Each month, I present a written report to both St Dennis Parish Council and St Enoder Parish Council. The report for May 2025 is as follows
1. A new term:
As this is my first monthly report since the local elections, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me with their votes on 1st May 2025. I am pleased to have been re-elected and I look forward to working hard for local people for the next four years.
2. Council meetings:
Over the last month, formal meetings have been quite limited in extent – except for the first Full Council meeting at the unitary authority on 20th May [see below]. I have attended a number of [re]training sessions – in particular planning – and various induction sessions for the new council term.
In recent weeks, I also attended the Annual Assemblies for St Dennis and St Enoder at which I presented my annual reports for 2024-2025.
3. Full Council on 20th May 2025:
At the first Full Council meeting of Cornwall Council, Liberal Democrat Leigh Frost from Bodmin was elected as the new leader of the authority. He will lead an administration comprising 26 Lib Dems and 16 independents, while the Cabinet will comprise five Lib Dems and five independents.
In the leadership vote, Leigh was also supported by the Conservative, Labour and Green groups. Reform UK – the largest group on the Council with 28 members – did not put forward a nominee for leader. The three members of the MK group abstained on the leadership vote, largely because we were unhappy with the Liberal Democrat approach to political co-operation which had preceded the outcome of the election.
4. Homechoice review:
Since my last monthly report, Cornwall Council and registered providers finalised a review into the Homechoice system, through which publicly-owned rental homes are allocated. As I have previously reported verbally, I opposed the changes and, in particular, how local connection criteria would be weakened. I was unsuccessful, but the new approach subsequently allowed for “local lettings plans” (LLPs) for parishes where there is a need to safeguard the provision of proper local-needs housing for parish families.
I can confirm that individual LLPs are now in place for St Dennis and St Enoder parishes – the first two such agreements in the whole of Cornwall. Such a plan should mean that a higher percentage of homes should go to households with a connection to our local parishes than in the recent past.
5. Local issues and casework:
Now that the election is over, I am following up on a range of local issues and casework. As I write this, I am waiting to find out who the new Cabinet Members [with responsibility for various elements of Cornwall Council] actually are, so that I can lobby them on a range of issues.
I have included below a few updates in the parish-specific parts of this report, and I can confirm that my June report will be much more detailed.
6. “Report it“:
I continue to report a number of local issues of concern to residents. If you spot any problems, you can also report it through Cornwall Council’s website at: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/report-something/
St Dennis Parish
7. Cornish Lithium:
I continue to be in regular contact with Cornish Lithium and the company is continuing to work up its “feasibility study” and I understand that more detailed plans about how they might extract the mineral at Trelavour will be made public towards the end of June. I will be doing my best to find out what local people think about the proposal and to ensure that these views are well-presented during the planning process which will follow.
8. Solar farm near Trerice [PA24/09234]:
A planning application for a 32MW solar farm in the Trerice part of St Dennis Parish was submitted in 2024. I have also just been informed by officers at the unitary authority that they are minded to approve the scheme and I am liaising with the Parish Council about this, as they have raised a range of objections. I am also seeking further information about the impact of the proposed scheme on the character of the local area.
9. Hall Road play area:
I have previously reported that Cornwall Council is working up a project to look at the “devolution” of small play areas and green spaces to Parish Councils throughout Clay Country. St Dennis Parish Council has agreed to take on ownership of the play area at Hall Road. I have just been informed that the legal team at Cornwall Council will be able to commence work on the legal transfer to St Dennis Parish Council in June.
St. Enoder Parish
10. Streetlighting:
One of the issues which I will raising concerns with the new leadership of Cornwall Council is the decision to switch off streetlights across St Enoder Parish [between midnight and 5.00]. My concerns to the previous administration were not acted upon and I have since received a number of complaints about this situation. I will be making representations of the new Cabinet Member as soon as they are appointed.
11. Unit 2, Indian Queens Industrial Estate [PA24/07158]:
Councillors will be aware that the retrospective application for a door opening into the rear of the industrial unit and related issues was approved by Cornwall Council. It included a condition which stated that the “access onto Moorland Road shall be closed up in full within six months … by a stone-faced earth bank to match, in terms of width and design, the stone-faced earth bank on both sides of the existing opening.”
I can report that the Cornish hedge has been constructed and I am also following up on the condition about the provision of screening.
12. Seaview Terrace:
I previously reported that I had been able to get a 40mph speed limit along the stretch of road by Seaview Terrace. There have nonetheless since been two accidents in the locality and a further accident on the same road, a short distance to the north, which resulted in a fatality.
I will be attending a meeting about Seaview Terrace on 4th June.
13. Small play areas and green spaces:
As noted in the St Dennis Parish section of this report, I have reported on the project to devolve small play areas and green spaces to Parish Councils throughout Clay Country. Work on the transfer of a number of areas of land in St Enoder Parish to the parish council is due to commence in June.
Support for local families
14. Advice:
In addition, I have assisted numerous households and individuals with guidance and advice on a range of topics.