NOTES ON THE CAMELFORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

20 FEBRUARY 2007

Public Participation

The mayor read a letter from Mrs Ireland and a reply from David Hooper of NCDC Legal Department saying that a short statement by the clerk that his conduct had been inappropriate and unprofessional should suffice.  The mayor said an apology had been given and the matter was now closed.  She continued that letters had been received from John Hough and Clare Ireland and that she would respond to them.  She said the deputy mayor at the meeting of 1 February had said that advice had been received from the Legal Department of NCDC.  C Ireland said that the deputy mayor had not said that and asked if that had been minuted.  (The clerk checked.)  It had not been minuted that legal advice had been received from NCDC.  C Ireland asked why the mayor had not stopped the clerk.  The mayor said she had.  C Ireland replied ‘not until he sat down’. B Ireland asked the mayor if this was public participation, or mayor’s participation.  C Ireland said that something very serious had happened at the meeting of 16 January, that Cllr Lush had been accused of lying by the clerk.  J Finch said she had been accused of lying last Friday (Writer’s note - the Standards Board hearing against Cllr Ireland).  Cllr Clark said ‘but that was true’.  The meeting was moved on at the request of the deputy mayor.

The mayor then read two letter from Frank Samuel dated 16 January, addressing several subjects.  The matter of the £60 versus the £100 in the car park sub committee meeting minutes and subsequent ratification.  Should the £100 fines stand and it should be investigated how this happened.  He finally suggested that Cllr Lush be reimbursed the £3 parking fine he had paid, as he had been acting in the interests of council.  The mayor replied that that would be up to Cllr Lush.  Replies to Mr Samuel’s letters will be given at the next meeting, 1 March.

