MEVAGISSEY PARISH COUNCIL

www.mevagisseypcc.co.uk

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Mevagissey Activity Centre

On Thursday 16 June 2016 at 7pm.

Present              Cllrs. M Roberts (Chairman), A Chesterfield, J Daniel, M Facey, S Hrydziuszka, J Morgan, G Shephard,   D Speed, J Whatty.

In Attendance      Cllr. J Mustoe (CC), P Howson (Clerk), 5 members of the public.

                                  .

UNRATIFIED UNLESS SIGNED

 

1. Apologies were received from Cllrs. T Barron, Robinson and J Barron.

 

2. Councillor Whatty declared an interest in Item 13b (planning application PA16/03468).

 

3. No police report was received for the period.

 

4. The Live Advent Committee presented their plans for a community event in the run up to Christmas. The schedule would build on existing seasonal events to include a wide variety of experiences to appeal to all ages and interests and including artistic, dramatic and choral elements and events for children. A small steering group had been formed to assess viability, and responses so far had been very positive, with many ideas and offers of help. In the absence of this year’s Feast Week celebrations, this was seen as an opportunity to galvanize and involve the community. Although it is expected that many of the events will be self-funding, financial support is required for such things as insurance, publicity and the hire of venues. Various sources of support are available, but require match funding, and so the Committee is seeking a grant of £500 from the Council.

 

5. Mr John Brewster reported to the Council on progress with the agreed work programme at the War Memorial. Phase 1, whereby the left-hand face of the memorial was carved to match the other faces, has completed (and there was general agreement on the high quality of the work), and Phase 2, during which the lead lettering will be applied, will start around the 11^th July.

 

6. Mr John Whatty (Cllr. Whatty having removed himself to the public area for this item) spoke to oppose planning application PA16/03468 (Item 13b) for raised decking to be installed immediately adjacent to his own property. He said the boundary fence should be 1.8m above the decking to avoid loss of privacy, amenity and security.

 

7. Proposed by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, Seconded by Cllr. Speed, that the minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 19 May 2016 be accepted.                                                                         Carried.

 

8. Proposed by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, Seconded by Cllr. Speed, that the minutes of the AGM held on 19 May 2016 be accepted.                                                             Carried.

 

9. Proposed by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, Seconded by Cllr. Speed, that the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 19 May 2016 be accepted.                                                                         Carried.

 

10. The Clerk reported that:

• The period for the exercise of the public’s right to inspect the (unaudited) annual accounts runs from 20 June to 29 July, and a notice to this effect has been displayed on the notice boards and the website. The annual return is also available on the website.
• The memorial plaque to the late Esther Chesterfield was affixed to a seat in Trewinney Cemetery and ‘unveiled’ at a short ceremony on 8^th June, attended by Councillors and members of Esther’s family, and with speeches by the Chairman and Mrs Sue Chambers.

 

11. Ward Member’s report.

• Cornwall Council (CC) Streetworks had informed the owner of 59 Polkirt Hill that he had no permission to undertake any activities relating to the demolition of the property which might impact on the highway, eg accepting deliveries or carting away rubble.
• Cllr. Mustoe had met with PCSO Hemming to discuss anti-social behaviour at the Valley Road playground.
• The provision of waste bins at the playground will be maintained at previous levels.
• Although the renovation of seats at Portmellon Cove is on CC’s ‘to do’ list, Cllr. Mustoe had himself repainted them for the coming season.
• South West Water will start work in August to cure the flooding problem by the sub-station between Tregiskey and Peruppa.
• Cllr. Mustoe had met with Cllr. Bert Biscoe (CC Portfolio Holder for Transport) to show him the results of the Cliff Street landslide.
• Verges had been trimmed at the Tregiskey Crossroads and along Valley Road.

 

12. To receive Correspondence.

• Letter from Fields in Trust and the Royal British Legion regarding the Centenary Fields Programme (Item 24);
• Letter from Steve Double MP regarding the payment of business rates on public toilets. (Cornwall Council will be able to retain all business rates by 2020, but will also be able to ‘use discretionary relief powers to support public toilets” from 01/04/18. The MP advises us to write to CC ‘to give them the evidence they need to make the right decision’).
• Email from Cruse Bereavement Care Cornwall inviting a representative to their AGM at New County Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 26 July.
• Letter from Cornwall Council confirming an award of £2,000 from the Local Devolution Fund towards the Valley Road PC.

 

13. To consider Planning and Licensing Applications.

 

13a.      PA16/03842 : Remedial works to external kitchen wall and associated party walls. 9 Polkirt Hill Mevagissey PL26 6UR.   Proposed by Cllr. Chesterfield, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel, that the Council supports the application, conditional on approval by the Historic Environment Planning Officer.                                                      Carried.

 

13b.      PA16/03468 : Decking is to be installed in the rear garden area spanning a dangerous slope from ground level to above 30 cm (approximately 90 cm at highest point). This is to be done for the length of the garden starting at the rear of the house. 15 Roberts Close Mevagissey PL26 6DX.       Cllr. Whatty left the meeting for the duration of this item. Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard, that the Council is concerned that the height of the boundary fence above the level of the decking appears to be inadequate for reasons of safety and of overlooking, but would otherwise support the application.                                                                                       Carried.

