EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 12TH SEPTEMBER 2007

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

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

Mr D Gates, a resident at Budgenor Lodge, spoke of the excessive speed of traffic through the village, despite the speed limits.  Also he expressed concern that there is no street lighting on the A286 north of the Hollist Lane/Wheelbarrow Castle junction.  This is of particular concern now that Budgenor Lodge is becoming occupied.  He also expressed concern about dog fouling generally and in particular at the children’s playground, together with the fact that broken glass has been found there recently.

Mr A Sutton, representing Easebourne Village Institute, wished the Council to know that the Institute is investigating the possibility of becoming a Registered Charity, thus opening up its accessibility to all villagers.  It would therefore become more commercially orientated and the hall would be available for use by many local organisations.

07/08

40 Apologies for Absence: None

41 Declaration of Interest: by Mr I Heustice and Mr D Pack in connection with Agenda item 51 relating to St Mary’s Church PCC.

42 The Minutes of the meetings held on 11th July 2007 and 8th August 2007 were signed as a true record.  All in favour.

43 Matters Arising: None

44 The report from the County Councillor: Lt Col T Pemberton reported the following: 
               
a)  County Local Committee.  The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 11th December 2007 at 7pm at a venue to be determined.

b) New Chief Constable of Sussex Police Authority from 1st October 2007 will be Mr Martin Richards.

c) Operation Crackdown.  Recently launched operation with the slogan “Don’t Tolerate it, Report it”.  This enables the public to report breeches of the law, including speeding, thoughtless driving, under age driving, drink or drug driving, tailgating, mobile phone use whilst driving, unsafe vehicles, abandoned and untaxed vehicles.  Reports can be made on 01243 642222 or www.operationcrackdown.org

d) The ‘3 in 1’ Card.  From the start of the autumn school term this card provides reduced and half fares for 5 to 19 year olds in full time education, not only to places of education but also in the evenings and at weekends.  It is also a proof of age card and can be used to obtain discounts with numerous traders.

e) Trading Standards interpretation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations.  A distributor is entitled to charge for taking away your old machine when they deliver a new one.  However, if you take the old machine to them they have a duty to accept it and dispose of it free of charge. A Designated Collection Facility, such as Bepton Road, Midhurst, will accept your old equipment free of charge if you take it there.

f) Requests for 20mph speed limits at Midhurst Intermediate and Easebourne Primary Schools.  Following the requests arising from  Minute 07/08 24 of the last meeting.  WSCC has introduced a programme of School Safety Zones which include 20mph approaches, but only at the time of school starting and finishing.  Because there have been no casualties at either school they are not included in the first tranche.  However, it is intended to introduce SSZs at all schools in West Sussex and it is hoped to speed up the programme with additional funding.

g) Roundels on the Road.  As requested by a member of the public at the Meeting held on 11th July 2007.  There are regulations about the siting of these speed roundels.  There is a possibility that the A272 speed management scheme could give Easebourne a 30mph ‘gateway’, outside the illuminated area to the East, with red high friction bands and 30mph roundels.  The Parish Council will be consulted in due course.

h) Right turn into Budgenor Lodge.  Also following a request from a member of the public at the meeting on 11th July 2007.  The scheme went through a safety audit and at no time were measures considered necessary.  The junction is not considered as operating unsafely.  The sight line is good and measures are included to provide access to buses and a bus stop shelter, still to come.  There is also the possibility of a footpath to connect with the path further north of Budgenor Lodge although this issue is with legal services.

After further discussion about road safety matters Lt Col Pemberton was asked about the cost of speed activated illuminated warning signs.  These would be in the region of £7,000 to £10,000 dependant on the availability of an electricity supply. 
Lt Col Pemberton also spoke of a scheme, currently on trial, whereby a team of Rangers would be available to Parishes, on a regular basis, to carry out various tasks as requested by the Parish Council.  These could include road sign cleaning, litter clearance, painting of street furniture, undergrowth clearance etc.

