Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 5th September 2017
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 3rd October 2017 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Cllrs Richard Cochrane (RC), Ralph German (RG), Helen Hastings (HH), James Hetherington (JH), Nev Meek (NM), Val Neal (VN), Charlotte Taffinder (CT) ( Chairman); S Skull (Clerk), CC Julian German (JG)
1 member of the public attended.
091701
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
– Cllr Bax
091702
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
-NM declared a non registerable interest in PA17/06615, to be discussed in item 7 on the agenda.
091703
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
– No contributions.
091704
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 1st August 2017 as being a true record. The Chairman signed the minutes.
091705
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – ITEMS FOR REPORT / DISCUSSION
The clerk reported:
- The street cleaning contractor had been back to work in the previous month after family health problems previously. The situation had not been helped by the fact that there had been no work done in the first five months of the year, and the weedspraying contractor had not fulfilled his contract without giving notice. It was agreed that the current contractor be permitted at least to finish the initial six month probationary period of his contract, and the situation would be kept under review. In the meantime a meeting of the Village Tidiness Committee would be arranged to discuss the whole issue of managing the Parish environment, particularly at holiday times.
- He had received an acknowledgement from Bob Egerton, Cornwall Council (CC) Cabinet member for Planning and Economy, and further response from a Development Support Officer, to the PC’s letter of 31st July concerning the five working day response protocol where CC is minded to disagree with the PC over a planning application. The emails had been previously circulated, and members agreed that they contained no new information, and that there was no point in pursuing the matter further.
091706
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
- Email from Mr Colin Knight
Mr Knight had copied the PC in on a letter he sent to the St Gerrans and Portscatho Old Cornwall Society regarding the condition of the heritage stile approximately four hundred yards south of Pencabe on the coastal path. Members noted that, although the PC did cut the footpath as agents for CC at that location, its upkeep was the responsibility of the landowner, so the PC could not directly intervene.
- ROSELAND CHARACTER GUIDE
JG had forwarded this document, produced for the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group, which is designed to be used by CC and the Roseland Parish Councils as guidance in determining planning applications. It was agreed to make the document an item for discussion on the October agenda. Action clerk
There was no further correspondence which would not be addressed in other items on the agenda.
091707
PLANNING MATTERS
(a) Applications
The PC had received 3 new applications. These are outlined below and comments are noted in the Planning Register.
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA17/066909 | Demolition of storage building and construction of new dwelling
Adj Chapel House, Well Lane |
Majority object. 8 object, 2 abstentions. New development in countryside contrary to RNDP policy GP3. |
| PA17/06615 | Infill over existing flat roof to create 2 additional residential suites at Eshcol House | Majority object. 8 object, 1 abstention. Contrary to RNDP policies GP2, CV1, CV3 and CD1. |
| PA17/07454 | Removal of S106 agreement re PA10/2686/03/B Tregaire Barton Farm. | Unanimous object. Not sufficiently explained. Justification not adequately demonstrated. |
(NM left the room during discussion of PA17/06615)
(b) Decisions
| Application | GPC comment | CC Decision |
| PA17/05721 re Rockpool, Churchtown Road | Support | Approved |
| PA17/05321 re Downalong, North Parade | Support | Approved |
(c) Enforcement matters
No current cases to report.
(d) Representation to Sarah Newton MP
HH, JH and JG agreed to contribute to a draft representation to be sent to Mrs Newton on the subject of recent decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate. The clerk was asked to make this an agenda item at the October meeting. Action clerk
091708
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
– None this month
091709
LOCALISM
– The PC’s formal response to the Local Government Boundary Review consultation.
The clerk said he had submitted the PC’s response and it had been acknowledged.
Other localism issues
– None
091710
PERCUIL PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
Councillors considered the condition of the roof of the toilet block and agreed it needed replacing. The clerk was asked to seek quotes for the necessary work. Action clerk
091711
CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND
The clerk produced a quote from South West Play to effect safety repairs to play equipment deemed necessary by this year’s RoSPA inspection. RG proposed (seconded RI) the quote of £1,153.83 plus VAT be accepted and this was agreed unanimously. Action clerk
091712
CLOTHING BANK
Councillors considered a request from a breast cancer charity based in Cornwall, Bosom Buddies UK, to provide a site for a clothing bank in the Parish. RG proposed (seconded CT) the charity be offered space at Treloan Lane car park, free of charge, on the understanding that all the care and maintenance of the bank would be the responsibility of the charity. This was agreed unanimously. Action clerk
091713
FINANCIAL MATTERS
AUDIT
The clerk reported he had received and published online the Notification of the Conclusion of Audit of the Annual Return for y/e 31st March 2017 from the PC’s external auditors.
CLERK’S REPORT
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.
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices totalling £7,456.16 (including VAT of £403.33) be paid. A schedule of all the payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th July was £60,766.81.
091713
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
- Any urgent business
– None
- Matters to be included on the next agenda
– None other than as minuted above
- Minor items for report
– HH asked as to progress with the new mobile mast at Roseland Squash Club. The clerk said he would make enquiries. Action clerk
– RC said he would circulate information about CC’s Environmental Growth Strategy.
– CT said that information about access to foodbanks was available from the Rev Gill Edwards. The clerk said he would refer to this in the next PC article for the Roseland magazine. Action clerk
– RG said the Harris Baker Charity was also a resource for local people in need.
The meeting closed at 8.48 pm