My latest monthly report to Parish Council

At tonight’s meeting of St Enoder Parish Council, I will be presenting my latest monthly report. It will cover the period 15th May to 25th June 2017,. It includes some information from previous blog entries, but is here for the sake of completeness. It is as follows:

1. Council meetings

Over the last few weeks, I have attended a range of formal meetings. These have included: Full Council; Economic Growth and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Strategic Planning Committee; Electoral Review Panel; Group Leaders’ meeting; two-day refresher training course on planning; additional training sessions on the Council’s new computer arrangements for councillors and the unitary authority’s Code of Conduct; informal get-together for Cornwall Councillors in the China Clay Area; and a briefing on the Local Government Association and a body known as South West Councils.

In the same period, as well as a host of informal meetings with council officers, I have been at two meetings of St Enoder Parish Council, one of which was the Annual Meeting.

2. The new council

At the Full Council meeting on 23rd May, Adam Paynter of the Liberal Democrats was elected leader of the unitary authority. The MK Group supported his proposal for a joint Liberal Democrat / Independent administration – the alternative was a minority Conservative one.

3. Appointments

I can confirm that I am still the leader of the MK group on Cornwall Council and I have been appointed to two committees: Economic Growth and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and the Electoral Review Panel.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has a massive amount of work which includes planning policy which in the previous council was dealt with by the Planning Policy Advisory Committee (which I chaired). The focus of the Electoral Review Panel is the ongoing review into the future number of councillors on the unitary authority (see below). I was elected Vice-chairman of this Panel when an independent councillor, who was due to stand, declined the nomination.

4. Review into councillor numbers

Just over twelve months ago, the Local Government Boundary Commission “for England” (LGBCE) descended on Cornwall. Councillors were informed that there was going to be a review of the number of elected members on the unitary authority, and that then new divisional boundaries would have to be agreed.

Our strong objections were ignored and we were told it had to happen – regardless of what we thought. The LGBCE met with councillors on a couple of occasions and made it clear that if the unitary authority did not propose a reduction in elected members they would impose a reduction anyway. At one point, they stated that the number needed to be somewhere in the range of 26 – 107 (allegedly based on numbers in other councils), though the logic for this was simply illogical.

Cornwall Council’s Electoral Review Panel did a massive amount of work. Evidence we presented to the LGBCE included (i) the fact that any reduction in councillor numbers would leave us amongst those councils with the lowest number of elected members in relation to population in the UK, and that (ii) the present 123 councillors, on average, already worked much more than thirty hours per week.

We attempted – maybe foolishly – to work within the constraints imposed upon us and make the “least worst” job of a bad situation! The Council’s Panel finally put forward a proposal for 99 councillors. This was backed by the majority of councillors, though the Conservative group put forward a counter-proposal for 85.

On the 13 June, the LGBCE informed the unitary authority that it was minded to set the number of councillors (from 2021 onwards) at 87!

From my perspective, I do not agree with any reduction in the number of councillors – even though we did our best to engage with the LGBCE. I find it objectionable that they have ignored all of the Council’s detailed representations, and I continue to be extremely angry at how Cornwall’s democracy is being undermined with another significant cull of our elected members, which is not being experienced elsewhere.

Prior to the undemocratic imposition of the unitary authority, Cornwall had 331 councillors on principal local authorities. That was cut to 123 in 2009, and now we are expected to withstand another reduction to only 87.

It is all frankly ridiculous and why is Cornwall being singled out for such adverse treatment. After all, in Devon and Somerset, they have nearly 500 councillors and over 400 councillors respectively!

There is another consultation on the 87 figure, which is on tonight’s agenda, and will also have to be considered by the unitary authority’s Electoral Review Panel.

5. Fraddon Post Office

Following the closure of the Post Office at Kingsley Village at the end of April, Post Office Ltd promised to provide some “outreach” services from a local village hall or similar venue, while a more permanent solution is sought.

