MEVAGISSEY PARISH COUNCIL

www.mevagisseypcc.co.uk

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

On Thursday 21 September 2017 at 7pm.

Present: Cllrs. M Roberts (Chairman), Julian Barron, T Barron, J Blackmore, J Daniel, M Facey, H Nathan, G Shephard.

In Attendance: Cllr. J Mustoe (Cornwall Council [CC] Ward Member), John Schuttkacker, Justin Dodge and Melanie Chiswell Brooks of Westcountry Land, P Howson (Clerk), 10 members of the public.

                                  .

UNRATIFIED UNLESS SIGNED

 

1. Apologies were received from Cllrs. N Florence, J Morgan, J Whatty, Jade Barron and K Robinson.

The Chairman announced that Dawn Speed had resigned from the Council for personal reasons on 14 September.

 

2. Cllr. Daniel declared an interest in agenda item 10f (planning application for Curlews).

Cllrs. T and J Barron declared an interest in agenda item 10d (planning application for Higher Polstreath).

 

3. It was noted that no Police Report had been received for the period.

 

4. The Chairman brought agenda item 9 forward, and Messrs John Schuttkacker and Justin Dodge of Westcountry Land presented their proposals for the next phase of development on land at School Hill, to comprise 12 houses with 6 being open market (all with 4 bedrooms) and 6 ‘affordable’ (2 x 1 bedroom, 2 x 2 bedroom, 2 x 3 bedroom). Recent changes to regulations mean that the affordable units will be larger than those just built (up from 50m² to 58 m²). The mix of affordable units (rented, shared ownership, etc) is yet to be decided, and Ms Chiswell Brooks would like to hear the Council’s views on this. Questions were taken from the Council and members of the public.

 

5. Public Participation. Mr Daniel Hunkin spoke on agenda item 14, urging the Council to remain aware of the high demand for affordable housing within the Parish. Mr Geoffrey Way spoke on agenda item 10j, referring to the recent planning refusal of the proposed development on open space land at Pentillie (PA17/02255) and thanking the Council for their continued support in this matter. Mr Michael Thorpe spoke on agenda item 10a to voice objections to the latest proposed development on land at 22 Portmellon Park.

 

6. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 August be accepted.                                                                                                                                     Carried.
7. The Clerk reported that:

• Having received from CC a demand for £2,219.56 for Business Rates for West Wharf PC for the period 20/06/17-01/04/18, he had arranged for the Council’s obligation to be switched to Valley Road PC, for which the rates are £566.65 for the full year;
• He has obtained from the Council’s bank a Business Deposit Card for paying in cash via the Post Office;
• Merchant Navy Day was marked by the hoisting of the Red Ensign on the quay following a short address by Capt. Hugh Bowles.

 

8. The Ward Member reported that:

• The Community Action Group cleared a lot of ground in the closed cemetery off Church Lane at the end of August;
• The crash barrier on School Hill is currently being replaced;
• Councillors within the Community Network Area are working for a Network-wide Traffic Regulation Order that will enable new yellow line parking restrictions to be introduced at reduced cost, hopefully including those identified within this parish;
• Plans for a scheme to repair the Cliff Street landslips are almost complete, with work due to start next year;
• The Three Bays Wildlife Group, with which he is involved, has worked with Surfers Against Sewage to arrange three beach cleans in October, at Caerhays on 22nd, Colona on 24th and Pentewan on 28th, with full details on Facebook;
• He met with Devon & Cornwall Police’s domestic violence and sexual abuse coordinator for Central Cornwall, and accompanied the police on patrol last Friday evening to understand better their priorities, both strategically and ‘on the ground’;
• He visited several properties in the flood zone and subsequently raised issues with South West Water for ongoing work to be programmed in for these sites;
• Following the refusal of the latest planning application for development on the open space at the heart of the Pentillie estate, he will be working to get this site back into Cornwall Council ownership to prevent further threats;
• South West Water have confirmed that rumours of road closures in London Apprentice are unfounded, and the planned works will require 2-way traffic management only;
• CC will be installing temporary radar units on the straight section of Tregoney Hill and on the Valley Road by the Net Lofts to assess the level of alleged speeding.

