CAMELFORD TOWN COUNCIL
Page number: 090/2007
Purpose of meeting: Meeting of the Council
Date: Tuesday 31ST July 2007
.
Attendees: Mayor Cllr B. Lush (BL),
Cllrs J. Pearce (JP), P. Clark. (PC), D Elliott (DE) P Lessels
(PL) R. Ireland (RI), R Rotchell (RR) A. Shaw (AS),
Public Participation.
Mr M. Stockwood asked the council to look into the build up of rubble under
Camelford bridge over the River Camel and ask bodies responsible to clear the
blockage to the river flow before the town is at risk from serious flooding.
Mr D. Pierce asked when the council were going to reinstate the Town Clerk, Mr
B. Jordan.
How much is the temporary clerk costing the people of Camelford.
He mentioned that the council’s web site was not being used by the clerk.
May 10th the council proposed a community impact study, has it been completed.
Since free parking how much has the town lost in revenue. This is a serious
matter as once Unitary Authority takes hold rates will rise and rise.
Mr M. Williams stated that for the last few weeks he has received no reply to his
letters. Members should ask themselves have you all seen correspondence, if not
who has and who decided not to reply.
Mark Windsor stated that planning application No 2007/01344 at Helstone on
tonight’s agenda for a decision has caused a lot of objections to be raised by local
people. His own property will lose light and parking will suffer as a lane alongside
will be blocked by the proposed building.
1) APOLOGIES – to receive and approve apologies for absence.
Cllr Morris will be late.
Cllr Hearden (illness)
Cllr Baber (illness)
RI proposed and DE seconded the apologies be accepted, unanimously agreed.
2) RECEIVE DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a. In respect of items on this agenda.
Cllr R. Ireland – Personal Item 11a.
3) MINUTES- to receive and approve the minutes of the Council Meeting held on
the 5th July and the 26th July.
Minutes 5th July – Approved. Proposed AS, seconded RI, all in favour.
In committee minutes 5th July – Approved. Proposed RI, seconded JP, seven in
favour, one abstention.
Minutes 26th July – Approved. Proposed JP, seconded PL, six in favour, two
abstentions.
4) ITEMS CARRIED FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
a. Footway & street lights - C/fwd.
Page number 091/2007
Items carried forward from previous meetings cont’d
b. Seat outside Lloyds Bank – C/fwd.
c. Beachcroft, request for file – Solicitor on holiday, to reply to council during
August.
d. Removal of three day rule reference correspondence. All correspondence
received before a meeting to be included in that meeting. Proposed RI,
seconded JP, all in favour.
e. NCDC visit to review council’s accounting system - RI gave a verbal report.
RBS accounting programme recommended. It was proposed that the council
purchase and install the RBS Omega system at the cost of £245-00. Proposed
DE, seconded JP, all in favour.
5) ANSWERS TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 5TH JULY MEETING.
a. Mrs J. Finch’s comments. The mayor replied to this (written copy on file).
b. Mrs Grill’s comments. The mayor replied to this (written copy on file).
c. Mr M. Stockwood’s comments. The clerk informed the council and Mr
Stockwood that the ideas for traffic improvement he mentioned are fully
supported by the local police and they are negotiating with County Highways.
6) TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS.
a. Future of the old primary school site – PL spoke about this matter and said
that he would be very unhappy if the site was just left or demolished and
turned into a housing complex. Members felt that they needed to know the
opinions of the residents of Camelford. BL proposed that the clerk write to
C.A.R. and ask them to canvas local opinion, seconded JP, all in favour.
b. Minute taking and date setting of committees and sub committees - PC
proposed that with the exception of the finance committee all other committee
meetings take their own minutes, seconded RI, four in favour, two against, two
abstentions.
c. To consider action following letters received from Mr B. Jordan - This
matter to be discussed “in committee”. Proposed Proposed AS, seconded JP,
six in favour, PC against, one abstention.
