Notes from the CTC meeting of 6th December 2007
Present:- B Lush (Mayor) (BL), J Pearce (JP), P Clarke (PC), M Baber (MB), R Rotchell (RR),
P Lessels (PL), B Ireland (BI), A Shaw (AS), D Elliott (DE)
Minutes taken by:- R Hart (RH)
Public Participation
County Councillor Janey Comber addressed the meeting. After expressing Christmas and New Year greeting, she gave an update on issues re Highways. A closure order has been issued for Chapel St – work will commence shortly after Christmas (i.e. speed humps and direction signs). The 30 mph speed limit on Higher Trefrew Road will be extended – full length of the road. Funding is in place for the ‘Through School’ (i.e. Primary School to move to Sir James Smith grounds – actual position isn’t formalised yet). Closure of Sixth Form at SJS is to go out to consultation – after Christmas probably. She is now a member of the Joint Committee with regard to the Unitary authority. There will be 12 districts with 12 County Councillors and there are many shared views. Pilot projects have been welcomed by parishes. The ‘One Cornwall’ team are happy to come to Camelford to address any concerns. BL commented that he had heard from MP Dan Rogerson that there would be no parish elections until 2013 and JC confirmed that was almost certainly true, therefore existing Town Councillors will stay in post (unless resigning) until then. BL also commented that an increase of 5% had been agreed at the Government Spending Review.
Guest Speaker
Inspector Andy Lewis sent his apologies – he is unable to attend tonight due to a family illness.
1 - Apologies
Received from Cllr A Hearnden (ill) & Cllr S Morris (working). BL proposed acceptance, seconded by RR, all in favour.
2 - Declarations of Interest
BL (personal) on Item 4 of the Finance report (CALC), PC (personal) on Item 4b.
3 – Minutes
To receive and approve minutes of the CTC meeting of 20th November – BI prop, sec by PL, all in favour.
4 – Items carried forward
(a) Ambulance Service response times – No reply yet.
(b) Co-op to be asked to re-site and put car park in field behind Anvil Court (from MB) – No reply yet.
(c) Right of Way application – progressing.
(d) Medical Centre (from BI) – No reply yet.
(e) Parish Plan update (from BI) – There is confusion about what actually constitutes a Parish Plan. The information presently held is not designated as a Parish Plan and the make-up of which groups should be contributing to the Plan is unclear. BI is sure that various bodies within the community/Parish should be involved, this does not include Delabole so CDCDT’s plan should not be considered as Camelford’s Parish Plan. PC confirmed that a document headed ‘Parish Plan’ with ‘Camelford’ underneath was required. RR suggested that perhaps NCDC had a copy and CTC should request this. JP is to pursue this issue and report at the next meeting.
(f) Courses for Councillors reference ‘litter and dog-fouling nuisance’ – There are 3 options:- (1) £2000 for a trainer to come to Camelford and train a maximum of 5 Councillors. (2) Individual Councillors can go to Manchester at a cost of £185 each. (3) Notices can be printed allowing PCSO’s to issue Fixed Penalty Notices on behalf of the Council. RH suggested option 3 as an initial trial and BL proposed this, sec by PL, 8 in favour, 1 abstention (PC).
(g) Local Action for North Cornwall (form to complete) – JP summarised, there is potential for cash awards for things like the park paths. BL proposed that JP complete the form on behalf of the Council, sec by MB, all in favour.
(h) Reply from BT Chairman – further response awaited.
5 – Answers to Public Participation at 20th Nov meeting - None.
6 – To answer questions from Councillors – None.
7 – Items requiring a decision –
(a) Precept figure for 2008/9 – RH had provided all Cllrs with a copy of the accounts. JP reported on the Finance meeting. The figure for the coming year is £90,066. (This means a Band ‘D’ residence’s precept will be (approx) £88.56). JP commented that this budget figure is significantly less than the previous year and BI stated £103,000 was the previous year’s budget figure. JP stated that last year’s precept had been kept low because the previous Council had chosen to use money from Reserves which this Council will attempt to replace. JP proposed that CTC accept this figure, sec by BL, at which point AS expressed his concern over the increase and the effect it could have on residents who have also seen mortgages and food price rises recently. He could not say what District and County Council tax rises might be. He particularly spoke for young people and pensioners on restricted income. He felt that holding a Parish poll would allow other sources of revenue to be considered. BL stated that Bude Council has been told they must increase their precept by 15%, AS replied that Lostwithiel Council has previously set a low precept but they have been told that the figure must double in 2 years time. BL believes that CTC should ‘take the bull by the horns’ this year and perhaps be able to cushion the rise next year when reserves are improved because it is his opinion that the precept was kept artificially low last year. BI agreed and added that £20,000 had been used from last year’s reserves to keep the precept figure artificially low which cannot be sustained year on year. RR suggested that the Press statement in respect of this year’s precept should include a comment to that effect. JP’s proposal went ahead with 7 in favour, 2 against (PC & AS). Press statement to be issued from the Finance Committee.
