Comment: A glimmer of light?

At the hastily rearranged “informal” meeting last Saturday, we were told that at the Parish Council next Monday “governance” was going to be discussed. Parish councillors and members of the SWG all “have concerns about the governance of CPC” according to Cllr David Hall.

In the agenda pack for that meeting, two items under the report on the SWG catch the eye. About the submission of the planning pre-application to TVBC:

In the haste, some short cuts were taken to submit the Pre-App by 31st January and the Pre App is presently “on Hold” at TVBC pending changes to the Design and Access statement and plans to strictly limit the subject to 25 houses.

Will there be a discussion about how documents that are apparently “confidential” from villagers came to be included in it?

Second, there is a request to establish a new subcommittee:

The housing project is about to start in earnest and is now perhaps the largest ongoing activity of PC that will continue for several years[.] The task is above the capability of a working group in terms of work load and time scale. PC in its proposed review could consider establishing a full PC subcommittee to continue the building project work of the SWG. This will ensure sufficient secretarial support , transparency and visible governance as the meetings could be held in the Village Hall and be open to the public.

The nod to openness and transparency is welcome, but care is needed in defining the role and objectives of this committee. What “housing project” is this? At the “informal” meeting to discuss CCLT we were told that the 10 downsize homes could be the responsibility of the Parish Council. Is that a legitimate role for CPC?

Villagers interested in hearing the answers to these questions will be keen to be there: Monday 3 Mar 2025 at 6:30pm.