Notes on the meeting held on Thursday, 11th December, 2008 

Arrival
This being our last meeting before Christmas, some at least of us hoped that we might maintain the tradition of gathering in another place after the meeting to discuss battles lost and won.  But we now meet at the Pavilion, with no immediately neighbouring hostelry; furthermore, the agenda for the meeting extended onto a second page – ominous in the extreme.  It was therefore no surprise that everyone (except the two who had apologised that they would be late, and were) was in place well before the appointed hour.  In addition to the baker’s dozen of Parish Councillors, we had our County Councillor and five members of the public, but Steve, our policeman, had also sent apologies and was not there.  So the floor was granted forthwith to the public for anything any of them might wish to say.

Public Forum
The principal contributor wished to draw attention to the increased amount of parking outside Kingsley Court, and the dangers to which this led.  Not only were the buses from Uplands severely constrained, but the many cars of the many residents of Kingsley Court were on occasions blocked in, and when they were able to emerge they were blind until past the point of no return.  We agreed to approach the County Council again for some appropriate road marking.  Another parishioner then drew attention to the similar problems at the top of Blacksmiths Lane.  Having noted these matters, we resumed the advertised business of the meeting and approved with one comment the minutes of our previous meeting.

News from On High
Bob Tidy, our County Councillor, then presented us with a mixed bag for Christmas.  On the negative side, he said that in the current economic climate the County Council was preparing for there to be many unemployed or redundant residents of an unusual type: highly qualified commuters, whose skills were perhaps not suited to the remaining local economy.  ESCC had therefore made contributions to organisations supporting and advising small businesses, giving loan advice (with a view to depriving sharks of their prey), and was working in conjunction with Age Concern to encourage the claiming of any state benefits to which people might be entitled; it had also offered facilities to the Samaritans.  On the brighter side, he had succeeded in preventing £30,000 being entirely diverted to the “deprived” coastal strip; 70 per cent of deprivation is rural and the funds were needed and would now be available in places like Wealden.  Bob Standley then reported for Wealden District Council, which was similarly arranging to help people with problems, and was trying to ensure that the Citizens Advice Bureaux were not short of funds, although the Council’s hitherto substantial bank interest on its deposits would now be minimal.  There would be full consultation before roadside recycling was introduced in Wadhurst; the benefits were now less obvious as the price of recyclables had also now fallen.  An innocent question from one of our number about the ownership and allocation of affordable housing and the “local connection” criteria gave us the opportunity we have awaited so long, and we were away – everyone talking at once, making incredibly relevant points if only anyone had stopped to listen; the fun was spoilt by our noble chairman deciding in despair that we had left the agenda, and calling us to order with the plea that we conduct one meeting only.

Chairman’s Announcements, Correspondence and Consent Order
The Chairman, having nothing to announce, invited any questions on the list of correspondence before us.  This led to an explanation of why an application under the Freedom of Information Act, to go through the title deeds of the Recreation Ground, was being refused as invalid, how one of us had however offered unofficially to help the applicant investigate the deeds, and how his offer had been rejected.  Puzzled, we turned our attention to another puzzle: the request that we sign a High Court Consent Order relating to the concession by Wealden District Council that planning permission for floodlights on the tennis courts had been invalidly granted.  It having been explained before the meeting that we had unknowingly been made a party to the proceedings and that our signature would release us from any possible liability for costs but commit us to nothing, we agreed without debate to sign up.

Committee Business
After learning that the Lower High Street does not qualify for a speed camera, we turned to Planning matters, introduced by the committee chairman, Bernard Berger, whose excellent plan graced the front cover of the Parish Plan recently issued.  He then struggled to explain the third legal mystery of the evening; the advice that the planning application for the Wadhurst College site did not exist as it purported to be a renewal of an earlier application but had not been made within the statutory time limit.  Wealden had not therefore registered it (although they had wrongly entered it in the register) because it did not exist, but even if it had existed they should not have done so as it did not itself fulfil the statutory requirements.  As it did not exist although appearing in the register, no action could be taken on it unless it was substantiated by being properly submitted with the requisite fee.  We decided to ask Wealden for the reimbursement of the costs we had incurred in saving them from the embarrassment of engaging in a maladministration and entitling them to a substantial fee if the mythical application were actually to be made. 

Other Committees
Having sorted that out without any shadow of doubt or confusion whatsoever, the Recreation Ground Committee’s report gave rise to another joyfully unstructured debate, not only on the proposed expenditure on refurbishing the children’s play area but, leading on from that, how few parishioners seem to be aware of the existence, constitution and activities of the Parish Council.  After all this, Environment matters were simplicity itself, rounded off with the happy news that the ducks on the pond in the Memorial Garden were believed to be settling in nicely.  We then approved the 2009/10 budget without problem, but again took flight when the precept was mentioned; how come that the council tax from Wadhurst was officially predicted to drop ever so slightly when at least 48 new houses had been built and no known downward revaluations had taken place?  We were united in our disbelief even if everyone wanted to tell everyone else at the same time and in a different way.  For the third time in the one evening the chairman had to bang his figurative gavel; he could not do it literally because he does not have one and in any case he had injured his gavel arm, which was giving him some pain.  So we deferentially nodded through the model code on freedom of information (which has the advantage of saying nothing, at some length, but means we comply with the authorities’ expectations) and were dismissed, to clear the chairs and tables and sally forth into the icy countryside to seek warmth and inspiration in another place.