1. APOLOGIES – Cllrs Pierce, Lush on holiday.  L Crockford would have to leave at 8.30 to go to work.  J Bass absent.
2. RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST- S Elford – 12a.
3. MINUTES – to receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2007.  B Ireland said ‘as amended’.  He also said he had made a point of order and it was not recorded as a point of order.  B Jordan said that a point of order must be related to a standing order.  Acceptance proposed by A Shaw, seconded S Elford, 7 in favour, J Finch abstained.
4. ITEMS CARRIED FORWARD FROM THE LAST MEETING
   1. Traffic monitoring – roadworks ongoing.  Nothing about the height and width restrictions.  Should council write again.  To be carried forward to April.  A Shaw said that Tesco lorry drivers are instructed to drive through Camelford as it is a faster route.  Goss Moor will be open in early June.
   2. Footway and Street lights – petition received with 164 names from Valley Truckle.  Send to R Constance, J Comber, D Rogerson, Chief Executive.
   3. Seat in Victoria Road – report from D Pierce.  The seat was being made by Aaron McCleod and the frame is to be galvanised.  Should be ready in 3 weeks.  Seat to be assembled by the contractor.   Cost £300.  A Shaw thought it would not be advisable to put the seat in while the road is being taken up.  Alternatively the contractors could be asked to plant it.
   4. Assets register – the clerk had found one dated 1996.  Nothing entered into it and there was no other.  There was nothing in the office.  A Shaw said he thought it was a buff coloured book.  The clerk said it was not in the office now, he had started to get some of the prices.  It should not be too big a job (to recreate it) and he could check back for the price of things by going back through minutes.  B Ireland said he understood that the original had been prepared by the former clerk and Peter Blower.  A disk could also have been lost.  The clerk said he had about 200 disks but they did not run on his new computer.  B Ireland said it should read any disk.  J Finch asked the clerk if he had been in touch with the previous clerk.  The clerk said he had kept everything on floppy disk.  B Ireland agreed to look at some of the floppy disks as he thinks this is important.  J Finch said we need to know exactly what we have and what is worth keeping.  She asked if there had been any result from Truro (archives).  The clerk said everything was on microfiche and J Finch asked if the library had a microfiche reader.  The clerk said that in the attic there were documents going back to the 1960s.  What is good should be sent to the archives.  J Finch said we need to look at it.  10 March was proposed.
   5. Consultations on amendments to Code of Conduct – it was proposed by A Shaw that the clerk write to express concern about ‘partial confidentiality’.  Seconded M Williams, 7 in favour, P Clark abstained.
5. ANSWERS TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 1 FEBRUARY 2007 – none
6. TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR OBSERVATIONS FROM COUNCILLORS OF WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN – none.
7. ITEMS REQUIRING A DECISION
   1. Poltair Properties – wish to discuss their proposal for 27 affordable homes, section 106.  Mr Stevens, Managing Director, would talk to council on 20 March or 4 April.  No vote.
   2. SMP Playgrounds – invitation to seminar on 6 March, morning to 1.15.  Members wanting to go should inform the clerk.  No vote.
   3. Camelford and District Agricultural Association, entry form for 8 August.  Cost £20.  A Shaw proposed that council have a stand again, to show ongoing progress with the park and playground.  Seconded S Elford, 7 in favour, P Clark against.
   4. Cornwall Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, request for funding for running costs.  In line with council guidelines, no.  No vote.
   5. Easter Fayre, 7 April, Easter Saturday.  Mayor to write to those who came last year and ask which stall, from a supplied list, they would like to man.  Money (£45 for the pa system) to be raised from the bouncy castle.  The public entertainment licence should be in place by then.  No vote.
   6. Road diversion/signage – the clerk had asked Oskar van Winden why Camelford needed four finger signs – only one was needed, at the entrance to Enfield Park.  They have agreed to move the HGV sign from Clease Road to Valley Truckle.  The cost of the signs would be £4,000, plus the £4,000 for finger posts.  On the plus side, if money is available, granite kerbstones will be put outside Ravals, but that is in consideration for council’s help with the cost of signage.  J Finch asked how much help.  A Shaw said 10% was usual.  The clerk said Oskar van Winden had looked as though 10% would not be sufficient.  He added that there would be extra income from NCDC for looking after the offices.  The signage would cost £5,000 in all.  B Ireland said there was £600 in the Enfield Park budget.  The clerk said there was £1165 for the park.  B Ireland suggested that as it would be in Enfield Park half should go towards the finger post.  A Shaw said that if income is going up by £2,500, starting on 1 March, payment would be received monthly or quarterly.  M Williams said he thought if that were the case council should pay CCC monthly or quarterly.  The clerk said that an amount can be borrowed from reserves and repaid.  M Williams pointed out that interest would be lost.    P Clark said that surely £1500 would be too much - £1000 is 20%.  B Grills said she thought it a bit of a cheek to ask council to pay for signs.  On the other hand Malcolm did say they are traffic information signs, provided by Highways for Camelford.  The finger posts are not.  P Clark proposed £1000 towards the cost, seconded B Grills, all in favour.
   7. That the town council meetings scheduled for 3 and 15 May be moved to 10 and 22 May to allow for the Parish and District Council elections on 3 May – suggested by J Finch.  B Ireland asked why the meeting of 3 May is not just scrapped and the Tuesday meeting will be the only one in May.  The clerk said the meeting has to be within 14 days of the election.  J Finch said that thinking about it, would it be better to have it on 22 May.  The clerk said you cannot, it is too late.  B Ireland proposed, A Shaw seconded that 15 May will be the only meeting for May.  All in favour.
   8. NCDC District and Parish council elections, 3 May – do we want polling cards.  District council will notify their election but not ours.  B Ireland said he thought we should have polling cards.  Proposed B Grills, seconded B Ireland, all in favour.  Cost would be 25p per polling card issued, £500 ish, but this would come out of next year’s budget.
   9. St George’s day celebration, 23 April – letter from Bruno Peek OBE, MVO.  To raise funds for a number of charities, including Cancer Research.  To be passed to Angela Goodman of the Cancer Research Committee.  Councillors to help if they can.
8. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
   1. CCC – strong and prosperous communities – given to P Clark.
   2. Letter from Buckingham Palace thanking the people of Camelford for the book to celebrate the Queen’s 80^th birthday.
   3. CCC notice of road closure, Trefrew Road, 12 March, work complete in 3 days.
   4. NCDC parish council election details.  Copy to be sent to each councillor.  Perhaps workshops could be run.
   5. CCC Annual Minerals and Waste Monitoring Report 2005/6.  Now on their website.
   6. NALC – application for Quality Status.  All councillors to be elected, no co-options.  Must have quality clerk.   The clerk said it empowers and benefits the community, but it would take two years hard work to get quality status. 
   7. NCDC public consultation – 22 March, 1.30 – 4.30 -  officers on hand for consultation, Camelford Hall.
   8. Audit Commission – Alan Williams appointed as external auditor.
   9. Jason Bellinger – add to selected tender list.
   10. Cornwall Countryside Access Forum – meetings 27 February at County Hall, 27 March, Camborne.  You can listen, but not take part.
9. FINANCE – cheques for payment.  Acceptance proposed A Shaw, seconded M Williams, all in favour.
10. RESOLUTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCILLORS – none.
11. CORRESPONDENCE
    1. East Cornwall Voluntary Service – two delegates can attend skills training on 6 March, Parkhouse Centre, Bude.  P Clark and B Ireland may go.
    2. Letter of thanks from Patience Rudd – for logs.  Also several phone thanks.
    3. Copy letter from Dr M R Colmsee to NCDC re Inns Park development, objecting on grounds of traffic, school, infrastructure.  A Shaw asked the clerk to acknowledge this letter.
12. PLANNING APPLICATION
    1. 2007/00164 – A Shaw proposed no objection.  Seconded M Williams, 5 in favour, P Clark and S Elford abstained.
    2. 2007/00213 – B Grills proposed no objection, seconded J Finch, all in favour.
    3. 2007/00264 – A Shaw proposed no objection, seconded B Grills, all in favour.
    4. 2007/00279 – B Grills said she had not seen the plans.  A Shaw said it is quite a large extension, but part of the stone wall has been taken away already.  It is a stone wall (not a Cornish hedge) about 6 ft high, now with a 3.5 metre opening.  Work has started.  He expressed reservations about the size of the development.  S Elford said she thought you could not put an extension on a barn.  P Clark proposed no objection.  Seconded B Ireland, 4 in favour, 4 abstentions, B Grills, S Elford, L Crockford, M Williams.
    5. 2007/00283 – A Shaw proposed no objection, seconded B Grills, L Crockford abstained, remainder in favour.

