Easebourne Parish Council

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8TH MARCH 2006 IN THE REFECTORY, EASEBOURNE

Present: Mrs E Hamilton, Mr J Stringer, Mr J Dabson, Mr D Pack, Mr F Martin, Mr I Heustice, Mrs A Marchand, Mrs J Deacon-Ford, Mr P Rhodes, Mr B Gowar, Mr M Fay (CDC), Mr T Pemberton (WSCC) and the Clerk

05/06
68 Apologies for absence were received from Mr D Warner

69 Declarations of Interest were made by Mrs Hamilton and Mr B Gowar in connection with Midhurst Area Cycling (Agenda item 05/06 80)

70 The Minutes of the meeting held on 11th January 2006 were signed as a true record . All in favour

71 Matters Arising: Minute 05/06 67/1: Mrs Hamilton and Mr Martin reported on the Chichester District Parking Forum at which the Midhurst Parking Study was discussed. They were impressed with the way in which the committee had taken on board the criticisms of the Parking Study and confirmed that a sub-committee had been set up specifically to pursue the Midhurst parking problems. Mr Martin agreed to serve on this sub-committee. It is hoped to rearrange the Grange car park as soon as possible to gain a further 30 spaces. Another parking survey has been commissioned to look into the length of stay of each vehicle in Midhurst car parks. The sub-committee meets again on 11th April 2006.

72 Report from the County Councillor: Mr Pemberton reported on the following:
Traffic Management Plan – Road Safety improvements to the A286, north of Budgenor Lodge, are now being implemented. Improvements, south of Budgenor Lodge, and on the A272 are still being considered. Options are also still under consideration in respect of a crossing at the Wheelbarrow Castle/Hollist Lane junction with the A286.
County Local Committee – the next meeting will be held on 29th March 2006, at Petworth Primary School, commencing at 7.0pm.
Bird Flu – a press release from WSCC provides guidance on the possibility of an outbreak of Avian Flu. In outline, the guidance reminds people that it is a legal requirement to register with DEFRA if they keep 50 or more birds for commercial purposes. Further information is available from www.westsussex.gov.uk
The Joy of Text - There has been a pilot course, entitle “Manage your Mobile” aimed at the mature user. The course has demonstrated how the mobile telephone can be used to receive important information, such as reminders of GP surgery and dental appointments, as well as keeping in touch with family. For further information contact the Adult Education Centre at Capron House, Midhurst.
Grass Cutting Schedule – Urban areas will have their grass cut 11 times between March and November this year and the Rural areas will receive 3 cuts.

73 Report from the District Councillor: Mr Fay spoke of the following items;
CDC Budget 2006/2007 will be £12.9 million – an increase of 2.5% over last year.
Local Government Reorganization; this is currently under discussion to decide the future of County, District and Parish Councils.
King Edward VII Hospital: An application for an extension of the planning permission granted in May 2004, which expires shortly, has been submitted. As the Parish Council is unaware of what has been happening with regard to the development over the past two years Mr Fay agreed to investigate the position with the Planning Officers. Upon receipt of his report the Parish Council will respond to the planning application accordingly. If the application is brought before the Planning Control Committee Mrs Hamilton and Mr Stringer will attend on behalf of the Parish Council. It was noted that the new application was for a change to Condition 1 only.

74 Finance:
a) the following payments were noted (cheque numbers 800-)
401 WSCC, new lamp post, Egmont Road £760.78
402 St Mary’s PCC, hire of the Refectory £100.00
403 Southern Electric, street lighting 24.9.05 to 23.12.05£ 142.33
404 Osborne Signs, new notice board £460.00

b) The internal check of accounts for January and February 2006, by Mr Stringer, was noted
c) The receipt of burial fees for 2005 in the sum of £958.00, was noted
d) Change of street lighting electricity supplier from Southern Electric to EDF (via WSCC contract), in order to obtain more favourable charges, was proposed by Mr Stringer and seconded by Mr Martin. All in favour
e) It was proposed to not renew the annual subscription to Action in rural Sussex. Proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford and seconded by Mr Stringer. Majority in favour.

