Minutes Town Council Meeting - Monday 5th September 2011

Minutes Town Council Meeting - Monday 5th September 2011

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Thursday, 17 November 2011 12:14

Council Business - Full Town Council Minutes

Minutes of Okehampton Town Council Meeting held on Monday 5 September 2011 in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Okehampton at 7.00 pm

Members Present: Councillor Mrs M McDonald (Town Mayor)

Councillor K Ball

Councillor Mrs K Bickley

Councillor T Cummings

Councillor M Davies

Councillor Dr M Ireland

Councillor A Leech

Councillor Mrs C Marsh

Councillor M Morse

Councillor P Vachon

In Attendance: D Bent (Town Clerk)

Before proceeding with business, prayers were offered by Reverend D Waters.

191.     Apologies for Absence - Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of Councillors J Stockwell and D Weekes.

192.     Deferment of Business - (for comment by the public) - J Bickley referred to his business application to Smarta Awards for Business with the promotion of his electric car, photo panels, social enterprise and accommodation and looked for support from the Council.  On the proposition of Councillor Davies, seconded by Councillor Ball, it was resolved accordingly.  Councillor Mrs Bickley declared an interest.

193.     West Devon Borough Council - Councillor K Ball offered no report, Councillor A Leech advised of previous reports submitted to other Committees eg Standards Board closure, however he questioned the planning procedure permission delegated to officers which sometimes omitted highways considerations.  Councillor Mrs Marsh referred to the boost of summer tourists and the value of holiday accommodation engineered through the Tourist Information Centre.  She advised the new number for obtaining the police 101 for non-urgent crimes.

194.     Devon County Council - Councillor Marsh reported on the launch of ‘Okehampton Works’ an initiative by County with West Devon to generate interest in business and employment with information, training and help for unemployed people in and around Okehampton.

195.     Adoption of Minutes of Committees and to Receive Questions from Members Thereon -

195.1   Policy and Resources Committee - Councillor M Davies invited Members to adopt the minutes of the meetings of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 27 June and 25 July 2011.  Councillor Mrs K Bickley proposed, Councillor T Cummings seconded and there being no questions or amendments the minutes were resolved unanimously.

195.2   Planning Committee - Councillor P Vachon invited Council to adopt the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 6 June, 27 June and 18 July 2011.  Councillor M Ireland proposed, Councillor M Morse seconded and there being no questions or amendments, was resolved unanimously.

195.3   Parks Committee - Councillor K Ball (Vice Chairman) invited Council to adopt the minutes of the Parks Committee meetings held on 6 June and 11 July 2011.  Councillor A Leech proposed, Councillor P Vachon seconded and there being no amendments or questions, was resolved unanimously.

195.4  Property Committee - Councillor A Leech invited the Council to adopt the minutes of the Property Committee meeting held on 20 June 2011.  Councillor T Cummings proposed, Councillor M Morse seconded and there being no amendments or questions, was resolved unanimously.

196.    Full Council Meeting Minutes - Members received the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 4 July 2011 which were approved, signed and adopted on the proposition of Councillor K Ball, seconded by Councillor M Ireland.

197.    Matters Arising -

197.1  Museum of Dartmoor Life - The Clerk reported following this Council’s concern over the Museum, an acknowledgement had been received without further comment; noted.

197.2  Council Procedure Rules - The Mayor presented amended Council Procedure Rules (from the working party: Councillors McDonald, Marsh, Davies) which was a tidy-up, re-numbering exercise with the removal of reference to scrutiny committee, no controversial amendments, with the principal alteration relating to the appointment of Mayor, Deputy Mayor at the annual general meeting.  On the proposition of Councillor Leech, seconded by Councillor Davies, it was resolved Council Procedure Rules be endorsed, subject to submission to the next ordinary meeting of the Council for adoption (Council Procedure Rule 1).

197.3  West Devon Super Link Committee - The Mayor referred to a summary and feedback arising from the Super Link Committee meeting held on 26 July, the document contained a series of recommendations and proposals for an amended system with a principal point of improved communication between all parties.  Council concluded to await development and requested discussion of this topic at the liaison meeting.

198.     WDBC The Future of Standards - A consultation paper from the Borough Council questioned what might replace the current provisions for regulating the conduct of councillors following their repeal by the Localism Bill.  The paper described the background, removal of this control, previous control through civil law and criminal law and referred to ongoing discussions at local and national level with local government associations and authorities to identify a successor system.  The paper offered a number of alternatives, but suggested Members of the Borough made no changes until the draft replacement voluntary code had been issued for examination.  A series of questions relating to new control operation were tabled and following discussion it was agreed Members make personal responses to the Borough Council.

199.     Attendance Allowances - The Clerk advised a number of Members had enquired about the possibility of payment of allowance for attending meetings.  It was established expenses were paid if Members attended meetings out of Okehampton, expenses were covered by budget provision.  A response from the Borough Legal Officer advised that Council would determine the scheme of allowances for Town Councils with a turnover in excess of £50,000.  This would be a basic allowance, it was further noted Tavistock paid an allowance of £300 per annum to each Member of its Council with differing allowances for Chairman and Chair of Planning Committee.

Council noted no current budget provision for this projected cost, accepted their voluntary role for the community, with the majority accepting non-payment providing this exclusivity did not detract from other Members standing for Council.  It was noted an allowance was a taxed income with travel and subsistence endorsed by Council and on the proposition of Councillor Mrs Bickley, seconded by Councillor Ball, it was resolved to continue not to pay attendance allowance to Members of the Town Council, but to review subsistence and travel expenses prior to the budget meeting.

200.     Okehampton United Charity - The following Members declared their interest on this topic:  Councillors Davies, Mrs McDonald, Mrs Marsh, Morse, Leech.

A letter from the Okehampton United Charity invited Council to re-elect Reverend Davies for a further term of four years or to elect a new trustee to this charity.  It was established Councillor Davies was not a Councillor when appointed and had replaced former Councillor P Stunell.  A question was tabled if Councillor Davies were reappointed and then subsequently appointed as Mayor, would he sit as a charity member or Mayor.  Councillor Marsh responded that whilst he was sitting as Mayor, the trustee post would become vacant which he would resume following his term as Mayor; noted.  On the proposition of Councillor Leech, seconded by Councillor Mrs Bickley, it was resolved this item be taken in part two at the end of the meeting.

201.     WDBC  OTC  Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Joint Committee - The Clerk asked for this item to be deferred to a subsequent meeting.

202.     Dartmoor Military Heritage Weekend - Members noted this event at the Army Camp on 10/11 September 2011.

203.     Civic Diary Report - The Mayor reported on her attendance at a number of events across Okehampton including AGM of Okehampton Friendly Circle and Community Transport Group; visit to Puzzle Tree allotment and Dartmoor Museum; attendance at the Okehampton Agricultural Show and unveiling of the memorial stone at Folly Gate airfield.  She reported she had met Blind Dave on a fundraising exercise for Macmillan Cancer support and had visited Craon in France on a twinning visit.  She concluded she had attended the launch of ‘Okehampton Works’ on 5 September.

Meeting closed 8.35 pm.

_________________________

Councillor Mrs M McDonald

Town Mayor