7) ITEMS REQUIRING A DECISION.
a. New bin for play area – The clerk to purchase a bin for the play area in
Enfield Park. Proposed BL, seconded PL, six in favour, two abstentions.
b. Date of any council meeting in August – At present no general meeting
envisaged. Invoices which become urgent to be paid out if they comply with
Local Government Council ruling.
c. Audio recorder for use by the clerk and council – DP proposed that the
Olympus Digital DS30 recorder be purchased, seconded BL, AS, PC, DE
against.
d. To approve Churchfield Car Park survey leaflet – PC proposed that this
leaflet be printed and distributed, seconded RI, seven in favour, AS abstained.
Page number 092/2007
Items requiring a decision cont’d
RI proposed a print run of 500 to start with and these to be delivered to shops,
garage, library and other public outlets, seconded BL, seven in favour, AS
against.
e. Council web site, to obtain password from Web Master – The clerk and RI
to attend a course with the site Web Master in the clerk’s office on Monday 6th
August. At this course the Web Master will be asked to ascertain when and
who inserted an unauthorised entry on the site.
8) ITEMS FOR INFORMATION.
None at this meeting.
9) APPROVAL OF PAYMENTS.
Cheques drawn and payments approved. Proposed PL, seconded RR, all in
favour
Will be paid in August by standing orders/direct debit
A DD NCDC 37.38 37.38 Monthly Office Rates
B DD NCDC 128.25 128.25 Monthly Car Park Rates
C DD AOL Broadband 29.99 29.99 Monthly Admin
D SO Loan Board (car park) 2505.69 2505.69 Twice a
year
Admin
2701.31 0 2701.31
Chq
No.
Payee Value VAT Total Frequency Allocation
a
b
c
103296
103297
103300
Payroll
2610.79
2610.79
Monthly
Clerk’s Salary
Maintenance man
P.A.Y.E
d 103301 P Solomon 450.83 0.00 450.83 Monthly Town maintenance/
Footpaths/ Enfield Park
e 103298 Yeti Serve 32.50 5.69 38.19 As required Admin
f 103302 ADT 250.00 43.75 293.75 Yearly Admin
g 103299 Ron Hart 530.14 530.14 Acting clerk’s
salary
h 103303 Stephens Home
Hardware
4.67 0.82 5.49 Monthly Maintenance
i 103304 Information
Commissioner
35.00 35.00 Yearly Admin
J 103305 SWPE 50.00 7.45 57.45 Annually Admin
(enrolment fee)
K 103306 CDCDT 3843.00 3843.00 Single Grant -
Broadwood Path
7806.93 57.71 7864.64
Page number 093/2007
10) RESOLUTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCILLORS
None at this meeting.
11) CORRESPONDENCE.
a. Clare Ireland reference planning application No 2007/01147 – Letter received
stating that when application No 2007/01147 had been discussed at the last meeting
Cllr Shaw stated that such an application had been made before and refused by NCDC
and County Council. In fact the application that Cllr Shaw referred to was withdrawn
by the applicant not refused. This Mrs Ireland felt was misleading and irresponsible.
Cllr Shaw stated that he gave the information in good faith even though subsequently
this information may not have been wholly accurate.
b. Mr Julian Harman Stated that he wished to make a complaint under the Council’s
complaint procedure against Cllr A. Shaw with reference to his report given at the last
Council meeting on planning application No 2007/01147. The clerk was instructed to
send the reply that Cllr Shaw gave to Mrs Ireland’s complaint about this matter.
c. Mrs R. Risdon asked why the council had been misled when considering her
planning application No 2007/01147 at the last meeting. The council instructed the
clerk to write and offer the council’s apologies saying that they acted in good faith on
the information received. The council’s proposed comment to NCDC was “no
comment” with six Cllrs in favour and three abstentions.
d. Eddie McCormick wrote stating that an employment committee agenda had
appeared on the Council’s web site after the clerk Mr B. Jordan had been suspended.
