EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 14TH NOVEMBER 2007

Present: Mr I Heustice (Chairman), Mr J Stringer (Vice-chairman), Mr B Gowar, Mr J Dabson, Mr D Pack, Mr F Martin, Mr M Taylor, Mrs J Deacon-Ford, Mrs A Marchand, Dr A Guyatt, Mrs E Hamilton (EPC & CDC), The Clerk and 3 members of the public.

The first ten minutes of the meeting were available for members of the public to express a view or ask questions about any item on the Agenda.

Mr R Cinquemani and Mr S Diver spoke about their proposal for a Young Peoples’ Amusement Centre, to be situated in Easebourne Lane at the unoccupied RAK tile shop – Agenda item 63

Mr P Perry, who had attended a previous meeting and voiced his concerns about road safety issues in Easebourne, asked if the village signs on the approaches to Easebourne could incorporate the wording “please drive carefully through the village”.

07/08

53 Apologies for Absence: Lt Col T Pemberton (WSCC)

54 Declaration of Interest: Mr B Gowar on Agenda item 63, Mr M Taylor on Agenda item 67, Mr B Gowar and Mrs E Hamilton on Agenda item 62(d) Midhurst Area Cycling.

55 The Minutes of the meeting held on 12th September 2007 were signed as a true record.  All in favour.

56 Matters Arising: Minute 07/08.45 – Confirmation from WSCC that the proposed replacement of our street lighting stock, under a PFI initiative, would be on a like-for-like basis and we would be consulted before implementation. Minute 07/08.53(4) – 6 free cycle stands have now been received from WSCC and are awaiting installation.

57 Report from the County Councillor: in the absence of Lt Col Pemberton the Chairman read the County Councillor’s report: 

The next meeting of the Chichester (North) County Local Committee will be held on Tuesday 11th December 2007 at 7pm at Midhurst Grammar School (Main Hall). 

Operation Crackdown has proved to be very popular with over 700 reports made by the public to the police, who have sent letters to those reported.  Remember the slogan “Don’t Tolerate it, Report it” – reports can be made on 01243 642222 or www.operationcrackdown.org

Schools in Rother Valley – Have your say.  Start of consultation on the future for schools in the Midhurst and Petworth area. Public meeting to be held on Tuesday 20th November 2007 at 7pm at Midhurst Intermediate School.

Speed Survey North and South of Budgenor Lodge. To be undertaken in light of public concern and results notified as soon as available.

Street Lighting.  In view of public concern about lack of street lighting in the area of Budgenor Lodge the Street Lighting Team have been asked for a report. Results to be notified when available.

Speed Indicator Device (SID).  Previously requested by Parish Council, but has run into a funding issue which is being addressed. 
Clerk to contact  Lt Col Pemberton/Highways Department to ask why “dolly posts” have been installed on the A286 at the top of Henley Hill, thereby eliminating a useful lay-by.  Also could a kerbside safety rail be fixed in Wheelbarrow Castle, near Snowhill, where a footpath, used by children, descends to the road.

At the suggestion of the Chairman, the Council agreed to bring forward Agenda item 63

63 Business proposal for a Young Peoples’ Amusement Centre in Easebourne.

Having listened to the presentation by Mr Cinquemani at the beginning of the meeting Councillors were asked to pass comments on the proposal.  Opinion was divided, with some Councillors thinking it a very good idea to provide a youth facility whilst others were concerned about young people congregating in a residential area, with possible noise/litter implications.  Parking problems for staff, and parents dropping off/collecting their children, were also raised in view of the current lack of parking in the area.  It was agreed that when an official planning application is submitted to the District Council it will be considered at a public meeting, called by the Parish Council. Mr Gowar declared an interest.

59 Adoption of revised Standing Orders was proposed by Mrs J Deacon-Ford and seconded by Mr F Martin.  All in favour. (copy appended to these Minutes)

60 Finance:

a) The following payments were noted (cheque numbers 800-) 

b) The internal check of accounts for September and October 2007, by Mr Stringer, was noted

c) Receipt of the final audited accounts for year ended 31st March 2007 was noted, together with confirmation that they had been displayed for the required period

d) The receipt of a VAT refund for the period 01.04.07 to 30.09.07 in the sum of £446.92 was noted

e) The receipt of the Parish Precept for the half year, in the sum of £6250.00 was noted

f) The receipt of a Portman/Nationwide take-over bonus in the sum of £312.17 was noted

g) The expenditure of approx. £750.00 on a new street lamp at Cowdray Road was proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford and seconded by Mrs A Marchand.  All in favour.

