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June not available
Each month the Parish Council prepares a press report for the local newspaper, giving details of the meetings and work of the Council.
Report of January is as follows:
The Chairman, Mr. Greenslade, opened the meeting with a welcome to everybody, this being the first meeting of the New Year for St.Dennis Parish Council.
Constable Lenton, Community Policeman, reported on the crime statistics for the previous two months and members were very pleased to note that these figures continued to decrease. It was felt that Constable Lenton's presence in the parish could be attributed to the reduction. Constable Lenton advised that he worked a 40 hour week on a regular shift pattern and that these hours had to be divided between Roche and St.Dennis and he assured the meeting that although he might not always been seen, he was working somewhere in both parishes.
Members were pleased to note that work was expected to start shortly on improvements to the watercourse in Hendra Prazey and that additional lighting had been installed in the Robartes Road Car Park. The large tree outside D. & G. Stores would also be pruned and shaped, for safety reasons, during the coming month. In addition, the Arena teenage meeting point was currently being installed in the Playing Fields and should be able to be used very shortly by the young people. The Parish Council had been fortunate in receiving a grant from the Rural Development Programme towards the cost of the equipment and further applications for funding had been sent to the Lottery, Children in Need and County Environmental Trust.
During the summer the Parish Council had received many comments about the use of the facilities at Hendra Pit. During the summer of 2000 the residents of St.Dennis, Nanpean, Foxhole and Whitemoor had been able to take advantage of the water facilities and many local children had spent hours sailing, canoeing etc., This had not been possible during summer 2001 as funding for a manager had not been available. The Parish Council had arranged a meeting with the groups managing the area later in the month, when it was hoped to resolve some of the problems.
Councillors were aware of the many government documents, white papers etc., which had been published recently and the meeting discussed the new Code of Conduct requirements for Parish Councils, the Standards Committee formation, the intention to establish Quality Parish Councils and Quality Public Services. All Councillors were "volunteers" receiving no payment for the commitment and time - consultation papers suggested that if all the recommendations were implemented, being a Parish Councillors would become almost a full time "job". The Parish Council's response to the White Papers would be forwarded by the end of January.
Because of the increasing concern over the number of parked vehicles throughout the village, an approach had been made to the County Council regarding possible traffic calming measures. The Parish Council had been asked to put forward suggestions/schemes for such a project and the Urgent Business Committee had reviewed all the local problems and made recommendations to the full Council. Those recommendations had been approved by the Council and the proposals would be forwarded to the County Council Transportation Department for analysis.
The Clerk advised that the audit of the accounts of the Council for the year to 2001 had been set for 5th March and the appropriate notice had been displayed on the Notice Board. Council also set the date for the Annual Parish Meeting as Tuesday 12th March commencing at 7 p.m. in the ClayTAWC Centre - all residents were invited to attend.
The February meeting of St.Dennis Parish Council took place on Tuesday 8th in the ClayTAWC Centre when several members of the public were present.
Following confirmation of the Minutes of the Council meetings which had taken place during the preceding month, Councillors and members of the public discussed the continuing problems of parked vehicles in the village, particularly at some of the road junctions. Concern was also expressed at the possibility of serious flooding problems in some areas of the village because of excessive water on the road.
Mr. Higman and Mrs. Salmon provided information to members of activities at the District and County Council during the month of January and Mr. Higman was able to report that the scheme to provide Hendra Road with a pavement had now been costed at £252,000 and was scheduled for provision during the current Transport Plan which ended in 2005.
Members discussed in great length the possible community use of the Old Fire Station when it became redundant later in the year, but it was felt that without support both physically and financially the Parish Council would not be in a position to pursue. However, it was agreed that Councillors would review the situation in six months.
