Konsel Pluw Erens
Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 3rd December 2019 at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 7th January 2020 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Charlotte Taffinder (Chairman) (CT), Richard Cochrane (RC), John Crombie (JC), Ralph German (RG), Will Gill (WG), Kate Greet (KG), Helen Hastings (HH), Joanna Holah (JH), Nev Meek (NM), Val Neal (VN), Mary Watson (MW); Steve Skull (Clerk), CC Julian German.
No members of the public attended.
121901
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
-None
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE ABSENCES
– N/A
121902
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
-None
121903
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
JG reported:
- there will be a cluster meeting presentation on February 26th on planning enforcement by Alan Mason, Cornwall Council (CC)’s Planning Enforcement team leader.
- The meeting of the Truro and Roseland Community Network Panel scheduled for 28th January will be held in Portscatho Memorial Hall.
- CC will remove their recycling banks in the Autumn of 2020, and it will be for parishes to make their own arrangements after that.
121904
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The Council unanimously accepted the draft minutes of the PC meeting held on Tuesday 5th November 2019 as being a true record. CT signed the minutes.
121905
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING
The clerk reported that the intended contractor was now unable to complete the installation of a power supply to Gerrans Green, though the actual cable had been laid. It was hoped the other original contractor who quoted would be willing to undertake the work.
JC reported the overgrown shrubbery at the Square in Gerrans had now been dealt with.
JG reported that it had been recognised that non-emergency issues reported to CC regarding footpaths were not leading to swift remedial action, and that he had requested that footpaths be made part of the Highways system in order that matters raised received early acknowledgement and an action plan. He had also proposed extra funding for footpath management in the next CC budget.
121906
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
- Email from Bobbie and Dave Mitchell of the Royal Standard pub expressing their appreciation of the outstanding work of Mikel Fletcher and his team on behalf of the Parish Council in maintaining the green areas, bins, gutters and hedges in the parish to a high standard. Members appreciated the comments and the clerk was asked to reply with thanks, and to pass them on to Mikel. Action clerk
- Notice from Cornwall Council of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate ref APP/D0840/W/19/3238165 in respect of PA19/01418 (Land West of Chapel House) which was refused by CC. Deadline for written submissions 17th December. It was unanimously agreed that the Council should maintain its original objection and submit a further confirmatory paragraph to the appeal. (Proposed RG, seconded CT). Action clerk
There was no other correspondence to report which was not covered by items on the agenda.
121907
PLANNING MATTERS
(a) APPLICATIONS
There were no new applications in the previous month.
(b) DECISIONS
| Application | GPC comment | CC Decision |
| PA19/08509 re Glenlorcan, Tregassick Road | Support | Approved |
| PA19/08664 re Trewince Manor | Support | Approved |
| PA19/08987 re 30 Parc An Dillon Road | Support | Approved |
| PA19/05722 re Pendennis, New Road | Support (As amended)) | Approved |
(c) ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
– Nothing to report
121908
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
– WG had attended the AGM of Percuil River Moorings Ltd and said there was nothing of significance to report as regards the PC.
– RC had attended the latest Community Network Panel meeting, at which there had been a discussion about community-led housing. Aspects discussed included different funding routes, assessing demand, encouraging registration on Homechoice and various different potential delivery methods. He said more detailed notes were available. Traffic management and repairing the Devoran slipway were also discussed at the meeting.
121909
LOCALISM
A final version of the design for a new logo for the PC was unanimously approved. This will feature in future agenda notices, minutes and the PC’s letterhead. Action clerk to arrange.
A unanimous vote of thanks was for RC, VN and Alice Hooper for their work in arriving at the final version.
Members discussed a notification from BT of a 90 day consultation process ending 9th February on the proposed removal of the public telephone box opposite the Rosevine Hotel because of lack of use. Initial consensus was that the PC would not object to its removal on the grounds it was needed for emergencies, but that it would be a shame to lose the actual kiosk altogether. It was decided to put the matter on the next agenda to consider BT’s adoption scheme. Action clerk.
121910
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
RC said there had been a meeting of REACT the previous week, and reported that
– The tree planting projects were still ongoing
– Tregothnan Estate had said they would be responsible for recovering plastic protective sleeves which had fallen off the trees below Treloan.
– Water bottle filling stations at Tatams Café were now installed
– Three detailed quotes were still awaited before funding for electric vehicle charging points in the Parish could be applied for.
– Three suggestion boxes would be installed in the Parish for members of the public to suggest ways of improving the local environment.
JH reported on her research into the possibility of switching to a genuinely green energy supplier for the Parish Street lighting and said that Good Energy PLC were set up for unmetered supply immediately. They had been in business for 20 years and were recommended by Which? magazine. Their review had been previously circulated. She presented an estimate which represented a considerable saving on what was currently being paid. It was decided to agree in principle to make the switch subject to a formal detailed quote being received (proposed RG, seconded CT). Voting was 9 in favour, with 2 abstentions. The clerk said he would continue to liaise with JH on the matter and put it on January’s agenda. Action clerk.
121911
FINANCIAL MATTERS
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
The clerk reported that all payments submitted for approval were materially within budget, or within forecast and agreed contingency levels where actual figures were unknown at the time of setting the budget.
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices totalling £2,957.45 (including VAT of £27.04) be paid. A schedule of all the payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th November was £68,413.23.
PRECEPT 2020/2021
CT reported on the meeting of the Finance Committee held immediately prior to this meeting. The Committee recommended the Precept for 2020/2021 be set at £23,173, an increase of £477 over the current year in line with the RPI measure of inflation. CT proposed acceptance of this recommendation. (Seconded by VN). Voting was 10 in favour and 1 against. The clerk was asked to make the necessary claim. Action clerk.
121912
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
- Any urgent business
– None
- Matters to be included on the next agenda (not heretofore minuted)
– To decide whether to accept an offer to repaint the “White Stone” at the junction of Gerrans Hill and New Road.
- Minor items for report
– RG wished all present a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and NM offered the same sentiment in the Cornish language.
The meeting closed at 9.05 pm