Gerrans Parish Council

MINUTES of the Annual Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council

held on Tuesday 1st May 2018

in the Memorial Hall Annexe

NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 5th June 2018 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe

Present:

Cllrs Mary Bax (MB), Ralph German (RG), Helen Hastings (HH), James Hetherington (JH), Rick Iddison (RI), Nev Meek (NM), Charlotte Taffinder (CT) (Chairman); S Skull (Clerk), CC Julian German (JG)

 

6 members of the public attended.

 

051801

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

CT was the only candidate (nominated HH, seconded RI) and was re-elected to continue in the post. 6 were in favour and RG abstained, observing that he considered there should be a limit on the length of service of the chairman.

051802

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Cllrs Richard Cochrane, Robin Edwards, Will Gill and Val Neal

051803

ELECTION OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

JH was the only candidate for deputy chairman (nominated CT, seconded RI) and was re-elected to the post. 6 were in favour and 1 abstained.

The clerk produced a list of the existing committee appointments. Cllrs agreed on a revised list for the forthcoming year, which is available from the clerk on request. JH was re-elected Chairman of the Planning Committee. 4 in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions.

051804

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

CT declared a non registerable interest in PA18/03359, do be discussed in item 9 on the agenda.

051805

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

JG reported:

– he had contacted the Harbourmaster and CC’s Open Space team about the issue of cars parking by Tatams Café and obstructing access to the disabled toilets.

– the proposed affordable housing scheme at Trewithian Farm would now be taken forward by the Community Land Trust

– works to replace the perimeter fence at Treloan Lane car park were scheduled to commence on 9^th May.

 

A member of the public said he thought it inappropriate for JH to be on the Planning Committee because his company was advertising planning consultancy services in the Parish and this represented an unacceptable conflict of interest. The clerk said JH had fully disclosed his pecuniary interest in the company concerned in his Register of Interests form which is publicly available on Cornwall Council (CC)’s website. Any person has the remedy of reporting perceived inappropriate appointments to CC for investigation.

051806

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 3rd April 2018 as being a true record. The Chairman signed the minutes subject to the correction of a typographical error.

MB left the meeting at this point as she was feeling unwell

051807

REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING

The clerk reported:

– a reply had been received from the Tregothnan Estate office about the plastic tree guards in their Jubilee Plantation south of Pencabe. Plans are in place for a phased removal once the trees are approximately 7cm in diameter at chest height.

– No reply had been received from Sarah Newton MP as yet to the PC’s email of 18^th April responding to a second letter from the Minister for Housing about the attitude of the Planning Inspectorate towards Local Plans.

– He had consulted about the reported dead elm trees on Gerrans Hill. The advice was to wait to see which of the trees failed to come into leaf this year and then decide on a course of action on those particular trees.

– The restored Stodden Steps sign was now in place.

– A member of CC’s Public Protection Team had visited the Eshcol Lane area after the clerk and CC German had reported the dog fouling issue. The inspector had spoken to dog walkers, put up signage and will make return visits when in the area. It is hoped this will raise awareness of the issue and have some beneficial effect.

CT said the school was running a poster competition amongst the children to further raise awareness of this issue.

051808

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

1. Roseland Gig Club

Email asking if there would be any objections to the Club holding a rowing event from Portscatho on Saturday 26^th May, enclosing details of the proposed programme of events.

2. Gerrans and Portscatho old Cornwall Society

Email seeking permission to hold a picnic on Gerrans Green in the afternoon of Sunday 5^th August.

RG proposed (seconded RI) that the PC support both these events. Agreed unanimously. Action clerk to reply.

There was no other correspondence which would not be addressed in other items on the agenda.

051809

PLANNING MATTERS

(a) APPLICATIONS

The PC had received 2 new applications. These are outlined below and comments are noted in the Planning Register.