The Chairman reported a very successful meeting in January with all those involved in the Hendra Pit project and it was hoped that no only would a Watersports Club be started very shortly, to be run eventually by members of the local community, but that some form of water activities were scheduled for Easter and these would be provided initially by Cornwall Outdoors in conjunction with Young People Cornwall. The Arena shelter had also been installed in the Playing Fields, and a grant of £1,000 towards the cost had been obtained from the Rural Development Programme. Children in Need had also been approached but the result of the application would not been known until April.
Councillors had responded to the government White Paper on Quality Parish Councils and would also be adopting the Code of Conduct required of all Councillors by central government.
Discussions had been taken place on the possibility of establishing circular walks around Goss Moor which would start in St.Dennis and the Council were investigating the opening of several footpaths with the County Council Footpath officer. Much would depend upon the cost involved and whether financial assistance would come from the County Council.
The meeting discussed maintenance work which was required in the Playing Fields and it was agreed that the safety tiles under the children's play equipment would be lifted and re-laid to eliminate the gaps which had appeared. Additionally, further landscaping work to the boundary wall and fences would be undertaken once a quotation had been approved.
It was also suggested that the Parish Council provide some form of floral decoration around the sundial on Trelavour Prazey and the cross on Freda's Triangle to celebrate the Golden Jubilee and the Clerk was instructed to investigate ways and means and costs involved.
The April meeting of St.Dennis Parish Council was held on 2nd in the ClayTAWC Centre in St.Dennis. A very quiet meeting this month with few items on the Agenda and only two members of the public present. The meeting opened with a eulogy on the life of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, by Rev. Cannon Tim Russ which was well received by all present.
Councillors were heartened to hear that there had been only two reported crimes during the previous month, but problems were still occurring with anti-social behaviour by some of the local children. Following meetings during the past few months with local residents and housing associations, it had been hoped to form a residents association, which might reduce some of the complaints from local residents.
Councillors discussed the need for various repairs to safety tiles in the Playing Fields and the boundary wall, together with additional landscaping work at the lower end of the field. It was hoped that all the work would be started after the children's Easter break.
During the month discussions had been undertaken with the County Council Field Officer on the possibility of St.Dennis becoming a "target" parish. This would enable all the footpaths in the parish to be opened up and maintenance undertaken at County Council expense. The Parish Council would then be responsible for keeping the growth cut back.
The Public Inquiry into the Local Waste Plan had reached the point were the siting of the incinerator had been discussed and members from the Parish Council had attended on two days in March to listen to the "arguments". A full report had been made available to all Councillors. The Parish Council had also responded to the consultants preparing an Environmental Impact Assessment into the siting of a pyrolosis plant at one of the sites already identified in the Local Waste Plan.
The meeting closed at 9 p.m.
St.Dennis Parish Council held its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 7th May, at which Mr. Greenslade was re-elected Chairman and Mr. Ron Craddock re-elected as Vice-Chairman. At this meeting all the various Committees of the Council are elected for the year, and leases, salaries and contracts are reviewed.
Following the Annual General Meeting the usual monthly work of the Council was undertaken when Constable Lenton provided information on recorded crimes for the month and provided information on new reporting procedures. Together with the Council he had made an approach to the Restormel Housing Trust to have the perimeter wall at the O.A.P. flats in Hall Road replaced, following its demolition because of vandalism.
The problem with parked vehicles was again discussed, particularly in Robartes Road when vehicles were mounting the pavements to gain access up and down the road. County Councillor Mr. Higman agreed to again contact the Area Surveyor for advice. Mr. Higman also reported on the work of the County Area Committee and the priorities for road improvements. Domellick Corner had been on the Minor Improvement List for some considerable time, and it was hoped that this improvement could be carried out during the current year from the funding allocated to the Area Committee.
