Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Annual Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 6th May 2014
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 3rd June at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Cllrs Case, Fletcher, German, Greenslade, Hatwood, Hetherington, Iddison, Meek, Morse, Symons, Taffinder ( Chairman); CC J German, S Skull (Clerk)
2 members of the public attended.
051401
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Cllr Taffinder was the only candidate (nominated by Cllr Greenslade, seconded by Cllr Hetherington).
Decision: Cllr Taffinder was elected unanimously
Cllr Taffinder signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office form which was witnessed and countersigned by the clerk.
051402
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – None
051403
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Deputy Chairman Cllr Hetherington (Nom. Cllr Taffinder, sec. Cllr Greenslade)
Finance Committee Cllrs Taffinder, Hetherington, Symons, Meek, Hatwood
Planning matters Cllrs Hetherinton (Chair), Case, Greenslade, Iddison
Public conveniences Cllrs Taffinder, German, Hatwood, iddison
Disciplinary appeal committee Cllrs Taffinder, German
Communications Cllr Hatwood
Memorial Hall Committee Cllrs German,Case
Charities Cllrs Taffinder, German, Iddison
Police liaison Cllr Symons
Sport Cllr Symons
Traffic and transport Cllrs Greenslade, Hatwood, Iddison
Footpaths Cllr Morse
Village tidiness and rubbish Cllrs Taffinder, Case
Car parks Cllrs Symons, Iddison, Case
School liaison Cllr Taffinder
Percuil River Moorings Ltd Cllr Morse
051404
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Cllr Hatwood declared a non registerable interest in item 17 on the agenda re Portscatho public conveniences because of close personal connection with a person tendering for a sublease.
051405
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None
051406
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 1st April 2014 as being a true record. The Chairman signed them.
051407
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING
Football field
The clerk reported he had still received no report of works required from the Landlord’s agent.
Cllr Iddison reported that the shed on site had been broken into and it was alleged that drug taking and underage drinking was taking place there. The clerk was asked to purchase a new padlock for the shed to secure it. Action clerk
051408
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
The correspondence not covered elsewhere in the agenda was reviewed and actions determined.
1. ROSPA
The annual safety inspection of the playground was considered which recommended the replacement of rotting timbers on the multiplay unit. The clerk was asked to contact a local tradesman to carry out the work. Action clerk
2. Letter from Sarah Newton MP
Acknowledging the clerk’s letter of 14th March concerning issues of police funding in Cornwall, Mrs Newton was sympathetic to the Parish Council’s concerns and said she had written to the Minister at the Home Office to request clarification regarding the budgetary effect of proposed national policing commitments and to emphasise again the importance of maximising the local police budget.
3. Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places
A communication from Cornwall Council inviting comments and suggestions for improvements to polling arrangements in the parish. Councillors decided the present arrangements were quite adequate.
051409
ROSELAND NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN UPDATE
Mr Jon Smith, chairman of the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group presented his update before the start of the meeting proper in the interests of expediency.
He said the Steering Group would be sending out a first draft of the Plan in the Middle of May, and that there would be a letter in May to confirm the vision and objectives and another in June to announce the statutory 6 week consultation period targeted to begin in early July. There would also be a “Pre-consultation Event” on Saturday 14th June at Gerrans Memorial Hall.
051410
PLANNING MATTERS
APPLICATIONS
The PC had received 2 applications. These are outlined below and comments are noted in the Planning Register.
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA14/01398 | Removal of front boundary wall,2, Tregassick Road | Unanimous object on grounds of negative effect on ancient scheduled monument and removal of traditional Cornish hedge |
| PA1//03045 | Listed building works at The Rectory, the Square, Gerrans | Unanimous Support |
The clerk was also asked to write to the Planning Department to object to the fact that on property owned by Cornwall Council – i.e. Nos. 6 and 7 Tregassick Road, the front boundary walls have already been removed without planning permission.Action clerk
DECISIONS
PA14/01889 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/02250 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/01981 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/00713 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/01240 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/01326 (PC: support) – approved
ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Nothing to report
051411
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
Cllr German reported that he and Cllr Case had attended a Memorial Hall Committee meeting where it was noted that building would hopefully soon commence on the proposed disabled toilets.
