MEVAGISSEY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Mevagissey Activity Centre
On Thursday 21 May 2015 at 7pm.
Present Cllrs. M Roberts (Chair), M Facey, J Whatty, S Hrydziuszka, G Shephard, T Barron, J Arthur, J Daniel,
J Morgan, E Chesterfield.
In Attendance Cllr. J Mustoe (CC), PCSO A Hemming, PJ Howson (Clerk), 10 members of the public,
.
UNRATIFIED UNLESS SIGNED
1a. Apologies received: Cllrs. A Williams, J Barron.
2a. Declarations of interest. None. 2b. Gift Declarations. None.
- Police Report. PCSO Hemming presented his report for the period 14 April – 17 May, detailing just one reported crime: a domestic burglary involving the theft of a small outboard motor from a property by the harbour. PCSO Hemming thanked the Council and the Public for their support over the past year, and presented his annual report for the area he covers, of which Mevagissey is a part, showing that reported crime is falling in the area.
The Chairman summarised recent incidents at Portmellon involving criminal damage to the dog ban signs resulting in police intervention, during the course of which it had emerged that there was no legal basis for attempted circumvention of the dog ban by claiming that “permission from the owner” had been granted.
- Points from the Public.
Ms Rose Hardisty of The Headlands spoke against the proposed extension to Pentillie House (Agenda item 9a), which would result in a loss of privacy from all the new windows overlooking their garden, and asked the Council to ensure that a decision was not allowed to be taken under delegated powers. Mr Chris Hatt, who lives directly opposite the access to Pentillie, also spoke against the proposal, not only for the sheer size and scale of it, but also for the impact of increased traffic and pressure on parking spaces.
Mss Jan Johnson and Rosemary Ashton spoke in opposition to the proposed bungalow in the garden of 13 Higher Well Park (Agenda item 9j). They live next door and their plans to sell up have been disrupted by the proposal.
Mr Gary Blackmore, Mr John Pearce, Ms Anthea McNeill and Ms Helen Blamey, all of Penwarne Lane, from which access to the proposed bungalow is planned, all spoke against the proposal, stating that the lane was privately owned by the residents and the applicant had no legal right of access, and that construction work would block the lane.
- Minutes. Proposed by Cllr. Arthur, Seconded by Cllr. Hrydziuszka that the Minutes of 30 April 2015 be Accepted. Carried.
- Actions from previous meeting:
2015/03/20: Mr Ray Green has kindly agreed to stop the village clock in readiness for the required adjustments.
2015/04/15: Cllr. Mustoe had confirmed approval of a Community Chest grant for the Mevagissey Bowls Club, so a matching cheque from the Parish Council was now being issued.
2015/04/5j: A comment has been submitted against PA15/02977 in support of St Ewe PC’s opposition to the proposed CC wind turbine at Levalsa.
- Ward Member’s report. Cllr. Mustoe has secured CC agreement to move a waste bin from the surgery car park to the side of the post office to alleviate the lack of waste bins around the harbour. He will deal with other items as they arise from the agenda during the course of the meeting.
- Correspondence received.
- Letter from Home-Start Kernow requesting support (Agenda item 14);
- Letter from St Peter’s Church thanking the Council for the grant towards the Parish Magazine;
- Letter from the MAC thanking the Council for the grant, which will go towards lift maintenance;
- Copy of letter sent by the Hardisty family to CC objecting to PA15/03515 (Agenda item 9a);
- Letter from Colin Pound of Truro Crown Post Office advising that Mevagissey Post Office will close on 26 August and an alternative site has not been found; and asking for a meeting to discuss the situation.
Cllr. Mustoe reported that he had taken up the threat to the post office at national level and a meeting had been arranged in Westminster for next week between Steve Double MP and the PO. Cllr. Morgan cited “The Pub is the Hub” model for provision of a limited service, and Cllr. Chesterfield suggested that a partnership with, say, the Lifeboat Shop might be mutually beneficial. The Clerk was actioned to arrange a meeting with Colin Pound as soon as possible.
