PLEASE NOTE THESE MINUTES ARE UNADOPTED - THE MINUTES BELOW ARE DUE TO BE APPROVED AT THE START OF THE NEXT
EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON 10th NOVEMBER 2010.

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EASEBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD
ON 8TH SEPTEMBER 2010

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

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

10/11

36 Apologies for Absence: Mrs J Macdonald-Lawson

37 Declaration of Interest: Dr Guyatt declared an interest on Agenda item 10/11 (45d) Grants

38 The Minutes of the meeting held on 14th July 2010: acceptance as a true record proposed by Mrs Marchand, seconded by Mr Martin, all in favour. 

39 Matters Arising: Mr Dabson, on behalf of the sub-committee appointed to formulate plans for dealing with a “snow emergency” (Minute 10/11 35), reported preliminary suggestions. Acceptance was proposed by Mrs Marchand, seconded by Mr Stringer, all in favour.   Plans to be finalised, typed and distributed to all Councillors. Minute 10/11 (26), SID/VAS, no response from WSCC to our letter of 3rd August 2010.

40 Invention of combined speed camera and noise recording system: after discussion with the Police and the County Councillor, it was felt that the invention would need to be tried, tested, and possibly patented, by another body before it could be offered to the Police/WSCC. Even then it is questionable whether the system would be adopted.

41 Report from County Councillor:  Mr Brown spoke of the financial squeeze being felt by WSCC. This was likely to get worse after the Government’s October financial review. The over 60s concessionary bus passes cost WSCC considerably more than the money provided for the purpose by central government.  At the next meeting of the County Local Committee, on 28th September, it is hoped that the 40mph speed limit on the A286 will be reduced to 30mph.

42 Report from District Councillor: Mrs Hamilton also reported the squeeze on finances at CDC.  Two thirds of respondents to the consultation about a District Council Mayor or Elected Leader, favoured an elected Leader. The CDC Executive board has given the go-ahead for the next stage of the proposals to replace the Grange Leisure Centre with a new building. There will soon be a public consultation on the proposals. From next year the public will be able to dispose of glass in the burgundy recycling bins.  A planning application for re-development of the King Edward VII Hospital will be submitted shortly. 

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

b) Receipt, and display, of audited accounts for year to 31.03.10 was noted

c) The internal check of accounts for July and August 2010, by Mr Stringer, was noted

44 Planning

45 Reports from the Panels

a) Playground: there have been two cases of vandalism, resulting in repairs being required to the roundabout and 4 bay swing unit. The RoSPA report has been received – no problems.  It was proposed by Mr Dabson and seconded by Mr Stringer that the estimate for painting some of the playground equipment, submitted by Mr R Collins in the sum of £765.00, be accepted.  All in favour.  

b) Burial Ground: Dr Guyatt reported that part of the perimeter hedge needed trimming and also that people seemed to be taking their rubbish away and not creating a rubbish pile, as previously.

c) Footpaths: Mr Gowar was concerned that no action had been taken by S Downs Joint Committee, following his report of the condition of all footpaths in the parish, submitted last March.  Clerk to chase.

d) Grants: request received from the “Open Door” group, but no accounts available.  Dr Guyatt declared an interest, as he is now the treasurer for the group.  He will arrange for audited accounts to be available for the next Parish Council meeting

46 Budgenor Lodge S106 Community Facilities: All approvals are now in place for the Cowdray Ruins floodlighting scheme to go ahead. Clerk to notify all concerned, and also liaise with the Ruins manager regarding free entry for Easebourne residents.

47 Closed Churchyard: A meeting has been held between CDC, the Vicar and the Parish Council regarding the condition and future of the closed churchyard.  Mr Riley (CDC) will have the safety of the graves checked and report back in due course.

48 New Residents’ Welcome Pack:  The first meeting of the sub-committee will be held shortly and an update presented at the next Parish Council meeting.  Dr Guyatt has produced a short history of Easebourne’s notable buildings, to be incorporated into the pack.

49 The Grange Leisure Centre: in the absence of any financial information regarding new build v refurbishment of the Grange Leisure Centre, the Parish Council maintains its view as expressed in Minute 09/10.91 of 10th March 2010.

50 WSCC Day Care Facilities: Mr Brown put the WSCC case for closure of the day care facilities at the Grange, but the many Councillors who attended the public meeting, held on 2nd September, spoke of the overwhelming support for retention of the centre, expressed by over 500 people who attended the meeting.

51 Meeting with Robert Windle:  Mr Heustice reported that the future of sports facilities in Easebourne/Midhurst was discussed at length during the meeting. Various sites were discussed, including Pitsham Lane, Rotherfield, the Ruins sports site and also the Midhurst Intermediate School grounds.

52 Bus Shelters: Mrs Marchand brought to the attention of the meeting the deplorable state of the bus shelter at the junction of Hollist Lane and Dodsley Lane (which was second-hand some years ago).  The Clerk is to investigate whether WSCC is running its Bus Shelter Grants Scheme again in 2011 and report to the next meeting.

53 Parishioner for occasional odd-jobs:  The possibility of a parishioner being available to carry out occasional small jobs in the village was discussed.  The idea was approved in principle and Mr Gowar agreed to informally approach a possible candidate.

The meeting closed at 9.55pm

Next Parish Council meeting will be held on 10th November 2010 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