MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 9TH NOVEMBER 2005

Present: Mrs E Hamilton, Mr D Warner, Mr J Stringer, Mr P Rhodes, Mr B Gowar, Mr I Heustice, Mr D Pack, Mr C Hill, Mrs J Deacon-Ford, Mr J Dabson, Mr M Fay (CDC), the Clerk and one member of the public.

05/06

41 Apologies for absence were received from Mrs A Marchand and Mr T Pemberton (WSCC)

42 The Minutes of the meeting held on 14th September 2005 were signed as a true record. All in favour.

43 Matters Arising: reference Minute 05/06 – 38, letter received from Chichester in Partnership acknowledging the comments made by the Parish Council in their letter of 26th September 2005.

44 Councillor Resignation: Mr C Hill offered his resignation from 9th November 2005 and this was accepted by the Council with Mrs E Hamilton extending the Council’s thanks for his contribution during the period he held office.

45 County Councillor, Mr T Pemberton, was absent from the meeting but sent a written report on the following matters;
Traffic Management: A firm of Consulting Engineers has been appointed to undertake a safety audit, in particular with regards to a possible formal crossing point on the A286 at the Wheelbarrow Castle/Hollist Lane junction. Further information will be available when their audit/report is completed. A package of other road safety measures, that have been previously discussed, will probably be delivered in the Spring of next year.
County Local Committees: the next meeting will take place on 14th December 2005 at a venue to be advised.
Sussex Police: a report has been received from the Chief Inspector outlining the measures being taken by the police to tackle anti-social behaviour and disorder
In the absence of the County Councillor the Clerk was asked to contact him regarding two items:
We would like to receive a justification for the increase in cost of maintaining the Parish owned street lights from £12.95 per column per year to £18.19, this being an increase of 39%
The damage to a lamp post, that the Parish Council is being asked to replace at their expense, when the damage was almost certainly caused by WSCC grass cutting contractors.

46 District Councillor, Mr M Fay reported that it was still not too late for people to respond to the latest consultation paper on the Local District Framework although the closing date was officially 4th November 2005. There was still no news of progress in respect of the King Edward VII Hospital development.
Mr Stringer asked Mr Fay if he would particularly watch progress, in the LDF, on the provision of leisure and sporting facilities in Easebourne/Midhurst as this issue had yet to be addressed.
Mrs Hamilton expressed concern about the District Council’s decision to appoint a company (MHA Ltd) to randomly survey private sector homes to establish their condition. The Parish Council fails to see how this can be “of considerable benefit to all residents in the district”
47 Finance:
a) The following payments were noted (cheque numbers 800-)
378 Midhurst Music Society, grant £100.00
379 St Mary’s PCC, Toddler Group set-up grant £200.00
380 Midhurst Community Bus Association, grant £200.00
381 Citizens Advice Bureau, grant £200.00
382 R Wallis, burial ground maintenance 01.07.05 to 30.09.05 £569.65
383 Mazars, external audit for year ended 31.03.05 £141.00
384 Cowdray Estate, playground rent for 29.09.05 to 24.03.06 £75.00
385 E Hamilton, chairman’s honorarium 01.04.05 to 30.09.05 £50.00
386 C Allan, clerk’s salary for 01.07.05 to 30.09.05 £875.00
386 C Allan, clerk’s travel/telephone expenses £58.03
387 WSCC, street light maintenance 01.10.04 to 30.09.05 £410.84
388 S Electric, street light electricity 28.06.05 to 23.09.05 £111.63
389 D Warner, additional bench for playground £10.00
390 Warner Wright, web site name registration £10.45
391 Butterworth, “Local Council Administration” manual £52.95

b) The receipt of the Parish Precept for 01.10.05 to 31.03.06, in the sum of £5750.00, was noted
c) The receipt of VAT refund for the period 01.04.05 to 30.09.05, in the sum of £902.06, was noted
d) The internal check of accounts for September and October 2005, by Mr Stringer, was noted
e) The receipt of the Audited accounts for the year ended 31.03.05, and the display of these on the notice boards for the required period of time, was noted
f) All Councillors had received a copy of the proposed budget for 2006/2007 together with the suggested Precept required, this remaining at £11,500. Acceptance of the budget and Precept was proposed by Mr Dabson and seconded by Mr Warner. All in favour

