WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL
THE MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING AND AN ORDINARY MEETING OF WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE PAVILION, SPARROWS GREEN RECREATION GROUND, ON THURSDAY 14 MAY 2009 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Bell, Berger, Mrs Colvin, Doyle, Miss Gadd, Miss Gates, Kent, Mamlok, Mrs Monaghan, Mrs Pearman, Phipson, Price, Standley, Miss Whatmore and Wheeler.
Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy, PCSO Bennett and 2 members of the public.

1.            ANNUAL MEETING
1.1          To Elect a Chairman
Resolved to elect Cllr. Doyle as Chairman of the Council. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office was signed.
Cllr. Doyle thanked Cllr. Price for his work as Chairman during the last three years.

1.2          To Elect a Vice-Chairman
Cllrs. Miss Gates and Mrs Pearman were proposed and seconded. Following a request by members, voting was by signed ballot and Cllr. Mrs Pearman was elected as Vice-Chairman. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office was signed.

1.3          To Elect Committees and Chairmen
Resolved to elect committees and chairmen as follows:

1.4          To Elect Council Representatives
Resolved to elect council representatives as follows:

2.            TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
None.

3.            DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
None.

4.            POLICE REPORT
PCSO Bennet reported on her activities in the last month which have included issuing parking tickets, undertaking speed monitoring and giving talks at schools. Street meetings have been held to find out local issues and encourage residents to report problems. The Police are working with a landowner in Tapsells Lane to clear a youth camp which has been built close to an electrical supply.

The request from the parish council for speed monitoring at Cousley Wood early in the morning has been noted; the site is to be assessed for suitability as a speed monitoring location.

5.            PUBLIC FORUM
Report from representatives of the Wadhurst Warriors on plans to hold a village bonfire night celebration 7th November. A small event was held last year which attracted over 500 people; it is hoped to extend the event and increase numbers to 1000 by advance planning, increased advertising and involving many local groups and societies. The intention is to retain sufficient funds from any profit to cover expenses for the next bonfire event.

The parish council was asked to support the event by providing a grant towards capital expenditure.

6.            TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MEETING 9.04.09 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the Minutes of the meeting held 9.04.09 as a true record.

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

8.            TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS.
County Council
County Cllr. Tidy reported that ESCC has adopted a Climate Change Strategy and will be working with districts and boroughs on this important issue. New methods of heating council buildings are being considered; Beacon Community College in Crowborough is heated by locally grown wood.

Advice and funds are available for small businesses affected by the recession.

Sussex Police has formalised a Policing Pledge which sets out targets for customer service.

District Council
District Cllr. Standley reported on the following items:

• The public consultation on the Local Development Framework is expected to commence at the end of May.
• The Secretary of State has confirmed the target of 11,000 new homes for Wealden by 2026, as set out in the South East Plan.
• A recent inspection by the Audit Commission rated Wealden District Council as excellent.
• WDC is to consider asking central government to commission an up-to-date report on the health implications from mobile phone masts.
• Wealden Small Grants Programme is open; deadline for applications is 12th June with a requirement for funds to be spent by March 2010.

9.            CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING.
9.1          To finalise arrangements for Annual Parish Meeting 27.05.09
Proposed arrangements for the parish meeting reviewed and agreed. Cllrs. to distribute flyers on Saturday 23.05 advertising the parish meeting.

9.2          To approve arrangements for producing Annual Report
Draft annual report is being prepared in consultation with committee chairmen and will be reviewed at the next meeting.

Correspondence was reviewed and noted.

10.          HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND LIGHTING MATTERS
10.1        To adopt Minutes of Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee Meeting 17.04.09 and approve  recommendations
Resolved to adopt Minutes of Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee meeting 17.04.09.

10.2        To ratify EDF electrical connection to street light column 16 (Washwell Lane/High Street junction)
Resolved to ratify expenditure of £1219 + VAT for a new EDF connection to street light column 16.

Other highways, transport and lighting matters
Cllr. Mrs Monaghan advised that the agreement for highway work at Styles Lane has been finalised and the agreement for improvements at the junction of Washwell Lane/High Street is ready for signature. A plan of the improvements has been requested from ESCC.

11.          PLANNING MATTERS

11.1        To adopt Minutes of Planning Committee meetings 18.04 and 9.05.

Resolved to adopt Minutes of Planning Committee meetings held 18.04 and 9.05.

11.2        To review Report on Bewl Water application
Report on the outcome of the licence application for Bewl Water was reviewed and noted. A number of conditions have been attached to the licence to control and monitor events. The applicant has agreed to meet representatives from Wadhurst, Ticehurst and Lamberhurst Parish Councils twice a year.

Cllr. Price to be Wadhurst Parish Council’s representative on the Bewl Water working party alongside representatives from Lamberhurst and Ticehurst Parish Councils.

There have been reports of people being charged to walk at the Bewl Water site. ESCC Rights of Way advise that the footpath is granted under licence which the owner can withdraw. The Sussex Border path follows the lanes and is outside the Bewl Water site.

12.          RECREATION GROUND MATTERS
WDC has recommended approval of the Play Pathfinder grant application for play equipment at the recreation ground; this has been passed to the next stage for agreement.

Improvements to the main car park have resulted in the creation of additional parking spaces.

13.          ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
13.1        To adopt Environment Committee Minutes 23.04.09 and approve recommendations
Resolved to adopt the Environment Committee Minutes 23.04.09.

Other environment matters
The new litter bins have been installed in the High Street.
The hanging baskets have been removed for summer planting.
A few complaints have been received about grass cutting on the Cousley Wood Road and Courthope Avenue.
Many areas have been passed back to the principal authorities following a review of the parish council’s grass cutting schedule. The Environment Committee will continue to monitor the situation.

14.          FINANCE
14.1        To consider grant application by Wadhurst Warriors Fundraisers for village bonfire event
The proposal for establishing an annual village bonfire event was supported. It was acknowledged that the application was outside the timescale of the Grants Policy.

Resolved to grant the Wadhurst Warriors £350 as a one-off capital contribution towards costs for the bonfire event; payment to be made under LGA 1972 s144 (a).

14.2        To approve Section 1 and 2 of the Annual Return 2008/09
Resolved to approve Sections 1 and 2 of the Annual Return 2008/09.

14.3        To approve accounts payable

Resolved to approve accounts for payment as listed in appendix A [not attached].

15.          TO REVIEW AND ADOPT REVISED STANDING ORDERS AND COMMITTEE REMITS/AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Resolved to adopt the revised Standing Orders and Committee Remits/Areas of Responsibilities.

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 21:28