I can report that a meeting was held with a representative of Post Office Ltd at the Indian Queens Victory Hall on Thursday. It was attended by the Clerk of the Parish Council, Amanda Kendall, and myself, plus members of the Indian Queens Victory Hall Committee. The following was noted and/or agreed:

- Two three-hour sessions from a mobile Post Office will be run each week from the ante-room of the Indian Queens Victory Hall.
- The service will be provided by the proprietors of the Post Office branch at Summercourt.
- The cost of hiring the ante-room will be covered for the next 12 months by Kingsley Developers, who previously owned Kingsley Village.

Post Office Ltd are presently arranging for BT to install a bespoke phone line into the Victory Hall, which is expected to take a few weeks. The outreach provision will be able to be commenced as soon as the line has been installed and activated.

At the present time, Summercourt Post Office is liaising with the Victory Hall Committee about which days it would be best to provide the service and what the opening hours should be. I will update again when I have more information.

In addition, it was confirmed that the Post Office and the Royal Mail are in the process of agreeing to leave undelivered parcels for collection in St Columb Major rather than Newquay. Last Thursday, we were told that this was about to be finalised, though we have had reports that some parcels have already been left in St Columb Major.

6. Update on works at biogas plant at Higher Fraddon

Further to last month’s report, I can report that Greener for Life have been carrying out (i) drainage works and (ii) the containment of the outside storage area. They also started to empty the secondary digester of material so that they could lower the height of its dome.

These works were specified by the planning consent, but the consent stated that both a Construction Management Plan and a Construction Environment Management Plan had to be agreed before the works were undertaken. However, the owners of the plant failed to do this and Cornwall Council has stepped in to inform the plant of its obligations.

7. Highway matters

I recently met with the local Cormac officer to discuss a range of highway and related matters. I can report the following:

- The 2017/2018 programme for road surface improvements include part of Moorland Road, Indian Queens; Trevarren; Watery Lane near Blackcross; Halloon Roundabout; Trefullock Moor; road to Carvynick and Pencorse; roads from A3058 along Carnego Lane and towards Goonabarn, near Summercourt. Some works at Carvynick have already been done, while works are presently ongoing on Moorland Road, Indian Queens, near the main industrial estate.

- Three improvement schemes are being moved forward as follows: (i) Cornwall Council is at the design stage for a scheme to deal with problems with rising water through the pavement to the east of Queen Garage, (ii) the Council is planning some trial holes to explore the condition of the main drainage system through Fraddon, which was a contributory factor in flooding some three-four years ago, (iii) officers are looking to design a scheme to deal with flooding of the road in area near entrance to Gaverigan Manor.

- I have also been chasing up on a number of issues, where promised work has yet to be carried out. This includes the tidying up of the garden area at Clodan Mews.

- I have reported concerns about visibility at the roundabout at Penhale, with regard to the junction with the road to Brighton Cross. Cormac have agreed to cut back the vegetation to enhance visibility.

- A flooding problem on the road to Trefullock from the A3058 has been raised with the officers, and they have agreed to investigate how to mitigate the issue.

- In addition, I have also reported a number of complaints and concerns to Cormac for their consideration, which include fears about speeding traffic and ideas on how to improve parking. I am continuing to chase up these matters.

8. Update on Carvynick

The owners of Carvynick recently met with senior officers at Cornwall Council to discuss the basis of their planning application relating to their tourism park. Attendees included the Strategic Director Economic Growth & Development, and the Head of Planning. I will give a verbal update about the nature of the discussions at tonight’s meeting.

9. Consultations

Cornwall Council is presently consulting on a number of planning policy documents, which are of some relevance to St Enoder Parish. These need to be considered at tonight’s meeting.

These include:

- Minerals Safeguarding Development Plan Document (consultation period: 12th June to 7th August). This includes the detail of buffers around the working zone for the China Clay Area.

- Community Infrastructure Levy Draft Charging Schedule (consultation period: 12th June to 7th August).

- European Terrestrial Sites Mitigation Supplementary Planning Document (consultation period: 12th June to 24th July). This involves the proposal for a surcharge on new properties to go towards the mitigation of dog use (and dog mess) on Penhale Sands Special Area of Conservation. This would impact on the western part of St Enoder Parish.

