Present:

Cllr Brian Terry (Chairman)
Cllr Neville Chard
Cllr Nigel Clarke (for part of the meeting)
Cllr Christine Ford
Cllr Jacqui Terry
Frank Cloke
Jon Grant
Jenny Newham
Brian Walters

IN ATTENDANCE:

Terry Simpson, Town Clerk
Ros Bowles, Project Officer
Corinna Groves, Student Advisor

1. Apologies

Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Danny Cracknell, Peter Gray and Ryan Montgomery.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting

AGREED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5th November 2007 be approved as a correct record.

3. Progress Report

The Steering Group was pleased to note the progress achieved and in particular that in each topic area the snapshots, work sheets and SWOT analysis had now been completed. There were still one or two issues outstanding and the Project Officer reported on the difficulties in achieving the installation of the shelter for those persons waiting to use the taxis at the Furlong Car Park.

AGREED:- That the Progress Report (Annex A) be noted.

4. Draft Town Plan

Members noted that the draft Town Plan had been circulated with the Agenda as an attachment to the Project Officer’s Progress Report. Following detailed discussion on individual paragraphs within the Town Plan, a number of amendments were made to clarify certain issues. In particular it was noted that whilst one Member of the Economy Focus Group had long held views on the retention of Lynes Farm as an undeveloped area and had campaigned to achieve this, the Steering Group did not believe that this view was sustainable in the longer term without further investigations. The Town Council as the democratically elected body with responsibility for ensuring the continuing economic viability of the town had a duty to review, without any commitment as to the outcome, the future of this large area of land. In these circumstances, the Steering Group believed that the last sentence on the section on page 14 of the Plan relating to Lynes Farm should be deleted and replaced with a statement on the following lines:-

“However there are conflicting views about the future of land at Lynes Farm and it is suggested that the use of this area should be reviewed on an on-going basis”.

RECOMMEND: To Town Plan Co-ordinating Committee that the draft Town Plan as amended and attached as Annex B to these Minutes be approved.

5. Strategic Implementation Programme

The Steering Group reviewed the Strategic Implementation Programme circulated with the Agenda as an appendix to the Project Officer’s Progress Report. Following detailed discussion on the priorities listed within that Programme the Steering Group

RECOMMEND: That the Strategic Implementation Programme as set out as Annex C be recommended to the Town Council for adoption.

6. Publication and Distribution

The Project Officer reported that following approval of the final text, she would now seek quotations for typesetting and printing the Town Plan and Strategic Implementation Programme in accordance with the Town Council’s Financial Regulations. It had previously been agreed that a limited number of the full Town Plan and Strategic Implementation Programme would be prepared although the full text would be available on the Council’s website. It had been intended that the Town Plan would be circulated to other appropriate organisations and local authorities with the Strategic Implementation Programme. A short summary would also be produced, probably comprising four sides of A4 incorporating the main points contained within the Town Plan which would be available for all Members of the public. This could also be included as part of the Town Council’s Newsletter. In response to an enquiry about sponsorship, the Project Officer reminded Members that Waitrose had agreed to provide sponsorship for printing and publication of the Town Plan and the Steering Group had also agreed the location of the acknowledgement of that sponsorship within the Town Plan.

AGREED: (i) That arrangements now be made to obtain quotations for the printing and publication of the Town Plan and Strategic Implementation Programme;

and

(ii) That a short summary of the Town Plan be prepared by the Project Officer for distribution within the town.

It was noted that it would probably be necessary to hold the next meeting on Monday, 25 February but this day would be checked and confirmed to Members in due course. (Since the meeting it has been noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Partnership Steering Group has already been arranged for Monday, 3 March).

The meeting closed at 1750 hours.