Mevagissey Parish Council Minutes – August 2017

MEVAGISSEY PARISH COUNCIL

www.mevagisseypcc.co.uk

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Mevagissey Activity Centre

On Thursday 17 August 2017 at 7pm.

 

Present Cllrs. M Roberts (Chairman), Julian Barron, T Barron, J Blackmore, J Daniel, J Morgan, K Robinson, G Shephard, J Whatty.

 

In Attendance      Cllr. J Mustoe (Cornwall Council [CC] Ward Member), Jo Harley and Mike Jeffs of Gilbert & Goode Construction, P Howson (Clerk), 21 members of the public.

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UNRATIFIED UNLESS SIGNED

 

  1. Apologies were received from Cllrs. D Speed, N Florence, M Facey and Jade Barron.

Cllrs. Julian Barron and T Barron announced that they would have to leave the meeting at 8.30pm.

 

  1. Cllr. Robinson declared an interest in agenda items 10b and 10c.

 

  1. It was noted that no Police Report had been received for the period.

 

  1. Mike Jeffs and Jo Harley of Gilbert & Goode Construction presented their initial proposal for phase three of the Vicarage Hill affordable housing development, comprising 31 units with 30{c8c3b3d140ed11cb7662417ff7b2dc686ffa9c2daf0848ac14f76e68f36d0c20} open market and 70{c8c3b3d140ed11cb7662417ff7b2dc686ffa9c2daf0848ac14f76e68f36d0c20} affordable rent or shared ownership; and explained the various technical and financial aspects of the proposal. They took questions from Councillors and members of the public, most of whom were concerned only about any proposals in the pipeline for the alternative site on Tregoney Hill, for which it was made clear that there were no current plans, and that any future proposal there would be on a much-reduced scale from what had been previously proposed. The Pre-Application for the Vicarage Hill site is now awaited, and Mr Jeffs and Ms Harley agreed to address the Council again at that time.

 

  1. Mr Steve Halstead, with reference to agenda item 15, wondered why Gilbert & Goode Construction had previously told him that the Tregoney Hill affordable housing site was being progressed first because it had received the support of the Council.   The Chairman explained how all the possible exception sites had been shortlisted, but made clear that the Council had not expressed a preference for any of them.

Mr Roger Alford spoke on agenda item 19, asking whether Tregoney Hill / Kestle Road could be made a ‘quiet lane’ (ie 20mph limit) to reduce the danger to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders from speeding traffic, particularly farm vehicles. Ms Lorraine Bundy, on the same item, asked for a reduced speed limit at the bottom of Tregoney Hill.

 

  1. Following a correction identified by Cllr. Blackmore (replacement of ‘June’ with ‘July’ in minute 6), Proposed by Cllr. Blackmore, Seconded by Cllr. Robinson that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 July be accepted. Carried.

 

  1. The Clerk reported that:
  • The annual audit of the 2016/17 accounts by Grant Thornton was completed to their satisfaction;
  • Update on ‘untidy sites’: EN14/02115 (11 Polkirt Hill) – The appointed builder asked for and received clarification of the requirements of the outstanding pre-condition (mortar specifications, etc);
  • He arranged for Cormac to cut the link between the coast path and Portgiskey beach, and this has now been added to their cutting schedule for future years;
  • The new 600x900mm dog ban sign has been delivered and should be installed at the Portmellon slipway in the next day or so.
  • Bodrugan Hill will be closed at St Meva for water utility works between 14-21 November, subject to Highways approval. The work will be out-of-hours (5-11pm) and is expected to complete within 3 days. In the event of easterly gales at Portmellon, local traffic will be granted passage.

 

  1. The Ward Member reported that:
  • He met with Superintendent Ian Drummond-Smith to discuss challenges facing rural policing;
  • The Community Action Group has cut back shrubs in River Street Car Park;
  • He attended a meeting with Cllr Nathan and CC officers to discuss improvements to recycling;
  • He has today attending a meeting with Ocean Housing to discuss various issues around the village;
  • He reported to South West Water a burst pipe on Church Street, which was immediately fixed;
  • He has reported a rat infestation at Tall Trees to CC.

 

  1. No Correspondence had been received.

 

  1. To consider Planning and Licensing Applications.    To open, the Chairman reported on the meeting of the Planning Partnership earlier today. Noting that this Council had not adopted the Pre-planning Protocol because it was too bureaucratic and prescriptive, the Partnership now agreed with this view and are rewriting the Protocol which will be issued as informal guidance with no requirement for local councils to formally adopt it. The approach currently taken by this Council is entirely in line with the proposed guidance. The Partnership is also pushing for more dialogue between Planners and local councils and encouraging developers to engage at the pre-application stage.

