Konsel Pluw Erens
Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 4th February 2020 at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 3rd March 2020 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Charlotte Taffinder (Chairman) (CT), Richard Cochrane (RC), John Crombie (JC), Ralph German (RG), Will Gill (WG), Kate Greet (KG), Helen Hastings (HH), Joanna Holah (JH), Nev Meek (NM), Val Neal (VN);
Steve Skull (Clerk), CC Julian German (JG).
Six members of the public attended.
022001
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr Mary Watson
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE ABSENCES
Proposed CT, seconded HH. Agreed unanimously.
022002
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
-None
022003
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
JG said that CC’s Highways Agency were considering offering the PC a contract for footpath cutting at Eshcol Lane, following complaints of unsatisfactory upkeep by CC to date. The clerk said he had not so far been contacted.
Mr Malcolm Tozer enquired whether the PC had any preference in mind as to what manner of commercial use should be encouraged at the old Post Office at 2, The Quay now that it had come on the market again. NM pointed out that the PC could not express any preference in advance of any eventual application because of the rules concerning predetermination.
022004
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The Council unanimously accepted the draft minutes of the PC meeting held on Tuesday 7th January 2020 as being a true record, subject to one correction. CT signed the corrected minutes.
022005
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING
The clerk reported:
– he had still seen no notification of a consultation on a proposed Harbour Revision Order for the port of Falmouth. JG confirmed the HRO had not yet been issued.
– Mr Paddy Case had completed the repainting of the “White Stone” at the bottom of Gerrans Hill. Members passed a vote of thanks to Mr Case.
– he had printed signing copies of the agreement with the Gerrans Parish Memorial Hall Committee regarding the use of the power supply at Gerrans Green. CT signed the agreements, which were passed to NM for countersigning by the Committee.
– NM reported he had discussed the matter of the top end of the Nelyas footpath with the farmer concerned. The obliteration of the path had been an unavoidable farming issue, but the field would be put back to grass and the path re-established.
022006
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
– Cornwall Council: Notice of appeal decision.
Appeal ref: APP/D0840/W/19/3238165 re Land West of Chapel House, TR2 5EG (re application ref
PA19/01418). Decision: The appeal against refusal is dismissed.
– There was no other correspondence to report which was not covered by items on the agenda.
022007
PLANNING MATTERS
(a) APPLICATIONS
The PC considered 2 new applications. These are outlined below and detailed comments are noted on the Cornwall Council planning website.
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA19/10267 | 2 storey flank extension and porch
Pink Cottage, St Anthony (as now amended). |
Unanimous object |
| PA20/00448 | Extension and alterations to Unit 3 (holiday cottage)
Holiday units, Higher Rosevine Farm, Ropsevine. |
Majority support:
8 support, 2 object |
(b) DECISIONS AND ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
– Nothing to report
(c) CONSULTATION RESPONSES
Members discussed two draft documents issued by Cornwall Council’s Planning Policy Team:
– Draft Cornwall Design Guide
– Draft Cornwall Streetscape Design Guide
KG gave a summary of what is proposed in the documents, commenting that much of the content related to larger developments rarely seen on the Roseland. The documents included a kind of template for design and access statements. After discussion, members were generally supportive of the intentions of the documents but thought more emphasis should have been given to environmental considerations. KG was asked to draft a PC response for circulation prior to submission. Action KG and clerk to liaise.
(d) OTHER PLANNING MATTERS FOR REPORT ONLY
Mr Adrian Derx and Mr Danny Brightman addressed the meeting by invitation of the chair. Mr Derx is the owner of Knightor Vineyard, on the site of which a “pop up” catering and wedding venue facility has been operated in the summer. He said he had been informed by Cornwall Council (CC) that planning permission for change of use was necessary if this operation was to continue, and that he had put submitted a pre-application enquiry to CC and hoped to gain the support of the Parish Council (PC). He gave a history of his trading experience both as it applied to this site and similar operations elsewhere.
There was a discussion and questions and answers but members felt that as the pre-application enquiry was not a public one they could not support or otherwise because it was not known exactly what was intended going forward. When an actual application was submitted they would be better placed.
Mr and Mrs Frankland, who live next to the site, were present, and Mr Frankland spoke in opposition to Mr Derx. He said he was surprised a drinks licence had been granted when there was no permission for this operation, and objected to the fact that in his opinion Mr Derx had simply continued trade in defiance of CC.
022008
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
CT reported on a meeting of the Finance Committee held on 29th January. The clerk read out the minutes of that meeting. At that meeting the Committee had resolved to recommend to Council that the draft budget for 2020-2021, as prepared by the clerk and previously circulated amongst members, be approved. WG proposed (seconded NM) the approval of the budget as drafted. This was agreed by a majority of 9 to 1, with RG voting against. The budget included the following revised charging structure for the Pay and Display machine at New Road car park – to be effective from 1st May 2020. This represents the first change in 5 years.
9.00am – 6.00 pm
Up to 1 hour – £1.00
2-3 hours – £3.00
All day to 6.00 pm – £4.00
6.00 pm – 9.00 am – £1.00
The charge for residents’ and visitors’ permits will remain unchanged.
In other reports, NM said Mr Andy Mullins was the new Chair of the Memorial Hall Committee, the skylights had been replaced at the Heritage Centre, and proposals for re-roofing the surgery were being considered.
NM had also attended the latest Community Network Panel meeting on behalf of the PC, at which a presentation on vulnerable communities in isolated areas was given.
WG reported on the AGM of Percuil River Moorings Ltd and also said he had been appointed as Neighbourhood Watch Officer for the Parish.
022009
LOCALISM
(a) Proposed HRO for the port of Falmouth
(See “Matter arising” in Minute 022005 above).
(b) BT telephone box at Rosevine
Members decided unanimously to apply to take over the ownership of the kiosk after BT had removed the telephone connection, and also to take on responsibility for the electricity supply. (Proposed CT, seconded KG). Action clerk
(c) Footpath lighting
Various ideas were suggested for providing lighting at the path between Churchtown Road and California Gardens, but the question of whether lighting was actually necessary at this location was also raised. RG recalled that ex Councillor Ricky Iddison had done some research previously and said he would liaise and report back next month.
(d) Nelyas Ope
A quote of £144.00 plus VAT for a new footpath name plate was considered and accepted. (Proposed RG, seconded WG. Unanimous. Action clerk
022010
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
RC reported on the latest meeting of REACT.
He said there was good progress with the Veryan School trees initiative and an offer of many varied saplings had been received from a local donor. Portscatho Stores were moving from plastic to glass milk bottles. There was discussion with St Just PC about collaborating in the provision of charging points for electric vehicles. He also said REACT would be hosting an Energy Day in the summer.
JG reported he was still waiting for details of CC’s plan to withdraw the recycling banks in Treloan Lane car park. When the scheme comes into force it will be for Parish Councils to decide whether or not to provide that facility at their own cost.
022011
CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND
CT said it would be more useful to meet and decide on the proposed improvements once the preliminary groundworks were completed. The works had been delayed due to the wet conditions and contractor availability. The clerk was asked to try to source a new contractor. Action clerk
022012
FINANCIAL MATTERS
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
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.
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices totalling £2,977.22 (including VAT of £96.25) be paid. A schedule of all the payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th January was £60,246.43.
022013
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
- Any urgent business
– None
- Matters to be included on the next agenda (not heretofore minuted)
– Election of representative to the Martin Baker Harris charity.
- Minor items for report
– NM reported there would be a scrub clearance event at Dingerein on 26th February, and also that the PC needed to decide its future position regarding the Laura Gates charity.
The meeting closed at 9.15 pm