WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL
THE MINUTES OF WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT
THE PAVILION, SPARROWS GREEN RECREATION GROUND,
ON THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER 2008 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Price (Chairman), Bell, Berger, Mrs Colvin, Doyle, Miss Gadd, Miss Gates, Kent, Mamlok, Mrs Monaghan, Mrs Pearman, Phipson, Standley, Miss Whatmore and Wheeler.
Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy and 5 members of the public.

1.         TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
None.

2.         DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
Cllr. Standley declared a prejudicial interest in 11.2 as a neighbour and a personal interest in 11.3 as a district councillor.

3.         POLICE REPORT
None.

4.         PUBLIC FORUM
Resident reported on the difficulty in exiting Kingsley Court due to cars parked in the Lower High Street; request for road markings. Further reports received on parking issues at Walters Cottages and Blacksmiths Lane/St. James’s Square. Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee to review at meeting 8.01.09.

Resident questioned when South View Road was last swept.

5.         TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MEETING 13.11.08 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the Minutes of the meeting held 13.11.08 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 working with district/borough councils and other agencies to review the current economic situation and assess how to provide the required assistance for residents. £100K has been invested in Business Link to support small businesses. Age Concern can help elderly people with benefit applications. Information on financial help is included on the County Council website.

There is concern at the rise in the activities of ‘loan sharks’ and Trading Standards are to increase their monitoring of this financial area.

A recent Ofsted report criticised that funds from the Youth Development Service were not benefiting youths in deprived areas where more facilities are required. The proposal to reduce funding for Wealden was rejected and town/councils will be consulted on projects for further youth work.

Planning permission has been granted for the Bexhill/Hastings road; 3000 objections were received.

District Council
The Planning Improvement Plan may lead to a single committee for the whole district.

Work continues on the Local Development Framework with the next public consultation due in March/April 2009.

A reduction in credit interest rates and income from recycling has had a financial impact on WDC. A decision has been made to roll out the kerb-side recycling programme based on the Forest Row/Danehill scheme; residents will be consulted before the recycling is introduced.

Report of two serious accidents in Wadhurst.

Discussion on whether the tenure of 5 affordable homes at Styles Lane will be changed from shared ownership to rental in view of possible difficulties in obtaining a mortgage in the current economic climate.

8.         CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING.
Correspondence was reviewed and noted.

9.         TO REVIEW AND SIGN CONSENT ORDER FOR WITHDRAWAL OF PLANNING PERMISSION FOR FLOODLIGHTING TENNIS COURTS AT RECREATION GROUND
Resolved to sign the Consent Order for the withdrawal of planning permission for floodlighting tennis courts at the recreation ground.

10.       HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND LIGHTING MATTERS
10.1     To receive Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee Report and consider recommendations
Copy of letter received to a resident in the Lower High Street declining the request for the installation of a speed camera. This item will be discussed at the committee meeting 8.01.09.

Other highways issues
Reports of faulty streets lights and other highways issues to be taken outside the meeting.

11.       PLANNING MATTERS

11.1     To adopt Minutes of Planning Committee meetings 22.11.08
Resolved to adopt Minutes of Planning Committee meeting held 22.11.08.

11.2     TO NOTE ADVICE RECEIVED FOR WADHURST COLLEGE
Barrister advised that the planning application for Wadhurst College was invalid as it was being considered as a repeat application under the same reference, without payment of a fee and outside the time restriction of 12 months. A fee of £16K would be required for submitting a new application of this size.

A report from a drainage consultation referred to the need for a flood risk assessment due to the size of the site.

11.3     TO CONSIDER APPLYING TO WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL FOR THE RECOVERY OF COSTS FOR ADVICE RECEIVED ON WADHURST COLLEGE
It was resolved to write to Wealden District Council asking for reimbursement of the Barrister’s fees for advice on the planning application for Wadhurst College and to request a contribution towards the cost of obtaining the drainage report.

Other planning matters
At a recent Parish Planning Panel meeting, some councils expressed concern at the affordable housing process and the criteria for local connections.
Similar concerns were expressed by councillors and a representative from WDC Housing to be asked to attend a meeting of the Parish Council to report on affordable housing and answer questions.

12.       RECREATION GROUND MATTERS
12.1     To adopt Minutes of Recreation Ground Management Committee meeting 27.11.08
Resolved to adopt the Minutes of the Recreation Ground Management Committee meeting held 27.11.08.

12.2     To review Minutes and Report and consider recommendations
Minutes of meeting 27.11.08 and Report reviewed and noted.

12.2.1  To approve increase in fees for hiring pavilion from 1.04.09
In view of the increase in running costs of the pavilion, it was resolved to increase hire fees from 1.04.09 as follows:

• £13 ph for regular users
• £15 ph for casual users (£17.50 ph with staff attendance).

12.2.2 Play equipment
Over 50 children and parents attended the play consultation evening 4.12 and many enthusiastic comments were received on the proposal to improve play provision at the recreation ground.

Most of the existing equipment was provided by WORD and some items have now reached the end of their life. The proposal is to replace some items of equipment, install a rebound wall for ball games, create a toddlers' play area, a sensory garden, an adventure trail and a bike run. £28K is due as a commuted sum for play from the Styles Lane development. Wealden is to receive £90K under Play Pathfinder provision 2009/10. The proposal is to submit an application for match funding from the Pathfinder source, using the £28K and a further £7K from Parish Council reserves.

Resolved to spend up to £7000 on improvements to the play equipment at Sparrows Green Recreation Ground as part of the proposal for grant funding.

12.3     To consider registration of land at Recreation Ground
The land at the recreation ground is not registered. A representative from the Land Registry has confirmed that registration can be undertaken at the Tunbridge Wells office and that costs will be in the region of £30.
Resolved to register the land at the recreation ground with the Land Registry and incur the associated costs.

13.       ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
13.1     To receive Environment Committee Report and consider recommendations
The ducks are now on the pond at the Jardin d’Aubers. Cllr. Kent was thanked for his help with this project.

14.       FINANCE
14.1     To approve budget 2009/10 and agree precept
Resolved to approve a budget of £128,161 for 2009/10 (appendix A - not here).

Resolved to approve a precept of £106,300 for 2009/10.

14.2     To note report from Internal Auditor
Report from the Internal Auditor reviewed and noted.

14.3     To approve accounts payable

It was resolved to approve accounts for payment as listed in appendix B [not here]

15.       TO APPROVE REVISED FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT PUBLICATION SCHEME
Resolved to approve the revised Freedom of Information Act Publication Scheme as from 1.01.09.

16.       URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON        FUTURE AGENDA
Uplands Community College has been placed in the 2nd phase of the building programme with work anticipated in or after 2015.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21:22

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