townclerk

Cornwall Council Message on the Ukraine Crisis and how to help

Poster with information on how to help during the Ukraine crisis

Cornwall like all other areas of the UK continues to be shocked and saddened by the harrowing stories of the war in Ukraine. Many of our residents have already provided practical support through the various national charities. Many of you, I know, will be receiving calls from residents asking how they can help the people of Ukraine and asking for further details of the schemes that are being set up by government to support those fleeing the conflict.

Following calls with government officials today, I wanted to give you an update on the schemes and reassure you that Cornwall Council will work proactively with government to see how we can best provide support for the people of the Ukraine and support the government’s initiative to offer hospitality to refugees, given the harrowing situation they are facing.

Whilst details are now emerging about the schemes that are being put in place, given the complexity of the situation and the fact that this is a fast moving situation, we will keep you updated in the coming weeks as we receive more details from government. We will also be providing regular updates on the Council’s dedicated webpage: Support for the people of Ukraine – Cornwall Council, and you may wish to share the attached list of charity contact details.

Homes for Ukraine can be found here: Homes for Ukraine – Homes for Ukraine – Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine (campaign.gov.uk)

This scheme will open on Friday 18 March for visa applications from Ukrainians and immediate family members who already have named people willing to sponsor them. They do not need a family tie to take part in this scheme, but they must be sponsored by an individual or organisation in the UK.

So far more that 130,000 people across the country have registered for more information in the few short days since opening, which is brilliant news. You can record your interest as an individual or as an organisation (for example charity, business, community group). You can read details and FAQs first before recording your offer of support, and, once registered, you will be regularly updated as the scheme opens and develops. Some frequently asked questions are:

Who can apply to host a Ukrainian refugee?

People in the UK will be able to apply to host a refugee or refugees through the government website (homes for Ukraine) – link above.

You have to be able to host them in your own home or in another property, for at least six months.

Charities, businesses and community groups will also be able to apply.

Those offering to host a refugee will be vetted by the government and Ukrainian applicants will also undergo security checks before they are matched with a host.

The government says there will be no cap or upper limit on the number of Ukrainians who can come under this scheme.

Do you have to know the refugee you want to host?

No, you will not be required to know them in advance.

You don’t have to name an individual or a family you want to host when you fill in the form. Once you submit it, you will be matched with Ukrainians who are seeking refugee in the UK.

It is not yet clear how and where the refugees wanting to come to the UK will be able to apply.

How will the scheme be funded?

Households in the UK will be offered £350 a month to open their homes to refugees.

The government has so far not specified whether this is the amount offered to hosts per refugee, but it is implied that this funding is per home offered.

Local authorities will also receive £10,500 in extra funding per refugee for support services, with more for children of school age.

What rights will the refugees have?

Ukrainians welcomed under the scheme will be eligible to work, access state benefits and public services for three years.

Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Morrisons are among UK retailers who have offered to employ Ukrainian refugees.

The government has also said it will look at options to provide support to Ukrainian nationals who want to come to the UK with their pets.

Safeguarding

All accommodation offered will be subject to the relevant safeguarding checks and will be carried out at a local level on a case by case basis.

The Ukraine Family Scheme Visa application process can be found here: Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Ukraine Family Scheme opened from 4 March, allowing applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK. It is free to apply and so far, approximately 5500 visas have been granted. Successful applicants will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds. To apply to the Ukraine Family Scheme people must:

  • be applying to join or accompany their UK-based family member; and
  • be Ukrainian or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme; and
  • have been residing in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022 (including those who have now left Ukraine
  • There is a 24/7 free helpline +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 if you’re in the UK). If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, please use +44 (0)175 390 7510.

As Members and trusted leaders in your communities, you can help by sharing this information as widely as possible, and asking people who want to help to register their interest in Homes for Ukraine in the first instance, so that we can ensure that we are able to provide help to those in need as efficiently and effectively as possible. The Council will continue to liaise closely with Government to understand the number of residents interested in taking part in the scheme. We will not be keeping a separate data base of people offering accommodation and all offers should in the first instance be made through the government’s website.

Kind regards

Linda
Cllr Linda Taylor (she/her)
Leader of the Council
Cornwall Councillor for the St Ives East, Lelant and Carbis Bay Division
www.cornwall.gov.uk | ‘Onen hag oll’
County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY

Notice of Vacancy in Office of Councillor

ST JUST TOWN COUNCIL
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
pursuant to Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 that due to the resignation of
Howard Charman, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the above Town Council.
If by 1 April, 2022 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday
and Bank Holidays, after the date of this notice) a request for an election to fill said vacancy is
made in writing (by hand or post) to the Returning Officer at the address below by TEN electors
for the said Town, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy, otherwise the vacancy will be
filled by co-option.
If an election is called, it will take place not later than 10 June, 2022.
Dated 14 March, 2022
Kate Kennally
Returning Officer
Electoral Services
3rd Floor, South Wing
County Hall
Treyew Road
Truro
TR1 3AY

The Commercial Sited Defibrillator in St Just

The Commercial sited Defibrillator has had the Pads replaced. The battery due to be replaced in May 22 has also been replaced early.

The defibrillator was used in March 22 and the defibrillator record has been updated with South West Ambulance Service. The record for the defibrillator listed below now shows that it is now again available.

Commercial Hotel
Market Square
St Just
TR19 7HE

Situated on the outside wall of The Commercial Hotel, Market Square, St Just, TR19 7HE

The defibrillator was used, and the council have replaced the battery and pads and other consumable and was back working on 15 March 2022.

Cornwall Council advice on cost of living increases

As the cost of living increases nationally, Cornwall Council has pulled together information about the wide range of help and support available to residents.

The ‘I’m worried about money’ webpage on the Council’s website includes information and links to support provided through the authority and its partner organisations.

This spans everything from debt advice and job-seeking to emergency food provision, council tax discounts and crisis grants for people who suddenly find themselves struggling.

This can all be accessed on the council’s website at www.cornwall.gov.uk/moneyworries

Cllr Dr Andy Virr, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health, said:

“Times are already tough, but they are going to get even tougher as our household bills rise significantly this year. I want people to know that they are not alone and there is a wealth of support available from many different groups and organisations.

“I would urge people to check out our ‘I’m worried about money’ webpage to find out what help they can receive and how to access it. Alternatively, they can call 0300 123 1118.”

Some of the key help and support includes:

Cllr Richard Pears, Portfolio Holder for Customers, said:

“We are committed to helping anyone who finds themselves in financial hardship and when we identify those in need, we always look at a range of different options to help them both now and in the future. This might include referrals to employment programmes, adult education courses, skills-based training, debt management and housing support, for example.

“If you’re struggling, please get in touch or use our webpage to find out what support is available to you.”

People are also reminded that there is a wealth of support available for anyone struggling with their mental health. Visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/mentalhealth for more information.

If you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health call the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 24/7 NHS mental health response line on 0800 038 5300. It’s free to access by anyone, any age, any time, day or night.

Contact details

Steve Creswell
Communications Specialist (Public Health)
Strategy and Engagement
Cornwall Council
Tel: 07496 718982
steve.creswell@cornwall.gov.uk
Room 4S, New County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro TR1 3AY
www.cornwall.gov.uk

Risk of homelessness

The Town Council recognises that many of our residents are feeling anxious that they either are or could in the future be at risk of homelessness. We recognise there is a housing crisis with many local people being asked to leave their private rented homes through no fault evictions and then finding there is very little available that they can afford. Cornwall Housing, Shelter and Citizens Advice are all there to assist, links below.

All will advise tenants not to leave their rented home based on a notice from the landlord, unless they have somewhere suitable to go to. They should instead tell the landlord that as they have nowhere to move on to they have been advised to stay put until a court order is obtained, otherwise they will be regarded as having made themselves homeless and the Council will have no duty to assist.