 

9. Correspondence received:

• Letter from Mr TW Battell of Portmellon Park enclosing a copy of his objection to PA17/07146 (land adjacent to 22 Portmellon Park);
• Letter from CC Revenues and Assessment re. Small Business Rate Relief;
• Email from Katherine Moseley, Akela of the Gorran and Mevagissey Scout Group for a grant of £250 towards kayaks and other equipment for the Cubs and Sea Scouts (agenda item 17);
• Letter from Mr Peter Hedger thanking the Council for their support in opposing development on the open space between       33 and 36 Pentillie.   The Chairman read out this letter to the Council.

 

10. To consider Planning and Licensing Applications.

 

10a.      PA17/07146 : Erection of a detached dwellinghouse and garage. Land Adjacent To No 22 Portmellon Park Mevagissey Cornwall PL26 6XD.   Proposed by Cllr. Daniel, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that the Council Objects to the application because cramming yet another building into the plot would constitute overdevelopment, and the cumulative impact would be unneighbourly.                                                                                     Carried.

 

10b.      PA17/08011 : Extension of existing rear dormer with bridge to connect loft floor to raised rear garden and front terrace with associated remodel. The Gables Trevarth Mevagissey PL26 6RX. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel that the Council Supports the application.                                                   Carried.

 

10c.      PA17/07846 : Two storey side extension to existing dormer bungalow with associated internal alterations. Hazeldene School Hill Mevagissey PL26 6TQ. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. T Barron that the Council Supports the application with the proviso that all new windows on the east elevation should be fitted with opaque glass.                                                                                                                                    Carried.

 

10d.      PA17/08108 : Demolition and replacement of rear conservatory extension and front porch area, new front entrance, new decking, render and associated landscape and ground works improvements. Higher Polstreath School Hill Mevagissey PL26 6TH. Cllrs. T and J Barron left the meeting for the duration of this item. Proposed by Cllr. Shephard, Seconded by Cllr. Nathan that the Council Supports the application.                                        Carried.

 

10e.      PA17/08395 : Demolition of existing Garage/ Workshop and single storey extension and construction of double and single storey extensions incorporating new garage. Nampara Penwarne Lane Mevagissey PL26 6PF.

The Council was unable to reach a decision on this application. The Clerk will arrange a site meeting with the Planning Officer and a decision deferred to the October meeting.

 

10f.       PA17/08606 : Mono pitch dormer to front elevation. Curlews Penwarne Lane Mevagissey PL26 6PF.

Cllr. Daniel left the meeting for the duration of this item. Proposed by Cllr. Facey, Seconded by Cllr. Shephard that the Council raises no objection to the application.                                                                           Carried.

 

10g.      PA17/02342/PREAPP : Pre-application advice for retrospective listed building consent for replacement of rotten windows and door. 2 Sea View Cottages Portmellon Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6PJ.             Noted.

 

10h.      PA17/02358/PREAPP : Pre application for Proposed residential development. Land West Of Trewinney Cemetery Vicarage Hill Mevagissey Cornwall PL26 7SZ. The Council expressed disappointment that questions asked of the applicant at the August meeting remained unanswered. The Clerk will arrange a further meeting.

 

10i.       PA17/02426/PREAPP : Pre-Application advice to remove cracked render to outside of property. 38 Cliff Street Mevagissey St Austell Cornwall PL26 6QJ.                                                                                          Noted.

 

10j.       The following planning decisions are noted (included for information only):

 

PA17/04546 : Loft conversion with dormers. Seafarers Watch 4 Coastguard Station Mall.          Approved.

PA17/07009 : New conservatory. Valley Side Valley Road.                                                               Approved.

PA17/02255 : Proposed Dormer Bungalow on open space between 33 and 37 Pentillie Way.       Refused

 

10k.      The following Planning Enforcement cases have been notified (included for information only):

 

EN17/01597 : Alleged unauthorised works to Grade II listed building. 10 Fore Street. No breach found. Closed.

EN17/01745 : Installation of a large window. 50 Cliff Street.

