MEVAGISSEY PARISH COUNCIL

http://mevagisseyparishcouncil.co.uk/

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

On Thursday 17 October at 7pm

 

Present              Cllrs. M Roberts (Chairman), T Barron, J Blackmore, M Facey, J Gann, L Hereward, J Morgan, H Nathan, K Robinson, G Shephard, P Simpson, J Whatty.

 

In Attendance      Cllr. J Mustoe (Ward Member), P Howson (Clerk), Jo Harley (Gilbert & Goode), 8 members of the public.

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UNRATIFIED UNLESS SIGNED

 

1. Apologies were received from Cllrs. Daniel and Florence. Cllr. Facey would have to leave at 8.30pm.

 

2. Cllr. Whatty declared an interest in agenda item 7d (Vicarage Hill development).

 

3. Helen Whatty, Charles Addison and Roger Mitchell spoke on agenda item 7d, urging the Council to maintain their objection to the Vicarage Hill planning application. Jo Harley of Gilbert & Goode, the applicant, summarised the benefits of the scheme as now proposed.

Lisa McLeod spoke on agenda item 7a, against the proposed demolition and replacement of Centernhay Cottage.

Richard Alton spoke on agenda item 7c, objecting to the proposed extension of Rowards.

 

4. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2019 be accepted.                                                                                                                                Carried.

 

5. To receive the Clerk’s report.

• The police website shows 7 crimes reported in August as follows: 5 x violence and sexual offences (under investigation in Chapel Street, River Street car park, The Cliff and Portmellon car park, and investigation complete        but no suspect identified in River Street car park); 1 x shoplifting (under investigation near River Street car park); 1 x             anti-social behaviour in West Wharf);
• Letters of thanks were received from the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust and the Merlin Centre for grants made;
• Eight expressions of interest in allotments had been received (plus one from a neighbouring parish). Members were asked to consider whether any suitable land might be available and report at the next meeting;
• Old Road will be closed 21-22 October between the Tregiskey crossroads and the mini-roundabout for jetting works;
• The Planning Authority had disagreed with the Council’s reasons for objecting to PA19/07066 (roof balcony at 28 Tregony Hill) and the Council voted 5:4 to ‘agree to disagree’ rather than call the application in to committee;
• The letter sent to the owner of Steep House as instructed had produced no reply to date;
• Following a report from Cllr. Simpson that work had resumed on Steep House with several deliveries of stone having been made, Planning Enforcement said that the outstanding enforcement case was unchanged and that the case officer would be made aware of this development.

 

6. The Ward Member presented his report, including that:

• He has reported broken benches at Penwarne Lane and Cliff Park and awaits action by Cormac;
• He has obtained agreement from Highways for a footway improvement in Wesley Court to improve pedestrian access (see agenda item 15);
• Surfers Against Sewage’s Autumn Clean week includes a Mevagissey Harbour Clean at 10am on Friday 25th October. All welcome, meet at the Jetty;
• He received complaints from residents of Cliff Street and Battery Terrace about access being restricted by parking on Cliff Street, and advised them to ask the Council to include this area in the next Community Highways Scheme;
• Following a meeting with the Surgery, Cllr Roberts and CC’s Director of Communities, the Director is considering ways of devolving Kiers Carpark to the Parish Council in the future;
• He, with Cllr Roberts, met the Business Partner for the Surgery who confirmed that the transition to the new owners (Veor) had gone very well, with a new salaried GP and 2 urgent care practitioners due to start soon and further recruitment for a Community Psychiatric Nurse, a Physiotherapist, and multiple Practice Nurses. They attributed the ease of filling vacancies to the high profile of the surgery following the Mevagissey SOS Campaign;
• The shed at Trewinney has finally been handed over to the Feast Week Committee along with a small devolution fund from Cornwall Council;
• The Mevagissey Community Action Group was again recognised at the recent Cornwall Community Volunteer Awards at the Eden Project. Thanks to everyone who volunteers and particularly Cllr Blackmore, who was recognised, and also Aza Adlam who was recognised as an ‘unsung hero’ in that category;
• Finally, he was delighted to be shortlisted, along with five others, for the Community Champion Award as part of the Local Government Information Unit Awards 2019, from among hundreds of councillors nominated across the country. The awards ceremony is on 5th November.