 

13c.      PA16/03588 : Proposed deck from existing garden level over an unusable, sloping portion of our garden.

39 Lavorrick Orchards Mevagissey PL26 6TL. Proposed by Cllr. Whatty, Seconded by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, that the Council is concerned by the possible erosion of the bank, and would look to Streetworks to assess the risk to the public. Conditions attached to any permission should ensure that the impact of this brutal structure is softened by appropriate plantings, which should also serve to stabilise the bank.                                                     Carried.

 

13d.      PA16/04589 : Proposed change of use into studio flat. The Flat At Fraziers Way East Wharf Mevagissey PL26 6QQ.

Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard, that the Council has no objection in principle, but makes it known that no information was provided on which to base a more informed decision.                            Carried.

 

13e.      PA16/05197 : Works to Sycamore tree. 121 Portmellon Park Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6XD.           Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, that the Council has no objections to the application. Carried.

 

13f.       PA16/01534/PREAPP : To install solar panels on the front and rear of the property.

Stone’s Throw Cottage 5 Polkirt Hill Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6UR                                 Noted.

 

13g.      The following planning application decisions have been received (included for information only):

 

PA15/07833 : Construction of 1 dwelling and 5 flats. Land NE of Ava House               WITHDRAWN

PA16/02249 : New dwelling. Land Between Highfield And Ashlands Tregoney Hill.     APPROVED

PA16/02658 : Retaining wall to land between Prospect Terrace and 69 Church Street.     APPROVED

PA16/03670 : Slate hanging to upper floors. The Flat 5 Market Square.                                   APPROVED

 

14. Finances.

 

Bills to Pay	Salaries	£	647.17
	HMRC (Income Tax & NIC)	£	207.87
	Postage	£	8.64
	Weed spraying (first spray)	£	360.00
	Valley Road PC water charge 04/05/16-31/05/16	£	1,176.62
	TOTAL	£	2,400.30
Accounts	Amount available to spend as of last meeting	£	42,407.30
	Expenditure last month	£	2,970.66
	2015/16 VAT refund	£	2,938.25		received
	Ward member’s contribution to War Memorial upgrade	£	300.00		received
	CC Community Emergency Fund Grant (for Flood Plan)	£	500.00		received
	Balance (money in bank)	£	43,174.89
	Available to spend	£	43,174.89
	Bank Statements (01/06/2016):
	Current Account			£	320.40
	Deposit Account			£	42,854.49
	TOTAL			£	43,174.89

 

Proposed by Cllr. Speed, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan, that the accounts be accepted and the bills paid.        Carried.

 

15. Cllr. Shephard reported no change to the status of the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). The new Housing and Planning Act had left a number of issues unresolved, and there would be a public briefing on this by CC on 21 June, after which the NDP Steering Group would meet to consider options.

 

16. Cllr. Facey reported that representatives of the Affordable Homes Working Group had met with Ocean Housing to discuss the ground rules for Phase 3. It was agreed that the next step was to establish whether the potential sites identified were acceptable as exception sites, and hold preliminary discussions on these sites with Ocean, reporting back to the full Council at the next meeting.   Note: The Ward Member left the meeting during this item.

 

17. The Clerk reported that the water charges for the Valley Road Public Toilets far exceeded the estimates provided by CC who had admitted their error and agreed to make up the difference for the first year of operation. Proposed by Cllr. Morgan, Seconded by Cllr. Hrydziuszka, that a qualified plumber be engaged to inspect the flush mechanism in the disabled toilet, following repeated failures by Cormac to provide a permanent fix. Carried.

Note: Cllr. Roberts was called away from the meeting during this item, and Cllr. Facey took the chair.

           

18. There was no update on proposed improvements to public rescue equipment at Portmellon.

 

19. The Ward Member arranged an on-site meeting on 2^nd June with the Planning Enforcement Officer dealing with the ‘untidy sites’, attended by Cllrs. Roberts and Hrydziuszka. The enforcement process is ongoing.

 

20. Consideration of quotes received for renovation or replacement of seats on Chapel Point Lane was deferred.

 

21. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel that a grant of £500 be made to the Live Advent Committee.

Carried.

22. Consideration of delegation of power to the Clerk for authorisation of urgent repairs to assets was deferred.

 

23. An update on South West Water’s timescales for curing the flooding by the electricity sub-station had been provided by the Ward Member (see above).

 

24. Consideration of participation in the Centenary Fields Programme was deferred.

 

25. There was general agreement over the decorative finish suggested by the owner for the replacement dwelling at 59 Polkirt Hill, that a stone finish was preferable to paint.

 

26. Cornwall Council’s ‘One Public Transport System’ consultation was noted.

 

27. The review of criteria for membership of working parties was deferred.

 

28. Suggestions were considered for the ‘unveiling’ of the new left-hand face of the War Memorial. Ongoing.

 

29. The meeting ended at 9.50pm. Date of next meeting: 21 July 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed ……………………………………………………………………………..         Dated ………………………………