1.            TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None.

2.            TO APPROVE MINUTES 5.11.09
Resolved to approve Minutes of the meeting held 5.11.09 as a true record.

Matters arising from previous Minutes for updating or noting
Results are awaited from the public consultation on a pedestrian crossing in the High Street; over 400 questionnaires were distributed.

3.            PUBLIC FORUM
None.

4.            TO CONSIDER SCHEDULE OF REPAIR WORK FOR FINGERPOSTS AND APPROVE EXPENDITURE
Quotation of £ 5132.50 + VAT received from JAKK for fingerpost maintenance consisting of 5 new posts and repairs to 9 other posts. JAKK is approved by ESCC for working on the highway. In view of the specialist work and ESCC insurance requirement, a comparative quotation cannot be obtained. Members considered the wooden fingerposts to be an important part of the rural heritage for the parish and it was resolved to accept the quotation of £5132.50 + VAT from JAKK; payment to be made under LGA 1972 S137.

5.            TO CONSIDER THE COUNTY COUNCIL’S APPROACH TO REQUESTS FROM RESIDENTS FOR HELP IN  KEEPING THE HIGHWAY SAFE DURING ICE/SNOW
During the recent heavy snow many requests were received for grit bins to be installed; initial enquiries were made to ESCC with the requests diverted to the parish council in accordance with current county council policy. This approach was taken up with Cllr. Matthew Lock, the county cllr. responsible for highways, as it was considered contrary to the duty of a highway authority under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 s111 to ensure ‘ so far as it reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice’. ESCC will review winter maintenance policies in the spring.

Cllr. Tidy has advised that it may be possible to install some additional grit bins in the parish. Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee will undertake a review of the existing grit bins in the parish and consider possible locations for additional bins to be put forward to ESCC for consideration.

It is expected that cuts will be made to the ESCC winter maintenance budget for the next few years.

Members considered that local farmers could be used to undertake snow clearance in their areas. There were also suggestions that the parish council arrange for pavement clearance in the High Street and purchase supplies of salt/grit; SALC has been contacted for advice.

6.            URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON  FUTURE AGENDA
The Wealden Walks project is progressing with an event proposed for the spring.
A street light was demolished at the junction of Washwell Lane/Townlands Road by a delivery lorry sliding on the ice. Contact has been made with the delivery company and insurance details obtained.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.30pm.