A REQUEST for more financial assistance by the organising committee of Tavistock's Old Folk's Rest Room has been shelved, pending submission of more information.
During last week's meeting of Tavistock Town Council's properties committee, chairman Cllr Debo Sellis told members that the organisation, currently preparing to move from their temporary base at the Anchorage Centre to new premises at Court Gate, had asked for help with the relocation.
Cllr Sellis said: 'They wanted to know if the council will pay for the installation of a disabled toilet and kitchen. They are happy to pay for furnishings, tables and heating, but they need to be out of the Anchorage Centre as soon as possible.'
The committee was told the work would cost between £5,000 and £7,000.
Town clerk Roger Howard advised members that they could not be 'bounced' into making a hasty financial decision brought to the meeting under the 'urgent business' category.
Cllr Mandy Govier said: 'How much rent are they going to pay at Court Gate?
'Bearing in mind it could be quite minimal, we should look at their accounts to see if they can afford this, rather than the residents of Tavistock paying for it.'
Cllr Robin Pike proposed the Old Folk's Rest Room committee should forward their accounts to the council, and their request be included on the agenda for the next meeting of the town's finance committee.
Col Howard said the council's works superintendent would draw up costings for the work requested by the rest room committee.
He said no rent agreement for Court Gate, which is owned by the town council, had yet been set.
'The council hasn't discussed it yet. It didn't actually charge them rent on the old property, in fact, we paid the rent on their behalf, which was £5 a year,' he said.
'We could probably charge about £100 a week for Court Gate, but the council will have to talk about what rent they will charge, when they have see the accounts.'