Gerrans Parish Council
MINUTES of the Meeting of Gerrans Parish Council
held on Tuesday 7th October 2014
in the Memorial Hall Annexe
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday 4th November at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall Annexe
Present:
Cllrs Case, Edwards, German, Hatwood, Hetherington, Meek, Morse, Symons, Taffinder ( Chairman);
S Skull (Clerk)
3 members of the public attended.
101401
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
The Chairman read out a 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.
101402
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllrs Greenslade, Iddison ;CC J German
101403
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Cllr Case declared a non registerable interest in planning application ref PA14/08381 (to be discussed in item 9 on the agenda) in that he has done work for the applicant.
0101404
CHANGES TO PRECEDENT
The clerk presented a new draft of Standing Orders for the Council, amended, in accordance with the NALC amended Model Standing Orders dated 13th August 2014, to take into account the 2014 Regulations in respect of the openness of local government bodies. The draft had been previously circulated by email.
Cllr German proposed (seconded by Cllr Hatwood) that the amended Standing Orders be adopted, and this was carried unanimously.
101405
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Tim Whale enquired whether any monitoring was being undertaken to ascertain the effectiveness of the new drainage arrangements at New Road car park. Councillors agreed to undertake a month’s monitoring and to discuss the matter as an agenda item next month. Action clerk
Mr John Adams, Secretary of the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan (RNDP) Steering Group (SG), presented an update on the progress of the Plan. He said 61 responses to the consultation had been received, of which only 3 had been negative comments. The SG was about to forward a document listing all the comments received, together with the SG’s responses, to its various advisors for their input and advice. He said the SG were hoping to finalise all the documents for submission to the examiner by 29th October.
101406
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The Council accepted the draft minutes of the meetings held on Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 10th September 2014 as being true records. The Chairman signed the minutes.
101407
REVIEW OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS – MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising which would not be discussed in subsequent agenda items.
101408
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
There was no correspondence not covered elsewhere in the agenda.
101409
PLANNING MATTERS
APPLICATIONS
The PC had received 1 new application . This is outlined below and comments are noted in the Planning Register.
| Application | Description | PC decision |
| PA14/08381 | Demolish existing house and build new house (retaining original front and gable walls) incl. double garage with studio over (retrospective) at 1 Clifton Terrace | Majority object by 6 votes to 2 |
Cllr Case did not take part in the discussion of PA14/08381 or cast a vote. During that discussion Mr Tony Howes, of Design and Drafting Ltd (the scheme’s architect), was invited to answer questions and supply background information regarding the project.
The PC then considered a letter from Mr Dan Mitchell, Principal Development Officer in the Planning and Enterprise department of Cornwall Council, in relation to application PA14/06290 – Conversion of existing manager’s flat to commercial use and erection of new manager’s accommodation at Trewince Holiday Lodges. The PC was asked to reconsider its original objection to this application in view of the fact that the scheme was likely to receive officer support. On a vote, Councillors voted by 6 votes to 3 to maintain the PC’s objection and the clerk was asked to write to inform Mr Mitchell. Action clerk
The PC had also received a pre-planning enquiry from Mr Steve Hooper of CAD Architects Ltd relating to a proposed replacement of a roof light with a dormer in Admiralty Terrace. Councillors agreed in principle that this would be an improvement, and design issues were discussed. Cllr Hetherington thanked Mr Hooper for seeking the PC’s views in advance of an application and there was agreement that this approach could save time and effort all round if more generally applied.
DECISIONS
PA14/07701 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/07471 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/05543 (PC: support) – approved
PA14/06947 (PC: object) – withdrawn
PA14/07543 (PC: support) – approved
ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Nothing to report
101410
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
Cllr Hetherington had attended the AGM of the Network Community Panel on 9th September, at which meeting he was elected deputy chairman. He said that at the next meeting in October the budget would be set for the forthcoming year.
He had enquired whether other parishes had had problems similar to Gerrans in respect of out-dated parking restrictions. The panel had agreed to discuss this at its December meeting, by which time other parishes would have been able to do their own research.
Cllr Meek reported that as a result of his campaign, national legislation had now been amended with the result that the PC could conduct its meetings in the Cornish language if it wished to do so.
101411
LOCALISM
No issues not covered elsewhere in the agenda were brought up.
101412
CHURCH CLOSE OPEN SPACE LAND
The clerk reported that the proposed lease was still with the solicitors and the necessary searches were being undertaken.
Cllr Taffinder reported that she had met the Jubilee Committee since the last meeting and they had been agreeable to siting the proposed commemorative seating within this space.
101413
NEW ROAD CAR PARK LEASE AND GENERAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS
The clerk reported that as yet there was no date set for Cormac’s proposed survey of all the parking restrictions in the Parish.