- Planning.
9a. PA15/03515 : Two storey extension to rear of property to extend kitchen and bathroom to existing ground floor flat, create a double garage, utility room and workshop, three no. 1 bedroom self-contained flats to first floor level and two no. 1 bedroom self-contained flats to attic area. Pentillie House School Hill Mevagissey Cornwall PL26 6TQ
Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Facey that the Council OPPOSES this proposal for the following reasons: overdevelopment of the site; not in keeping with surrounding properties; not in scale with surrounding properties; too close to houses in Beach Road; insufficient provision for parking, which will further increase pressure on street parking spaces in Beach Road and Pentillie; loss of privacy and light for neighbouring properties; difficult access from narrow, single lane road; impact on adjacent wooded area, including loss of light for trees; aggravation of existing problems with the main sewer; history of problems associated with single male tenants of this property. Carried.
9b. PA15/03783 : Living room and porch extension. 14 Summerfield Close Mevagissey Cornwall PL26 6QD
Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that the Council SUPPORTS this proposal. Carried.
9c. PA15/03624 : Works to trees subject to a tree preservation order. Crown raise horse chestnut to 4-5 metres. 10{c8c3b3d140ed11cb7662417ff7b2dc686ffa9c2daf0848ac14f76e68f36d0c20} reduction and thin. Park Cottage Portmellon Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6PL
Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr. Arthur that the Council SUPPORTS this proposal conditional on the work being carried out under the supervision of the Tree Officer. Carried.
9d. PA15/03181 : Demolition of existing derelict dwelling and the front wall and the erection of a five bedroom dwelling house with roof accommodation and basement garage. Tremellyn 59 Polkirt Hill Mevagissey Cornwall PL26 6UR
Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Whatty that the Council OBJECTS to this proposal. Changes to the access arrangements to the basement garage have been made, but the overall design of the proposed replacement building remains unchanged. The Council maintains its previous position, that what is being proposed is not as good as what is currently there, and any rebuild should be identical to the existing building with the same level of detail, rather than the proposed cod Victoriana in imitation of the property four doors away; that to compare the proposed building to others nearby is specious because the existing building is of a better design than those nearby; that to allow a house to become derelict in order to replace it with something different is unacceptable; and that what is currently a two storey building would be replaced with what is effectively a four storey building. This is an architecturally distinctive building in a prominent position overlooking the harbour setting, and it deserves better.
Carried.
9e. PA15/03086 : Proposed conversion of store and workshop to provide dwelling. Yard Adjacent To 28 Church Street Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6SP.
Proposed by Cllr. Chesterfield, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel that the Council SUPPORTS this proposal. Carried.
9f. PA15/03423 : Listed building consent for proposed conversion of store and workshop to provide dwelling.
28 Church Street Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6SP
Proposed by Cllr. Chesterfield, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel that the Council SUPPORTS this proposal. Carried.
9g. PA15/03844 : Installation of new conservatory to rear of 4 Polkirt Heights. 4 Polkirt Heights Mevagissey PL26 6TT
Proposed by Cllr. Arthur, Seconded by Cllr. Facey that the Council SUPPORTS this proposal. Carried.
9h. PA15/01364/PREAPP : Pre application advice for 1 bedroom chalet-style property.
4 Battery Terrace Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6QS
Proposed by Cllr. T Barron, Seconded by Cllr. Hrydziuszka that the Council would OBJECT to a proposal of this nature. It would set a precedent for inappropriate development which would be unacceptable in any of this row of properties overlooking the harbour. Carried.
9i. PA15/01314/PREAPP : Pre application advice for a new row of houses which is to be a mixed development of affordable and open market homes. Land South East Of 16 Polkirt Heights Mevagissey Cornwall.
Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that a proposal of this type would not have the support of Mevagissey Parish Council, who consider both the design and the location to be inappropriate, and who have concerns over the additional traffic which it would generate through the already congested village centre. Carried.
