Peninsula Community Forum

Minutes

Wednesday 5th March 2008 at 7pm

at Oving Jubilee Hall, Oving

Attendees:

Roger TilburyBirdham Parish Council

Rachel HuskissonBirdham Parish Council

Diana PoundSidlesham Parish Council

David TreagusOving

Joe O’SullivanEast Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council

Chris HeasmanDonnington Parish Council

Jim OliverDonnington Parish Council

Pieter MontynChichester District Council

Peter JonesChichester District Council/West Sussex County Council

Adrian MurphyWest Sussex Fire

Jim BartlettSussex Police

Michael KarnEarnley Parish Council

Chris BayleyEarnley Parish Council

John ConnorChichester District Council

Rod HagueOving Parish Council

Paul LathamHousing Monitoring Officer, Chichester District Council

Simon BeasleyHousing Options Manager, Chichester District Council

Keith MorganAssistant Director, Chichester District Council- Forum Coordinator

Emma LivettEnvironment Officer, Chichester District Council- Forum Administrator

Apologies:

William Fleming

Tricia TullChichester District Council

John TierneyChichester Harbour Conservancy

Carol SmithHuston Parish Council

Michael ChaterWest Itchenor Parish Council

Stephen QuigleyChichester District Council

Andrew SmithWest Sussex County Council

Adrian HarlandSidlesham Parish Council

Vera GoodallEast Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council

Rod Hague, Oving Parish Council, was elected to the chair.

Choice Based Letting (CBL) Scheme- Paul Latham, Housing Monitoring Officer, and Simon Beasley, Housing Options Manager

Paul presented a summary of the scheme and provided an update on its success since it began in Chichester District in July 2007. The team are currently carrying out a six monthly review and welcomed feedback from the forum members.

Since its introduction, housing application numbers have risen from 2700 applicants on the list prior to July 2007 to currently 4355. On average 80 housing applications were being received per month last year whereas the monthly average is running at around 3 times this number following the introduction of CBL. All available properties are now advertised fortnightly on the web and in the printed Homemove magazine, a thousand copies of which are distributed in the district each fortnight. Web based bidding has been by far the most popular form of bidding, followed by staff assisted bids, coupons, phone and finally via texts. 122 applicants have been re-housed from across all bands as at December 2007.

CDC along with other authorities have the ability to advertise properties across districts. CDC have done this in 7% of cases, mainly for the empty properties that the RSL’s had when the scheme began.

The review process has involved sending questionnaires to all applicants who have been successfully housed. When asked about the process, 86% answered very good or good. 95% of responders stated the system was straight forward.

Questions to Paul and Simon included:-

  • On average how many properties are available over the year? 300
  • Does the magazine include shared ownership schemes? It can do. RSL’s can advertise such schemes and interested persons can use the bidding process for expressing an interest in finding out more information.
  • What is the average time Band A applicants remain on the list before being re-housed? Simon explained that it is very dependent on the specific needs of the applicants i.e. if an adapted property was required, mobility within the district, size of the family etc.
  • Concerns were discussed about fairness of cross broader allocations. Simon reported that arrangements were always reciprocal, so felt CDC residents are not disadvantaged.

Speed Watch 2008- Inspector Bartlett, Neighbourhood Specialist team, Sussex Police and Deputy District Commander Adrian Murphy, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

Adrian began by explaining why the Fire Service is involved in this project. Reasons given included Local Area Agreements, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, modernisation changes, Fire and Rescue Act, stations across the Manhood attending Road Traffic accidents.

Jim discussed why he felt that there were more effective and less bureaucratic means to reduce speeding than the proposed Community Speed watch scheme. His proposed scheme involved using community owned SID’s (Speed indication devices). SID’s are effective driver education devices which bring about changes in driver mind set. The community volunteer/s stands with the device, which is secured to street furniture, and can note speeds of vehicles. There is no noting of number plates. Police are the only ones who can enforce, so where problems are identified these are raised with Police. Jim’s team has purchased two SID’s for use across the district, which will be targeted towards problem areas.

How to proceed? Jim suggested if any community was interested in considering the purchase of such a device, they should consider setting up a working group. There is a group in the Bournes area. Costs include £1945 plus VAT for the SID, small costs for reflective jackets etc, public liability can usually be covered through existing parish council cover but this needs to be checked, chains for securing the device and insurance cover for the SID itself.

The SIDs are bulky, although can be transported in the boot of car, and can be stored at the nearest fire station. Adrian’s team is committed to assist communities with transporting the SID. WSCC highways department must be involved in the siting of the device.

Discussion surrounding volunteers role in standing by the SID, security, health and safety, and site approval. SID site’s will usually have previously been identified as sites where traffic collisions have occurred.

A representative from Earnley PC discussed the STAG group on the Manhood who have previously discussed this. There are currently four parishes who are discussing commitment to purchasing a SID.

Parishes should also note that WSCC have a SID which can be hired out for half a day for £250 and a staff member accompanies the device during the hire period.

Village Halls

Louise Beaton, from AiRS, had approached the forum to see if there was interest in village halls issues. The forum members discussed this and concluded that parishes who would benefit from Louise’s assistance should approach her directly. The only village at the meeting without a village hall is Sidlesham. Birdham parish representative stated the Louise was an excellent resource and had helped them hugely with their hall.

Dates for next meetings

Keith reported that Carol Smith from Huston PC had kindly investigated when parish councils across the peninsula meet. The 1st Mondays and 3rd Tuesday were identified as the only suitable dates and following discussion the forum agreed that meetings will now fall on the 1st Monday of the month. The dates for the forum meetings in 2008 are therefore:

2nd June

1st September

1st December

Ordnance Survey Maps

Keith reported that due to changes in policy, CDC as the ‘Principal Authority’ can now supply OS maps to parish and town councils for free. The service should be available from 1st May. Mark Jennings and David Bolton are the officers who you will need to liase with regarding signing an agreement and then how to access maps.

Chichester DistrictVillage Shop Convention

Keith reminded the forum that the convention wasbeing held at 6.30pm Monday 17th March 2008 at West Dean College, West Dean. If you wish to attend please contact Economic Development on 01243 534595.

New Forum Administrator

Keith introduced Emma Livett as the new Peninsula Community Forum administrator having taken over from Mike Sully. Emma can be contacted on 01243 785166 extension 4126.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm