EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11TH JULY 2007

 

Present: Mr I Heustice (Chairman), Mr J Stringer (Vice-Chairman), Mr J Dabson, Mr D Pack,Mr M Taylor, Mr A Guyatt, Mrs J Deacon-Ford, Mr B Gowar, Mrs E Hamilton (EPC and CDC), the Clerk and one member of the public.

The first ten minutes of the meeting was available for the public to express a view or ask questions about any item on the Agenda.  The member of the public present started by complimenting the Parish Council on its new web site.  He then asked for the following observations to be considered:

The excessive speed of traffic driving through the village on both the A272 and A286  The dangers for south bound traffic when turning right into Budgenor Lodge from the A286 The lack of roundels on the road to reinforce both the 40mph and the 30mph speed  limits on the approaches to the village. The Clerk will pass these comments to Lt Col Pemberton (WSCC)

07/08
19 Apologies for Absence were received from Mrs A Marchand, Mr F Martin and Lt Col T Pemberton (WSCC)
20 Declaration of Interest was made by Mr M Taylor on Agenda
item 33
21 The Minutes of the meeting held on 9th May 2007 were signed as a true record.  Proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford, seconded by Mr J Stringer, all in favour
22 Matters Arising.  Ref Minute 07/08.9, a response from WSCC to our comments regarding the proposed changes to the pedestrian crossing and bus shelter re-siting at Wheelbarrow Castle/Dodsley Lane junction were read to the meeting. 
23 Report from the County Councillor.  In the absence of Lt Col Pemberton his report was read by the Chairman as follows:

Next County Local Committee meeting to be held on Tuesday 11th September at Midhurst Grammar School, with probable single item on the agenda “NHS, Fit for the Future”
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Directive – from 1st July producers of electrical products are required to finance collection, treatment, recovery, recycling and environmentally sound disposal of these products.  Should reduce fly tipping.
No Smoking: number of anomalies and questions about the new legislation can be found on smokefreeengland.co.uk
Schools Concessionary Travel will start in September with introduction of 3 in 1 scheme of reduced price travel for children up to 19 years in full time education.  Application forms can be collected from schools.  The card is free.
Proposed South Downs National Park.  WSCC considering their position but their stance has always been against a National Park. 
Bus Shelter at Wheelbarrow Castle/A286 junction.  Lt Col Pemberton agrees that the removal of the Parish Council owned bus shelter and its replacement with a cantilevered model would be totally unsuitable
24 Road Safety at Midhurst Intermediate School. The Board of Governors of the school are concerned, on Health and Safety grounds, about the possibility of an accident occurring outside the school when the children are being delivered and collected.  They are concerned about the speed of vehicles along Wheelbarrow Castle and the fact that children have to cross the road when vehicles are parked there.  Clerk to write to Lt Col Pemberton asking if a 20mph speed limit could be instigated in the vicinity of the school. 

In addition, a speed limit of 20mph along Easebourne Street from its junction with the A272 to the Primary School is also requested, due to the total absence of pavements along this stretch, where children and parents walk on their way to the school.

25

Report from the District Councillor.  Mrs Hamilton reported on the following:

The appeal against the refusal of planning permission for Budgenor Cottage has been dismissed.
Housing allocation – from 9th July 2007 a choice based lettings scheme goes live.  People on the housing waiting list will be able to bid for properties on a new web site and fortnightly list.  Decisions will be based on need and position on the waiting list.
PDSA PetCheck.  A free health check for dogs is available on Thursday 26th July from 10.00am to 5.00pm at the Grange Road Car Park, Midhurst
LDF (Local Development Framework) has been withdrawn as it does not meet the requirements of the Government Inspector. No immediate plans to re-submit.
South Downs National Park.  Recommend asking for an extension to the consultation period which currently runs only until 13th August 2007.  Clerk to write to DEFRA and ask for extension.
26 New Code of Conduct.  When the Council adopted the new Code of Conduct at the meeting on 9th May 2007 clause 12.2 should have been considered and adopted as a separate item.  Now considered and acceptance was proposed by Mr Stringer and seconded by Mr Dabson.All in favour.  In the light of this decision the Parish Council Standing Orders will need to be amended.  Clerk to draft new Standing Orders.
27 Finance:
a) The following payments were noted (cheque numbers 800-)
 
449 Midhurst & District Swimming Club - Grant £100.00
450 SALC, Annual Subscription 2007/2008 £425.60
451 Allianz Cornhill Insurance 2007/2008 £682.55
452 R.Martin, internal audit of accounts 2006/2007 £110.00
453 R.Wallis & Sons, burial ground maintenance 1.4.07 to 30.6.07 £609.73
454 CDC, election expenses £237.00
455 Playsafety, annual RoSPA report  on playground £77.55
456 C Allan, Clerk's Salary 1.4.07 to 30.6.07 £925.00
456 C.Allan, Clerk's travelling/telephone expenses £147.91
  b) The internal check of accounts for May and June 2007, by Mr Stringer, was noted
  c) Signing of the Statement of Assurance in respect of the Accounts for the year ended 31.03.07 was proposed by Mr Taylor and seconded by Mrs Hamilton.  All in favour.  Mr Heustice then read the internal auditor’s comments on the accounts, including his recommendation that the Clerk should be an employee and not a contractor as at present.
  d) Clerk’s employment status was discussed in the light of the internal auditor’s comments, guidance from the Inland Revenue and advice from the SALC solicitor.  Mr Stringer proposed and Mr Pack seconded the motion that the Clerk becomes an employee.  This arrangement to be backdated to the beginning of the financial year.  All in favour.
 

