Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 1st November 2016
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 6th December 2016 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Cllrs Case, German, Hetherington, Meek, Neal, Taffinder ( Chairman); S Skull (Clerk).
3 members of the public attended.
111601
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
The Chairman’s 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, was taken as read.
111602
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllrs Edwards, Greenslade, Hatwood and Morse ; CC Julian German
111603
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
– None
111604
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Malcolm Tozer thanked the PC for its assistance in conveying his views on the operation of the Harbour Club’s new balcony to the Club’s management. He said he had now been invited to attend the Club’s November committee meeting.
111605
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 4th October 2016 as being a true record. The Chairman signed the minutes.
111606
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING
The clerk reported:
– He had confirmation from Cormac that the drains in Churchtown Road would be cleared by jetting.
– The long-awaited new drain cover had now been fitted in Churchtown Road.
– The damaged toilet seats at Percuil had been replaced.
– The brambles at the children’s playground had been cut back.
– He had written to Edwina Hannaford as requested to request that Cornwall Council (CC) press for a judicial review of the Planning Inspector’s decision in the appeal regarding application ref PA16/03467 (Ansells, Rosevine).
Cllr German said that a senior inspector from the Bristol Inspectorate was scheduled to come and meet with CC in this regard. Cllr Meek suggested that certain policies in the Roseland Plan should incrementally be strengthened as successive Inspectorate decisions eroded its effect. Cllrs German and Hetherington regretted this would not be possible without forming a new Plan from the start.
111607
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
- Email from “Kernow matters to you”
Information about the proposal by the Boundary Commission for England to establish a new parliamentary constituency containing areas of both North Cornwall and North Devon (popularly referred to as “Devonwall”). There was much discussion, and Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Neal) that the PC should respond to the public consultation expressing it’s opposition to the idea, and that a representative should attend one of the public hearings and speak on behalf of the PC to that effect. This was unanimously agreed and Cllr Meek volunteered both to draft the response and to attend the hearing.
- Email from Cornwall Association of Local Councils
Invitation to comment on Government proposals to extend referendum principles on Council Tax setting to town and parish councils. The deadline for comments was in October, and Councillors had agreed by email to submit an objection to the proposals, which was actioned by the clerk on 28th October.
There was no further correspondence which would not be addressed in other items on the agenda.
111608
PLANNING MATTERS
APPLICATIONS
The PC had received 2 new applications prior to the publication of the meeting’s agenda. These are outlined below and the PC’s comments were subsequently lodged under “Consultee Comments” in the Online Planning Register.
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA16/08661 | Agricultural storage barn, Cornish heritage farm, Trewithian | Unanimous object |
| PA16/09980 | 2-storey extension, Florence Cottage, 11 Wellington Terrace, Portscatho | Unanimous support |
Members also reviewed, at the Chairman’s discretion, PA16/09751 re a proposed manege for horses at Trezine House, Rosevine, which had been received after publication of the meeting’s agenda. Cllr Hetherington said the Planning Committee was not in a position to offer an opinion at this stage because of uncertainty re certain aspects of the AONB management plan. The Committee would carry out a site visit and come to a conclusion in due course and in the meantime the clerk was asked to request an extension on the deadline for comments. Action clerk
DECISIONS
| Application | GPC comment | CC Decision |
| None this month | n/a | n/a |
ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Nothing to report
111609
LOCALISM
Devolution funding
The clerk reported the promised funds had now been received from Cornwall Council’s Devolution Fund for a replacement playhouse, bench and waste bin at Gerrans children’s playground and he would now proceed to order the equipment. Action clerk
Community Assets
The clerk said he was awaiting some final details for the application to list Gerrans School.
Other localism issues
No other issues were raised.
111610
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
No reports
111611
PARISH CAR PARKING
The clerk reported the proposed meeting with Cornwall Council (CC)’s parking management team to discuss the implications of devolving enforcement to the PC had taken place on Tuesday 11th October. Councillors at the meeting concluded that the practical and financial implications of operating a separate enforcement regime were prohibitive. The PC’s objection to the high level of travel charges included in CC’s cost of enforcement was made clear, and the management team had committed to assembling a package for next year which recognised that objection, possibly involving tying in enforcement visits with those to St Mawes.
111612
CHURCH CLOSE OPEN SPACE AREA
The clerk said that he had received confirmation from CC’s Public Space Officer that the PC’s proposals for this site were, in fact, within the scope of the purposes of the S106 spend, and had also ascertained the definition of the term “open space” as set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and referred to in CC’s own Open Space Strategy document. He was now awaiting the opinion of the PC’s solicitor as to whether the proposals were in breach of the terms of the PC’s lease of the land, or the original planning consent, before drafting a response to the landlord’s refusal of consent, as was agreed at the last meeting.
Councillors agreed to wait for the solicitor’s opinion before sending any response.
111613
PLUME OF FEATHERS PUBLIC HOUSE (“The Plume”)
The clerk read out a reply received from the management of St Austell Brewery to the PC’s concerns about the siting of external boiler flues at low level in River Street. The Brewery said that it was the advice of their boiler suppliers that it was not possible to relocate the flues. Cllr German said this was not a satisfactory reply and proposed (seconded by Cllr Taffinder) that the matter be referred to the Highways Agency as an obstruction issue. Agreed unanimously. Action clerk.
111614
RAISED PAVEMENT AT GERRANS BUS STOP
The clerk read out the last safety inspection report by the Highways Design Group dated 15th June, 2010, which concluded that even drivers of large vehicles should encounter no problems caused by the raised pavement. In the absence of Cllr Iddison, who requested discussion of this matter, and the observation by several Councillors that no physical alterations had been made since that report, no action was proposed and no vote was taken.
111615
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 £4,553.30 (including VAT of £387.36) be paid. A schedule of all the payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th October was £67,979.25.
111615
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
- Any urgent business
– None
- Matters to be included on the next agenda
– No further items
- Minor items for report
– Cllr German said he had received reports that drugs were being offered for sale to children from Gerrans school. Councillors agreed this was a safeguarding issue. Cllr Taffinder said she would mention it to the school governors and the clerk was asked to check whether the police were aware of the allegations. Action clerk
– Cllr Hetherington reported he had been retained as Vice Chairman of the Truro and Roseland Network Community Panel.
– Cllr Taffinder reported the wooden steps down to Porthbean beach had now been restored.
The meeting closed at 9.25 pm