Annual Parish Meeting & Annual Council Meeting 2025

Our annual back to back meetings took place on a quintessential early summer evening with the moor bathed in warm sunshine which had encouraged parishioners to turn out in numbers to celebrate the past years achievements of the local clubs and organisations. It never fails to impress how much goes on in the parish and this year we heard from eighteen bodies and their reports and updates are to be published on the Parish Council website ‘altarnunpc.co.uk’.

For all these organisations to succeed takes a lot of hard work and there was a recurring theme throughout, that support for these groups is always welcome because the few that actually run them will not be around forever and continuity planning is key to their continued success which actually creates our vibrant and compelling community. So the answer is to join in by committing your time and talents and most importantly, make new friends and enjoy yourself.

It was great to hear the Penpont Players had received a recognition award from the National Operatic and Drama Association for their seasonal pantomime. In delivering his lines, Simon played to his audience and stressed that with only sixteen active members this was truly an extraordinary achievement. He passed his thanks on to everyone who supported the show and made the run a complete sell out.

Likewise it was reported that the Altarnun Village Show is attracting a high profile. Last year the show was opened by our then new MP, Ben Maguire. This year we are told that a surprise celebrity has been lined up. Nothing more is known, and we can only speculate what’s in store!

The Parish Council annual report and ward councillors report, reflected on a year of being able to retain local services and facilities which, against the backdrop of what is happening in the rest of the country, is very welcome. It was also reported that the remaining Community Infrastructure Levy grant monies held by the parish council had been put to good use in upgrading the access to our public toilets.Also at long last, our efforts to take responsibility for the upkeep of the open space at Penpont View is nearing formal agreement with Cornwall Council. Whilst not to be a devolved function, our contract, currently out for tendering, will allow more regular visits and a tidier job being carried out.

In contrast, the Annual Parish Council meeting did not quite have the sparkle that the preceding meeting delivered apart from Cllr Craig Dowler being elected as Chair, once again, for the year ahead (all the other councillors seemed to keep their heads down!), with Chris Bloomfield remaining as vice chair. Cllr Debbie Branch continues in her role which involves a periodic review of the clerk’s work in respect of the councils finances and related governance matters as well as being our Community Area Partnership representative.

This meeting did of course herald the new parish council term to 2029 after the recent local elections. Currently we only have nine councillors out of a required compliment of eleven. Invitations for new councillors to step forward have been posted with the aim of co-opting the two needed, in June.

Councillors saw no objections for three planning applications including listed building consent for various works at Carne Manor, which the application itself stated was for minor interior remedials and secondary glazing. Outside, it is proposed that the existing swimming pool is filled in and for a greenhouse to be built over it. There is also a proposal to alter the entrance to the property and set the gates further back from the road.

The third application related to a two storey extension, at Tremelyn, Altarnun to increase the residential accommodation, build out a balcony and install external steps.

The clerk reported that the parish cemetery has recently been catching peoples eye and both burial plots and plots in the Garden of Remembrance are being reserved and used. The annual review of cemetery matters included a satisfactory safety report and a small 5% increase in fees to take effect from 1st June 2025. This is in keeping with similar facilities in the county, but remains competitive, as we do not make a charge for the placement of headstones or monuments.

The next council meeting will take place on Wednesday 4th June at 7.30pm in the village hall. In the meantime please remember the clerk can be contacted on tel: 07841780397 or by email: clerkaltarnunpc@gmail.com.