Time period: May, June and July 2024
1.0 Council and other meetings
Over the last three months, physical meetings at Cornwall Council have included Full Council (2), Cabinet, the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Corporate Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee (2), Central Sub-Area Planning Committee, Constitution and Governance Committee, and the China Clay Area and Luxulyan Community Area Partnership.
Other physical meetings have included St Dennis Parish Council (3) and associated Neighbourhood Planning working group (3), St Enoder Parish Council (5), St Dennis and Nanpean Community Trust, ClayTAWC (3), Indian Queens Preaching Pit and Fraddon Village Hall.
I have also attended a range of online Cornwall Council meetings via Teams(2) video-conferencing. These have included a briefing in advance of the last Full Council meeting, Group Leaders meeting, the Cornish National Minority Working Group (and associated preparatory meeting), five meetings about a White Paper seeking greater devolution for Cornwall, three meetings about local lettings plans for St Dennis and St Enoder, and a meeting for councillors from the China Clay Area.
In addition, I have had informal meetings with a wide range of groups and individuals.
2.0 Meeting with CORMAC
I had a meeting with the local Highway Manager on 29th May about a range of highway-related matters across both St Dennis and St Enoder parishes. The detail of what was discussed is covered in the below sections relating to the two parishes.
3.0 Local Lettings Plans
Staff at Cornwall Council are continuing to discuss the content of local lettings plans for both St Dennis and St Enoder parishes. I held a meeting with a senior housing officer on 28th June.
I can confirm that the present drafts contain a commitment to ensure that all existing rental properties [with legal agreements or nomination agreements] continue to prioritise households with a connection to the host parish. I recently had it confirmed that Cornwall Council will agree to 75% of rental properties, without legal agreements, should also prioritise households from the host parish.
4.0 China Clay Area and Luxulyan Community Area Partnership
At the meeting of the above CAP on 24th June, I was pleased to be re-elected Chairman.
5.0 Full Council
Two motions were discussed and agreed at Full Council on 21st May. These covered concerns about proposed changes to Universal Credit and PIPs (Personal Independence Payments) and the need to treat mental illness on more of a par with physical illness; plus the need to end subsidies for holiday homes.
6.0 Devolution White Paper
The unitary authority has produced a “White Paper” setting out a call for greater devolution for Cornwall, which could be submitted to the new UK Government. The Group Leaders, including myself, were involved in the discussions around the document. But the White Paper is not what I hoped it would be – it does represent “proper devolution.” I have already appealed to the Cabinet to make additional changes to strengthen the document further.
The White Paper opens with a foreword, that states Cornwall is a “proud Celtic nation” and also notes the national minority status of the Cornish people, while calling for a “deeper devolution settlement” that reflects the status Cornwall shares with Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
But that narrative of parity with the other Celtic nations does not extend fully throughout it. It seems to me that, for much of the text, the authors fall into the trap of seeing devolution in the context of English local government.
There is now a period of consultation before the White Paper is finalised and I will be making further representatives
7.0 “Report it”
Over the last month, I have reported a high number of local issues of concern to residents. This has included fly-tipping, potholes and overgrown verges. If you spot a similar problem, you can also report it through Cornwall Council’s website at: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/report-something/
ST DENNIS PARISH
8.0 St Dennis Neighbourhood Plan
As previously reported, a Parish Council working group and I are working on the “direction of travel” document for the Plan, which will then form the basis of the next consultation.
The text for the document is complete and the maps and the images will soon be inserted. The document is likely to be circulated around St Dennis Parish during September.
9.0 Signs
On 7th May, I presented a report to a meeting of St Dennis Parish Council about “Welcome to St Dennis Parish” signs at various points into the Parish, as well as village signs in places like Enniscaven and Gothers. I am pleased that councillors supported the principle of the proposal and I made further enquiries with Cormac about how to proceed at a meeting on 29th May.
10.0 Traffic matters
10.1 Mobile speed visor poles
I am pleased that the Parish Council is progressing with the purchase of mobile speed visors, which can be placed on poles at various locations around the village to encourage people to drive safely with speed limits.
