DRAFT MINUTES
A
Meeting of the Full Council took place at 1915 hrs on Tuesday 16th
February, 2010, at the Camelford Hall, Clease Road, Camelford, North
Cornwall. PL32 9PL.
Public Participation
Mrs
Linda Emmett of the East Cornwall Local Action Group attended and said that
the organisation was part of the Rural Development Programmes for part of
the South West especially the old NCDC and Caradon areas. She said that
there was £1.8M available for projects which are new and will make a
difference. The money is not to support statutory functions, but should be
environmentally friendly and make life better for people. The project had to
have a ‘start, middle and finish’, and benefit the infrastructure so
therefore could be recreational, help with local produce and could range
from £1 upwards. Any decision would be made on the case submitted, and she
looked forward to viewing applications from Camelford.
Police
Sergeant Paul Jones addressed the meeting over the policing of Camelford.
He wished to address eight issues brought to his attention. Firstly he
produced a table of crime figures from 2006 – 2009 showing a distinct
reduction in recorded crime.
RR queried whether the reported reduction in officer numbers would mean that
Camelford would see fewer officers, AS expressed similar concerns. Sgt.
Jones said he was confident there would be no reduction in staffing levels
at Camelford. Secondly he distributed PACT cards inviting people to raise
their concerns from which he will raise a spreadsheet which will be passed
to Chris Sims (the Communities organiser) so that he could pass them on to
the appropriate authority as few were actually for the police. Thirdly the
projects to help with the youth problems in the Town and in particular the
Youth Club and Project DJ both of which appeared to be working well with
reducing juvenile crime. Fourthly he was having his staff organise
surgeries so that people could drop in for a chat and air any policing
problems. AS queried the access problems for those that worked during the
day and Paul assured him that someone would be available on the phone at
Camelford P Stn.
Fifthly, the Foyer was a success and the Clerk questioned whether the youth
that had smashed up his room would be prosecuted for damage. Sgt. Jones
said it was in hand. The sixth item was Speeding and the successful effects
of ‘Speedwatch’ where the children undertook the speed checks and dealt with
the drivers when stopped. BG requested that the watch be extended to the
routes to school, and RR passed comment on the excellent driver awareness
course. AS queried if there was a suitable GATSO site and Paul said that
this would be discussed with Highways. The seventh item was a police
newsletter bringing people up to date with current events and ways of
improving circulation was discussed. Finally, Sgt Jones spoke about the
reported move of the Police Station to the Council Offices at College Road.
He said it was not decided and said there were still lots of matters to be
sorted out. PL said it was a short-sighted move with terrible access into a
decaying building and reminded members that a much better alternative was
the utilisation of the primary School location. Sgt Jones was thanked by
the Chairman for attending.
The
Clerk read a letter from Keith Hill about the removal of Remembrance Wreaths
from the war memorial in Enfield Park on the 2nd April.
Mr Mark
Stockwood then addressed the meeting about the rumour of the return of pay
and display car parking in Camelford. He said that the maintenance of the
system was expensive, and there was a lack of parking for residents who live
in the town centre. When the parking meters had been installed people had
declined to pay for parking and had gone shopping elsewhere and not all of
those shoppers had returned following the resumption of free parking.
The
Clerk said a message had been sent from the Chamber of Commerce over the pay
and display matter but he had not been able to download the message in time
for presentation at this evening’s meeting.
(Standing Orders Apply)
MINUTES
1)
MEMBERS PRESENT: Cllrs R Ireland (RI),
R Rotchell (RR) A Scawn (AAS), A Shaw (AS), P Lessels (PL), E McCormick (EM)
J Pearce (JP), D Elliott (DE) Mrs S Elford (SE) and Mrs B Grills (BG)
2)
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr B Lush.
3)
Receive declaration of interest:
- In respect of items on this
agenda. The members declared the following interests:- EM, 8i,
personal; SE, 7a, personal; BG, 7a, personal; AAS, 7a, personal (Re Item
7a, members asked that their rights be reserved to declare prejudicial
interest if the debate expanded to incorporate appropriate issues. DE
stated that he had been elected on the basis of free parking for
Camelford and had a personal but not a prejudicial interest. RI said
that the declaration became prejudicial if the member suffered any gain
or loss by the matter under discussion. The Clerk read the Monitoring
Officer’s comments. RI suggested a delay until the next Full Council
meeting for members to consider and seek advice on their personal
situation. JP proposed a delay until the position was clear and DE
supported that suggestion. BG refused to withdraw the item saying that
the matter was for discussion. AS proposed the suspension of Standing
Orders to allow all members to talk freely which was agreed.
b.
Gifts in excess of £25. - None
4)
MINUTES: To receive and approve the
Minutes of the 19th January 2010 meeting. The Minutes having been
circulated, were read, and acceptance proposed by AS seconded by PL Vote 8F,
2 abstentions.
5)
ITEMS CARRIED FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS
MEETINGS:
6)
ITEMS REQUIRING A DECISION
a.
