WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL
THE MINUTES OF WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE DAVID JAMES BUILDING, UPLANDS ON TUESDAY 11 MARCH 2008 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Standley (Vice-Chairman), Bell, Berger, Doyle, Miss Gadd, Miss Gates, Kent, Mamlok,
Mrs Monaghan, Mrs Pearman and Miss Whatmore.

Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy, two members of the public and one member of the press.

1.       TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllrs. Mrs Colvin, Phipson, Price and Wheeler.

2.       DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
Cllr. Miss Whatmore declared a personal interest in Planning Committee Minutes 23.02.08 as a neighbour of the proposed development at Washwell Lane/Townlands Road.

3.       POLICE REPORT
Concentrated Police presence outside Fire Station 28.02 checking vehicles.

4.       PUBLIC FORUM
Clarification sought on procedure for considering planning application for floodlighting at tennis courts. A dossier of information is being prepared by residents and will be sent to Cllrs. prior to the meeting.

Cllr. Mamlok stated that the application should be considered by the Planning Committee and not the full council. The Planning Committee would make recommendations on planning considerations and not as a landlord.
Trevor Scott, Monitoring Officer at WDC has confirmed that the council can comment on the application even though they own the site.
Discussion took place on how the expected planning application for floodlighting 2 of the tennis courts should be considered. A majority (9 to 2) voted for the Full Council to consider the matter at the meeting following receipt of the application by WDC. Cllr. Mamlok wished his vote against to be recorded.

5.       TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MEETING 12.02.08 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held 12.02.08 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
The Pride of Place document has been adopted by ESCC as a vision and framework until 2026. Districts and Boroughs will be looking to adopt their sections of the document.
ESCC has adopted a Climate Strategy to try and address the increasing issues associated with climate change. ESCC has been successful in introducing many efficiency measures; the nearest being a wood burning heating system at Beacon School.

ESCC is commissioning strategies on drug and alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is a particular issue in the county and puts additional pressure on health services and community safety.

District Council
WDC budget finalised at 4.2% increase. A low Government grant was received. Some savings have been made on overheads; increases include inflation, housing delivery, climate change, pension fund and concessionary bus fares. A meeting is to be held with a Government Minister to try and address the cost of concessionary fares.

WDC has been approached to take over street trading controls.
Work continues on the Local Development Framework.
The Eastbourne Triangle Partnership has been established with the aim of developing the area.

8.       CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING.
The launch of the No Cold Calling Zone is being held at the pavilion 13.03.08 7pm.
Parish Plan group has held an initial meeting and many interesting ideas were discussed including housing, sports, car parking and maximising the use of the open area behind the Commemoration Hall.
ESCC is to pay for a study to establish the work required to update the social club building.
Comment that tenants of The Institute may be taking over the entire first floor.
SALC training schedule forwarded to Cllrs. Trevor Leggo of SALC will also undertake training at individual parishes; enquiry to be made about possible dates.

The following items of correspondence were discussed:

1. complaint about increase in air traffic.
2. enforcement enquiry on work at Round Oak Allotments; there is a TPO on three mature Oaks on the boundary.
3. lights at Jonas Drive continue to be alight during the day.

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

9.       HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND LIGHTING MATTERS
To review Report from Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee
Wadhurst Division is included in the review of rural speed limits being undertaken in 2008/09. A new definition of a village has been approved and all settlements with a speed limit of 40mph or more have been tested against the new criteria. Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee to consider any additional locations for review.

To note revised schedule for highway maintenance in the High Street
Revised schedule received for closing the High Street for resurfacing. Provisional dates of 9/10 and 16/17 August have been marked in village diary.

Reconstruction of footway and kerb between Hillside Cottage and The Cottage has been delayed until 20.06.08. Proposal to install deeper conservation kerbs; Cllrs. concerned at the loss of traditional granite setts. It is not known if footway work includes widening the pavement.

To consider request for a 20mph limit outside Uplands Community College and Primary School
Request received from Uplands Community College and the Primary School for 20mph speed limits. Resolved to write to ESCC supporting a reduction in the speed limits to 20mph outside the schools.

