MEVAGISSEY PARISH COUNCIL

http://mevagisseyparishcouncil.co.uk/

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held as a virtual meeting

On Thursday 18 June 2020 at 7pm

Present                   Cllrs. M Roberts (Chairman), M Facey (Vice-Chairman), J Gann, L Hereward, J Morgan, H Nathan,

G Shephard, P Simpson, J Whatty.

In Attendance      Cllr. J Mustoe (Ward Member), P Howson (Clerk), Alex Williams (Community Support Group Lead), Gary Farr (contracted to operate the public conveniences), 2 members of the public.

 UNRATIFIED UNLESS SIGNED

      1a.          Apologies for absence had been received from Cllrs. Blackmore and Florence.

1b.          The Chairman expressed the Council’s good wishes to Cllr. Florence and hoped he will be able to re-join us soon.

2. Cllr. Morgan declared an interest in agenda item 18 (Mevagissey Museum School Project).

3. Public participation.

Tom Doran of the Fishermen’s Chippy and Mikou Dalaune of She Sells spoke about the problem of rubbish disposal  during the Covid-19 restrictions and asked the Council to arrange for additional facilities in the village centre;

Alex Williams provided an update on the work of the Community Support Group.  As the community starts to emerge from lockdown the group is looking at ways of providing longer-term support and would welcome the opportunity for involvement in any local initiatives.

4.    Proposed by Cllr. Simpson, Seconded by Cllr. Gann that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2020 be accepted.                                                    Carried.

5. The Clerk reported that:

• On 22nd June Cormac will be starting a 4-week programme to replace the trash screen and headwall on the Mevagissey Stream just north of the new coastguard premises;
• Repairs to the Polstreath Beach steps are currently underway, and Cormac expect them to be closed for just a couple of days;
• He had written to Live West, the freehold owners of the affordable element of the School Hill development, to ask about their position regarding the outstanding landscaping conditions there.  Reply awaited;
• Fact sheets on grass cutting, surface dressing and verge maintenance had been received from Cormac and forwarded to members;
• Cllr. Gann had been added to the Public Toilets Working Group since he was involved in the risk assessments;
• Savills had stated that the successful bidder for the Vicarage Hill land was prohibited from sub-letting or sharing occupation and therefore there was no possibility of creating allotment gardens there.
• The COVID-19 road signs have been delivered to the Willow car park and the posters to Alex Williams;
• Regarding PA20/02210 (land adjacent 38 Kiln Close), the planning case officer has now visited the site and his report is awaited.  The architect is also keen to have another site meeting with councillors or, failing that, a Zoom meeting.  This will be arranged after the case officer’s report has been received.

6. The Ward Member presented his report which included coverage of the following issues:

• Helping local people and businesses to benefit from COVID-19 relief schemes;
• Cornwall Council (CC)’s new verge cutting policy to encourage wildflowers and pollinators;
• Renovation and repair of the steps to Polstreath Beach;
• Resolution of anti-social behaviour in the Wesley Court area;
• Successful bid for funding from CC’s Reopening High Streets Safety Fund;
• Disposal of rubbish from takeaway businesses.

The full report can be seen on the Council’s website.

7. Matters arising from the Ward Member’s report.

It was agreed that the problem of the disposal of rubbish from food takeaway businesses was primarily a Health and Safety issue rather than a commercial issue and that parish funds should be made available to deal with it.  Cllr.      Morgan will pursue options with suppliers and report back next week.  Cllr. Mustoe asked to be kept informed and noted that funding may still be available from Clean Cornwall’s ‘High Street Clean-up Fund’.

8. It was agreed to bring agenda item 11 (operation of public conveniences) forward. Gary Farr gave an update on progress towards reopening on 4^th July.  The target would be met for West Wharf but there may be a short delay at    Valley Road.  An enhanced cleaning regime and shorter opening hours would be in effect (10am – 5 or 6pm).

Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan that all units should be opened with discretion to decide opening times left to the Public Toilets Working Group.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Carried.

Cllr. Facey said that a possible increase of the West Wharf entry charge would be considered at a future meeting.

9. Planning and Enforcement.

9a.          PA20/03445 : Demolition and replacement of single dwelling-house with a new family dwelling-house and associated works.  Trenear Polkirt Hill Mevagissey PL26 6UX

Proposed by Cllr. Gann, Seconded by Cllr. Simpson that the Council objects to the application.  This would be a                 brutally ugly building, overbearing and out of keeping, too large for the size of the site, resulting in a loss of privacy and amenity to neighbouring properties.  The proposal to provide parking at the rear of the house is unacceptable.                  Following the failure to enforce the implementation of the drainage plan on a new property nearby, resulting in the recent cliff collapse, we are also concerned at the lack of any drainage assessment for this proposal.                                                                                                    Carried.

