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Minutes of a meeting of
Cornwall Park Homes Forum
Held at St Erme Community Centre, St Erme, Truro
On 24 October 2014
Attendees
Forum Committee
Derek CordierChair
Dianne EadeVice-Chair
Vicki BrayTreasurer
Eileen RichardsonSecretary
Richard AllenCommittee member
Ronald SwadeCommittee member
Kenneth WashbrookCommittee Member
Apologies received from
Shirley BowdenCommittee Member
Other park home residents
Approximately 125 residents of park homes on residential park in Cornwall attended. Some registered as contacts between their parks and the forum. More offers of that service would be very welcome.
On behalf of Cornwall Council
Mark O’Brien, Cornwall Council Community Network Manager
Claire Arymar, member of Community Network team
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Minutes
1Mark O’Brien informed attendees of the location of toilets, fire exits, fire extinguishers and emergency assembly point.
2Keetley Theron, on behalf of Coast Insurance Services, addressed those present, informing them of all aspects of Coast’s insurance policies, which are underwritten by Zurich.
3Derek Cordier (Chair, Cornwall Park Homes Forum) informed those present that Cornwall Council cannot permanently finance the forum, so it was necessary to charge a small membership fee. Coast Insurance have given a generous amount in sponsorship, funds are needed for essential expenses, including rental of premises for meetings. IPHAS and NAPHRA have both indicated that they think the establishment of a Park Homes Forum specifically for Cornwall is beneficial to residents.
The Chairman assured those present at the meeting that the Forum actively encourages the setting up of Residents Associations and will be available to advise any park home resident or group on how to go about it, and of the terms for being a Qualifying Residents Association.
The Forum website is now available for viewing.
4Vicki Bray, treasurer, announced that the Forum now has a bank account.
5SPEAKERS
A park home resident
A resident of a park in Cornwall described the situation residents on that park are currently experiencing. The speaker, a long standing resident, said the park was well run for many years until it changed ownership. The new owners placed very old shabby caravans on vacant plots, and rented them out to tenants, many of whom make life difficult for their neighbours. Now there is a problem with dangerous dogs, violent behaviour and illegal drugs. Police have been involved many times. Residents wrote to members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, National Association of Park Home Residents and the local authority and are weary of making futile efforts to have their problems resolved.
Several other residents spoke saying they, too, had problems on their parks, that need addressing. Some said they were not getting the support they need, within a reasonable period of time after notifying Cornwall Council. Vick Bray, treasurer, who was on the steering committee that set up Cornwall Park Homes Forum, said there is strength in numbers, and the Forum, now that it is up and running, and has established good relationships with the Council, will be in a position to help make their voices heard.
Graham Bailey, Cornwall Council’s Senior Licensing Officer (also Health and Safety Inspector)addressed the meeting. Points made were:
The licensing department has only three staff including the Senior Licensing Officer. They do regular inspection of mobile home parks.
Legislation, since 1960, has been that a site license can only be revoked after three successful prosecutions for breaches of license conditions. Some experienced shrewd park owners have transferred their licenses to other persons prior to a prosecution, to avoid losing control of their park. The Council has no legal power to apply a fit and proper test to a license that is already held in a person’s name. Government is still undecided whether to introduce the test. Once issued for a park, the license conditions cannot be upgraded unless there is significant change in the nature and use of the park.
The Licensing department successfully prosecuted park owners over breaches at St Dominic and PlanetParks. Magistrates imposed substantial fines, but the owners have substantial funds, sufficient for employing the services of barristers. Another park owner is due to appear in court next week.
Some residents who have alerted the Council of bad maintenance of parks have complained of not getting satisfaction from the Council in reasonable time.
Colin Poole, a Park Manager
Richard Allen, Committee Member, lives on CosawesPark which has 115 homes and 174 residents. He said the park is well run and maintained. He introduced the park manager, Colin Poole.
Colin Poole told the persons present that he does not represent the owner or residents. He sees the role of a manager as being a bridge of communication between the two. He appreciates that some residents of mobile home parks have serious problems.
Colin said he would talk about the impact of the new Mobile Homes Act on Park Owners. There is a sense, amongst them, that good owners are being punished for the activities of UnacceptablePark owners. An example was that a park owner may not have involvement in the sale of a privately owned home. He does not think that is good for residents who have good park owners. The park he manages used to be available to market homes for sale, if that was requested by the home owner. Now under the new legislation residents selling up have little choice but to pay commission to estate agents.
Colin is encouraged to read that Cornwall Park Homes Forum will publicise the good parks and their owners.
6QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION
In reply to questions:
Graham Bailey said each year the cost of the site license may be passed to residents, but not added to the pitch fee. It must be a annual separate charge, to prevent It being added (plus RPI) the following year,
Councillor Jim Candy said Councillors need to know when people they represent have problems that the Council can deal with. He urged residents to contact their councillor if they feel the service they receive is unsatisfactory or not provided in a reasonable period of time. He suggested that those who use the internet contact their councillor by email, as that is better than telephoning when the councillor is not at home, and he can read about the problem, making it easier to take in the details than if it is related verbally.
Mark O’Brien, Cornwall Council Community Network Manager, said the Council was involved in establishing the Cornwall Park Homes Forum. Council funds are limited so he does not know how much financial support the Council can give on a permanent basis. It will however continue to work with and support the forum and all park home residents in Cornwall. There is a park homes section on the Council website.
The meeting closed at 5 pm. The committee extend thanks to all who attended.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
To be notified. Hopefully it will be in January 2015. The decision of a suitable date might be dependant on the winter road conditions in the County.