051412
JOLLITY FARM OPEN SPACE LAND
The clerkreported that Cornwall Council were being uncommunicative as to progress in enforcement of the S106 agreement attached to this land and the condition of the site continued to deteriorate. CC German said he would continue to try to move things forward, and the clerk was asked to write to the Chief Executive of Cornwall Council to complain. Action clerk
051413
STREET LIGHTING
The clerk presented a quotation from SSE Contracting Ltd for the supply and installation of two new LED Lanterns for the Lugger at the cost of £575.33 plus VAT each. Cllr Taffinder proposed (seconded by Cllr Morse) that the PC should purchase just one lantern at present to replace the unit 035CL which was already broken. This was carried unanimously. Action clerk to order one lantern
051414
PARKING ORDERS
The clerk presented an estimate from Cormac Solutions Ltd for a total of £3,580 plus VAT for the necessary consultation and implementation works for the proposed new Traffic Regulation Order affecting New Road and Gerrans Hill. Cllr Taffinder proposed (seconded by Cllr Greenslade) that the PC should accept the estimate and request Cormac to proceed. This was carried unanimously. Action clerk
051415
CAR PARKS
New Road Update – the clerk reported that works on site were progressing, and that contact with Cornwall Council regarding the lease renegotiation had resumed and the matter was still pending.
Treloan Lane Update – Cllr Iddison said that the Car Parks Committee would report at the June meeting regarding suggested groundworks.
051416
FOOTPATHS MAINTENANCE
The clerk reported that there was only one tender still interested in the contract. Mr Tom Symons had the necessary certificates but was unsure of how to charge, as he normally charged by the hour and footpath work is normally paid by the metre. He was willing to do all the first series of cuts to see how the remuneration worked out. Cllr Morse proposed (seconded by Cllr Hatwood) that a conditional contract be awarded, continuation of which after the first cuts to be subject to both parties being satisfied. This was agreed unanimously. Action clerk
051417
PORTSCATHO PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
Cllr Taffinder reported she now had a full engrossed lease from Cornwall Council but examination showed an error on the site plan and it was still unclear whether the PC had permission to sublet.
Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Hatwood) that Cllr Taffinder be given authority to sign the lease subject to satisfactory resolution of these points. This was carried unanimously.
Cllr German said one tender had been received to run part of the building as a beach café, and outlined the terms of that applicant’s proposal.
Cllr Greenslade questioned whether sufficient steps had been taken to advertise the opportunity, and Cllr Hatwood said it had been advertised for a month on Roseland Online, and that two other potential local applicants had shown interest but decided not to tender. Cllr Taffinder proposed (seconded by Cllr Iddison) that no further advertising was necessary. On a vote, Cllr Greenslade asked for his “no” vote to be recorded, Cllr Symons abstained, and the remaining nine Councillors voted to support the proposal.
It was agreed to hold an extraordinary meeting of the PC on Thursday 15th May at 7.45pm in the Fishermen’s Shelter to discuss the merits and details of the existing tender and any others that might be received before that time, and to consider the delegation of authority to the Toilets Committee to make decisions on behalf of the PC in this matter in the interests of expedience. Action clerk to arrange
051418
FINANCIAL MATTERS
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices tabled on the attached schedule in the total sum of £3.988.13 (including VAT of £143.65) be paid. A schedule of these payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th April 2014 was £54,406.12
STATUS TO BUDGET
All payments were within budget as adjusted by minuted Council decisions.
051419
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
Cllr Meek asked CC J German whether there were any implications for the PC which would result from the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and whether it would have any effect on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. CC German said Cornwall Council was looking at this and that correspondence with Parish Councils would follow in due course.
Cllr Symons enquired of CC German what were the criteria for the filling of pot holes. CC German said it depended on their depth or the significance of their position. Cllr Symons expressed his dissatisfaction with the quality of recent repairs to pot holes on Trewince Avenue.
Cllr Hetherington said he would be attending the next meeting of the Truro and Roseland Community Network Panel to be held on Tuesday 20th May and would report at the June PC meeting.
Cllr Taffinder raised the matter of a faulty railing near the Post Office and Cllr Morse mentioned that an area of raised pavement by Stodden Steps was uneven and dangerous. CC German said he would investigate both issues.
Cllr Iddison said he had a report of another burst tyre at the raised kerb at Gerrans Church.
CC Case said the new parking restriction at Tregassick Road was being widely ignored.
The meeting closed at 9.45 pm