- Biodiversity SPD (consultation period: 12th June to 24th July).

10. World War 1 project

Over the last couple of weeks, I have prioritised working on the grant application for the Parish Council’s project about the Great War. I can confirm that this application will be formally submitted later this week.

11. Inquiries

During the couple of months, I have also helped numerous people with advice and guidance on a vast array of issues.

Remembering An Gof and Flamank - 520 years on

My article in this week’s Cornish Guardian focuses on the anniversary of the 1497 rebellion and the Keskerdh Kernow 500 celebrations of 1497, for which I was on the organising committee. I simply cannot believe it was twenty years ago!

Commemorative events are being held tonight at both Bodmin and St Keverne, though I will be unable to attend as I will be at a meeting of St Enoder Parish Council.

My article is follows:

This week marks the 520th anniversary of the execution of Cornish patriots Michael Joseph An Gof (St Keverne) and Thomas Flamank (Bodmin) who rebelled against the English crown in the late 15th century.

The documented catalyst for the 1497 rising was additional taxation towards a war with Scotland and, in a feat of great endurance, many thousands of men marched from Cornwall to London in protest. They arrived at Blackheath on 16th June but, on the following day, the Cornish host was attacked and defeated by a large military force of King Henry VII.

On 27th June, An Gof and Flamank were drawn through the streets to Tyburn, where they were hung, drawn and quartered, though prior to his death An Gof bravely claimed that he would have “a name perpetual and a fame permanent and immortal.”

It is also the 20th anniversary of the quincentennial celebrations of 1997, when more than forty people re-traced the entire route from St Keverne to the outskirts of London, with thousands more joining the march for shorter distances along the way.

As well as the march itself, a statue was erected in St Keverne and plaques were placed in a number of locations; there were numerous cultural events, plays and concerts; while new educational materials were used in many local schools.

It was all geared to be a “celebration of Cornish identity, Celtic heritage, Cornish ability, language and history” – and it was a great success.

One local newspaper described the events of 1997 as a “magnificent spectacle,” adding that “as an advertisement for Cornwall and all things Cornish, it was brilliant. As pageant, it was superb. And as an achievement for those who took part, it was truly magnificent.”

But it was not just cultural and, at the culmination of the march, the main participants published their own declaration. This document recalled how the original rebels had fought to “protect their distinctive way of life and to challenge economic injustice” and how, in more recent times, Cornwall had not been treated fairly “in comparison with the assistance rendered to our Celtic cousins in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.”

Specific demands included greater local control over economic development, opposition to wider regional bodies, the need for a university campus in Cornwall, and greater teaching of Cornish history, culture and identity.

Two decades on, there has been considerable progress. The cultural confidence on show in 1997 has continued to grow. Just look at last year’s amazing Man Engine and performers such as The Changing Room. The marchers’ demand for a university campus is now a reality, thanks to EU funding secured via the acceptance of Cornwall as an economic region.

But our area remains one of the poorest parts of the UK and our public services still suffer under-investment from the UK government. Cornwall is being denied meaningful devolution and the Government it is failing to act on their recognition of the Cornish as a national minority.

Two decades on, there are many, many campaigns we have yet to win.

Update on (Fraddon) Post Office

Following the closure of the Post Office at Kingsley Village at the end of April, Post Office Ltd promised to provide some “outreach” services from a local village hall or similar venue, while a more permanent solution is sought.

I can report that a meeting was held with a representative of Post Office Ltd at the Indian Queens Victory Hall on Thursday, and the following was noted and/or agreed:

- Two three-hour sessions from a mobile Post Office will be run each week from the ante-room of the Indian Queens Victory Hall.
- The service will be provided by the proprietors of the Post Office branch at Summercourt.
- The cost of hiring the ante-room will be covered for the next 12 months by Kingsley Developers, who previously owned Kingsley Village.

