Minutes of Ticehurst Parish Council Meeting

The Council  met on Tuesday 5th May 2009 at 7.30 p.m. for the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council

AGENDA:

Present:  Cllrs.  Goodall, Maynard, Cook, Hastings, Rigby, Yeo, Semple, Seemann, Burley, Mitchell and Langdown.  D. Cllrs. Jenkins and Elliston and C. Cllr. Barnes in attendance.

80.0  Election of Chairman: Nomination slips had been circulated with the agenda. The District Councillors, collected and counted the votes and Cllr. Goodall was unanimously elected to the Chair for the 2009/2010 year.  She then signed her acceptance of office declaration.

81.0 Election of Vice Chairman:  Nomination slips had been circulated with the agenda. Again the District Councillors collected and counted the votes and Cllr. Maynard was unanimously elected as Vice-Chairman for 2009/2010 and duly signed his acceptance of office declaration.

Cllr. Hastings then left the meeting.

82.0 Apologies for absence: Apologies for absence were  noted in attendance register together with  the reasons for that absence.  Cllr.  Simmons and Cllr. Hastings.

83.0 Minutes of the meeting held on 7th April  2009:  - Proposed by  Cllr. Semple seconded by Cllr. Maynard as a true record of those proceedings and the Chairman then signed them as a correct record.

84.0 Co-option of new Councillor for Ticehurst Ward:  Mrs L Young and Mr J Hastings briefly addressed the Council about why they would like to contribute to the community.  A vote was taken, counted by the District Councillors and Mrs Young was then invited to join the Council table.  She signed her acceptance of office form, declaring her adherence to the Code of Conduct and was given the Declaration of Financial Interests form to complete.

85.0 Declarations of Interest: Cllr. Seemann declared an interest in Affordable Housing as a member of the Rother Homes Board.

86.0 Half an hour for Public Comment: 
Woodroffe Lodge A member of the public pointed out the waste of money and space keeping the Lodge  with only five residents and the four flats empty at the top of Springfields.  Cllr. Seemann repeating his interest in agenda point 85, explained that the imminent merger of Rother Homes with  Amicus Horizon had delayed the planning application for the demolition of the flats and their replacement with new homes for the current residents of Woodroffe Lodge.  A planning application is expected in May.  Cllr. Seemann undertook to look into this and report back at the next meeting.
The Bell – see item 93 on the agenda.

87.0 Election to Committees:  
Cllrs. were asked if they would like to change their Committee Membership and formal Committees were added for Traffic Calming and the Village Square:

As at 5th May 2009 - list here
Chairman is ex-officio to all committees

It was resolved that the Village Square Committee should meet at 10.00 am on 21st May at the Village Hall.
It was resolved that the Traffic Calming Committee should meet on 26th May at 7.00 p.m. – to sort through the traffic questionnaires filled in at or after the Annual Assembly.

88.0  Appendix of Outstanding Matters:

Topic	Update
Unpaid work orders and Parish Maintenance Gangs	Clerk has made contact with Lee Browning about litter collection around the lanes of the three Wards. The Clerk read out the list of works sent to the ESCC Maintenance Gang and it is hoped that there will be enough time for them to complete all of them.
Village Square	Village Square Group agreed to meet on 21st May at 10am at the Village Hall.
Annual Assembly	|Report on Assembly held on 27th April 2009. Cllr. Barnes congratulated the Council for having such a busy and well attended event and added that once again, it had the best Assembly in the area. Cllr. Mitchell and the Clerk were thanked for their work in setting up the evening.
Street Lights	Cllr. Langdown reported that she and the Clerk had had a meeting with the new maintenance team. They have suggested ways of lowering the amount of power used by automatically turning off the lights at midnight and them coming back on at 5.00 am in the winter only until day light. It was felt that this would be a good idea and that the new bulbs and units could be fitted as and when that column needed attention.
Enforcement Notice	Response by Parish Council – resolution needed.
Dog Litter Bins	Clerk to obtain quotations for bin collections
War Memorial Trust	Clerk requested to fill in forms to wind up the Charity – Cllr Cook to assist if needed.
Play Ground at Farthing Hill	Clerk to chase this with Downland Homes.
Planning Permission for Cardboard Bin	Clerk left message for Mr Searle RDC to see if it can stay within permitted rights rather than make an application.
Community Bus	Cllr. Yeo reported that the Bus service was well used – finances remain tight but balancing. New investment for a second hand bus is being negotiated and new trips are being looked into. The Chairman thanked her for her work in keeping the bus service vibrant in the villages.
Complaints Procedure	The Clerk tabled the NALC Complaints Procedure guidelines for adoption by the Council.
Affordable Housing	Landowner opposite Upper Platts has accepted an offer from Hastoe Housing – Clerk will inform them that Councillors would be available on 21st May after 11.30 am for a meeting. Will have implications for speed limits here – back to 30 mph and extension of tarmaced footpath.
Finger Post Stonegate	The Chair reported that ESCC had attended a meeting with Stonegate Court and the new post would soon be erected to replace the old one on the corner.

