DISCUSSIONS by Teignmouth town council on the 12-month extension plans for the Spirit of Teignmouth visitor centre on The Den will be closed to the public and press. The planning sub-committee of the council is due to discuss the matter at its meeting being held at Bitton House this morning at 9.30pm. But despite requests to attend the meeting by several members of the public and this newspaper, we have been told 'the meeting is not open to the public'. Though the committee can only act as a consultative body and has no decision-making authority in the planning process, residents are interested to hear councillors' views on this contentious issue. Planning meetings are open to the press at every other parish and town council in Teignbridge. Teignmouth's nearest counterparts, Newton Abbot and Dawlish town councils, invite the public and press to attend. Dawlish Town Council planning meetings often attract at least one member of the public and more on contentious applications. The National Association of Local Councils Standing Orders number 68 states: 'The public and press shall be admitted to all meetings of the council and its committees. It may, however, temporarily exclude the public by means of the following resolution: In view of the special or confidential nature of the business above to be transacted or if it advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporarily excluded.' Reasons have to be either confidential or legal. Teignmouth town clerk Dave Tickell said that its planning discussions are never held in public but minutes are made available and are ratified at the next finance and general purposes committee meeting. The next committee meeting is not until June 27. The Teignbridge Council development control Committee meeting at which the application is due to be determined, is being held on June 26. Teignmouth council's planning chairman Cllr Sylvia Russell was not available at time of going to press.