Cornwall Housing Options Advice

Citizen’s Advice Housing Page

Shelter, bad housing and homelessness support

St Piran Parade St Just

The parade will take place on Friday 4th March leaving at 9.30am from St Just Primary School. The parade will comprise all the pupils from St Just and Pendeen Primary Schools, and the pre-school groups from Brambles and The Ark; plus some banner bearers and dignitaries such as the Mayor Sue James. The parade will process up Cape Cornwall Street to the Square, returning to the Plen an Gwary where everyone will sing Trelawny, and then we will depart. So it won’t take more than 30 minutes or so.

20’s Plenty

Logo for the 20mph speed limit campaign
  1. The Council supports 20’s Plenty for Cornwall’s aim for wide-area, default signed 20mph limits across Cornwall’s urban and village settlements.
  2. The Town Council is also considering requesting 20mph on residential streets and some other roads and in this parish, but would like to make sure it considers all residents needs including vulnerable road users on particular roads.
  3. The council would like to capture your written thoughts on which particular roads that need 20 miles signage by 28 February 22; by asking you to send them to the following St. Just Town Council email: info@stjust.org or by posting comments through the St just Library letter box address to the clerk.
  4. Background information is in the following link: Briefing to Town & Parish (PDF, 1MB)

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

St Just Town Council would like your ideas on how to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We have set aside some money from the budget, and welcome your ideas on how to best use it to celebrate and commemorate the occasion.

A few events have already been confirmed, and of course any one person, street or group may already be planning their own event or street party, which is great. We just want to let you know that we have reserved St Just Town Hall and the Plain-an-Gwarry for community use over the weekend. We can also book and fund other community venues on request and approval of the Town council. townclerk@stjust.org

Events confirmed so far:

A number of other suggestions have been made, and we would welcome your views on these:

  • Bunting in the streets
    (Thank you to Lafrowda for their bunting.)
  • A ceilidh and dancing from the St Just shindiggers.
    (Our usual ceilidh crew have a booking for Saturday 4th, so if there is community interest for a Saturday we’d have to look for an alternative band, or see if they would like to play on the Sunday after The Big Jubilee Lunch.)
  • Sports matches. Contact the Rugby Club, Football clubs and Cricket Club to see if they would like to put on a Jubilee match.
  • Planting 70 trees to commemorate 70 years.
    (Ideas for a location for this, please.)

Please do offer any more suggestions in writing. We can update the list and give the community time to comment on them before our Town Council meeting on the 28th February. Community groups, are need to apply for a Jubilee grant though the Town Council Community Grant system (forms are on this website) by 25th April to townclerk@stjust.org, and/then they can also present their application (if they wish) at 19:15 at any Ordinary Town Council meeting on that evening.

We look forward to hearing from you.

St Just Town Vitality Project

The new deadline has now been extended to 15 March 2022

St Just Town Council and Cornwall Council would like to appoint an appropriately qualified firm of consultants to work with The St Just Town Vitality Project Steering Group to prepare a Vision and Implementation Plan for the future of St Just Town Centre. Utilising the collective local knowledge and previous studies and reports, along with the consultant team’s expertise, a St Just Town Centre Vision and Implementation Plan document should be prepared; bringing together a holistic vision for the town centre, which reflects its unique characteristics and ambitions and provides practical recommendations to address issues identified over many years.

Below are links to PDFs for the St Just Parish Plan 2021 to 2030 and St Just Town Centre Vision – Brief:

St Just Town Centre Commissioning Brief (2) (PDF, 163KB)

Respondents are asked to send applications to info@stjust.org marked for the attention of Cas Leo, Town Clerk.

Deadline has now been extended to 15 March 2022

Result of Neighbourhood Plan Referendum

I attach the result of yesterday’s referendum. Please can you add this to your town council website.

The notice will also be published on the Neighbourhood Plan Referendum results page of the Cornwall Council website (links through to the Cornwall Council website).

Kind regards

John Simmons | Senior Electoral Officer, Electoral Services
Cornwall Council | Assurance | Customer and Support Services Directorate
john.simmons@cornwall.gov.uk | Internal: 441533 | External: 01579 341533

Declaration of Result of Poll – St Just NPR (PDF, 138KB)