Agenda and minutes

CM 1   

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs T Bolton, A Coulson, N Heyworth, P Ridgers, J Spettigue, L Wood and J Yelland.

Members are invited to declare any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests, including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting.

            If Councillors have any questions relating to predetermination, bias or interests in items on this Summons, then please contact the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

CM 2   

The Mayor invited Members to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered during the course of the meeting but there were none made.

CM 3   

The Mayor informed the meeting that he had agreed for one urgent item to be brought forward to this meeting that related to a proposal to review the status of Abbey Car Park from a long stay to a short stay car park.

In his introduction, the lead Hub Committee Member stated that the recommendation was reflective of the need to increase vehicular turnover and was consistent with the findings of the Tavistock Parking Survey.  Also, the lead Member informed that there were currently 23 permit holders that were separate from the Dolvin Road property permits and it was intended that these would each be honoured until their respective expiry dates.

In the ensuing discussion, reference was made to:

(a)    the parents of St Rumons Schoolchildren.  For clarity, it was noted that a number of parents had permits to park in the Abbey Car Park at the time of school drop off and pick up and it was therefore agreed that the recommendation should be amended to reflect this point;

(b)    the views of local traders.  The lead Member expressed his surprise that some feedback had been received from local traders that they were not supportive of the proposal.  The Member was firmly of the view that the proposal to make the Car Park short stay would be beneficial to the local economy.

It was then moved by Cllr T G Pearce, seconded by Cllr R Cheadle and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that:

1.      the Abbey Car Park be changed from a long stay to a short stay car park;

2.      parking permits be no longer valid for use in Abbey Car Park, with the exception of Dolvin Road residents and the parents of St Rumons Schoolchildren and

3.      the consequential changes be made to the Council’s Off-Street Parking Places Order 2015.”

CM 4   

It was moved by Cllr A F Leech, seconded by Cllr R Cheadle and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and “RESOLVED that, in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act is involved.

Dated this 21^th of July 2020

Andy Bates

                                                            Chief Executive

CM 5   

The Council considered an exempt report that outlined the proposed approach to further support for the Fusion Leisure Group.

During the lengthy discussion, particular reference was made to:

(a)   legal advice given by the Deputy Monitoring Officer.  In his advice, the Officer highlighted the:

-          complexity of the contractual arrangements with Fusion generally;

-          provisions of the contract relating to changes in the law; and

-          need to have a flexible approach to the negotiation of the terms on which any financial support should be given;

(b)  the significance of the decision facing the Council was recognised by a number of Members;

(c)   a request for greater information and detail to be included in the report that was to be presented to the next Council meeting to be held on 22 September 2020; and

(d)  an amendment to the motion.  In recognition of the risks associated with the decision, an amendment was moved by Cllr M V L Ewings and seconded by Cllr R Cheadle that read as follows:

“This Council would look to support the mothballing costs of Meadowlands and Parklands until the end of September 2020 and any associated management costs.  Any decision as to reopening of the facilities and, where there is a cost to the Council, shall be deferred until the Council meeting to be held on the 22^nd September 2020.”

In debate on the amendment, a number of Members expressed sympathy with its intention, but advised that they would not be able to support it at this time.  However, the importance of additional information and detail being included in the report to the next Council meeting was once again emphasised.

When put to the vote, the amendment was declared LOST.

It was then moved by Cllr N Jory, seconded by Cllr L Samuel and upon being submitted to the Meeting was declared to be CARRIED and ”RESOLVED that:

1.     interim financial support of £97,000 (as set out in Appendix A of the presented agenda report) be provided to Fusion, on terms to be agreed by the Director of Place and Enterprise, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, to secure positive health and wellbeing outcomes in the Borough, which are, the reopening of Okehampton Leisure Centre, both wet and dryside;

2.     the cost of £97,000 be funded from the Leisure Earmarked Reserve and it be noted that this interim financial support covers the months of July, August and September for leisure provision; and

3.     a future decision on leisure provision for the months of October 2020 onwards be taken at the Council meeting to be held on 22 September 2020.”