Lanner Parish Council.
Subject to Approval.
Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Thursday 24 November 2011 in the Village Hall commencing 7.30pm.

Public participation 7.15pm – The Chairman thanked Mr Rossignol, on behalf of the parish, for cutting the grass that had been obscuring the Lanner stone on the verge at the lower end of the village.

Present: Cllr Wood (Chairman), Cllr. Bray, Cllr. Deady, Cllr. Martin, Cllr. Anson and Cllr. Allen
Pat Willmore, Clerk. PC Stuart Church, Mr Rossignol (member of the public)

PC11/185: Apologies:
Cllr. Thomas

PC11/186: To accept declarations of personal and prejudicial interest relating to items on the agenda.
None declared
(The Clerk asked all members to update their register of interests).

PC11/187: To accept minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2011
It was resolved that the Chairman sign the minutes as being a true record.

PC11/188: Matters arising from the minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2011
None

PC11/189: Report of the Community Liaison Officer
See appendix
The recent spate of spray painting vandalism, particularly in the playground, was discussed.
Having given his report PC Church left the meeting.

PC11/190: Report from Councillor Kaczmarek, Cornwall Councillor
No report

PC11/191: Recording of meetings
Cllr. Allen had become concerned about the frequency of challenges to the Parish Council minutes by Cllr. Kaczmarek and proposed that electronic recording of meetings should take place. Cllr. Martin considered, from his experience as Clerk to Gwennap Parish Council which did this, that this can be onerous and is not really necessary. There was no seconder for the proposal. It was resolved that the minutes will always include a note of when people enter and leave the meeting.

PC11/192: Tree Warden’s Report
The Clerk reported that a TPO has been placed on an elm tree in Strawberry Fields.
The hanging baskets have been taken down and are in storage awaiting collection by Cllr. Allen.
Cllr Allen also reported that the Carn Marth Protection Group will be holding its AGM in January 2012, out of time according to its constitution, due to difficulties in raising a quorum.

PC11/193: Footpath Officer’s report
Cllr. Bray reported that motorcyclists are using the Tresavean Trail. This is causing concern to other trail users, particularly horse riders. Tailings spread on the surface are getting dispersed by the bikes and the surface is becoming excessively muddy. Clerk to report this to Gavin Henderson.
Cllr. Wood reported that the Mining Villages Regeneration Group has been successful with its application for grant funding from WCLAG for enhancing the mining trails. A website will be created with each of the mining villages devising 3 circular trails to bring trail users into the villages and the whole group devising 3 major trails which will cover as much of the trail network as possible. These will all be based on existing trails. There will be signage to direct trail users off principal trails into the villages and back.
Ashley Wood is the project leader and will oversee the creation of the 3 major trails. Each village will prepare its own 3 trails and there is a limited amount of funding available to pay volunteers to walk and plan the routes. 2 or 3 volunteers per village should suffice. Deborah Boden from World Heritage will assist with some manpower and the Ramblers and the British Horse Association are keen to help.

It was resolved that Margaret Bray should take a lead in devising the routes for Lanner.
No paper maps will be produced although downloadable maps will be available from the website which will hopefully attract some funding through advertising. This website will be aimed at people taking holidays in the area and will link with other appropriate websites.

PC11/194: Tresavean/Coastline Development
Following a meeting with Follett Stock and a subsequent teleconference between counsel, Follett Stock, Cllr. Wood, Cllr. Martin and the Clerk a letter before action has been sent to Cornwall Council requesting a response within 14 days. It is the final opportunity for Cornwall Council to provide the information which the Parish Council has been requesting, albeit in redacted form, since the planning committee’s decision to approve the application for 25 homes in February. Once a response is received and considered an emergency meeting of the council will be called to decide on the next step.

The basis of the complaint is that:
1) Cornwall Council has contravened its own policy on size of development on a rural exception site and
2) The true number of relevant eligible Homechoice applicants was not given to the planning committee so that the committee was misled.

If a judicial review is upheld in favour of the Parish Council the planning permission will be quashed.

PC11/195: Renewable Energy Proposal for Lanner Methodist Church
Lanner Methodist Church Leadership Team is looking into the possibility of installing solar electric and ground source heat pumps at the church. They will be applying for grants from various bodies such as Cory Environmental and SITA. They would like a letter of support from the Parish Council which they can submit with their applications.
It was resolved that the Parish Council provide the group with a letter of support.

