WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT THE DAVID JAMES BUILDING, UPLANDS ON TUESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2007 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Price (Chairman), Bell, Berger, Mrs Colvin, Doyle, Miss Gates, Miss Gadd, Kent, Mamlok,
Mrs Pearman, Standley and Wheeler.

Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy.

1.             TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllrs. Mrs Monaghan, Phipson and Miss Whatmore; reasons noted and accepted.
Apology received from District Cllr. Wells.

2.             DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
Cllr. Standley declared an interest in item 14 as a trustee of Wadhurst Institute Hall & Field.
Cllr. Mrs Colvin declared an interest in item 14 as an acquaintance of Mrs Brinton (September Arts).

3.             POLICE REPORT
Rotary Club has received a payment of £500 from the Police Property Act Fund towards the village Christmas event.
A meeting is scheduled for 21.11.07 with Louie Baxter of ESCC to discuss No Cold Calling Zones.

4.             PUBLIC FORUM
None.

5.             TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MEETING 9.10.07 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held 9.10.07 as a true record.

6.             TO DETERMINE MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES FOR UPDATING AND NOTING
Disturbance at Bankside – WDC has been notified following a report of overcrowding and violence at a council property.
Wadhurst Residents Association – Police Property Act grant of £500 has been given to the Residents Association. Concern that recent press article on postbus is misleading. Agreed council to be pro-active in advising press on council activities and achievements.

7.             TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS.
County Council
Disappointment that the Lottery bid for funding new libraries at Wadhurst and Ringmer has been unsuccessful.
The planning application for a waste disposal incinerator at Newhaven has been approved.
A Sustainable Community Strategy for East Sussex has been drawn up and will go out to consultation for 12 weeks commencing 20.11.07.
The Police Authority is looking to recruit an additional 100 special constables for East Sussex. PCSOs spend 42% of their time on patrol compared to 30% for regular police officers; the remainder of PCSO time is spent on paperwork, training, meetings and community involvement.

District Council
Report of routine matters at the District Council during the last month with work continuing on the LDF, performance indicators and budget discussions.

8.             CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING.
The following items of correspondence were discussed:

• Request received for increased security in the parish either by the use of CCTV, a security company or by using a group of volunteers. Cllrs. commented that in view of the large area of the parish it would not be possible to provide effective coverage and that crime prevention was primarily a Police duty.
• WDC has updated the matrix of village services being used as part of the Issues and Options review; Wadhurst remains the only parish to meet all the criteria. The matrix does not take account of capacity.
• WDC has acknowledged Parish Council’s submission following the Issues and Options consultation.

Remaining correspondence was dealt with during the course of the meeting and detailed on a separate list circulated to councillors.

To authorise expenditure for a poppy wreath
Resolved to approve expenditure of £25 for a remembrance poppy wreath to be paid under LGA 1972 s15 (5).

9.             HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND LIGHTING MATTERS
To review Highways, Transport & Lighting report and consider recommendations
Report reviewed. Meeting held with Uplands to review parking issues. ESCC propose to close the High Street in Summer 2008 for resurfacing; a survey of businesses has indicated a preference for closure at weekends rather than during the week.

Chairman is to meet Charles Lant, Chief Executive of WDC, to discuss parking issues at Wadhurst and possible ways forward.

Cllr. Tidy advised that 30 and 40 mph speed limits on A and B classification roads in the Wadhurst division will be reviewed in 2008.

Update on withdrawal of Post Bus
Mayfield Parish Council has agreed to contribute towards a replacement bus service for a trial of six months; some conditions were imposed.
Highways, Transport and Lighting Committee to liaise with ESCC on promoting the new timetable and service.

To authorise lighting repairs
Resolved to approve a new lantern for column no. 69 Fuller Close at a cost of £432.80 + VAT; light to be fitted with a white bulb. Payment to be made under PCA 1957 s3.

10.          PLANNING MATTERS
Report on Planning Committee meetings 13.10, 27.10 and 10.11
Minutes of Planning Committee meetings held 13.10, 27.10 and 10.11 reviewed and noted.

To note Planning Training event 29.11.07 and authorise expenditure
A planning training event has been arranged with WDC to be held 29.11.07 6.30pm at the pavilion; other local councils have been invited. Resolved to agree expenses of up to £25 for refreshments, to be paid under LGA 1972 s15 (5)

Other planning issues
A planning application is with WDC for a gypsy/traveller site at Mark Cross; concern that this will impact on services at Wadhurst. WPC Planning Committee to review at meeting 24.11.07 and decide whether to make a representation to WDC.

Owner of Leeland, Monks Lane has been fined £650 + costs for unauthorised activities at the site. The campervan has been removed from the site; the mobile home is still present.

11.          RECREATION GROUND MATTERS
To review Recreation Ground Report and consider recommendations
New CCTV equipment has been installed. The garage has been painted; anti-graffiti paint has yet to be applied.
No response to advertisement for help with locking up/security

To consider maintenance items/improvements and authorise expenditure
None.

12.          ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
To receive Environment Committee report and consider recommendations
Rotherfield Landscapes has undertaken clearance work at the Jardin d’Aubers.

Request for road sweeping in Church Street.

14.          FINANCE
To review Minutes of Finance Committee meeting 18.10.07
Minutes reviewed.

To approve amendment to standing order 30 delegated powers
Resolved to amend standing order no. 30 as follows:

Delegated powers are given to the Clerk to:

• Authorise work up to the value of £500 on routine matters within agreed policies and budget; this must be reported to the Chairman of the relevant committee within 48 hours.
• In the event of an emergency, to authorise work up to the value of £1000; this must be reported to the Chairman or Vice-Chairman within 48 hours.
• Implement non-discretionary adjustments to the Clerk’s pay according to recommendations by NALC and to increase other staff salaries by the same percentage; Chairman of the Personnel Committee to be notified of adjustments.

To consider grant applications from Wadhurst Institute Hall & Field, September Arts, Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul, Anchor Staying Put, Rotary Club and Wealden Citizens Advice.
Grants applications reviewed and recommendations from Finance Committee considered.
It was resolved to make the following grants:
£
1500        Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul towards upkeep of churchyard (LGA 1972 S214 (6)).
  600         Wealden Citizens Advice towards help given to Wadhurst residents and sessions held at Carillon Cottage (LGA 1972 s142).
1500        Wadhurst Institute Hall & Field towards maintenance (LG(MP)A 1976 s19) subject to the production of acceptable management accounts to December 2007.

Resolved that the Council in accordance with its powers under LGA 1972 s137, should incur the following expenditure which, in the opinion of the Council is in the interests of the area or its inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure:
£200        Anchor Staying Put

Application for Rotary Club was withdrawn prior to the meeting.
Application from September Arts was not successful as the annual exhibition is now well established and should be self funded.

To review outline budget 2008/09
Outline budget for 2008/09 was reviewed and will be finalised, together with the precept, at the December meeting.
It is anticipated that there will be unallocated balance of £67K at the end of this financial year and consideration will be given to making a further loan repayment in view of current interest rates.

To approve accounts payable

3.          PERSONNEL
To review staff salaries
Dealt with under delegated powers agreed in item 14.

15.          URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON FUTURE AGENDA
The grant for a new swimming pool has not been successful. A meeting is to be held 14.11.07 to consider the way forward.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.55 pm.