MINUTES OF THE ST NEOT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 11 TH JANUARY 2017 AT 7:30PM IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM, ST NEOT SOCIAL CLUB, ST NEOT Present: Councillors N J Ball (Chair), Dr L Jones, M Woodward, H Bunt, Mrs M Merrett-Jones, R Berrett, A L Bellringer and Mrs P Greenwood Derek Fairhall Sue Blaxley (Parish Clerk) The Chair opened the meeting at 7:30pm. Public Participation Derek Fairhall explained that St Neot Methodist Chapel is seeking funding from the parish council for phase 3 of the improvement works to the chapel. He explained that the planned refurbishment works will be to the Sunday School room which will be re roofed, re plastered, re painted and fitted with new carpet and lighting. In addition, the refurbishment works will improve the external appearance of the chapel by it being repainted and repairs to the windows as well as a new external door being fitted. He said the total cost of the works is anticipated to be between 40,000 and 41,000. He said the third-party contributor to any grant received from Viridor and/or Sita will be the Methodist Circuit Office in Liskeard. He explained that St Neot Chapel will be contributing 5,000 to the works and that there are three anonymous private contributions which will amount to 3,000. Derek Fairhall said that he is seeking a financial contribution of 2,000 from the parish council and that an application will be made to Viridor for grant funding of 30,500. He explained that St Neot Methodist Chapel currently has 4,500 in a current bank account and 12,500 held by the central finance board. He said that some of these reserves may need to be used as the lean-to extension to the chapel may need some repairs as it appears to be suffering from subsidence. He said that the Sunday school room is a community facility and tends to soak up the excess bookings from the village hall but that it also has regular bookings for its use. These include choir practise, the monthly salad lunches, Cornwall Local History Group and the Anglican Church. He said the Sunday School room is also used for children s parties and other one off bookings. He said that it therefore has quite a heavy use and that the refurbishment works are necessary to bring the space up to a standard to retain the existing uses and to enable it to be marketed for new uses. 1. Apologies Apologies were received and accepted from Councillors G Rogers and Councillor C Smith.
2. To confirm the minutes of the last meeting The minutes of the meeting held on 14th December 2016, having previously been circulated, were agreed as an accurate record subject to an amendment to minute number 8, line 1 changing she to he and to minute number 22, line 20 changing Councillor M Woodward to Councillor G Rogers. 3. Declarations of interest in items on the agenda 4. To receive a report on any matters arising from the previous meeting Councillor Mrs M Merrett-Jones said that the consultation on the Sustainability and Transformation Plan will take place on Monday 16 th January 2017 between 3pm and 4:30pm in the Public Rooms, Liskeard. The Chairman asked if there had been any further information from the Enforcement Officer at Cornwall Council regarding the caravan which is being lived in at Berrydown Farm. He said that the caravan was allowed to be on site during the building works but as the works have now finished, the caravan should have been removed. Cornwall Councillor Mrs D Watson said she would follow up this matter. The Clerk said that, since the meeting of the parish council in December, the white lines have been repainted on the roads in the parish, including those at the Crowpound junction. However, she said there was a further accident at this junction on 28 th December 2016 which the Police attended. She said that she had contacted Adrian Drake at Cornwall Council asking that the existing Give Way signage be replaced by Stop signage. However, he said that the relevant regulations stipulate when the latter signage can be used and that this junction does not fit these criteria. However, he said that he will ask the Highway Steward to inspect the junction and will report further on the matter. Cornwall Councillor Mrs D Watson said that she had received a complaint at the market about the junction and had also reported this to Adrian Drake. 5. To receive the Chairman s Communications. 6. To answer any questions from Councillors, previously notified to the Clerk 7. To receive a report from the Clerk
8. Councillor Surgery at Local Produce Market To receive feedback from the Councillor surgery on Saturday 7 th January 2017 and to appoint a volunteer for the next surgery on Saturday 4th February 2017 Councillor A L Bellringer said that he had attended the market in January and that he had received a complaint about the potholes in the road which leads to Treverbyn Bridge. He also said that Jenny Hart informed him that she is following up issues surrounding some footpaths at Wortha. He said the matter was also raised about the progress of the enforcement action that is being taken by Cornwall Council regarding the residential caravan at Colliford Lake. It was agreed that the Clerk would ask the Enforcement Officer for a report on this matter. Councillor A L Bellringer said that he had also received complaints regarding the rotten trees which are overhanging the highway on the Carnglaze Caverns road. It was proposed by Councillor A Bellringer and seconded by Councillor N J Ball that the Clerk would contact the landowners along this road and ask them to inspect their trees and take any necessary action to remove dead or dying trees. All Councillors voted in favour of this proposal. Cornwall Councillor Mrs D Watson said that she had received a complaint at the market regarding the potholes in the road from Wenford Cross to East Colliford. She said that she had forwarded this matter to the Highways Department at Cornwall Council. Councillor Dr L Jones said she would attend the market in Febraury. 