EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD
ON 9TH MARCH 2011
Present: Mr I Heustice (Chairman), Mr J Stringer (Vice-chairman), Mr D Pack, Mr J Dabson, Mrs J Macdonald-Lawson, Mr F Martin, Dr A Guyatt, Mrs A Marchand, Mrs J Deacon-Ford, Mrs E Hamilton (CDC), the Clerk and 4 members of the public.
The first ten minutes were available for the public to express a view or ask questions about any item on the Agenda.
Mr P Singer, a resident of Hollist Lane, gave the background to the ongoing problem of mud and flooding on the road (Agenda item 97). Because of the lack of action to rectify the situation he has made personal enquiries and suggests that there is a case to be answered under The Highways Act 1980, Section 100, subsection 4a and 4b. The Council asked the Clerk to write WSCC Highways, the Cowdray Estate, Mr J Renwick of Buddington Farm and the Environment Portfolio holder at CDC alerting them to the situation and the possibility of contravention of the Act.
10/11
85 Apologies for Absence: Mr B Gowar and Mr M Taylor
86 Declaration of Interest: None
87 The Minutes of the meeting held on 12th January 2011 were signed as a true record. Proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford, seconded by Dr Guyatt. All in favour.
88 Matters Arising: The planning application for Highmeads (Minute 10/11.77) has been withdrawn.
89 20 is Plenty: Meeting was addressed by Midhurst Town Councillor Peter Field who outlined his ideas for joining the national “20 is Plenty” scheme. His proposal is for a 20mph speed limit through all of Easebourne up to the Cowdray Golf Club on the A272 and up to north of Budgenor Lodge on the A286. The meeting discussed Mr Field’s ideas and were in favour of a 20mph speed limit in the vicinity of the Easebourne schools, particularly Easebourne Street where there are no footpaths leading to the Junior School. However, it was felt that 20mph was not suitable for the A272 and the A286. Easebourne is currently awaiting the change of speed limit from 40mph to 30mph on the A286 from Egmont Road to north of Budgenor Lodge and will assess motorists reactions to this change. The comment was made that speed limits only work when they are diligently enforced by the Police.
90 Report from County Councillor: Mr Brown did not attend the meeting.
91 Report from District Councillor: Mrs Hamilton reported that the Council Tax for 2011/2012 has been frozen. HM Revenue and Customs will be available, by appointment, at East Pallant House to offer general advice on PAYE, Self Assessment and Tax Credits. Ring CDC for an appointment. Plans for the new Grange Centre have been unveiled and are now proceeding for planning consent. Changes to Rural Housing Allocation System – on re-lets greater preference is to be given to local people on the waiting list. There were 4593 on the district waiting list in January.
92 Finance
a) To following payments were noted (cheque numbers 100-)
| 113 |
B Wegg, snow clearance |
40.00 |
114 |
K Marshall, bus shelter cleaning |
15.00 |
115 |
J Robertson, picnic table repair (VAT only) |
26.25 |
116 |
S Parry, snow clearance |
150.00 |
117 |
R Ware, snow clearance |
150.00 |
| 118 |
J Robertson, picnic table repair (insurance claim ex VAT) |
150.00 |
119 |
Earth Anchors, bench replacements (insurance claim) |
1776.00 |
120 |
Petty Cash |
42.32 |
b) The internal check of accounts for January and February 2011 was noted
c) Receipt of the St Mary’s Church Burial fees for 2010 in the sum of £1267.00 was noted
d) Receipt of final Budgenor Lodge S106 payment in the sum of £10,614.88, for the Cowdray Ruins floodlighting scheme was noted.
