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The Parish Council have a duty to the public to make available specific information and documents. For further information please contact the Clerk: Mrs. Jackie Salmon, Rose Cottage, Carne Hill, St. Dennis. Tel/fx 01726 822719, email jackiesalmon@stdennis1001.freeserve.co.uk
The Chairman wished everybody a happy new year on this the first meeting of St.Dennis Parish Council for 2004. A fairly quiet meeting with only one member of the public present.
Our District and County Councillors, together with the local Beat Manager, Shane Carhart were also in attendance.
The meeting commenced with the approval of the Minutes of the last two meetings, together with the report of the meeting held on 2nd December, connected with the possible speedway site at Gaverigan. Mr. Greenslade again emphasized that no decision could or would be made until an official planning application was received from Restormel.
Meeting then discussed the recent spate of vandalism throughout the village during the Christmas period. Several areas had seen "break-in’s", damage to property and small thefts.
Constable Carhart explained the difficulties involved with the legal system and young people together with the need to get people to make statements. He also provided crime figures for the month which amounted to 12, 8 of which had been detected.
Mr. Greenslade and Mr. Wood reported on their work at Restormel which had included a further consultation on the regeneration of St.Austell Town Centre, and the possible introduction of a pilot by-law to prevent bonfires being lit on one of the Newquay beaches.
County Councillor Brian Higman provided information on the site meeting at Hendra Pit on Thursday 8th January at 2.30 p.m. and asked for highway items from St.Dennis which would be placed on the Agenda for the next China Clay Area Committee in February. Still no definite information on the provision of a footpath across Hendra Downs which was subject of a public inquiry last meeting. A meeting is being arranged with District and County Officers in an effort to get the path reinstated. In the meantime, the local landowner will receive a letter from the County Council advising that he could not obstruct what was the original footpath.
Further trees are to be planted in the Cemetery, to form an avenue along the main path. Trees will be Holm Oak and supplied by the Silvanus Trust. It is hoped also, that further trees will be planted along the boundary walls, where suitable. The existing conifers will be pruned to improve their appearance, but when the new trees have matured, the conifers may be removed.
The Parish Council have also agreed with the County Countryside Officer, to increase the amount of grass cutting they do as an agency, and this year will cut grass verges at Gothers and Enniscaven.
Councillors also discussed the advisability of establishing a Burials Committee and to provide plot markers, but a decision was left until the next meeting in February. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.20 p.m.
PRESS REPORT
The February meeting of St.Dennis Parish Council took place on Tuesday 3rd in the ClayTAWC Centre and was relatively quiet.
The meeting was pleased to learn that after await of some 80 years, work was expected to start on the Hendra Road footway towards the end of February and that drainage and re-surfacing work would be included in the scheme.
Mr. Higman reported on the public consultation meeting held at Hendra Pit on the proposals by Imerys to fill the pit with mica and the efforts he had made to get some additional conditions included on the permission. Meetings had also taken place with Restormel and the County Area Ranger on proposals to re-establish the public footpath over Hendra Downs. It would be a long and protracted business.
Mr. Greenslade and Mrs. Higman reported on their work at Restormel which had mostly centred around the budget for 2004/5 where it was expected that there would be serious cutbacks.
Other Council business included the planting of additional trees in the Cemetery, meetings with Area Ranger on footpath issues in the Parish, renewal of the contract for work in the Cemetery, nominations for Restormel Good Citizens and Youth Citizen Awards and the election of a Cemetery Committee to oversee the general maintenance of the area.
The Parish Council have set aside a small amount of funding in their budget for donations to organisations/residents in the parish. If you could benefit or require some help with any project, please contact the Clerk (Mrs.Salmon 01726 822719)
by the end of February.
The meeting closed at 8.45 p.m.
J.E.S. 5 February 2004
March meeting
The March meeting of St.Dennis Parish Council was held in the ClayTAWC Centre on Tuesday 2nd, and started with a very interesting and informative presentation by Di Mylnek, the Chairman of ClayTAWC. She provided Councillors with background information on all aspects of the work and functions of the Centre, and was very pleased to advise that they had been successful in obtaining funding from the Rural Key Fund to carry on and improve the facilities. It was hoped shortly to employ more staff and also a Business Centre Manager.
The "" meeting of the Council started with a report by our local Beat Manager, Constable Carhart, with 21 reported incidents for the last two months, 8 of which had been detected.