10.2 Feasibility assessment on traffic concerns
At the Parish Council meeting on 7th May, parish councillors discussed a range of issues with traffic congestion, traffic speed, parking and related matters within the heart of the village. The possibility of a one-way system along some roads was suggested. I approached Cornwall Council and requested that a detailed feasibility or assessment be undertaken of the traffic problems in St Dennis.
The response has been less positive than I had hoped, because of budget pressures and the capacity of council staff. It has been agreed that I can produce a briefing document to make a stronger case for the works, which I plan to produce during July.
10.3 Meeting with local Highway Manager
At the meeting on 29th May, and via subsequent phone calls and emails, I raised concerns and / or discussed progress on a highway-related matters across St Dennis Parish.
Topics included:
· Poor quality of road surfaces, including Carne Hill, Hall Road including pavements, Gothers Road and Trelavour Road.
· Lineage in need of repainting. This includes the area near ClayTAWC, Hall Road junction by school, speed humps on Hall Road. etc, and bus stops in Robartes Road.
· Parking issues at the top of Trelavour Road.
· Data collection of speeding traffic in the Enniscaven area.
· Over-grown verges and weeds growing around the village.
· New welcome signs into St Dennis Parish and name-plates for hamlets such as Enniscaven, Gothers and Trerice Terrace.
10.4 Pavement works
I am pleased that, following representations, CORMAC will soon be commencing a significant programme of works to improve the pavements in the Hall Road / Halimote Road / Manson Place part of the village.
11.0 Cornish Lithium
I attended the first two Community Liaison Group meetings at Trelavour.
12.0 Hendra Prazey [PA20/11311]
The application for housing on land at Hendra Prazey was presented to a meeting of the Central Sub-Area Planning Committee for decision on 22nd July. The Chairman of the Parish Council, Julia Clark, spoke and raised concerns about the problems with the site, particularly relating to road safety and the railway bridge. The Cornwall Councillors on the Committee were sympathetic to such concerns, but took the view that the provision of 23 affordable homes outweighed the negatives associated with the site.
The original application had been for affordable rent units (at a discount of about 20% off open-market rents), but I am pleased that, following representations from me and others, this has been changed to social rent properties (at a discount of about 50% off open-market rents). The Land Trust promoting the scheme has also promised that (i) there will be legal agreements that will guarantee the properties will go to households with links to St Dennis Parish and (ii) they will work with the Parish Council in publicising future lettings.
13.0 ClayTAWC
The purchase of the Old School Building by the ClayTAWC organisation of which I am chair is ongoing. It is taking longer than I had hoped but I believe our solicitors have done most of their work and I anticipate the sale to go through in the relatively near future.
I am pleased that there will soon be a community open day to celebrate 25 years of ClayTAWC and this new chapter for the organisation. This will take place on Saturday 31st August. Please look out for more information in the coming days.
ST ENODER PARISH
14.0 Various roadworks in St Enoder Parish
In recent weeks, there have been a lot of trenching along roads and pavements in various parts of the Parish, relating to cabling for internet services and electrical cabling to the bus depot in St Austell Street, Summercourt.
I have made representations to Cormac about the monitoring of the works and I was disturbed to hear that, on Friday 24th May, the temporary traffic lights at Summercourt crossroads were removed by contractors without informing Cornwall Council that the proper traffic lights needed to be switched back on. I am grateful to the Parish Clerk and others for acting promptly to get this sorted. I made further representations about what happened.
15.0 Traffic matters
15.1 Mobile speed visor poles
Residents will be aware that the Parish Council has placed its speed visors on various streetlights in recent years. I have recently secured agreement that an additional five posts will be erected, where we do not have streetlights in an appropriate location. However, I have been told that Cornwall Council will no longer allow speed visors to be placed on streetlights and I have therefore requested additional poles from Cormac.
15.2 Meeting with local Highway Manager
At the meeting on 29th May, and via subsequent phone calls and emails, I have raised concerns and / or discussed progress on a highway-related matters across St Enoder Parish.
Topics included:
· The flooding problems at Trefullock.
· Poor quality of road surfaces, including section near St Enoder Churchtown and along the road between Arrallas turning and Mitchell, at the zebra crossing in the Chapel Road, Indian Queens, and the red surfacing bear to Summercourt School. The red surfacing has just been repaired.
· A considerable amount of lineage is in need of repainting. This includes junction markings, speed bumps on Chapel Road, bus stop markings in St Francis Road, St Columb Road, by Summercourt School, and Beacon Road, Summercourt.
· Recent issues with roadworks, the cabling through local villages and related issues with traffic lights.
· Blocked road gulley at Summercourt crossroads which has led to repeated flooding in the road. This has been cleaned out, but I will intend to keep monitoring this situation.
· Smells near New Row, Summercourt. It transpires that there has been problems with the treatment plant [electricity supply to the blowers had tripped]. Works have been done, but I also will intend to keep monitoring this situation.
· Concerns also raised about parking on and around the Indian Queens Industrial Estate.
· Complaints about vegetation in various parts of the Parish.
16.0 Planning matters
16.1 Proposed holiday development at St Columb Road [PA23/05462]
Last year, a proposal was submitted for outline planning permission for tourist accommodation to the rear of Silver Birch Gardens, St Columb Road, where an application for housing had been turned down previously. There was considerable opposition to the holiday scheme from local residents. I can confirm that Cornwall Council has refused the application. The main reason was as follows:
It is considered that the proposed scale of tourist development in this location would not be well related to the physical form of the settlement and would be at odds with the prevailing character in this location and would appear as inappropriate tourist development encroaching into the open countryside and landscape which would have a detrimental impact upon the intrinsic rural character. The proposal is therefore contrary to policy 2, 5 and 23 of the Cornwall Local Plan and policies 1, 2 and 5 of the St Enoder Parish Neighbourhood Plan.
16.2 Indian Queens Industrial Estate
Last year, planning permission was secured for the extension of Unit 2 on the industrial estate. This followed failed applications for other proposals in this area, which included a new access of Moorland Road that was opposed by local residents.
On Friday 24th May, I was surprised to see a new entrance had been cut through the hedge into the rear of the plot. I have since found that Cornwall Council streetworks had given consent for a temporary entrance for the delivery of some of the framework for the build. Given the previous discussions about the nature of development on this site, I was somewhat annoyed.
The agent for the developers has also lodged their landscaping plan for the project with the Council. It is not the substantial screening that I expected in lieu of the copse of trees and shrubs that had been removed prior to the submission of the various planning applications.
16.3 Burthy Solar farm [PA23/01893]
The solar farm at Burthy near Fraddon was consented last year. Through the planning process it was agreed that the Parish Council would receive £17,000 per annum, which could be used for community projects or grants to community organisations. The Parish Clerk and I have reviewed the legal agreement and sent comments to the developer to aid redrafting.
17.0 Indian Queens Under-5s
I am pleased to see that the works to refurbish the Pre-School building have commenced. These works are being funded by monies from the Community Infrastructure Levy.
18.0 Fraddon Millennium Green
I am also pleased that works are about to start on improvements to the Green. Contractors will soon be removing the old safety surfacing and we will painting the existing equipment. Once the new safety surfacing is down, a new tractor and slide will be installed. Later in the year, contractors will also be on-site to remove dead trees and trim back vegetation, etc.
The core of works are also being funded by monies from the Community Infrastructure Levy.
19.0 Thomas Playing Field, Summercourt
As reported last month, the company that installed the play equipment has confirmed that it will be revisiting the site to carry out significant repair / replacement works in the near future. It looks likely that these will be undertaken in September, just after the school holidays.
20.0 Newsletter
During May, I distributed a newsletter around St Enoder Parish. Thanks to everyone who helped with this. I did not get everywhere but, at the time of writing, I estimate I covered over 98% of the Parish.
SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FAMILIES
21.0 Advice
In addition, I have assisted numerous households and individuals with guidance and advice on a range of topics.
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