9j. PA15/00385/PREAPP : Pre application advice for erection of bungalow with garage under in garden. 13 Higher Well Park Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6XA. Consideration following site visit and outline plans.
Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Chesterfield that Mevagissey Parish Council considers this proposed garden development to be unneighbourly and an overdevelopment of the site, and would set a precedent for similar proposals. A full application would not have the support of the Council. Carried.
9k. To consider draft proposals for the lower site at Ava. Two buildings proposed, one comprising 4 x 2 bed flats and 1 x 4 bed penthouse flat, the other being a detached 3 bedroom house. Clerk to arrange a further meeting with the applicant.
The following planning decisions have been published (included for information only):
9l. PA15/01756 : New side conservatory. 15 Cliff Street. Approved.
9m. PA15/02985 : Discharge of condition 3 of approval ref: PA14/05830. Cheesewarne Farm. Approved.
9n. PA15/02877 : Extension and alterations. Auraville, Trevarth. Approved.
9o. PA15/03296 : Demolition and replacement of existing dwelling. Centernhay, Tregoney Ct. Withdrawn.
9p. PA15/01362/PREAPP : Pre application advice for conversion/renovation of property to form residential/holiday studio. Old Net Loft Dunns Yard Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6UR.
This Preapp was too late for the agenda and was included for information. The consensus was broadly supportive.
- Finances
| Bills to Pay | Salaries | £ | 647.38 | |||||
| HMRC (Income Tax & NIC) | £ | 207.67 | ||||||
| Integral Print Services (for Neighbourhood Plan) | £ | 122.60 | ||||||
| Mevagissey Bowls Club (grant) | £ | 250.00 | ||||||
| Zurich Municipal Insurance (annual premium) | £ | 582.06 | ||||||
| TOTAL | £ | 1,809.71 | ||||||
| Accounts | Amount available to spend as of last meeting | £ | 17,241.58 | |||||
| Expenditure last month | £ | 5,297.84 | ||||||
| plus Feast Week grant | £ | 1,000.00 | ||||||
| plus Complete Weed Control (first spraying) | £ | 360.00 | ||||||
| Precept & CTS Grant (1st payment) | £ | 16,511.20 | received | |||||
| Public conveniences fund contribution | £ | 150.00 | received | |||||
| Balance (money in bank) | £ | 30,404.94 | ||||||
| Unpresented cheques (101172, 73, 75,76) | £ | 3,160.00 | ||||||
| Available to spend | £ | 27,244.94 | ||||||
| Bank Statements (01/05/2015): | ||||||||
| Current Account | £ | 3,273.82 | ||||||
| Deposit Account | £ | 27,131.12 | ||||||
| TOTAL | £ | 30,404.94 | ||||||
Proposed by Cllr. Arthur, Seconded by Cllr. Hrydziuszka that the accounts be accepted and the bills paid. Carried.
- Neighbourhood Plan – update. Cllr. Shephard reported that the steering group consultation period for the draft Plan ends tomorrow (22 May). There have been many responses from various CC consultees which will result in a number of revisions. A closed meeting is arranged for Thursday 2nd July at 7pm for the revised Plan to be presented to the full Council.
- Funding for public toilets. Cllr. Facey summarised progress on fund raising. A cheque for £300 has been received from Mill Garage, Pentewan. Cllr. Roberts to establish whether the Parish Council would have the option to take over the management of the West Wharf toilets from CC, or whether they would unconditionally revert to the Harbour Trustees.
- Ownership and maintenance of finger signposts at either end of Chapel Square. The signs were originally donated directly to the Parish. Cormac have quoted £624 for renovation. Clerk to seek an alternative quote.
- To consider request from Home-Start Kernow for support. Clerk to write informing the charity of the Council’s ‘Parish only’ policy.
- To fill casual vacancy for Councillor by co-option. Mrs Dawn Speed was co-opted to the Council.
- The meeting ended at 9.40pm. Date of next meeting : 18 June 2015
Signed …………………………………………………………………………….. Dated ………………………………