Ewhurst Parish Council s3

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EWHURST PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held at the Arthur Herdman Pavilion, Village Street, Ewhurst Green on

Thursday 11 February 2016

PRESENT Councillors Dor Catt, Bill Hooper, Jacqui Hyett (Vice-Chairman), Anne Reed, Maggie Whitaker,

Dave Young (Chairman)

IN ATTENDANCE Richard Farhall – Parish Clerk; District Councillor Tony Ganly [part]; County Cllr Angharad Davies [part]; 5 members of the public

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The meeting commenced at 7.30pm.

PART A ROUTINE BUSINESS

15.118 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence – and the reason as notified to the Clerk – were accepted from Cllr Stephenson.

15.119 DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

Cllr Hyett 15.130 EPAA Committee member

15.120 ADJOURNMENT

The Chairman adjourned the meeting for the PCSO Report, the County Council and District Council Reports - and Public Question Time. (See Appendix.)

The Chairman reconvened the meeting after the District Council Report and PQT had concluded.

15.121 COUNCIL MINUTES - ACCURACY

RESOLVED To adopt the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2016 as a correct record of the proceedings.

15.122 COUNCIL MINUTES - MATTERS ARISING

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15.108(b)(ii) Grant application – MUGA Resolution (increasing grant to £5,000) The grant had been paid.

15.106 Verge Opposite Solomon’s Gardens – See item15.129.

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15.108(b)(ii) Grant application – Village Hall (arranging site meeting) The meeting was scheduled for 6.2.16.

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15.109 APA 2016 (confirming James Doran’s wish to present) Confirmed.

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15.116 Defective Noticeboards (giving the supplier a final opportunity to supply and fit replacement parts) - See item 15.132.

15.117 Fingerposts (appointing JAKK Country Furniture Designs Actioned – the work had commenced.

15.123 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

RESOLVED To submit the comments following to the Planning Authority:

RR/2016/181/P Holmtree, Lordine Lane, Ewhurst Green

Proposed conversion of workshop/store to habitable accommodation with pitch roof over.

Applicant: Mr & Mrs P Madden, Holmtree, Lordine Lane, Ewhurst Green

SUPPORT APPROVAL

RR/2016/222/P Upper Morgay Wood, Junction Road, Staplecross

Removal of condition 1 imposed on A/71/379 to remove agricultural tenancy condition.

Applicant: Mrs Pat Bolton, Upper Morgay Wood, Junction Road, Staplecross

SUPPORT APPROVAL

RR/2016/221/O A & B Cowfield Cottage Mews, Bodiam Road, Staplecross

Lawful development certificate for existing use of a building as two dwelling houses.

Applicant: Mrs C Biggs, Cowfield Cottage, Bodiam Road, Staplecross

NO COMMENT

RR/2016/236/P The Squirrels, Swailes Green, Cripps Corner

Two-storey side extension, with two number single storey extensions to the front and rear of property. Internal alterations and material changes.

Applicant: Patrick Melanophy, The Squirrels, Swailes Green, Cripps Corner

SUPPORT APPROVAL

15.124 FINANCE

(a) Report

RESOLVED 1

To note the receipts and payments following:

Receipts (December 2015)

Interest (Co-op) £0.00 Interest (UTB) £21.59

Interest (JHB) £10.43

£32.02

Payments (December 2015) R Farhall – pay (Dec 2015) £714.50

Post Office Ltd [HMRC] – PAYE (Dec 2015) £242.19

East Sussex Pension Fund (Oct 2015) £244.73

R Farhall – expenses (Dec 2015) £193.20

£1,389.68

RESOLVED 2 To receive and adopt the bank reconciliation as at 31 December 2015.

RESOLVED 3 To receive and adopt the Budget Monitor as at 31 December 2015.

RESOLVED 4 To receive and adopt the Earmarked Reserves as at 31 December 2015.

RESOLVED 5 To receive and adopt the Cash Flow Statement as at 31 December 2015.

