The following were present in an advisory capacity:

Apologies for Absence:

Dave proposed that we keep the meeting as brief as possible and focus on following items:

EXHIBITION AND PUBLIC PLANNING DAYS. Dave and Shirley reported back that the event had been very successful. About 800 people attended and contributed in a variety of ways: with comments and drawings, participating in group discussions and filling out questionnaires over the five days. There had been a huge amount of interest in and appreciation of the displays. If we add in other questionnaire responses, outreach and public participation over the whole 3 month period numbers are well in excess of 1000 overall.

The group sessions and concluding plenary had been superbly conducted by Di Parkin and Bill Brown, and the result was a surprisingly broad consensus over many fundamental issues relating to the balance, form and aesthetics of housing, parking and open space on site. This information is being collated by Di and together with the questionnaire data, should be available within the next 2-3 weeks.

A wide range of groups had participated- including senior residents, young people, young parents, people with acute housing problems, Totnes traders, market traders, emergency services, Town and District Councillors and officers, residents of outlying villages and tourists.

REPORTING BACK ON STAGES 1 AND 2. It was proposed to offer detailed feedback on the research (Stage 1) to the SAWG on July 15^th and get this aspect 'signed off' before presenting the findings of the Public Consultation (Stage 2) and moving on to Stage 3. Shirley and Dave have already made a verbal report to the Town Council on Monday July 5^th, which was favourably received.

Alan requested that the Exhibition findings be synthesised into an architect's brief- which is what - with major assistance from Peter- is being co-ordinated at the moment. This will also be presented to SAWG meeting on July 15th. Peter noted that there was a great of very useful factual detail in the displays which can be 'signed off' by the SAWG and other interested parties- including English Heritage

TIMESCALES Alan was concerned that DOS time-scales did not get extended beyond the deadline. SHDC were hoping to capitalise on council tax revenue for affordable housing if a plan could be ready by October. It was agreed that the DOS start date of early April should allow a completion date as close to the end of September as possible. There might be some flexibility if the SAWG were satisfied that everything was going to plan.

COSTING OF AN EVENTUAL PLAN. Alan noted that the eventual concept statement must be costed 'for real'- as it would actually be built- specially since some site solutions might be unusual. Re Donald's letter: there was some discussion about how the inherent integrity of any eventual plan might be retained and loose ends tied down before it went to a developer. It was particularly crucial, after such intensive public involvement and commitment, that the eventual development was not altered or degraded by a developer after the site was sold. In this respect, Alan noted that the SAWG will need to take a view on how to progress the proposal through the planning system and procurement process. It was crucial that parking must be kept available throughout the development process, and the sequencing of building work would require very careful planning- otherwise we would have a 'dead' town.

DOS FINANCES. Subject to the usual accounting and invoicing procedures, Alan confirmed that DOS could draw upon the remaining monies from the 15K set aside for the 6 month process. He will ensure that current invoices are paid promptly. However all were in agreement that the absolute priority now is completion of the project within that budget. Only the most essential other spending - for example, architects fees and a public meeting- should be incurred. We might consider closing the office as soon as possible. In consultation with Peter and Bill, a cashflow analysis will be done to show that this can be achieved.

It was noted that while donations to the project were running at over 2K (and could reach almost 3K) initial projections of external grant income had not come up to expectation. The practicalities of making applications and getting them through the system was very time consuming and a more realistic estimate would be that it applications cannot be expected to produce results at such an early stage (6 months is a more likely timescale) However over 20 applications had been made and were pending.

GROVE SCHOOL After discussion Donald agreed to draft a letter to DCC, the Grove School and KEVICS regarding information which emerged from the consultation about the possible closure of the Grove Primary School. The DOS process had revealed strong community views about DCC's lack of consultation about the issue.

The meeting ended with an agreement along the following lines:

'That DOS financial outlay will go into actions which will result in the desired plans by the end of September, including architects fees and a final public meeting. Any other financial outlays will be carefully scrutinised and only undertaken if absolutely necessary.'

The meeting closed at 11.45. The next meeting will be held on July 21^st (Note. that meeting was cancelled for lack of material to discuss).