The Clerk was pleased to confirm that the Restormel Cabinet had approved a grant of £2,428 towards the cost of the teenage shelter in the Playing Fields and with the grant of £1,000 from Rural Development Fund, the total cost to the parish was now only £1,192. Constable Lenton expressed the thanks of the local police to the Parish Council for providing this facility for the young people. It was hoped that work to relay the safety tiles in the Playing Fields which had been displaced to use as ramps, would be carried out by the end of the month at a cost of £1,200. Following damage to the boundary wall, estimates were being obtained for repair or replacement.
Following the Council decision to have a floral display for Jubilee Year at the Sundial on Trelavour Prazey and the Cross at Freda's Triangle, plants had now been received and would be ready for planting out during the middle of May.
Councillors were also to have a meeting with the Project Manager for the Restormel Regeneration Partnership to discuss funding for projects in the parish.Current suggestions were use of the Old Fire Station, Building for the Under 5's/Toddlers Group, Skate Board Park, Cycle Park, Amenity Area on Trelavour Downs and an extension to the Band Room premises. If residents have any other suggestions please contact the Clerk at Rose Cottage, Carne Hill, St.Dennis.
The meeting was also advised that following the resignation of Mrs. Jenkin there was now a vacancy on the Council and the appropriate notice for co-option would be display on the Notice Board at the Post Office. Anybody wishing to be consider for the vacancy should write to the Clerk, at the above address.
Mr. Greenslade expressed his thanks to all the Councillors, to his Vice-Chairman Mr. Ron Craddock and to the Clerk for all the help and support they had given him during the previous year. In turn Mr. Blewett thanked the Chairman for his efforts, which included many hours outside the meetings.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.58 p.m.
J.E.S. Friday, 17 May 2002
The July meeting of St.Dennis Parish Council took place in the ClayTAWC Centre on Tuesday 2nd and for the second month running was a very quiet meeting with few items on the Agenda. Much of the 2 hour meeting involved discussions on the continuing problems with traffic throughout the main streets of the village.
The Station Officer for the local retained Fire Brigade attended the meeting to advise that on the previous Saturday they had been called to a fire on one of the local housing estates. Because of the congestion in Fore Street caused by parked vehicles, the fire tender had to reverse and make its way down Robartes Road. Again because of parked vehicles, there had been an incident with an oncoming vehicle.
The delay caused meant that attendance at the fire had taken over 8 minutes by which time the fire was well advanced. This then involved considerable danger to the fire fighters. The Station Officer also confirmed that during the previous six months on three separate occasions it had been necessary to manhandle parked vehicles in order for the fire equipment to proceed. The Chairman of the Council, Mr. Fred Greenslade, reiterated the comments made at the June meeting when a long discussion had taken place on the proposals by a local resident to establish a one way system through the village; some form of traffic calming/regulation was now required. An approach had been made to the County Surveyor about consultations with the public in the parish on a system which would help, and in view of the problems for the firefighters, both the Council and Mr. Higman as our County representative would be pursuing matters with the County Council officers.
With the increasing interest in walking the local footpaths, the Parish Council was now part of the Local Maintenance Partnership with the County Council. The County Footpath Officer would be undertaking a survey of all the definitive footpaths in the parish during July. Once this survey was completed, it was hoped that a programme of improvements to the paths would be undertaken by the County Council which would include replacement of stiles, kissing gates, etc., and that eventually these paths might be linked to circular walks around Goss Moor. Until now, the Parish Council have acted as agents for the County Council in trimming hedge and grass growth on the paths but not carrying out maintenance.
The meeting had also discussed future use of the existing Fire Station in Robartes Road when it became redundant. There was possible scope for some form of community use, but the building was in a very poor state of repair and would considerable renovation. Additionally, its location on the main road through the village meant that any activity, which involved parking of vehicles, would be inappropriate.
J.E.S. 4 July 2002
PRESS REPORT
The August meeting of the St.Dennis Parish Council started with the election to the Council of a new member. Mrs. Corinne Jenkin had previously resigned from the Council due to work commitments and following advertisement of the vacancy, Mr. Shaun Hugh was duly elected to serve until the election in May 2003. Mr. Hugh has lived in St.Dennis all his life and the Chairman, Mr. Greenslade, said it was particularly pleasing to see a younger member of the parish interested in the community. Mr. Hugh is married with two young children who currently attend the local primary school.