PLANNING APPROVAL NOTICES – as agenda.

PLANNING REFUSAL NOTICES – as agenda.

13. COMMITTEE REPORTS  - none. 
14. REPORTS
    1. Camelford Town Forum – next meeting 21 Feb.
    2. CDCDT – meeting last night (19 Feb) – land in Delabole.  Applied for Government South West funding for land for an agricultural centre at the new through school.  5 – 10 acres, Duchy College to be involved.
    3. Youth Club – M Williams reported that the extension was now nearly finished.  Because it is a separate building it will need more youth leaders.  Members produced a Chinese banquet with much pork, to celebrate the year of the pig.  B Ireland said that it looked as though the bridge on Broadwood Path is going to come to fruition and asked if the youth club could be involved.  M Williams suggested he drop Jonathan Holt a line.  A Shaw said he was trying to get someone from the Air Training Corps to demonstrate/talk to the older members of the youth club.  With the lighter evenings members could get more involved.  Both Bodmin and Wadebridge have flourishing ATCs.  The invite needs to come from the chair, and it was suggested that it be taken to tomorrow’s Forum meeting.
    4. HERS – 7 March which would be the penultimate meeting, the final one would be in June.
    5. Mayor’s report – 2 February meeting with Martin Wood about play equipment.  He suggested that work be done in that area in two phases, cheaper that way.  There is £10,000 in the kitty already and we are looking for funders.  P Clark asked about the fence by the river because he had seen a 6 year old jump over it.  B Grills said it was designed to keep dogs out, not children in.  A Shaw said that RoSPA had wanted a 2 metre high fence which was a nonsense – it is now 1.2 metres. 