 

The full report is on the Parish Council’s website.

 

7. To consider Planning Applications.

 

7a.        PA19/08137 : Proposed demolition and replacement of existing dwelling. Centernhay Cottage 1 Tregoney Court Mevagissey PL26 6RN. Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Morgan that the Council objects to the proposal which would be overbearing and cause a loss of privacy for neighbouring properties, and would be out of character and not sympathetic with its surroundings (NDP Policy D1 – Development proposals will be supported where they harmonise with their surroundings [and] do not intrude into prominent views).                                               Carried.

 

7b.        PA19/08437 : Erection of single storey orangery to rear of property. 9 Polkirt Heights Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6TT. Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Hereward that the Council objects to the proposal. The property has no permitted development rights, lies within the Conservation Area, and is highly visible from the harbour area and beyond (NDP Policy HC1 – Development in Conservation Areas will be supported where it preserves or enhances the historic character and appearance and complies with National Policy and Policy 24 of the Cornwall Local Plan).                                                                                                                    Carried.

 

7c.        PA19/08522 : Proposed extension. Rowards Chapel Point Lane Portmellon Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6PP. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Blackmore that the Council objects to the application. The size and design of the proposed development is not in keeping with this Area of Special Character (NDP Policy HC2). There is also a lack of clarity about the nature of the proposed art gallery and exhibition room. A revised design with less bulk and more in keeping with the character of the area is likely to be more acceptable.                   Carried.

 

7d.        PA18/09651 : Residential development comprising 26 units. Land At Vicarage Hill Mevagissey (to reconsider following revisions to submitted plans). Cllr. Whatty left the meeting for the duration of this item, having declared an interest. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Facey that the Council maintains its objection to this application. The proposed development would have a very substantial impact on the AONB and, being on a ridgeline, would be very difficult to screen. There would also be a substantial increase in traffic which would negatively impact residents dependent on Vicarage Hill for access to their properties. Previous phases of development by the applicant were set lower and were far less obtrusive, whereas this would be highly visible from all directions, particularly because of its scale. It should be noted that government advice in this area seems to be more suited to suburban environments and therefore of limited relevance here.                                                Carried.

 

7e.        PA19/05311 | Submission of details to discharge conditions 5, 8 and 9 in respect of decision notice PA18/08553. | Land Adjacent 38 Kiln Close Mevagissey PL26 6TP (to reconsider following site visit). Proposed by Cllr. Gann, Seconded by Cllr. Blackmore that the Council is content to withdraw its previous objection on condition that the gabions be filled with Cornish stone and plugged with appropriate plantings, and remain unclad; and that the existing screening from trees along the south-western edge of the site is extended with further plantings of trees of comparable maturity.                                                                                                               Carried.

 

7f.         Proposed by Cllr. Whatty, Seconded by Cllr. Nathan that the Council would support a revised application for the development on land adjacent 38 Kiln Close comprising agreed changes to the car parking area, the realignment of the steps, the realignment of the higher retaining wall and the consequent repositioning of units 1-3.     Carried.

 

7g.        PA19/02430/PREAPP : Pre-application advice for changes to a listed building. 11 Tregoney Hill Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6RD (for information only).

 

7h.        The following planning enforcement cases remain at the stage of ‘working to find an appropriate outcome’:

EN19/00832 : Alleged works not being carried out in accordance with approved plans. Steep House, Portmellon

EN19/01320 : Alleged installation of stand-alone solar equipment. 7 Battery Terrace.

