Agreeing to release funds for this year's Christmas lights scheme, Crediton Town Councillors, at Tuesday's meeting of Crediton Town Council's General Purposes Committee, were told that, so far, 22 favourable responses had been received from traders.

Although initiated through Crediton Town Council, it was explained that the Town Team could not be led by the town council or councillors. It would be a community group that would include members of the town council.

Town clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, explained that the Town Team must be led by the community.

It would work with people in the community to identify projects, achieve funding and work on projects such as the Christmas lights.

The clerk was authorised to set up a Town Team and Cllrs Liz Brookes-Hocking and Frank Letch said they would be interested in joining.

While all contributions to the funding would be gratefully received, the town clerk emphasised that any company making "a significant contribution" would receive advertising.

Cllr Bill Dixon asked if the lights planned to go across the street would overwhelm the lit Christmas trees on buildings along the main road?

He was told "it was felt that there should be more impact."

Cllr Brookes-Hocking pointed out that, over the years, the number of lit Christmas trees on High Street buildings has been gradually dropping, leaving blank areas.

Currently there would be more trees and this number would be built up. The town clerk added that this year the Christmas tree scheme was totally under the town council leadership.

"We have written twice to the Chamber of Commerce about trees but, so far, not received a response," she said.

EXPENSES

While welcoming the voluntary action of a town resident who has been weeding and cleaning pavements in the area of Exeter Road, East Street and the parish church it was explained that the town council would find it difficult to pay any costs towards equipment or getting rid of the debris.

Cllr Szabo had asked for costs towards paying for grit and rubbish swept up to be disposed of at the Punchbowl Recycling Centre.

In this instance, the town council agreed a one-off payment. Cllr Szabo added that he himself had provided secateurs, a weeding tool and a broom.

"This chap has been a bit of a tornado in cleaning the town," he said, "mainly in the eastern area. He had gathered more than 20 bags of grit mainly from around the bus stops and then had to pay to get rid of it."

Cllr Szabo had asked for the cost of taking the bags to the Punchbowl tip and other charges.

However, while in no way decrying the work of the volunteer, for which the town council was grateful, there was the problem of responsibility if the town council contributed financially. Any payments would need town council authorisation beforehand.

PEOPLE'S PARK

Part of the plans for People's Park has always been to create a wildlife area at the eastern end, along the steps between the road and top footpath.

This idea came a step nearer, with councillors recommending approval of the release of £1,500 from the People's Park fund for the current work.

Three schemes were before the committee with this being their preferred option, also, incidentally, the cheapest and would involve the community most.

It was explained that a town councillor had been working with Devon Wildlife Trust over planting and other work.

The intention would be to involve townspeople in clearing and planting. It was agreed the work did not have to be all done at one time. An area could be worked each year.

CLOSING OFFICE

Looking at Mid Devon District Council's intention to close its Building Control Office at Crediton from October, the committee referred this to its full council meeting later this month.

While agreeing it was unacceptable, it was felt this was a step by the district council to save money.

Cllr Dixon said the district council's Crediton office was a centre for 10 outlying villages, more than either the Tiverton or Cullompton offices.

"It seems ludicrous," he said, suggesting that if senior district council officers took a small salary cut, that, too, would save money rather than closing a facility in Crediton.

However, Cllr Brookes-Hocking said that building control was "slightly different" from most other services.

BLOOMING NEXT YEAR?

Cllr Szabo reported that the Britain in Bloom judges had been impressed when they visited the Congregational Church, the railway station and the town square's edible garden for the It's Your Neighbourhood scheme.

He added that the judges had asked if the town council would consider entering the town in the Pennant Award section of Britain in Bloom next year which meant no cost to enter and no need to create a portfolio.

TRENAVIN CLOSE IT IS

Councillors approved of the name Trenavin Close for the new development off George Hill around the old house.

Asked to think about days for free car parking in the town before Christmas, councillors supported the idea of choosing the late-night shopping days of Friday with Saturday.

Cllr Letch would be pursuing the idea of marking the start of World War One next year.

Cllr Dixon said he would support any commemoration of the end of that war, but not to mark its beginning.

Noting that the district council, the planning authority, had approved Tesco receiving deliveries at its main store overnight and on Sundays, councillors wanted to know why?

The planning application had asked to remove the condition of planning approval, the 32nd condition, prohibiting service deliveries between 11pm and 6am Monday to Saturday and 11pm on Saturday to 9am on Monday, via Joseph Locke Way.

The town council had objected strongly to the application on the grounds of noise and disturbance to local residents.

It asked the district council to note that 22 new homes had been built at the entrance to Joseph Locke Way.

At Tuesday's committee meeting, councillors wanted to know why the district council had "totally ignored" the town council.