Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Annual Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 3rd June 2014
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 1st July at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Cllrs Case, German, Greenslade, Hatwood, Hetherington, Iddison, Meek, Morse, Symons,
Taffinder ( Chairman); S Skull (Clerk)
3 members of the public attended.
061401
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
CC J German
061402
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Cllr Taffinder declared a non registerable interest in planning application ref PA14/04221 ( to be discussed in item 8 on the agenda) because of friendship with the applicant.
061403
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Simone Kennett, representing the Roseland Surgeries Patients Group (RSPG), confirmed that locations had been agreed for 4 defibrillators in the Parish, but a site had yet to be decided for the 5th unit at Gerrans Village. A number of locations were suggested but a final decision was deferred pending further research.
Mrs Kennett also requested on behalf of the RSPG that a part of the village green be allocated for 2 boules pitches. Councillors were not in favour of this but Cllr Hatwood suggested that the area in front of the squash club would be ideal for the purpose. Mrs Kennett said she would make enquiries.
Jon Smith, chairman of the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group, reported that positive feedback on the Consultation Draft had been received from 5 chartered planners, and the Plan was now into version 17. There followed a discussion on the identification of local housing need, and Cllr Hetherington concluded that the community would support infill but not the extension of village boundaries.
061404
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETINGS
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meetings held on Tuesday 6th May and Thursday 15th May 2014 as being true records subject to 1 correction in each set of minutes. The Chairman signed the corrected minutes.
061405
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING
Football field
The clerk reported, and Cllrs Iddison and Symons confirmed, that the problem of drug taking in the shed had been resolved with the help of police intervention and the shed had now been secured.
061406
CHANGES TO PRECEDENT
Standing Orders
The Council considered the current standing orders adopted 4th June 2013 and decided to make no changes.
Financial Regulations
The clerk suggested that in the interests of expedience, the Council be authorised by the Regulations to award contracts expected to cost £2,500 or less without the need to obtain three quotes. Cllr German suggested there was a legal threshold of £1,000. The clerk was asked to confirm the legal position at the next meeting.
Cllr Morse proposed (seconded by Cllr Hatwood) that a suggestion by the clerk that he be authorised to approve expenditure amounts of up to £250 per month (£500 in emergency) subject to the prior approval of the Chairman and the reporting of all such amounts to the next full meeting, should be accepted. On a vote, Cllr Symons voted against, Cllr German abstained and there were 8 votes in favour. Proposal carried.
061407
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
The correspondence not covered elsewhere in the agenda was reviewed and actions determined.
1. St Just in Roseland Parish Council
An Email concerning a proposed development of 18 dwellings (PA14/03614). The developers were seeking to provide site access by means of a footpath along the A3078, which would mean reducing the road to single lane traffic on the bend leading up to St Just Village. Gerrans Parish Council was invited to make its views known to the Planning Department. After discussion, Cllr Taffinder proposed (seconded by Cllr German) that the PC strongly object on the grounds that such a scheme would be dangerous, as borne out by previous experience. Unanimously agreed. Action clerk
2. Letter from Sarah Newton MP
Forwarding a response from Damian Green MP, Minister for Policing and Social Justice, to the PC’s concerns about the proposed diversion of a percentage of local police funding to national projects. Having considered the Minister’s response, Councillors felt that he had failed adequately to address the PC’s concerns. Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Meek) that the clerk should reply to Mrs Newton that the PC was not satisfied. This was unanimously agreed. Action clerk to draft letter for approval
061408
PLANNING MATTERS
APPLICATIONS
The PC had received 3 applications. These are outlined below and comments are noted in the Planning Register.
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA14/03538 | Replace existing decking with new. Glass and steel handrail and steps.
35 Gerrans Hill |
Support |
| PA1//04001 | Attic conversion to annexe with French Doors. 3 Gerrans Hill | Support |
| PA14/04221 | New dwelling on domestic garden
Chapel House, Well Lane |
Unanimous objection:
Previously undeveloped land. Outside settlement envelope. Negative impact on rural fringe of Conservation Area. Any development there should be affordable-led.
|
Cllr Taffinder left the room during discussion of PA14/04221
DECISIONS
PA14/03538 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/03045 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/01938 (PC: object) – approved
PA14/02248 (PC: support) – approved
ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Nothing to report
061409
LOCALISM
Cllr Hetherington said that there were a number of issues arising at present which might come under the broad heading of “localism”. The Community Network Panel meetings were becoming more and more formal and there could come a point where actual powers are transferred from Cornwall Council to more local bodies. He asked if members thought it worth setting up a special sub-committee to devote its attention to such matters.