 

10l.       The following Planning Enforcement cases have been closed (included for information only):

 

EN17/00972 : Alleged breach of construction management plan for delivery times which was approved under PA16/08365 which discharged condition 4 (Construction Management Plan condition) of PA15/03079. Land North Of Moonfleet School Hill. No breach found.

 

Cllr. Mustoe left the meeting at this point.

 

11. To approve the monthly finances.

 

Bills to Pay	MAC (room hire 19/01/17 – 20/07/17)	£	204.00
	Mr D Readman (LMP – 2nd cut)	£	160.30
	Operate West Wharf PC 01/09/17-30/09/17	£	1,452.16
	Operate Valley Road PC 01/07/17-30/09/17)	£	2,519.67
	West Wharf PC electricity costs 21/06/17-01/09/17	£	72.84
	External Audit for 2016-17	£	360.00
	Valley Rd. PC water charge 02/08/17-06/09/17	£	906.37
	West Wharf PC water charge 02/08/17-06/09/17	£	983.08
	Salaries	£	648.13
	HMRC (PAYE & NIC)	£	206.36
	Valley Road PC rates 2017/18	£	566.65
	TOTAL	£	8,079.56
Accounts	Amount available to spend as of last meeting	£	56,689.80
	Expenditure last month	£	4,026.28
	West Wharf PC entry charges	£	1,518.50		Received
	Balance (money in bank)	£	54,182.02
	Available to spend	£	54,182.02
	Bank Statements (01/09/2017):
	Current Account			£	1,905.91
	Deposit Account			£	52,276.11
	TOTAL			£	54,182.02

 

The addition of the Valley Road PC rates, not on the agenda, was noted.

Proposed by Cllr. T Barron, Seconded by Cllr. Daniel that the accounts be accepted and the bills paid.     Carried.

 

12. Cllr. Shephard reported that the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) had completed its first major stage under CC’s scrutiny and was now a legal document. A six-week consultation period begins on 27 September, and copies of the Plan will be available for inspection at the Kings Arms and the MAC. CC will then appoint an Inspector and, if the decision is favourable, a referendum will be held next Spring.

 

13. The Chairman and Cllr. Shephard had attended the 14 September meeting of the Community Network Panel. The Chairman reported that the Network Panels are undergoing revision, with more focus on the areas they cover. Cllr. Shephard reported that he had presented an item on affordable housing, asking whether subsidies should be increased, as a result of which other Network Panels across Cornwall will be approached to establish a consensus with a view to influencing future CC policy.

 

14. The Chairman reported on the recent meeting with Rebecca Jacob and John Warner of Cornwall Homechoice, which is reviewing its policy; the Register has been reduced in size and the inclusion criteria tightened up. Cllr. Shephard reported that there were now 59 applications relevant to people who qualify and would choose to live in the Parish; of these, 28 have Mevagissey as their first choice, but 21 did not choose Mevagissey at all, but are included because they have some connection, eg they were born here or have family living here. This item to remain on the agenda.

 

15. Cllr. Facey reported that £5,104 had been raised so far this year by charging at the West Wharf public conveniences, and pledges from local businesses would bring the total to nearly £11,000. Vandalism, blocking of toilets, and theft of supplies continued to be a problem. West Wharf PC will be closed at the beginning of November, although the disabled facility may remain open if sufficient volunteers step forward to clean it. The operation of both West Wharf and Valley Road PCs will be reviewed at the October meeting with a view to setting policy and budget for 2018.

 

16. Local councils have been asked to provide comments for input to CC’s Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Committee Waste Collection and Cleansing Contract Inquiry. It was agreed that with a high seagull population and many small properties with limited storage space, anything less frequent than weekly refuse collections would be unacceptable; and that street cleaning operatives should be allowed to use their initiative and local knowledge in performing their duties, and no longer be subject to prescriptive edicts imposed by their employer.

 

17. Proposed by Cllr. T Barron, Seconded by Cllr. Facey that a grant of £250 towards the purchase of kayaks and other equipment be made to the Gorran and Mevagissey Scout Group. Carried.

Cllr. Mustoe has indicated that he would match this sum from his Community Chest fund.

 

18. The meeting ended at 9.10pm. Date of next meeting: 19 October 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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