Report on the last 12 months

Here, in full, is the speech given by Cllr Martin Ripper, Chair of the Parish Council, at the Annual Parish Meeting on 19th April 2021. A positive look at what the Council have managed to achieve in the context of the past 12 – absolutely shocking – months.

Speech from Cllr Martin Ripper – Chair of the Parish Council

Delivered on the Annual Parish Meeting 19^th April 2021

It has been a strange year, hopefully not to be repeated.

On the weekend of March 8^th 2020 I had my last trip out of county and watched a football match attended by just over 70.000 people. The sense of just how much humanity that crowd represented brought home what the figure of 70000 COVID deaths, reached on Christmas day 2020, meant and of course we have now moved on past 120, 000 dead.

We can be thankful to have come through this as vaccines are delivered and numbers fall but should also remember 2 other losses born this year; George Mannel who was such a unique village character and Councillor June Lane, who I know we have all missed.

It has been the year of COVID, and I thank our Clerk, Lee Dunkley, for researching and implementing advice so as to steer us safely through it while maintaining as many of our functions and services where it was possible to do so.

Much of the routine has continued to function;  Allotments and Cemeteries have been managed. Paths have been cut and checked. Toilets have been opened and regularly cleaned and maintained when conditions have allowed.

Similarly the Library has been operating, albeit with a restricted service, which must be very tedious for staff at times. It is good to see our Library Manager, Andrew Ley, recovered [from surgery] and almost ready to resume.

Thanks are due to staff working in both the above areas, including Leah Cox, who joined us seamlessly when a new addition to the Thomas family was expected [maternity cover has been converted to a permanent position].

We considered 283 planning applications from May to April and those on the Planning Committee know just how much time that takes.

Finances were managed, the audit took place, insurances were purchased and the budget was set.

Grants were awarded and we responded to a variety of consultations

Aside from the routine I think we can all take some satisfaction from what I would call progress.

• Phase 1 of the Traffic Regulation Orders was delivered and phase 2 proposals have been put forward, including action to resolve the parking problems at Mithian School.
• We received training for the management of speed sensors. Poles were erected for the sensors.  Goonbell apart, the sensors became operational and data was collected.  A 2^nd set of post locations has been proposed.
• Path improvements, making use of a windfall grant from Cornwall Council, were completed.
• A Trelawney Road car park survey was designed, the returns giving us a clear mandate for introducing charging with the aim of freeing up more regular spaces.
• A comprehensive audit of ‘what we do’ was produced.
• Ellis Whittam were contracted to provide HR & Health and Safety Services.
• A new staffing structure was agreed.
• We appointed an assistant handy person and it has been gratifying to note the acceleration in the improvements to our street furniture.
• An Environment and Property Manager has been appointed.
• Sites for water refill stations have been agreed at Porthtowan and Trevaunance Cove.
• We took on the management Of Beaconsfield play area and have agreed a system of support for the other main play areas in the Parish.
• The many NDP documents can now be accessed from the Parish Council Website.
• A new Exceptional Public Service Acknowledgement Award was agreed, ready to be granted when physical meetings resume.
• Planters were placed in Mount Hawke to deter inconsiderate parking.
• A new committee was formed to care for Chegwyn Gardens, due almost entirely to the sustained efforts of Bill Forbes.
• Parish boundaries were rationalised.
• Plans for a Cemetery Shelter were refreshed.
• We supported the Slow-ways project and set out on a journey to manage waste in a more sustainable manner.
• We have commissioned a survey of all significant trees on Parish Council Land.

If I have missed anything out that is important to anyone then you have my apologies. I have simply wanted to demonstrate that we have not stood still as a Parish Council in this challenging year.

Looking ahead, some immediate priorities?

Well we need a few more Councillors in order to preserve our general power of competence, the lack of a speed sensor in Goonbell keeps me awake at night and we really do need to get on and firm up plans for Trelawney Road car park.

That just leaves me to say thank you, everyone, for all of your efforts over the course of the year.