Full Council Meeting

NOTICE OF AGENDA – FULL COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday 17th March 2026 at 7.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, St Columb Major

Dear Councillor,
You are summoned to attend the aforementioned Meeting of the Full Council.
AGENDA

1. Mayor’s Welcome:
i) Housekeeping – The Mayor to give advice on emergency procedures, exits, local hazards and locations of WCs, etc.
ii) Diary Report from the Town Mayor

2. To Receive the Cornwall Councillor’s Divisional Report (for information only)

3. Public Forum

4. To Record Apologies for Absence & to Note Extended Absence of Cllrs Allen & Bonner

5. To Note Members’ Declarations of Interests:
i)Declarations of interests, in accordance with the Agenda
ii)Declarations of gifts

7. To Confirm the Minutes of the last Full Council Meeting, which was held on 3rd March 2026 (copy enclosed)

8. To Consider Payment of Accounts: Members to approve payment of
accounts to 20th February 2026

9. Planning Matters

i) PA26/01152: Install new fence to the side of the rear garden set back
from the existing Cornish hedge. 1 Halidon Terrace, St Columb
Cornwall, TR9 6GQ. Mr Peter Keen (Coastline Housing).
ii) PA26/01292: Proposed erection of a storage building. Land north of
Pentrieve, St Columb, Cornwall, TR9 6JA. Mr and Mrs J Grigg.
iii) PA26/01480: Change of use to B8. Polita Bridge Farm, St Columb,
Cornwall, TR9 6BX. Mr J Payne.
iv) PA26/01590: Works to trees within a conservation area: Removal of 1x
Lime Tree (T1), Pollard of 1x Sycamore Tree (T2) and Re-pollarding of
1x Lime tree (T3). Treventon House, Union Hill, St Columb, Cornwall,
TR9 6AR. Ms Viva Seifert.
v) PA26/00831: Refurbishment of existing stone farmhouse, and addition
of two storey side extension. Replacement of existing detached
concrete block double garage with timber annex / garden building.
Trewan Hill Cottage, Bridge, Saint Columb, TR9 6BT. Mr Guy Essex.

10. To Consider the Following Policies & Procedures for Adoption:

i) Code of Conduct
ii) Privacy Statement
iii) Privacy Notice (Long Version)
iv) Privacy Notice (Short Version)
v) Scheme of Delegation
vi) Disciplinary & Grievance Policy
vii) Expenses Policy
viii) Burial Ground Regulations

11. Website Update: Town Clerk

12. To Consider Extension of Street & Public WC Contracts by One Week: Town Mayor & Town Clerk

13. To Consider Extension of Grass and Footpath Cutting Contracts by Two Months: Town Mayor & Town Clerk

14. To Discuss Churchyard Creation Care Initiative: Town Clerk

15. To Discuss Grass Cutting Options: Town Mayor & Town Clerk

16. To Confirm the Appointment of an Administrative Officer: Town Clerk

17. To Consider a Donation Request from St Columb Major Academy (Local Government Act 1972, S 137): Town Mayor

18. Members’ Queries

19. Date of Next Full Council Meeting of the Council: 7th April 2026 at 7pm

20. To consider the following resolution: that the Press and Public be excluded from the Meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (as extended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972)

21. To Discuss Grass Cutting Options, As They Might Relate to Staffing Contractual Matters

22. To Consider Car Parking Contractual Arrangements

23. To Discuss Vexatious Correspondence

Minutes of a Full Council Meeting of St Columb Major Town Council, held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, St Columb Major, on Tuesday 17^th March 2026 at 7.00pm.

 

Present:                    Cllrs Scot Taylor (Town Mayor), S Allen, A Dickens, Mrs F Fuery, R Jury & S Whetter

 

In attendance:         Mr J A Stuart (Town Clerk) & three members of the public.

 

 

269/25            Mayor’s Welcome

 

The Mayor, Cllr Taylor, welcomed everyone to the Meeting.

 

1. Housekeeping

 

The Mayor addressed Councillors, gave advice on emergency procedures, and asked that all mobile telephones be switched off or silenced.

