Minutes of Ticehurst Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 6th October 2009 at19:30
The Chairman invited the public present if they had any comments or questions, reminding them that they had a right to contribute during the first half an hour of proceedings:
Present:  Cllrs Goodall ©, Maynard, Burley, Mitchell, Rigby, Langdown, Yeo, Seemann, Young,  Cook, Semple and Hastings.
D. Cllrs Jenkins, Elliston and C. Cllr. Barnes in attendance.
1.  Clarification was provided with regard to letter about Sat Navs directing traffic down Acres Rise.  Clerk had asked ESCC to erect a sign to rectify the situation.
2.   Birchenwood Farm – The Council were informed that the footpath has been closed (at one end only) as a pile of apple boxes are leaning towards the path.  Cllr. Elliston reported that the owner of the land is probably bankrupt and that Rother were aware of the situation.
3.   John Poole informed the meeting that on 22nd October at 8.00pm there is to be a talk given by a serving soldier of the Prince of Wales Royal Regiment at the Village Hall, who has just returned from Afghanistan.  It is hoped that as many people as possible will come to listen to him.

AGENDA
162.0 Declarations of Interest: Cllr. Cook declared a personal interest as a neighbour of The Bell Field and Cllr. Seemann declared an interest on any affordable housing matters.

163.0 Apologies for absence:  All Cllrs. were present at the meeting.

165.0 Minutes of the meeting held on 1st September 2009:  - The minutes were considered to be a true record of those proceedings and proposed by Cllr. Cook and seconded by Cllr. Hastings and duly signed by the Chairman.

166.0 Additional Agenda Items:  It was resolved that the SALC and RALC notes produced by Cllr. Cook should be a regular feature on the agenda and attached to the minutes.

167.0  Delegation of Responsibilities: Cllr. Young  had circulated draft suggestions of a better way of delegating responsibilities to certain Councillors which would result in a fairer distribution of work.  Councillors could take on specific responsibilities and that would be advertised for members of the public to contact them about those particular issues.  Councillors thanked Cllr. Young for the time she put into formatting this draft and felt that it was a good basis to work from.  Cllr. Seemann offered to approach Amicus Horizon with a view to using ‘The Annex’ for a limited period each week for the Clerk to work there.  It was resolved that if it is possible to have use of the Annex, the Clerk would be there for four hours a week from January, and an assessment made after three months to ascertain if more hours are needed.  Cllrs. were asked to consider the draft document and send the Clerk a list of the responsibilities that they are willing to undertake.

168.0 Power of Well Being:  Cllr. Burley confirmed that he was in touch with SALC and would attend the next course.  Ten of the eleven Councillors needed have attended the Course and received the certification required.

169.0  Affordable Housing:  Clerk had circulated details of a meeting held with Rother District Council to discuss eligibility criteria for any exception site.  Cllr. Jenkins and Elliston had been at the meeting and confirmed that the notes reflected the discussion that took place.  It was important that Councillors – especially Planning Committee members - remain in an objective position so that they can comment when any plans are received.  It was agreed that the Housing Needs Survey had identified a real need for homes in Ticehurst of this type, and that the potential fourteen would only meet a proportion of the identified need (that being in excess of forty).  A re-draft of the criteria was received during the day but it was felt that  the terms were still too ambiguous to protect the houses for Ticehurst people.  It was felt that the land owner might be able to insist on a restrictive covenant as a means of protection.

170.0  Appendix of Outstanding Matters:

171.0 District Council Report:  Cllr. Jenkins, having contributed to various points on the agenda – did not have anything further to report to the meeting.

172.0 County Council Report: Cllr. Barnes brought the Community Transport Review to the attention of the Council.  He suggested that local Parishes should meet to discuss the implications for their particular areas.  It was resolved that the Transport Group should look into this matter and Cllr. Barnes offered to address them in full about this matter.

SALC – Cllr. Cook reported on the meeting she had attended and distributed a written summary – copy attached to the minutes.  She reported that she will be attending the RALC meeting on 7th October 2009 and will report back to the Council.  Clerk to provide Cllr. Seemann of RALC contact details.

