EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
WEDNESDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2008

Present: Mr I Heustice (Chairman), Mr J Stringer (Vice-Chairman), Mr J Dabson, Mrs J Deacon-Ford, Mr D Pack, Mr F Martin, Mrs A Marchand, Mr M Taylor, Mr B Gowar, Dr A Guyatt, Mrs E Hamilton (EPC and CDC), Lt Col T Pemberton (WSCC), the Clerk and 2 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. 

A member of the public said that although the Parish Council had decided against “Drive Safely through our Village” signs, on the grounds of cost, he hoped that consideration would be given to incorporating this wording in decorative village signs, if they could be erected using the Budgenor Lodge S106 Community Facilities contribution.  He also mentioned other road safety issues in the village.

A second member of the public was concerned at the loss of the bus lay-by, brought about by the pavement re-alignment and changes to the pedestrian crossing at Wheelbarrow Castle/Dodsley Lane junction.  Lt Col Pemberton said that the changes would not have taken place without a safety audit, undertaken by the County Council. The parishioner also mentioned the need to trim the hedges on the south side of Easebourne Lane, between the entrance to the Cowdray Estate Yard and the BP garage. He was told that this is the responsibility of the Cowdray Estate and the Clerk will ask if this could be done. 

08/09

43 Apologies for Absence: none

44 Declaration of Interest: Lt Col Pemberton declared an interest on Agenda item 55

45 The Minutes of the meeting held on 10th September 2008: were signed as a true record. Proposed by Mrs Marchand, Seconded by Mr Stringer – All in favour.  Mrs Deacon-Ford abstained as she was not at the September meeting.

46 Matters Arising: none

47 Report from the County Councillor, Lt Col Pemberton: copy below, please click here

48 Report from the District Councillor: Mrs Hamilton reported that the Executive Board of CDC voted to spend £470,000 from reserves to appoint a design team to draw up plans for the new Grange Centre in Midhurst. The “Fit for the Future” decision for the downgrading of St Richard’s Hospital has been put to one side to allow for discussions on a proposed merger between St Richards and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals.  To report any anti-social behaviour telephone 01243 534700.  The District Council is promoting “Heart Smart Walks”, led by volunteers.  For further information telephone 01243 534589.  From the 1st October 2008 there have been changes to the Planning Application criteria, although not to properties in the AONB. Details can be found on www.chichester.gov.uk. All Councillors have received a copy of the changes. 

49  Finance:
a) The following payments were noted (cheque numbers 100-)            

b) The receipt of £5698.75 from CDC for payment to Liftech ref. stair lift was noted

c) The receipt of £6250.00; precept for 01.10.08 to 31.03.09 was noted

d) The receipt of VAT refund in the sum of £2582.98 was noted

e) The internal check of accounts for September and October 2008, by Mr Stringer, was noted

f) Acceptance of the draft budget for 2009/2010 and Precept requirement of £12,500, was proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford and seconded by Mr Stringer.  All in favour.

50 Planning:

A new Premises Licence application for Gilhams Garage has been submitted to CDC.  As the application is identical to the existing licence, the Parish Council will make no representation.

51 Reports from Panels:

a) Playground: the new cradle swing equipment should be installed by the end of December.

b) Burial Ground:  Dr Guyatt mentioned some loose headstones. Mr Heustice said that these had already been reported to St Mary’s PCC.

c) Footpaths:  a footpath sign post is missing in Upperfield.  Clerk to report. The over-hanging hedge at Conifers School was discussed.  The Clerk said that letters had been sent to the school each year, for several years, asking that the hedge be cut back to the level of the perimeter wall.  This has not happened, and the hedge is usually just trimmed annually.  This has resulted in pedestrians, using the footpath along Easebourne Lane, being reduced to walking in single file.  In addition there are long brambles hanging over the footpath that could cause an injury.  The Clerk was asked to inform the school that unless the hedge is properly cut back the matter will be referred to the County Council.                                   

d) Grants: thank you letters for grants received from Easebourne Scout Group and Midhurst Community Bus Association.  In payment for the Parish Council’s poppy wreath is was proposed by Mr Stringer and seconded by Mrs Deacon-Ford to make a donation of £50 to the Royal British Legion.  All in favour.

52 Street Lighting: Following a request from a parishioner for lighting near her home to be turned off during the night, the meeting discussed the timing of Parish owned lighting (27 columns).  Easebourne should be on a “part night” tariff, meaning lights go off at midnight and on again from dawn till daylight.  However, several of our lights are on all night and it was proposed by Dr Guyatt and seconded by Mrs Deacon-Ford that all Parish owned lighting should be changed to the “part-night” tariff.  Majority in favour.
 