Cllr Symons said that because Cornwall Council and the Police are doing less and less due partly to budget restrictions, we were seeing a return to the days when local communities had to do more for themselves.
After discussion it was decided not to set up a committee at present but to make localism an agenda item each month.
061410
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
Cllr Hetherington had attended the latest meeting of the Community Network Panel on 20th May, and reported the introduction of the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Leader. This is a scheme to integrate and distribute funds from the next European Programmes to create jobs and promote economic growth at a local level. He said that local bodies were invited to send ideas for community projects that might qualify for funding.
Councillors agreed to give some thought to the matter before the next meeting, and Cllr Meek said that a joint community bid from the Old Cornwall Society, the Roseland Surgeries Patients Group and the Parish Council might carry greater weight.
The possibility of funding for the S106 land in this way was raised by Cllr Hatwood and the clerk was asked to make a preliminary approach to say that the PC is contemplating a community open space development and to ask whether in principle this might qualify and to find out about procedure. Action clerk
061411
JOLLITY FARM OPEN SPACE LAND
The clerk said he had written to Mr Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of Cornwall Council on the subject. His letter had been acknowledged but no detailed response had been received to date. Several Councillors expressed their frustration at the situation and the clerk was asked to write again, this time to request a personal meeting between Mr Kerr and a delegation from the PC. Action clerk
Cllr Hatwood suggested that depending on the outcome of such a meeting, or if one could not be arranged, then the PC should consider taking a lease on the land notwithstanding the non-compliance of DCH with the S106 agreement, and take on the maintenance of the site itself because the current situation was intolerable.
061412
TRELOAN LANE CAR PARK
Cllr Symons reported on a site meeting of the Car Parks Committee and a local contractor at which a job specification was agreed for groundworks. The clerk produced a quote from the contractor for the works amounting to £1,870.00 plus VAT. Cllr Symons proposed (seconded by Cllr Case) that this quote be accepted subject to the legality issue raised in item 6 on the agenda. All were in favour except Cllr German, who abstained.
The clerk was asked to contact the Squash Club about trees from their side of the fence overgrowing on to the car park side. Action clerk
Cllr Symons proposed (seconded by Cllr Case) that recycling bins in the car park be removed. Cllr Case said they encouraged the dumping of cardboard and glass. On a vote, all except Cllrs Symons and Case voted against the proposal. Accepting this, Cllr Symons said that the positioning of the bins within the car park should be reviewed.
061413
FOOTBALL FIELD
The clerk reported he had still been unable to elicit a response from the Landlord’s agent, and no summary of required works prior to the lease surrender had been received. He was asked to contact Mr Ed Rimmer, solicitor, for advice on how to proceed. Action clerk
061414
PORTSCATHO PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
Cllr German gave a summary of a site meeting that day with the proposed tenant at which it was agreed that works to improve the drains and to resurface the area with Tarmac would be the responsibility of the PC.
Cllr Hatwood circulated a computer-generated impression of how the layout and landscaping of the refurbished facility would look.
Cllr Taffinder proposed (seconded by Cllr Hatwood) that the PC’s bin stores on the site should be moved to the Treloan Lane car park. On a vote, all were in favour except Cllrs Symons and Case.
061415
FINANCIAL MATTERS
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices totalling £5,474.46 (including VAT of £165.95) be paid. A schedule of these payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th May 2014 was £62,537.91.
STATUS TO BUDGET
All payments were within budget as adjusted by minuted Council decisions.
ANNUAL RETURN AND ACCOUNTS
The Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2014, the internal auditor’s report and the Annual Return for the year were reviewed. Cllr German proposed (seconded by CllrTaffinder) that the Accounts be approved. This was agreed unanimously and the Cllr Taffinder, as Chairman, signed the Annual Return.
061416
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
Cllr German asked if the street cleaning contractor could be instructed to spray weeds rather than physically remove them. The clerk said he would investigate the terms of the contract and report back. Action clerk
Cllr German also reported complaints that bushes and brambles in the National Trust were overgrown and blocking the view from the car park to the village. The clerk said he would contact the National Trust. Action clerk
Cllr German also enquired what stage had been reached in taking over the administration of the 2 charities following the resignation of Cllr Davis. Cllr Taffinder said she would investigate.
Cllr Case asked the clerk if he would produce more letters as last year advising parishioners of their responsibility not to let trees and shrubs on their property overgrow and obstruct the footpaths. Action clerk
Cllr Greenslade said many people had complained about the obtrusiveness of advertising signs for a visiting mobile fish and chip van. Cllr Hatwood replied that this would no longer be a problem as that caterer no longer came to the village.
The meeting closed at 9.59 pm