WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL
THE MINUTES OF WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE DAVID JAMES BUILDING, UPLANDS ON TUESDAY 8 APRIL 2008 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Price (Chairman), Bell, Berger, Mrs Colvin, Doyle, Miss Gadd, Miss Gates, Kent, Mamlok,
Mrs Monaghan, Mrs Pearman, Phipson, Standley, Miss Whatmore and Wheeler.

Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy, District Cllr. Wells, PC Etherington, 17 members of the public and one member of the press.

1.             TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
None.

2.             DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
Cllr. Kent declared a personal interest in item 9 as a member of Wadhurst Tennis Club.

3.             POLICE REPORT
There has been an increase in criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in the district due to the lighter evenings; extra officers will be on duty at the weekends.
Recent crimes in Wadhurst include a burglary, the slashing of tyres in South View Road, spraying of a vehicle in Gloucester Place and the theft of a vehicle from the station.
A meeting is scheduled with Chairmen of Neighbourhood Watch to consider action for the coming 12 months.
Three telephone calls received from residents about doorstep traders following the introduction of the No Cold Calling Zone.

4.             PUBLIC FORUM
Representation received on the proposal for floodlighting two tennis courts at Sparrows Green.

Mr Miller of Wadhurst Tennis Club (WTC) spoke in favour of the application. WTC has 300 members, half of which are junior players. Report on the active tennis programme and how this has to be reduced in the Autumn/Winter due to the lack of daylight. Promising young players are being lost to other clubs which offer extended playing facilities. A survey of members identified that 87% would use floodlit courts. A petition supporting the efforts for more tennis has been signed by 400 people; 80% being non WTC members.
The proposal is an environmentally sensitive scheme; the lights will be hooded to reduce light spillage. The landscaping around the courts will mean that little of the lighted courts will be visible. 

Mr Warley spoke against the proposal on behalf of the residents. 130 households in the vicinity of the recreation ground are against the proposal for floodlighting. The planning permission for the development of the site included a condition against external lighting. The Parish Council’s Planning Committee objected to the previous proposal for floodlighting in 2005 and the application was refused by WDC. The proposed floodlighting should not be permitted as the site is outside the development boundary, in an AONB and on a ridge location 60 metres above sea level. The trees planted to provide screening are not evergreen and will provide little visual protection against the floodlighting in Winter. Manufacturers recommend that the netting used on the perimeter fence should be removed during the Winter. The colour of the netting is not considered suitable. Little regard has been given to the effects of lighting on wildlife. Residents concerned about loss of amenity due to the visibility of the floodlights, increased noise at the site and further traffic.

5.             TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MEETING 11.03.08 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the Minutes of the meeting held 11.03.08 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
New courts have been established at Eastbourne, Lewes and Hastings which will speed up the process of dealing with domestic violence.
The ESCC website has been rated excellent and achieved 4th position in a national review. Public use of the website as a means of communication has resulted in cost savings.
Brighton and Hove CC has agreed to join the archive centre project at Falmer and will be contributing £5.5m towards the £23m total cost.

District Council
Cllr. Wells gave the following report:

• WDC is considering options for extending kerbside recycling across the district. Landfill tax is expected to double in the next three years.
• Concern over concessionary bus charges and the current distribution scheme. Central Government is considering transferring the duty of concessionary bus fares from District to County Councils. Many vehicles have not yet been fitted with the equipment required for the new scheme.
• There is to be a consultation on street trading.
• The Corporate Plan for 2008-2011 has been approved for publication and can be viewed on the WDC website.
• Wealden Community Grants scheme will continue in 2008/09; there will be a ceiling of £5K for small grants.

8.             CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING.
To receive update on Parish Plan and agree expenditure
Two meetings have now been held with representatives of different sections of the community and a draft Parish Plan is being produced for consideration at the Annual Parish Meeting. Resolved to approve expenditure of £1000 for costs associated with the production of the Parish Plan; payment to be made under LGA 1972 s111.

To consider format for Annual Parish Meeting 28.05.08 and agree expenditure
The initial part of the meeting will be an informal gathering with committees displaying information on activities over the last year and Cllrs. answering questions from the public. The second half of the meeting will focus on the Parish Plan and the future of the parish.
Resolved to approve £200 for refreshments under LGA 1972 ss15 (5) and £130 + VAT for two advertising posters under LGA 1972 s111.

The following items of correspondence were discussed:

• Request from Wealden Standards Board to attend a Parish Council meeting and give a short presentation and show a training DVD.
• SALC Cllr. training scheduled for 17.07.08 in the evening at the pavilion.
• Apology from Millwood Designer Homes for installing yellow directional signs on street lights.
• Appeal allowed for telecommunications antennas at Chrome Tech. Planning Committee to consult with WDC on suitable materials for the fake chimney.

