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Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 4th July 2007
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 4th JULY 2007 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL, GREAT WESTERN HOUSE, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT.
PRESENT Councillor D Corney-Walker (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs D. Watts (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors Mrs C. Bunday
H.L.J. Cole
C. Davieson
Mrs A. Fry
Miss J. Fry
Mrs G. Gaskell
M. Hocking
D. Howe
Mrs G. Leeper
R. Leeper
K. Lewis
Mrs S. Maddicott
C. Parker
K. Purchase
K. Smith
A. Vizor
In attendance:
5 Representatives of the residents of Highweek
2 Representatives of the Press
By Invitation
Inspector A. Dower
88. APOLOGIES.
There were no apologies for absence.
89. MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 23rd May, together with the adjourned meeting held on 30th May 2007 were received and signed as a correct record.
90. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
The outgoing Town Clerk reported that a document containing some 200 signatures collected in 2005 had been submitted to both Newton Abbot Town Council and Teignbridge District Council setting out the details of their objections to the planning application submitted by Persimmon Homes, in respect of a proposal at Mile End, (see minute 91 below). Mr Tuck also read to the meeting on behalf of the Chairman of HARD (Highweek Against Rural Development) a letter dated 22nd June 2007. It was explained that the Chairman of HARD had been unable to attend due to business commitments.
Two residents of Highweek then addressed the Committee explaining further the nature of their objections to the Persimmon Homes application on the grounds of traffic congestion leading to use of the roads through the village of Highweek as ‘rat runs’, lack of infrastructure such as schools and drainage, loss of greenfield land and wildlife matters.
The Committee noted the statements made by the residents.
91. MAJOR PLANNING APPLICATION 07/02385/MAJ LAND AT MILE END, ASHBURTON ROAD
Outline (approval sought for means of access) application for residential development, including construction of 2 new junctions to the north and south of Ashburton Road. Local centre (use classes A1/A2/A3/D1/D2). Public open space landscaping and associated works.
Councillors Mrs A. Fry, M. Hocking and A Vizor declared personal interests and stayed for the meeting
The Chairman of the Town Council’s Planning Committee, Councillor David Howe, explained the content of the application and led the discussion on the need to formulate observations on this major application, which will be determined by the planning authority, Teignbridge District Council.
The Committee had regard to the petition signed by over 200 residents from Highweek and other local areas setting our why development to the South of Newton Abbot and in this case specifically at Mile End was unacceptable.
After a full discussion, the Committee agreed to make the following observations to the planning authority: -
‘That Teignbridge District Council be advised that Newton Abbot Town Council is of the opinion that major planning application number 07/02385/maj land at Mile End, Ashburton Road be refused on the following grounds:-
(a) it would be inappropriate to create accesses to additional development in this area as the existing road system cannot cope with further traffic;
(b) the proposed development is within the western option of the Local
Development Framework whereas both Newton Abbot Town Council’s
and Teignbridge District Council’s agreed policies were in favour of the
northern option.
92. POLICE MATTERS
The Chairman welcomed Inspector Andy Dower who made statements in respect of the crime statistics in Newton Abbot for the period 1st April – end June 2007.
Inspector Dower then raised a number of other issues currently being pursued by the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. He then answered Member’s questions.
At the conclusion of his presentation the Chairman thanked Inspector Dower for his attendance.
93. ACCOUNTS PAID SINCE THE LAST MEETING.
(a) Accounts paid since the last Meeting.
The Committee noted the accounts for the month of May 2007 together with the balance sheet as set out at 31st May 2007. Reference was made to the fact that the income page had been inadvertently omitted from the accounts.
May 2007
Opening Balance Business Call Account/Current Acc £58,116.19
ADD Misc. Income £ 4021.47
TOTAL INCOME £ 62,137.66
LESS:
Expenditure £24,621.35
TOTAL EXPENDITURE £37,516.31
BALANCE 31st May 2007
Business Call & Current Account: £37,516.31
Balances as at 31st May 2007
Current Account ) 100.00
Business Call Account ) 37,416.31
Treasury Account 100,000.00
Petty Cash Account 75.17
Total Reserves £137,591.48
Alliance & Leicester 170,000.00 (Reinvested to 30.11.05 – interest accruing
£4983.03)
(Total interest from 31/05/06 £3814.52 and
30/11/06 £4043.54 placed back into reserves –
Total of £7858.06)
--------------------
Total: £307,591.48
The Town Clerk was pleased to announce that the accounts for 2006/07 had been audited today and that they the Internal Auditor was satisfied with their contents. Ms Scott was to be congratulated on her efforts in relation to these accounts.
(b) Other financial matters
Arising from reference to a tabled request for supplementary budget in relation to the Newton Abbot Carnival 2007, it was agreed the matter be referred to the Activities Committee at its next meeting.
94. CODE OF CONDUCT.
The Town Clerk reminded the Committee that following a discussion with the Monitoring Officer of Teignbridge District Council, Mrs Sue Aggett at the last meeting it was now necessary for the Council to pass the necessary resolution adopting the revised model Code of Conduct.
During the discussion on this item the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Mrs Watts, reported on her appointment by Teignbridge Association of Local Councils to serve on the Teignbridge Standards Committee.
As a consequence of this appointment, Councillor Mrs Watts had recommended via the Town Clerk’s report that new paragraph 12(2), which gives elected members with a prejudicial interest the same rights as members of the public to speak to a meeting on the issue but then leave before the main discussion and vote.
At a further discussion it was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed to adopt the model Code of Conduct, including paragraph 12(2)
12(2) “Where you have a prejudicial interest in any business of your authority, you may attend a meeting (including a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee of your authority or of a sub-committee of such a committee) but only for the purpose of making representations, answering questions or giving evidence relating to business, provided that the public are also allowed to attend the meeting for the same purpose, whether under statutory right or otherwise”.