Although no members of the public were present this month, the Councillors again discussed as some length the continuing and very present problem with traffic. It was agreed, with the assistance of Mr. Higman, that a letter should be forwarded to the Divisional Surveyor with a request that he attend a Parish Council meeting to discuss the suggestions for a one way system and any alternative measures which might alleviate the problems in the area. This would be the first step towards a public consultation exercise, when the views of all the local residents would be sought on the best method to tackle the traffic problem. There has also been some concern at the amount of weed growth throughout the village. Currently, the County Council Highways Department carry out spraying of roads once per year, but Councillors were concerned that this was undertaken at the wrong time and that the resulting dead growth was not collected. Again, this would be discussed at the meeting with the Divisional Surveyor.
Work was currently being undertaken in the Playing Fields to relay the safety tiles under all the pieces of play equipment and it was hoped that this would be completed within the next two weeks. Additionally, within the same time space, work to repair the boundary wall would be carried out. These works were part of the ongoing maintenance regularly carried out by the Playing Field Committee.
Following the Council' decision to participate in the County Council Local Maintenance Partnership on footpaths in the parish, it was hoped that a survey of all the footpaths would start during the month of August. Following which, the County Council would carry out all necessary repairs to stiles, walls, etc., and thereafter the Parish Council be responsible for trimming and cleaning all the paths.
The Clerk advised that the auditor had appointed 23rd September as the date on which the Parish Councils Annual Return for accounts would take place and the Council were able to approve the End of Year Accounts for 2001/2 and complete the necessary Annual Return. This would be forwarded as soon as the statutory advertising period had been completed. This statutory notice would allow residents to have sight and copy any of the information contained in the accounts (see local Notice Board for full information). The Parish Council also had to undertake a risk management exercise and this was currently under way.
The meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.
J.E.S. 8 August 2002
The St.Dennis Parish Council held their monthly meeting on the first day of October in the ClayTAWC Centre in St.Dennis. As always, local residents were given the opportunity to discuss any problems or concerns they have with the Councillors, and again the main concern was the traffic throughout the village and the congestion caused by parking. Mr. Greenslade, Chairman of the Council, explained that the Councillors had a meeting with Andy Newton the Highways Divisional Surveyor in September. Present at the meeting were local District and County Councillors, Constable Lenton and the Highways Area Surveyor, Mr. Stark. Over two hours were spent walking almost every road in the village, pointing out to Mr. Newton the problems which are widespread. Several ideas, remedies and possible solutions were suggested but all have to be integrated into one plan or scheme. This scheme has to be designed by the County Council Traffic Engineer, presented to the Parish Council and taken out to public consultation.
As Mr. Greenslade explained, although the Councillors understand and appreciate residents concerns, and indeed have spent many hours over the years in discussion with many officers, the Parish Council do not have the powers or finances to undertaken any improvements. On the "" side is the sight line improvements at Domellick Corner which should be completed by the end of the current financial year.
With an increase in the incidents of vandalism in Fore Street during the last two months, the Council had decided to remove the millennium seat from outside the Barclay Bank premises in an attempt to prevent further damage to the premises. However, the doctors surgery and telephone kiosk opposite the Bank premises had both been subjected to smashed windows.
Work on the improvement to footpaths in the parish was continuing. Meetings had been held with the County Footpath Officer and during the next two months all the footpaths would be walked and a survey of their condition carried out. Hopefully, during the course of winter, any work needed to make repairs to stiles, walls etc., would be undertaken. Many of the footpaths which had become too overgrown to be walked with the cleared and this would in turn, enable English Nature to put forward a project to provide circular walks between St.Dennis, Goss Moor and Roche.
