My latest monthly report will be presented to tonight's virtual meeting of St Enoder Parish Council. It covers the period from 10th August to 20th September 2020, and is as follows:
1.0 Council and other meetings
Over the last six weeks, I have attended a large number of virtual council meetings and briefings via Microsoft Works and Zoom. These included two meetings of the Cornwall Local Engagement Board (which reviews actions to combat Covid-19), a development session for the Economic Growth and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee (plus a review into the study for the private rented sector), two budget briefings, a Cornish National Minority Working Group (and an associated briefing), three meetings of the BAME (Black Asian Minority Ethic) steering group, six update meetings on the Community Governance Review for the Electoral Review Panel, five meetings for Cornwall Councillors from the China Clay Area, a Group Leaders’ meeting and a briefing in advance of the Full Council meeting on 22nd September.
I also attended a handful of meetings to discuss a range of local issues, as well as one meeting of St Enoder Parish Council and the annual general meetings of the two South and East Cornwall Local Action Groups.
2.0 Traffic matters
The present difficulties have certainly slowed progress on a number of projects that I have been pushing forward, though I do have some positive news to report.
2.1 New footway from Harvenna Heights estate
As previously reported, the majority of the field to the west of Indian Queens School will become additional recreational space for the School.
The reminder of the land is due to be transferred from Cornwall Council to St Enoder Parish Council, along with a financial sum to construct a pathway to the Harvenna Heights estate. In recent weeks, there have been ongoing discussions about the extent of the land going to the School. A map has been produced and the land coming to the Parish Council is shown marked in red.
I am pleased that the process to transfer the land is now underway.
2.2 Crossings on Chapel Road and St Francis Road
I also have an update on the crossings that I have been seeking in relation to the Travel Plan for Indian Queen School. The feasibility study has been completed and it recommended a zebra crossing on Chapel Road, along with a pedestrian refuge on St Francis Road. Cornwall Council has confirmed that the works will now definitely go-ahead and detailed design work has now been commenced. However, I am continuing to lobby council officers for the suggested crossing on St Francis Road to also be a zebra crossing.
I am awaiting confirmation of the timetable for the design works and the implementation of the scheme.
2.3 Summercourt School
Discussions about improved safety measures outside Summercourt School have been ongoing and I can confirm that I have formally proposed that a scheme be fully worked up and funded through the Community Network monies for highway improvements.
2.4 A3058
The funding is still in place for improvements between the crossroads at Summercourt and the roundabout at Quintrell Downs. The design work for the scheme is nearing completion and includes pedestrian crossings linked to the traffic lights on three of the four roads at the crossroads, plus a permanent vehicle activated sign at the northern entrance into the village. As previously reported, I have secured an additional (south-facing) vehicle activated sign to be placed in St Austell St.
Council officers are planning to visit the village to assess where the vehicle activated signs would be located and I am pushing for this to take place as soon as possible.
2.5 Mobile vehicle-activated sign
I am really pleased that the Parish Council has purchased a new vehicle-activated sign. It is a mobile unit, which we will be placing in various 30 mph zones around the Parish for a few weeks at a time. The sign shows the speed of the approaching vehicle. If it is below 30 mph, it will also flash up “THANK YOU.” If it is over 30 mph, it will flash up “SLOW DOWN.” The speed readings will also be recorded, so that councillors will have evidence to lobby the unitary authority and Police where there are problems.
The first location for the sign was at the approach into Fraddon from St Columb Road, and we have just repositioned it on Moorland Road, Indian Queens.
The Parish Council has received a number of requests about where the sign might be positioned in the future and I am working to come up with an agreed list of locations for the sign.
3.0 Parking issues at Kingsley Village
I continue to receive a large number of representations about the parking problems in the vicinity of Kingsley Village, especially along the stretch of highway where New Road meets the roundabout at Vincents Tractors. I have been in ongoing discussions with council officers, in particular about the travel plan for the complex and the need to get information from the travel plan co-ordinators for the various businesses on the site – but there seems to be a lack of information coming through from them.
At the present time, a meeting is being arranged with senior planning and other officers to seek further action.
4.0 Planning applications
I have an update on a couple of planning applications.
4.1 Six extra gypsy / traveller pitches at Little Meadows, Toldish (PA20/03553)
Cornwall Council has refused planning permission for six additional gypsy / traveller pitches at Little Meadows, Toldish. There is already a planning consent for six units at the site, which have yet to be constructed.
The reason for refusal was as follows:
“The proposal would appear as incremental encroachment into the open countryside and have an urbanising effect on the rural location, poorly integrated with the wider settlement of Toldish. This would be significantly harmful to the spacious rural character of the area and erode its open qualities in context with the adjacent land uses and low density of development and be out of character with its existing distinctive beauty and character of the undeveloped countryside, especially when viewed cumulatively with the previously permitted six pitches. The proposal would thereby be contrary to policies 1, 2, 12 and 23 of the Cornwall Local Plan 2010-2030 adopted 2016 and policy Landscape 2 of the emerging St Enoder Neighbourhood Plan.”
