MEVAGISSEY PARISH COUNCIL

 

Chairman’s opening remarks:

• all present were asked to stand for a few moments’ silence as a mark of respect for John Hooper, former Councillor, who had passed away since the last meeting;
• the Council extended their support to Cllr. Hrydziuszka, who has asked for 12 weeks leave from Council duties following the illness of her husband, who the Council wishes a speedy recovery.

1a.        Declarations of interest.     None.

1b.        Gift Declarations.             None.

 

2.         Police Report.  A written report had been received for the period 18 February – 16 March showing just 1 crime: a     domestic burglary in Penwarne Lane.   This appeared to be a “walk in” burglary and the PCSO had commented:

“Home security is a topic every one should take seriously and consider keeping doors and windows locked and        consideration given to locking doors when working in gardens when people entering a house can’t be seen or heard”.

 

3.         Flood Warnings – a presentation by Mr Duncan Struggles of the Environment Agency, outlining the deficiencies of the current procedures and the benefits of the proposed changes.  A copy of his slides will be forwarded to Council.

 

3.         Points from the Public.

a)  Mr Graham Nicholls spoke on Agenda Item 8a (Spa Hotel planning application). The proposed fencing may help            towards screening, but will not address the loss of privacy or the noise issue.  Also, fencing tends to blow over and          deteriorate over time; and the drawings are inaccurate in that they suggest screening by plantings which do not             actually exist.  Like many other neighbours he would be open to the compromise of a single storey building.

b)  Ms Tracy Harris spoke on the planning application for 31 Portmellon Park (see Minute 6g), pointing out that the            site already had prior consent for the proposed footprint, which had received no objections at that time; and that         setting it back by 9 feet would impact on other neighbouring properties.

c)  Mrs Pat Lee spoke about the planning application for the “old barn” on the Steep House site (see Minute 6h),     pointing out that it is in the Paddock, so any extension to it would intrude into the Paddock.  She asked for the    Council to ensure that both Steep House applications went to the Planning Committee for decision.

d)  Mr Cedric Maddox also spoke on the Steep House “old barn” application, pointing out that the Planning Officer             had said that the barn exists and can therefore be converted to serve a useful purpose, which is at odds with the established principle that the conversion of an agricultural building into a dwelling is not permitted within the             AONB.

e)  Mr Ivan Tomlin, Planning Consultant, speaking as agent for the Spa Hotel, pointed out that the applicant, in this           new application, had had to address only the reasons for losing the previous appeal, and the Council should therefore             not consider any other factors in arriving at a decision.  The proposed fencing would ensure that no neighbouring      properties would be overlooked.

 

4.         Minutes.   Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Whatty that the Minutes of 20th February be Accepted.                                                                                                  Carried.

 

5.         Actions from previous meeting:

• Cllr. Whatty had confirmed that he will participate in the Rural Broadband Opinion Panel, part of the Rural Sounding Board proposed by the Rural Services Network (February Minute 13 refers).
• The age of the projector precludes a wireless connection with the Clerk’s laptop, so Cllr. Whatty has ordered a connecting cable instead, which should arrive in time for the next meeting (February Minute 5 refers).
• Cllrs. Bunney and Whatty had met Mark Howarth from Western Greyhound and heard that a routeing of 3-4 daily buses via School Hill from June this year was going out to tender (February Minute 5 refers).
• A Notice of Intention to create a Dog Control Order was placed in the 19th March edition of the St Austell Voice (February Minute 9 refers).

 

• The Minutes for November 2013 stated that £2,150.50 had been contributed by local businesses towards the cost of keeping the Valley Road toilets open.  Not all of the promised contributions have been realised and the actual total sum raised was £1,740.50, contributed by Harbour Trading, Country Kitchen, Rising Sun Inn, Moore’s, Wild Air B&B, Model Railway, Lavender Pillow, Willow Car Park, Sunny Corner Car Park, Market Square Cafe, Nautilus, Mevagissey Post Office, Bella Mae, Portmellon Trading, Avellana Crafts.

 

6.         Planning

 

6a.        PA14/01555 : Remove existing flat roofed single storey garage/store building and erect new two storey pitched roof apartment block (4 no. units) for year-round short term holiday let apartments.  Addition of one parking bay to          complement  previously approved site parking scheme for 20 parking bays, thus raising overall parking bay             number to 21.  Spa Hotel, Polkirt, Mevagissey.

Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr.Morgan that the Council objects to this application because, although the          proposed screening is intended to address the reasons for previous refusal of this development, it would still overlook             neighbouring properties with resultant loss of amenity, loss of privacy and increased noise; and that one additional           parking space is inadequate for four new accommodation units.                                                Carried.

 

6b.        PA14/01453 : Two-storey lean-to form extension to rear of the property.  54 Cliff Street, Mevagissey.