Mr. Higman as the County representative reported on the Council Tax review and advised that it would be increased to 7.19% but that several projects would be lost including firefighters jobs, extension to Doubletrees and a reduction in the pupil cost ratio at the local comprehensive school. The Council were now to undertake a very drastic overview of all functions of the body with a view to identifying areas to trim or alter. Work on Hendra Road footway was scheduled to start on 15th March, and would take approximately 13 weeks. At some point the road would be closed during weekend periods. A meeting had also taken place with officers from Restormel and County Council on the provision of the footpath across Hendra Downs which had been the subject of a public inquiry in 2002. A satisfactory conclusion to this matter was expected to be long and protracted.
Mr. Greenslade as one of the Borough representatives spoke on the Civil Disobedience legislation which was due to come into force in September and that as part of the legislation the problems with the height of hedges would now be subject to civil action if no amicable agreement could be reached between parties involved. The Borough Council had also been successful in securing over £ of funding for recycling initiatives, and it was hoped that the collection service would be increased to fortnightly together with collections of plastic and cardboard.
Councillors and volunteers had undertaken the planting of an avenue of Holm Oaks in the Cemetery, which would eventually replace the conifers on the main path. It was also hoped to plant Rowan,
Hornbeam and Holly along the boundary wall next autumn.
Mr. Catley, Chairman of the Steering Group for the Parish Plan reported to the Council on the work to date and advised that the group hoped to have a questionnaire ready for distribution to all households in the parish in April/May. Help would be appreciated in the delivery of the questionnaires.
The Council had now formally elected a Cemetery Committee who would be responsible for the day to day administration of the are and also bring recommendations for improvements to the full Council.
It was agreed that the date for the Annual Parish Meeting should be Tuesday 30th March, commencing at 7.30 p.m. in the ClayTAWC Centre and the Clerk was asked to contact Mr. Newton, County Council
Highways Divisional Surveyor, and invite him to attend as guest speaker. Dates for the meetings of various Committees were also determined and there being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.45 p.m,
J.E.S. 4th March 2004
PRESS REPORT
St.Dennis Parish Council held their April meeting on 6th in the ClayTAWC Centre and prior to the full meeting, Councillors received a presentation from the Headteacher of St.Dennis C.P.School on proposals to provide an additional building on the school grounds which would be part of the Government' initiative called "" The purpose of the building was to provide additional space for pre and after school activities and Mr. Lindfield gave details of the business plan already compiled and the amount of funding which was available from the Sure Start China Clay team. A planning application for the building was expected shortly.
Our Beat Manager, Shane Carhart provided details of the crime figures for the preceding month and the number of detections. He also agreed to investigate the problems with hgv. being diverted through Hendra Road whilst road improvements were taking place.
Members then went on to discuss the possible closure of public conveniences in the rural villages and how this would affect St.Dennis in particular. It was possible that the Parish Council would be asked to " on" the building in Robartes Road. Funding from Restormel would be available for the first three years, then all expenditure would have to be absorbed by the Parish. County Councillor Higman provided information on the government criteria now required for any road improvements and this would depend upon many factors some of which were proven injury records, strategic area of the road, and without need to purchase land. Members were also advised that the doctor' surgery in Robartes Road was to close.
The problems relating to the Hendra Downs footpath were continuing and involved a very complex interaction between the landowner, Restormel Planning Officers and the County Access Officer. Negotiations were continuing and the Clerk was asked to write again to both Restormel and County and strongly emphasize the need to have this matter resolved.
The drainage problems in Hendra Prazey had been highlighted recently with flooding of properties below the bridge, and it was hoped that a meeting with the Area Surveyor for County Highways, the Chairman and local residents would find a solution to the problem. In addition repairs to the leat should be completed by Restormel as soon as the flow of water has decreased sufficiently.
The meeting went on to approve the reports of all the Committees of the Council, including Planning, General Purposes and the Cemetery Committee and to receive a report from Mr. Catley, Chairman of the Parish Plan Steering Committee. Survey forms from the Audit Commission and the Silvanus Trust had also been received and would be completed by the Planning Committee and Clerk.
Following the decision at the November budget meeting to provide floral display baskets to all local businesses who had expressed an interest, the Clerk was instructed to obtain the appropriate quotations from local garden centres, and to ascertain whether any additional insurance cover was required. The meeting closed at 9 p.m.