We understand that the applicant will appeal the decision to the UK Government’s Planning Inspectorate. The Parish Council and I will keep local residents informed about what happens next.
4.2 Twenty dwellings on land adjacent to Lindsay Fields, Fraddon (PA20/01508)
The layout for this application has modified with the addition of garages to all of the properties. It is still being assessed by planning officers.
5.0 Planning White Paper
The Government’s proposed changes to the planning system will be debated at the next Full Council meeting of the unitary authority on 22nd September.
I submitted one motion, while the group leader of the Liberal Democrats also put forward a motion on the same topic. In order to ensure that the Planning White Paper and related changes are debated, the two motions have been merged into one, which Cllr Brown will propose and I will second.
It remains our hope that councillors will unite around the motion, which will be as follows:
This Council notes that:
1. The Government has published the “Planning for the Future” White Paper and an associated document that would bring forward some more immediate changes to the planning system.
2. The proposals would completely alter the planning system in Cornwall.
3. The Royal Institute for British Architects has called the proposals “shameful” and added they “will do almost nothing to guarantee delivery of affordable, well designed and sustainable homes”. The RIBA has also said that the proposals could lead to the next generation of slum housing.
4. The changes are opposed by the all-party Local Government Association.
5. The issue of land banking is not addressed in the White Paper, even though research by the Local Government Association has demonstrated that there are existing planning permissions for more than one million dwellings across the UK that have not yet been started.
This Council believes that:
6. For all its imperfections, the traditional planning system administered by local authorities allows for significant local democratic input into future development and gives local people a say in planning proposals that affect them.
This Council resolves that:
7. The unitary authority raises strong objections to the proposed changes in the White Paper and linked consultation document, which should include the following:
- An objection to the further centralisation of the planning process, which would undermine the work of Cornwall Council and town and Parish councils, and severely weaken the Cornwall Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans. The changes would also reduce the ability of residents to make meaningful representations on proposals for new housing and other developments in their areas.
- An objection to the “standard method for establishing housing requirement figures,” which has been described by some Councils as a “mutant algorithm.” The changes would increase Cornwall’s 20-year housing target to an extremely unsustainable 81,000 properties – up from the present target of 52,500.
- An objection to the zoning of land, which would allow certain developments to happen without the need for a formal planning application. The changes would risk unregulated sprawl and unsustainable developments – pressures to which many settlements in Cornwall are highly vulnerable.
- An objection to the proposal that a new Local Plan must be completed to a central government template within a 30-month timetable. The changes would reduce the ability of the unitary authority to prepare planning policies best suited to Cornwall.
- An objection that affordable housing would no longer be sought on sites (not deemed designated rural areas) of up to 40 or 50 new properties. The changes would diminish seriously the amount of social rent and affordable housing built in Cornwall and do nothing to tackle the issues associated with second homes and empty properties.
- An objection to the extension of “permission in principle” to larger housing developments, which would further undermine the openness of the planning system.
This Council also resolves to:
8. Raise concerns about the end of Section 106 legal agreements and the introduction of an Infrastructure Levy which could make it more difficult to ensure the delivery of social rent / affordable homes and other community benefits.
9. Raise concerns that the UK Government is failing to address the issue of “land banking.”
This Council further resolves that:
10. The final content of the consultation responses from Cornwall Council / Cabinet Member be discussed with all political groups and the supporters of this motion.
11. The Cornwall Association of Local Councils (CALC) and all local councils in Cornwall are advised of Cornwall Council’s deep opposition to the Government’s proposals.
12. Cornwall Council writes to and lobbies Cornwall’s Members of Parliament urging them to oppose the Government's proposals and to seek their withdrawal, and to circulate their replies to all members of the Council.
6.0 Community Governance Review
I have been spending a considerable amount of time on the review of parish boundaries and arrangements for parish councils, and a number of virtual meetings will be held in the next six weeks to come to a conclusion on a range of requests for change.
7.0 Parish Council matters
I have also been liaising with the Parish Council Clerk on a number of issues, including the construction of the new road in the extension to Indian Queens Cemetery.
8.0 Grants
As a Cornwall Councillor, I have a community chest, from which I give grants to local groups. I have gifted to £200 to St Enoder Youth Club for new equipment and I have covered some of the costs of the Parish Council’s response to the Coronavirus crisis. I still have £1,250 left and I would welcome hearing from local groups who might be interested in funding.
9.0 Inquiries
This report has been a summary of my recent activities, but I have helped a wide range of people with specific local issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment