MEVAGISSEY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Mevagissey Activity Centre
On Thursday 21 April 2016 at 7pm.
Present Cllrs. M Roberts (Chairman), T Barron, J Daniel, M Facey, S Hrydziuszka, J Morgan, G Shephard, D Speed, J Whatty.
In Attendance Cllr. J Mustoe (CC), PCSO Tony Hemming, P Howson (Clerk), 5 members of the public.
.
UNRATIFIED UNLESS SIGNED
- The Chairman proposed that the Council records Birthday Wishes to HM The Queen.
The Chairman informed those present that the longtime resident male swan, ‘Nobby’, had died at Pentewan at the weekend.
- Apologies received: Cllrs. A Chesterfield, K Robinson, J Barron, N Florence.
- There were no declarations of interest or gifts.
- PCSO Hemming presented his report for the period 16 March to 17 April detailing 3 crimes: 1 Assault and 1 Use of threatening behaviour (these two being connected), and 1 Fraud. PCSO Hemming warned of recent cases of ‘distraction theft’ in retail premises in Mevagissey and Truro, and also highlighted complaints about groups of youths throwing waste bins around in Cliff Park (‘Hitler’s Walk’), asking residents to report anything further.
- Public participation. Mrs Diana Littlejohns made a strong objection to the pre-application to build on Rope Walk (Agenda item 10d), which she said was an historical site. Mrs Hilda Tuff and Mr John Goodenough also spoke to object to this proposal, referring the Council to the letters they had sent detailing their reasons.
- Proposed by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard, that the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2016 be Accepted. Carried.
- Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Speed, that the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2016 be Accepted. Carried.
7 . Actions from previous meeting(s).
- The 30 traffic cones requested from Cormac have been delivered and are being stored in the Feast Week container.
- The website homepage now includes an invitation to email the Clerk with questions or comments.
- Ward Member’s report.
- Cormac are assessing the 2 benches at Portmellon Cove for renovation.
- Cllrs. Mustoe and Whatty had accompanied the Highways Manager during an inspection of Vicarage Hill to agree surface improvements. The broken railings on the steps up to Cross Park Terrace are to be replaced.
- The lifting of parking restrictions for the stonemason working on the War Memorial has been agreed.
- The remaining potholes on School Hill / Old Road have been filled.
- To receive Correspondence.
- Letter from the Mevagissey Activity Centre requesting a grant towards capital projects;
- Letter from the Jubilee Hall Association requesting a grant towards refurbishment of the gents’ toilets;
- Letter from Mrs Hilda Tuff objecting to the proposed dwelling on land at Rope House (Item 10d)
- Letter from Mr Andrew Bolton explaining the reasons for the proposed dwelling on Tregoney Hill (Item 10b).
- Planning and Licensing.
10a. PA16/00769, PA16/00770, PA16/00771: New agricultural buildings for livestock housing. Land North West Of Lower Trewinney Mevagissey Cornwall PL26 6TD (deferred from the 17 March meeting).
Proposed by Cllr. T Barron, Seconded by Cllr.Facey, that the Council supports these applications. Carried.
10b. PA16/02249: Demolition of existing garages and workshop, and construction of a new detached dwelling.
Land Between Highfield And Ashlands Tregoney Hill Mevagissey Cornwall
Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr.Facey, that the Council supports this application. Carried.
10c. PA16/02622: Alterations to window fenestration on North and West Elevations. Sandpiper Polkirt Hill Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6UX
Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr.Facey, that the Council supports this application. Carried.
10d. PA16/00973/PREAPP: Preapplication advice for erection of a single dwelling. Land At Rope House 55 Cliff Street Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6QL
Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr.Facey, that the Council would strongly oppose any attempt to build on the Rope Walk. The late owner of Rope House created her garden along the length of Rope Walk in a manner that is sympathetic to the site, and putting a house in the middle of it would a destroy a significant feature of Mevagissey’s heritage. The history of the site is detailed in the Heritage Coast Service’s booklet ‘Mevagissey Walkabout’. This is a totally unsuitable location for property developers to have their way, and any attempt would be strongly resisted. Carried.
10e. The following planning application decisions have been received (included for information only):
PA16/00353: Listed building and retrospective consent. 4 Myrtle Court Polkirt Hill. APPROVED
PA15/10218: Conversion of existing and new residential building. Tall Trees Church Lane. APPROVED
PA15/10268: Demolition of small outbuildings. Tall Trees Church Lane. APPROVED
PA16/01977: Provision of french windows onto existing flat roof. Cliff Top Polkirt Hill. APPROVED
PA16/00902: Erection of dwelling. Land North Of 2 Penmeva View. REFUSED
- Finances.
| Bills to Pay | Salaries | £ | 647.37 | ||
| HMRC (Income Tax & NIC) | £ | 207.67 | |||
| Admin. Costs | £ | 6.20 | |||
| Meeting room hire | £ | 210.00 | |||
| Parish magazine (grant) | £ | 350.00 | |||
| Membership of Association of Local Councils | £ | 567.23 | |||
| 18 copies of “The good councillor’s guide” | £ | 41.60 | |||
| Refund of overpaid LMP grant | £ | 320.60 | |||
| Jubilee Hall (grant) | £ | 1,750.00 | |||
| Mevagissey Activity Centre (grant) | £ | 1,750.00 | |||
| TOTAL | £ | 5,850.67 | |||
| Accounts | Amount available to spend as of last meeting | £ | 31,731.99 | ||
| Expenditure last month | £ | 12,495.14 | |||
| Bank interest | £ | 3.85 | received | ||
| Balance (money in bank) | £ | 19,240.70 | |||
| Available to spend | £ | 19,240.70 | |||
| Bank Statements (01/04/2016): | |||||
| Current Account | £ | 633.73 | |||
| Deposit Account | £ | 18,606.97 | |||
| TOTAL | £ | 19,240.70 |
Proposed by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard, that the accounts be accepted and the bills paid. Carried.
- Cllr. Shephard reported that the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) had stalled pending a decision regarding housing policy (see Item 21).
- Cllr. Facey reported that he had asked the Mevagissey Coastguard to advise on public rescue equipment at Portmellon, and their reply was awaited.
- Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan, that the quotation from GCF Decorating Services for repainting the Valley Road PC be approved, with colours to match existing and Cllr. Facey to instruct the contractor. Carried.
- It was agreed that each of the four advertising panels in the Valley Road PC should be made available at £125 per annum, with first refusal to those businesses who had contributed to the Toilet Fund last year. Cllr. Facey will manage this, and will also circulate for approval sample signs, to be displayed at each entrance, stating that the facilities have been funded by the people of Mevagissey and by those businesses who contributed.
- After consideration of the Public Space Officer’s response to proposed changes to the Mevagissey open spaces map, it was agreed that Cllr. Shephard would agree with the Clerk a further representation to the Officer.
- Proposed by Cllr. Barron, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard, that a letter be sent to Cllr. Douglas Scrafton (Ward Member for Par & St Blazey Gate) expressing support for the proposal to safeguard the future of the Par running track by bringing it into local community ownership. Carried.
- Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, that the Annual Governance Statement be approved.
Carried
- Cllr. Facey reported that Mevagissey Floodwatch had launched five years ago with nine volunteer wardens, but that there were now only four remaining, which is not enough, and that unless replacements come forward the scheme will shut down later this year. The wardens maintain a watch at times of high risk, and in the event of an imminent flood they raise the alarm. An appeal will be displayed on the parish notice boards. Any interested volunteers can contact Cllr. Facey or the Clerk.
- Proposed by Cllr. Barron, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan, that the Council funds the purchase and installation of a memorial plaque to the late Esther Chesterfield. Carried.
- Prior to consideration of a proposed revision to the NDP housing policy, it was Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan, that the public and press should be excluded. Carried.
Cllr. Shephard reported that, because of the probable changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) arising from the Housing and Planning (H&P) Bill currently going through Parliament, it was no longer expedient to assume that housing development could be prevented outside the development envelope of the village, and the NDP Steering Group now recommended identifying specific sites for development within the envelope. It was agreed that a decision on this should be deferred pending the outcome of the H&P Bill.
- The meeting ended at 9.20pm. Date of next meeting: 19 May 2016.
Signed …………………………………………………………………………….. Dated ………………………………