MYLOR PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the MEETING of Mylor Parish Council held on Monday 5th January 2015, in the Village Club, Flushing commencing at 7.30pm.
PRESENT: Councillor J Symons (Chairman) Councillors G Bray, B Bridges, A Deacon, H Hall, P Polglase, J Robson, N Rogers, J Whiteley,
M Willmore
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs A Pentecost (Clerk)
PCSO Chris Braddon
3 members of the public
001/15 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Councillors M Burden, S Heard, M Jewell and T Martin
002/15 MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY AND/OR NON PECUNIARY INTERESTS RELATING TO ITEMS ON THE AGEND AND TO CONSIDER WRITTEN REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION.
None
003/15 POLICING THE PARISH
PCSO Braddon gave his report to the meeting. The Community Speed Watch programme was ongoing, but it could do with a couple of new members as currently there were only 6. It was suggested that this be promoted in the Parish magazine and Councillor Robson would include it in her monthly report. It could also go into Flushing Matters.
The Chairman asked whether PCSO Braddon would be able to come along to any surgeries, if it was agreed that these should take place. PCSO Braddon asked that further details be given to him when it had been decided. It was further reported to him that there were some vehicles parking on a blind bend opposite the junction at Arnheim Terrace. He then left the meeting at 1936hrs, having wished all present a happy new year.
004/15 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING MEETINGS HELD ON 24th NOVEMBER AND 1ST DECEMBER 2014
On the proposition of Councillor Willmore, seconded by Councillor Deacon, the minutes of
the planning meetings held on 24th November and 1st December 2014 were approved and signed.
005/15 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL PRECEPT SETTING MEETING ON 15TH DECEMBER 2014
On the proposition of Councillor Bridges, seconded by Councillor Robson, the minutes of the Special meeting held on 15th December 2014 were approved and signed.
006/15 MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON 01 DECEMBER 2014
On the Proposition of Councillor Willmore, seconded by Councillor Polglase, the minutes of the Council meeting held on 01 December 2014 were approved and signed.
007/15 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
New cemetery sign - three quotes had been received, the highest being £290 and the lowest £153. It was proposed by Councillor Polglase, seconded by Councillor Deacon, and agreed, that the £153 estimate from Mr A Rogers be accepted and that thanks be given to Councillor Robson for organising this.
Meeting with planning officers - Councillor Polglase asked if it would be a good idea to have a pre-meeting with Councillor Martin and then a follow up meeting with the planning officers.
The Chairman said his preference was for everyone to be at the one planning meeting. However Councillor Whiteley responded by saying that was not what she proposed, she would want it to be with the two officers only. This was seconded by Councillor Hall, but not carried.
It was agreed that one meeting should be held with Councillor Martin, the two planning officers and the planning committee.
008/15 PARISH PROPERTY
Councillor Robson asked for an update on the marking for the disabled parking in the Leats
Car park. Councillor Rogers, who had previously agreed to progress this, replied that it was not possible to hire a lining machine, but line marking spray could be used. Four or five cans should be sufficient. The Chairman said that he would not want a lot of money spent on this because the Leats would be resurfaced at some point. It was proposed by Councillor Whiteley, seconded by Councillor Bray, and agreed, that Councillor Rogers should go ahead with the use of the marking spray. Councillor Robson asked that the future of parking in Mylor Village be put on the next agenda and she would also like the Leats Car Park discussed at the same time.
009/15 HIGHWAYS, FOOTPATHS & PARISH PATHS
The Chairman reported that two manhole covers outside 73 & 74 Trefusis Road in Flushing were damaged. The matter of gully clearing now needed to be discussed, a list of those to be cleared should be made. Councillor Willmore said this was a serious matter and it would require a couple of people to study it. Provision had been made in the precept for 2015/16 and thought a very small committee should be appointed at an appropriate time. It was agreed that not every gully should be done, only the worst ones. The Chairman added that Perranarworthal Parish Council has also precepted for gully clearance and he would suggest that the two councils should work together on this. Councillors Bridges, Deacon, Hall, Symons and Whiteley would have a look and compile a list. Councillor Willmore stressed that this must be dealt with properly and reported back to the Council through the Clerk. This proposal from Councillor Willmore was seconded by Councillor Bridges and agreed.
Councillor Rogers reported that the road at the top of Bells Hill, at the T junction to the Pandora, was collapsing on the Dowstall Farm side.
Councillor Robson raised the subject of the footpath cutting. She would recommend that a start should be made on getting estimates rather than waiting until later when the contractors may be booked up. Councillor Willmore agreed with this, but thought that the council should first vote on whether to stay in the Local Maintenance Partnership and he would propose that it should. This was seconded by Councillor Robson and agreed. The paths to be cut were the same as last year. The Clerk would let the Council know when the grant offer was received.
010/15 UPDATE FROM CORNWALL COUNCIL WARD MEMBER
Councillor Martin had nothing to report. Councillor Bridges requested that Councillor Martin be asked for a commitment to providing the much needed parking in Flushing. The Chairman said that Cormac had indicated the parking off Poplar Terrace would be completed either in the 2015 or 2016 budget. Councillor Rogers asked that the matter of the internet connection be raised again with Councillor Martin. Councillor Hall had asked previously and been told that no progress had been made. She had been assured that “he would chase it up” and it would have been useful to have something about that in his report. Councillor Whiteley thought it was getting to the point of putting forward a proposal of no confidence in the Ward Member, and although the Chairman said that this would not alter anything, it would not stop her from putting it forward if she thought it was necessary in the future.