Post Office Ltd are presently arranging for BT to install a bespoke phone line into the Victory Hall, which is expected to take a few weeks. The outreach provision will be able to be commenced as soon as the line has been installed and activated.

At the present time, Summercourt Post Office is liaising with the Victory Hall Committee about which days it would be best to provide the service and what the opening hours should be.

I will update again when I have more information.

Cornwall marginalised by SW Councils

Earlier this week, I attended a briefing about the work of the organisation known as South West Councils. It’s website claims that it seeks to, amongst other things, “support authorities in having a voice, built on consensus, of issues on national policy and funding working with national Local Government Group, when this is deemed appropriate by Members.

Members of the group include the leaders or deputy leaders of all council’s in the Government’s “south west region,” representatives of certain fire authorities, and ten additional nominees in an (unsuccessful) attempt to secure some form of political balance.

In total, there are over fifty people on South West Councils.

But because of the way that the organisation is set up, Cornwall only has a single principal authority and therefore there is only one representative from west of the Tamar. There is not even a Cornish representative on the top-up list.

By contrast, the Isles of Scilly – with a population which is significantly less than my local parish – also has a single representative, while Devon has representatives from Devon County Council, two unitary authorities and eight district councils!

Once again, the democratically-elected representatives of the Celtic nation of Cornwall is managing no more recognition than a host of district councils.

WHAT A DISGRACE,

DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT IN CORNWALL

Just over twelve months ago, the Local Government Boundary Commission “for England” (LGBCE) descended on Cornwall.

Councillors were informed that there was going to be a review of the number of elected members on the unitary authority, and that then new divisional boundaries would have to be agreed.

Our strong objections were ignored and we were told it had to happen – regardless of what we thought.

The LGBCE met with councillors on a couple of occasions and made it clear that if the unitary authority did not propose a reduction in elected members they would impose a reduction anyway. At one point, they stated that number needed to be somewhere in the range of 26 – 107 (allegedly based on numbers in other councils), though the logic for this was simply illogical.

Cornwall Council’s Electoral Review Panel did a massive amount of work. Evidence we presented to the LGBCE included (i) the fact that any reduction in councillor numbers would leave us amongst those councils with the lowest number of elected members to population in the UK, and that (ii) the present 123 councillors, on average, already worked much more than thirty hours per week.

We attempted – maybe foolishly – to work within the constraints imposed upon us and make the “least worst” of a bad situation! The Council’s Panel finally put forward a proposal for 99 councillors. This was backed by the majority of councillors, while the Conservative group put forward a counter-proposal for 85.

On the 13 June, the LGBCE informed the unitary authority that it was minded to set the number of councillors (from 2021 onwards) at 87!

It has opened a consultation on this figure with three questions:

1. Do you think 87 is the right number of councillors to be able to take decisions effectively?
2, Would a council size of 87 enable the Council to represent the interests of all Cornwall’s communities?
3, If you don’t agree that Cornwall should be represented by 87 councillors, what would your alternative number be, and why?

Comments should be sent to the following address by 7th August 2017:

Review Officer (Cornwall)
LGBCE
14th Floor Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP

From my perspective, I do not agree with any reduction in the number of councillors – even though we did our best to engage with the LGBCE.

I find it objectionable that they have ignored all of the Council’s detailed representations, and I continue to be extremely angry at how Cornwall’s democracy is being undermined with another significant cull of our elected members, which is not being experienced elsewhere.

Prior to the undemocratic imposition, Cornwall had 331 councillors on principal local authorities. That was cut to 123 in 2009, and now we are expected withstand another reduction to only 87.

It is all frankly ridiculous. After all, in the English counties of Devon and Somerset, they have nearly 500 councillors and over 400 councillors respectively!

Please join me in making representations to the LGBCE.

I can further report that I have just been elected vice-chairman of the Electoral Review Panel and will be heavily involved with the Council’s response to LGBCE.

Who is standing up for Cornwall in Westminster?

It was the Queen’s Speech in the House of Commons today, while my article in the Cornish Guardian addressed the post-election turmoil as the Prime Minister attempts to court the DUP. It is as follows:

As I sit writing this week’s column, it is ten days since Theresa May’s snap General Election gamble destroyed her majority in the House of Commons.

