Monday 3rd February 2025

The meeting of Launcells Parish Council was held on the above date at 7:30pm, in Launcells Parish Hall.

Chairman Cllr Hargreaves, Vice-Chair Cllr Allin, Cllr Cleave, Cllr Pollard, Cllr Tape, Cllr Stokes, Cllr Whittle, Cllr Constantinou.

Also in attendance: Clerk Julie Gray and Cllr Chopak.

0 members of the public were present for the meeting.

Cllr Hargreaves opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

2.25/174:

Cllr Elliott could not make the meeting and sent his apologies.

Cllr Wingard did not attend.

2.25/175:

It was resolved to approve the minutes and ratify all decisions made at the meeting held on Thursday 9th January 2025. 6 in favour. 2 abstained, due to not being present at the previous meeting. The Chair, Cllr Hargreaves, signed them as a correct record.

2.25/176:

1. There were no declarations.

2.25/177:

1. There were no dispensation requests.

2.25/178:

1. The Clerk has looked into funding for the solar light and has emailed the local solar farm but has received no answer.
2. Cllr Pollard reported the pot hole. Cllr Pollard also sent photographs of the flooding. Cllr Chopak urged members of the public and Councillors to report any issues online, as the more reports the more likelihood it will be looked at.
3. The highway mirror was cracked on the surround so the Clerk ordered a replacement. This has arrived and the company does not want the Parish Council to return the cracked one.

2.25/179:

There were no members of the public present.

2.25/180:

Cllr Chopak reported that the transfer / sale of Newquay Airport is delayed as it was determined there had not been enough consultation. The potential amount of car parks that are to be transferred to a third party has decreased. No car parks in Bude will be transferred but there is one in Launceston that will be affected. The vote will be in the next couple of weeks. The 3rd party, who have had many complaints against them up country, will install cameras but the fines will go directly to Cornwall Council.

Six adult education centres are to be closed by mid-February with approximately forty redundancies.

The Special Education Needs (SEN) services have had their budgets cut.

Due to the National Insurance changes this will increase Cornwall Council’s employment budget.

The planning officer has offered to have a meeting with Councillors in the local parishes. Councillors will let the Clerk know of their availability.

There is a field that is next to Kitts Farm that has abandoned cars and horsed boxes on. The Parish Council will write to Cornwall Council that this is unacceptable.

The elections are on the 1st May and Cllr Chopak hopes that all Councillors will continue to stand.

The police budget is paying for two chief constables that are still suspended and for the chief constable who is in post – the police have asked the Government for monetary assistance due to this. A number of people have called for the Police Commissioner in Devon and Cornwall to resign.

2.25/181: – all correspondence circulated via email.

1. The Rural Bulletin.
2. NHS 10-year Plan Engagement Event.
3. Planning Reform.
4. Off Street Parking Order.
5. National Planning Changes.
6. Keeping Cornwall Updated.
7. Affordable Housing Newsletter.
8. Town & Parish Council Newsletter.
9. Closure Intention – A39 Wainhouse Corner. Works from South West Water, Open Reach and Highways Improvements will undertake work from the 2nd March to the 22nd. The road will be closed totally on 16th to the 20th and diversions will be in place.
10. CALC – Improving Standards and Sanctions. Councillors were urged to complete the survey.
11. Stratton Medical Council Parish Council Meeting. Cllr Whittle and Cllr Cleave would be happy to attend.
12. Planning Policy Consultation.

2.25/182:

1. Decision Notices/Updates:
   1. PA22/11471 | Change of use of land for the siting of a caravan to be occupied by a traveller and the installation of a sewage treatment plant | Land South Of Kitts Farm Stratton Bude Cornwall EX23 9NR.
      APPROVED. There shall be no more than one residential caravan.
2. Planning Applications/Appeals:
   Any late planning applications received will be discussed but not decided under this section.
   
   1. None.

2.25/183:

1. Chairman / Councillor.
   Cllr Whittle reported that the Levelling Up fund has been awarded another £44k to allocate in the Community.
   The Big Breakfast at the Parish Hall was very successful.
2. The Clerk.
   The Local Maintenance Path has come up for renewal. The previous contractor is happy to undertake the work again. The Councillors were unanimous in continuing the service.

2.25/184:

Cllr Constantinou will undertake May’s contribution.

2.25/185:

Cllr Whittle checked the ICO as to whether there were any changes to the rules. There was not therefore the existing policy has been reviewed but there are no changes. The policy will be reviewed again in two years.

2.25/186:

Cllr Chopak has received communication from Cornwall Council that telecommunications could become an issue.

Cllr Whittle has amended the emergency plan with the assistance of Cllr Cleave, Cllr Wingard and Cllr Elliott. Cllr Cleave has spoken to two nurses in the Community, who are happy to be listed as emergency personnel. Cllr Whittle will send the updated plan to the Clerk.

2.25/187:

Cllr Whittle completed the financial check and there were no issues.

2.25/188:

There were no complaints last summer concerning access and visibility exiting the layby. It was unanimously agreed to raise no objection.

2.25/189:

1. Ratification of payments totalling £323.39 as per January’s schedule plus £432 website management invoice. Cllr Whittle brought up the expense that the website is costing the parish and suggested terminating the website. The Clerk offered to take over management and it was agreed the Clerk will try managing the website. It was unanimously agreed to give notice to the existing management. It was unanimously resolved to authorise the payments.
2. To note Bank reconciliations.
3. To note Income & Bank Balances as per the schedule and reconciliations.

2.25/190:

Hersham Fields is becoming an eyesore and a concern to residents. It has an enforcement notice on it. Cllr Chopak will contact enforcement and request they view it.

Concerned residents raised the issue of a low drain on the highway. Cllr Chopak will raise this with Highways.

The state of the Highway has become a concern from Butterbeer to Marhamchurch and the road between Moreton Pound and the bridge at the county boundary - particularly by the bridge on the Bradworthy road. Cllr Chopak will inform Highways but urges Councillors and members of the public to report issues online as the more people report them the stronger the case is.

Streetlights in Grimscott are not working properly. Cllr Chopak will look into this.

2.25/191:

Monday 3rd March 2025.

Meeting closed at 20.43pm

During the meeting it may arise that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential or special nature of the business to be transacted and the press and public will be instructed to withdraw.

When this arises, the Chair will recommend to consider passing the following resolution: “to resolve that in view of the confidential or special nature of the business to be discussed, the public are excluded and instructed to withdraw.”