WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT THE DAVID JAMES BUILDING, UPLANDS ON 13 MARCH 2007 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Standley (Vice-Chairman), Bell, Berger, Mrs Colvin, Doyle, Mamlok, Mrs Monaghan, Mrs Pearman, Phipson, Pickering, Miss Whatmore and Wheeler.
Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy.

1.             TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllrs. Kent, Price and Thomas; reasons noted and accepted.

2.             DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllr. Phipson declared an interest in item 16 as a governor of Uplands Community College.

3.             POLICE REPORT
Report from a recent WLAT meeting. There have been five Police visits to the social club and revised management procedures are being adhered to. Cars parked on the bend at Wadhurst Station have received parking tickets. There have been reports of vandalism in the High Street and graffiti continues to be an issue in the parish. PC Etherington is being trained in the use of a speed gun and will be carrying out some speed monitoring. PCSO Marc Simmonds has received an award for bravery for an incident in Crowborough.

To consider request for funding vehicle for Police Community Support Officer
Request from Police for a contribution towards the funding of transport for Police PCSOs. Unanimously agreed not to fund the PCSO transport.

4.             PUBLIC FORUM
None.

5.             TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING 13.02.07 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held 13.02.07 as a true record.

6.             TO DETERMINE MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES FOR UPDATING AND NOTING
None.

7.             TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS.
County Council
Meeting held with members of East Sussex Youth Parliament who have highlighted areas of concern as exam pressure, fear of safety and fear of bullying. Request for a common method of dealing with bullying across East Sussex schools.
A bio-fuel heating system has been installed at Beacon Community College.
Review of admissions to primary schools from 2008/09. All children to be offered full time provision in a reception class from the January following their fourth birthday.
Discussions on home/school transport arrangements. ESCC wish to abolish free transport arrangements unless families are in receipt of free school meals or other agreed benefits.

District Council
All district cllrs. must undertake planning training to support the changes in planning procedures.
The change management process continues to work towards all functions operating from the Hailsham site. Various locations in the district are being considered for suitability of hosting council meetings.
WDC has written to central Government urging them not to allow the proposed closure of rural post offices. There are 44 post offices in Wealden District, many also provide the only shop for a community.

8.             CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING.
Parish Council elections will be held 3 May. Nomination papers have been delayed and should be available from the Clerk by 16.03; papers must be returned direct to WDC by 4 April.

The following items of correspondence were discussed:

1. Reply from Mr Kay on issues raised following approval of application for entrance at Eilona.
2. Concern from a resident that Parish Council did not object to application for a new dwelling on land at Rathronan.

Remaining correspondence was dealt with during the course of the meeting and detailed on a separate list circulated to councillors.

Update on Library Project
A number of meetings have been held to consider the feasibility of a bid for new library facilities at Wadhurst and Ringmer; the bid is to be submitted by 31.03.07. The proposal for Wadhurst is to use the site of the social club to provide a library, meeting rooms and other flexible community space whilst still retaining a small social club area. The Library Service will not be able to fund an extension to the existing library opening hours; community support would be required for this function. If the bid is successful there will be an opportunity for the community to influence the design; a comment has been received that the bar area should be knocked down so the field is visible from the High Street.

9.             HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND LIGHTING MATTERS
Report on Committee Meeting 7.03.07 and agree recommendations
Report reviewed:

1. Almost half of the street lights will be fitted with half night cells.
2. The SID operator will be deployed twice a month during the next financial year.
3. WDC has agreed to pay for the installation of a cycle rack behind One-Stop.
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Insurance of Vehicle Activated Sign
Resolved to insure VAS as ‘all risks’ at a premium of £42.57.

To authorise lighting repairs
None.

Other Highways issues
Street light column 9 by the Methodist Church is still not functioning.
Kerb stones missing near the baker’s shop.
ESCC state that the broken metal strip in the pavement at St James’s Square near the surgery and the broken grid at the White Hart are not their responsibility; a site meeting to be requested.
Railway to be closed for one month in the summer.
Concern that gate was removed from footpath no. 30a following one complaint.

