242 CONSTANTINE PARISH COUNCIL C.F.P.Chapman Clerk to the Council Chy Lean St Keverne Road Mawgan Helston TR12 6AY telephone 01326 221648 [email protected] Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Constantine Parish Council held on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 7.00pm in The Vestry, Constantine. Present: Cllr P.C.Carter (Chairman) Cllr E.Nicholls Cllr J.E.G.Boote Cllr M.J.Reynolds Cllr A.H.Bolt Cllr R.J.Williams Cllr K.Cavanagh Cllr N.J.Wiseman Cllr C.Gray Cllr R.E.Just Mr C.Chapman (Clerk) Visitors: CCllr Hatton, PCSO Gardiner, Mr Kent and Mr Williamson. The Chairman welcomed members and visitors to the December meeting. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME Members noted that • there are a number of areas where, in icy conditions, a bin of road salt would be welcome – nowhere more than on the Penbothidno and Wheal Vyvyan estates • salt from the bin at Port Navas may be used on the publically owned portion of the road leading to Calamansac • drains on the Penbothidno and Wheal Vyvyan estates are blocked and need attention • the drain in Port Navas is again blocked • advertisements for local businesses are proliferating at various strategic and highly visible points throughout the Parish. These may well contravene Highway regulations, in which case business owners may be asked to remove them • leaves behind the gate to the cemetery make it difficult to open • inconsiderate (and illegal) parking on double yellow lines in Fore Street is creating problems for road users, particularly when there is snow and ice on the ground • oil companies appear to be profiteering from the recent spell of cold weather and a case might be made for regulation similar to that used in the gas and electricity industries. 1 TO ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE PC Cook sent his apologies for absence. 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST in items on the agenda There were no declarations of interest in items on the agenda. of gifts (received as a result of being a member of the Council) of a value greater than £25 There were no declarations of gifts of a value greater than £25. 3 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Wiseman seconded, (Cllr Carter, Cllr Cavanagh, Cllr Gray, Cllr Nicholls and Cllr Reynolds being absent from the last meeting, abstained), all others in favour that the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Thursday November 18, 2010 are a true record and the Chairman signed them as such. 242 243 4 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES BUT NOT INCLUDED ON THIS AGENDA In answer to a question concerning the future of the mobile library service, CCllr Hatton said that it was under threat, but that he had no definite news. A suggestion was made that in future it might be combined with a mobile one-stop shop service. 5 POLICE REPORT PCSO Gardiner reported that in the last month there have been two crimes (a burglary and possession of cannabis related to theft) have been reported to the Police. PCSO Gardiner further reported that throughout the County there has been a spate of thefts of metallic objects (including telephone wires) and asked residents to be particularly vigilant and to report suspicious incidents or activity. Speaking on behalf of the Parish Council the Chairman wished PCSO Gardiner and his colleagues a happy (and peaceful) Christmas. 6 CORNWALL COUNCILLOR’S REPORT CCllr Hatton reported that • invitations to residents seeking the affordable housing which will become available in the New Year at Wheal Vyvyan have been posted in the village. He warned that all applicants must be registered with Cornwall Homechoice • Constantine School is to be congratulated on achieving third place (out of some 300 primary schools) in the SAT League Table in Cornwall • the road between High Cross and Bosvarren has deteriorated badly and this has been reported to Cornwall Highways • the road at Silverhill now has permanent flood warning notices, a not entirely satisfactory solution, particularly as the problem of flooding only recently became apparent • some eight salt bins have been sited throughout the parish and his recommendation is for the Parish Council to store them safely during the summer months. He and Cllr Reynolds have attended a training session at Scorrier and are now certificated in the use of road salt • money raised through business rates will henceforth stay in the County for use as the County sees fit (rather than being allocated to individual departments by Central Government) • Local Action Group funding (which comes from the European Union) is limited, not least because it has to be matched by government agencies who are themselves short of money • Leisure Centres, Libraries and Open-Air Pools throughout Cornwall are at risk in the present financial climate. In answer to a question (which was linked to the premise