My latest report to the Parish Council was for the period
19th September – 18th October. Submitted at the last meeting on 24th October,
it was as follows:
1. Council meetings
I have attended a range of meetings over the last month.
These included: Environment, Heritage and Planning PAC (and an associated
informal meetings plus three pre-agenda briefings/meetings); informal Homes and
Communities PAC; informal Reputation and Performance PAC; Constitution and
Governance Committee (and an associated informal meeting); briefing on
emergency management; budget consultation meeting at Roche; and a meeting about
the future of the Council’s St Austell offices.
2. Improvements
at Indian Queens
School
Some three months ago, the Schools Minister David Laws
announced that he had sanctioned investment in eight Cornish schools though its
Targeted Basic Need Programme. This fund specifically supports the construction
of much-needed new classrooms in schools experiencing massive pressure from the
number of children in their communities that need school places.
Taken together, the Council’s eight applications had sought
a total of £18.8 million. The Council was informed by the Education Funding
Agency (EFA) that all eight applications
had been approved, but a subsequent announcement from the EFA has recently confirmed
that Cornwall Council has only been allocated £7.8 million – some £11 million
less than in the applications.
Cornwall Council is seeking a dialogue with the EFA,
pointing out that the reduced allocation could undermine the school
improvements, and asking them to reconsider the extent of the grant allocation.
The planning permission for the first two new classrooms for
Indian Queens School has been granted (phase 1), but there are now a lot of
meetings taking place about how to proceed given the large shortfall in funding
for second phase of the overall project.
I will report back, when I know more about how the unitary
authority and the School will be proceeding.
3. Indian
Queens Victory Hall
I am pleased to be able to report that I have been able to
assist the Hall Committee in getting their recent grant from the Clay Country
Local Action Group increased by £5,000. The main part of the grant was used for
a new floor and it also funded a new kitchen which will be fitted in the
near-future. The extra money will be used to purchase new chairs for the Hall.
However, the Hall Committee has to spend the grant by the
31st October and needs assistance with its cashflow. I have requested an agenda
item on this meeting, which suggests that we agree a short-term loan to the
Hall Committee to allow them to take advantage of the improved grant offer.
4. Flooding
problems at St Dennis Junction
I am also pleased to announce that officers at Cornwall
Council have confirmed that, following investigative work, they intend to
undertake improvement works at St Dennis Junction, in order to prevent flooding
in the future.
The confirmation was as follows:
“We have had the drainage system surveyed in the area and
whilst there was no evidence of a blockage that may have contributed to the
recent flooding, the pipework is aging and is showing signs of cracking and
movement. With this in mind, it has been agreed that there would be
benefit in replacing the pipes and upgrading them in size to provide additional
capacity and flooding resilience.
“Additionally, we propose to provide a trash screen at the
entrance to the first pipe outside ‘Lyndale’ as it is considered that the main
flooding problem here is related to the blockage of the system by
debris/vegetation etc. washed down to the point of entry into the pipe during
periods of prolonged rainfall.
“A detailed scheme is still to be drawn up but is likely to
include a combination of the above and potentially an additional outfall if
considered necessary and if sufficient funding is available.
“Funding has provisionally been allocated to this scheme for
the current financial year and I am confident at this stage that it will proceed.
However, as with all programmes, should funding be reduced or overspend
be experienced on other projects or priorities change, the scheme could be at
risk. That said, if the scheme does not proceed from the current
financial year budget allocation, then subject to confirmation, I would expect
it to be rolled-over to next year’s programme.”
5. Budget cuts
There have been a range of meetings to consider how Cornwall
Council cuts £44 million from its 2014-2015 budget, in order to cope with
reductions in funding from central government. I understand that services under
threat include the Claybus (mobile library and one-stop-shop) in our area. I
fought hard for three years to get this service and I am doing all that I can to
lobby to protect it.
6. Patching
works through Fraddon and Indian Queens
Further to the update in my last monthly report, I have made
further complaints about the poor quality of the replacement linings where the
patching works were carried out along the old A30 through Fraddon and Indian
Queens, etc.
I have had it confirmed that the Council plans to surface
dress this section of road in the early part of next year and does not wish to redo
the double yellow lines until after then. I am using the officer’s call for a
delay in order to push for all lining in the Parish to be repainted in 2014.
7. Double
yellow lines / parking enforcement
As promised, I have also continued to make representations
to Cornwall Council about double yellow lines in St Enoder Parish, the need to
review coverage of these lines in certain areas, and the provision of parking
enforcement. This also follows the report produced by the Parish Council on
this issue.
I am struggling to make much progress, as shown by the most
recent correspondence I have had (via the Network Manager) from a senior
officer in the parking enforcement team.
“As I have explained before, the areas in which enforcement
is being requested are not part of the priority enforcement routes when we took
over the responsibility for parking enforcement from the Police, and I have
previously clarified the criteria of those routes.
“In the days of Restormel Borough Council, ad-hoc visits
were carried out on an ad-hoc basis, as at that time we could provide them
within the budgetary resources that we had.
“However, as Councillor Cole and all Councillors are aware
due to cuts in Central Government funding as an Authority each Directorate is
tasked with savings and efficiencies due the reduction in available budgets. It
is now being discussed that one of the options for the future of Parking
Operations, including enforcement, is the possibility of outsourcing.
“We are therefore required to demonstrate how we can be more
efficient as well as reducing costs. This could mean that the ad-hoc routes
that had been added may be reviewed and any ad-hoc patrols potentially
reduced/removed.
“It is therefore regrettable that I will not be in a
position to carry out any additional ad-hoc patrols in the interim, and indeed
the ad-hoc patrols that we have supplied in the past may well cease. There is
still however the option available to the Parish & Town Councils of entering
into a partnership working agreement to buy enforcement time – but my next
paragraph regarding the quality of lines etc would need to be taken into
account.
“Having said that the majority of comments in the paper you
forwarded to me are with regard to the poor state of lines/markings of the
restrictions on the highway, which could in themselves limit any enforcement.
“I am sorry that this may not sit well with Cllr Dick Cole
and other Councillors in the Clay Area, but the Council faces many difficult
decisions in the future, due to the pressure of budgets and the financial
resources available.”
8. Flooding
issues at Trevarren
Further to my last monthly report, when I brought members up-to-date
on my efforts to persuade South West Water to address the problems relating to
the surcharge of waste from the foul water sewer onto the highway at Trevarren,
I have sent further paperwork to SWW. It includes statements forwarded to me by
some of the worst-affected properties.
9. Incinerator
“Community Liaison Group”
On the 10th September, I attended the second meeting of the
liaison group, set up “to provide a link” between the developers (of the waste
incinerator at St Dennis) and local communities / organisations. The Parish
Council was represented by Donna Bennett.
The group presently comprises the three Cornwall Councillors
for the divisions of St Dennis and Nanpean, St Enoder, and St Stephen; and
representatives of the Parish Councils of St Dennis, St Enoder, and St Stephen.
It is presently seeking nominations for six community representatives, and the
group will then commence open meetings in the New Year.
10. Youth Club
Following the decision of H2O to withdraw from running youth
club sessions, I have been in contact with Cornwall Council and I have arranged
a meeting with Council officers on Monday (21st October) to discuss what
support the unitary authority would be willing to give to St Enoder Parish. I
will give a verbal update at the Parish Council meeting.
11. Community
events
I was very pleased to be able to open the 85th Indian Queens
Music Festival and I also attended the thanksgiving service at Indian Queens
Wesley Chapel, which marked the internal improvements to allow disabled access,
etc.
12. ClayTAWC
I also spent a significant amount of time at ClayTAWC (the
Training and Work Centre for the China Clay Area) at St Dennis, which I chair.
The focus has been on the completion of a “retrofit” of the old school
building, which has been funded via grants of around £140,000.
13. Inquiries
Throughout the last two months, I have also helped numerous
people with advice and guidance on a range of issues.
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