173.0 Dog Bins:  There was much discussion about the possible siting of dog bins.  It was felt that they were necessary and that sites around the village need to identified as to where bins would be useful.  The junction of High Street and Cross Lane,  near the Primary School,  in Church Street and on the Recreation Ground had all been mentioned.  Cllr. Langdown confirmed that the management committee of the Beatrice Drewe Trust would consider their ruling about dogs on the recreation ground and that this would have implications for a dog bin – or not - and would report back to the December meeting. – Cllrs. to consider whether  there are points in Flimwell and Stonegate that would benefit  from the installation of dog bins – to go on the November agenda.  Wealden Council will supply  the bins (free) – emptying charges are £5.20 per bin, per week including replacement bag.

174.0 Roads:  Clerk reported that she had met with ESCC and Rother Homes about the broken kerbs in Springfields and about the two pieces of land within Springfields – the ditch and the hedge to try to identify responsibility for maintenance.  It is hoped that the responsible party will soon be identified to rectify the problems.  Cllr. Semple pointed out that the ditch was once again very dank and smelly.

175.0 Finance Report:   Bank reconciliation was signed by the Chairman as balancing and cheques were sanctioned for payment.  A half year ‘Actual against Precept’ was provided for consideration, most headings showing a fifty per cent expenditure.
Bank Mandates – decision required about who will sign – two or three to sign each cheque and the resolution should be reflected in the Council’s Standing Orders and Financial Regulations – It was resolved that this should be dealt with at the Financial Advisory Groups’ meeting as set below.
Date was set for the first Precept/Budget meeting (for 2010/11) on 23rd October 11.00 am

176.0 Planning Report:  Report on meeting held in September 2009.
RR/2008/3079/P Hillcrest Stonegate – approval for retention of greenhouse.
RR/2009/1937/P Freshfields Lower Platts – approval extension to ground and first floor
RR/2009/1988/L Ticehurst House -  approval for eastern elevation renovations
RR/2009/1992/L Ticehurst House – approval for re-roofing Grange with slates.
RR/2009/2097/L Ticehurst House – approval for refurbishment of summer houses.
RR/2009/2100/P Lyndhurst Berners Hill – approval for two storey side extension.
RR/2009/2118/P Gibbs Reed Cottage – refusal for extension as unbalanced the property.
RR/2009/2119/P Starvegoose House Flimwell – approval for dormer and conservation lights.
RR/2009/2147/P 1-4 Springfields – approval for re-development of the site to provide nine ground floor flats for the elderly.
Cllr. Maynard reported that to date the plans for the Bell have not been considered by Rother.
The next planning meeting is likely to be on Thursday 15th October at 6.00 p.m.

177.0 Vacancy for Stonegate Councillor:  Clerk reported that Cllr. Simmons has resigned from the Council.  The relevant notice of a vacancy has been posted and Rother District Council informed.  If there is no need for an election, co-option of a new Councillor could take place at the November Meeting.

178.0 Allotments:  Cllr. Maynard  reported that  venue for allotment provision in Stonegate had been confirmed –  A letter to ascertain interest within Stonegate was approved and the Clerk was instructed to provide the Chairman with copies for distribution in the centre of Stonegate

179.0 Traffic Calming:  Traffic Meeting  was held on Thursday 17th September 2009 – Report circulated to all Councillors.  Clerk confirmed that letter had been sent to Mr Chubb ESCC expressing dissatisfaction with lack of communication and copies sent to Cllr. J Barnes and G Barker MP.  Clerk informed meeting that she had met with a Traffic Consultant Moody International who will provide a quotation for a design brief on each of the traffic calming options that have been discussed over a number of years.

180.0 Correspondence: 

181.0 Village Notice Boards:  Positions and Sizes of the Three Boards:

182.0 Community Bus:  More Drivers needed – suggestions

183.0 Items for the November Agenda:    
Co-option of a Stonegate Councillor
Delegation of Responsibilities – Cllrs to send Clerk details of Groups they would like to serve on prior to the next meeting.
Dog Bins – Nominations of suggested sites to be sent to the Clerk.
Community Transport Review.
Report by Financial Advisory Committee
Traffic Calming – consideration of Consultants Report (to be confirmed)
Village Notice Boards – consideration of Quotations Received – suggestions about the positions of Boards to be sent to the Clerk.

184.0 The Bell Field:  (Confidential). There was no update for the Council.

185.0  Date of the next meeting: 3rd November  2009