Having spent much of the election scaremongering about a possible “coalition of chaos” with Jeremy Corbyn and others, it is now the Conservatives who are engaged in lengthy discussions with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party to reach an agreement that will prop up Theresa May as PM.

As one Scottish National Party MP wrote this week: “In the past two General Elections, the Tories raised the spectre of the SNP controlling a Labour-led coalition, enticing fear in voters that the SNP would force our policies on the rest of the UK. Yet they are now climbing over themselves to get the DUP to sign up to some form of a deal to ensure their continued survival.”

The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, says that their ten MPs want to focus on bringing “stability to our nation.” But most of all, it is clear that the DUP is demanding massive investment in Northern Ireland through a new “economic package.”

Arlene Foster told the media that: “I make no apology for wanting the best for Northern Ireland” though one newspaper put it more bluntly: “Give us billions to back you.”

I cannot criticise the DUP for seeking to use the Conservative’s lack of a majority to the benefit of the residents of their province.

Likewise, it is also telling that the 13 Conservative MPs in Scotland – up from one in 2015 – are flexing their muscles and their leader, Ruth Davidson, has made it clear that they intend “to vote as a bloc to protect the [Scottish] nation’s interests at Westminster.”

Here in Cornwall, we still have a group of six Conservative MPs and the outcome of the General Election means that their votes are just as valuable as those of MPs in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Isn’t time that they were also throwing their weight around in the palace of Westminster, just like Arlene Foster and Ruth Davidson, in order to secure more investment in the Cornish economy and to devise new policy initiatives which meet Cornwall’s specific needs.

They now have a chance to show that they are Cornwall’s representatives in Westminster, rather than Westminster’s reps in Cornwall. The question is: will they rise to the challenge?

Symbolically, they could start by showing their commitment to Cornwall, as a political and economic unit, by using their influence to end the parliamentary boundary review, and stop the creation of a cross-Tamar Devonwall seat.

MK news update and Cornish Nation no. 75

Mebyon Kernow has just published the latest edition of Cornish Nation, which has been emailed or posted to all MK members.

If you are not already a member and would like a complimentary copy, please get in contact via dickcole@btinternet.com. Please specify whether you would like a paper or digital copy.

This edition includes a detailed summary of the recent local election campaign in which MK’s four Cornwall Councillors were re-elected to the unitary authority. It also includes a summary of the reasons why MK’s National Executive took the decision to not put forward candidates for the snap General Election which took place on 8th June. It was not an easy decision, but we concluded that it would not be possible to prepare or finance a meaningful campaign while our immediate priority had to be the local elections.

As you will see, we felt that we needed to focus our immediate efforts on “building local support and boosting our all-year-round campaigns for Cornwall, while supporting the key work of MK councillors recently re-elected onto the unitary authority, along with our representatives on town and parish councils.”

If you are not already actively involved with your local branch, I would appeal to you to get in contact to find out more about what you can do:

- For Mid Cornwall, ring me on 07791 876607.
- For North and East Cornwall, ring Cllr Andrew Long on 07812 597257.
- For West Cornwall, ring Cllr Loveday Jenkin on 07718 763566.

And if you live outside of Cornwall, please consider how you might be able to assist us through social media or some other means.

It is also the case that the failure of the Conservatives to secure an overall majority on 8th June has raised the prospect of another General Election. With this in mind, MK‘s National Executive will be meeting within a couple of weeks or so to discuss how we would approach such a contest. We will, of course, keep all members informed about our plans.

Soundbites and policy chaos

My article in this coming week’s Cornish Guardian is unsurprisingly about the General Election. It will be as follows:

In the pages of this newspaper, I have already expressed my exasperation at the cynical manner in which the Prime Minister called this snap General Election.

The Conservatives had certainly honed their soundbites in advance and it sometimes seems to me that they are struggling to utter a single sentence without saying “strong and stable.” I am likewise fed up with the ever-present and deceptive claim that other parties believe there is a fictitious “magic money tree.”