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

 

6c.        PA14/01682 : Conversion of existing dwelling into 2 no. residential flats.  Ava House, Ava, Mevagissey.

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

 

6d.        PA14/01716 : Change of use from dwelling to guest house of 3 guest bedrooms and 1 owner’s bedroom.

5 Polkirt Hill, Mevagissey.

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

 

6e         PA14/01717 : Listed building consent for internal alteration to accommodate change of use from dwelling to a guest             house of 3 guest bedrooms and 1 owner’s bedroom.  5 Polkirt Hill, Mevagissey.

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

 

6f.         PA13/10980  :  Erection of a single storey, timber frame, rear extension, which will add a dining room on to the     existing kitchen.  17 Pentillie Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6QX        APPROVED      Noted.

 

6g.        PA14/00437 : 31 Portmellon Park (February Minute 7b refers) – Council had been asked by the Planning Case        Officer to reconsider their position on this application.  Following discussion, Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by             Cllr. Shephard that the Council now supports the application unconditionally.                           Carried.

 

6h.        Steep House developments : it was recognised that there are strong and conflicting views on the Council’s approach to the development of the Steep House site, and that, to have any influence and remain credible the Council needs to    clarify and agree its position.  Further, with the prospect of a possible decision by the Planning Officer under             delegated powers only nine days away, this is a matter of some urgency.    It was therefore agreed that a Sub-          Committee comprising the existing Site/ General purpose/ Footpath Committee, together with Cllr. Shephard, should     be appointed and an initial meeting was agreed for 25th March.

Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard, that Council withdraws its earlier conditional support for     PA14/00679 because it intrudes into the Paddock according to Land Registry ref. CL174966.    Carried.

 

7.         Finances

 

Bills to Pay	Clerk’s salary	£	644.25
	Income Tax & NIC	£	215.62
	MAC room hire 17/10/13 – 20/03/14	£	212.50
	Dog Control Order Notice in St Austell Voice	£	60.00
	TOTAL	£	1,132.37
Accounts	Amount available to spend as of last meeting	£	21,857.06
	Expenditure last month	£	859.88
	Cornwall Council costs for Judicial Review	£	4,350.00		Received
	Unpresented cheques (road salt)	£	26.40
	Balance (money in bank)	£	25,373.58
	Refunded contributions for JR legal costs	£	6,700.00		Paid
	Available to spend	£	18,647.18
	Bank Statements (01/03/2014):
	Current Account			£	347.35
	Deposit Account			£	25,026.23
	TOTAL			£	25,373.58

 

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

Carried.

Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that Clerk be authorised to spend £95 on enforcement training in relation to the Dog Control Order.                                             Carried.

 

 

8.         Consideration of the Parish Council joining the CPRE (deferred from last meeting).

Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that the Council declines the invitation.     Carried.

 

9.         Planning Sub-Committee – formation, appointments, procedures, training (deferred from last meeting).

This is ongoing, but Cllr. Shephard was appointed to join those already on the Site/ General purpose/ Footpath Committee (see Minute 6h).

 

10.        Request for donation to Cornwall County Playing Fields Association (CCPFA).

Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded Cllr. Shephard that the Council maintains its policy of contributing only to Mevagissey-based causes.                                                                   Carried.

 

11.        Priorities for improvements to road signs – Cllr. Bunney.       The various ongoing requests for action on issues with individual road signs are more likely to be taken seriously by C.C. if a prioritised list is presented to them.

Councillors were asked to consider this and present proposals at the next meeting.

Cllr. Facey informed Council that he has taken the village sign at the Tregiskey Crossroads to Wadebridge for renovation (November Minute 14 refers), but that the work required would now be £30 – £40 more than the original quote, and that a sign company would have to be engaged to refix it because the existing fixings were beyond repair.

 

12.        Purchase of road signs for traffic management at community events – Cllr. Roberts

Cllr. Bunney has approached the Highways Area Manager to consider “donating” a couple of signs to be administered by the Parish Council.  Await the outcome of this approach before considering further action.

 

13.        Consultation on draft transparency code for parish councils.

Clerk was actioned to respond to this on behalf of Council.

 

14.        NPPF Open Spaces Policy – Cllr. Roberts.  Clerk was actioned to send copy of the Policy to all Councillors.

 

15.        New NALC Finance Briefings and Draft Financial Regulations – Cllr. Roberts

Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan that the Council adopts the new Regulations.

Carried.

 

16.        School Hill development  –  update.  Nothing to report.

 

17.        Chairman’s remarks:

• Cllr. Chesterfield had reported that the steps from Pentillie to Cliff Street were slippery and that the handrail was broken.  Cllr. Bunney to progress.
• The licence application for Pebbles had been granted by the Judge.
• Interested applicants for the Councillor vacancy should contact the Clerk.

 

 

21.        The meeting concluded at 21:40.                Date of next meeting  :  17th April 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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