RESOLVED 6 To note the reconciled account balances, to 31 December 2015, as follows:

Unity Trust current account £45,135.62

Co-op current account £2,846.38

Julian Hodge Bank Fixed Rate bond £31,144.49

£79,126.49

RESOLVED 7 To ratify/approve the payments following:

R Farhall – pay (Jan 2016) £718.17

Post Office Ltd [HMRC] – PAYE (Jan 2016) £244.04

East Sussex Pension Fund (Jan 2016) £244.73

R Farhall – expenses (Jan 2016) £77.22

£1,284.16

(b) Budget & Precept 2016-17

RESOLVED To confirm the Draft Budget 2016-17 and that the precept for 2016-17 shall be £62,220.

The Chairman reported that, at a site meeting consisting of him, Cllr Hooper, Cllr Stephenson, the Clerk, Hilary Ganly and Alastair Neill, it had been concluded that there needed to be certainty that the appointed contractor would not worsen any run-off/drainage issues – especially in the vicinity of the entrance to the Hall itself.

It was noted that Mrs Ganly had written to the Club to determine if it wanted its area of the car park resurfaced.

RESOLVED To ask Cllr Hooper, Cllr Stephenson and the Clerk to meet with Bourne Amenity to discuss drainage and any other relevant issues. Clerk

15.125 RECYCLING CENTRE

Cllr Reed suggested that, following the introduction of kerbside collection of recyclates, there was no need for the paper and plastic bottles & cans containers to remain on site.

RESOLVED 1 To ask RDC to withdraw the paper and plastic bottles & cans containers. Clerk

RESOLVED 2 To explore whether the two Salvation Army and small electricals containers could be repositioned on the verge. Clerk

The Chairman adjourned the meeting for the report of the County Councillor. (See Appendix.)

The meeting reconvened.

15.126 OUTSIDE BODIES AND EVENTS

There were no reports.

PART B - SPECIAL BUSINESS

15.127 LOCAL ACTION PLAN (2010-15)

Members were invited to consider the LAP Refresh WG’s draft questionnaire.

RESOLVED To approve the questionnaire subject to the amendments following:

(i) A8 - Insert to all after accessible

(ii) B - Add questions asking if the respondent would participate in Neighbourhood Watch and Speed Watch schemes.

15.128 QUEEN’S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

RESOLVED To ask the Bonfire Society to light the beacon on 21 April and to consider whether it would provide fireworks, burgers etc Clerk

15.129 VERGE OPPOSITE SOLOMON’S GARDEN

The meeting was invited to consider the outline design prepared by James Hoare.

The Chairman suggested that the lay-by would be more useful if it was extended further north, towards the shop and Cross Inn – and that both could be asked to contribute towards the cost.

RESOLVED To seek advice from James Hoare. Clerk

15.130 KNOWLE CORNER WOOD ALLOTMENTS

The Clerk advised that there had been difficulties finding a contractor willing to take on the installation of the ground protection mesh, A contractor had now been identified and the Clerk was exploring whether the work could be carried out within the agreed total budget. It had originally been assumed the mesh could be installed by volunteers – however, it had been determined that the work would be too onerous.

Cllr Hyett reported that EPAA’s AGM would take place shortly and that, during the recent blustery weather, a shed had been up-ended (now righted).

15.131 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS

RESOLVED In accordance with the Public Bodies (admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 (1)(2), to exclude the public and press on the grounds that item 15.132 entails consideration of legal advice in relation to a contract.

15.132 DEFECTIVE NOTICEBOARDS

The Clerk reported that the supplier had not responded to the Council’s email of 24 January 2016. It was noted that EPC’s solicitor had advised that the supplier’s 5-year guarantee covered the supply of parts only (not parts and labour).

RESOLVED To provide the supplier with a deadline by which to provide the necessary replacement parts. Clerk

The meeting ended at 9.15pm.

