LANNER PARISH COUNCIL

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

15 AUGUST 2011 IN LANNER VILLAGE HALL

Councillor Wood welcomed everybody to the meeting.

Prize giving for the 2011 Garden Competition

Gay Meyrick, a well known local horticulturist, judged this year’s competition and the prizes were awarded as follows:

Most Attractive Garden                                1^st prize                                Mrs Angus

                                                                2^nd prize               Mrs Dodds

Tubs and Hanging Baskets            1^st prize                                Mrs Dodds

                                                                2^nd prize               Mr & Mrs Rogers

Medlin Cup                                         Awarded to Mr & Mrs Rogers for having the most inspirational                                                                  garden.

Chairman’s Report

Councillor Wood gave a brief report on the work of the Parish Council throughout the previous year based on the 3 main functions of a parish council: the administering of council assets, representing the views of the parishioners and facilitating actions and improvements.

The Parish Council has now taken over the lease of the playing field and toilets at Lanner Moor. Thanks are due to Mr Hall and Mrs Moon for their assistance in maintaining these facilities. Cllr. Thomas is forming a committee to manage and enhance the playing field. Parishioners are encouraged to join this committee and become involved for the benefit of the community. It has been necessary to increase the parish precept to cover the costs of this new parish asset. Repairs are needed to some of the equipment but it is hoped that Cornwall Council may be willing to assist with this. In order to try to reduce the amount of vandalism in the toilet block the Parish Council intends to remove the surrounding walls to open up visibility.

The Parish Council has now taken responsibility for the Christmas Lights display in the village. The work is being undertaken by Cllr. Thomas and members of the community.

Cutting the grass in the old churchyard is also being done by the Parish Council. To encourage biodiversity some areas are left uncut to allow plants to complete their cycle.

Interaction with Cornwall Council is important although inevitably there will be some areas of friction and disagreement. Cornwall Council is responsible for maintaining the public footpaths. Lanner Parish Council has entered into a partnership agreement to carry out this work for which we receive a grant of £1875 per annum. To keep the footpaths up to their present standard is currently costing around £3000.

The Parish Council plays an active role in the Mining Villages Regeneration Group and the Cornwall Network Partnership for the local rural area. With ever more people using the old mining trails these groups are seeking funding to provide information on circular trail routes and signage directing trail users into the villages.

The Parish Council continues to make annual grants which it directs to local organisations and voluntary groups.

A new website was created during the year and to date has received over 7000 hits.

A new parish notice board has been installed at South Downs to make it easier for parishioners in that area to keep in touch with events.

All households were invited to take part in a housing needs survey in 2010 which, combined with information obtained from Cornwall Council, indicated a need for 11 units. Despite this evidence Cornwall Council chose to rely on its Homechoice register which indicated a need for 53 units and grant permission at Tresavean for 25 units. The Parish Council is aggrieved that both its housing survey and draft parish plan were ignored and, as this is a substantial and excessive development on an exception site, a legal challenge is being considered.   Formal permission for this development has still not been issued some six months after the planning committee decision was taken. The Parish Council continues to press for access to the Homechoice register (identifying details edited out if necessary) to confirm that applicants meet the criteria for affordable housing.

Not everything goes to plan…

Following a Health & Safety inspection and advice from our insurers, the track adjacent to Rough Street bridge onto the trail was fenced to prevent riders from using it and to make it safer for walkers. This was immensely unpopular with riders so the fencing was adapted to enable riders and walkers to use this permissive path at their own risk with improved safety where it meets the road.

The Community Emergency Plan, which could be vital in the event of a catastrophic event, still awaits input from all who were contacted for information about local resources.

Finally, thanks should go to the Parish Councillors for the work they carry out on behalf of their community. At the next elections in 2013 the Parish Council will be enlarged to nine members to reflect the size of the population. The Parish Council is grateful to the Village Hall Trustees for providing the refreshments this evening.

Presentations

The following organisations gave a short presentation about their work in the community over the past year:

Lee Rouse – Lanner & District Silver Band reported on a very positive year. The senior band had done well in competitions and given several well-received concerts. The new Brass Academy is going well and starting to give concerts. Members of the academy did well in recent exams. £8000 has been raised to buy instruments, uniform and music.

The weather was favourable for this year’s carnival and gala. However increased bureaucracy made organising the event more onerous.

It is hoped that plans for a new band room will be available soon.

Dave Hodgson – Carn Marth Trust reported on the work of this conservation charity responsible for habitat management and cultural and recreational activities. Grant funded bracken management has been completed. Theatre productions are going from strength to strength and the third annual Carn Marth Day was recently celebrated. CMT continues to work closely with Tremough.

The Parish Council facilitated an interpretation board and the diorama on Carn Marth.

CMT is now 20 years old and membership is only £1!

Elaine Youlton – Lanner Village Hall Trustees thanked her fellow trustees. She reported that, in accordance with funders’ requirements, acceptable reports have been submitted. The weekly market is a major fundraiser for the hall but hire rates may have to be revised upwards to meet increasing costs. The land is now registered to the trustees and the transfer of ownership of a neighbour’s path is almost complete. Teresa Marshall continues to be an excellent caretaker although she is currently taking a break from seeking new user groups.

Additional activities will be coming on line in the near future and if anybody is interested in becoming a trustee Elaine would be pleased to hear from them.

Pat Williams – Lanner Festival reported that this event is now in its third year. The previous 2 events have been part of the larger Mining Villages Festival but this year it has fallen to individual villages. Her committee proposes to move the date next year to enable the schoolchildren to participate. She would welcome additional support from village organisations.

Mary Anson – Christchurch reported that the vicar is retiring this year but will continue to be involved with Lanner as well as Searchlight which is a very successful organisation. The church continues to hold fundraising jumble sales and concerts and sponsors the education of Nepalese children.

Sylvia Pooley – Good Companions reported that this is a thriving club despite a dwindling membership. Anybody over 55 is welcome and the club meets on alternate Thursday afternoons in the Village Hall.

Lanner Parish Plan.

The key elements of the draft plan were on display at the meeting.

Phase I of producing Lanner Parish Plan is almost complete. Ongoing comments can be registered either via the Parish Clerk or Councillors or through the website. A limited number of hard copies will be produced and made available to Cornwall Council, the press, the police etc. A newsletter will shortly be produced and sent to every address in the parish setting out the key elements of the plan.

Actions will be the responsibility of the community with the Parish Council acting as facilitator.

From the open day the key issues were identified, a questionnaire drawn up and sent to every household and business in the parish with a reply paid envelope. A healthy return of 23% was achieved. Amongst other trends emerging from the analysed returns parishioners wish to see enforcement for littering and illegal parking; a balance of new housing provision must be struck to protect housing for young and old; more employment is wanted with the provision of craft units and start up workshops to make Lanner a thriving village rather than the dormitory village it is now; despite the Connecting Cornwall Strategy issued by Cornwall Council calling for more non-car transport, with the proposed reduction in bus services it is evident that public transport is not viable for rural areas; speeding through the village should be dealt with (attempts have been made to lower the speed limit to 40mph at the lower end of the village but Cornwall Council Highways believe this to be illegal).

The separate youth questionnaire also produced a good response. Amongst other suggestions an organised bonfire night celebration would clearly be popular.