93 Planning:
| The following planning decisions were noted |
EPC |
CDC |
| 10/04651/DOM: |
4 Canada Cottages, side and rear extensions |
No Obj |
Permit |
| 10/04906/EXT: |
Ilex House, Upperfield, extension of 07/04913/OUT |
No Obj |
Permit |
| 10/05174/DOM |
High Path Cottage, erect garage/car port |
No Obj |
Permit |
| 10/05278/PLD |
Ashley, Upperfield, side and rear extensions |
No Obj |
Refuse |
| 10/05372/DOM |
1 Crossways, bedroom over car port |
No Obj |
Permit |
Mr Stringer pointed put that the application for Ashley had been refused on an administrative technicality and has since been re-submitted correctly.
King Edward VII Hospital application. A public meeting was held on 4th March, following a site visit by the CDC Area Planning Committee (North) members. The developer, City and Country, presented their plans and the CDC Planning Officers explained the parameters within which the application had to be considered. The public were able to comment. The application will go before the Planning Committee in April.
94 Reports from the Panels
a) Playground. Following vandalism, the repairs/replacements are now complete and reimbursement has been received from the Insurance Company – less a £250 excess on policy. Mr Pack suggested that the benches in the playground should be marked, to aid recovery in the event of them being stolen.
b) Burial Ground. No problems – expect maintenance to re-commence shortly.
c) Footpaths. Footpath from Upperfield reported as having been moved. Clerk to report to S Downs Joint Committee. Planning application submitted to replace Rights of Way marker with wooden memorial to Lord Nathan, to include Rights of Way marking, on footpath 1080 NE of Loves Farm.
d) Grants. 3 applications received. Midhurst Community Bus Association – Grant of £400 was proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford, seconded by Mr Stringer, all in favour. Citizens Advice Bureau – Grant of £300 was proposed by Dr Guyatt, seconded by Mr Stringer, all in favour. Victim Support – Grant of £50 was proposed by Mr Stringer, seconded by Mr Dabson, all in favour.
95 Localism Bill: following his attendance at a meeting that included discussion of the Localism Bill, Mr Heustice reported that the bill is in its early stages and many changes may occur in the future. A summary document will be given to all Councillors.
96 New Residents’ Welcome Pack: progress is being made on the pack and a prototype should be available at the next meeting.
97 Hollist Lane: Mud on road: Discussed at beginning of the meeting.
98 St Mary’s Churchyard: Another meeting has been held in the churchyard, between CDC, the Vicar and the Parish Council, to discuss action to rectify the sunken graves. It was agreed that the Church would check the possibility of filling the graves with soil and CDC would provide this. The Clerk to act as the intermediary between Church and CDC.
99 Elections – Thursday 5th May 2011. There will be 3 Parish Councillor vacancies, with the remaining 8 Councillors seeking re-election.
100 Cowdray Ruins: Easebourne Residents’ Passes: Letters outlining the scheme and application forms for free entry will be distributed to most households in Easebourne at the same time as notification of the Annual Village Meeting.
101 Annual Village Meeting – Wednesday 13th April 2011 at 7pm. The Chairman will give his annual report of Parish Council activities for the previous year and also introduce the Cowdray Ruins Easebourne Residents’ Free Pass scheme. There will be refreshments, followed by Heather Ongley, Operations Manager for The Cowdray Heritage Trust, who will give an illustrated talk on “Cowdray, Past, Present and Future”. Notification leaflets to be distributed by Councillors.
102 Annual Village Spring Clean – will be held on Monday 28th March 2011 at 6pm, meeting at the Cowdray Estate office.. The Clerk to obtain the necessary equipment.
103 Late Correspondence: the Clerk informed the meeting that there was an ongoing problem to try and get lamp column 27 in Hollist Lane replaced. Although this Parish Council owned lamp “fell off” its supporting column last August it has still not been replaced after numerous contacts with the PFI contractor and broken promises of action. WSCC has also been notified of the situation.
The meeting closed at 9.10pm
Next Parish Council meeting (AGM) will be held on 11th May 2011 at 7.00pm
Mrs Carole Allan, Clerk to Easebourne Parish Council
Ashfield Cottage, 1 Ashfield Close, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9RP
Telephone: 01730 813374 Email: easebournepc@tiscali.co.uk
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