45 WSCC ‘Footway Lighting’ Agreements. The County Council, with whom we have a contract to maintain our street lighting stock, is proposing, from 2009, to procure this service via a Private Finance Initiative (PFI).  Most of our maintenance service would remain the same but there would  be certain changes.  Under the terms of the PFI the contractor would take the risk of equipment being damaged by vandals, road traffic accidents or ceasing to be maintainable and replace all failed equipment at no extra charge. The major change from the existing arrangements would be that during the initial 5 years of the contract the contractor would replace the whole Parish inventory of equipment over 15years old.  This would be the majority of our inventory.  In order to offer this service the annual charges are likely to increase from the current £19.15 per column to £27 per column.  We have 27 columns in Parish ownership.

Mr Stringer proposed and Mr Dabson seconded the proposal that we accept the new terms with the proviso that we are consulted on the type of lamp columns that are used for replacement purposes.  All in favour.

46 Report from the District Councillor.  Mrs Hamilton reported the following:

CDC are still actively supporting the “Save St Richards Hospital” campaign. They are also pressing for the areas that may be excluded from a smaller proposed South Downs National Park to be given, or retain, their Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status.
Using the Chichester District Plan 1999 an interim statement has been issued with regard to the number of ‘affordable’ homes required on each new housing development site.  In a development of 5 to 9 homes the requirement is 20% and in a development of over 10 homes 40% will be required.  

47 Revised Standing Orders.  Due to more changes required than anticipated the Clerk will produce a draft document for circulation to all Councillors with adoption deferred to the next Parish Council meeting.

48 Finance:
a) To note the following payments (cheques numbers 800-)

b) The internal check of accounts for July and August 2007, by Mr Stringer, was noted.

c) It was confirmed that the notices of electors rights to inspect the accounts for year ended 31st March 2007 have been displayed for the required period.

49 Planning

50 Reports from the Panels

a) Playground The new cradle swing seats have been fitted but the Clerk is to contact the supplier as several rubber caps have already become detached. The new litter bin has been delivered and is awaiting fixing.  Following the discovery of broken glass and dog fouling the Clerk is to arrange for signs to be fixed to the entrance gates stating “no dogs or glass bottles in the children’s playground”.  Three estimates are to be obtained for the replacement of the perimeter fencing on the boundary adjacent to the A272.  Mr Dabson proposed and Mrs Deacon-Ford seconded the proposal that the Chairman and the Vice-chairman approve the cheapest estimate and the work goes ahead.  All in favour.   

b) Burial Ground. Dr Guyatt reported that the bench at the site is in a very bad condition.  He has reported various other issues, relating to the tombstones, directly to the Vicar.

c) Footpaths. There have been complaints of dog fouling, particularly on High Path.  The Clerk is to arrange for a visit from the CDC Dog Warden.

d) Grants.  A grant application has been received from the Midhurst Community Bus Association.  A donation of £250 was proposed by Mrs Deacon-Ford and seconded by Mr Stringer.  All in favour

51 Budgenor Lodge S106 contribution. The legality of the District Council control of this money, and what it is spent on, was questioned by Mr Stringer.  Mr Gowar, in his business capacity, deals with S106 agreements in another part of the country where the money is paid direct to the Parish Council who are able to spend it on any projects that benefit the Parish.  Mrs Hamilton agreed to speak to the District Council solicitor about this. Clerk also to contact the SALC solicitor for advice.  Mrs Deacon-Ford proposed and Mrs Marchand seconded the proposal that St Mary’s PCC  be offered a stair lift for the Refectory to enable less mobile parishioners to gain access to the first floor .  Majority in favour.  Mr Heustice and Mr Pack declared an interest and did not vote.  Clerk to write to the PCC and advise of a time limit on the offer.  Clerk to produce a list of the remaining suggestions for use of this money.  Councillors to complete this form, listing their preferences.  Further discussion at the next Council meeting.

52 Correspondence

WSCC Cycle Stands.  200 free stands on offer, subject to location criteria.  Parish Council to install and maintain them.  Clerk to request six stands to be sited at St Mary’s Church, Cowdray Ruins and the Cowdray Estate Office.

Late Correspondence.

CDC Annual Meeting with Parishes to be held on Monday 29th October 2007.  Mr Heustice and Mr Stringer to attend.
CDC Policy Development Committee meeting on Wednesday 26th September 2007 when the Chief Executive of the West Sussex PCT will take questions of the future of St Richard’s Hospital.  Mrs Marchand to attend.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Wednesday 14th November 2007 at 7.30pm in the Refectory. 

The meeting closed at 10.00pm

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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