Councillors were given copies of the expenditure for the first quarter to 30th June 2007.
28

Planning:
The following planning decisions were noted:- EPC CDC
07/01341/TCA Hurst Park - Tree to have skirt lifted No obj Permit
07/01173/DOM Rhinegold, Dodsley Lane, side & rear extensions        No obj Permit
07/02210/DOM Rotherlea. Hollist Lane, replace conservatory roof No obj Permit
07/02217/TPA 16 Hurst Park, fell one pine tree      No obj Permit
07/01592/LBC North Mill, roof & guttering repairs, staircase & rooflight replacements No obj Permit
07/01992/LBC 379 Easebourne Lane, various internal alterations         No obj Permit
29 King Edward VII Hospital.  The hospital has been put up for sale, with planning permission, for £35 million.  A letter from Lt Col Pemberton, in response to out enquiry about the allocation of the S106 Highways contribution, was read to the meeting.  This is allocated as £525,000 for the DORIS service and £10,000 for safety improvement measures along the A286.  In addition, the developer must deliver works identified, including new road surfacing, lining, signing, wide and speed limit extension to enhance the operation of the junction of the A286 and Kings Drive.  Also the developer must introduce six passing bays along Kings Drive.  Informal talks have been held with Midhurst Town Council and CDC officers from the Communites department, concerning possible future uses for the S106 Community Facilities contribution of £173,250.
30

Reports from the Panel

a) Playground.  Mr Pack reported an incident of bottle smashing resulting in a large amount of broken glass spread across the playground. This was cleared by Councillors.  Clerk to chase the estimate for replacing the paling fence on the A272 boundary and report broken, hanging tree branch to Cowdray Estate.  Acceptance of the estimate to replace the cradle swing seats, from Playsafe Playgrounds in the sum of £395, was proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford and seconded by Mr Stringer.  Majority in favour.  Mr Taylor proposed and Mr Pack seconded the purchase of an additional litter bin.  Majority in favour.

b) Burial Ground.   Mr Guyatt had inspected the burial ground and reported several gravestone problems and a broken fence to the Church. The Jubilee bench needs some wooden slats replaced.

c) Footpaths.  Several properties in the village have hedges/shrubs/trees that are encroaching on the footpath. Clerk has already written to three, following a complaint from a member of the public.  Further letters to be written as necessary.

d) Grants. There are no new grant applications at the present time but a letter of thanks has been received from the Midhurst & District Swimming Club following a grant of £100 awarded at the last meeting

31 Budgenor Lodge S106 contribution.  Only very short list of suitable projects as many suggestions have been deemed unsuitable by the District Council as not conforming to Community Facilities criteria. Mrs Hamilton to check this situation with CDC legal department.   
32 Parish Council Website.  Mr Heustice congratulated Mr Taylor on the new web site which he has set up on behalf of the Parish Council. It was agreed that all Councillors have their photograph and a few personal details put on the web site.  Mr Taylor confirmed that the domain name www.easebourne.org was now registered to him, on behalf of the Parish Council, and could not, therefore, be taken by anyone else.
33 Cowdray Estate Shooting Ground.  The Estate has informed us that it is about to submit a planning application to CDC for permanent planning permission for the site.  When the plans are received Mr Pack proposed and Mr Guyatt seconded the calling of a public planning meeting to discuss them.  Majority in favour.
34 Cowdray Heritage Trust.  Mrs Hamilton is now the District Council representative on the Board of Trustees and Mr Guyatt offered to become the Parish Council representative in her place. Clerk to notify the Trustees.
35 Correspondence and notices received.  In addition to the notices and reports received, that the Councillors had previously been advised of, there were two items of late correspondence. 

District Association of Local Councils, Chichester Sub-District invited us to a meeting at Chichester on 16th July.  It was felt that this was a duplication of meetings as we already send representatives to the NW Frontier Community Forum.
Following the No Smoking legislation we are obliged to put “No Smoking” signs in any of our bus shelters that are enclosed on three sides.  Clerk to arrange this.
   

The meeting closed at 9.59pm

 

Next Parish Council meeting will be held on 12th September 2007 at 7.30pm in the Refectory, Easebourne.  All are welcome.

 

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