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

9.             TO REVIEW PROPOSAL FOR FLOODLIGHTING 2 TENNIS COURTS AT SPARROWS GREEN RECREATION GROUND
To consider response as a landlord and any conditions to be imposed
Full discussion on the proposal for floodlighting two tennis courts.
Cllrs. Mrs Monaghan and Wheeler requested voting by signed ballot under Standing Order no. 27.

The following proposal was rejected by 8 votes to 7:

To install floodlighting in accordance with the application subject to the following conditions:
1.     Wadhurst Tennis Club will be responsible for all costs associated with floodlighting now and in the future and will maintain the lighting equipment to a high standard, in particular ensuring public safety. 
2.     The electricity supply will be metered separately from that of the Pavilion and Wadhurst Tennis Club will be responsible for the cost of  the electricity used.
3.     The electricity supply to the lights will have a master switch which can be accessed by Wadhurst Parish Council at all times.
4.     Wadhurst Tennis Club will be responsible for maintaining screening and hedges to a level acceptable to the Parish Council: hedges should be managed so as eventually to provide a dense screen to the height of the current fencing; the screening attached to the tennis court fencing should be maintained. Before lights are used, the screening will be replaced with a dark green material.
Use of the Floodlights
5.     Play will stop at 8 pm from Monday to Friday and 7 pm Sat and Sun with floodlights switched off no more than 10 minutes later.
6.     The courts shall be lit independently and not be lit when not in use.
7.     Wadhurst Parish Council reserves the right to switch off the power supply to the floodlights at any time.  

To consider response to planning application WD/2008/0765/F
Resolved by a majority to oppose planning application WD/2008/0765/F.

10.          HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND LIGHTING MATTERS
To review Report from Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee
Highways, Transport and Lighting report reviewed. ESCC has been contacted about the pavement issues and resurfacing work near Pump Cottage. Temporary repairs are being carried out in the High Street pending resurfacing work due in the Summer. The cycle racks have been installed at the top of Washwell Lane. The results of the latest SID deployment have identified that some vehicles are travelling well in excess of the 30mph zone in the Lower High Street.

To authorise lighting repairs
None.

Other highways issues

• Pot holes in Newbury Lane.
• Car abandoned in car park at Bankside.
• Vehicles parking on the pavement outside Wood-B-Pine.

               
11.          PLANNING MATTERS

Report on Planning Committee meeting 29.03
Minutes of Planning Committee meeting held 29.03 reviewed and noted.

Other planning issues
Reply awaited from WDC on advertising control restrictions.
Possible changes to District Council Planning with the ability to set local planning fees and the abolition of the Planning Delivery Grant.
An alternative venue for Planning Committee meetings to be considered as the former social club is not considered suitable.

12.          RECREATION GROUND MATTERS
To review Recreation Ground Report and consider recommendations
Recreation Ground report reviewed.
Report of an unauthorised party held in the recreation ground. Security is being reviewed as part of the new caretaker duties.

13.          ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
To receive Report from Environment Committee
Some further clearance to be undertaken by Rotherfield Landscape this month.

Other environment issues
Chairman reported on a meeting with the Rotary Club and the Tree Warden to examine trees at the Jardin d’Aubers with a view to creating more space for the Scarecrow event in the Summer. There is some outstanding work with Bamford Fraser Tree Management Ltd and they have been asked to undertake the additional minor tree pruning whilst on site.

Hedge/undergrowth is encroaching onto pavement at Bellerbys and needs to be trimmed back.
Report of issues with the waste collection at Church Lane.

14.          FINANCE
To note final spend against budget 2007/08
The final spend + transfer to Reserves is within budget at £130254; a further £30K was spent as a capital repayment to the outstanding loan.

To approve End of Year Accounts 2007/08
Resolved to approve End of Year Accounts 2007/08.

To approve accounts payable

It was resolved to pay accounts for payment as listed in appendix A. [not included]

Payments authorised as follows:
East Sussex County Council (part night cells) authorised 7.03.07 under Parish Council Act 1957 s3.

Reconciliation at 31.03.08

15.          PERSONNEL
To approve appointment of caretaker for Sparrows Green Recreation Ground
Five applications were received for the position of caretaker. Increased security will form part of the revised duties. Resolved to offer the position to the preferred candidate to undertake the duties of Caretaker of the Sparrows Green Recreation Ground on the terms and conditions outlined in the report from the Personnel Committee ( LGA 1972 s112).

Criminal Records Bureau check to be undertaken.

16.          URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON FUTURE AGENDA
None.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.50 pm.