89.0 District Council Report:  Cllr. Jenkins congratulated the Chair and Vice Chair on their re-election to office and to Mrs Young for joining the Council.  He had tabled a report at the meeting – [not attached].

90.0 County Council Report: Cllr. Barnes apologised for not having produced a written report and commented about the issues raised with him at the Annual Assembly:
 a) Concerns about children being denied access to the multi-court. Cllr. Barnes suggested further communication with Rother might help the situation.  Cllr. Young suggested conducting a survey with users to ascertain their thoughts.
b) Hawkhurst Road in Flimwell – Cllr Barnes suggested that ESCC be chased about cleaning the Chevrons, cutting the hedges and the promised ‘advisory speed limit’ sign that had been promised in Nov. 2007.
c) Pot Holes – Cllr Barnes suggested sending in lists of particularly bad roads ( Ticehurst to Wardsbrook) to Brian Banks at ESCC.
d)  Wallcrouch – Cllr. Barnes suggested that the Council write to ESCC to back his request for a speed limit on this fast, but heavily populated piece of road.

91.0 Allotments:  Cllr. Maynard  reported that twenty new allotments had been created at Flimwell and that SE Water were installing a water supply earlier in the day.  Cllr. Mitchell had agreed to be the contact point for allotment holders here and that the fencing would be done soon.  He  added that there might be some grant monies available and this was being pursued.

92.0 Finance Report:  A list of cheques  for sanctioning were listed :  Proposed and seconded by A Cook and D Maynard.

Cheque	Amount	To whom	For:
2431	£225.00	RBS	Course on end of year accounts
2432	£500.00	Hedleys	Contribution to Bewl License fight
2433	£118.45	Hedleys	Copying papers
2443	£5732.75	Rota Rod	Drains at Recreation Ground (replacement cheque)
2435	£400.00	I Revenue	PAYE
2436	£150.00	Kendon	Allotments Flimwell
2438	£101.99	Printing at Cranbrook	Annual Assembly documents
2437	£9.99	Viking	Stationery – annual assembly
2439	£30.86	Stationery Exp	Stationery – laminating village maps
2440	£389.16	Viking	Stationery
2441	£ 40.00	RALC	Subscription
2442	£990.61	Direct Tech Services	Half year light maintenance
2444	£150.78	V Club	Reimbursement
2445	£15.00	R Mitchell	Allotment reimbursement

93.0 Planning Report: 
The Bell Hotel – Cllrs had met with Planning Consultant for the Bell about their preliminary ideas for the renovation works at the Bell.  It is currently expected that the Pub will be open in about a year’s time.
Planning Applications commented on at a meeting on 23rd April 2009:
Cross Lane House  -  RR/2009/747/P and 9/13/203/A – lifting of 106 and extension of the care home facility – recommendation for refusal.
Beatrice Drewe Trust – RR/2009/435/P – variation of condition – no comments submitted due to conflict of interest.
Walters Farm – RR/2009/615/P – Replacement of windows and extension – Recommendation for approval.
Inside House Ornaments – RR/2009/618/P – For poly tunnel – recommendation for approval.
Whiligh Corn Growers – RR/2009/635/A – Agricultural building – recommendation for approval.
Burnt Lodge House – RR/2009/671/L – Repairs and replacement windows – recommendation for approval.
Sanctuary Cottage – RR/2009/771/P – Proposed extension – Recommendation for approval.
16 Lower St. Mary’s – RR/2009/794/P – Proposed conservatory – Recommendation for approval.
Gibbs Reed Garage – RR/2009/861/A – Signage – Recommendation

94.0 Bewl Reservoir Applications: Details of the decision made by Wealden District Council on 23rd April 2009 were explained to the Council by Cllrs. Langdown and Cook who had attended the hearing.  A full report will be issued by Wealden Council in due course but it was felt that there were still pressing concerns and that any disturbance should be reported to the Environmental Health Dept. at Wealden Council – preferably in writing.  Cllrs. Rigby and Langdown,  and Mr Millar were asked to attend the proposed six monthly meetings with the applicants to discuss forthcoming events and put forward ideas that would lessen the impact on the area.

95.0 Traffic Calming:  The Traffic Calming Committee reported that they were very frustrated that they had still not received a brief from ESCC that could be sent out for tender.  At their next meeting – 26th May – they will collate the comments made at the Annual Assembly and submit them to ESCC who will use them to produce the required document.

96.0 Correspondence:  Tabled at the meeting

1	AIRS	Cllr Cook took the Village Hall brochure
2	Planning Inspectorate	Cllrs. were reminded of the Planning Appeal with regard to Warrens Coach Station on 12th May – Cllr. Maynard will speak on behalf of the Council and anyone else wishing to speak or show support should be there for the 10.00 am start in the Village Hall.

97.0  Auditors:  It was resolved that the Clerk should write to Kings appointing them as the internal auditors for 2008/09 – estimated cost £600 - £650.00.

98.0 Items for the June  Agenda: Cardboard Recycling and Woodroffe Lodge

99.0 The Bell Field:  (Confidential). No matters for discussion.

100.0  Date of the next meeting:
The  meeting closed at 9.03 pm and the next meeting was set for  2nd  June 2009