75 Planning:
The following planning decisions were noted EPC CDC
05/04119/LBC: Unit 2 Riverground Stables, Cowdray Ruins,
to provide café and sales area Obj Grant
05/04131/FUL: Unit 2 Riverground Stables, Cowdray Ruins,
to provide café and sales area Obj Permit
05/04262/DOM: Hurst Cottage, Old Buddington Lane, demolish
garage, construct car barns with office over No obj Permit
05/04259/FUL: Bailey Unit, Midhurst Community Hospital,
single storey extension No obj Permit
05/04504/OUT: Nightons, Hollist Lane, erect one dwelling on plot Obj Refuse
05/04825/LBC: Budgenor Lodge, demolish dangerous chimney No obj Grant

Planning Application Procedure. After the last Council meeting the Clerk wrote to Mr Kelley, the CDC Solicitor, in his capacity as a member of the Standards Committee, requesting a meeting (Minute 05/06.63). Mr Kelley’s letter in response, dated 24th January 2006, was circulated to all Councillors. A meeting was refused, but his advice was contained within the letter. Our procedures were again discussed by the Council with the following comments made by individual Councillors:
Mr Stringer said that of 170 Easebourne planning applications, between November 2002 and November 2005, the Parish Council made no representation/objection in 166 cases. The other 4 applications were of great importance to the village and were therefore discussed at public meetings. He felt that there was an over emphasis on collective action. He also referred to the weekly column in the Midhurst Observer which invited the public to make representations directly to CDC on the published planning applications.
Mrs Hamilton voiced the opinion that the Council must be seen to be conforming to the current expectations of transparency within local government.
Mr Heustice referred to the fact that, as a new Councillor, he had recently been on a New Councillor’s Training course where he was told that planning application meetings had to be open to the public and he therefore felt that the Parish Council should change its consultation method.
Mr Dabson reminded the Council that the Parish was only a consultee and that the District Council was the determining authority to whom any member of the public could make a representation.
Mrs Marchand said that we had an obligation to our parishioners to allow them to pass an opinion, before the Parish Council responded to CDC, and she therefore supported the change to consultation open to the public.
Mr Martin was concerned that under the present way of assessing planning applications the members of the Planning Panel did not actually meet. The application is circulated between members, who make their comments in writing, before the Clerk responds to CDC, based on their observations.
Mr Gowar suggested that, upon receipt of planning applications, the public are informed via the notice boards and website. They will be invited to request the calling of a meeting if they wish to express a view or question the Parish Council about its response. Mr Gowar proposed that this procedure be followed, on a trial basis, for one year. At the Annual Village Meeting, to be held on 12th April 2006, and in the Newsletter and “United”, parishioners will be told about the Council’s discussions and the trial basis arrangements. Any large scale planning applications of general interest, will continue, as at present, to be discussed at a village meeting.

76 Reports from panels:
a) Playground: Mrs Marchand reported that the wooden beam, on the old rocking horse base, has become rotten and worn away in places and may present a hazard. The Clerk will investigate the cost of a replacement beam.
b) Burial Ground: No problems to report.
c) Footpaths: No problems to report.
d) Grants: No applications for grants.

77 Village Action Plan:
a) Communication issues: The new notice board outside the Village Stores and Post Office is now in place. It has been repositioned and is much easier to view, from the footpath instead of from the road, where it was often obscured by parked vehicles.
The steps to the notice board at Dodsley Grove/Dodsley Lane have been damaged for a second time, possibly by a large vehicle such as the refuse collection lorry. Instead of paying to have them repaired again the Clerk has been asked to obtain an estimate for the repositioning of the steps, away from the path of large vehicles.

78 Annual Spring Clean:This will be held on Monday 27th March 2006, at 6.0pm, meeting at the Cowdray Estate Office car park. All equipment will be provided and helpers are very welcome. Helpers participate at their own risk. The Clerk to write to schools, either inviting volunteers or to ask if the pupils would help to clear the litter in their immediate vicinity.

79 Annual Village Meeting: This will be held on Wednesday 12th April 2006 at 7.0pm and a guest speaker is being arranged.

80 Midhurst Area Cycling: Mrs Hamilton reported that part of the footpath from Stedham to Midhurst had been cleared by volunteers and proved to be six feet wide and most suitable for cyclists. It was also hoped to hold a cycle rally in Midhurst, probably on 8th April 2006. The issue of cycling is to be discussed at the next County Local Committee meeting on 29th March 2006.

81 Off Road Vehicles: The Council was informed of the formation of a group to address the problem of illegal off road vehicles in West Sussex. The group has held two meetings to date and Mr Martin has agreed to attend the next meeting on 27th April 2006 to represent the Parish Council.

82 Cowdray Heritage Trust: Mrs Hamilton reported that it is hoped to erect a notice board at the Ruins site, to update the public on the renovations currently in progress.

83 Correspondence:
2) Design Principles Consultation. It was decided not to send a representative to the Midhurst Town Council meeting on 20th March.

The meeting closed at 10.0pm

Annual Village Meeting: 12th April 2006 at 7.0pm in the Refectory.
Next Parish Council Meeting (AGM): 10th May 2006 at 7.00pm in the Refectory.

All members of the public are welcome to attend.

Mrs Carole Allan, Clerk to Easebourne Parish Council
Ashfield Cottage, 1 Ashfield Close, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9RP
Telephone: 01730 813374
Email: parishcouncil@easebourne.fsnet.co.uk