Gerrans Parish Council

MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 6^th November 2018 at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe

NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 4^th December 2018 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe

Present:

Cllrs Ralph German (RG), Will Gill (WG), Helen Hastings (HH), James Hetherington (JH), Nev Meek (NM), Charlotte Taffinder (CT- Chairman);  CC Julian German (JG), S Skull (Clerk).

1 member of the public attended. 

111801

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE  

Cllrs Cochrane, Edwards, Iddison, Neal, Watson.

111802

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

– CT declared a non-registerable interest in PA18/09288, to be considered under item 7 on the agenda.

111803

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

JG drew attention to the “300 Club”, a fundraising initiative by the Roseland Surgeries Patient group to employ a person to help people in need of care to remain living in their own homes.

Mrs Zoe Sheppard thanked the PC for its efforts to raise awareness of dog fouling in certain areas of the Parish.

Mr Steve Hooper asked if the PC was aware of the potential impact of recent developments in the Community Infrastructure Levy initiative. JH commented that RC and RG were both due to attend training workshops in December.

111804

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The Council unanimously accepted the draft minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 2^nd October 2018 as being a true record. CT signed the approved minutes.

111805

REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – MATTERS ARISING

The clerk reported that :

– He had contacted the organisers of the Roseland Wild Flower project about the possibility of establishing a planting site at Treloan Lane car park. He said they were interested in investigating the idea. Meanwhile the bank had been strimmed down.

– In the matter of considering financial support to Crantock Council in their proposed judicial review, he said Cornwall Association of Local Councils’ advice on the potential liability to costs in what might be construed as a joint action was still in the process of clarification.

111806

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

1. Sarah Newton MP

Response to the PC’s email of 14^th October (October minute 101806 refers) expressing the Councillors’ disappointment in their opinion that she was still failing adequately to address the main focus of their concerns which was that the government was failing to uphold and enforce its own stated policies on Neighbourhood Plans. The clerk read out the latest response from Mrs Newton, which had been previously circulated. The unanimous opinion of the meeting was that the email demonstrated that no progress was being made in this matter and the  only conclusion to be drawn was that local people were not being adequately represented by their MP, and that to continue this correspondence would now serve no purpose. The clerk was asked to draft a reply to this effect, Action clerk

2. Councillor Robin Edwards (RE)

Letter of resignation from office.  RE expressed his sadness that changes in his work patterns had made it impossible to attend PC meetings so he felt compelled to offer his resignation. He wished his fellow Councillors well for the future. Councillors expressed their regret and it was decided to send a letter of thanks to RE for his contribution to the PC and to the community as a whole during his period of office. (Proposed RG, seconded CT and unanimously agreed). Action clerk

111807

PLANNING MATTERS

(a) APPLICATIONS

The PC had received 3 new applications. These are outlined below and comments are noted in the Planning Register.

 

Application	Description	PC decision
PA18/08277	Tregassa Farm, New Road Erection of agricultural building and creation of access track.	Unanimous support
PA18/09936	15, Springfield New single storey extension	Unanimous support
PA18/09288	Land adj Seagers Barn, Curgurrell Erection of timber hay barn and stable block	Unanimous object: Unsustainable. Site unsuitable for stated intended uses in terms of scale and site location.

 

(CT left the room during discussion of PA18/09288)

 

 (b) DECISIONS

Application	GPC comment	CC Decision
PA18/07395 – Higher Tregassa Barn	Agree to disagree	approved

(c) ENFORCEMENT MATTERS

– Nothing to report

(d) CORNWALL COUNCIL DRAFT SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT

– Members decided to defer any potential response to the consultation to allow further time to consider the document.

111808

COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS

– NM reported he had met with the Chair of Philleigh Parish Meeting to discuss liaising on those footpaths crossing the borders of Gerrans and Philleigh. He said that they had agreed that the permission and support of landowners would be essential and enquiries would be made.

111809

LOCALISM

Councillors discussed suggestions from members of the public that seating, and possibly a petanque ground be provided on Gerrans Green. The clerk advised that seating would be allowed under the relevant Village Greens legislation, but the installation of a petanque surface would not. JH said the green was also a scheduled ancient monument. The clerk said he was unaware of that fact and would investigate what restrictions would apply in that case. Action clerk.

111810

ST ANTHONY FOOTPATHS AND PUBLIC ACCESS LAND

Councillors discussed the poor state of maintenance of the footpaths in the Bohortha area. NM said it was established that this was ultimately the responsibility of Cornwall Council (CC), who had delegated it to the National Trust (NT) on an agency basis. He and HH had contacted the NT but so far to no effect. A separate issue was the illegal cultivation of a designated village green at “No Man’s Land”.

It was agreed that NM would draft a report on both issues and forward it to the clerk, for onward transmission to JG who would forward it to the appropriate quarter in CC. Action NM / clerk.

111811

PORTSCATHO PUBLIC CONVENIENCES

The clerk reported the flat roof on the disabled facility was letting in water and consequently it and the ceiling would need to be replaced as soon as possible. It was unanimously agreed the clerk should arrange for these repairs to be done before the next meeting if possible, using his best judgement as to price and value.  (Proposed RG, seconded CT). Action clerk

111812

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 £6,902.48 (including VAT of £598.99) be paid. A schedule of all the payments is available from the clerk.

BANK RECONCILIATION

The reconciled bank balance as at 25^th October was £65,681.56.

111813

OTHER PARISH MATTERS

1. Any urgent business

 – None

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

– Agree level of precept for 2019-2020

– Review terms of the clerk’s contract of employment

3. Minor items for report

CT reported that Knightor Vineyard had applied for a licence to serve alcohol, and the licence had been granted on condition that all necessary planning permissions were granted.

The meeting closed at 9.05 pm