WHO will carry a new flag at this year’s Remembrance Parade on behalf of the civilian people of the town and area who lost their lives in war?

An idea to have such a flag was given whole-hearted approval at this week’s Crediton Town Council meeting - but who would be the flag bearer?

It was Cllr John Downes’ idea. He had investigated costs and told town council it would be "quite expensive" to have a flag made but felt there should be something to commemorate all the civilian workers in the area who had died because of war.

The town council has its own flag that used to fly outside the council building but with Mid Devon District Council selling that building, this flag is no longer flown. Cllr Downes asked if that could be used.

Cllr Downes agreed that as it was his idea, he could carry it for the first time, but he really felt it should not be a town councillor even though they were all civilians.

He pointed out that attitudes were changing towards this annual commemoration of those who had died during wars but agreed help was needed to find a flag bearer.

When Cllr Nick Way suggested asking Queen Elizabeth’s School if a senior pupil could carry the flag, councillors were enthusiastic, this would "tick all the boxes".

Anyone interested in knowing more about this idea who maybe could share the post should speak to the town clerk on (01363) 773717 or email: [email protected] .

PRECEPT

By a unanimous vote councillors accepted a precept of £238,378, an unchanged amount from last year.

Having done her figures, the town clerk had suggested it could be set at a slightly lower figure of £238,000 which would have meant a drop of a few pence in the town council part of the council tax.

But Cllr Andy Wyer said that as this could look as if the town council had cut services, it would be best to stick to the same as last year which was approved.

QUESTIONS

A member of the public had asked at the beginning of the meeting if the town council could explain the Ombudsman’s decision over the sale of the former council offices in Crediton.

Chairman Cllr Frank Letch (also a district councillor) said the public could go to the Ombudsman if they could prove they had suffered a significant personal injustice. In this case the Ombudsman had ruled this was not so.

Cllr Letch said the district council had a number of committees and a Cabinet that consisted of six members of its main party who make the really big decisions, such as the sale of the council office building in Crediton.

Cllr Letch said that even though the Cabinet was urged by a 22-3 vote to sell to Crediton Town Council, it did not do that.

He said the current move was to see if the system could be changed back to the committee system where a decision had to be ratified by the full council. Any such change would be too late to reverse the sale of the council building.

The main party of the district council is Conservative.

PLANNING SYSTEM

The member of the public asked about the Mid Devon Local Plan which he understood was being reviewed in February and he wondered how this might affect the town council’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Cllr Letch said that the Local Plan was being looked at by an Inspector, there would be a three-day inquiry before a decision was made, which could all take some time.

Moving on to committee meeting minutes, Cllr Letch wondered if the Christmas in Crediton event had a future without more help.

He said its organisation took a huge amount of office time, which meant mainly the town clerk and he did not feel she was getting the support she should.

VIOLENCE

Reading the police report on crime figures for the town Cllr John Ross was disappointed there was a steady increase in anti-social behaviour and violence.

But Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking said it depended on what the violence was, she felt it would be interesting to know how many victims were female. It was agreed to ask one of the local police officers to attend a meeting to explain further these figures.