MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING
held on TUESDAY 20 MARCH 2012 at 7pm in the Guildhall

PRESENT Cllrs Chapman, Conway, Davey, Miss Davey, Facks-Martin, Mrs Geach, Gordon (Deputy Mayor), Harris, Keighley, O’Brien, Sandercock, Tremain (Town Mayor), Warne, Mrs Williams, Mrs Young.
In attendance: Town Clerk (Rita Skinner), Cornwall Cllrs Folkes and Gillard Loft, Alan Guest (Chairman, Chamber of Commerce), Paul Loft (Deputy Chairman, Chamber of Commerce), Jamie Murphy (Castle Rock), Les Whaley and Peter Lawrence (Stourscombe Residents Association), Jack Jackson (Principal, Launceston College), Inspector Joslin (C&D Police), Revd David Michaels, members of the public, members of the press.

1203/63 Apologies for absence
Cllr Hogan sent his apologies.

1203/64 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Davey declared a prejudicial interest in Castle Rock and the Jubilee plans.

1203/65 To confirm the Minutes of the last meeting, previously circulated
It was resolved to confirm and sign the minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 21 February 2011.

1203/66 To receive and adopt the minutes of committees and sub-committees, previously circulated
It was resolved to receive and adopt the minutes of the following committees and sub committees:
Properties Committee held on Friday 2 March 2012 at 9.30am. The Council endorsed the thanks offered to Cllr Hogan and Mr Fry for the successful negotiations with Pearce Construction.
Environment & Open Spaces Committee held on Monday 5 March at 11am
Lawrence House Museum Management Committee held on Tuesday 6 March at 7pm (as Trustee)
Finance & General Purposes Committee held on Wednesday 7 March 2012 at 7pm

1203/67 Public Representation Session
Mr Murphy spoke about Castle Rock, which would take place on Saturday only.

Mr Jackson spoke about the recent Ofsted report on Launceston College, which rated it at least good in all areas and outstanding in some. Great improvements had been made over the past year. Copies of the report were circulated to members. Councillors were invited to lunch on 23 March. Cllr Mrs Geach said she and Cllr Mrs Williams had been very impressed on a recent visit to the college. Mr Jackson said the town should be proud of the College.

Mr Whaley spoke on the history of the Stourscombe Residents Association, formed by residents of all three phases of development (Wain Homes, Redrow and Barrett). The SRA had fought for the adoption of public open space. It had been successful in obtaining funding for grit bins and dog bins. The Association had plans for the main area of green space, including bulbs, bird boxes and seats. The SRA would like to work with the Town Council and would find additional funding to support their joint work.

Paul Loft introduced Alan Guest as the new Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. As Deputy Chairman Mr Loft would continue with the loyalty card scheme and car parking issues.

1203/68 Police Report
Inspector Joslin spoke about the reorganisation of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary from a geographic to a functional model. Launceston had a local police partnership team and response officers who would provide a police service across Devon and Cornwall. Launceston is a hub and therefore well served. A reduction in numbers would be made over three years, one in five would be gone by 2015, and one in four of back office staff. Fundamental changes were happening. Morale was an issue at present following changes to terms and conditions. Crime rates were up 2-3%, mainly due to theft of fuel and metals. The police had to prioritise. Prevention and detection of crime were priorities. Parking enforcement was the responsibility of Cornwall Council, the police could only respond to obstructions. If an obstruction is causing danger to the public the police would respond if a complaint was made. Inspector Joslin said members of the public must work with the police. The fear of crime was greater than actual crime. Perpetrators and victims tend to be the same people. Perpetrators of anti-social behaviour can be tracked. CCTV reassured people and gave some assistance to the police.

1203/69 Stourscombe – grass cutting
Cornwall Council had revised their offer terms, enabling Launceston Town Council to make decisions about frequency of grass cutting and other work in partnership with the Stourscombe Residents Association. Cllr Facks Martin said the council should take on services for the benefit of the wider community. Cllr O’Brien said that the Localism Act would bring a fundamental change to the way the Council worked, he had never received a complaint about the precept and believed the town valued the quality of service offered. The Town Council could work with the SRA to devolve work to them. After discussion it was resolved to accept the s106 payment of £37,000 in return for the on-going maintenance commitments as outlined in the letter of 20 February 2012, and amended by email on 8 March, with the proviso that the areas in question be handed over in a ‘fit state’ by Cornwall Council.

