously subject to the following topics for inclusion on the next Parks Committee: a) Update on motorcycle relining; b) Jubilee Year, Queen’s Royal Status Protection of Parks (request Councillor Mrs Marsh); c) Provision of additional benches; d) Relocation of byelaws; e) Signs for bowling green (request Councillor D Weekes).
92.4 Property Committee - Councillor A Leech invited the Council to adopt the minutes of the Property Committee meeting held on 6 April 2010. Councillor D Weekes proposed, Councillor Mrs K Bickley seconded and there being no amendments or questions, was resolved unanimously.
93. Full Council Meeting Minutes - Members received the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 4 May 2010, the Annual General Meeting held on 10 May 2010 and the special meeting held on 24 May 2010 which were approved, signed and adopted on the proposition of Councillor A Leech, seconded by Councillor D Weekes.
94. Matters Arising -
94.1 Town Council Vacancy - The Clerk reported the closing date for applications for co-option was 9 July and a special meeting of Council would be held on 19 July to co-opt a new Member; noted.
94.2 West Devon Citizens Advice Bureau - The Council was asked to appoint a new Council representative as trustee to this Bureau. On the proposition of Councillor Leech, seconded by Councillor Ireland, it was resolved Councillor Weekes be appointed.
94.3 692. Council Meeting 4 May 2010 Okehampton Community Morning - Councillor Mrs McDonald commented all Councillors were culpable for not working towards this event despite discussion at the P & R Committee and memos issued by the Clerk. Members concluded that in future, Council must agree who will lead in any action. Councillor Raymond expressed his frustration and was invited to submit a written question to the next meeting of the Council’s P & R Committee on the provision of funding and planning.
94.4 695. Appointment of Town Mayor, Mayor’s Role, Mayor’s Allowance, Protocol and Standing Orders - Councillor Letchford questioned the appearance of these amendments at Council’s P & R Committee, further questioned the Clerk’s efficiency in addressing these matters. The Town Clerk referenced his workload since the departure of Mrs Richards, to which Councillor Letchford offered a response which was noted.
95. Twinning Link with Ghana - The meeting received a request from the Ashanti region of Ghana to form a twinning link with Okehampton. Members acknowledged the author of the request was a former football player who had formed links with South Molton and this was a genuine appeal to form cultural links. On the proposition of Councillor Mrs McDonald, seconded by Councillor Ireland, it was resolved documentation be circulated to Members, more research be undertaken including contact with South Molton for further discussion by the P & R Committee.
96. Amendments to Registers of Interest - Members were reminded any changes to their register of interest should be completed using an amendment form; noted.
97. Members’ Reports - There were no reports from Councillors attending other organisations on behalf of the Council.
98. Civic Diary Report - The Mayor reported he had attended 16 duties plus coffee mornings over the last month including special visits to Okehampton Primary School and his involvement in the Fair Trade exercise.
PART TWO
ITEMS WHICH MAY BE TAKEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC ON THE GROUND THAT EXEMPT INFORMATION MAY BE DISCLOSED (if any).
The Committee is recommended to pass the following resolution:-
“On the proposition of Councillor A Leech, seconded by Councillor D Weekes, it was resolved that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the Meeting for the undermentioned item of business on the grounds that exempt information may be disclosed as defined in the paragraph given below from Part I of Schedule 12(A) to the Act”
Paragraph 3 - Information relating to any particular occupier or former occupier of or applicant for accommodation provided by or at the expense of the authority.
99. Lower Market Hall
It was resolved to come out of part 2 on the proposition of Councillor A Leech, seconded by Councillor M Ireland, move back into part 1 and ratify all decisions taken in part 2.
Meeting closed 8.45 pm.
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