Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 4th August 2015
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 1st September 2015 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Cllrs Case, Edwards, German, Greenslade, Hatwood, Hetherington, Iddison, Meek, Morse,
Taffinder ( Chairman); CC J German, S Skull (Clerk)
4 members of the public attended.
081501
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
The Chairman read out a statement in respect of the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 reminding those in attendance and participating in the meeting that they were liable to be filmed, recorded, photographed or otherwise recorded.
081502
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None
081503
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
None
081504
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr John Adams, Vice Chairman of the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan (RNDP) Steering Group (SG), reported on a successful meeting between the SG and Mr Rob Lacey of Cornwall Council (CC) at which it was confirmed that if the RNDP is adopted, CC ill appoint two dedicated planning officers with knowledge of the RNDP to deal with Roseland applications. Also at the meeting, a Government initiative to identify brownfield sites for development was discussed, and the SG was interested in pursuing this on the Roseland. Mr Adams also reported that a previous Government policy that developments of less than four dwellings need no affordable element had now been reversed, so the policies of the RNDP regarding affordable housing would still have weight. He said the overall feeling at the meeting was very positive.
CC Julian German suggested that, as CC’s proposed “paperless planning” initiative and the outcome of the RNDP referendum would affect all the parishes on the Roseland, it would be beneficial to arrange a cluster meeting to consider both issues. Cllr Taffinder suggested Gerrans PC could host such a meeting and the clerk was asked to begin arrangements for a meeting in September. Action clerk
081505
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meeting held on 7th July 2015 as being a true record. The Chairman signed the minutes.
081506
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING
The clerk reported:
- He had attended the meeting of Tregony Parish Council at which Mr Ken Polmounter was speaking about parking enforcement. It had emerged from the meeting that travel time to and from Truro charged by the CEO’s would be apportioned between the parishes using their services.
- A preliminary stock of seagull-proof bags had now been delivered, and he would again advertise their availability in the Roseland Magazine.
- Cory Environmental had agreed to empty the dog waste bins on Fridays during August, in addition to the Wednesday and Sunday collections already made.
081507
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
- Notification from Cornwall Council
The Communities Policy Advisory Committee has recommended that further work be done before a decision is made on the future delivery of the library and one-stop shop service. CC German commented that the new proposed decision date will be in December.
- Notice of conclusion of audit
The PC’s external auditors, Grant Thornton UK LLP, have concluded their audit of the annual return for the year ended 31st March 2015. No matters for attention were raised. The clerk has displayed the notice as required on the Parish boards.
There was no further correspondence which would not be addressed in other items on the agenda.
081508
PLANNING MATTERS
APPLICATIONS
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA15/05422 | Conversion of disused water tank into a dwelling at Trewithian | Support |
The applicant was present at the meeting and, by invitation of the Chair, gave a brief outline of his history and intentions regarding the site. Cllr Hetherington opened the discussion by saying it was an unusual application which would divide opinion, and this proved to be the case. There was a lengthy debate during which some Councillors asserted that the proposed conversion clearly did not comply with the Roseland Plan in that the site was an “exception site” as defined by the Plan, on which any housing development should be 100{c8c3b3d140ed11cb7662417ff7b2dc686ffa9c2daf0848ac14f76e68f36d0c20} affordable, and that the PC must be consistent in applying the policies of the Plan. Other Councillors were concerned that the individual circumstances of this particular case led to a blurring of what constituted “affordable” housing on this site, and that the PC should try to be constructive in considering applications. Cllr German asserted that the proposed development would increase the property’s footprint above what was acceptable in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, that the site could be used for a commercial development under the Plan, and that the existing container on site was illegal. On a vote, 5 Councillors were in favour of supporting the application and 5 were against. The vote to support was carried by the casting vote of the Chairman.
DECISIONS
| Application | GPC comment | CC Decision |
| PA15/04240 – New dwelling at Chapel House, Well Lane | Object | Refused |
| PA14/06290 – Conversion of existing manager’s flat and erection of new manager’s accommodation at Trewince Manor | Object | Originally refused and subsequent appeal dismissed |
ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Councillors discussed what should be the proper procedure to be followed in deciding whether or not to refer to the planning authorities alleged breaches of planning conditions made, sometimes anonymously, by parishioners to parish Councillors. The clerk produced advice from Cornwall association of Local Councils on the subject.