But I am astounded at how the policy basis of the Conservative campaign has been shambolic. This is very disturbing as they are the present party of government, but have nonetheless chopped and changed their policies during the election campaign.

First up, there was the announcement of their new approach to adult social care, which fell into disarray when it was widely branded a “dementia tax.” The Tories did a dramatic u-turn, but further let themselves down by repeatedly claiming that nothing had changed.

And then there was housing. I was quite surprised – but also pleased – when the Conservatives pledged they would build “a new generation of homes for social rent.” But they have already backtracked, saying that the properties would have to be “let at significantly less affordable rents.”

Worryingly, the Government’s housing minister tried to downplay the change which left professionals questioning whether he understood his own brief to provide genuinely affordable homes for local communities.

The extent of funding cuts to the Police has also been a massive issue during this most recent campaign, particularly following the terrible events in Manchester. The Chairman of the Police Federation has even gone public to raise concerns about the level of resources for local constabularies, while other officers have claimed that they are “desperately understaffed.”

Government MPs claim that since the 2015 Spending Review they have protected “overall police spending in real terms.” But they seem to forget to mention the massive cuts since 2010 which led to loss of 20,000 police jobs.

I am afraid that I cannot forget or forgive them for their broken promises from the 2010 General Election. In one local leaflet, the-then shadow Home Secretary claimed: “It is dishonest to claim that we will cut police officer numbers. In fact, our plans to cut bureaucracy and red tape mean that there would be more police on the street …” The local candidate in St Austell and Newquay added that her party did not “make any uncosted promises” adding “we have done the sums and will … put more police on patrol.”

As a councillor from the China Clay Area, who is presently campaigning against the loss of local Police Community Support Officers, I feel it is unconscionable that representatives of the present government failed to live up to their past election pledges and claims.

More representative sport for Cornwall?

My article in the most recent edition of the Cornish Guardian took its start from the “county championship final.” It was as follows:

Along with many other Cornish people, my wife and I were away from Cornwall last weekend. We made the trek to Twickenham to watch rugby’s “county championship” final between Cornwall and Lancashire.

Having won the title in 2015 and 2016, the Cornish boys sadly fell at the final hurdle on this occasion. But throughout the whole of this latest campaign, the players were truly magnificent and played their hearts out. The 45-28 victory over Hertfordshire in front of 3,500 people at the Recreation Ground in Camborne – which secured this latest final appearance – will certainly live long in my memory.

It was great to see a large amount of black and gold on display at “Rugby HQ” – a wonderful display of Cornishness. It was also heartening to be part of such a good-natured contingent from the Duchy, making a massive amount of noise and taking over the “Line Out Bar” for a raucous sing-song lead by our very own Betty Stogs.

The team in black and gold has always been an important part of our Cornish identity, but there have been some recent reports – quoting senior figures at the RFU – that question the value and very existence of the championship.

In years past, Cornish teams even played a number of games against other national teams, including Japan and Russia, but opportunities for representative rugby have become much more limited following the advent of professionalism in the sport.

And I think that any attempt to dismantle or undermine the present championship would be a very sad day for Cornish rugby.

In this column, I often write about our campaigns to secure greater political recognition for Cornwall and the 2014 recognition of the Cornish as a national minority and the ongoing fight to get central government to act on its obligations.

But this need not just be about politics, economic matters and culture. Why shouldn’t it also be about sport? Why shouldn’t this greater recognition for the historic nation of Cornwall also lead to more opportunities for sportspeople to play representative sport for Cornwall?

Just look at the 71 nations at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. As well as contingents from Scotland and Wales, there were also teams from other parts of the British Isles such as Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man – all with populations much less than that of Cornwall!

Indeed, Cornwall was the only Celtic part of the United Kingdom without a team at the 2014 Games.

Surely it would be right for the Cornish nation to be represented at future Games, with our national team in black and gold playing in the rugby sevens competition, and our flag flying proudly alongside those of other Commonwealth countries, both large and small.