J.E.S. 8 April 2004
PRESS REPORT
The May Meeting of the St.Dennis Parish Council was the Annual General Meeting with a very full Agenda. At this meeting members are elected to serve on the various Committees for the coming year, and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected, quite apart from the normal monthly work of the Council.
At the start of the meeting Mr. Fred Greenslade was re-elected as Parish Council Chairman, with Mr. Ron Craddock re-elected as Vice-Chairman. Members then received reports from Mr. Higman (County Councillor) and Constable Carharts’ written report on crimes and detection during the preceding month.
Councillors are still concerned at the lack of action being taken with regard to the reinstatement of the Hendra Downs footpath, and the Clerk was again instructed to contact both the Borough and County Council and urge that this matter is settled without delay.
Work was continuing on the Hendra Road footway and although there had been some disruption for travellers, hopefully once the work was completed, there would be a great improvement to the safety for both pedestrians and car owners.
Mr. Greenslade and Mr. Ron Craddock had attended a meeting with the Highways Area Surveyor regarding the problems being experienced with the watercourse at Hendra Prazey. The Area Surveyor was hopeful that when additional drainage work had been carried out as part of the Hendra Road scheme, matters would improve. Restormel had been contacted with a request to make the necessary repairs to the leat as soon as possible.
With regard to the casual vacancy on the Parish Council, two applications had been received and it was hoped to fill the vacancy at the June meeting of the Council.
Councillors had made provision for the supply of hanging baskets throughout the village centre during the summer, and work was progressing on obtaining quotations etc., and local businesses agreement to use the baskets. Hopefully, this would be an annual undertaking.
Clerk confirmed that the Councils’ accountant had undertaken completion of the End of Year Accounts and internal audit, and she reported on the recommendations and points made. The appropriate documents were duly completed and signed.
Reports from the Planning, Playing Field, General Purposes and Cemetery Committees were approved by members together with approval of renewal of the Councils’ insurance with Cornhill Allianz. Councillors allowances, Clerks’ salary, and rate of pay for casual labourers were all reviewed, and the appropriate adjustments made.
The meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.
J.E.S. 6th May 2004
The June meeting of St.Dennis Parish Council opened with the election of a new Councillor. Following the resignation of Mr. Derek King and because there was no call for an election, the Parish Council were able to co-opted a local resident. Councillors were pleased to welcome Mrs. Hilary Hughes from Trerice to become the eleventh member.
This month' meeting was fairly quiet with no members of the public present. Constable Carhart was on leave and Councillors were also on holiday.
Members discussed the possible inclusion of several areas in the centre of the village in the proposed " free zones" two areas of grass verge which were being used for the sale of vehicles and problems with a " van" which was parking in Fore Street during the early hours of the morning during weekends. Residents were complaining about the smell from the van and the noise generated by people using the facilities.
With the continuing work in Hendra Road, the Clerk was asked to contact the County Highways Area Surveyor to ascertain responsibility for the grass verges being created along the footway. It was possible that these areas could be included on the grass cutting contract held by the Council with the County Council.
No solution yet on the situation with the proposed footpath across Hendra Downs. It could take some considerable time for matters to be completed and might end in court action.
Better news it that the Parish Council have donated 24 hanging floral baskets to the local shops and it is hoped that these will be in place sometime towards the end of June. All the local proprietors have agreed to take responsibility for the upkeep of the baskets - thanks from the Councillors.
Clerk reported on the latest position with regard to outstanding work on the housing development in Hendra Prazey together with information from Restormel on the culvert which runs down the road. A meeting had also taken place with the Area Ranger regarding Footpath 8 (School Lane) and it was hoped that a barrier would be erected shortly to prevent bicyles and skate boards being ridden down the path, as it was used by children and families to gain access to the local School.
The Minutes and reports of several Committees were approved together with discussions on the repairs to the new floodlights in the Playing Fields. Chairman, Mr. Fred Greenslade offered to contact Imerys and appeal for their help in providing a boom light, this would considerably reduce the cost of the repair.
Councillors were advised that the Methodist Chapel at Enniscaven was to be sold and that local residents were concerned for the wellbeing of the War Memorial in the Chapel grounds. It was agreed that the Clerk would make suitable arrangements to invite local residents to attend the next Parish Council meeting so that a full discussion on the future of the Memorial could be undertaken.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.15 p.m.
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