DOES Crediton Town Council have until the end of this year and the end of its lease of its offices at the council building on Market Street, or until the end of its pre-paid rent which is March next year before it needs to move out?

Or might it be something quite different?

These were questions raised at the meeting of Crediton Town Council on Tuesday, September 18.

The building in question is owned by Mid Devon District Council. MDDC no longer operates from the building.

The town council was not able to discuss the questions in the public forum part of its meeting but it was discussed in private at the end of its meeting.

Town council chairman, Cllr Frank Letch, said he had received an email last weekend from the district council to say the town council had to be out by September 19. He was in France then, celebrating as Mayor of Crediton, the 25th anniversary of Crediton twinning with Avranches in Normandy.

Saying nothing had been signed yet over the sale of the council building, Cllr Letch said the council would discuss in Part Two (in private) whether to go back to the district council officers to see if they would agree to an offer.

He added that a petition was currently circulating and if it had 1,500 signatures, the district could have to discuss this item in its full council.

The assistant town clerk, Mrs Emma Anderson, reported having received on Monday, by hand, a letter to say the town council would need to vacate the building by November 17. This was the two months’ notice which was what is required within the lease which runs to December 25.

Cllr Letch said the town council had originally been given until the end of December but the district council had now terminated earlier. But the town council had paid rent up front until March 30 next year.

"You would think the rent and the lease would run concurrently but they (MDDC) seem to be breaking them apart and going for the lease route," he said.

Asked what the situation was regarding the Community Transport office there, Cllr Letch said that nothing had yet been decided about that. "It is ridiculous that the staff in Crediton have not been told anything, they are working in the dark. Use of Community Transport has increased by more than 200 per cent in the last few years."

Cllr Joyce Harris commented that the public needed to know the situation. There should be a notice outside the council offices and on the website.

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