1203/70 Mayor Choosing
Cllr Chapman proposed that Cllr Tremain be Mayor elect for 2012/2013. This was seconded by Cllr Sandercock and carried unanimously.

Cllr Mrs Williams proposed that Cllr Gordon be Deputy Mayor elect for 2012/2013. This was seconded by Cllr Miss Davey and carried unanimously.

Cllr Tremain and Cllr Gordon thanked their fellow councillors for their support and good wishes.

1203/71 Statement on Internal Control
It was resolved to adopt and approve the Statement on Internal Control for 2012.

1203/72 Investment Strategy 2012/2013
It was resolved to adopt and approve the Investment Strategy 2012/2013.

1203/73 Car park wall – butterfly
It was resolved to approve the design for the butterfly wall, and to approve the appointment of Cosmic, the artist who had worked on the coach park, to direct the painting, to ensure a professional finish. The cost would be £250 to include materials.

1203/74 Priory Park
It was resolved to approve the use of Priory Park for:
a) Fun Day on 11 April (Training and Skills Centre)
b) Big Lunch on 3 June (Barefoot)

1203/75 Correspondence and Matters to Note
It was resolved to note the following:
a) Launceston College – lunch on 23 March – invitation to all councillors
b) Message from the Leader of Cornwall Council
c) TRAC – minutes from a meeting held on 16 February
d) Clerks and Councils Direct magazine
e) Your Guide to Winter Wellbeing
f) Localism newsletter no5
g) The Clerk magazine
h) Britain Australia Society lunch – 15 May
i) Chamber of Commerce – minutes from 15 February
j) Cornwall College SMART Enterprise Project
k) Local Council Review magazine
l) Town Hall bookings for February – total income £1,944

1203/76 Reports and Questions from Town Councillors
Cllr Conway reported that a Jubilee meeting had been held on 19 March. All events were costing less than anticipated. The fund raising day on 21 April should ensure free entry to all Jubilee events. The Wine and Wisdom evening would be held on 14 April. Jubilee mugs are available for £4.

No TIC meeting had been held since the last Full Council meeting.

Cllr Facks Martin had been unable to attend the CALC AGM

1203/77 Pub Watch
Cllr Davey spoke as Chairman of the Pub Watch scheme. All pubs in Launceston were members. Meetings were held every two months. The aim was to reduce alcohol and drug related crime. Disruptive customers could be banned from pubs, and from supermarkets, for up to one year. Some pubs employed additional security staff, especially for events. Fast Food outlets and the Chamber had been invited to join Pub Watch in order to make Launceston safer and to encourage people to enjoy evenings out in town. Underage drinking was a problem.

1203/78 Report from the Town Mayor
The Mayor’s monthly engagements report for is appended to these minutes.

1203/79 Reports from Cornwall Councillors
Cllr Folkes said that parking permits were now £470. 195 permits had been sold at £200, since then only 5 had been sold. Cllr Folkes would be meeting Cllr Graeme Hicks, Cabinet member for Transportation and Highways. The crossing at Newport Square/St Thomas Road had been delayed. Cllr Conway said this was part of LTP3 and a simple design was in place and ready to go. Consultation on new traffic regulation orders would take place in May. The new recycling containers were being distributed for a start date of 2 April. The old plastic sacks can now be used as black sacks for general rubbish. The scheme combines six district contracts into one and creates savings. Both Truro College and Cornwall College were offering a free travel scheme to pupils. Cllr Folkes had funds available in his Community Chest. The nearest places to see the Olympic torch would be Bodmin, Liskeard and Okehampton.

1203/80 Annual Meeting and Grants Presentation Evening
The date of Thursday 26 April was noted. Councillors representing the Council on outside bodies were requested to submit reports in good time. Cllr Gordon said the Road Safety Partnership no longer met.

1203/81 Urgent Items
There were no urgent items to report.

1203/82 Exclusion of members of the press and public
It was resolved that under s1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item as it involved the likely disclosure of confidential information.

1203/83 To receive and adopt the minutes of the Staffing Committee, previously circulated
It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Staffing Committee meeting held on 2 March 2012. The Mayor reported that the Internal Auditor, Ken Abraham, would be on the interview panel for the Accounts/Administration Manager.

1203/84 Date of the next meeting
The next Full Council meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 April 2012 at 7pm in the Guildhall.

The meeting ended at 9.15pm.

FULL COUNCIL MINUTES ARCHIVE