He asked the council to investigate this matter. The clerk to reply that when the Web
Master visits on Monday he will ask him to investigate.
e.C.A.R. Letter received from the Vice Chairman Mr Eddie McCormick commenting
on various council matters ending with a call upon Cllrs to investigate the actions of
their employee and statements leading to the council being represented by Beachcroft
and to make a fully informed decision to remove Barry Jordan from the post of Town
Clerk forthwith. JP proposed that the clerk write a reply stating that members noted
the writer’s comments.
f. Mrs M.Hancock asked when the council were going to make the entrance to
Enfield Park handicapped persons friendly, this was her second time of asking. The
clerk to reply that the Amenities Committee were waiting for the “Parks for People
money”. This matter to be put on the September 6th agenda and the clerk to find out
the cost of an alternative method to putting tarmac down as this would be expensive
and defeat the natural stone entrance.
g. Mr D. Pierce Three letters dated the 13th July and one letter dated the 21st July
received. The three letters dated the 13th July were headed Town Clerk, Bus Stop
Victoria Road and Camelford Town Council Web Site. The letter dated the 21st July
was reference lack of replies to correspondence. Members received Cllr Lush Town
Mayor’s reply to all four letters. It was proposed that all future correspondence
addressed to the council, clerk or the Mayor be acknowledged and put before the
council at its next meeting. Proposed RR, seconded PC, all in favour.
A letter dated the 23rd July reference the Civic Church Service 2007 was received.
Cllr Lush Town Mayor’s reply to this letter received.
Letter dated the 24th July received asking about the council’s web site. The clerk to
write and explain that no civic service was held in 2007 at the request of the old
council in the form of a resolution.
Page number 094/2007
Correspondence cont’d
A letter dated the 26th July asked about the “Community Impact Study”. The clerk to
send a copy of the A5 booklet giving findings of the survey.
h. Mr M. B. Williams Letter received requesting answers to three questions reference
the number of committee meetings and the minutes since May 10th, 2007 and where
published. Clerk to inform Mr Williams from the council’s records.
Asked the council reference the suspension of Mr B. Jordan what was the precaution
the council mentioned against. Was the suspension already decided before the
meeting and just rubber stamped at the meeting, and was Mr B. Jordan allowed to
defend his position. Clerk to send a copy of the Mayor’s reply given to Mrs Finch and
Mrs Grills in reply to their public participation.
A letter dated just before the extraordinary meeting held in July was received pointing
out that as the agenda had not been signed by the chairman it would be wrong to hold
this meeting. A proposal made by the council to allow committee meetings to be
minuted by a member and not the clerk gave way to a difficulty if an extraordinary
meeting later went into committee, this would exclude the public and make it hard to
find a person who could take the minutes. Clerk to reply that the first extraordinary
meeting was cancelled due to the non signing of the agenda. The proposal for a
member, not the clerk, to take committee meeting minutes would only apply if the
agenda showed that the matters to be considered did not warrant an “in committee”
decision.
Mr Williams reported that the pavement outside “Your Plaice or Mine” was blocked
by the parking of a car belonging to a councillor. Mr Williams felt that this was
inconsiderate as a free car park was opposite. The councillor concerned stated that on
his house deeds the wide pavement area outside his house was deemed a parking area
for his property.
Mr Williams wrote giving his concern over the number of unanswered letters he had
sent. The clerk to reply that all future correspondence whether it be to the clerk,
councillor or the Chairman will be acknowledged by the clerk and put before the next
meeting for a reply from the council as a body.
Letters from Mr Williams dated the 18th July reference recent correspondence, July
16th reference Churchfield Car Park and 3rd July reference Churchfield Car park were
received and the replies from the Mayor made on the 3rd July, 17th July and the 18th
July were read out.
Camelford R. F. C. wrote inviting members to the official handover to the club of
their new ground from the Football Foundation. Opening day will be 12th August at
1330hrs.
Jim & Carol Rickwood wrote enclosing a copy of letter they had sent to County
Highways and Dan Rogerson MP for North Cornwall, in the letter they stated they
were frustrated at the grind of traffic past their front door when the town centre
advisory diversion is in place. Clerk to forward a copy of the Town Council letter to
County Highways.
12) PLANNING APPLICATIONS.
a. Application No 2007/01259 – 11, Trefrew Road, Camelford. Erection of a
dwelling for Mr T. Tague. PC proposed no objection, seconded RI, all in favour.