9. To receive reports from - a) Liskeard Have Your Say Panel Councillor Dr L Jones reported that the meetings have been postponed temporarily as the CSO has moved to St Austell. b) Cornwall Councillor Mrs D Watson Cornwall Councillor Mrs D Watson said that the CLP was adopted on 22 nd November 2016 which means that Cornwall Council can now prove a five year land supply which is a defence against speculative developers. She said that Cornwall Council will be setting the precepts in February as well as looking at governance and the boundary review. She said that they are also consulting on car parking charges. c) Goonzion Commoners Councillor H Bunt said that there are now further potholes on Searles Down. He said that, in terms of the number of ponies permitted to be grazing on Goonzion Downs, there are 220 units of grazing held by the Commoners. Therefore, the number of ponies on Goonzion Downs is usually a lot less than could be there as
a number of commoners are not using their grazing rights. He said that the horses usually congregate at the lower end of Goonzion Downs to drink water and that if this became a problem in terms of the horses in the road in one area, water supplies could be installed at different locations across the moor in order to disperse the animals. d) Bodmin Moor Parishes Group 10. To authorise the signing of orders for payment, including Julie Ball (Toilet cleaning Janaury 2017) - 138.67 D J O Neill (Cott Yard) - 51.72 Classic Fire Ltd (Fire alarm test Cott Yard) - 69.60 St Neot News (May to July 2016 expenses) - 346.44 South West Water (Water for Pavillion) - 12.16 South West Water (Water for toilets) - 41.03 Richards Builders Merchants (Cement for Goal Posts) - 64.20 Sarah Dance (Grass Cutting) - 180.00 St Neot Social Club (Toilet rolls) - 10.79 The Chairman said the invoice for Daryll O Neill was to replace the isolation switch in the kitchen in Cott Yard as the tenants had spilt water over the unit. Councillor H Bunt questioned why the invoice for St Neot News related to expenses incurred in the first half of 2016. The Clerk said that this was due to the fact that the editors do not invoice the parish council until they have been invoiced for the printing costs from Cornwall Council. It was proposed by Councillor Dr L Jones and seconded by Councillor Mrs M Merrett-Jones that all of the above orders for payment be authorized. All Councillors voted in favour of this proposal. 11. To receive correspondence from - a) Cornwall Council b) Others The Clerk read out an email from the agent for Mr David Northey regarding his planning application for the reuse of a redundant agricultural building for a joinery workshop which was approved by Cornwall Council in 2015. The email explained that the grant of conditional planning permission was subject to a number of conditions, two of which required discharging before the
commencement of works could take place. This related specifically to an acoustic report being carried out to ascertain the potential noise levels and check that they were in line with the British standards as specified within the condition. The Agent explained that she submitted a discharge of condition application in August 2016, once they had received the acoustic report from Dr Mike Wood. The Planning Department of Cornwall Council then had until 3 rd October 2016 to make a decision. Unfortunately, they were unable to meet their target date and the application is now 14 weeks overdue and no further forward with a solution. The Agent explained that this is preventing a young man from commencing the work to improve and expand his business and that they have informed the Council that Mr Northey will be commencing works from 1 st February 2017. She said that she has found the Case Officer, Mr Luker, quite obstructive. She said that her client has been caused frustration and worry by this process which has not been conducive to development or enabling local people to develop local businesses in an isolated rural location. It was proposed by Councillor Dr L Jones and seconded by Councillor N J Ball that the Clerk writes a letter to Mr Luker expressing the parish council s concern regarding this matter. All Councillors voted in favour of this proposal. 12. Finance Report To receive a current financial statement of the accounts The Clerk reported that this month we have received income of 115.50 for the rental of the Pavillion as a post office and 47.09 interest. The accounts balance at 71,694.43. 13. Pavillion To receive and consider a report on any matters arising relating to the Pavillion The Clerk reported that the carpentry work that is needed outside the Pavillion is being progressed by Messers Alford. 14. Toilets in St Neot To receive and consider a report on any matters arising relating to the toilets in St Neot 15. Car Park in St Neot To receive and consider a report on any matters arising relating to the car park in St Neot