EN14/02115 : ‘Untidy site’. 11 Polkirt Hill

 

7i.        Cllr. Gann highlighted various structures which have appeared below no. 7 Polkirt Heights, within full view of the harbour, on a site within the Conservation Area and without permitted development rights. Proposed by Cllr. Gann,         Seconded by Cllr. Whatty that a breach of planning be reported.                                                          Carried.

 

7j.        The following planning applications have been approved (included for information only):

 

PA19/07227 : Renovation of one outhouse into garden room and replace existing decking with composite decking   with glass balustrade. Landscape of whole garden area. 2 Coastguard Station Mall

PA19/01465 : Erection of single storey detached welfare building to include housing of a rescue vehicle for the         coastguard. Land North Of Valley Road Football Pitch

PA19/07066 : Retrospective works for the erection of a glass and stainless steel balcony extending a short distance   from dormer window to edge of roofline to the rear of the property. 28 Tregoney Hill Mevagissey PL26 6RE

 

7k.        The following appeal against refusal has been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate:

PA18/07894 : Removal of self contained annexe and erection of a new dwellinghouse with associated parking.        Sunny Croft Ava Mevagissey PL26 6RY

 

8. To approve the monthly finances.

 

Bills to Pay	Salaries	£	666.73
	HMRC (PAYE & NIC)	£	182.38
	Operate Valley Road PC October 2019	£	978.54
	Operate West Wharf PC October 2019	£	1,039.58
	Valley Road PC electricity 04/06/19 – 30/09/19	£	70.71
	W. Wharf PC September waste collections	£	74.93
	TOTAL	£	3,012.87
Accounts	Amount available to spend as of last meeting	£	67,318.48
	Expenditure last month	£	4,989.65
	plus Valley Rd PC water 02/08/19 – 31/08/19)	£	496.61
	St John Ambulance (grant)	£	200.00
	Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust (grant)	£	200.00
	Merlin Centre (grant)	£	200.00
	Precept and CTS Grant (2nd payment)	£	38,202.82		Received
	Bank interest	£	34.61		Received
	Balance (money in bank)	£	99,469.65
	Available to spend	£	99,469.65
	Bank Statements (01/10/2019)
	Current Account			£	310.86
	Deposit Account			£	99,158.79
	TOTAL			£	99,469.65

 

Proposed by Cllr. Gann, Seconded by Cllr. Nathan that the accounts be accepted and the bills paid.                       Carried.

 

9. Cllr. Gann reported that various options of progressing a Community Land Trust were being pursued and dialogue with several landowners was ongoing.

 

10. Cllr. Facey asked that members consider at the next meeting whether to continue operating the disabled toilet on West Wharf during the winter months, given the cost of keeping it open for what was clearly a low level of usage. Cllr. Facey left the meeting after this item.

 

11. Cllr. Shephard reported that the Climate Emergency Working Group meeting had been postponed to next week.

 

12. Cllr. Morgan reported that discussions with a waterside business were ongoing for the deployment of another publicly accessible defibrillator.

 

13. Proposed by Cllr. Barron, Seconded by Cllr. Nathan that a grant of £200 be paid to ‘Little Nippers’ for the purchase of gifts for children attending the annual Christmas party in the Social Club on 14^th December.             Carried.

 

14. It was agreed that the ‘free parking’ day in Cornwall Council’s car parks in the village should be Saturday 7^th December to coincide with the switching on of the Christmas lights.

 

15. Proposed by Cllr. Hereward, Seconded by Cllr. Nathan that the Council approves of the proposed footway improvement in Wesley Court close to the junction with Fore Street.                                                 Carried.

 

16. The Council considered a request to plant a shrub or make a donation towards planting in the war memorial garden.

Proposed by Cllr. Morgan, Seconded by Cllr. Blackmore that a donation should be accepted for an appropriate planting to be selected by Cllrs. Nathan and Mustoe.                                                                                Carried.

 

17. The meeting ended at 9.30pm. Date of next meeting: 21 November 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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