Page number 095/2007
Planning cont’d
b. Application No 2007/01344 – The Smithy, Helstone. Conversion of disused
Smithy to residential accommodation for Mrs J. Roose. AS proposed refusal due to
over development, encroaches onto a lane and part of the building over a drain,
seconded PC, seven in favour, one abstention.
c. Application No 2007/01345 – 24, Albion House, Market Place, Camelford.
Conversion of garage and utility (two storeys) at the rear of the main building to a
maisonette for J.W. Developments. AS proposed refusal due to it being an unsuitable
development, no parking facility and limited access, seconded RR, seven in favour,
two abstentions.
d. Application No 2007/01357 – 26, Mill, Lane, Camelford. Erection of an extension
for Mr N. Prior-Smith. AS proposed no objection, seconded BL, all in favour.
e. Application No 2007/01408 – Land adjoining, Penmelen, Camelford. Certificate of
appropriate alternative development for Mr R. Biscombe. AS proposed accept subject
to a new road from the B3266 to the application or a distributor road, seconded BL,
seven in favour, two abstentions.
Special resolution to reconsider the council’s recommendations first made on the
5th April, 2007 in respect of planning application 2007/00498. AS proposed that the
original recommendations stand, seconded SM, five in favour, two against, two
abstentions.
13) PLANNING APPROVAL NOTICES.
None at this meeting.
14) PLANNING REFUSAL NOTICES.
None at this meeting.
15) PLANNING APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN.
None at this meeting.
16 COMMITTEE REPORTS.
a. Finance committee. Report accepted, proposed JP, seconded RR, all in favour.
Estimate for repairs to Churchfield Car Park surface of £500 recommended for
acceptance by the Finance Committee ratified by full council. Proposed RR, seconded
BL, eight in favour, one abstention.
b. Car Park Committee. Next meeting on the 5th September.
17) REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES.
a. Camelford Town Forum. No report.
b. CDCDT. No report.
c. Camelford Youth Club. No report.
d. Camelford HERS project. No report.
e. Mayor’s report. Letter to be sent to Mrs Sedgewick thanking her for her assistance
with the July 26th meeting.
Mayor to attend the Camelford Show on the 8th August.
Camelford in Bloom competition to be judged on the 1st August.
Page number 096/2007
Reports from outside bodies cont’d
f. Chamber of Commerce. PL attended last meeting as council representative.
Report read out from meeting (copy on file). Next chamber meeting is to look at
mandatory HGV route around Camelford.
g. Parks for People. Documentation and application to grant body confirmed as
received.
h. Broadwood Path. RI reported that any damage caused by contractors will be put
right. CDCDT should be receiving from NCDC half of their financial contribution
plus the Environment Agency payment.
18) CLERK’S REPORT. Reference the proposed Unitary Authority Sarah Mason
CALC has sent a brief which is in the office should any member wish to view.
Trefrew Road temporary road closure.
Arthurian re-enactment workshop in April 2008.
Copy of a letter sent to Camelford AFC from Stockdale reference outstanding electric
and water bills. Clerk to advise Camelford AFC of this matter.
Sports Hall Management Committee, nomination for a member requested.
Community First, invitation to the council to invite John Craig to update on the
proposals for a surgery.
Mr Tassart complained of the smell of diesel since the Broadwood Path project had
started. RI assured the members it was not coming from builders or equipment on the
project.
Cherry Gardens sewerage problem reported once while the clerk was away and
subsequently repaired. A second report received but no evidence seen this time by
visiting engineer.
19) NEWSLETTERS AND CIRCULARS.
Urbanscape.
NCDC Building Control July 2007.
Post Offices attached to residences.
20) ITEMS FOR THE 6TH SEPTEMBER MEETING.
One meeting or two a month.
Review of standing orders.
Committee meeting dates for year to be set in advance.
Love Parks Week future programme and financial applications.
Adoption of new code of conduct.
Ron Hart, acting clerk.
Signed Chairperson……………………………………………………..