The Clerk reported that she had contacted Simon Diaper at Cornwall Council regarding the appropriate wording needed for car park signage. His advice was that any wording can be used but that it should be precise. After some discussion, it was proposed by Councillor A L Bellringer and seconded by Councillor Dr L Jones that the Clerk orders a sign from Liskeard Signs and Trophies which will read All vehicles using this car park must be legal for use on the public highway. The sign is to be A3 in size with white writing on a blue background with rear round post fixings and clamps. All councillors voted in favour of this proposal. The Clerk also reported that following the discussion at the last meeting of the parish council regarding the car which was parked in the car park illegally, it was removed within a few days. 16. Doorstep Green and Playing Field To receive and consider a report on any matters arising relating to the playing field and Doorstep Green The Clerk reported that the new goal has been erected by Councillor C Smith. 17. Cott Yard To consider early repayment of the loan for Cott Yard The Clerk produced figures supplied by the PWLB detailing the amount which would need to be paid if the loan for Cott Yard was settled prematurely. It was noted that the principal to be repaid was 17,199.88 and the accrued interest was 173.85 and the premium was 2,321.77 making a total of 19,695.50. The Chairman commented that the remaining term on the loan is 6 years and that early repayment of the loan will save 3,000 over this period of time but will deplete the parish council s resources by nearly 20,000. Councillor H Bunt said that if the tenants vacate the premises and ii is not rented immediately, the parish council will not have the rental income and that if the loan is repaid now, it will not have this monthly expenditure. Councillor A L Bellringer said that it does not make sense to have over 70,000 in the parish council s bank accounts earning negligible interest when the interest on the loan is 4.67%. It was proposed by Councillor Dr L Jones and seconded by Councillor A L Bellringer that the loan for Cott Yard be settled prematurely. All Councillors voted in favour of this proposal. To receive and consider a report on any other matters arising relating to Cott Yard Councillor Mrs P Greenwood asked if the courtyard could be used during the St Neot Flower Festival in August 2017 to host the market. It was agreed that the
Committee responsible for organising the festival should write to the tenants of Cott Yard and to the owner of the house next door to Cott Yard to ask their permission. 18. St Neot Orchard To receive and consider a report on any matters arising relating to St Neot Orchard The Clerk reported that Martin Eddy had volunteered to maintain the orchard on behalf of the parish council. Councillor H Bunt said that Mark Bunt and Simon Rogers had also expressed support for the orchard. 19. St Neot Methodist Chapel To receive and consider a request from St Neot Methodist Chapel for a financial contribution towards the refurbishment of the Sunday School Room Councillor A L Bellringer commented that a financial contribution to the Methodist Chapel had not been budgeted for in the precept. The Chairman said that he did not consider that the chapel was of as much benefit to the community as the village hall and that he did not consider that the community as a whole would benefit greatly from the proposed improvements. Councillor Dr L Jones said that there is probably a greater footfall into the village hall but she was interested to learn of the number of groups that use the facility. She said that concern had been expressed at the last meeting of the parish council that any financial input to the project would not come back to the community. She also said that she would feel reluctant not to offer any financial contribution to the project. Councillor Mrs M Merrett-Jones said the facility is used by the wider community. Councillor A L Bellringer said that the parish council has supported the Church over the years. Councillor Mrs P Greenwood said that the Sunday School room is a smaller venue than the village hall and is therefore used by different groups. Councillor R Berrett commented that if the building is not improved, it will deteriorate. Councillor Dr L Jones said the external improvements will enhance the appearance of the village. She commented that Derek and Sandra Fairhall are very committed to the community. The Chairman said that the parish council could purchase an item and be acknowledged in some way for that contribution. Councillor H Bunt said it would be good to have some acknowledgement if a contribution is made. Councillor A Bellringer said it would be difficult to identify a specific item to pay for. The Chairman said that the parish council has already given 2,500 of public money to the village hall. Councillor Dr L Jones said that as the village hall is the prime community building, a pro rata contribution could be made. It was proposed by Councillor Dr L Jones and seconded by Councillor Mrs P Greenwood that a financial contribution of 1,500 be made to St Neot Methodist Chapel. Councillors Dr L Jones, Mrs M Merrett-Jones, Mrs P
Greenwood, H Bunt and R Berrett voted in favour of this proposal, Councillor N J Ball against and Councillors A L Bellringer and M Woodward abstained from voting. The proposal was therefore carried. It was proposed by Councillor Mrs M Merrett-Jones and seconded by Councillor H Bunt that a financial contribution of 2,000 be made to St Neot Methodist Chapel. Councillors Dr L Jones, Mrs M Merrett-Jones, Mrs P Greenwood, H Bunt and R Berrett voted in favour of this proposal and Councillors N J Ball, A L Bellringer and M Woodward against. The proposal was therefore carried. 20. Date of next meeting To agree the date of the next meeting on Wednesday 8th February 2017. The next meeting of the St Neot Parish Council will be held on Wednesday 8 th February commencing at 7:30pm in the St Neot Village Institute, St Neot. There was no further business and the meeting closed at 8:55pm.