PC11/196: Toilets and Playing Field & other community spaces.
* Cllr. Deady has carried out a recent inspection. Bark chippings need replenishing in places. Cllr. Allen has a large quantity available. The safety gates are not shutting properly and present a finger trapping hazard. The Clerk will contact Emlyn Stone to ask him to look at repairing these.
The Clerk met Stuart Wallace at the park to look at repairs to some of the equipment. Cornwall Council has already replaced the end panels on the older multi play installation. He will chase up the realignment of the ground under the roundabout.
Sadly a lot of yellow paint has been sprayed on the skate ramps and surrounding hard surfaces (as well as elsewhere in the village). This has been reported to the police. The Clerk will speak to Mr Hall in the first instance and if he cannot remove it she will investigate specialist cleaning.
*The Clerk will draw up a rota for inspections.
* Cllr. Anson is still trying to source suitable locking toilet roll holders.
*A meeting was held on 1 November about Strawberry Fields, the provision of bmx/skate equipment on the site and the possibility of the asset being transferred from Cornwall Council to Lanner Parish Council. A site meeting will be held between Jon Mitchell and Mark James from Cornwall Council and Cllr. Wood and the Clerk on 1 December to consider what work needs carrying out before the asset can be transferred. Should the Parish Council acquire the area, it will need to apply for grant funding for the necessary equipment in addition to the £1000 pledged by Cllr Kaczmarek from his Cornwall Council budget and £500 from the police. Vanessa Luckwell, CC Regeneration Officer for the area, indicated that she would be happy to assist with this. There will also be funding implications for regular routine maintenance. (Cllr. Allen asked that Jon Mitchell be reminded that despite the field being regraded twice there are still large boulders coming to the surface).

PC11/197: Highways
Cllr. Kaczmarek had forwarded a request by residents for a bus shelter at the lower end of South Downs. The Parish Council had been considering the provision of a shelter at Trevarth. Grant funding of up to £3000 per parish is available. However this would not meet the full cost. The Clerk will write to the bus companies to try to obtain usage figures for the particular bus stops in question and the matter will be considered again at a later date.

The pavement in Pennance Lane is very dangerous due to the amount of moss cover. The same problem exists at the entrance to Lanmoor Estate. Following work by BT at the entrance to Lanmoor Estate the verges have been left in a bad state. The Clerk to report these matters to CC Highways.

PC11/198: Lanner Cemetery
There has been one interment of cremated remains in the previous month.
Cllr. Allen still needs to speak to Malcolm Heather about dealing with the bracken in the new cemetery extension. However, she would like to explore the possibility of using this land for allotments. The Clerk will look at the deeds and research the legal position of such a course of action.

Cllr. Wood and his daughter are sorting out the Stithians data for putting onto the Historic Churchyards website. He confirmed that the Historic Churchyards Group purchased a topple tester for use by all the local churches. He also confirmed that the safety of the memorials in Christchurch cemetery remains the responsibility of the Church (or the relatives/descendants of those interred), the Parish Council only ever having agreed to keep the grass cut.

PC11/199: Christmas Lights – update on preparations for 2011
Work is still on target for the switch-on on 12 December. Cllr. Thomas had advised the Clerk that he will be requesting the Parish Council to place an order for additional lighting. There is also a need for additional electrical feeds in Lanner Square. This work could be expensive. The Clerk to remind Cllr. Thomas about a temporary events license if appropriate.

PC11/200: Financial Matters and Accounts for Payment
Mrs P Willmore November 2011 salary 102627 697.72
The Post Office PAYE Nov 2011 102628 87.01
Mrs P Willmore December 2011 salary 102629 690.92
The Post Office PAYE Dec 2011 102630 82.43
Mrs D Moon Keyholder duties November 102631 60.00
Mrs D Moon Keyholder duties December 102632 62.00
Mr Hall Cleaning & litter picking Nov 102633 268.00
Mr Hall Cleaning & litter picking Dec 102634 298.00
Malcolm Heather Grass cutting 102635 1002.00

Resolved these accounts be paid.

Budget & Precept for 2012/2013
The Clerk had presented a draft budget to members. Despite liabilities in respect of the playing field and the possible acquisition and maintenance of Strawberry Fields the budget is lower than last year by 2%. However, projected expenditure in the current financial year is higher than anticipated due to provision for possible legal costs associated with the Tresavean affordable housing development – unforeseen at the time of setting last year’s budget.
It was resolved that the budget of £47,493 for the financial year 2012/2013 be approved.
The amount of surplus reserves available to offset against the budget this year has been set at £3000. This is considerably less than last year. Therefore the amount of precept to be requested will be £44,493 which represents an increase of 13%.

The Parish Council resolved to transfer £10,000 from the instant access account to the community account.

PC11/201: Correspondence
Cruse Bereavement Care Letter of thanks for s137 grant
Penhaligon’s Friends Letter of thanks for s137 grant
Cornwall Council Notices regarding waste and recycling collections over the Christmas and
New Year period.
These items were noted

Roy Billingham Letter complaining about the absence of parish councillors (apart from
Councillor Thomas) at the Remembrance Sunday Service. Some Councillors
indicated that they will respond personally to Mr Billingham. On behalf of
Parish Council the Clerk will respond to the effect that members consider such events a matter for individual conscience.


PC11/202: Date of next meeting
An emergency meeting will be called to discuss the response to the PAP - see PC11/194
The next monthly meeting will be held on 26 January 2012.

PC11/203: Items for next agenda
None identified.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 21.25.
Pat Willmore 01209 200551. lannerpc@aol.com