To agree any
decisions of the Employment Committee re the changes to the groundsman’s
employment. The meeting wanted this dealt with ‘in Camera’ at the end.
b.
At the request of
the Celtic League, for Camelford to recognise St Piran’s day as a holiday.
(5th March). PL proposed acceptance of the holiday, seconded by
EM, Vote 5 F, 4 against (DE) and 1 Abstention. Carried.
7)
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
a)
To
discuss pay and display in Churchfield Car Park.
(Standing Orders temporarily suspended.)
BG gave
her view of the management of the car park and wanted to address the parking
problem and costs. BG continued with a brief history of the car park
purchase which preceded the Council paying for the installation of an
interceptor tank. The purchase price was £140K over a 25 year loan, but she
stated that with pay and display an income of £30K was available to offset
the charge. She added that there is now a chance to get it right for the
rate payers. Parking for drivers who work elsewhere is safe and free. She
gave as an example, four cars will park and only one leaves to take the
drivers to work. To deal with parking there needs to be consideration to
overspill parking, the issue of parking permits to residents, permits to
workers in the town and possibly free parking for up to 2 hours and then
charged but it is up to the traders to consider whether they repay the
charges to the customer.
DE said
that there was a referendum over charging for the car park which was
rejected by the parishioners, eight councillors were elected on a ‘no charge
policy’ however it is reasonable to consider charging for overnight parking
but who will police the charging.
SE said
that six cars came in and one car out, so it is very unfair on the
residents.
AS
agreed with BG and DE over the daily parking of cars for shared travel
purposes. It was an abuse of the residents by using the parking for all
users.
JP
voiced great concerns about how the car park is used. He said it was a
resource and had drawn up a list of options for discussion.
PL said
that BG had given a well thought out case. However the myths were dispelled
by the two surveys carried out in 2007 and 2008. Parking spaces have been
increased, and really there is no abuse in the car park’s 107 spaces. 524
people had voted for him when he stood on a free car park mandate.
EM said
that there had been several surveys, 2001, 2003, and 2005 and had provided a
dubious ‘Options’ exercise before those surveys mentioned by PL. The
election of 2007 showed that the mandate was still for a free car park.
Members stood on a ‘free car park’ ticket and whilst use should be brought
up to date there still should be no charges.
RR said
that ‘All day’ parking should be looked at in case it is abused.
AAS
said it was a good report by BG but there maybe fresh views by 2013.
RI then
stated that the issue of a free car park has been the most divisive issue in
Camelford as it has caused issues for the Chamber of Commerce and other
organisations. CAR was formed at the suggestion of the MP to sort out these
issues. RI asked ‘What did we gain from the charges – a dead town and
takings 10% down in the shops’. He continued, ‘The Banks considered pulling
out and the town was depressed. The intention of the money collected was to
reduce the precept, in fact most of the money collected was spent cashing up
and banking. The Clerk became a car park attendant, and the Council had to
hire a person to carry out part of the Clerk’s job costing several thousands
of pounds. The Clerk was doing the car park work to the detriment of the
rest of the clerk’s job. Nothing happened to the town during the time of pay
and display. RI finished by saying, ‘I question why this is being raised
now when the budget was set for 2010-2011 only at the end of last year’.
DE
requested that the item be delayed to another meeting.
PL
wanted a vote on the way forward.
BG
requested a right of reply and said that she wanted the issues of parking in
Camelford discussed. EM asked members to note that the agenda item
stipulated ‘Pay & Display’ not merely parking problems.
RR said
that this wasn’t discussed at the Amenities Committee because there wasn’t
an issue for discussion, now there was and proposed that Parking in
Camelford is discussed at the Amenities Committee, seconded by RI and vote
AIF.
(Standing Orders were then reinstated.)
b) Crime figures and policing update. This had been covered earlier.
c) 15th March – 2 weeks New Road Boscastle closed new
mains. Noted.
d) To discuss the proposed change of venue for the Police Station. AS
proposed that having heard the report by PS Jones, that the Council write to
the Chief Constable saying that the Council Office is too far out of the
centre of the town. Seconded by EM Vote 7F, 3 Abs.
8) To approve the expenditure for the
Month of January 2010. Acceptance proposed by JP, seconded by RR, 9F and 1
Abst.