Other highways issues
ESCC has confirmed that column 53 was replaced by column 161 when the bus stop was relocated at Greenman Farm.

10.    PLANNING MATTERS

Report on Planning Committee meetings 23.02 and 8.03

Minutes of Planning Committee meetings held 23.02 and 8.03 reviewed and noted. Application has been submitted for the mobile home at Leelands, Monks Lane.

To consider recommendation for planning application for floodlighting 2 tennis courts at Sparrows Green Recreation Ground and any conditions to be attached as landlord
Deferred as application has not yet been submitted.

Other planning issues
Nursery School at the cricket pavilion, Cousley Wood has been reported to Enforcement.
An additional road entrance has been created at Wayside, Lower High Street; matter to be referred to Enforcement.
Enquiry to be made on making George Street a Conservation Area.
There has been an increase in yellow signs for new housing developments. ESCC is making enquiries about licence provision. Parish Council has not given permission for signs to be installed on street lights; letter to be written to Millwood Homes asking for signs to be removed.

11.    RECREATION GROUND MATTERS
To review Recreation Ground Report and Minutes 21.02 and consider recommendations
Junior Football Club has submitted a two year plan and accounts; this will assist the review of the Agreement. Application is being finalised for a Lottery grant for improvements agreed 11.12.07 item 12.

Voelcker Field working party considers that an all weather pitch should be sited in the centre of the village, linking in with existing management and caretaking arrangements. Sports facilities are also being considered under the Parish Plan process.

To consider whether to continue payphone at pavilion
Existing payphone is broken; replacement will cost £260. Line charges are approximately £200 pa. The phone was installed as a league requirement for senior football. Enquiries to be made into providing a phone for emergency/999 use only.

12.    ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
To receive Report from Environment Committee
Hanging baskets have arrived and are being planted up by contractor ready for the summer. Additional maintenance work to be carried out in April at the Jardin d’Aubers by Rotherfield Landscapes as approved at the Environment Committee meeting 27.09.07.

To approve expenditure for tree work at the Jardin d’Aubers
Resolved to approve quotation of £550 + VAT from Bamford Fraser Tree Management Ltd for tree work at the Jardin d’Aubers.

To consider payment of £50 to support ESCC Tree Warden Scheme
Resolved to pay £50 towards costs for supporting the ESCC Tree Warden Scheme under LGA 1972 s137.

To receive verbal report from Cllr. Miss Gates on litter clearing activities
Report on litter clearance in the main car park and by the bus stop. Litter clearance volunteers are disappointed at the amount of litter that has accumulated again. Uplands to be approached about helping with clearance and advising students on litter issues.

13.    FINANCE
To approve payment of Chairman’s expenses
Resolved to pay expenses of £200 to the Chairman under LGA 1972 s 15(5).

To review Finance Committee minutes 28.02 and consider recommendations

Minutes of Finance Committee 28.02 reviewed.

Resolved to transfer £5000 to Reserves for tennis courts sinking fund and £1000 for churchyard provision. Further transfers of £2500 for recreation ground maintenance and £2500 conservation lighting to be made subject to there being capacity within the respective committee budgets.

Resolved to reappoint John Roberts as Internal Auditor.

Vacancy for caretaker has been advertised. There may be scope for one-off work within other committees.

To approve accounts payable

It was resolved to pay accounts for payment as listed in appendix A.

Reconciliation at 29.02.08

Balance B/F                       95531.77
Receipts                           137036.12
Payments                (134731.00)
97836.89

Current account                   4095.33
Reserve                              19220.96
Treasury Reserve             75000.00
98316.29
Less outstanding items      (479.40)
97836.89

Unpresented cheques
268      240.00
269     158.32
270       81.08

Payments authorised as follows:
Amberol Limited approved Environment Committee meeting 27.09.04 item 4 under LGA 1972 s144.
A M Baurer t/a JAKK approved Highways meeting 7.20.08 item 7 LGA 1972 s137.

14.    URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON FUTURE AGENDA
Comment from Open Event that a large proportion of budget is spent on administration. Suggestion that this figure is broken down into the relevant areas.
Request for committee chairman to provide text for the next newsletter.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21:08

APPENDIX A