Present: Cllrs. Mrs Monaghan (Chairman), Berger, Mrs Colvin, Doyle and Miss Whatmore.
No members of the public were present.

1.             To receive apologies for absence

Apology received from Cllr. Miss Gadd: reason noted and accepted.

2.             Public Forum
None.

3.             To determine matters arising from the previous Minutes for updating and noting
Kebab Van  – licence not required for operating between 5am – 11pm. It is noted that the kebab van is now parked permanently on site and is blocking the pavement; PC Etherington to be asked to review the obstruction.
Police traffic speed enforcement – 200 vehicles were checked near the primary school; three motorists will be receiving letters concerning their speed.

4.             Lighting
Report of a day burning light at Snape View.

To authorise lighting repairs
None.

5.             Report on changes to Post Bus
Meeting held with Don Benn of ESCC concerning the withdrawal of the daily post bus at the end of the year. The cost of providing a replacement service for two days a week is £9K; ESCC will provide half the funds if Wadhurst and Mayfield Parish Councils fund the remainder. Approximately 10 people use the service each day of which six are from Wadhurst and travel from Snape View to the village; it is recognised that many of these people are elderly and do not have any other form of transport. The Uplands minibus cannot be used for community transport due to insurance restrictions. SAP provide local travel for appointments to the surgery, hospital etc.
Discussion on providing a wider service linking facilities at the railway station and Crowborough. This may be difficult to set up and finance.
Resolved to pay £1250 to provide a replacement community transport service for six months; payment to be made under the Transport Act 1985 s 106 (a).

Don Benn was one of three speakers who attended a recent residents association meeting. A request from Cllr. Mrs Monaghan to attend the meeting was refused.

6.             To review spend against budget 2007/08 and consider budget 2008/09
Spend against budget reviewed for the current financial year. There will be an underspend in the budget as the VAS will be charged at £3000 for installation, with maintenance at £200pa. Discussion on the need to place funds in an earmarked reserve for future replacement of conservation lights in the High Street.

A budget of £7700 for highways and £17500 for lighting to be put forward to Finance Committee.

7.             Update on traffic and parking issues in Lower High Street
Cars continue to park on the pavement in the Lower High Street; PCSO Simmonds has issued some parking tickets.
A meeting is to be held with the Headteacher of Uplands and Chairman of Governors to discuss staff and student parking issues.

8.             To review practice of placing directional signs for housing developments on street lights and consider possible fees
Daniel Homes Ltd has advised that the yellow signs are to provide direction not advertisement. ESCC Highways to be consulted on the practice of displaying new housing development signs. Resolved to remove unauthorised signs from parish street lights and to write to developers of new sites advising that signs must not be placed on street lights.

9.             To consider action to remove graffiti on bus shelters
Information received from WDC on removal of graffiti and the services that can be provided by the Payback Team, WDC and Hailsham Town Council. JAKK refurbished the bus shelter opposite the station earlier this year; it has now suffered from graffiti. Resolved to instruct JAKK to paint over the graffiti on the bus shelter opposite the station and to apply a coat of anti-graffiti paint which will be supplied by the Parish Council, costs of up to £200 to be paid under  LG(MP)A 1953 s 4.

Other highway items
The path by The Walk is uneven due to tree roots.
Complaints received from wheelchair users about the uneven road surface at The Marlpit (ESCC will not carry out repairs as the road is unadopted).
Complaint that the grass needs cutting between Holmsdale Close and Humberts

The meeting closed at 20:35

Next meeting 6.12.07 19:00