(b) Christmas Lighting Team (Gratuity payment) – BL proposed that the figure this year should reflect the work done during particularly poor weather and recommended £300, seconded by MB, all in favour.
(c) New member for Employment Committee – As PC had resigned a new member is required. PC proposed BI, sec by JP, 8 in favour, 1 abstention (BI).
(d) Grass cutting/Town Maintenance in house for 2008/9 – RH stated that no decision has actually been made to go ahead with this therefore JP proposed, sec by PC, 7 in favour, 2 abstentions (DE & AS).
(e) Selling of Car Park ticket machines (from BL) – BL stated that several people had approached him saying that the machines were like a ‘red rag to a bull’ and reminded people of the ill-will that was evident in the town while the machines were in use. RH stated that PL had been approached by a potential buyer. PL read out details but said he (PL) had been unable to get an accurate figure for resale. BL recalled that the purchase price had been in the region of £3,500 and DE asked what the ‘working life’ of the machines was – RH replied that most buyers would now look for new machines because of the maintenance contract but one major factor any potential buyer would appreciate is that these machines are solar powered so no major construction work is or would be involved in re-siting them. AS asked members to consider turning the machines into ‘donation’ boxes but BI said the previous donation box had been poorly supported. PC felt that the machines were in danger of vandalism and would cost money to maintain so he proposed selling them. This was seconded by MB, 7 in favour, 2 abstentions (JP & AS). BI then proposed that PL be given the opportunity to negotiate the sale with the interested party (Bodmin & Wenford Railway) and bring a price back to CTC – BL declared an interest – RR seconded BI’s proposal, 5 in favour, 4 abst.
(f) Parking restriction on Clease Rd. (from BL) – BL withdrew this item.
(g) List of volunteers (from JP) – JP wants to construct a list of maybe 100 willing volunteers for community projects, no specific tasks are envisaged at the moment. PC thought that most volunteers would already be allied to one or more of the organisations within the town and would deal with projects via those bodies. MB thought that each project should advertise for volunteers with the skills necessary for that particular issue. BI believed that the Town Forum is actually the body best placed to co-ordinate town projects. BL suspended Standing Orders so that PCSO Sam Smith could address the meeting with regard to volunteers. RR seconded JP’s proposal, 7 in favour, 1 against (PC) and 1 abst (JP).
8 – Items for information
(a) Report on B Jordan appeal – RH reported that 13th Dec, at 10.30am in the CDCDT office has been accepted by Mr Jordan and is the last part of the appeal. The previous meeting was adjourned.
(b) CALC One Cornwall notes – BL had provided information re the meeting he had attended on 21st November. (This ties in with the earlier notes re precept/Dan Rogerson)
(c) Citizens Advice Bureau – JP reported that the last CAB meeting was cancelled but CAB had asked in writing for financial support. Staffing levels have risen due to increased demand in Camelford. Sessions are held in Clease Hall each month. As no specific amount was mentioned BL thought this should be held in abeyance but could then be supported from Section 137 funds.
(d) New entrances in Roughtor Road – There has been no retrospective planning application but, at present, there is no need for a ‘stop’ notice.
9 – Approval of payments –
(As per list available from Clerk’s office) – Proposed for acceptance by RR, sec by MB, all in favour.
10 – Resolutions or recommendations from Councillors – None.
11 – Correspondence –
(a) From BL – dated 3rd Dec 2007 – Notifying Employment Committee that he had received notice of a page on the Web which gave details of B Jordan’s Disciplinary hearing and a witness statement therein which stated that he (BL) had received an apology from Mr Jordan for calling BL a liar during an open Council meeting. BL stated that he had not received an apology, and that this can be verified from previous Council minutes (1st Feb 2007), and he was on holiday for the following 2 meeting. BL then asked each Councillor individually if they knew who the person on the website calling themselves ‘Landshark’ was – each Councillor present denied any knowledge. BL then told the meeting that he believed the posting had recently been removed, and this was confirmed. RR reported that the transcript was taken by Mr O. Tippett who had accompanied Mr Jordan at the hearing.
