PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of Withiel Parish Council held at the Village Hall on Wednesday 1st October 2014, starting at 7:00 pm.

320/14 Attendance Cllr Kirkby (Chair) Cllr Shearer, Cllr Harper, Cllr Cubitt, Cllr Coy. Cllr Malone also present: MP Daniel Rogerson, County Councillor Chris Batters, Parish Clerk R Turner and seventeen members of the public. Apologies received from: Cllr Nott-Bower that he would be late due to extended business travel and he joined the meeting at 8.26 pm.

321/14 Declarations of interest and requests for dispensations: None.

323/14 Approval of the minutes of the Withiel Parish Council meeting of September 3rd, 2014. Proposed Cllr Shearer, seconded Cllr Kirkby, passed unanimously.

324/14 To consider amending minute item number 298/14 to remove the reference to Mr John Partridge, after his request, having commented on the ongoing issue of vehicles reversing at Great Brynn Farm. Discussed, amendment agreed and supported by a letter held on file from a member of the public who had attended the same meeting in August. Proposed by Cllr Shearer & seconded by Cllr Malone – passed unanimously

325/14 To consider matters arising from minutes of 3rd September which are not agenda items below. 326/14 Finance; To approve issue of cheque number 100500 in favour of Parish Clerk in respect of salary plus expenses . To be paid from Clerk's precept. Approval delayed due to non receipt of clerks HMRC documentation. MP Dan Rogerson joined the meeting 322/14 (Agenda item relegated in the order to allow time for Dan Rogerson to arrive) Invitations for Cllr Batters, MP Dan Rogerson and members of the public to address the meeting. County Councillor Chris Batters gave a report covering the following: -Confirmed Ruthern Bridge will be closed 20thth October to 31st October 2014 for essential repair work there was comment in the room that future developments may prove otherwise -The recent Withiel newsletter item with regards to making an application for twelve wind turbines. He confirmed that to verify this point, he produced the newsletter and showed it to the chief executive of Cornwall Council Andrew Kerr who read it and his reply was to advise there are no such applications going in at present whatsoever. However, there was comment in the room from a member of the public that future developments may prove otherwise.

Cllr Kikby welcomed MP Dan Rogerson to the meeting and invited him to take questions from the councillors and members of the public.

Page 1 of 3 The first question was taken on renewable energy and wind turbines in particular. Mr Rogerson acknowleged there was a proliferation of turbines in Cornwall and Withiel parish in particular, as well as solar farms. He advised that the unitary authority was now taking a more structured approach across the county with regard to siting new installations but had to keep in view its obligation to ensuring renewable energy is generated in line with central policy. He advised that whist alternatiuve technologies such as geothermal, wave and swell power were being investigated these are proving more expensive and the government wish to maintain affordable energy costs for the consumer. On wider discussion it was also acknowledged that there is no perfect solution to renewable energy generation, where in Cornwall it is at the expense of agricultural land and agricultural output but other parts of the UK being zoned for fracking or power station developments. Also it was acknowledged that whilst the UK's preference to use renewable generation this was probably significantly outweighed globally with other countries still investing heavily in carbon fuelled solutions on a vast scale.

The second question wasraised on rural boadband. Mr Rogerson stated he was committed to to work wth Withiel and maintain focus and pressure to to push the affordable service forward. He also acknowledged that the local mobile phone signal was poor and agian gave a committment to stay close to latest technologies to ensure these provided an improvement to local service and to maintain contact with the parish going forward. Cllr Kirkby thanked Mr Rogerson for his attendance and he left the meeting.

A member of the public, Ms Sharon Barnes raised a pre planning application in respect of a property at Inches. She was thanked and invited to put fuller proposals to the council in due course.

327/14 To consider responses from Neighbourhood Development Plan questionnaires recently circulated and to agree follow up action. Cllr Kirkby advised that 82 responses had been received to the date of the meeting, representing approx 50% of parish households, and presented a brief analysis based on 75 forms returned. 61 responses were in favour of producing a plan, 5 against and 9 blank returns. It was agreed that the decisioning to be made going forward was to either set up a neighbour hood forum and for the next 2 or 3 months, continue fact finding to consider the way forward with a plan or at that time use the information in a different way. It was proposed by Cllr Kirkby and seconded by Cllr Shearer that now with a mandate to proceed, that a finite framework be produced to include the required finance be presented to the council at the November meeting. Agreed unanimously. Cllr Nott- Bower joined the meeting. 328/14 Planning Application PA14/08394 – Applicant: C Moore, Location – Land West Of Moor View Inchs Cornwall . Proposal - Proposed demolition of existing plumber's store/workshop and the construction of new store/office/workshop with the business owner's integral dwellings (2 No.). Scheme approval as consultee, proposed by Cllr Kirkby, seconded Cllr Malone – Council vote 4 in favour 2 against and one abstention. Application PA14/08635 Land At Scotland Corner Rosenannon Between And Cornwall Page 2 of 3 Installation of 5 wind turbines up to 110 metres in height above existing ground level, anemometry mast, electrical control building, telecommunications mast and associated control building, access tracks and ancillary infrastructure for an operating period of 25 years and temporary construction areas. Whilst not a consultee, it was agreed that the council make comment upon this scheme as it impacted upon the land scape view from the village and in due to the scale of the proposed development it adds significantly to the adverse impact caused by the of proliferation of turbines in the Withiel area. Proposed by Cllr Kirkby, seconded by Cllr Shearer and approved unanimously.

329/14 Correspondence; -Cllr Shearer reported she had received a complimentary thank you card from the Camel Ramblers group in respect of the good upkeep of the parish footpaths and advised the council that she had been invited to attend one of their forthcoming meetings as a guest participant. -A letter was received at the meeting from Mr Richard Thomas offering to provide a solution to the local broadband issues through his involvement with a wireless service provider. A vote was proposed by Cllr Kirkby and seconded by Cllr Harper. Vote 5 in favour 2 abstentions. 330/14 Invitation for members of the public to address the meeting. None. Cllr Coy noted PCSO Linda Thomas' absence from the meeting and from last months meeting due to ill health and if her absence is to be protracted we seek alternative coverage from another officer. The clerk to assist Cllr Coy on this matter. 331/14 Dates of next normal meetings to be 12th November, 3rd December and 7th January 2015.

The chairman closed the meeting at 9.05 pm and thanked all those attending.

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