that a Unitary Authority would save money on staffing and related costs) concerning parking and use of the old Kerrier District Building at Camborne, CCllr Hatton stated that Officers are being transferred both from Penwith and from smaller offices prior to those offices being closed. Cllr Williams proposed and it was agreed that Standing Orders should be suspended in order to allow members of the public to speak Mr Williamson asked if CCllr Hatton would agree to purchasing salt bins for the Penbothidno and Wheal Vyvyan estates. CCllr Hatton said he would consider the matter if the Parish Council supported it. It was agreed that the Council would discuss the matter further under agenda item 8. Cllr Williams proposed and it was agreed that Standing Orders should be resumed. 7 PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS No Parish Council matters were tabled. 8 PARISH MATTERS Recreation Ground Members considered quotations received for work on the trees in the Recreation Ground. Following discussion, Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Bolt seconded all in favour to accept the quotation in the sum of £150.00 + VAT from Cornovia Trees Services to pollard 5 young ash trees, to fell two others and to remove the resultant brushwood and timber from the site. It was further agreed to ask Cornovia Tree Services for a quotation to fell the sycamore tree in the new extension to the car-park: Cllr Wiseman offered to act as a contact point and to identify the tree in question. Members considered the hire of a digger to replace the earth on the hedge between Trebarvah Road and the Recreation Ground. Following discussion, the Chairman proposed and it was agreed that W.B.Bowden and Sons should be asked to carry out this work. 243 244 Members considered the replacement of the notices prohibiting dogs from the Recreation Ground. It was agreed that this matter should be considered at the next meeting and that in the meanwhile the Clerk will both contact the dog warden and seek prices for new signs. Winter Service Provision The Chairman reported that forty-two 25kg bags of rock salt had been delivered to Trengilly Farm in time to help in the recent cold snap and that ten of these are now in place at Seworgan. He drew attention to the difficulties he had experienced using an agricultural spinner to spread this salt and stated that it is his opinion that it would be impractical for the Parish Council to spread salt along the public highway using this sort of spinner. During the course of further discussion, it was noted that individuals had been seen taking salt from the bin at Ponjeravah both in a wheelbarrow and in a van and that this sort of opportunistic theft is one of the reasons that makes all Parish Councils wary of providing salt. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact the Residents’ Association with the suggestion that individuals on both the Penbothidno and Wheal Vyvyan estates might be persuaded to store two or three 25kg bags of salt for use as and when necessary. The garden in The Square It was noted that the herbicide is doing its work and that the next step is to turn the bed over early next year. Young people Cllr Just reported that the music workshops are up and running and proving successful. There are some (very) raw talents that are being nurtured, but, almost all the young people who are coming along are having a go with the instruments. A breakdown of the budget for the youth group will be prepared in time for the January meeting. Interest has been expressed in the idea of making the bandstand more user-friendly. Mr Gribble has found some panels that are reasonably priced and some volunteers interested in erecting them. He suggests that four panels can be purchased for under £200. It was agreed that this matter should be pursued further in March. Footpath 6 Members considered the repair of two stiles on Footpath 12 and the footbridge on Footpath 6 (for which an estimate in the sum of £200 has been received from John Gyll-Murray). Following discussion, it was agreed that the Clerk should contact Cornwall Countryside with a view to obtaining financial help with this project. 9 PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND DECISIONS Applications PA10/07577 Mr M Oades – Erection of a conservatory – Cranleigh, Penbothidno. Cllr Wiseman proposed, Cllr Williams seconded and it was agreed that this application should be returned with the following observation, Constantine Parish Council supports this application. Decisions PA10/06397 Grant of Conditional Planning Permission (Coppicing of 1 Ash tree) – Rocky Waters, Port Navas – noted CC Notification that the Planning Authority has decided not to make a Tree Preservation Order in respect of the sycamore tree in the extension to the car-park in Constantine – noted 10 CLERK’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence CC Have your say ..