TOWN councillors want to clamp down on youngsters and others drinking in public places and nip it in the bud in case it should get out of hand in the future. They gave clerk Terry Westwood authority to progress an Alcohol Designation Order (ADO) to prohibit the consumption of alcohol in the town centre. An ADO would give the police and police community support officers powers to confiscate drink. At its previous recreation, parks and property committee, members heard how under age youngsters were obtaining and drinking alcohol and behaving aggressively outside the town's Methodist Church. The mayor, Cllr George Gribble, said the youngsters had been moved on from elsewhere and were now congregating outside the church. In the summer, they went drinking in Mill Marsh Park. 'The danger we see in future is not only the children drinking in the streets but the ability of adults to buy drinks for them,' he said. Any regulations governing the consumption of alcohol would not affect events taking place in Mill Marsh Park.
q THE town council, with the Bovey Tracey Youth Action group, is organising an open event to show youngsters in the town and Heathfield the wide variety of activities available to them. Members agreed to give the event the go-ahead on Saturday, April 21, between 10am and noon, in the main room of the town hall, to which all the youth of the area are invited to meet representatives of the various sports clubs, scouts, organisations, associations and societies. A recent meeting between the town council and representatives of the youth action group heard that the relationship between the Youth Cafe and Devon Youth Services had broken down due to problems with communications. Among other points made at the meeting were that it was important that local people were involved in the provision of facilities to meet the needs of local youngsters, currently provided by the voluntary sector rather than by the professionals from Devon Youth Services. It was made clear that the managers of the Youth Cafe only had control over young people inside the cafe, and had no authority in the street. Councillors were also told that they were welcome to attend the monthly management meetings in the Youth Cafe and to visit it when it is open
q OoH la la! A taste of France is coming to Bovey Tracey on Saturday, June 9, with a French Market. The council said 'Oui' to the Marche de France and agreed to apply for Fore Street to be closed between 6am and 5pm and to request a temporary event notice at a cost of £21 for the visit of the market. Marche de France is working with the existing Bovey Tracey Produce Market, councillors heard. It will be the first time a French Market has been held in the town – they have proved very successful elsewhere, including Newton Abbot. Bovey Tracey was also one of the first town's in Devon to become twinned with a town in France – Le Molay Littry in Calvados – in the late 70s.
q DURING Devon County Cllr Sally Morgan's report, the mayor, Cllr George Gribble, queried if Bovey Tracey would be getting any of the income from the selling of Exeter Airport. He said Bovey Tracey had signed a partnership with the county council, Teignbridge Council and other local authorities to improve the town in general. 'I hope some of the income from the airport sale will come to Bovey Tracey,' he said. Cllr Morgan replied that she was on the case and would be doing what she could.
q MEMBERS approved a precept for 2007-08 of £93,817, up from £89,435 on the current financial year. In the equivalent Band D properties, it represents a £32.07 increase a year per property. The increase in the precept is 4.9 per cent but, with more houses having been built in the area, the actual rise is 3.7 per cent per household. The total budgeted expenditure is £133,517, with the income £39,700. 'We think £32 represents very good value for money in Bovey Tracey,' said mayor Cllr George Gribble.
q COUNCILLORS decided not to fill the vacancy caused by the recent sudden death of Cllr Audrey Warren, because it is less than six months before the town and parish elections on May 3. They observed a minute's silence in her memory at the start of the meeting. As well as serving on the town council, Cllr Warren was also a Teignbridge councillor and the Conservative Party agent for the Teignbridge Constituency.
q THREE organisations were given permission to use Mill Marsh Park to stage events, subject to conditions. The Westcountry Theatre Company is performing Romeo and Juliet there on August 15, Bovey Tracey Parish Church is having a country fair on June 30, and the Historic Rally Club is holding its annual rally on July 14 and 15.
q THE payment of allowances to councillors are a no-no with the town council. It says it is satisfied with the present arrangements and is informing the Independent Remuneration Panel.