Ticehurst Parish Council

The Village Hall, Lower High Street, Ticehurst, East Sussex, TN5 7BB 01580 754 090

Minutes of Ticehurst Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 6 April  2010 at 7.30 p.m.

The first half an hour 7.30 – 8.00 p.m is reserved for public questions, thereafter the public  have a right and are welcome to stay and observe the rest of the meeting.  Fifteen members of the public were present:
Present:  Cllrs. Goodall (c), Maynard, Yeo, Cook, Semple, Seemann, Mitchell, Young, Cocking and Burley.

Points Raised:
Mr Poole congratulated the Council on achieving Quality Status which he had encouraged as a former Councillor.
He felt that the rise in the precept was unacceptable and that funds for new allotments should have been drawn from reserves.
Cllr. Burley reminded the meeting that a three year commitment of £24000 had been made to raise money for traffic calming measures and that at numerous traffic calming meetings the public had been asked if they would be prepared to see a rise in their local rates and the response had always been in the affirmative.  The 2011/12 precept should therefore see a reduction.  The main rise was due to expenditure to set up 46 new allotments, a statutory duty of the Council if the demand is there.
Mr Mummery asked for confirmation that Ticehurst has taken over 80% of all affordable housing in the Rother area in the last two years, this was confirmed by D. Cllr. Elliston.
D. Cllr. Jenkins stated that he felt that the Parish Council had given mixed messages about the exception site, quoting from a letter from Hastoe Housing (6.1.10) that the Council had backed their proposal – The Council have not been privy to such a letter (and asked for a copy). The Chairman pointed out that the Council voted against the proposal when it was put to the Planning Committee, reflecting public opinion.

AGENDA

306.0 Declarations of Interest: Cllr. Seemann declared a personal interest in ‘Affordable Housing’ matters as a member of the Amicus Horizon Board and Cllr. Cook a personal interest in the ‘Bell Field’, as a neighbour.

307.0 Apologies for absence:  Apologies were received from Cllrs. Rigby, Hastings and Langdown and the reasons for those absences were accepted and recorded in the register.

308.0 Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd March  2010:  - Proposed by Cllr Cook, seconded by Cllr. Semple and signed by the Chairman  as an accurate record of those proceedings.

309.0 Additional Agenda Items:  There were no such items.

310.0  Shared  Spaces:  Mr P Young reported that he is attempting to enlist the support of
ESCC and will write a short piece for News and Views to update the village about aspirations for the Village Square.

311.0   Annual Assembly:  Cllr. Mitchell reported that 16 tables have been booked for the Assembly.  Political candidates are welcome to attend the Meeting but there would be no speeches other than the introduction by the Chairman and the presentation of the ‘Quality Council’ award to the Chairman by The Right Honourable Earl of Lytton.
It was resolved to have a Parish Council table, with each Councillor manning it for 10-15 minutes, explaining how the Council is made up and the groups/committees that meet on a regular basis – it was hoped that additional expertise might be identified to co-opt on to Committees.

312.0  Quality Status: The Chairman reported that this was awarded to the Parish Council on 8th March 2010.

313.0  Standing Orders:  Clerk has ordered copies of new Standing Orders for all members.  A draft document will be ready for the next Council meeting for consideration.

314.0  Appendix of Outstanding Matters:

315.0 District Council Report:  D. Cllr. Elliston submitted a report to the Clerk for inclusion in the Annual Report.

316.0 County Council Report:  C. Cllr. Barnes submitted a report to the Clerk for inclusion in the Annual Report.
He added that any pot holes – should be reported to him by email – Church Street,  Rosemary Lane and Flimwell High Street were reported as being very bad and concerns were expressed as to the quality of the contractors’ workmanship as many holes are ‘blowing’ out very quickly after having been filled.  The Transport and Environment Committee are looking at measures for next winter to ensure that there is less damage to the roads, but Cllr. Barnes pointed out that they are not obliged to do pavements.
Contingency plans are in place at ESCC to provide the ‘link road’ if the Government do not as the whole area would be affected by more housing if it does not go ahead.

317.0 SALC and RALC Reports: No reports.

318.0 Dog Bins:  It was reported that two bins at Steelands and Stonegate have been moved but there is  complaint at Stonegate about the new position – it was resolved that the Clerk should have the bin moved half way back towards the old position and inform the complainant of the Council’s decision.

319.0 Finance Report:  Financial statement, together with list of cheques for sanctioning were circulated and agreed by the Council.

320.0 Planning Report:  Report on meetings held on 25th March 2010:
RR/2010/185/P – Improvements to rear service yard – recommended for approval.
RR/2010/259/P – S Steel flue at 1 Gibbs Reed Cotts – recommended for approval.
RR/2010/347/P – 3 Rosemary Lane – amendments to roof – Cllrs. Declared interest due to applicant being a colleague on the Council.
TT/2010/357/O 0 Boundary Farm – Recommendation for refusal in line with previous comments – felt that the proposal was unsustainable.

Clerk  reported on meeting held on 30th March at Town Hall Bexhill where RDC introduced  SHLAA an evidence based document that  has identified five sites in the Parish as suitable for development by 2026. (Banky Field,  rear of Hilbury Gardens, Upper Platts, Old Wardsdown and Corner Farm).  It was resolved that an up to date survey of parishioners opinions and needs should be conducted to justify opposition or agreement with the possible developments within the Parish.  Mr Martin – (market researcher) was commissioned to carry out a survey.

321.0 Playground Inspections:  It was resolved that monthly inspections (Clerk to provide a tick list for each ground) would be sufficient – Cllrs Mitchell, Young and Burley agreed to undertake this task for their respective Wards.

322.0 Annexe Update:  The Clerk reported that the Annexe so well used that it is sometimes difficult to do any work, and it was resolved to review this again in three months.

323.0 Allotments:  Cllr. Maynard reported on progress made at Flimwell and Stonegate allotment sites.  Flimwell now has 26 plots, with just half an allotment available and progress at Stonegate has been slow due to inclement weather – but 20 plots should be available soon.  The cost of setting up the Stonegate allotments will hopefully not be as expensive as the Flimwell ones.  He further reported that the Ticehurst allotments are full – bar one half plot that is still available. 

324.0 Traffic Calming: Designs and rough costings for gateways at eastern and western approaches to the village were tabled and whilst Councillors were keen to commission works, a request from the floor to have them on display at the Annual Assembly for comment, was felt to be a good idea.

325.0 Correspondence: 

326.0 Village Notice Boards:  Notice Boards are completed and need to be installed.
Positioning of the Flimwell and Stonegate Boards – resolution needed
Flimwell – Recreation Ground or by Bus Stop
Stonegate – current position?
Ticehurst Board to go outside the Annexe – permission has been sought from Amicus Horizon.

327.0 Items for the May Agenda:    Emergency Planning

328.0 The Bell Field:  (Confidential). The Council will move to exclude the press and public for this item on the agenda by reason of the confidential nature of the business, as stated in section 1 of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972.  The reason for the confidentiality is due to on- going litigation matters.

329.0  Date of the next meeting:  The meeting closed at 9.20 p.m. and the date of the next meeting set for 11th May   2010  the first Tuesday after the General Election.

Cllrs. were reminded of the ANNUAL ASSEMBLY 7 PM ON 28TH APRIL 2010 at 7.00pm