COUNCILLORS in Ilminster have been given more time to consider important items on the town’s agenda to avoid making “on the hoof” decisions.

Members of the town council were asked at the meeting last week to consider the principles of how they would like to set out the rent for the new Football and Community Facility and associated pitches, the cricket pavilion, and the Sports Club known locally as ‘The Shed’.

Mayor Emma Jane Taylor said: “This is talking about the principles, not necessarily the amount.

For example should we be considering how much these projects encourage healthy living, how much fundraising the groups do and if the club’s are responsible for maintenance we don’t want to charge them so much that they can’t afford it.

“The other point we have to be mindful of, particularly at this current point, is that the Football and Community Facility, which is for the whole community, would not be happening without the efforts of the football club – there has to be a balance.”

Cllr Andrew Shearman suggested that the council should charge a ground rent on the new facility, while Cllr Sophie Storey said that the council should not be making it too hard for the football club – recently established as Ilminster Sports Ltd – as it is providing a facility for the town.

Cllr Rose Neave said: “Somewhere in the lease it should say that when the building is being used for community services there is a cap on how much the club can charge.

“We’re putting it in for the community and don’t want to discourage people from using it.

“What’s to stop the football club putting the charges up so high for other people they’re put off using it?

“Also, we own this building.

What happens if the football club folds or can no longer maintain it? We need to consider that we need to be able to afford to maintain it.”

However, Cllr Andrew Shearman said: “I would disagree; we are not in the business of deciding what a club can do or can’t do.

If we are going to charge a rent for the ground the building is on, we should not be able to dictate what that building is used for. We are helping them for the town, they should help the town in return.”

Town clerk Joy Norris interjected the discussions to ensure councillors were putting the best interest of the town council first.

She said: “Remember that the town council at present receives a rental income from the football club and cricket club and any discussions this evening have not mentioned that fact at any point.

“While it is commendable that members are trying to help the town’s clubs, as your financial administrator I would urge you against agreeing a principle that would leave you worse off because you did say before that one of the principles was that the building would not impact on the council tax and the people of Ilminster are hit.

“If you set the rent less than it is now it would have a detrimental impact on your income.”

Cllr Caroll Goodall said: “I thought the football club made it quite clear in their business plan that they intend to rent out the room for community use. Why would we be thinking they are not going to do that?

“There’s a need for people to carry out various activities. We don’t have the space at the moment and they are building one – why are we having this discussion?

“I don’t like doing this sort of thing on the hoof, we did it at the last meeting and it just doesn’t work.”

Councillors unanimously voted to agree that the issue will be discussed in more detail by the Recreation Review Committee which will report