Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 29th July 2014
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 2nd September at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Cllrs Case, Edwards, German, Greenslade, Hetherington, Iddison, Meek, Morse, Symons,
Taffinder ( Chairman); CC J German, S Skull (Clerk)
3 members of the public attended.
081401
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr Hatwood, CC J German
081402
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
None
081403
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The owners of the property at Rosevine, the subject of planning application PA14/06396 (to be discussed in item 7 on the agenda) made a representation giving some history and background information relating to their application.
Jon Smith, chairman of the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group, confirmed that the statutory 6 week period for consultation on the draft Plan would go ahead from 3rd August. There would be an exhibition in the Memorial Hall from 25th to 31st August. Asked by Councillors about proposed restrictions on wind turbines, Mr Smith said that a blanket ban on turbines was not an available option.
081404
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 1st July 2014 as being a true record subject to the correction of an error in “Other parish matters”. The Chairman signed the corrected minutes.
071405
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING
The clerk reported that a site meeting at Porthcurnick beach with Bill Makin and Phil White from the National Trust (NT) had been arranged for Thursday 31st July at 3.00pm to discuss the issue of public safety after the collapse of part of the cliff in front of the Hidden Hut. Bill Makin is the General Manager for the NT properties on the Roseland and he had contacted the clerk in response to the clerk’s letter to the Director General of the NT expressing the PC’s concerns.
081406
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
The correspondence not covered elsewhere in the agenda was reviewed and actions determined.
1. Email from Mr M Tozer
Email expressing concern at dog-fouling on the green by the Fishermen’s Shelter – an area much used by children and picnickers at this time of year, and asking if a notice might be put up on the wall of the shelter.
Cllr Symons proposed (seconded by Cllr German) that such a sign be put up. On a vote, 7 Councillors were in favour and 3 against. The clerk was asked to make arrangements. Action clerk
2. Letter from Tregothnan Estate Office
Letter received via email together with photographs of the football field site and a schedule of works required by Tregothnan prior to conclusion of the lease surrender. The clerk commented that the photographs were many months out of date and most of the scheduled works had already been completed. The clerk was asked to try again to arrange a site meeting with a representative of Tregothnan. Action clerk
081407
PLANNING MATTERS
APPLICATIONS
The PC had received 3 applications. These are outlined below and comments are noted in the Planning Register.
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA14/06396 | Roof extension at Gull Rock, Rosevine | Support |
| PA14//06290 | Conversion of manager’s flat to commercial use and erection of new manager’s accommodation at Trewince Holiday Lodges | Majority object:6 object
3 support 1 abstain |
| PA14/05543 | Change of use to provide letting accommodation at 1st floor, Plume of Feathers. | Support |
DECISIONS
PA14/04993 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/04505 (PC: object) – withdrawn
ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Nothing to report
081408
LOCALISM
Cllr Hetherington had attended the last meeting of the Community Network Panel and reported that amongst other issues the future of the mobile library was discussed, and it was decided to hold regular meetings every 2 months in future to establish more formality. He said he would be attending the AGM in September.
Cllr German said he had attended the recent Code of Conduct training course in St Mawes. He said Gerrans PC was poorly represented in comparison with other local Councils. It was emphasised at the course that the Government’s recent Localism Act had serious implications for the rules on declarations of interest, and suggested the PC needed to adapt its adopted Code as a result. The clerk said he would take advice from CALC and make this an agenda item, together with the question of dispensations, for the next meeting. Action clerk
081409
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
Cllr Morse had attended a meeting of Percuil River Moorings Ltd as the PC’s representative and said there was nothing of relevance to report.
081410
JOLLITY FARM OPEN SPACE LAND
Cllr Greenslade proposed (seconded by Cllr Case) that the PC should elect to take a lease on the land for 99 years at a peppercorn rent notwithstanding that the maintenance of the site would fall on the PC. This was carried unanimously and the clerk was asked to make the necessary approach to the Landlord and to enquire at the same time whether there was the possibility of the option to acquire the freehold of the land, and whether the Landlord would be prepared to make a contribution towards ongoing maintenance. Action clerk
081411
NEW ROAD CAR PARK
Works update
The clerk read out an email from the contractor to say that some repairs to the wall still remained outstanding but these would be completed very soon.
New lease
Cllr Taffinder proposed (seconded by Cllr Greenslade) that the terms of the new lease offered by Cornwall Council be discussed in detail at a joint meeting of the Car Parks and Traffic and Travel committees. This was agreed unanimously and the clerk was asked to arrange a meeting at the Heritage Centre on Tuesday 5th August at 7.00pm. Action clerk
081412
JUBILEE COMMEMORATION
Cllr Taffinder proposed (seconded by Cllr Symons) that once the Jollity Farm land was under the PC’s control as an open space amenity, that might be an ideal location for the proposed commemorative seating. This was unanimously agreed and the clerk was asked to write to Mr Howard Emmett for his views on this suggestion. Action Clerk
081413
PORTSCATHO PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
Cllrs Taffinder and German confirmed that a payment of £2,500 on account of refurbishment works carried out in July had been approved by the Toilets Committee, and Cllr Iddison said works were progressing well. He also reported that the Committee had asked Mr Stallard to address the concerns raised at the last meeting regarding planning and health and safety issues but had as yet had no formal response. Cllr Hetherington was asked to draft an appropriate letter.
Cllr German said he had not yet seen the final draft of the sublease and it was not ready for signing. Cllr Meek commented that there appeared to be a problem with procedures and communications within the Committee and Cllr Taffinder replied that the Committee would make improvements in these areas.
081414
LITTER BINS
The clerk reported he had still to complete his enquiries as regards bird-proof litter bins.
081415
STREET CLEANING
After discussion of the suggestion at the last meeting that the contractor’s summer hours should be doubled, it was agreed to pay for an extra 20 hours for this August only, pending a review in the Spring of whether or not to engage a weed-spraying contractor.
081416
FINANCIAL MATTERS
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices totalling £4,207.86 (including VAT of £129.48) be paid. A schedule of these payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The clerk presented no bank reconciliation because, due to the bringing forward of the meeting, no statement had yet arrived. He would present a 2-month reconciliation at the next meeting.
STATUS TO BUDGET
All payments were within budget as adjusted by minuted Council decisions.
081417
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
Cllr Hetherington asked if the dog bins could be emptied more frequently during the peak season. The clerk was asked to enquire. Action clerk
Cllr Symons complained that the 30mph speed restriction signs near the school on the way into Gerrans were sited in such a way as to obstruct access to the adjacent field for farm vehicles. After discussion the clerk was asked to enquire whether the signs could be re-sited or be made removable. Action clerk
Cllr Case said he had heard that Vodafone had advanced a new plan to provide a mobile phone signal by means other than a tall aerial. He said he would investigate further and the clerk was asked to put the matter on next month’s agenda. Action clerk
The meeting closed at 9.53 pm