Newton Abbot Town Council

 

PRESENT Councillors C N Parker (Mayor) Presiding

                                           Mrs A Fry (Deputy Mayor)

 

Councillors

Ms G Antao

Mrs C Bunday

Mrs L M Cooke

D Corney-Walker 

J A Gadie

M Hocking

D Howe Ms M Jenkins

K L Purchase

Ms L Roberts

M E Ryan

K Shantry

Mrs D Watts

N Wilson

 

Representative of the Press: Mr John Balment – Mid Devon Advertiser

 

By invitation: Mrs Felicity Cole – Museum Curator

                        Ms Kate Green – Arts Coordinator

 

In attendance: Mr H L J Cole – Honorary Freeman of Newton Abbot

                          Mr Bryn Evans – Wolborough Residents Association

                          Mr Philip Rowe – Town Clerk

 

Three members of the public.

 

The meeting opened with Prayers by the Mayor’s Chaplain, The Reverend Edgar Daniel.

 

301. APOLOGIES

 

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Mrs M Voaden and District Councillor Ms Jackie Brodie and County and District Councillor Gordon Hook.

 

302. MINUTES

 

The minutes of the Special Meeting of the Council held on 29th June and the meeting of the Council held on 23rd November 2011 were received and signed as a correct records.

 

303. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 

The following questions were asked by Mr Bryn Evans of Coach Road, Newton Abbot:-

 

i. How much input did the NATC councillors have in the formation of the Teignbridge Core Strategy?

 

ii. What is the NATC detailed view of the Core Strategy proposals for ‘The Heart of Teignbridge’ (Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton etc.) given the projected 9,500 new homes planned in the next 20 years?

 

iii. In particular, what is the NATC view of the new road through Baker’s Park and the new road from Ogwell Cross to the Torquay Road?

 

The Mayor responded to Mr Evans as follows:-

 

i. Obviously the Core Strategy was not written by NATC but by TDC, it's officers, planners and advisers. The input NATC has largely been derived from the Newton Abbot and District Community Plan document and as key consultees, members attended all meetings, discussion events and workshops we were invited to (page 54 of the Core Strategy Doc refers to this). These events go back many years at least 7 or 8 in fact. We helped in the gathering of the information contained within the Community Plan.Since the formulation of the Newton Abbot and District Community Plan we have taken part in discussions about the regeneration of our town through interaction in the public arena to get the continued views of many people in the area. It is hoped that the information gleaned from all these exercises have been taken into account in the formulation of the policies regarding Newton Abbot in the Core Strategy Document. 

 

ii & iii. The answers to both the 2nd and 3rd questions can be taken together.

The detailed position of this Council cannot be ascertained until each member of the Council has had the opportunity to listen to the presentation from TDC officers we are to receive at the Council’s Special Meeting to be held on 14th February. We will then also get as many answers as possible to our questions regarding the Draft Core Strategy and I believe we will be in a better position at this meeting to enable this Council to give its considered responses to the many and varied points up for debate within this extensive document.

 

304. HEART OF OAK PROJECT

 

The Council received and update from Arts Coordinator, Kate Green, and the Newton Abbot Museum Curator, Mrs Felicity Cole, on the arts workshops and events held in connection with the Heart of Oak (HOO) project.

 

With the aid of slides and short films, Ms Green gave a presentation on the progress made to date on the conservation and restoration of the 16th Century carved wooden screen (Sandford Orliegh Screen). The funding for the project was in the main from the Heritage Lottery Fund. As a condition of that funding, the project was required to engage with the Newton Abbot community. Therefore, an arts participation project was being delivered using that medium to connect the community to the history of the screen over a period of some 500 years. The project had engaged the Moveable Feast Workshop comprising some 20 artists. The presentation went on to detail the different ways art had been used in the engagement, including the following:-

 

At the conclusion of the presentation the Mayor enquired as to where the screen would be sited once restored? It was explained that options were being explored but no final location had been agreed. The Mayor then thanked Ms Green and Mrs Cole for their attendance and interesting presentation, whereupon they left the meeting.

 

305. REPORTS OF COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES 

 

A. County and District Councillor Mrs Anne Fry  reported on her involvement with the following:-

 

i. The ‘Aging Well’ Conference;

ii. Publication of the Annual Public Health  2010/11;

iii. The Health Scrutiny Committee;

iv. Issues regarding domiciliary care;

v. Shortages of physiotherapy services in hospitals.

