Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 6th August 2013
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 3rd September at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe

Present:
Cllrs Case, Fletcher, German, Greenslade, Hatwood, Iddison, Morse, Symons,
Taffinder ( Chairman); S Skull (Clerk)
5 members of the public attended.

081301
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

– Cllrs Davis (holiday), Emmett (harvest); CC J German

081302
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
– Cllr Iddison declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 4 in “Correspondence” (item 6 on the agenda) as his firm is the managing agent for the owner of 8 Victoria Terrace

081303
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There were no contributions from the floor.

081304
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 2nd July 2013 as being a true record subject to the amendment of the wording of minute ref 071318 to reflect more accurately what was said. The Chairman signed the corrected minutes.

081305
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – ITEMS FOR REPORT/DISCUSSION.

There were no further comments on the minutes, as all matters arising would be covered elsewhere on the agenda.

081306
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
The correspondence not covered elsewhere in the agenda was reviewed and actions determined.

1. Funding request from Hub radio
The clerk was asked to reply that the PC is not empowered to make donations to charitable organisations. It is rather for individual parishioners to make such donations as they see fit. Action clerk

2. Funding request from the Jubilee Sailing Trust
The clerk was asked to reply as for item 1. Action clerk

3. Request to site a memorial bench on the Lugger
After discussion, and having noted an emailed comment from the absent Cllr Davis that in his opinion The Lugger should be available for this purpose only to long-time actual residents of the Parish, Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Iddison) that this particular request be approved, and this was unanimously agreed by all Councillors present. Action clerk to write

4. Binstore at No 8 The Lugger (Victoria House)
(Cllr Iddison left the room during the consideration of this item)

An email from the owner of Victoria House stated that it was his understanding that the external binstore in question is in fact on his own property, and that in his opinion the structure is in keeping with the rest of the property and is not an eyesore, or inappropriate to its use.

After discussion, and circulation of a Land Registry search which Councillors agreed appeared to show that the structure did indeed encroach upon the public right of way, the clerk was asked to reply to the property owner to say the PC would appreciate it if the binstore was removed or sited within the boundaries of the property. It was further stated that there was public concern that a precedent could be set if the structure were allowed to remain, and that the property’s managing agents already arranged for rubbish and recycling to be put out at the appropriate times. Action clerk

The clerk was also asked to ascertain which was the relevant department at Cornwall Council should a complaint become necessary. Action clerk

081307
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
Cllr German had attended the cluster meeting at the St Just Institute on 11th July, where a major subject of discussion was the potential provision of affordable local housing.

081308
OPEN SPACE NEGOTIATIONS
The clerk reported that he was advised by Richard Sharp (Solicitor) that a Land Registry search could not identify any owner of the lane giving access to the open space land below the Churchyard. Smiths Gore, managing agents for the landowner, Enys estate, had previously confirmed the lane was not owned by them, and not subject to the S106 agreement.

A draft lease had not yet been received from Enys, and Cllr Fletcher said he would take the matter up with them.

081309
ROSELAND NDP
Jon Smith, Chairman of the Steering Group, reported that the Group had made considerable progress over the last month. A sub-committee had been set up to deal with administration issues and governance. He cited various publicity initiatives which had been started and confirmed that the grant application for £7,000 had been accepted and awarded, and that the Group was in the final stages of applying for consultancy support, which will enable them to begin fully consulting with the community to establish what they want to see in the Roseland Plan.
Cllr Taffinder thanked Mr Smith for his report.

081310
PARKING AT ROSEVINE / PORTHCURNICK
The clerk read out a summary report of a site meeting held on 31st July attended by a local resident and representatives of the PC, The National Trust, St Mawes Fire Service and The Hidden Hut.
A discussion followed after which Cllr Greenslade proposed (seconded Cllr Case) that no yellow lines should be added in the area, and this was unanimously agreed.
Cllr Symons proposed (seconded Cllr German) that the clerk be asked to write to The National Trust to express the PC’s dissatisfaction with their stance over parking provision at Porthcurnick and to request a formal meeting to discuss alternative arrangements. This was unanimously agreed. Action clerk.
The clerk was further asked to contact the farmer responsible for maintaining the roadside bushes to request that the brambles be cut back as far as possible to enable visitors to park closer in. Action clerk

081311
FOOTBALL FIELD
The clerk read out a summary report of a site meeting held on 8th July at which the agent of the landlord, Tregothnan Estate, confirmed there would be no financial penalty should the PC surrender its lease, that the Estate’s purpose in leasing the land to the PC was to make land available to the community, and any new sub-lease by the PC would have to be for a non-profit making organisation providing activities which can be shown to be for the benefit of the community as a whole.

The clerk confirmed that articles explaining this had been published in the Roseland Magazine and Roseland online and to date no suggestions had been received.

The Council agreed to wait a further month before coming to a final decision on surrendering the lease.

Cllr German reported that the secretary of Gerrans AFC had indicated to him that the Club was now willing to pay the back rent owed. The clerk was asked to send a summary invoice. Action clerk

081312
PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
A reply from Cornwall Council to the PC’s dissatisfaction with clause 11.5 of the lease which, in the event of the conveniences being closed to the public for more than three financial years, allows the Landlord to require the Tenant to bring them back into use at twelve months’ notice, was considered. Cllr Fletcher was of the opinion that the response was reassuring, and if kept alongside the lease would give sufficient protection.
Cllr German proposed (seconded Cllr Taffinder) that the PC was satisfied with the terms of the lease subject to determination and agreement of the financial implications. Carried unanimously.

The clerk was asked to make the discussion of future funding options an agenda item for the next meeting. Action clerk

081313
PLANNING MATTERS

APPLICATIONS
The PC had received 3 applications. These are outlined below and the PC’s comments were subsequently lodged under “Consultee Comments” in the Online Planning Register.

DECISIONS AND ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Nothing to report

081314
FINANCIAL MATTERS

ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices in the total sum of £5,682.29 (including VAT of £357.49) be paid. A schedule of these payments is available from the clerk.

BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th July 2013 was £67,967.71

STATUS TO BUDGET
All payments were within budget.

081315
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
Cllr Case reported private overgrown hedges at Treventon Close encroaching on the footpath. The clerk was asked to keep the matter under review and consider leafleting problem properties. Cllr Hatwood said he would give the matter publicity on Roseland Online.

The clerk reported that Devon and Cornwall Housing had informed him that they were aware of the tenancy swap at Gwarak Gwel An Mor, which was within the rules defining tenants’ qualifications as “local” because the people moving in were already living in Cornwall.

Cllr German stated he had received complaints about overflowing waste bins following the Portscatho Fish Festival. Cllr Hatwood said the organisers had informed him their contractors had let them down, and this would not happen in future.

Cllr German reported a problem with ragwort in the parish – specifically by Stodden Steps – and it was the PC’s responsibility to arrange for its removal. Cllr Taffinder said it is the responsibility of the landowner where private land is involved.

Cllr German reported rust on the playground slide. Cllr Taffinder said she would investigate.

Cllr Iddison had received emails from residents of Gerrans Hill about people parking close to the “T” junction half way down the hill, making it dangerous to exit onto the main hill. The clerk was asked to make this an agenda item next meeting. Action clerk

Cllr Iddison had also received complaints about the raised pavement outside the church, citing several injuries to pedestrians and incidences of vehicle damage. The clerk was asked to contact CC Julian German in the first instance and to make this an agenda item next meeting. Action clerk

The meeting closed at 9.25 pm