 

Application	Description	PC decision
PA18/03359	Internal and external alterations to cottage, demolition of garage and replacement with 2-storey annexe at Dingerein Cottage, Curgurrell	Unanimous support
PA18/03682	Extension/alterations including Juliet balconies and vehicular parking area at Polgrean, 10 Tregassick Road.	Majority support: 3 in favour 2 against 1 abstention

CT left the room during discussion of PA18/03359

(b) DECISIONS

Application	GPC comment	CC Decision
PA18/01968 re Higher Tregassa Barn	object	(withdrawn)

 

(c) ENFORCEMENT MATTERS

– Nothing to report

051810

COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS

NM reported on the cluster meeting of Roseland Parishes held on 12^th April at St Mawes. The two main subjects discussed were:

1. Community Emergency Planning

There was input both from CC and Portreath Council with guidance on how communities might go about preparing their own emergency plans, to be put into action in the event of, for example, severe flooding or storm damage. Councillors expressed the feeling that there was sufficiently close community engagement already in the Parish, as demonstrated in the recent snowy weather.

2. Footpaths

NM reported that there is a 2026 deadline for the finalisation of definitive maps for each Parish and there was a need to carry out an assessment to check that the current definitive map contained all the paths it should, as no paths can be added to the map after the deadline. He volunteered to begin the assessment process to identify any sections that are missing, and said problems can arise where paths cross Parish borders.

051811

LOCALISM

(a) Members discussed the options put forward by CC for the future allocation of an annual Highways Budget of £50K to be available to each Community Network Panel over the next four years. It was unanimously agreed to mandate JH to opt on the PC’s behalf for option B (i.e. to start a fresh list of desired outcomes) at the next Panel meeting. (Proposed RG, seconded CT).

(b) The Council resolved that it supports the Plastic Free Coastlines movement and in particular the initiative to obtain Plastic Free Roseland status (proposed CT, seconded RG and carried unanimously).

Cllr Richard Cochrane was nominated in his absence to represent the PC on the steering group to maintain plastic free status when obtained, which was approved subject to RC’s agreement.

There was also a discussion about establishing pre-arranged pick up points for the disposal of beach rubbish. JG and the clerk agreed to look into this.

051812

CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND

The clerk said the documentation for the transfer of the freehold was with CC, who were proposing to wait to process this at the same time as the freehold of Treloan Lane car park in order to minimise legal costs.

051813

CHURCH CLOSE

The clerk confirmed receipt of confirmation of available S106 funds for outdoor fitness equipment and presented a quote of £8,980 plus VAT for supply and installation. HH proposed acceptance of this quote. Seconded RI and agreed by 5 votes and one abstention. Action clerk

051814

THE GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION

The clerk confirmed that Cllr Gill had offered to set up the PC’s own email domain and administer it. This was noted and appreciated.

051815

ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT

The clerk presented for approval, prior to the visit of the Internal Auditor,

1. The Statement of Internal Control 2017-2018. Approval proposed by RG, seconded by CT. Unanimously agreed.
2. The Annual Governance Statement 2017-2018. Approval proposed by RG, seconded by CT. Unanimously agreed.

051816

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 £5,304.08 (including VAT of £434.55) be paid.

BANK RECONCILIATION

The reconciled bank balance as at 25^th April was £48,349.05

AMENDMENT TO FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

JH proposed (seconded HH) that the current clerk be exempted from the provisions of line 1 of FR 9.9 as amended last month (minute ref 041814 refers) on the grounds that sufficient audit controls are in place and there is no risk of material fraud. Unanimously agreed.

051816

OTHER PARISH MATTERS

1. Any urgent business

– None

2. Matters to be included on the next agenda (not heretofore minuted)

– None

3. Minor items for report

RG reported flytipping in the Memorial Hall car park and broken or missing footpath signposts at Trewithian and at New Road car park. The clerk said all the signposts had been reported.

RG also reported the village information board at New Road car park was in need of refurbishment. JG said he would liaise with the AONB management about tracing the original artwork.

JH also commented about poor footpath waymarking, and the practice of farmers ploughing right to the edge of fields where there are footpaths. The clerk said he would circulate the relevant legislation and CC guidance in this regard. Action clerk. JG said this was another issue which could be reported online at CC.

 

 

The meeting closed at 9.26 pm