53 BT Telephone Kiosk, at Dodsley Lane near Egmont Road.  Proposed by BT to remove this kiosk unless CDC object or the Parish “adopts” it.  The kiosk was used  413 times in the last year (figure supplied by BT).  Parish Council to write to CDC to ask them to retain the kiosk, as cost to the Parish Council to “adopt” it could be about £500 pa.

54 War Memorial: was cleaned and re-pointed by the Parish Council, prior to the Remembrance Day service. Vicar thanked the Council for undertaking this work. 

55 Future of Midhurst Intermediate School Site: Mr Heustice  Mrs Hamilton and Mr Stringer had a meeting with the WSCC Cabinet Member for Education, Mr Peter Griffiths, to discuss the future of the Intermediate School site, should the building of the new Academy proceed on the Midhurst site, as the WSCC preferred option. The Parish Council’s suggestions of sports and recreation facilities, such as the Rotherfield Sports Ground, being incorporated on the site, were considered to fit in with the WSCC’s overall strategy.  In due course we should receive a preliminary paper, with an outline plan for the site, which will almost certainly include housing and affordable housing. The meeting was considered extremely useful, on both sides.    

56 Budgenor Lodge S106 update:  Payment of £3000 is about to be made as a contribution towards the Midhurst Mobile Youth Centre The new bus shelter has just been installed, with a £2000 contribution from the S106 funds. The funds are available for a period of 5 years from 31st March 2006.  However, it is not clear if decorative village signs and  
flower/shrub/bulb planting can be included in the scheme and the Clerk is to seek clarification.

57 Late Correspondence:  Request from WSCC Street Lighting Team for us to re-confirm our acceptance of the new PFI procurement agreement for our Parish owned street lighting. The cost to the Parish, per column, is likely to be £30pa and the arrangement will commence in Autumn/Winter 2009.  Under the agreement all street lights over 15 years old will be replaced.  Clerk to write and confirm, but also to say that we wish to retain control over the type of new lamp columns to be installed. Confirmation proposed by Mr Taylor and seconded by Mr Dabson.  All in favour.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm

Next Parish Council meeting will be held on 14th January 2009 at 7.30pm.

Mrs Carole Allan, Clerk to Easebourne Parish Council, Ashfield Cottage, 1 Ashfield Close, Midhurst, GU29 9RP.  Telephone: 01730 813374. Email: easebournepc@tiscali.co.uk

_____________________________

County Councillor’s Report to
Easebourne Parish Council

1. County Local Committee.  The next meeting of the Chichester (North) County Local Committee will be held at River Site of Midhurst Rother College on Tuesday 6th January 2009 at 1900hrs.

2. South East Plan.  I attended a meeting of SEERA on Friday 17th October and listened to the debate on the SE Plan and the proposed response to be made to Government by the Assembly.  Items of particular interest to West Sussex were: the numbers of housing imposed by the Minister – too many, and the windfall numbers and Eco Town numbers are excluded from the revised totals meaning that we could be asked to build in the region of 40,00 pa in the SE; the Plan deletes reference to protecting Strategic Gaps, the Assembly opposes this and asks for reinsertion; the Plan makes frequent reference to an additional runway at Gatwick Airport and the Assembly asks that these references be deleted and a statement inserted that says ‘we will maximize capacity at a one-runway two-terminal airport attracting inward investment and job opportunities.  On ECO towns, the Assembly calls on Government to abandon them where there is no support from local authorities

3. Review of Schools in the Rother Valley.  Having pressed the appropriate Cabinet Members to meet with the Parish Council, I am aware that meeting has now taken place - which I was unfortunately not able to attend - and I am also aware of the issues you raised at that meeting.  I have been appointed to be the West Sussex County Council Member of the Interim Local Governing Body (ILGB) of the Midhurst Rother College (to be) and so will be able to keep you abreast of developments, and of course feed local issues in the Rother Valley into the ILGB.  I therefore declare an interest, this being on your Agenda this evening.

4. Street Lighting to Budgenor Lodge.  It has been confirmed to me today, by the Acting Head of Street Lighting, that the improvement to take in Budgenor Lodge has been approved and programmed for February 2009 - cost split over this and next FY.  I have therefore today spoken with the Divisional Manager of Safety and Traffic and he agrees that if this lighting improvement illuminates the highway also, then in principle it should extend the 30 mph speed limit to the same point, and he will now explore that possibility with the Street Lighting Team.  I will keep you informed.