 

10a.      PA17/04546 : Loft conversion to bedroom incorporating dormer windows and replacement lean-to at ground floor level Garden restructuring including new steps position (amended plans). Seafarers Watch 4 Coastguard Station Mall Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6QP

Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Whatty that the Council supports the application.             Carried.

 

10b.      PA17/01137 : Replace Existing Garage With New Self Contained Annex (amended plans). Pondokie School Hill Mevagissey PL26 6TH.         Cllr. Robinson withdrew for this and the following item, having declared an interest.   (Cllrs. J Barron and T Barron also left the meeting at this point).

Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel that the Council supports the application, conditional on mature evergreen planting being in place along the full length of the northeast boundary.                             Carried.

 

10c.      PA17/07009 : To erect a new conservatory to the property. Valley Side Valley Road Mevagissey Cornwall PL26 6SB

Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Whatty that the Council supports the application.             Carried.

 

10d.      The following planning applications have been Approved (included for information only):

 

PA17/05566 : Proposed extension and associated works. Fair View, Trevarth.

PA17/04919 : Proposed conservatory with raised deck. Cladding to rear top elevation. 26 Kiln Close.

PA17/06020 : Proposed demolition of garage and construction of extension. Tanglewood, Leatfield.

 

10e.      The following Planning Enforcement case has been notified (included for information only):

EN17/01544 : Alleged breach of condition 3 on appeal decision APP/D0840/W/15/3139301 of planning    application PA15/03079 – Non installation of wall between footway and garden areas. Land North Of Moonfleet   School Hill Mevagissey Cornwall.

 

  1. To approve the monthly finances.

 

Bills to Pay Salaries £ 648.34
HMRC (Income Tax & NIC) £ 206.16
Postage and envelopes £ 11.93
Dog ban signage £ 60.00 (paid)
West Wharf PC hygiene services (air freshener) £ 11.69
Valley Rd. PC water charge 04/07/17 – 01/08/17 £ 619.95
West Wharf PC water charge 04/07/17 – 01/08/17 £ 521.33
Valley Rd. PC hygiene services 29/09/17 – 28/12/17 £ 186.00
West Wharf PC hygiene services 08/09/17 – 07/12/17 £ 253.50
Operate West Wharf PC 01/08/17-31/08/17 £ 1,483.38
Fixings for dog ban sign £ 24.00
TOTAL £ 4,026.28
Accounts Amount available to spend as of last meeting £ 60,374.21
Expenditure last month £ 4,937.41
West Wharf PC entry charges £ 1,253.00 Received
Unpresented cheques £ 306.28
Balance (money in bank) £ 56,996.08
Available to spend £ 56,689.80
Bank Statements (01/08/2017):
Current Account £ 2,219.97
Deposit Account £ 54,776.11
TOTAL £ 56,996.08

 

The addition of the cost of sign fixings, not on the agenda, was noted.

Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan that the accounts be accepted and the bills paid.   Carried.

 

(Cllr. Whatty left the meeting at this point).

 

  1. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel that the revised version of the Financial Regulations be adopted.                                                             Carried.

 

  1. Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan that the new Safeguarding Policy be adopted. Carried.

 

  1. Cllr. Shephard reported that he had forwarded electronic copies of all files and documentation accumulated during the development of the Neighbourhood Development Plan to Cllrs. Roberts and Whatty for safekeeping.

 

  1. The Council discussed the requirement to provide affordable housing within the parish and the issues this raises, including the way it allows unwanted development outside of the existing envelope; and Cllr. Shephard put these issues within the context of planning law, including the Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan that the Council should seek a meeting with Rebecca Jacobs of Cornwall Homechoice to clarify the issues around the pricing of affordable homes.                                   Carried.

Cllrs. Shephard and Mustoe will co-ordinate this task.

 

  1. In the absence of Cllr. Facey, Cllr. Morgan reported that the main issue with the public toilets this month had been the degree of vandalism, particularly at the West Wharf facility; but that Mr Gary Farr had done an excellent job in maintaining service, despite receiving verbal abuse from some users. It was agreed that an operational review would be carried out at the October meeting.

 

  1. The Chairman reported that there was no update on negotiations with Lloyds Bank and asked for the item to be removed from the agenda until further notice.

 

  1. The Chairman reported that the Merchant Navy Day ceremony would take place by the aquarium at 12 noon on Friday 1st September, with an address by Hugh Bowles, the ex-harbourmaster. All would be welcome.

 

  1. Cllr. Blackmore highlighted the danger from speeding traffic and yellow-line parking on Tregoney Hill and asked whether a 20mph speed limit and traffic calming measures could be introduced. Following discussion, Cllr. Mustoe offered to investigate the possible provision of radar-operated speed signs.

 

  1. The meeting ended at 9.45pm. Date of next meeting: 21 September 2017.

 

Signed ……………………………………………………………………………..         Dated ………………………………

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