61 Planning

The Council expressed surprise that the application for 36 Lutener Road had been refused in the light of the many similar extensions/conversions in the road.  Clerk to provide Mrs Hamilton with reasons for refusal and she will take the matter up with CDC Planning Department.
Council informed about planning application to re-develop Gillhams Garage, Easebourne Lane.  Generally well received as it shows a commitment to improving a village facility.  Concern was expressed about possible 24 hour opening and light pollution.  We understand that the 24 hour opening would apply to a “credit card only” petrol pump and not the entire service station. In our response to the application we will not object, but will raise the concern about light pollution and ask for confirmation that the entire service station will not be open for 24 hours per day. 

a) Playground.  The new chestnut paling fence has been installed, together with notices on the entrance gates requesting “no glass or dogs in the playground”.  With the removal of  the brambles and undergrowth near the new fence a bench, without wooden seating slats, has been uncovered. Estimate obtained for replacing these and damaged wooden slats on the other benches.  See Agenda item 65 – possibility of new benches. Mr Taylor reported no cans etc. found in the playground recently although a few weeks ago  he found 40+ cans on a Sunday morning.  Matter reported to the Police and Protech Security, who visit the playground periodically.

b) Burial Ground.  No problems

c) Footpaths.  Following request at the last Council meeting the CDC Dog Warden visited High Path to check on the dog-fouling situation.  He found no fouling but has put up several warning notices.

d) Grants.  Thank you received from Midhurst Community Bus Association for grant of £250 awarded recently.  New grant application received from Midhurst Area Cycling. Mr Gowar and Mrs Hamilton declared an interest.  It was felt that MAC had sufficient funds as no   notable expenditure had occurred during the last year.  Although no grant was awarded Clerk to write to MAC and suggest re-applying if a specific need arises. A donation of £50 to the Royal British Legion was proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford and seconded by Mr Stringer.  All in favour.

63 Item discussed earlier in the meeting

64 Bus shelters and other Budget 2008/9 items.  Following a complaint from a member of the public about the state of some of our bus shelters the Clerk produced a list of their condition. Although several shelters need clearing of undergrowth the shelter causing most concern is the one outside the Conifers School, Easebourne Lane.  This was given to us, free, in 1999 and has now deteriorated badly.  The County Council usually offers grants of 50% of the cost of new or replacement shelters and the draft budget for 2008/9 will include an amount to cover the cost of a replacement (subject to Agenda item 65). Other large items of expenditure that may need to be taken into consideration when drafting the budget include new fencing around the remainder of the playground and renewing/adding safety surfacing under certain items of playground equipment.  The Clerk will submit the draft budget to the Finance Panel prior to the January Council meeting. 

65 Budgenor Lodge S106 contribution. Arrangements for the installation of a stair lift for the Refectory are now progressing.  Following the September meeting Councillors expressed their preferences as to which items we should proceed with in respect of the S106 monies. As a result we will be obtaining estimates for new benches in the playground and burial ground, new items of playground equipment, suitable for younger children, traffic calming interactive signs and new bus shelters.  It was proposed by Dr Guyatt and seconded by Mr Gowar that these estimates  be passed to Chichester District Council for approval. All in favour. 

66 The CDC Annual Meeting with Parishes was held on 29th October and attended by Mr Heustice and Mr Stringer.  There was very little of new interest to report, especially as some of the items had been covered at a recent NW Frontier meeting.

67 Meeting with the Cowdray Estate.  An informal meeting was held on 8th October 2008 when Councillors were invited to comment on the Estate’s plans for the future of its Works Yard, together with other possible projects.

68 Correspondence and notices received

At the re-opened Public Inquiry into the Proposed South Downs National Park, due to commence in February 2008, Mrs Hamilton has been registered to speak on behalf of the Parish Council.


Late correspondence: Invitation from WSCC to appoint representatives of the Parish Council to meet Officers from Highways and Transport in order to discuss proposals for safety measures on the A272 (specifically through Easebourne).  Mr Dabson, Mr Stringer and Mr Gowar to represent the Parish Council.  Clerk to arrange suitable date/time.

The meeting closed at 9.50pm

The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 9th January 2008 at 7.30pm in the Refectory.

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

BACK TO TOP