EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
WEDNESDAY 13th JANUARY 2010

Present: Mr J Stringer (Vice-chairman), Mr D Pack, Mr M Taylor, Mr B Gowar, Dr A Guyatt, Mrs A Marchand, Mrs E Hamilton (CDC) and the Clerk

The meeting was chaired by Mr Stringer in the absence of Mr Heustice.

09/10

68 Apologies for Absence were received from Mr I Heustice (Chairman), Mr J Dabson,  Mrs J Deacon-Ford and Mr M Brown (WSCC)

69 Declaration of Interest: None

70 The Minutes of the meeting held on 11th November 2009: were signed as a true record.  All in favour.

71 Matters Arising: ref Minute 09/10.58 (11th November 2009).  Letter received from Andrew Tyrie MP in response to our request for help to oppose the imposition of parking charges in Midhurst.

72 Councillor Resignation.  Mrs E Hamilton has tendered her resignation as a Parish Councillor, although she will remain as a District Councillor.  Mr Stringer expressed the appreciation of the Parish Council for the years of dedicated service that Mrs Hamilton has rendered, both as a Councillor and as Chairman, a post she held for 8 years.

73 Report from the County Councillor: In his absence a report from Mr Brown was read to the meeting.  He gave an update on the situation regarding gritting the roads in the present snowy/icy conditions.  In connection with the pedestrian crossing at the Hollist Lane/Wheelbarrow Castle junction: the date for the installation of the re-sited safety barrier is set for 19th January, weather permitting.  Also the lollipop lady should be re-instated once the barrier has been erected.  The future of the school site at Wheelbarrow Castle is under discussion between WSCC and the Cowdray Estate.  The Parish Council’s wish to see the sporting facilities retained, and increased, for the use of the community has been noted.

75 Finance:
a) The following payments were noted. (cheque numbers 100-)

b)  The internal check of accounts for November and December 2009, by Mr Stringer, was noted.

76 Planning

77  Reports from the Panels
a) Playground: all in order, low usage at the moment
b) Burial Ground:  all in order
c) Footpaths: Egmont Road sign now fitted, after 3 ½ years wait
d) Grants: Thank you letters, for grants received, from Midhurst Community Bus Association, Citizens Advice Bureau and Royal British Legion.  New applications received from Sussex Air Ambulance and The Grange Leisure Centre.  The Sussex Air Ambulance application deferred to the March meeting, when more Councillors will be in attendance. Proposed by Mr Taylor and seconded by Mr Gowar to give The Grange Leisure Centre a grant of £250.  Majority in favour.          
78 Provision of grit bins: in 2008 a grit bin was requested for Scotland Lane at its junction with Kings Drive.  This did not materialise and now WSCC charge the Parishes to provide such a bin, although they agree to keep it filled.  If a bin can be provided at once it was proposed by Dr Guyatt and seconded by Mrs Hamilton that a bin be purchased for this site.  Majority in favour.  However, if the bin cannot be provided at once then an order should not be placed and the whole subject of bin provision in the Parish should be discussed further at a future meeting.

79 Maintenance of benches at Riverbank Medical Centre:  The Midhurst Society donated 2 benches to the people of Midhurst in 1999/2000.  These were positioned outside the Medical Centre when it was in Lamberts Lane.  Now the Medical Centre is in Easebourne the benches appear to have become no one’s responsibility.  It was agreed that the Clerk would get estimates for the cost of re-furbishing these benches, on this occasion only, as opposed to the Parish Council accepting permanent responsibility.  

80 Budgenor Lodge S106 Community Facilities Grant:  following a request from the last meeting about transferring the balance of the grant from Community Facilities to Highway use, the answer from CDC was no.  Estimates are still awaited from the Cowdray Heritage Trust for the possible installation of floodlighting at the Ruins.  It was pointed out that planning permission would have to be obtained before this idea could be carried forward.  Illustrations of possible decorative village signs were circulated.  The Clerk is to obtain further details and costings of these signs for the next meeting.

81 Parish Council Chairman: succession from May 2010. In the absence of an obvious successor to Mr Heustice as Chairman, it was proposed to amend the Standing Order (2007) 5(c) to enable Mr Heustice to continue as Chairman for another year.  It was proposed by Mr Pack and seconded by Mr Stringer that the Standing Order should be amended to read “The office of Chairman shall not be held for a period in excess of five years with no re-election to the office until a period of two years has elapsed”  All in favour.

82 Letter received ref. Easebourne Village Store.  This letter was discussed at the meeting and its suggestions were noted.

83 Correspondence and notices received
Invitation to a meeting by the new developer of King Edward VII Hospital, on 20th January 2010.  The meeting is for local Parish/Town Councils only to outline ideas for the re-development with no formal planning application available at this stage.  Seven Councillors to attend.

Next Parish Council meeting will be held on 10th March 2010 at 7.30pm

Mrs Carole Allan, Clerk to Easebourne Parish Council, Ashfield Cottage, 1 Ashfield Close, Midhurst, GU29 9RP.  Telephone: 01730 813374. Email: easebournepc@tiscali.co.uk