 

1. ii)         Diary Report from the Mayor

                       

Cllr Taylor presented his report:

 

“Good evening everyone,

 

Over the past few weeks, I have been continuing to meet with a

number of our local businesses to better understand their future plans

and how we, as a council, can support them. I’m pleased to say that

some of the ideas and developments being discussed are very

exciting, and it’s encouraging to see such ambition and confidence

within our local business community.

 

 

I would also like to address a change within the Council.

Unfortunately, two of our councillors are going to take long-term

Leave, due to work and health commitments. I’m sure you will all join

me in wishing them well.

 

This does, however, highlight the importance of ensuring we have a

full and active Council. It is essential that councillors are able to attend

meetings regularly, so that we remain quorate and can make decisions

lawfully and effectively on behalf of our residents.

 

To that end, the Clerk and I are currently looking at launching a

campaign to encourage residents to step forward and join the Council

through co-option. This is a great opportunity for members of the

community to get involved and help shape the future of our town.”

 

 

 

 

270/25            Public Forum

 

A member of the public raised the following:

 

1. Provision of a banking hub or a mobile banking facility should be explored.
2. Two young football players had received parking fines for parking adjacent to the Recreation Ground during a football match.

• He believed that the Newquay Road 20mph signage did not protect the school, and ought to be moved. More signage, he felt, was also required in Bridge.

1. The national speed limit of the A3059 adjacent to Mole Valey Farmers, he thought, should be reduced to be 40mph.
2. The apparent absence of police patrols and availability in the parish.

 

271/25            Apologies for Absence

 

 

1. Cllr C Bonner, who had a work commitment.

 

2.  Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously to accept Cllr Bonner’s apology, and to approve the reason for it.

 

Cllr Taylor also relayed Cllr Bonner’s request that his apologies for the following six months, owing to work commitments related to national security, be accepted.

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously to accept Cllr Bonner’s apologies for the following six months, and to approve the reason for them.

 

3.  Cllr Allen requested that his apologies for the following two months, owing to medical treatment, be accepted.

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously to accept Cllr Allen’s apologies for the following two months, and to approve the reason for them.

 

4.  Cllr Anthony, who had a work commitment.

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Allen, and it was resolved unanimously to accept Cllr Anthony’s apology, and to approve the reason for it.

 

5.  Cllr Mrs McLeod, who was on holiday.

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Mrs Fuery, and it was resolved unanimously to accept Cllr Mrs McLeod’s apology, and to approve the reason for it.

 

6.  Cllr Rowland O’Connor, who was on holiday.

 

 

272/25            Members’ Declaration of Interests

 

1. Declarations of Interest, in accordance with the Agenda:

 

• Cllr Taylor declared an interest in Item 9 (i): his rental agreement with Coastline Housing, the applicant in PA26/01152.

 

• Cllr Taylor declared an interest in Item 9 (iii): the applicant in PA26/01480, Mr J Payne, was his neighbour.

 

Cllr Taylor would withdraw from the Chamber during discussion of these planning applications.

 

1. Declarations of gifts:

None.

 

 

273/25            To confirm the Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on 3^rd March 2026

 

The Minutes of the previous Full Council Meeting, which was held on 3^rd March 2026, were presented by the Mayor.

 

Cllr Allen proposed, Cllr Jury seconded, and it was resolved by a majority that the Minutes be accepted (Cllr Whetter had been absent from the meeting).

 

274/25            Payment of Accounts – Members to Approve the Payment of Accounts to 20^th February 2026

 

Cllr Taylor presented the Accounts, paid up to 20^th February 2026.

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, Cllr Whetter seconded, and it was resolved unanimously that the payment of accounts, to 20^th February 2026, as well as the list of spending powers, be approved.

 

275/25            Planning Applications

 

Cllr Taylor withdrew from the Chamber.  Cllr Whetter proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously that Cllr Allen chair the meeting for discussion of Agenda items 8 (i) and 8 (iii).

 

1. PA26/01152: Install new fence to the side of the rear garden set back from the existing Cornish hedge. 1 Halidon Terrace, St Columb Cornwall, TR9 6GQ. Mr Peter Keen (Coastline Housing).

There were no objections.

Cllr Whetter proposed, seconded by Cllr Mrs Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously to support the application.

(iii)       PA26/01480: Change of use to B8.  Polita Bridge Farm, St Columb, Cornwall, TR9 6BX. Mr J Payne.

There were no objections.

Cllr Allen proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously to support the application.