011/15 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES FOR 2015
Councillor Willmore agreed with the new meeting dates, but would like an amendment in that there should be no December meeting. On the proposition of Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Deacon, it was agreed that the meeting dates as promulgated to all councillors and with Councillor Willmore’ s amendment, were acceptable. It was further proposed by Councillor Robson, seconded by Councillor Polglase and agreed, that they should be alternated between Mylor and Flushing, subject to any requirement for the Annual Parish Meeting. This meant that the main Council meetings would now be held on the last Monday of the month and the planning committee would meet on the first Monday of the month, subject to any adjustments for bank holidays and planning submission dates.
012/15 PARISH WORK PARTY
Councillor Robson gave an update of work completed. She further reported that one of the monumental masons had said that the Mylor Cemetery was one of the nicest in Cornwall.
013/15 COMMUNITY FLOOD PLAN
Councillor Bridges said that the first emergency plan regarding flooding was being done for Flushing first and was now in final draft form. The formula was that as supplied by the Environment Agency. There was a requirement to produce a traffic management plan, and he had put this in to the police who would tell him what was required. Volunteers would need to be trained according to the Chapter 8 training regime, they would then be able to put out road closure signs. There was going to be a public meeting to discuss this further and source volunteers on 28th January in the Village Club, Flushing, starting at 7.30. Representatives from the police, Cornwall Council and Environment Agency, as well as the parish council, would be in attendance. A corresponding plan for Mylor would follow after a successful conclusion at Flushing.
014/15 COUNCIL SURGERIES/PARISH OFFICE/LIBRARY SERVICE
Councillor Willmore thought these were all exceedingly important and brought about by the changes being made to local government budgets. It comprised a change of culture in what was trying to be achieved. Localism had not really caught the public imagination, but has however had a fundamental effect. The Council needed to be in a position to know what it wanted to do by the time of the next precept setting as there were all sorts of issues to be discussed. He thought a couple of small groups were needed to look into this and report back. He was also very concerned that the Clerk should be involved in all of this. Surgeries were an important way of communication and could be doubled up with a parish office/library. Surgeries would need to be properly advertised and a committee could promote this. It would need to be a small committee, although not excluding anyone who wished to be on it.
Councillor Hall queried whether any answers would be able to be given to parishioners who attended any such surgeries, to which the Chairman replied that the issues raised would have to be brought back to the full meeting as that was Council policy. Councillor Whiteley had concerns about yet another committee, she thought that parishioners would contact their councillors if they had any issues to raise. Therefore she could not see the point of a surgery.
The Chairman said that he had initially been against the idea of public participation, but now thought it was a good idea, surgeries would be another step forward. Councillor Robson thought that the council should be communicating in as many ways as possible. If people knew there were regular surgeries, she was sure that they would come along. Councillor Rogers noted that there were never very many people for public participation, so he could not see how there would be much demand for surgeries. However the Chairman said the only way to find out would be to try it and see.
Councillor Willmore said this was not just about surgeries, further discussion was needed about a parish office as well. It was considered that this would be useful for providing archive space and releasing some room at the Clerk’s home. Councillor Willmore also reminded the meeting that there were two villages in the parish and this needed to be balanced between them. He would propose that any councillors interested in taking this forward should contact the Clerk. As for the matter of a library, Councillor Whiteley said she understood that the mobile service to Mylor would continue for the foreseeable future. Councillor Polglase said that his instinct was that it would be a good thing, a physical embodiment in the parish, however the cost would need to be looked at and a performance indicator identified. He would suggest running surgeries for a trial period of 3 months. Councillor Willmore’s proposal for those prepared to take this forward was seconded by Councillor Bridges and agreed.
015/15 PUBLIC TOILETS AT MYLOR BRIDGE
The Clerk reported that the latest figure for the running of the toilets at the Playing Field was £4,301.53 per annum. Councillor Willmore was not of the opinion that any decision could be made now. It had not been budgeted for and was something to be considered over time. Cornwall Council were giving out mixed messages. He would again suggest that if any councillors wished to take this forward, they should contact the Clerk and express an interest. This proposal was seconded by Councillor Hall and agreed.
016/15 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Counciillor Whiteley said that every single group at the planning training she had attended had said that a neighbourhood plan was vital, or building would be allowed anywhere. Cornwall Council were not taking any notice of the Parish Plan, but would take heed of a Neighbourhood Plan. The Chairman said that when he attended Perranarworthal Council it had been said that Cornwall Council would be looking to put houses in parishes without Neighbourhood Plans to fulfil their obligation to provide thousands more houses. They know that those with a plan with have more say.
Councillor Willmore thought that it would involve an enormous amount of work. Feock PC had employed a consultant to prepare their Neighbourhood Plan. He did not entirely agree with Councillor Whiteley re the Parish Plan, which he thought was quite a substantial piece of work. His opinion was that some of the Parish Plan data could be used, but it would be a big task. The other thing to point out was that Neighbourhood Plans were in their infancy and required a referendum of the community. There was also the issue of whether to do it independently or to liaise with another parish. There was a general election in May, after which there could well be a change. He thought it would be premature to proceed at the moment and would suggest that the council wait and see. Councillor Robson agreed with this and would propose that it should be re-assessed in 6 months time. Councillor Whiteley asked for an amendment to this, that it should at least be given serious consideration and a discussion held with Cornwall Councill. This was seconded by Councillor Bridges and agreed.