10.          PLANNING MATTERS

Report on Planning Committee meetings 17.02 and 3.03

Minutes of Planning Committee meetings held 17.02 and 3.03 reviewed and noted.

Update on affordable homes proposal
Planning application for affordable homes development at Courthope Avenue has not yet been received at WDC.
In view of the size of the development, the Housing Association will have to provide play equipment on site or give funds to the parish for additional equipment at the recreation ground. Using the National Playing Fields set formula, the amount to supply and install equipment is £6500 with a payment of £8770 to cover maintenance for 10 years. Agreed that negotiations with the Housing Authority should start at £15K.

Other planning issues
Report on the Planning Conference which covered the LDF, gypsy and traveller strategy, enforcement and delegation. There is to be a reduction in full and outline planning permission from five to three years. Building construction hours will not be included as a planning condition and any complaints will be addressed under Environmental Health legislation.

11.          RECREATION GROUND MATTERS
To review Recreation Ground Report and consider recommendations
Report reviewed. Landscaping work has started.

To approve expenditure for landscaping
Under the terms of the Agreement, £1708 + VAT remains for tennis related activities. The projected cost for landscaping is £2500 + VAT and approval is being sought for £3000 + VAT to cover any unforeseen costs. The balance of funds required over the £1708 + VAT being granted to the Parish Council by Wadhurst Tennis Club. Resolved to approve expenditure of up to £3000 + VAT on landscaping at the recreation ground; payment to be made under LG(MP)A 1976 s19.
Discussions with Wadhurst Tennis Club on possible change to the Agreement to alter maintenance responsibilities.

To consider maintenance items/improvements and authorise expenditure
Repairs to some external doors covered under emergency procedures.

12.          ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
Comment on the improved appearance of the village following the recent bulb planting.

13.          FINANCE
Report on Finance Committee meeting 1.03.07 and approve transfer to Reserves
It is anticipated that there will be £65K unallocated cash at the end of this financial year following changes in the budget. In view of possible expenditure for car park provision, the decision on a further repayment to the loan was deferred.
Transfers to Reserves of £5K for tennis courts surface renewal and £1K churchyard provision was approved.

To approve payment of WDC lottery registration for WORD
Resolved to pay £17.50 lottery registration to WDC to allow WORD to undertake funding raising for recreation development.

To approve accounts payable:

Payments authorised as follows:
Thorpe Building Limited approved Rec Ground Management meeting 25.01.07 item 11 under LG(MP)A 1976 s19.
Greenman Enterprises approved 13.06.06 item 14 under LGA 1972 s111.
A M Baurer T/A JAKK – fingerpost repairs approved 12.09.06 and 10.10.06 under LGA 1972 s137, bus shelter repair approved at Highways & Lighting meeting 26.10.06 under LG(MP)A 1953 s4.
S Barden approved Rec Ground Management meeting 10.08.06 item 12 under LG(MP)A 1976 s19.
TVR approved Rec Ground Management meeting 19.10.06 item 9 under LG(MP)A 1976 s19.
Bamford Tree Management Ltd approved 13.02.07 item 11 under LG(MP)A 1976 s19.

14.          QUALITY COUNCIL STATUS
To review progress
Quality Council submission has been delivered to Lewes.

15.          PARISH PLAN
To review progress and approve expenditure for public meeting 11.04.07
A meeting has been held with AIRS to discuss progress. Some further consultation is required with the use of suggestion boxes at key locations in the village. The ‘drop in’ consultation has been rescheduled for 7.07.07.

Resolved to approve expenditure of £500 for next stage of the Parish Plan; payment to be made under LGA 1972 s111.

16.          URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON FUTURE AGENDA
-               Comment that Wadhurst 1st Football Team has been disbanded.
-               Concern that computer screens are left on all evening at the library in Uplands.
-               Cllr. Miss Whatmore attended the AGM at St George’s Hall as the Parish Council representative.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21:45.