Cllr Taylor returned to the Chamber and the chair.

(ii)        PA26/01292: Proposed erection of a storage building. Land north of Pentrieve, St Columb, Cornwall, TR9 6JA. Mr and Mrs J Grigg.

There were no objections to the application.

Cllr Allen proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously to support the application.

• PA26/01590: Works to trees within a conservation area: Removal of 1x Lime Tree (T1), Pollard of 1x Sycamore Tree (T2) and Re-pollarding of 1x Lime tree (T3). Treventon House, Union Hill, St Columb, Cornwall, TR9 6AR.  Ms Viva Seifert.

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Mrs Fuery, and it was resolved unanimously to support the determination of the Tree Officer.

• PA26/00831: Refurbishment of existing stone farmhouse, and addition of two storey side extension. Replacement of existing detached concrete block double garage with timber annex / garden building. Trewan Hill Cottage, Bridge, Saint Columb, TR9 6BT.  Mr Guy Essex.

There were no objections to the application.

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously to support the application.

276/25            Policies & Procedures for Adoption

 

1. Cllr Allen proposed, seconded by Cllr Whetter, and it was resolved unanimously to adopt the Code of Conduct, which had been drafted by the Clerk.
2. Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Dickens, and it was resolved unanimously to adopt the Scheme of Delegation, which had been drafted by the Clerk.

277/25            Website Update

 

The Clerk reported that the rebuilt website was live, and demonstrated its features.  Members were pleased with the new site.

 

278/25            Extension of Street & Public WC Contracts by One Week

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Allen, and it was resolved unanimously to extend the Street and Public WC Cleansing contracts by one week, with no increase in cost.

 

279/25            Extension of Grass and Footpath Cutting Contracts by Two Months

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Mrs Fuery, and it was resolved unanimously to extend the Grass and Footpath Cutting contracts by two months, with no increase in cost, in order for members to consider cutting options for the rest of the year.

 

280/25            Churchyard Creation Care Initiative

 

The Clerk explained that St Columb Major Parochial Church Council (PCC) wished to revisit its plans for a wild area in the Churchyard.  Cllr Dickens proposed, seconded by Cllr Whetter, and it was resolved unanimously that the Clerk have further discussions with the PCC, in order to present clear proposals to Council.

 

281/25            To Discuss Grass Cutting Options

 

The Mayor explained the options for the cutting of parish grass and footpaths:

 

1. Bringing grass cutting in-house, by purchasing the necessary equipment and deploying the Handyperson.
2. Bringing grass cutting in-house, by purchasing the necessary equipment and deploying the Handyperson, with the assistance of a subcontractor or another employee.
3. Tendering, as usual.

Members wished to continue the discussion, during the existing contract’s extension period.

282/25            Appointment of an Administrative Officer

 

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Allen, and it was resolved unanimously to confirm the appointment of Ms Amy Hounsome as the Administrative Officer.

 

 

 

283/25            Donation Request from St Columb Major Academy (Local Government Act 1972, S 137)

                        Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Allen, and it was resolved unanimously that a donation of £250 to St Columb Major Academy for cycling helmet storage was “in the interests of, and will bring direct benefit to, the Parish and all or some of its inhabitants”.

 

284/25            Members’ Queries

 

1. Cllr Allen reported that St Columb Major Academy’s School Council discussion of dog fouling countermeasures had been delayed, given the unavailability of the responsible member of staff.
2. Cllr Allen remained concerned that emergency services had experienced difficulties in reaching Halveor Close, given inadequate signage. The Clerk would continue to investigate the matter.
3. Cllr Mrs Fuery remained alarmed by the potholes to the rear of the Co-op and elsewhere.

 

285/25            Closed Session

                       

Cllr Taylor proposed, seconded by Cllr Allen, and it was RESOLVED unanimously that the Press and Public be excluded from the Meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (as Extended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972).

 

286/25            Grass Cutting Options, As They Might Relate to Staffing Contractual Matters

 

The Mayor and the Clerk explained how the options might impact the workload of the Handyperson.

 

287/25            Car Parking Contractual Matters

 

The Mayor reported continued problems.

The Meeting closed at 8.20pm.  Next Full Council Meeting: 7/04/26 at 7pm.

 

Dated:      7^th April 2026