Date ……………………………… Chairman ………………………………………

APPENDIX

15.120 ADJOURNED SECTIONS

(a) PCSO Report

PCSO Georghiou was not present.

(b) District Council Report

Cllr Ganly read out a press release in which Huw Merriman MP reported that a former employee of a firm he had worked for had just withdrawn a claim that she had lodged with the Employment Tribunal Service.

Responding to a number of questions from Larry Hyett, Cllr Ganly advised that he did not know if any redundancy pay that might have been due to the employee had been increased – but he was aware that no money had changed hands in relation to the withdrawn claim.

(d) Public Question Time

Cllr Whitaker reported that a number of Ewhurst Green residents [including Wally Close – who joined the meeting briefly later] had highlighted to her the unannounced appearance of ‘Ewhurst Lane’ road signs at the junction of Shoreham Lane-Dagg Lane-Village Street. Although ‘Ewhurst Lane’ appears on Googled maps, residents and businesses in the lane understood that they live in ‘Village Street’ – and it is this that is incorporated within their letterheads.

Cllr Ganly would make enquiries. Cllr Ganly

Cllr Whitaker added that locals had suggested also that the chevrons on the sharp bend between Ewhurst Green and Padgham needed to be replaced.

Anna Eastwood reported that a Fix My Street report to get white lines renewed in the vicinity of the School appeared to have been (partially) successful. She and others remain concerned about traffic speed on School Hill – particularly at the beginning and the end of the school day. The situation was not helped by parents parking adjacent to the outdoor play area because this saw some drivers approaching from the north pick up speed in order to get passed them.

Larry Hyett suggested creating parking spaces opposite the play area (where the bench is situated).

It was noted that, as car ownership has increased over the years, there are now fewer places for parents to park – and this problem is evident at many schools.

Cllr Ganly advised that, following concerns about speeding being raised with him by a local resident, he had discussed the matter with the Head Teacher and a number of parents – in particular, whether the introduction of Speed Watch scheme would be helpful. The Chairman advised that, a few years ago, EPC had arranged a public meeting on the subject which had seen 12 people offer themselves as volunteers. Ten were trained but a scheme did not get off the ground because a number left the Parish or lost interest.

Patrick Melanophy advised that he had taken over as Co-ordinator of Cripps Corner Speed Watch. The scheme could be extended to include Staplecross if sufficient (at least 3) volunteers could be identified. He agreed to speak about the scheme at the Parish Assembly. Clerk

Mrs Eastwood was concerned also about a couple of diseased trees immediately next to the car park (opposite the School).

Before he left, Cllr Ganly suggested that there was a possibility that any unused RDC Battle of Hastings 950th Anniversary grant funding could be made available for events commemorating the 90 birthday of HRH the Queen.

Cllr Davies was advised that a member of the public had earlier expressed concern about traffic speed in the vicinity of the School. She was asked to explore with Highways whether anything could be done (including renewing signage) – and was advised that EPC might be willing to contribute. Cllr Davies advised that there was very little prospect of a 20mph restriction being introduced and added that, at Beckley’s school, a package of traffic calming measures had made little difference.

Cllr Davies reported that:

Budget As anticipated, ESCC’s share of the Council Tax would rise by 3.99% (2% of which would be ring-fenced for Adult Social Care). This equates to an additional 92p/week for a Band D tax payer.

Although ESCC will be spending £369m next year on ASC and Children’s Services, it still needs to save £70m by 2019 - even after taking into consideration a £2.7m transitional grant settlement.

ESCC will be spending £129m on ‘one off’ capital projects – which includes £18m, on highways structural maintenance.

The Revenue Support Grant (Central Government funding of principal authorities) will reduce to zero by 2020. The idea is that the shortfall will be made up from business rates – which obviously favours those local authority areas with a successful business community. This should act as an incentive for local authorities to focus on economic regeneration.

‘Baldslow Link’ An application had been approved by HBC’s Planning Committee.

Ewhurst PC Minutes 11 February 2016