Next Meeting
The Council does not meet in January so our next meeting is on Thursday, 12th February, 2009, at 7.30 pm at the Pavilion, Sparrows Green Recreation Ground.

Notes on the meeting held on Thursday, 13th November, 2008

Arrival
This being the first meeting under the new regime of meeting at the Pavilion on a Thursday, it was encouraging to see the warm glow of human activity through the windows as one climbed the steps from the lower car park: tables held at shoulder height ready to have their legs unfolded, chairs flying to form a hollow square.  Even our doughty reporter, Nick Hitchens from the Courier, was engaged in this new form of weight training – although, unlike most of us, he is not in need of shedding pounds, nor years.

Apologies and Police Report
At the appointed hour we all took our places, with thirteen parish councillors, a district councillor, our county councillor and five members of the public in addition to our Community Constable, Steve Etherington.  He took the floor first and reported an unexplained but welcome drop in crime for the previous four weeks.  Good neighbourliness was also on the increase, with people reporting  others’ burglar alarms going off, and cold callers, enabling the police to keep a proper watch on the community.  As well as a new Sergeant covering the area, Steve reported that Wadhurst should have a new PCSO in post from 1st January; his own presence, so welcome to councillors, would then be reduced.

Public Forum
Wadhurst Rotary Club took the opportunity to remind us of their plans for Christmas lights and festivities, including late night shopping on 19th December, in support of their application for a grant towards the expenses; any profits go to local charities.  Another well-known figure then reminded us of his views and our responsibilities relating in particular to car parking and affordable housing.  We then attacked the published agenda.

News from On High
Bob Tidy, reporting on County Council matters, told us that the County Council elections had been postponed to 4th June next year to coincide with the European elections, and said the current topic of lively debate in County Council circles was the Police Authority precept: do people, in the current economic situation, want a reduction in council tax and minimal policing, or a properly funded service?  Graham Wells then told us that kerbside recycling would reach Wadhurst in a year’s time, with rotating collection of different materials – and had the problems pointed out to him.  With 25 per cent of the Wealden population being young people, he had attended a youth conference at which the message had been that that old people stereotype the young and tell them what they need instead of asking them; Parish Youth Councils had been suggested – these would have a fractionally different average age from that of our own beloved councillors.

Chairman’s Announcements, Highways and Planning
The Chairman having nothing scintillating to announce, we received a report from the chairman of the Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee; her committee had not met but she updated us on a number of current concerns, such as vehicles parking on verges and obstructing others’ view at junctions, roadside posts in Cousley Wood being moved to obstruct the footpath they were installed to protect, local youths speeding in the High Street, and the fascinating information that use of the community bus service falls off in bad weather.   It was now time for the star turn of the evening: Planning.  A renewed planning application having been submitted for a total of 48 dwellings at Wadhurst College, infrastructure and statutory responsibilities were discussed at length.  Although it is fairly certain that the sewage system would not be able to cope, Southern Water will not say so because they have a duty to provide the service; should we commission a survey to highlight the problem before Durgates becomes another Venice with undesirable flooding?  We felt it was our duty to do so as no-one else will, and authorised the necessary expenditure.

Other Committees
The Recreation Ground Committee also had to confess that it had not met but that it had appointed a working party to suggest improved facilities for the young, and in particular young teenagers who are perhaps poorly provided for.  The turn of the Environment Committee then followed and the Council forthwith showed its average age by falling apart with childish laughter when the new ducks for the pond behind the War Memorial were mentioned.  The particular cause of all the hilarity seemed to be that no-one knew why it was funny; eventually our gallant chairman drew himself up to his full height and regained authority, moving us on to the more serious subject of finance.  There being before us three very deserving applications for grants, we agreed to dig into an appropriate reserve for a small amount extra in order to respond appropriately to each.  This was followed by a brief look at our budget for 2009/10, which we will consider in more detail and settle next time.

K6
We then came to the only contentious item of the evening.  Should we invite BT to remove the telephone kiosk outside the old telephone exchange in Durgates, or should we apply to take it over ourselves?  It is hardly ever used for telephone calls so the innards would be removed either way; it is the cast-iron kiosk itself which we were considering.  Some councillors thought it would be a liability, whereas others were concerned that it is a heritage item which we have a duty to preserve.  In many places all these kiosks have been listed, but our attempt so to do a few years ago failed.  It was pointed out that the K6 kiosk was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott as a cheaper alternative to his larger K2, in order that the Post Office could provide one in every town and village in the kingdom as its contribution to George V’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1936, hence its familiar name the Jubilee Kiosk, and it ill behove us to allow this community possession to go.  Unswayed by historical rhetoric, some councillors fought on, so a vote was taken.  Retention was decided by a majority but two votes were recorded against – a rare occurrence, as most councillors seem to consider that to abstain from a vote is approbation enough.  After all this excitement the Chairman announced that he thought the meeting had gone on long enough and that another place beckoned – and then permitted the meeting to continue, but not for long.  Soon the impedimenta were cleared, the room was bare, all signs of our labours disappeared and a number of us did indeed gather elsewhere.

Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Council is on Thursday, 11th December, 2008, at 7.30 pm in our new home at the Pavilion, Sparrows Green Recreation Ground.

Notes on the meeting held on Tuesday 14 October 2008

Apologies and Police Report
There was only one absentee councillor, our master scribe, being absent: his deputy sets out to fill his shoes. Our Police Constable was present and had four major points to tell us. Sadly, our PCSO Mark Simmonds has been transferred to Gatwick and so will no longer be pounding the Wadhurst streets but the good news is that until Christmas. P.C. Steve Etherington will be doing so instead - based at the fire station. After that we will have a new PCSO. There were three significant incidents in the village to report - a car accident in the High Street where the driver was arrested for drink/driving, two youth, caught enjoying the laughing stuff and a shed burglary. There will be electric blanket testing on 15th October at the fire Station. Wadhurst will this year be included in the Christmas drink/drive campaign.

Public Forum and News from on High
There being only two members of the public present, neither of whom wished to speak, we swiftly moved on to Cllr. Bob Tidy's report.
He was very happy to report that East Sussex thankfully had no investment in the Icelandic Banks and that the County had a prudent policy over money matters. There is concern about small businesses, particularly as those now running them may well be of an age that have never experienced a recession before. However. for those who are being affected, help is at hand in the form of advice. Please contact the County Council Website and Kieran McNamara - or details on the Parish Council Notice Board. There was mention of the South East Plan, of housing and concern over the Forest Row Bypass. East Sussex has been given an outstanding review by Ofsted for its `corporate parenting policy' for the fostering and adoption of children.

Bob Standley our Wealden Councillor then had his turn. Apparently a firm stand has been taken and a stern letter sent off to the Secretary of State objecting to the ever rising number of houses that are required to be built in our area. He was also able to report that Wealden had no money in Iceland either and that they are keeping a daily eye on investments. General Finance's budget was slightly underspent, which was a very good thing, as there was less money coming into the kitty just now with people tightening their belts - fewer planning applications, less bank interest etc. There would, however, for the next two years at any rate, be free swimming in the County for the over 60's; what joy.

Chairman's Announcements and Correspondence for Noting
A letter has been received by our revered Chairman from Mr. William King, representing Northern Parishes in the Wealden Local Strategic Partnership. He asks that we nominate a representative from the WPC to represent us at the LSP meetings - members were less than eager to raise their hands, the amount of commitment required being an unknown factor! B.T. wishes to remove our remaining red telephone boxes. This announcement caused a major stir - some members not really too concerned about it and others feeling that they represented part of our history and heritage. We will discuss this vexed subject at our next meeting when it will be formally on the agenda.

The venue for our monthly Council meetings has long been a subject for discussion having variously been locked out, been kept waiting for a space because of prior use or have found that bookstands somewhat curtailed the space available to us. Therefore, after some discussion, it was agreed that future meetings will take place at the Pavilion, Sparrows Green, where it is not only comfortable and bright but will cost us nothing as we own it! its entails changing to the second Thursday in each month at 7.30pm except January August when we are on holiday.

Other Committees
Highways Although the street light late night switch-off has been running for some time now, the hope that we would be saving ourselves vast amounts of money, has been sadly misplaced. The increase in supply costs means that there will still be an increase in overall charges but these have been mitigated by our policy. It seems that other councils are now also going to switch off their street lights too, so Wadhurst was well ahead of the game. Parking, always a problem, whether in the village centre or on the peripheries, causes someone, somewhere, angst - this month was no exception. I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know that Cllr. Monaghan has the finger sign-post review well in hand.

This Saturday's Planning Meeting was over in the blink of an eye, there being only two applications to discuss. This is a cause for concern in some places as Wealden does collect some fee income from this source. More importantly, it left all those sitting around the table feeling rather flat and wondering what to do for the rest of the morning. Two of them toddled up the road to have a go at a bit of fencing around the village pond, such was their despondency. The children's playground is to be re-surfaced with new hark An astronomical number of cubic metres is needed to bring it up to the requisite depth and Bob, our excellent caretaker, will bear the brunt of spreading it. Some of the trees in the Round Oak allotments are in need of lopping, so too, some of those around and about the football fields will. A mobile skateboard track and BMX bikes will be at UPLANDS Sports Centre on Monday 27th and Wednesday 29th October, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is aimed at the 4 - 16 years old age group - go along and join the fun. For the Environment Committee it has been the Silly Season! It has been arranged to put a duck house on the pond and introduce two Indian Runners that will, hopefully, make their home there fingers crossed.

Moving on to Finance - our Spend against Budget is more or less on track. Members' Allowances were adopted and Accounts Payable agreed.

There being no Urgent Issues„ the meeting finished in very good time and then some of us moved on to a watering hole.

The next meeting will be held at the PAVILION, SPARROWS GREEN, on THURSDAY 13 November at19:30. Please note the change of day AND venue.