(BL then called a 5 minute break so Councillors could study Planning applications)
12 – Planning –
(a) 11 Trefrew Road for Mr T Tague – no objection proposed by AS, sec by BL, all in favour.
(b) Land off Daws Meadow for Mrs Lacy-Smith – AS had received communications from local residents with concerns over this development. He proposed objection on the grounds of over-development and insufficient detail, sec by PL, 8 in favour, 1 abst (BI).
13 – Planning Approvals –
(a) St Juliots Well for all-year-round holiday residency.
14 – Planning Refusals – None.
15 – Planning withdrawn – None.
16 – Committee reports –
(a) Finance Committee – minutes were approved for acceptance (prop by BI, sec by JP, RR abstained due to his absence). JP then gave a report which included a request that the payment for NCDC’s front office work be reviewed upwards (i.e. the work RH does). AS proposed writing to NCDC asking for this increase, BL sec, all in favour. Insurance of the new bridge in Enfield Park be dropped because of the construction quality being so good, AS proposed this, JP sec, 8 in favour, 1 agianst (MB). Subscription to CALC (approx £400 p.a.) to be dropped, JP proposed, BI sec, 8 in favour, 1 abst (BL). Petty cash to be streamlined to comply with new computer program.
(b) Car Park Committee – There was no quorum at the last committee meeting and PL expressed his disappointment. He asked that committee members inform the Clerk if they are unavailable. Next meeting 31st Jan 2008.
(c) Amenities Committee – PC has produced a report which he said had controversial content so he wanted members to read it before making it available to Press & public at the next CTC meeting.
17 – Reports from outside bodies –
(a) Town Forum – MB gave a report – Discussion re anti-social behaviour and on the Fireworks.
(b) CDCDT – AS stated nothing to report.
(c) Youth Club – BL stated nothing to report.
(d) HERS project – now in the process of being wound up.
(e) Mayor’s report – BL gave a report – 1st Dec attended exhibition at Methodist Church which he enjoyed. Attended Lights switch-on and introduced Johnny Cowling, and distributed sweets to the children. He echoed MB’s thanks to the Fireworks and Lights committees for a “super evening with the best fireworks since the Millennium”.
(f) Other reports (1) CALC report provided to RH (2) Dual-ing of A30, 2 meetings had taken place which he (BL) felt were very positive, SWRA to be approached for funding.
(g) C.A.R. – MB reported on the AGM which had taken place the previous evening. Meetings in future will be 4-monthly (Jan, May & Sept.), as will their Newsletter. Conflicting information re NHS dentistry. Through school entrance. Fund-raising for future projects will continue.
(h) AS wants CTC to write to Highways Dept due to flooding in High Street, often caused by heavy vehicles spraying water off the road onto road-side properties.
(i) JP gave a brief report on the Youth Council (who didn’t attend this evening) but they would like to address the next meeting during Public Participation.
(j) Clerk’s report – RH read a letter received from the Fireworks Committee which thanked him and Council for their efforts in making the Display so successful. Next year’s display will take place on 6th Dec 2008. RH will write to thank Johnny Cowling for his appearance at the Lights switch-on. There had also been a letter from Inspector Andy Lewis (see start of this report) in which he also criticised the CAR Newsletter (back page). The Audit Commission have returned the 2007 audit which was signed-off by BL yesterday. Future audits should be significantly cheaper for the Council due to the new financial computer program. John Gilbert will site the new signpost at Broadwood Path.
18 – Newsletters & Circulars – available from the Clerk’s office.
19 – Items for 20th Dec meeting –
20 – Exempt information –
(a) Appeal Panel inquest re B Jordan.
(b) B Jordan has made a request that the Press release be removed from the CTC website.
(c) B Jordan holiday pay (brought back by special resolution.
RH asked Council to refrain from voting on going into ‘Committee’ before he read out a letter from Eddie McCormick. The letter suggested that because of the ‘Facebook’ posting it would be futile to go into Committee on the published items. DE stated that his opinion was that CTC had a duty to keep information confidential in spite of the release on the website. RR said that CTC’s internal process should be exhausted before releasing information into the public domain. DE proposed, sec by RR, that Council go ‘In Committee’, 8 in favour, 1 against (PC).
---------------------- End of notes by E. McCormick -------------------------------