 

B. District Councillor K Shantry reported as follows:

 

i. He was pleased to report that the District Council’s Planning Committee had unanimously approved the planning application for the re-development of the former Newton Abbot Hospital site off East Street;

ii. His involvement at a working party to review the housing figures contained in the District Council’s draft Core Strategy for 2013-2033.

 

306. MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

The Council received the list of engagements (previously circulated) which the Mayor had carried out since 23rd November 2011.

 

He drew particular reference to the following events:-

 

307. INTERESTS

 

None.

 

308. ACCOUNTS PAID 

 

Further to minute 295(B)/01/12The Council noted the Income and Expenditure Statement for December 2010 (previously circulated):-

 

31st December 2011

 

Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc     £234,101.34

                    

ADD

 

Misc. Income                     £1,727.65

      

TOTAL INCOME                  £235,828.99       

LESS:

 

Expenditure                             £54,528.61

 

TOTAL EXPENDITURE        £54,528.61

 

BALANCE 31st  December 2011

Business Call & Current Account:                             £181,300.38

 

Balances as at 31st December 2011

 

Current Account                                        100.00

Business Call Account                 181,200.38

Petty Cash Account                                  200.00

Imprest Account                                       500.00    

 

Total Cash in hand at bank           £182,000.38

 

Lloyds Bank:

£41,332.42 (Fixed term for 3 months, maturing on 18th January 2012 – interest £125.02 – inc NA Town Band grant and 

interest from previous investment)

£40,277.70 (Fixed term for 6 months, maturing on 16th January 2012 – interest £285.81)

£40,000.00 (Fixed term for 12 months, maturing on 13th January 2012 – interest £840.00)

£60,000.00 (Fixed term for 24 months, maturing on 13th January 2013 – interest 3,309.04)

                     --------------------         

Total:              £363,610.50

 

308. PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEES

 

1) The Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 13th December 2011 as presented by the Chairman, Councillor D Howe, were received and approved;

 

2) The Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10th January 2012 as presented by the Chairman, Councillor D Howe, were received and approved.

 

3) The Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance & Resources Committee held on 11th January 2012 as presented by the Chairman, Councillor David Corney-Walker, were received and approved (with the exception of minute 297/01/12).

 

309. ST LEONARD’S TOWER – FLAGPOLE

 

Further to minute 295Cii/01/12, the Town Clerk reported that he had not yet been able to obtain the necessary estimated costs for works/replacement of the St Leonard’s Tower flagpole. A further report would be submitted to the Finance & Resources Committee meeting to be held on 29th February 2012.

 

310. PRECEPT 2012/13   

 

Arising from minute 297/01/12The Mayor reminded the Council that it was the statutory duty of the Council to approve a Precept for 2012/13.

 

It was proposed by Councillor David Corney-Walker and seconded by Councillor Mrs Daphne Watts that a Precept in the sum of £488,637 be adopted for the year 2012/13.

 

Arising from a detailed discussion on the matter it was

 

RESOLVED that a Precept in the sum of £488,637 for the year 2012/13 be requested from Teignbridge District Council and it be noted that the decision had the effect on an average Band ‘D’ Council Taxpayer of an increase of £2.07 per annum or 3.71%, together with the following:-

 

(a) the post of Town Development Manger be added to the Town Council’s establishment; 

 

(b) £15,000 of reserves be utilised in 2012/13 to part fund the post of Town Development Manager;

 

(c) it be agreed in principle that the Town Council would commit to providing a kiosk at The Town Quay, the method of funding to be decided;

 

(d) the above recommended budget includes an additional £3,000 per annum to fund the revised scheme for Victoria Gardens.

 

It was proposed and seconded:-

 

that a Precept in the sum of £488,637 for the year 2012/13 be requested from Teignbridge District Council and it be noted that the decision had the effect on an average Band ‘D’ Council Taxpayer of an increase of £2.07 per annum or 3.71%, together with the following:-

 

(a) £15,000 of reserves be utilised in 2012/13 to part fund the post of Town Development Manager;

 

(b) it be agreed in principle that the Town Council would commit to providing a kiosk at The Town Quay, the method of funding to be decided;

 

(c) the above recommended budget includes an additional £3,000 per annum to fund the revised scheme for Victoria Gardens.

 

On being put to the vote the motion was lost.

 

309. LATE CORRESPONDENCE

 

None.

 

310. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Wednesday 14th March 2012.

 

 

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Chairman