48 Planning:
The following planning decisions were noted
05/01520/LBC: Budgenor Lodge No obj (EPC) Grant (CDC)
05/01519/FUL: Budgenor Lodge No obj (EPC) Permit (CDC)
05/02905/FUL: Budgenor Lodge amendments No obj (EPC) Permit (CDC)
05/02909/LBC: Budgenor Lodge amendments No obj(EPC) Grant (CDC)
05/02561/DOM: Bellings Barn, Easebourne Street, roof lights,
chimney breast and tool shed No obj (EPC) Permit (CDC)
05/02250/DOM: 29 Hurst Park, fence and gate retrospective No obj (EPC) Permit (CDC)
05/03067/DOM: Willow House Hollist Lane, renewal of 00/7100 No obj (EPC) Permit (CDC)
05/03129/DOM: 24 Cowdray Road, conservatory No obj (EPC) Permit (CDC)
05/03197/FUL: Benbow Cottages, bio-mass heating installation No obj (EPC) Permit (CDC)
05/03282/LBC: Riverground Stables, fitting out as shop, ticket
office, lavatories for Cowdray Ruins No obj (EPC) Grant (CDC)
05/03293/DOM: Conduit House, Cowdray Ruins, external repairs,
internal refurbishment and upgrade services No obj (EPC) Grant (CDC)
The email from a parishioner objecting to the Council’s response in connection with planning application EB/04/02624/DOM was noted. It was also mentioned that planning application EB/05/03199/DOM, for the same property has recently been granted by CDC.
A discussion took place as to whether planning applications should be considered at meetings open to the public or by circulation as at present. Mrs Hamilton read a letter from Mr M Kelley, CDC District Solicitor, forwarded to us by SALC, quoting the legal background to the issue. Mr Stringer read from this letter that the Parish Council could continue to assess planning applications, as they do at the moment, under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972. Mrs Hamilton expressed her view that the Parish Council should be seen to follow the District Solicitor’s advice that these meetings be held in public. After lengthy discussion Mr Stringer invoked Easebourne Parish Council Standing Order No 6f “The Question now be put”. The motion “that planning applications continue to be dealt with, as at present, under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972” was proposed by Mr Stringer and seconded by Mr Dabson. Majority in favour with Mrs Hamilton unable to support the motion.
49 Reports from panels:
a) Playground b) Burial Ground c) Footpaths – no issues to report
d) Grants – Letters of thanks had been received from, Midhurst Community Bus Association, Midhurst Music Society and Citizens Advice Bureau following the award of grants to them at the last Council meeting.
After discussion three further grants were awarded to the following:
Royal British Legion for a poppy wreath and donation £50.00
Proposed by Mr Stringer and seconded by Mr Dabson. All in favour
Midhurst Area Cycling for ongoing activities £50.00
Proposed by Mr Stringer and seconded by Mr Dabson. All in favour
Mrs Hamilton, Mr Warner and Mr Gowar declared an interest in Midhurst Area Cycling and did not vote.
St Mary’s Church, “Friendship Teas” for their December meeting 25.00
Proposed by Mr Dabson and seconded by Mr Hill. All in favour
Mr Pack declared an interest in the Friendship Teas and did not vote.

50 Village Action Plan:
a) Communication issues: Due to the poor condition of the existing notice board estimates were considered for a replacement , to be positioned outside the post office, and acceptance of an estimate in the sum of £460, from Osborne Signs, for a glazed front board was proposed by Mr Warner and seconded by Mr Pack. All in favour.
b) Affordable Housing: Mrs Hamilton told the meeting that the building of affordable homes at Budgenor Lodge was well advanced and they should be available for occupation in approximately March/April 2006.
c) Traffic Management: note the comments under Report from County Councillor.

51 A meeting between Councillors and Mr R Windle of the Cowdray Estate, took place on 29th September 2005 and was attended by Mrs J Deacon-Ford and Mr D Warner. Mr Windle took the Councillors to see changes being made in the Estate yard, and also the conversion of Langham Stables at Lodsworth into units occupied by a chocolate maker, a bread maker and a micro-brewery. The visit concluded with a tour of Moor Farm, led by the farm manager. The clerk was asked to write to Mr Windle expressing the thanks of the Council for a most enjoyable and informative visit.
52 Cowdray Heritage Trust: a contract has now been signed for the commencement of the main conservation work which is due to start on 21st November 2005. The question of adequate parking for visitors to the attraction was raised and the Clerk was asked to write to the District Council stressing the urgency of the situation.
53 Easebourne Refectory: In a letter from St Mary’s Church the Council were informed of the necessity to carry out major structural repairs to the Grade I listed Refectory, in the next few years. As there will also be improvements to the internal facilities (including the suggestion that a stair lift be fitted) the Parish Council were asked if they had any ideas to offer in the way of requirements for the Council meetings. As the Parish Council only meets six times a year it was felt that the existing facilities were perfectly adequate for these meetings. Clerk to respond.
54 Correspondence: there were no comments offered in respect of the list of correspondence received that had been circulated with the Agenda

The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on 11th January 2006 at 7.30pm in the Refectory. All parishioners are welcome to attend.
The meeting closed at 9.10pm

Mrs Carole Allan, Clerk to Easebourne Parish Council
Ashfield Cottage, 1 Ashfield Close, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9RP
Telephone: 01730 813374