9b.          PA20/03817 : Listed Building Consent for repairs to two small areas of flat roof.  The Gate House Chapel Point Lane                 Portmellon Mevagissey PL26 6PR

Proposed by Cllr. Gann, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that the Council supports the application.                                                                                              Carried.

9c.           PA20/02753 : Listed Building consent for High level maintenance works as approved under applications:    PA18/00889 and PA17/00212.  11 And 13 Polkirt Hill Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6UR

Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Gann that the Council supports the application.                                                                                              Carried.

9d.          PA20/00723 : Retrospective permission for a shed and lower deck area (amended plans).  7 Polkirt Heights                 Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6TT

                Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that the Council maintains its objection.  The proposed planting will make little difference to the harm caused within the Conservation Area by the raised terracing and shed substantially extending the built form into the lower levels of the garden.                                                              Carried.

              9e.           PA20/01009/PREAPP : Pre application advice to remove existing pitched roof to ground floor extension and replace with suitable flat roof to form outside terrace/balcony.  5 River Terrace River Street Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall                 PL26 6UG             (Not a consultation).                                                                                                                           Noted.

                9f.           To consider planning enforcement cases (Cllrs. Gann and Simpson).

i) Property 1 at Portmellon. Enforcement case EN20/00602 has been registered.  The details of the case will be brought to the attention of other consultees to the original planning application.

ii) Property 2 at Portmellon. Planning enforcement declined to register a case.  Further details will be sent with a request to reconsider.

iii)         Landscaping at properties on School Hill.  The Council’s earlier letter to the Head of Planning had been        passed down to the Area Planning Manager whose reply was unsatisfactory.  This will be escalated to the CC Chief Executive, copied to senior officers and Steve Double MP.

iv) WC and boat storage at Portmellon car park.    Simpson said that the on-site toilets had not been completed but ‘The Shack’ was open for business, creating a demand for toilets which was not being met.   Also, boat storage had continued beyond the permitted period.  Condition 5 of the planning approval states that ‘if any of structure hereby approved cease is left derelict for more than with 6 months, the said structure(s) shall be removed from the site in their entirety and the area returned to a car parking facility’      (sic).  The Council will write to the landowner to ask what his plans are.

9g.           The following planning decisions have been received (for information only):

PA20/02830 : Roof alteration and summer house.  2 Higher Lavorrick.                                                  APPROVED

PA20/02737 : Alterations and extension for dining area and utility.  Glen Lynn Tregoney Hill.         APPROVED

PA19/11011 : Retrospective Listed Building Consent for replacement roof.  11A Fore Street.          APPROVED

PA20/02171 : Partial demolition of unused barn and change of use to extend residential curtilage to accommodate the                 construction of an annexe for the applicants parents.  Treleaven Farm, The Lodge, Valley Road.     APPROVED

10. To approve the monthly finances.

Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Facey that the accounts be accepted and the bills paid.           Carried.

11. Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that the 2019/20 Annual Accounts be approved. Carried.

12. Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that the 2019/20 Annual Accounting Statements be approved.    Carried.

13. Cllr. Whatty reported that the Climate Emergency Working Group had conducted a brief virtual meeting but there was nothing of significance to report.

14. The Council had serious concerns over an email sent to the Ward Member by the Veor Group which attempted to provide reassurances regarding improvements at the surgery but which left important questions unanswered. Proposed by Cllr. Gann, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan that the Council writes to Steve Double MP asking for his assistance in holding the Veor Group to account.              Carried.
    

15. The Council considered a resident’s request to reduce grass cutting of the Pentillie field and agreed that the area seaward of the coastal path could probably be left during the wildflower season. Cormac will be consulted on the feasibility of this.  Cllr. Whatty offered to meet Cormac on site.

16. Proposed by Cllr. Gann, Seconded by Cllr. Hereward that a grant of £1,000 be made to Cornwall Hospice Care.  Carried.

17. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Gann that the Council objects to the planning application for development of the Pendower Beach hotel site (PA20/03842) on the grounds that it would be out of keeping and a total change of character of the site.    Carried.

18. The Council has taken up CC’s offer of assistance to support reopening of the village centre by requesting some ‘advisory no access’ signs from the Highways Department together with a selection of display stickers and stencils for ground markings, and funding has been confirmed.

19. Cllr. Morgan withdrew during this item having declared an interest. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Nathan that a grant of £200 be made to the Mevagissey Museum School Project.     Carried.

20. The Council has been advised that Traffic Regulation Order(s) to ease vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the pandemic would not be possible, but advisory signs would be appropriate (see minute 18 above). These would read Social Distancing measures in centre.  Access only ahead.  Please use car parks.

21. The meeting ended at 10pm. Date of next meeting: 16 July 2020 (virtual meeting unless advised otherwise).

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