Page number: 005/2007
Purpose of meeting: Town Council Meeting.
Date: Thursday 1st February 2007
.
Attendees: Cllrs B. Grills (BG), P. Clark. (PC), J. Bass (JB), L Crockford (LC), S. Elford (SE) R. Ireland (RI), D. Pierce (DP), A. Shaw (AS), B. Lush (BL), M Williams (MW)
As the Mayor was on holiday the Deputy Mayor chaired the meeting.
Public Participation.
Question or queries regarding council business from members of the public. (15 minutes allowed for this item.)
County Councillor Janey Comber. Local Government Reform. Two bids have been presented, one from the County Council and one jointly from four district authorities.
CCC Proposal to split the County into 16 divisions, Camelford would be joined with Altarnun.
It is proposed to have one stop shops in each town, JC said she voted against as she felt this area would be disadvantaged and there would be little or no support for town and parish councils, she agreed there must be change, but it must be change for the better. Everyone should make their views known.
The Deputy Mayor thanked Cllr Comber for attending.
Letter from Mrs Ireland. Mayor to respond
The Deputy Mayor gave the clerk permission to read a statement.
“The loss of our son Jonathan in December has made the last few weeks extremely difficult, seldom has a day passed without tears, for almost three weeks I never slept and everything became too much, unfortunately the letter in A1 fruiterers window in town pushed me over the edge and unfortunately Cllr Lush was in the firing line. I have sought medical advice and that has helped.
If I offended any Councillor or member of the public I am sincerely sorry it was not intended and it was extremely unprofessional, my pain must not be allowed to affect this Council nor my work.
The Mayor has been singled out for criticism and that is wrong, she had no idea what was about to happen and to be honest neither did I”.
The Deputy Mayor stated that Cllr Lush had accepted the apology and this matter is closed.
AGENDA
1) APOLOGIES – to receive and approve apologies for absence.
Cllr J Finch (Holiday) Acceptance proposed by AS, seconded by DP and agreed unanimously
2) RECEIVE DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a. In respect of items on this agenda.
Personal Item Reason
Cllr Elford 12b & 12d Known Personally
Cllr Crockford 12b Known Personally
Cllr Grills 6a Relates to employment
Cllr Ireland Public Participation Wife
Cllr Ireland 11a Personal friend
Cllr Lush 6b Blue Badge Holder
Prejudicial
Cllr Bass 12b Close family friends
Cllr Bass 12d Rent land
Cllr Lush 7a Blue badge holder
Cllr Lush 10a Personal involvement
Cllr Crockford 17b Works in Judicial system
Gifts in excess of £25. None
Page number: 006/2007
RI raised a ‘point of order’ and proposed that item 10a is dealt with under exempt information, this was seconded by PC and agreed with six in favour, one against and two abstentions
3) MINUTES- to receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 16th January 2007
Cllr Lush objected to the wording of item 8d, AS proposed, JB seconded, subject to Cllr Lush’s statement be appended to the minutes, the minutes were approved with eight in favour, BL & RI abstained.
4) ITEMS CARRIED FORWARD FROM THE LAST MEETING.
a. Footway & Street Lights, Delavue Terrace towards Valley Truckle. Letter from Area Surveyor & Dan Rogerson. c/f
b. Traffic monitoring. c/f
c. Seat in Victoria Road. Seat is being built, £200 max hopefully completed next week. c/f
5) ANSWERS TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 16th JANUARY MEETING:
None
6) TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR OBSERVATIONS FROM COUNCILLORS OF WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN.
a. Cllr Clark. Highfield Dental Practice. After some discussion MW proposed that the Council write to the PCT and ask what is happening to dental services in the area, copies to MP and the Secretary of State for Health, this was seconded by BL and agreed unanimously.
b. Cllr Ireland. “To discuss the validity of the parking penalties as applied to both Churchfield and the Town Hall Car Parks” This item was referred to the car park committee. Cllr Ireland produced a letter which he asked if he should read, the clerk stated that it should be dealt with by the car park committee and this was agreed. Cllr Ireland passed the letter to the clerk. Clerk to check on the £100 fine.
c. Cllr Ireland. Why did the council approve the contract for grass cutting and maintenance contrary to the requirements of Financial Regulation 11.1 (a) and (b)?
The clerk replied that under FR 11.1. (a) (iv) this is an extension to an existing contract. There is no time limit stated in the regulation.
