Due to Covid-19, The Parish Magazine will be taking a break as so many village events have been cancelled and so there won’t be so much to report in the magazine.

There is still plenty to read in this edition including: the news from our three villages; Out & About; two items on nature; reports from our two County Councillors, a chocolate fridge cake recipe and the details of this year’s sunflower competition.

Copies are available from St Breward Stores at only £1. We look forward to seeing the next edition of the magazine when these difficult times are over. Keep safe everyone!

The theme of this month’s Council newsletter is ‘Keeping in Touch’  and contains links to various organisations offering help to people and also various tips and advice.

Cornwall Council hopes you are all keeping safe and well in  these unprecedented times. Please keep in touch and let them know if there’s anything they can help with. To view the newsletter, please click here.

Holiday accommodation during Easter

Cornwall Council’s Enforcement team has been calling on holiday accommodation providers, including letting agents and online booking platforms, to support the COVID-19 response by following the Government’s closure orders.

Many caravan parks, hotels, campsites and holiday homes have shut their doors as a result of the Government ordering all non-essential businesses to stop operating and for everyone to stay at home and avoid unessential travel.There are a number of exemptions which allow some holiday accommodation businesses to remain open. For example, Carnmarth Hotel in Newquay has been providing a place to stay for people who have been in hospital, are able to be discharged, but are not ready to go home.

However, the Council has received complaints alleging that some holiday accommodation providers are still trading as normal and operating illegally. The Council is now writing to all holiday accommodation owners, letting agents and online booking platforms in Cornwall, who are not exempt to the COVID-19 orders, to ask for their co-operation in complying with the orders and help protect the health of our population, NHS and other critical services at this time.

If you believe that holiday accommodation in your area might not be complying with the new regulations, please contact businessadvice@cornwall.gov.uk

Holiday businesses that need advice or information about COVID-19 cancellations and obligations can contact the Cornwall Council Business Advice Hub at businessadvice@cornwall.gov.uk.

Temporary change to publicity on planning applications during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cornwall Council will continue to send Neighbour Notifications for planning applications, but will not be displaying a Site Notice except for the following: applications for development affecting a Public Right of Way; development representing a departure from the Development Plan or applications for EIA development accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

Temporary changes in planning enforcement

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council will not be fully investigating:

• Breaches of planning conditions relating to delivery times to essential businesses
• Changes of use of cafes and restaurants to takeaways
• Householder development (unless the person reporting demonstrates significant harm)
• Breaches of construction traffic management plans (unless the person reporting demonstrates significant harm)
• Adverts

There will also be ongoing enforcement matters that may have to be tolerated for temporary period during the lockdown while employees are unable to travel.

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse and sexual violence doesn’t stop during lockdown. Please watch and share this video from Safer Cornwall. Five minutes of your time could help someone experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence to access the safety and support they desperately need. There’s more support for those living with domestic abuse during the COVID-19 outbreak on the Safer Cornwall website and the Safer Futures website. You can also ring Safer Futures on 0300 777 4777 or Cornwall Refuge Trust’s 24Hr Helpline on 01872 225629.

If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harm, please call the police now on 999.

Retired or former social workers needed to support Cornwall’s most vulnerable people

The Council is asking for anyone living in Cornwall who has experience of working in social services – including retired social workers or those who have recently left the profession – to help maintain the support provided to vulnerable families, children and adults through the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you know a former or retired social worker who might be interested, they can register their interest via email at HRdeployment@cornwall.gov.uk. Cornwall Council will then contact them to gain further details of their qualifications and skill set.

Caring

Over 200 people have already applied to help support vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis with basic training already given to 35 volunteers. If you know anyone who would be interested, they should visit the Proud to Care Cornwall website and apply as soon as possible. Anyone wanting to help only in a volunteer capacity should visit the Volunteer Cornwall website.

Libraries

All of Cornwall’s libraries are now closed and mobile libraries are off the road. But there is still a wealth of good reading available online, and residents of Cornwall can become a member and start borrowing electronically online.
Cornwall Library Members can access eBooks, Audiobooks, newspapers and magazines, comics and eGraphic novels. Please share details of the online library offer with people in your area.

