Cornwall Council 'how to approve a planning application' training

Last night I went to a Cornwall Council 'basic planning' training session for councillors.

I was disappointed really.

Parish and Town councils are statutory consultees. We have three options when we receive a planning application. We can approve, not object or object.

The majority of applications that we see are fairly straightforward and make sense so are approved quite quickly.

However, there are often applications that just seem wrong. This is where, I feel, that town and parish councillors need help. We need to be shown how to make an effective objection to something that appears to be wrong for our community. The training provided is hopeless for this.

We are told that the only way to object is to cite 'material planning considerations'. The problem is that these days anything may or may not be a MPC. Last night we were given two convolouted definitions that needed to be met in order for something to be a MPC. We were told that there was no definitive list as to what was or was not a MPC (though we were then, confusingly, given a list of things that were or were not???)

We also looked at three scenarios based on real life applications from outside Cornwall. In each case the parish council had objected and been ignored by the planning officers. The subliminal message seemed to be that "it's no good objecting - you won't get anywhere anyway".

Another worrying fact that emerged was that where a town or parish did make an objection, that objection needed to get the support of the local Cornwall Council member before the application went to committee. This is the very reverse of localism. CC members may, as we have seen in May, have very littke local knowledge and may not even live close to their ED. Why is it that they have more say on an issue than the people on the ground in the community?

Illogan School Crossing Patrol

Apologies for not blogging much recently - I am in the throes of moving house at the moment (deeper into Illogan :-) ) and so I am dreaming about boxes and putting stuff in them!

I have been working with a group of Illogan residents recently to try and get a School Crossing Patrol put in place at 'the Platt' in Illogan.

The Platt is a conjunction of 5 roads and for parents who wish to take advantage of the walk through Manningham Wood down into school it is a hazardous place.

Quite often there are cars parked close to the junctions which, when added to busy traffic and a lack of footpaths, makes it very hard to cross the road for parents with puschairs and primary school age children in tow.

At the meeting of Illogan Parish Council on Wednesday we got a unanimous vote in favour of supporting the action group and we have received initial suppport from Illogan School.

We will be taking the campaign to Cornwall Council next - hopefully we may get a patrol in place for the new academic year.

IPC PLanning Committee

It was the first meeting of the new IPC planning committee tonight.

The first agenda item was to elect a new chairman. A few minutes later I was taking the chair having been elected - a total surprise.

I am very proud to have the opportunity to serve the committee and so the council as a whole  in this role and would like to thank the other Members for showing faith in me to be able to do the job.

IPC planning committee also looks after the coulcil's amenities and with the stated aim of the council to meet the challenges of devolution head on and to be proactive in taking on community assets the members on this committee will be seeing a lot of work.

I also hope to be able to help with setting up the process for Illogan to create its own Neighbourhood Plan - which will clearly be in close association with the planning committee.

A great day

Cornwall 26 - 35 Lancashire

So near .....

What an amzing day.

Cornwall almost created an upset by beating Lancashire at Twickenham yesterday.

Unfortunately the Cornish team gifted Lancashire a couple of easy tries in the first half which proved too difficult a moutain to overcome depsite a passionate performance from the heart in the second period.

We almost made it - getting back to within a couple of points with a few minutes remaining - "... with one and all and hand in hand and who shall tell us nay"

The 10,000 or so Cornish supporters were right there, almost tangibly on the pitch with the team, willing Cornwall on the whole way - but it wasn't to be.

A proud day for Cornwall.

Westminster politics again!

Cllr Andrew Wallis has been passed a missive from the Tory 'high command' addressed to Tory Cornwall Councillors.

The email directive (apart from displaying appalling grammar, sometimes making it hard to understand) shows how Westminster party politics operates in Cornwall.

Rather than concentrating on what is good for Cornwall it is all about what is good for the Tory party - especially with a general election beginning to loom on the political horizon.

It also reveals the 'career' mindset of a lot of Westminster politicians. Apparently some Tories don't want to be wasting their time by doing a job of representing the people who voted for them.

The Trelawney Army - On the March to Twickenham

Cornwall 41 - 29 Herts

The Trelawney Army are busy buying tickets, arranging travel and  booking accommodation after Cornwall beat Hertfordshire yesterday at Camborne.

In the end Cornwall were easily the better side on the day, though at half time it was looking a bit scary.

Two early, inspired second half tries, going down the slope put Cornwall back in the driving street and flashes of brilliance from the backs and dogged determination and a refusal to consider giving up the ball from the pack combined with never say die defence to ensure that, in the end, it was Kernow who celebrated.

It was an honour and privilege to watch.

Heartfelt commiserations must go to Herts and many congratulations to Camborne Rugby Club who made sure that the event was supremely well organised, with the ground looking immaculate.

First Day of Term

This evening was the Illogan Annual Parish Meeting and the first meeting of the new Illogan Parish Council.

The Annual meeting was over in 15 minutes, unfortunately with no public participation.

The main business of the council meeting was sorting out the various committees and membership of them.

The main difference to the previous council was that we decided to create a 'Devolution Committe'. We have formed a committee which will have a specific responsibilty to deal with opportunities for devolution of assets and services from Cornwall Council.

The new council has started on a very positive note. All the councillors are serving on at least one committee and as a group we are detremined to make the best of any opportunity that presents itself to us.