Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 7th July 2015
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 4th August 2015 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Cllrs German, Hatwood, Hetherington, Iddison, Meek, Taffinder ( Chairman);
CC J German, S Skull (Clerk)
2 members of the public attended.
071501
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
The Chairman read out a statement in respect of the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 reminding those in attendance and participating in the meeting that they were liable to be filmed, recorded, photographed or otherwise recorded.
071502
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllrs Case, Edwards, Greenslade and Morse
071503
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
None
071504
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Jon Smith, Chairman of the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan (RNDP) Steering Group (SG), reported that the final version of the RNDP was now on the RNDP and Cornwall Council (CC) websites, having been checked by CC’s finance and legal departments and signed off by the portfolio holder. He said the most likely date for the referendum would be 20th August, and once the date was fixed, the SG would begin a programme of informing local residents. If the RNDP is adopted, CC would appoint dedicated planning officers with knowledge of the RNDP to deal with Roseland applications.
CC Julian German reported that Gerrans School was considering joining a Roseland Multi Academy Trust, and there was a live ongoing discussion involving parents and governors. He also said that Cornwall Council was launching a scheme in pilot areas to incentivise recycling. The clerk was asked to make this an agenda item at the next meeting. Action clerk
071505
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meetings held on 2nd and 9th June 2015 as being true records, subject to the correction of 2 errors of detail. The Chairman signed the corrected minutes.
071506
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS – MATTERS ARISING
The clerk said he had now opened a credit account at M A Griggs on behalf of the PC for the purchase of materials for the Church Close fencing works.
Cllr Hetherington said he had made enquiries of Mark O’Brien regarding Cornwall Council’s position on the potential flexibility of the published guidelines for setting speed limits through an area. He would also check on the most recent available data on actual traffic speed through Trewithian.
071507
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
- Notification from Cornwall Council
No requests for a formal election to be held have been received during the prescribed period so the PC has been instructed to fill the current vacancy by co-option. Action clerk to advertise that this will be done at the August meeting.
- Invitation from Tregony Parish Council
Invitation to attend TPC’s meeting on Monday 12th July at which Ken Polmounter, Cornwall Council area manager for parking operations, would answer questions about parking enforcement. Invitation noted.
There was no further correspondence which would not be addressed in other items on the agenda.
071508
PLANNING MATTERS
APPLICATIONS
The PC had received 1 new application on the day of the meeting. As such it was too late for discussion and consideration of the application was deferred until the August meeting. The clerk was asked to apply for an extension to the time limit for comment. Action clerk
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA15/05422 | Conversion of disused water tank into a dwelling at Trewithian | n/a |
DECISIONS
| Application | GPC comment | CC Decision |
| PA15/04100 – Loft conversion 33 North Parade | Support | Approved |
ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Nothing to report
071509
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
Cllr German reported that work on the Memorial Hall improvements had started, and a grant of £10,000 towards the cost of the new kitchen had been received from Cory Environmental Trust
071510
LOCALISM
Councillors discussed Cornwall Council’s proposed “Case for Cornwall” submission to government with a view to agreeing a formal response to the current public consultation. After contributions from many Councillors it was agreed the clerk should draft a response stating that Gerrans PC is in favour of the devolution of powers from central government and welcomes the initiative in principle, but is concerned that the scheme as proposed is unambitious and does not go far enough towards devolving meaningful powers. Furthermore the PC is unconvinced of the competence and capacity of Cornwall Council as currently constituted to administer the scheme viably. Action clerk
071511
CHURCH CLOSE OPEN SPACE LAND
The clerk reported he had received one expression of interest in the contract for the ongoing grounds maintenance, but no firm tender as yet. He said the proposed lease on the extra parcel of land was still in the hands of the solicitors.
071512
CAR PARKS
The clerk reported that he was receiving frequent updates from Cornwall Council on the requested transfer of the freeholds of New Road and Treloan Lane car parks but the matter was still ongoing.
071513
RUBBISH DISPOSAL
Cllr Hatwood referred to the nuisance and health hazard caused by birds ripping open rubbish bags left out unprotected. He suggested the PC could make available to residents, free or at cost, seagull-proof bags which Cornwall Council can supply in which ordinary rubbish bags can be protected. After discussion it was decided to offer such bags at cost. The clerk was asked to publicise the matter in the Roseland Magazine and to take steps to acquire a small initial stock for supply to residents. Action clerk
Cllr Hetherington asked if it was possible to have the dog bins emptied more frequently in the holiday season. The clerk said he would make enquiries. Action clerk
071514
GOVERNANCE
The review of standing orders and financial regulations was deferred until the next meeting because of problems with IT in that Councillors had received different versions of the emailed documents from others.
On the vacancies on Committees created by the resignation of Cllr Symons, it was decided there were still sufficient numbers remaining on the Finance Committee, the Sports liaison role was now considered redundant, Cllr Meek would replace Cllr Symons in Police Liaison, and Cllr Taffinder would join the Car Parks Committee.
071515
FINANCIAL MATTERS
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices totalling £7,224.63 (including VAT of £654.13) be paid. A schedule of these payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th June was £52,635.25
071516
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
Cllr Hetherington referred to the Multi Academy Trust (MAT) scheme mentioned in the open period by CC German and asked if Cllr Taffinder, as a governor of Gerrans school, would keep the PC updated. He said that MAT’s might be the only way of keeping small schools open, even though an element of local control would be lost. The clerk was asked to put the matter on the agenda for the next meeting. Action clerk
Cllr German reported that two local traders had suggested to him that the PC was selective about reporting breaches of planning regulations. He cited two cases of alleged breaches. Cllr Hetherington pointed out that the PC is not the statutory authority and it was people’s own responsibility to report perceived breaches to Cornwall Council themselves. The clerk asked Cllr German to let him have more detail on the two cases in question in due course.
Cllr Meek said he was sorry to see the old farm buildings at Trewithian in a state of collapse. CC Julian German said Cornwall Council owned the land but it was the responsibility of the tenants to maintain the buildings. He said he would take the matter up.
Cllr Meek also mentioned the newly erected chains and posts on the harbour jetty. He said local people did not like them, and Cllr Iddison thought they were more likely to cause an accident than prevent one. Cllr Taffinder said the Harbour Authority had put them up because the Harbourmaster was concerned at the possible danger caused by people running and jumping from the jetty without being able to see boats moving underneath. She said if people did have objections they could contact Andy Brigden at the Harbour Office in Truro.
Cllr Iddison said that Mr Richard Moss had been cutting the grass on the Green on a voluntary basis and had offered to clean up the wall around the Green if the PC would supply the necessary materials. There was general approval, and Cllr Iddison said he would ask Mr Moss to put in a detailed list of the items required.
Cllr Hatwood reported overgrown hedges at the footpath between Admiralty Terrace and the steps up towards New Road car park. The clerk was asked to notify the residents concerned. Action clerk
The meeting closed at 9.32pm