The latest Zennor Parish Council Meeting took place on Tuesday 14th March, in the village hall. The meeting began with the reading of the minutes of the last meeting, then Chair Mike Hindley welcomed Delia Webb from Penwith District Council. Delia works for the Community Regeneration Team at Penwith and had been invited to talk about the support the team can give Zennor parish when writing a Parish Survey then a Parish Plan.

Delia began by explaining that across the Penwith District there are four Market and Coastal Town initiatives currently working away to find out what people want for the future of their communities. The results will be put into various Community Strategic Plans, one for St. Ives and its surrounding parishes of Zennor and Towednack, one for Penzance and its parishes, one for St. Just and Pendeen and their parishes and one for Hayle and its parishes. Marazion is also involved but in a slightly different way. As each of the initiatives is focussing on the towns it is up to the parishes to ensure their voice is heard by completing their own survey and writing their own plan. Ultimately all the plans will be put forward for inclusion in the Penwith Vision for 2020/2025.

Penwith District Council have assigned Delia to support the parish in designing and preparing a survey. The survey would include all issues of concern to the people in Zennor parish. Penwith has a special computer programme to write the survey that makes analysing the results much easier. The costs of the survey, printing etc. would be covered by Penwith District Council. From the analysis of the results the Zennor Parish Plan can be written. This plan can then be used in two ways, as a lobbying tool for funding projects and changes within the parish, and to make it clear to the decision makers what parishioners are happy with and do not want changed.

After discussing the points raised by Delia councillors agreed to hold a meeting on Monday 27th March to begin writing the Zennor Parish Survey. To give them a basis on which to work Delia handed out copies of the Towednack Parish Survey. All parishioners who are interested in the future of Zennor, and in helping write the survey, are invited to this meeting. It will take place at 7.30pm in the village hall. Copies of the Towednack Survey are available from Wyn Brookes on Pz. 796993.

The meeting then turned to matters arising from previous meetings. This included the list of organisations in Zennor sent to St. Ives MCTi, the road signs at the Newmill turn, the Parish Clerk, Map Boards, MCTi next meeting and Living Landscapes.

Zennor Organisations: Councillor Antony Penhaul reported that St. Ives MCTi had requested for a list of organisations in Zennor as they had money available for small grants. He had duly sent them the list but so far has heard no more.

Road Signs: The size of the new road signs that have been erected at the Newmill turn near the Gurnard's Head was raised at the January meeting and a letter was written to Cornwall County Council expressing the view that their size was not appropriate for this rural area. So far no reply had been received. Roy Mann, our District and County Councillor, agreed to investigate the matter further. He is also to ask the County Surveyor, Dave Simpson, to attend a Zennor Parish Council meeting to discuss signage and other relevant issues, along with the concrete leat at Treen.

Parish Clerk: There is still a vacancy for a Clerk to the Council. Councillors are in great need of someone to fill the post. It was agreed to keep advertising via this column and work of mouth.

Map Boards: The new Map Boards for Zennor Churchtown and Gurnard's Head are currently at the printers and should be ready in two weeks time. Both will be placed on granite stones, the one in Zennor village being already in place, just needing to be lowered somewhat.

St. Ives MCTi Meeting: The next meeting of the Steering Group had been arranged for Wednesday 15th March. As none of the Parish Councillors who were present were able to go Councillor Mark Pilcher was to be asked if he could attend.

Living Landscapes: Councillor Jon Brookes has a copy of the Living Landscapes document. This splits Penwith into five or six designated areas, for example moorland, each with a description. Based on Cornwall Archaeological Unit Landscape Assessment the various designations will affect the way planners look at planning applications, but are not binding restrictions. Zennor comes out as an area of high value.

As there were no current planning applications, no invoices to pay and no report on the parish paths or transport the meeting moved on to Correspondence, which included communications from Cornwall County Council, a parishioner and Andrew George MP.

Cornwall County Council had forwarded a copy of their annual Minerals and Waste Management Report. Anyone who would like to read it is asked to contact on of the Parish Council.

A parishioner had written to express concern over the appearance of a JCB on the common land opposite Eagles Nest. The JCB was widening the footpath to make an access route to the house at the top of the hill. Chair Mike Hindley agreed to investigate the matter and report back to the council.

Andrew George MP had sent a copy of his surgery dates, which will be held between June and December. A copy of the information will be put in the parish notice boards, or telephone his Penzance office between 10.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm on (01736) 360020. Surgeries are usually held on a Friday or Saturday. Andrew George had also sent a copy of the Hansard Report on the discussion held in parliament recently on Parish Councils and planning. Councillors took copies to read at their leisure.

The next meeting of Zennor Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 11th April at 7.30pm in the village hall. All parishioners are invited to attend.