7 February – start of the first Methodist Synod to be held in Camelford.

9 February – interviewed by year 5 children who were very enthusiastic and asking questions about the play area.  She had seen for herself the traffic problems at the school main gate at 3.15.  it has been said that the departments concerned at CCC will talk to each other in an effort to find an answer.  A drop-off roundabout would work in the morning, but not at going home time.  P Clark said it had been made worse by pay and display, but J Finch said it had always been a problem.

16 February – the Standards Board for England – the complaint was that B Ireland had brought his position and the council into disrepute, by the delivery of a statement to council, and that he failed to declare a personal interest on occasions because his wife is secretary of the Camelford Association of Residents.  It was found that there was no breach on the matter of bringing the council into disrepute, though the tone and manner of his speech on 2 March had been robust and insensitive.  But the panel decided that he had breached the code by failing to declare an interest on two occasions and that he would benefit from further training, to be taken within 6 weeks.  The panel made further recommendations that all councillors be given a copy of the code of conduct within 7 days and that the chair of Camelford Council should ensure that all new members are furnished with a copy of the Code of Conduct.  Further, all members should undertake further training, again with six weeks.

Julian Harman had applied to court to reclaim expenses of about £250 from Camelford Town Council.  The notice in his shop says it cost £10,000 and that council has spent thousands of pounds of tax payers money supporting lies.  The judgment was that costs be awarded to the council.  The VAT is £1445.91 which has been paid by council and reclaimed.  The balance would be pursued by council’s insurers.  The only contract council has is with the insurance company and not with the firm of solicitors employed by the insurance company.  Camelford ratepayers are not paying the costs.  M Williams had tried to put these facts before council (and the press and public).  She believed it to be in the public interest for everyone to know the true facts.  B Ireland said that the costs have not yet been taxed by the court.  There is to be a hearing and we do not know how much will be paid by anyone.  J Finch said it was all to do with the insurance company and that council has no further say in it.  P Clark said he thought it was up to the judge.  J Finch said it was up to the insurance company how much it wanted to claim. 

6. A Shaw reported on the NALC conference last Saturday.  The presentations by Cornwall County Council about their application for unitary status and consequent cost saving and that by Penwith District Council were received with a lack of enthusiasm.  The talk by Mark Hall, Chief Executive of North Cornwall District Council, the only ‘excellent’ council in Cornwall was met by a standing ovation, as he outlined the great loss which would be felt if NCDC were abolished.
7. B Ireland said that on 8 February the Standards Board for England hear a case brought against him for showing disrespect to the clerk.  J Finch said she had not received the decision notice.  B Ireland said it was yet to come, but that he had been found not guilty. 
8. A Shaw said could council ask the Co-op to tidy up its forecourt, the front entrance.  P Clark declared a personal interest as his son works there.  The clerk to write.
14. NEWSLETTERS AND CIRCULARS
    1. ECVS quarterly Signpost newsletter received.
15. ITEMS FOR 1 MARCH MEETING – A Shaw asked for an item to go in the newsletter to ask how many first time buyers there would be in, say, the next five years.  To be proposed that CAR put it in their newsletter, also the Forum magazine.
16. EXEMPT INFORMATION

Acceptance proposed A Shaw, seconded M Williams, 4 in favour.  S Elford, P Clark and B Ireland gave their apologies and left. 

1. Parks for People – update on interviews, decision on Project Manager.
2. Play Area – update on funding.

End of notes taken by Clare Ireland

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