Minutes from RA meeting 03/04/2017
Smithick Ward Residents Association
Monday 3 April 2017, 1945 at the Poly Bar, Church Street, Falmouth
Attendance:
Town Councillor Candy Atherton sends her apologies as she was unable to attend this session.
Falmouth Town Council Environmental Education and Enforcement Officer Mike Lynch was in
attendance.
Pam and Tracy from Save Our Falmouth were in attendance.
Unfortunately, minutes from the previous session were not available for this session.
Stated Business:
To open, Brendan Fitzgerald, organiser, welcomed attendees and stated the twofold aims of
this session:
1) To establish a Chair, Secretary, and Treasury positions
2) To establish group aims
Over the course of the meeting, a schedule for future meetings was also mooted.
Mike Lynch was present to discuss environmental and antisocial behaviour issues.
Pam and Tracy were present to discuss developmental issues
To business:
Mike Lynch began with a discussion of environmental issues that are his remit, and offered
advice to attendees on how to report environmental issues to Cornwall council.
Environmental issues include:
1) Refuse collection, fly tipping, bin liner failure
2) Personal littering and high volume promotional littering
3) Abandoned/Obstructing vehicles
4) Itinerant people
5) People who live off grid
6) Drug abuse in public facilities
7) Graffiti
8) Vandalism
9) Dog poop
10) Noise pollution
Discussed different ways that laws can be enforced and the limits of authority.
Discussed how to report environmental issues to Cornwall Council:
1) https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/report-it/
2) Email addresses for various departments are listed at this web address:
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/contacting-the-council/email-us/
3) Phone numbers for various departments are listed at this address:
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/contacting-the-council/telephone-us/
Pam introduced her group, Save Our Falmouth, which is concerned with student numbers,
student accomodation, big developments, car parking and the detrimental effect these can have
on a town when pursued blindly.
Their website is a hub where one can track the progress of planning applications in Falmouth
and Penryn.
Pro forma letters of objection can be found on their website at this web address:
http://www.saveourfalmouth.com/template-letters-of-objection
Brendan presented the Association with a list of potential aims for a charter (which were
discussed then amended by the attendants). Each of these was subject to a debate and a show
of hands:
1) Opposition to PA16/10836 and other applications that do not conform to the
conservation area
2) Support article IV and the Falmouth Neighbourhood Plan
3) To support (appropriate) developments that address the needs of local residents
4) Foster good relations between students and permanent residents (and landlords/letting
agencies)
5) To work alongside Falmouth and Exeter Universities and various other bodies to improve
the condition and maintenance of neglected properties
6) To promote and enable participation in activities which generate community spirit and
improve the quality of life for all, particularly individuals that may be suffering from
isolation
7) To help reduce anti-social behaviour and vandalism within the area
8) To work alongside other Residents Associations and Governing Bodies
Brendan then presented the Association with three key positions to be filled: Chair, Secretary,
and Treasurer.
The position of Treasurer remains unfilled. However, a Chair and a Secretary were selected by
a show of hands:
1) Chair: Brendan Fitzgerald
2) Secretary: Sarah Jones
The next meeting has been provisionally arranged for Tuesday 20th June at 1945 (venue to be
arranged)
By 2100 we had concluded our formal meeting.
as pdf:SWRA 3.4.17 minutes