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Due to the resignation of the
Parish Clerk the minutes from this meeting are in the Minute Book
but not typed up for the Parish website. This is the report that
appeared in the Zennor Down Your Way column of the Cornishman.
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13th December 2005
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| PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING: |
The
latest meeting of Zennor Parish Council took place on Tuesday 13th
December. The meeting began with Chair Mike Hindley welcoming new
councillor Raven Lefay. Minutes of the last Parish Council meeting
and the closed meeting to co-opt the new councillor, were then read,
and with one slight amendment to the former signed as correct.
Matters arising included the map boards at Zennor and Gurnard's Head,
Sleeper Train, the living bus shelter, police mobile number and Rights
of Way questionnaire and the CROW Act.
Map Boards: Councillor Antony Penhaul has been trying to find
out when the granite at Gurnard's Head will be erected and when the
one at Zennor can be lowered. So far he has received no sensible response.
It was agreed that Mike Hindley, in his position of Chair to the Parish
Council, would contact the various agencies responsible.
Sleeper Train: Good news, the overnight train to London, the
Night Riviera, is to continue. The franchise having been given to
First Great Western.
Living Bus Shelter: At the last meeting of the parish council
a group of Art and Design students had asked about the possibility
of building a living bus shelter at Zennor. Mike Hindley reported
that the students had met with him and he had answered all their questions.
They seemed very keen and are to hold an exhibition of their plans
in the village hall or pub in the new year.
Police Mobile Number: The mobile number for PC Perkin, our
Neighbourhood Beat Officer, has been withdrawn - apparently due to
cost. Councillor Mark Pilcher volunteered to investigate further.
Rights of Way Questionnaire: Councillor Jon Brookes and Parish
Paths Officer John Swannell reported that the questionnaire has been
completed and returned. It had asked what improvements the parish
would like, mentioning more signs and interpretation boards. Jon and
John had requested that the ruggedness and distinctiveness of the
area be maintained.
CROW Act: Cornwall County Council has recently contacted all
landowners to inform them of their responsibilities with regard to
the CROW Act, and where to ask for help. It was felt that as a parish
council it was necessary to be very aware of what is happening due
to the act, such as inappropriate signage and other issues.
The meeting then moved onto agenda items. There were no planning applications
this month, but Finance, Parish Paths, Himalayan Balsam, Sudden Oak
Death, scrambler bikes and a Parish Plan were all discussed.
Finance: The auditor has sent back the annual return for 2004/05
requesting more information about discrepancies between this year's
and last year's figures. Mike offered to deal with this, and the bank
reconciliation. Various invoices were then paid, one to Cornwall and
Devon Media for the Casual Councillor Vacancy advert and one for the
payment in kind to the council's bookkeeper. A cheque had also been
received, for £125.00 - prize money for recycling improvements
in Zennor.
Parish Paths: John Swannell reported that Cornwall County Council
has millions to spend on upgrading all paths designated as 'Gold'
(this includes most of the footpaths in Zennor) up to a national standard
over the next three years, starting with those on the coast and moving
inland. This would appear to include extra signage of a nature which,
councillors felt, is out of keeping with the area. It was decided
to investigate this issue further, as some work in the parish has
already been done, including signage, without consultation with anyone.
Chair Mike Hindley is to write to the Chief Executive of Cornwall
County Council, Jon Brookes to telephone CCC to ask about their consultation
and John Swannell to speak to Toby Law, the Ranger for the area. A
representative from CCC will also be asked to come and speak at a
Parish Council meeting about their policy on paths in this area.
Himalayan Balsam: It had been mentioned at a previous Parish
Council meeting that Himalayan Balsam seems to be spreading rapidly.
John Swannell reported that though it is a huge problem nationwide
it is not yet on the notifiable weed plant list. He is currently involved
in mapping where it grows in Zennor to see how it is spreading. Anyone
with any Himalayan Balsam near them is asked to contact John, via
zpc@zennor.org - or telephone him on Pz. 796707.
Sudden Oak Death: If when out and about you see car loads of
people tying pieces of string to rhododendron bushes, they are DEFRA
workers looking for signs of Sudden Oak Death -Phytophthora ramorum.
Councillor Mark Pilcher informed the council that DEFRA have recently
been investigating some of his rhododendrons near Ladydowns. The name
of the disease says nothing about its affect, as it is not sudden;
it hampers growth rather than causing death, and does not only affect
oak trees. Sudden Oak Death actually affects lots of different types
of trees, with rhododendrons being the most susceptible. Councillor
Jon Brookes is to gather further information.
Scrambler Bikes: a parishioner had informed Chair Mike Hindley
that scrambler bikes have re-appeared on the moors at Mulfra. This
issue has also been raised at Madron Parish Council, as it would appear
they are also using the footpaths near Ladydowns. Last time the scrambler
bikes were here, in 2004, Paul Carter offered to contact the bikers
and ask them to desist. Mike is to ask Paul to do this again.
Parish Plan: It is now four years since Zennor wrote its first
Parish Plan. At that time issues were discussed at Parish Council
meetings and parishioners asked to rank the final 12 in order of most
importance. Zennor Parish has now been asked by St. Ives Market &
Coastal Towns initiative to write a larger, more in-depth Parish Plan.
The results of this would not only go towards the final St. Ives MCTi
community strategic plan, but would also inform Penwith Vision 20/25,
the strategic plan for the whole of Penwith. After much discussion
it was agreed by councillors to go ahead with writing a new Parish
Plan. Money to help is available from various sources, and Mike is
to write to Cornwall Rural Community Council to ask how much detail
they would need in a grant application. Anyone who feels they would
like to help in any way with the Parish Plan is asked to contact Mike
Hindley, Pz. 796819 or via zpc@zonnor.org - more information will
be in this column after Christmas. As we are part of St. Ives MCTi
Mike volunteered to attend their Steering Group meeting on Wednesday
14th December. Councillor Antony Penhaul is to forward the pile of
information he had received from Community Agent Ray Tovey to all
councillors.
The meeting ended with Any Other Business, when councillors
agreed to look at next year's budget during the January meeting. The
next meeting of Zennor Parish Council will take place on January 10th,
in the village hall. All parishioners are invited to attend.
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