RI was not satisfied with the explanation given by the Clerk, Cllr Ireland said he would report the Council to the Audit Commission, as this is a resolved item RI stated that he would bring it up again.
7) ITEMS REQUIRING A DECISION:
a. Request for Parking permits for disabled helpers at the Pop-in. PC proposed that two permits are issued for helpers in the pop-in. MW seconded at it was agreed unanimously
b. Assets register. Clerk to check with archive section in Truro.
c. NCDC Licensing of Community Premises. Temporary events notice exemption. Clerk to get the necessary permission
d. NCDC Funding Fact. Master class Thursday 1st March 2pm – 5pm or 6pm – 9pm.
e. Road works starting 19th Feb. Correspondence form C. C. C.
f. C. C. C. Signage. Request for grant to supply two finger posts c/f
8) ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
a. NCDC, Community Facilities Survey. Received
b. WPS Town Council insurances. Clerk to get a quote
c. NCDC Building Control Newsletter. Received
d. Landscapes South West. Grounds Maintenance. To be included on tender list
e. Code of Conduct. Consultation document. Copies to be sent to all councillors. c/f
f. Annual Parish Meeting. Cllr David Whalley has agreed to be the speaker and the venue is the Committee room, Camelford Hall.
Page number: 007/2007
9) FINANCE
a) Cheques for Payment.
Chq No. Payee Value VAT Total Frequency Allocation
a 103198
103200
103201
Payroll
£2,134.96
£2,134.96
Monthly Admin & Car Park
b 103199 HMCS 30.00 30.00 Car Park
c 103202 P Solomon 547.83 547.83 Monthly Town Maintenance
d 103203 Neat Ideas 65.22 11.41 76.63 Admin
e 103204 Siemens (Copier Rental) 128.99 22.57 151.56 Quarterly Admin
f 103205 Joyce Whitehouse Party 60.00 60.00 annually admin
£2,967.00
33.98
£3,000.98
Direct Debits paid during January
a N C D C Office Rates 31.00 Monthly Admin
b N C D C Car Park Rates 114.00 Monthly Car Park
c A O L Broadband Connection 24.99 Monthly Admin
d PWLB Hall Loan 2505.69 Half Yearly Hall Loan
2675.68
AS proposed the cheques be paid, SE seconded and they were unanimously agreed.
10) RESOLUTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCILLORS.
a. Cllr Williams. That the clerk makes a comprehensive explanation of the costs incurred by the Town Council as a result of the legal action brought by Mr J L Harman. See item 17
b. Cllr Ireland. At the last meeting but one, I asked that the clerk produce a table
showing for each budgetary item the 2006 Budget, the cost to date, the balance remaining, and the forecast total spend to the end of the current fiscal year. The resolution was not voted on but the clerk agreed to produce it. This was not recorded in the minutes and was not put into effect. I now make a formal proposal that such a document be produced in future on a regular basis so that we can monitor our
situation /viv-a-vis/ the budget, and take remedial action as required. The clerk agreed to add a projected spend column to the monthly report, but could not guarantee its accuracy.
11) CORRESPONDENCE:
a. Letter from John Hough to the Mayor re the meeting of the 16th January. Mayor to reply
b. C. C. C. Bowithick CA Site. Proposed Changes. BL proposed the days the tip are open are Saturday’s, Sundays, Mondays and Thursday’s from 0900 to 1600, AS seconded and it was agreed unanimously. Clerk to write to CCC.
LC apologised and left the meeting.
12) PLANNING APPLICATION:
a. 2007.00002. Full Planning. Demolition of garage and removal of fuel tanks and erection of 8 no. one bed and two bed affordable apartments and houses and 8 no. privately owned apartments and houses with parking arrangements and landscaping. Parklane Motors, Valley Truckle. Mr G Porrett. AS proposed refusal on the following grounds, the development if approved would be outside the development area, it would be built on valuable commercial land, there is inadequate parking and access for pedestrians is dangerous, there is a lack of public
Page number: 008/2007
transport and the sewerage system is inadequate. The infrastructure of the town i.e. medical, dental and the schools are at capacity and there is little or no new employment. This was seconded by BL and agreed with seven in favour, PC, RI and MW abstained.
b. 2007/00049. Reserved Matters. Erection of 62 dwellings and associated works. Land adjoining Inns Park, Camelford. Wainhomes (south west) holdings Ltd. AS proposed refusal on the following grounds, the development if approved be an overdevelopment of the site, there is a lack of public transport and the sewerage system is inadequate. Pedestrians have to cross the busy A39 and the safety island is not suitable, the road is liable to flooding, the infrastructure of the town i.e. medical, dental and the schools are at capacity and there is little or no new employment. This was seconded by BL and agreed with eight in favour and two abstentions.