5. Speed Indicator Device (SID).  As I prepare this report, I am aware that you are likely to have a previously postponed briefing at tonight’s meeting [though not shown on the Agenda] and so I repeat this information that I have given you previously so that you have the complete picture.   You are aware that Chichester Police District have purchases a number of SIDs and are communicating with Parishes in the District and you are considering your own position.  May I remind you that in March I said that funding for SID deployment has been restored in WSCC through the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and that route is also an option you may wish to explore.  Ron.Paterson@westsussex.gov.uk is the contact for SSRP SID.  The process is that the Parish would be assessed and if it satisfies criteria, deployment would be free of charge.  If it does not, then a charge in the region of £50 per deployment would be made.

6. Vehicle Activated Sign North of Budgenor Lodge for Southbound traffic.  I have had an update this morning on the current position on this proposal and the answer is that the proposal has been dropped from the programme there not being sufficient justification for the expenditure of public funds, and the Parish not being able to contribute, as was previously believed.  The site and accident/speed data will continue to be monitored.  The estimated cost of a sign at this location is in the region of £8k plus the need for electrification.  We are not erecting solar/wind powered signs at the moment because of the thefts we have suffered recently. 

7. Roundels at the start of Speed Limits.  I refer to Minute 21 of the Meeting of the 9th July 2008 in which you agreed to ask for and fund the installation of a 40 mph Roundel on the A286, southbound at the entry to Easebourne.  If we were to have a 30 mph extension to Budgenor Lodge - which is being actively explored now (see para 4) - then the requirement would be revised to a 30 mph Roundel.  Therefore, if you have placed an order for work you should ask for it to be put on hold pending these decisions.

8. Easebourne Street Sign ‘Unsuitable for Heavy Vehicles.’ An Area wide order covering a number of routes for 'unsuitable for Heavy vehicles' included the Easebourne Street sign.  I am aware that a fitting gang is in the area, but I am not aware if the sign has yet been installed?

9. Budgenor Lodge.  The legal agreement for this development was signed on 22nd April 2008 and after further chasing, some of these works are in progress.  I will maintain visibility of this list until we are satisfied that work is completed. The works covered by the agreement include

(1) An informal pedestrian crossing at the junction of Wheelbarrow Castle and Dodsley Lane, together with tactile paving and footway improvements either side of the crossing - work in progress. (2) 'School Crossing' signs - work in progress. (3) An on road bus cage near the informal crossing. [Note - The wooden bus shelter will remain in its current location. This decision follows representations from the Parish Council who considered the proposed 'modern style' shelter would not sit well with the immediate rural environment]. (4) Bus stop lay-by in front of the Budgenor Lodge site. (5) A footway extension northwards from Budgenor Lodge entrance, covering the site frontage. [Although discussions were held to further extend the footway beyond Budgenor Lodge frontage, this was not included in the planning permission since the developer does not own the land required].

10. NHS.  You will be aware that Royal West Sussex (St. Richard's Hospital) and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trusts are considering merging to form one centrally managed organisation.  This would mean that St. Richard's, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals would be managed as one NHS Trust covering all three sites.  The two Trusts are currently carrying out a stakeholder engagement process (ending on 28th November 2008), including a number of events to explain the proposal to patients, staff, other stakeholders and interested people in the community.  This will be an opportunity for people to tell the Trusts what they think about the proposal and what they should take into account in planning the new organisation.  The feedback the Trusts receive will be analysed and reported to both Trust Boards in December, when they will decide the next step.  Further information, including an information leaflet, is available at both Trusts' websites:

http://www.rwst.nhs.uk/about-us/proposed-merger/

http://www.worthinghospital.nhs.uk/News/merger/proposal.htm

I previously sent you notice of this consultation and although some of the public events have now passed, there is one further opportunity for public attendance at the meeting below where the two Chief Executives and senior doctors will give a presentation about the proposal to invited stakeholders and interested members of the public who will be welcome to attend.

Southlands Hospital Stakeholder meeting
Monday 24 November 6.00 - 7.30pm (Lecture Theatre)

In addition, the Trusts will be organizing staffed public information stands so that members of the public can drop in and ask questions.

Public information event St. Richard's Hospital
Monday 24 November 2.00 - 5.00pm (Main Reception)

Public information event Worthing Hospital
Thursday 20 November 2.00 - 5.00pm (Penguin Foyer)

Public information event Southlands Hospital
Tuesday 25 November 2.00 - 5.00pm (Entrance Foyer, Hammy Lane)

You can also give your comments (N.B. feedback should be returned by 28th November 2008) to the Trusts in writing by post, e-mail or fax to:

12th November 2008             Lieutenant Colonel Tex Pemberton OBE

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