|
Cash |
100.00 |
|
Current |
8372.40 |
|
Deposit |
53249.56 |
|
VAT refund due |
5584.17 |
|
TOTAL |
67306.13 |
|
|
Chq No. |
Payee |
Value |
VAT |
Total |
Frequency |
Allocation |
|
a |
103846
|
Blutex Ltd |
61.46
|
00.00 |
61.46 |
As required
|
Pond
cleaner |
|
b |
103847 |
Celebration pyrotechnics |
1530.00 |
229.50 |
1759.50 |
As required |
Christmas Fireworks |
|
c |
103848 |
Greenecology |
469.00 |
70.35 |
539.35 |
As required |
Cemetery tests |
|
d |
103850 |
Ian Farmer
Assoc |
650.00 |
97.50 |
747.50 |
As required |
Cemetery tests |
|
e |
103851 |
Atlantic Signs |
103.46 |
17.54 |
121.00 |
As required |
Parking signs |
|
f |
103852 |
Cedar Croft Nursery |
15.75 |
2.47 |
18.22 |
As required |
Plants |
|
g |
103853 |
Petty cash |
84.51 |
7.33 |
91.84 |
As required |
Postage, poles, DVDs, replacements |
|
h |
103854 |
Terry Grave Elec |
74.00 |
11.10 |
85.10 |
As required |
Xmas Lights |
|
i |
103855 |
Nordac solutions |
404.64 |
0.00 |
404.64 |
As required |
Website Computer |
|
j |
103856 |
Land Registry |
410.00 |
0.00 |
410.00 |
As required |
Registration of Enfield Park |
|
k |
103857 |
Glasden Manufacturing |
297.83 |
52.12 |
349.95 |
As required |
Salt Spreader |
|
L |
103858 |
J Gilbert |
681.64 |
0.00 |
681.64 |
Monthly |
January pay. |
|
M |
103859 |
B Groves |
1157.84 |
0.00 |
1157.84 |
Monthly |
January pay |
|
n |
103860 |
HMRC |
874.33 |
0.00 |
874.33 |
Monthly |
Tax, ees ers |
|
o |
DD |
Cornwall Council |
167.00 |
0.00 |
167.00 |
Monthly |
Car Park rates |
|
p |
DD |
AOL |
19.99 |
0.00 |
19.99 |
Monthly |
Isp fee. |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
7001.45 |
487.91 |
7489.36 |
|
|
INCOME
|
1 |
Parking fines |
10.00 |
|
2 |
Car Park Fee |
1196.00 |
|
3 |
Market |
0.00 |
|
4 |
Car Park donation |
11.16 |
|
5 |
Firework Donation |
1530.00 |
|
6 |
Insurance refund |
45.91 |
|
|
TOTAL |
2793.07 |
10) PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
2010/ 00044 -
Tregarth Business Park,
Camelford Station. 14 minor offices for R&D and light Industry. Applicant
A J Smeeth. Remitted from the Planning Committee for decision. AS said that
the details of the original planning permission for the site will be
required before it can be supported or not. The Clerk to obtain the
original permission.
11) PLANNING APPROVAL
NOTICES -
None
12)
PLANNING Refusal NOTICEs None
13) Planning appEAL NOTICES: None
14) COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Tabled for information.
Minutes
for the Amenities Committee 4th February 2010 Acceptance proposed
AAS, seconded PL, vote AIF
Minutes
of the Planning Committee 4th February 2010. Acceptance proposed
AS, seconded BG, vote 7 F 3 Abstentions
Minutes
of the Finance Committee 4th February 2010 Acceptance proposed
by DE, seconded by AAS, vote AIF
Minutes
of the Employment Committee 28th January 2010. to be discussed
‘In Camera’
Minutes
of the Market Committee 19th January 2010 Acceptance proposed by
RR, seconded JP, vote AIF
CAMELFORD
TOWN FORUM. AS reported that a meeting will take place18thFebruary
2010. RI said that there must be a report from the last meeting. JP said
that there was nothing of significance and the Clerk reminded members that
the Agenda and Minutes of the Town Forum are available via email.
CAMELFORD
YOUTH CLUB – AAS Quarterly meeting this week but they are needing a small
amount of cash. AAS asked if he could run a raffle with funds raised going
to the Youth Club Proposed by AS, seconded by AAS, vote AIF.
c.a.r. -
EM said that several events were planned for St Piran’s
Day and evening, and a date and time needed to be set for the unveiling of
the Camelford Charter 750 Memorial Stone. It was decided for 10am, 6th
March with costume opening proposed. EM asked that members of the Press
inform photographer(s).
CDCDT / Camelot
Country-. AS said that soil tests were pending
prior to planning permission at the affordable homes in Delabole.
chamber of commerce – PL
- No report.
MAYOR’S
REPORT – The Mayor attended the Bodmin Moor meeting of parish Councils at
Jamaica Inn at the end of January. He also attended Mrs Jayne Stack’s
funeral on the 11th February 2010.
OTHER REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES – JP reported on the
work he and John Gilbert had undertaken at Broadwood Path and provided
photographs of the installation of stones to improve drainage. EM asked
that thanks for the hard work of both Mr Pearce and Mr Gilbert be noted in
the records. AS then reported on the poor state of the junction at Higher
Cross Lane and A39 and asked that this be addressed by Highways Dept.
CLERK’S
REPORT – Enfield Park still has two items outstanding, one a PCT award for
the park and the other is a grant towards the footpath. Both should be
concluded before the end of the month.
16)
newsletter and circulars. None
17)
ANY
Items for the Agendas for the FULL COUNCIL ON the 16th March
2010. RR -
Wanted the CCTV at Enfield Park placed on the next
Amenities Agenda – is it fit for purpose?
Signed…………………………………………dated…………………………….
