Withiel Parish Council recognises that pre-application discussions play an important role in major planning applications, and welcomes the desire of developers to consult both the Council and the public more widely. However, the Council is also aware of the importance of public perception in planning and the critical need to avoid any appearance that the Council is conducting secretive negotiations or, colluding with developers.
1. Full public consultation is either already scheduled, or firmly planned.
2. The meeting is open to the public to attend and has been reasonably advertised.
3. The developer meets all reasonable costs for the hosting of the public meeting including the provision of large scale paper plans for display purposes.
The policy of the Council is not to hold private meetings with developers unless there is a necessary and compelling reason that could be justified to the public (for example a strong commercial sensitivity, where a developer wishes to receive an initial steer before deciding whether to progress).
1. An accessible and convenient venue.
2. Sufficient publicity to likely interested parties, in good time.
3. Appropriate timings to allow as wide a range of people as possible to attend.
4. A genuinely open mind and willingness to adapt plans in response to feedback.
In general Councillors are advised not to attend separate private briefings as part of public consultation, but instead to attend with the public.
Councillors must be aware of their obligations under the Council’s Code of Conduct. Individual Councillors must not enter into informal discussions of possible future applications with a developer; to do so may lead to a complaint for a potential breach of the code.
If it is considered that a site meeting is needed with the developer then individual Councillors are strongly advised to attend with other agencies (i.e. highways, officers from the Local Planning Authority) or the clerk and not on their own.
In all meetings with developers, Councillors are reminded of the critical importance of not predetermining their position on any future application, as this could require them to take no part in the discussion. It is noted however that expressing a prior view, or pre-disposition, for example of either ‘welcome in principle’ or ‘concerns’, is permissible. Taking a closed position to the development and adopting an ‘over my dead body’ approach to it may well be viewed as predetermination and if this is the case a Councillor would be unable to vote on the matter when it comes before their Local Council.
The pre-application protocol was adopted by the Parish Council on 4th January 2014 and the following profile details are submitted.
Of the population of the parish, 63 per cent are of working age; this is slightly above the average for the county as a whole. Of the working age population, 72 per cent are economically active; this is above the averages for the county and England as a whole. Self-employment accounts for 39.4 per cent of the economically active population; this is almost twice the county and three times the national averages (20.4 and 14.0 per cent).
According to the 2015 national Index of Deprivation, Withiel is in the highest quintile for standard of education, skills and training; in the second quintile for levels of employment; and in the top quintile for income standards. In other words, other things being equal, the parish should have a strong base on which to support a thriving and dynamic local economy.
Capillary Tube Supplies Ltd: Stockholders and distributors of small-diameter glass capillary tubes used in X-ray diffraction analysis to universities, research bodies and government organisations.
Green Waste Company: Specialist green waste recycling business on a county-wide scale, working with local authorities, farmers and landowners, builders etc., taking green waste for recycling and supplying compost, mulch and woodchips to business and individual customers. Based in Higher Brynn Farm Industrial Estate.
Halo Design Ltd: Design and project management of bespoke portable buildings (huts, pods, caravans etc.) for additional living/working space on a temporary or permanent basis. Based in Higher Brynn Farm Industrial Estate.
Magnet Ltd: One of three centres in Cornwall of nationwide supplier, specialising in design, manufacture and installation of kitchens to industrial and domestic customers. Based in Victoria Square.
Manor Bakeries Ltd: Storage building for the main site in Roche, bakery and confection-ery supplies. Based in Victoria Square.
Poultry Patch Ltd: tourist attraction based around rare breed poultry and other animals, with an educational focus, and children’s playground; together with a shop selling poultry-related equipment, homewares and gifts; and cafe selling locally-sourced and home-produced products .
Pro Lift Access Ltd: Short or long term hire and sale of all types of powered access aerial platforms throughout the south west, also servicing and maintenance, and training in lift equipment operation. Based in Victoria Square.
Be Reem Hair Nails and Tanning Studio: men’s and women’s hairdressing, manicure etc., inspired by ITV show ‘The Only Way Is Essex’.
Roche MoT & Tyre Centre Ltd: MoT and vehicle servicing and repairs, refitting brakes, clutches and exhausts, supply tyres, with 5-star ratings from customers. Based in Victoria Square.
Three Cheers Pubs: A chain of seven high-end gastropubs in the south London area, emphasising quality sustainably-sourced food, own-brand beer, cordials and spirits. One of the three partners in the business lives in the parish and carries on the business from here.
Timberstore (UK) Ltd: Suppliers of timber products (flooring, furniture, decking, fencing etc.) to industry and DIY throughout Devon and Cornwall. All timber is sourced from certified sustainable products suppliers. Based in Higher Brynn Farm Industrial Estate.
TOLRA Micro Systems: We mention this website design, hosting and maintenance business as an example of leading-edge microbusiness which was operating in Withiel at the inception of the neighbourhood development plan in 2015 but moved away to another area because of the lack of superfast broadband.
Total Development South West: Design, manufacture and build timber frame structures. In-house architectural design service including planning and regulatory submissions and project management, from individual self-build to large-scale development. Based in Higher Brynn Farm Industrial Estate.
Yvonne Arlott.com: Internationally-known wood-turning artist and publisher of books and DVDs on advanced wood-turning techniques.
Withiel Commercials: Storage and other portable container solutions for hire and sale, also haulage services throughout the south west.
Withiel Indoor short mat Bowls Club (Cornwall Central Premier League).
Draft Neighbourhood Plan 2015- 2030; Please follow the link below.