On New Road car park, there had been no further communication from Cornwall Council (CC) in respect of a new lease. Cllr German said that he had heard CC were minded to dispose of the freeholds of all car parks returning less than £10,000 p.a. in rent, and that under the Localism Act the PC had a right to bid should a freehold come up for sale.
Cllr Hetherington said that at the Community Panel meeting he had learned that CC maintains a register of all assets it owns which have a community benefit, and that the local Council has a right to bid for any of those assets in the event of a sale. It was agreed to discuss at the meeting any ideas Councillors might have for assets that could be nominated to be included in that register. Action clerk to put on agenda.
101414
FOOTBALL FIELD LEASE SURRENDER
The clerk produced the final deeds of surrender of the PC’s main lease from Tregothnan and sublease to Gerrans AFC which the PC’s solicitor had prepared for signature. Cllr Symons proposed (seconded by Cllr Hatwood) that the deeds be signed by the Chairman and clerk and this was agreed unanimously. Action Chairman and clerk
101415
MICRO LIBRARY
The clerk reported that no further details had been received from Cornwall Council and there had been no response from the public to the announcements on Roseland Online and in the Roseland magazine. After discussion it was decided that the PC should be proactive and write to express an interest in establishing a micro library, and seek further information. Action clerk
In response to an email received from CC Julian German regarding the choice of the most suitable position for the planned one mobile library stop in Gerrans/Portscatho, Councillors considered that either the Memorial Hall car park or Portscatho Square would be acceptable. Action clerk to inform CC German
101416
PORTSCATHO PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
The clerk reported that in response to the PC’s letter to the tenant expressing concern over planning issues at the site, the tenant had confirmed that updated plans were being drawn up and he was now in liaison with Cornwall Council’s planning department.
Cllr Case said a parishioner had reported the drains were backing up on the seafront side, and the clerk said he would investigate this. Action clerk
101417
PERCUIL PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
The clerk presented a quote received for immediate plumbing and drainage repairs, but after discussion it was agreed that a thorough refurbishment was required at the site to bring the facilities up to modern standards, so the quoted works would not be undertaken now.
Cllr Edwards volunteered to take the project forward and it was agreed to put this on the next meeting’s agenda. Action clerk
101418
MOBILE PHONE RECEPTION
Cllrs discussed the new Vodafone “Rural Open Sure Signal” scheme, which does not involve the erection of masts, but uses multiple boxes mounted on properties throughout an area. Parishes had been invited to nominate a “champion” to be the representative for their localities in developing the scheme.
There was a discussion of the merits of the scheme in which some councillors felt too much advantage would be given to one service provider, and there was uncertainty as to future liabilities when the original free equipment needed replacing.
Cllr Hatwood volunteered to be the “champion” but only if proper consultation was done, and on a vote (proposed by Cllr Taffinder and seconded by Cllr Edwards) it was decided by 8 votes to 2 that Cllr Hatwood should be the “champion” to find out more information, as long as the PC was not committed at this stage.
Cllr Hatwood said he would keep everyone updated by email. Cllr Taffinder said she would ask at the next school governors’ meeting whether there were likely to be objections from parents, and Cllr Meek suggested it be mentioned in the Roseland Magazine that the PC was exploring this issue. Action clerk
101419
FINANCIAL MATTERS
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
It was resolved that the outstanding invoices totalling £4,282.36 (including VAT of £200.76) be paid. A schedule of these payments is available from the clerk.
BANK RECONCILIATION
The reconciled bank balance as at 25th September was £73,753.61
101420
OTHER PARISH MATTERS
Cllr Symons reported the 30mph sign near the school had been hit again.
Cllr Case said the works at Treloan Lane car park had been completed and the contractor Phil Green was to be congratulated on a job well done. Cllr Symons added that the new bank had now been seeded with grass.
Cllr Edwards forwarded complaints he had received from Mrs Margaret Davis about what she perceived to be the poor state of the roads and the Old Forge.
Cllr German said he was in possession of a tree which had been donated by the Duke of Edinburgh on his recent visit to Tregothnan Estate and which was to be planted in Portscatho. The clerk said that he and Cllr Taffinder had been invited to take part in a planting ceremony planned for Friday 17th October, but no further details had yet been received from Tregothnan.
Cllr German and Cllr Hatwood suggested their should be a further sign for the public toilets to be placed at the crossroads at the bottom of River Street, and also a “no through road” sign.
Cllr Meek said he had been approached about the possibility of installing a bus shelter at Trewithian. The clerk was asked to circulate to all the Councillors the preliminary details about qualification, establishment of need, and application process he had previously supplied to Cllr Meek, and to make this an agenda item for next month. Action clerk
Cllr Hetherington reported flooding on the road between Trewithian and Rosevine in the recent heavy rainfall.
The meeting closed at 9.59 pm