Cllr Bass left the room for the next two items.
c. 2007/00034. Full Planning. Conversion of first and second floors into two self-contained flats. 32, Fore Street, Camelford. Mrs S Kenner, Mr G Sleep & Mr T Sleep. AS proposed no objection, MW seconded and it was agreed with eight in favour with one abstention
d. 2007/00085. Lifting of Condition. Lifting of condition 10 (agricultural occupancy condition) on Decision Notice 74/0920 dated 31/12/74. Deer Park, Helstone. Mr & Mrs D Bosley. BL proposed refusal as this is still being used as an agricultural land, AS seconded and it was agreed with six in favour and three abstentions.
Cllr Bass returned.
e. 2007/00125. Renewal. Renewal of permission for the erection of two dwellings. Land near Tourist Information Centre, Chapel Street, Camelford. Miss Sally Holdon. AS proposed no objections this time but will oppose any further applications, seconded MW and agreed unanimously
f. 2007/00142. Full Planning. Conversion of existing two storey (split level) garage and utility at the rear of the main buildings to two separate bed-sit apartments. 24 Albion House, Market Place, Camelford. Mr J Ward. PC proposed no objection, DP seconded and it was agreed with eight in favour and two against
12.1 PLANNING APPROVAL NOTICES
None
12.2 PLANNING APPLICATION WITHDRAWN
a. 2006/02270. Provision of 17 N0. Pine lodges on touring caravan field. Juliot’s Wells Holiday Park.
12.3 PLANNING REFUSAL NOTICES.
None
13) COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a. Car Park Committee 11th January 2007. Item 6.1 referred back to the committee for discussion. DP proposed the report is adopted, AS seconded and it was agreed with eight in favour BL and MW abstained.
14) REPORTS.
a. Camelford Town Forum. No Report
b. CDCDT. Nothing to report
c. Youth Club. BL stated the extension has been completed, looking for new helpers and mini-bus to take the children out in the summer.
d. HERS. Nothing to report.
e. Mayors report. On Holiday
f. Other reports from outside bodies.
i. Cllr Pierce Sports Hall Committee. No quorum at the last meeting, the next meeting is on Wednesday 7th February.
ii Cllr Lush reported on the Planning and development control meeting held in Camelford Hall on the 24th January 2007. Report on file
Page number: 009/2007
iii Cllr Lush reported on the meeting held on the 26th January regarding the withdrawal of funding to dual the A30 at Temple. BL proposed that the Council write to Blisland and Cardinham Parish Councils supporting their action to get the road upgraded and to reiterate the problems in Camelford, AS seconded and it was agreed unanimously. Report on file.
iiii DP invitation to a Radon Information day on the 13th February at the Methodist Church 17.00 to 20.00pm
15) NEWSLETTER AND CIRCULARS.
None
16) ITEMS FOR THE 20TH FEBRUARY
None
17) EXEMPT INFORMATION.
TO CONSIDER PASSING THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN RESPECT OF THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW.
AS proposed “That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve likely disclosure of information prejudicial to the public interest as defined in the Local Government Act 1972”. Seconded by SE and it was agreed with seven in favour, PC against.
BL left the meeting.
10a Cllr Williams. That the clerk makes a comprehensive explanation of the costs incurred by the Town Council as a result of the legal action brought by Mr J L Harman.
MW referred to a letter in shop window and the C.A.R. newsletter that stated that the council had spent a considerable amount of money and that the council had employed a solicitor.
The Clerk confirmed that the Insurance Company and not the council had employed the Solicitor; the Council had paid the VAT content of £1445.91 which has been recovered. The solicitor and the insurance Company will recover the costs and not the council.
a. NCDC Offices. The Future. Cllr Pierce. AS proposed that the council contact Mark Hall NCDC and invite him to a meeting seconded by SE and agreed unanimously.
b. The Clerk reported that he had been approached by NCDC to enter a partnership agreement for the Camelford Offices. It was unanimously agreed that the Council enter into a partnership agreement with NCDC. Clerk to check terms.
c. Court Case. Car Park Committee 11th January minute number 2007/001/6/1
Signed……………………………………………….Chairman of the Council.