After the discussion it was proposed by Cllr Edwards (seconded by Cllr Hetherington) that the procedure should be as follows:
- The complainant should be informed that the Parish Council is not the Statutory Authority in this matter and advised to refer any complaint either to the Planning Authority Enforcement Team or to the Ward Member of Cornwall Council.
- If the complainant still wishes the matter to be raised by the PC, then the Councillor being approached should ask for the matter to be put on the agenda for discussion at a full Council meeting.
- At that meeting, Councillors should decide whether the matter is of significance to the whole parish, and if so then a councillor should be delegated to ascertain sufficient background and details of relevant permissions for the completion of a Breach of Planning Regulations Report form. Those details should then be put before a subsequent meeting for Councillors to decide whether to instruct the clerk to file a complaint.
On a vote, 9 Councillors were in favour and Cllr German was against. Proposal carried.
PAPERLESS PLANNING
As discussed in the open period earlier in the meeting it was agreed that this issue would more usefully be discussed at a cluster meeting, and the clerk was asked to put the issue on the next month’s agenda and to inform the other Roseland parishes that Gerrans were willing to host such a meeting. Action clerk
081509
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
Cllr Hetherington had attended the July meeting of the Network Community Panel at St Erme and reported that the meeting had been addressed by the CEO of the Police and Crime Commission, who had said that the Police funding situation was worsening, and that officer numbers were likely to dip below 300, and there would be increased use of PCSO’s with members of the public increasingly being expected to provide “DIY policing”.
081510
LOCALISM
CC Julian German reported that there was still no detail available as yet about Cornwall Council’s proposed recycling initiative. The clerk was asked to put the matter on the next agenda. Action clerk
Cllr Taffinder reported that, it being holiday time, there was no update this month available as regards the proposed Multi Academy Trust on the Roseland. The clerk was asked to put the matter on the next agenda. Action clerk
081511
CHURCH CLOSE OPEN SPACE LAND
The clerk reported that the preliminary fencing work was now underway and that the contractor had also agreed to move all the piles of green and other waste into one corner of the field. A contractor would be sought to remove it all from site. The clerk also said he had received no further expressions of interest in the contract for the ongoing grounds maintenance, but would again include the matter in the monthly Roseland Magazine article.
He also reported that, in the matter of the proposed lease of the extra parcel of land on site, the agents for the Landlord were seeking advance payment of £606 including VAT to guarantee legal costs, and that the PC’s own solicitors’ costs were estimated at approx £600 including VAT. Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Greenslade) that the fees be approved. Passed unanimously.
081512
CAR PARKS
The clerk reported that he was receiving frequent updates from Cornwall Council on the requested transfer of the freeholds of New Road and Treloan Lane car parks but the matter was still ongoing.
081513
GOVERNANCE
The clerk presented the previously circulated updated versions of the PC’s Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Risk Management Assessment.
Cllr Greenslade proposed (seconded by Cllr German) that the revised Standing Orders be adopted. Carried unanimously.
Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Taffinder) that the revised Financial Regulations be adopted. Carried unanimously.
Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Taffinder) that the revised Risk Management Assessment be approved. Carried unanimously.
081514
FINANCIAL MATTERS
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 £16,700.10 (including VAT of £2,160.43) be paid. A schedule of these payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th July was £51,559.96
081515
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
Councillors discussed the future use and status of this agenda item. The clerk produced advice from Cornwall association of Local Councils on the subject, and the text of the relevant section of the National Association of Local Council’s Legal Topic Note 5. It was agreed that in future, to comply with legislation but to retain an element of flexibility, “Other Parish Matters” would fall under three separate headings:
- Any urgent business
- Matters to be included on the next agenda
- Minor items for report
Matters for the next agenda raised by Councillors were:
– The PC should consider spraying the surface of Treloan Lane car park against weeds
– The lease of Portscatho Public Conveniences block should be discussed
– Community Assets listings
– Dilapidated bench by Gerrans Church lychgate
Other matters reported by Councillors were:
– People were taking dogs into the children’s playground
– Sign on gate of playground was broken
– National Trust fingerpost and gate at Pelyn Creek were in need of repair or replacement
– Stile at Tregassick had collapsed
081516
CO-OPTION OF NEW MEMBER
There was one applicant, Mrs Valerie Neal, for the vacant seat on the Council. The clerk read out some biographical notes submitted by Mrs Neal. Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Greenslade) that Mrs Neal be co-opted onto the Council. This was unanimously agreed and Mrs Neal signed an Acceptance of Office form, which was countersigned by the clerk as witness.
The meeting closed at 9.43pm