WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT THE DAVID JAMES BUILDING, UPLANDS ON 10 APRIL 2007 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Price, (Chairman), Bell, Berger, Mrs Colvin, Doyle, Kent, Mrs Monaghan, Mrs Pearman, Phipson, Pickering, Standley, Thomas and Wheeler.
Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy and three members of the public.

1.             TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllrs. Mamlok and Miss Whatmore; reasons noted and accepted.

2.             DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
None.

3.             POLICE REPORT
None.

4.             PUBLIC FORUM
A petition against the turning off of some street lights after midnight was presented to the council.

5.             TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING 13.03.07 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held 13.03.07 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
ESCC is preparing for the forthcoming Comprehensive Performance Assessment and review of Children’s Services. The review will last 3 months and involve 21Government inspectors who will be consulting with ESCC employees and service users.

District Council
No committee meetings are being held in the period before the elections 3.05.07 with the exception of planning committees.
WDC has been rated a ‘good’ council by the Audit Commission and the Planning Section is now out of ‘standards’.

8.             CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING.
Update on Library Project
ESCC bid for new libraries at Wadhurst and Ringmer has been submitted to Government; the decision will be advised in September. There are 80 authorities bidding for £50m of funding.

Update on car parking proposal
Site meeting held with Daryll Luxford of the Fire Service on the possibility of creating a car park for 22 vehicles on land at the fire station; costs are not known. The aim is for a new car park to provide long term parking; this would require a review of parking arrangements at existing sites. Initial plans had included provision of affordable housing on a different area of the site; this is not something that is likely to be achieved in the medium term.
Comments included a request for WDC to be financially involved in the new parking scheme and for Uplands to increase parking provision on their site.

To review format for Annual Parish Meeting 30.05.07 and agree advertising
Resolved to approve expenditure for two large posters advertising the Annual Parish Meeting 30.05.07 and for small posters in shops; payment to be made under LGA 1972 s111.

The following items of correspondence were discussed:

1. Proposal to correct 3 errors on WW1 memorial tablet in the Parish Church by installing a further tablet. If correction is permitted by Church authorities then consideration should be given to adding names to war memorial.
2. Enquiry about boundaries at Round Oak Allotments.
3. WDC is considering request for TPO on trees at Wadhurst College.

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 receive Report and consider recommendations
ESCC reported that the squeeze on footpath no. 30a was removed as the wood was rotten at the base and failed health and safety requirements due to a protruding metal bolt; permission for removal was obtained from the land owner.

Cllr. Mrs Monaghan gave the following report on a recent ESCC transport seminar:

1. Village Maintenance Team has been funded for a further year for minor highways maintenance in parishes.
2. Review of speed limits and trial of 20mph limit in Lewes.
3. Presentation on National Driver Improvement courses aimed at improving the attitude and skill of problem drivers. Attendance at a course can be offered as an alternative to prosecution.
4. Fire and Rescue Service initiative to change driver behaviour in youths.
5. Presentation by Freight Transport on problems caused in county due to poor road network and use of satellite navigation.

To authorise lighting repairs
None.

Other Highways and Lighting issues
Some wooden bollards have been installed opposite station exit.
Street light in Snape View is not operational.

10.          PLANNING MATTERS
Report on Planning Committee meetings 17.03 and 31.03

Minutes of Planning Committee meetings held 17.03 and 31.03 reviewed and noted.

Update on affordable homes proposal
Plans awaited for the affordable homes development at Courthope Avenue; concern that any delay will impact on the tight timescale for development. The wind turbine and bio-fuel system have been removed to contain costs. £15K to be included for provision and maintenance of play equipment. Payment to WDC for access to the site over their land. Highways issues for Washwell Lane and the junction with the High Street continue to be of concern.

Other planning issues
Hardcore has been installed at the site of the unauthorised camper van in Monks Lane; WDC Enforcement is aware of this latest development. The legal section is preparing documentation for a court submission.

The kebab van is now parked permanently in the lay-by opposite the fire station; planning permission is required.

11.          RECREATION GROUND MATTERS
To review Report and consider recommendations
Junior football continues to be successful. The Recreation Ground Management Committee is to look at alterations to the referees room. A meeting has been held with the Tennis Club to consider possible changes in responsibilities.

Landscaping has been installed as agreed 13.03.07.

To consider maintenance items/improvements and authorise expenditure
None.

12.          ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
Health & Safety review of the Jardin d’Aubers
Health & safety assessment of Jardin d’Aubers undertaken 12.03.07. The border area behind the war memorial is becoming very overgrown and the new committee will need to consider addressing this issue.

Other environmental issues

1. report that a van at John Cook Butchers is hosed out and blood is left to puddle on the highway.
2. Smokefree legislation comes into force 1.07.07. An approach to be made to pub landlords to ask them to provide a suitable receptacle for cigarette ends outside their premises.
3. Report of an overgrown hedge obscuring the footpath between the church and allotments.

13.          FINANCE
To note final spend against budget 2006/07.
Final spend of £112544 reviewed against budget of £125350. The main discrepancies being a reduction of £6K in loan payments following capital repayment, an underspend of £6K on lighting repairs and not making a contribution towards Police transport costs.

Cllr. Pickering asked Cllrs. standing for re-election to budget more tightly and cut costs to achieve a reduction in council tax.
Discussion on cost of running recreation ground and the number of people who benefit from use of the site.

To approve End of Year Accounts 2006/07
Resolved to approve End of Year Accounts 2006/07.

To approve accounts payable

Payments authorised as follows:
Merriments Gardens agreed 13.03.07 item 11 under LG(MP)A 1976 s19.
ESCC (SID) agreed Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee 7.03.07 item 5 under Local Government & Rating Act 1997 s31.
ESCC (street lighting col 106) agreed Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee 26.10.06 item 7 under PCA 1957 s3.

14.          TO REVIEW STANDING ORDERS
Resolved to amend standing orders no. 29 and 30 to increase amount required for three weeks notice/estimates to £5000 and emergency work to £1000.

15.          PARISH PLAN
Parish Plan group working towards the public consultation 7.07.07.

16.          PERSONNEL – TO REVIEW STAFF SALARIES
Deferred to next meeting.

17.          URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON FUTURE AGENDA
Emergency services are holding an open day at the fire station 14.04.07 10:00 - 15:00.
Cllrs. Pickering and Thomas are not standing for re-election; Chairman thanked them for their efforts and service on the Parish Council.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21:10