During September all the safety tiles under the play equipment in the Playing Field had been re-layed currently the boundary wall was also being renovated; all part of the ongoing maintenance in the area. The Council had also received a request from Yoof Akshun, a new ClayTAWC project for young people, to try and establish a five aside football club and use the Playing Fields multi-activity surface and an inspection of the floodlighting system would be carried out shortly. The floodlighting system had not been actively used for some time due to vandalism in the past, and it could mean that they would need to be completely overhauled as some cost to the Council. The Parish Council were committed to helping the young people of the parish and intended to support the ClayTAWC team fully.
The Clerk also advised that it was now necessary for the Parish Council to produce a scheme relating to the Access to Information Act 2000. The government Information Commission required all Councils to submit a scheme of all classes of information,
the manner in which it is published and whether a charge will be made. The scheme must be in place by 31st December and a Councillors will meet shortly to produce a draft scheme for approval by full Council in November.
The Council had also been advised that there was to be a public inquiry into the request for a Modification Order to establish a footpath from Hendra Road across Hendra Downs. As yet no date had been set but it was anticipated that this would take place sometime in November and would be held in St.Dennis.
The next meeting of the Council will take place on Tuesday 5th November, and everybody is welcome to attend. The meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.
J.E.S. 3/10/02
St.Dennis Parish Council held their monthly meeting on Tuesday 5th November, at the ClayTAWC Centre, when very few members of the public were in attendance.
Much of the discussion centred on the proposals to use the Gaverigan Tip for spoil from Virginia and Melbur Pits whilst the situation with the planning application by Imerys to extend the existing tip at Scarcewater is clarified. These proposals would be a temporary measure only until such time as the situation was resolved. Councillors were concerned at the loss of farmland and the affect on local communities in the area, together with the lack of foresight by the company in under estimating the tipping space available at the current site.
A long discussion also on the traffic problems in the village in general. At the China Clay Area Committee meeting on the 14th November, the County Highways would put forward proposals to establish traffic calming measures at Whitegate Meadows. This would take the form of "cushions" at the entrance which would slow the speed of vehicles. Additionally, plans for Fore Street would also be discussed and the proposals would be put out for public consultation eventually. Information had also been obtained on the new "flashing" speed signs and an approach would be made to the Highway Authority for St.Dennis to be placed on the list of possible sites.
Mr. Higman and Mrs. Salmon presented a County Council and District Report on work and meetings during October Mr.Higman provided information on the likely increase in the County Council community charge for 2003 and Mrs. Salmon reported on the budget proposals for the District Council. Also discussed was the possibility that households could submit a multiple planning application to reduce fees, which would enable residents to demolish boundary walls and gain "off street" parking. A survey of the roads in the village would be undertaken during the next few weeks by the Parish Council.
The Parish Council had also been notified that a public inquiry into the proposals to re-establish the footpath across Hendra Downs was to take place on 26th November, in the Workingmen's Club. The Council would be represented by Mr. Greenslade, Mr. Fisher and the Clerk.
The Playing Field Committee of the Council were currently reviewing the operation of the floodlighting facilities in the Playing Field. The scheme had not been in use for some considerable time due to vandalism, but Yoof Akshun Project Manager, Roger Mansfield, was keen to get teams together for 5aside football and basketball and had asked if the floodlights could be re-instated. Estimates for repairs would be received shortly.
Concern was also expressed at the situation with the leat in Hendra Prazey. This carried surface water from the whole of the village and remedial work had been undertaken by Restormel last year. However, the bank was still being undermined by the pressure of the water flow and Restormel would be contacted and asked to carry out an inspection and any necessary repairs.
The next meeting of the Council would be on 12th November, in the ClatTAWC Centre when the budget for 2003/4 would be set. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.05 p.m.
J.E.S. Wednesday, 6 November 2002
RETURN TO ST. DENNIS PARISH COUNCIL
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