Business grant support

Cornwall Council has sent letters about business grant support to businesses. Business owners need to complete a simple online form for the Council to be able to pay the grant. The quicker they provide this information, the sooner the Council can pay the grant.
If an owner can’t access their business premises or hadn’t received a letter by Friday 3 April, then they should contact the Council on 0300 1234 171.

Business rates support

There are two types of reliefs available to businesses.
The first is the extension of the Expanded Retail Discount Relief, which means that those businesses categorised as retail, leisure or hospitality will have their zero rate relief extended to cover 2020/21. This will happen automatically and rate payers will be re-billed.

The second set of reliefs is through the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. Those in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief will receive a grant of £10,000. Those in receipt of Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief will receive a grant of £10,000 (for those with Rateable Value up to £15,000) or £25,000 (for those with a Rateable Value of between £15,000 and £51,000).

Cornwall Council has written to all businesses that, according to its records, might qualify for a grant fund payment. Business owners who have not received a letter by 6 April and think they should qualify should contact the Council on 0300 1234 171.

There’s more information about business rates support on the Support for business page on Cornwall Council’s website.

Carers needed

People who need care and support in Cornwall are calling on everyone who can, to urgently step up and apply for a role in Cornwall’s care sector as Cornwall faces an unprecedented demand for care and support during the coronavirus emergency.

Cornwall Adult Health & Social Care, with providers, has developed a comprehensive induction programme to ensure that all those who are recruited have the essential skills and knowledge required for the role and there are plenty of opportunities for this to become a permanent role in the future.

Anyone who wants to help should visit the Proud to Care Cornwall website and apply as soon as possible. Anyone wanting to help only in a volunteer capacity should visit the Volunteer Cornwall website.

Car parks

Currently Cornwall Council is removing all charges at Council car parks until the end of April to ensure essential workers are able to travel as required. This will then be reviewed monthly.

Registration of births, deaths and marriages

From Monday 30 March deaths must be registered by phone: none of Cornwall’s Register Offices will be open except for pre-booked appointments to register a death. People will be able to make a request to register a death through an on-line form on the Cornwall Council website or by phoning 0300 1234 181, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6:00pm. The Council will contact the customer only when all necessary paperwork has been received – there may be some understandable delays with the medical profession.

All other Register Office services are suspended until further notice.
The Council is contacting marriage/civil partnership couples who have booked with it to discuss their options, but with over 3,000 bookings there is a backlog. The Council is not taking any new bookings for marriages or Civil Partnerships until it has re-scheduled the displaced bookings. Please email Cornwall Council on ceremonies@cornwall.gov.uk but there is likely to be a delay in the response.

Birth registrations are suspended for the time being. People who are not able to register the birth of their child because of coronavirus (COVID-19) can still make a claim to receive child benefit.

Council tax support

Due to additional Government funding, an extra £150 will be received by those of working age already receiving Council Tax Support: this will be automatic and reduced Council tax bills will soon arrive. This will take a little time to sort out so anyone in difficulties in the mean time should contact Cornwall Council to discuss their circumstances.

Exercise advice

The latest Government advice on travelling to exercise is:

• Stay local and use open spaces near to your home where possible – do not drive unnecessarily.
• You should go outside either alone or with members of your own household.
• Keep at least two metres apart from anyone outside your household at all times.
• Gatherings of more than two in public spaces have been banned and the police will enforce this.
• If you have a garden, make use of the space for exercise and fresh air.
• Take hygiene precautions when you are outside, and wash your hands as soon as you are back indoors.

Footpaths, bridleways and byways remain open for the public to use to get to work, medical appointments or as part of their daily exercise routine. Cornwall Council has had a small number of requests to close public rights of way which are located near to people who are self-isolating. The Council has no legal powers to do this, and there are no plans to do so.

New COVID-19 WhatsApp information service

The Government has launched a Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp. The free service is an automated ‘chatbot’ that will allow people to get answers to the most common questions about COVID-19 directly from Government. It aims to further reduce the burden on NHS services, including 111, combat the spread of the virus and ensure people stay at home and save lives. It’s as easy as sending a message ‘hi’ to the dedicated number on WhatsApp. More information can be found on the Government website.

Sadly, but in line with Government instructions due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the Parish Council has closed the village Play Area and also the Public Toilet until further notice.