EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 14 FEBRUARY 2008 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.PRESENT: Council Members
Mr. J. O’Sullivan (Chairman) Mr. G. Breeze
Mrs. J. Chaloner Mrs. P. Connon
Mrs. V. Goodall Mr. J. Gunning
Mr. B. Lambert Mr. R. Lowe
Mrs. S. Main Mr. C. Munday
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. Becker, County Councillor Daws Chew and District Councillor Peter Clementson.
IN ATTENDANCE: Community Warden Declan Moody, Mr. Smith and Mr. Simes of the Royal British Legion and one member of the public.
08.15 Declarations of Interest. None.
08.16 Minutes of the last meeting The minutes of the meeting held on 17 January were confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
08.17 Matters Arising from the last meeting. None
08.18 Public Questions Mr. B. Smith (RBL) requested to speak on the item regarding Remembrance Sunday and Mr. K. Smith asked to speak on the item regarding the end of Shore Road.
08.19 Report from District and County Councillors None.
08.20 Finance
08.20.1 The Council received a statement of the current financial position from the Clerk.
08.20.2 The Chairman had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
08.20.3 On a proposal from Cllr. Chaloner, seconded by Cllr. Main the following accounts totalling £7234.97 were approved for payment at this meeting.
Payee Item Cheque No Amount
Doug Goodman Parish Maintenance - Jan 08 000324 600.00
J. Griffith Clerk Salary - Jan 08 000325 1067.45
Gwen Pritchitt Internal Auditor 1st insp. ye 31.3.08 000326 205.80
Konica Minolta Photocopier rental 000327 40.61
Southern Electric Contracting Install and remove Xmas lights 000328 2307.70
Stearns Handyman supplies 000329 4.65
BT Office phone rental & calls 000330 145.99
BT Broadband rental 000330 77.51
Wittering Youth Centre Donation towards March Activities 000331 1760.00
WSCC Fire Extinguisher annual service 000332 67.68
Mrs. Lucy Wright Assistant to the Clerk 000333 78.00
CDC Bracklesham Pk ground maintenance 000334 879.58
08.20.4 The Council received a letter from Youth Club member, Jade Hawkins, requesting help with funding the development of an activity room to encourage more girls to attend the Club. Proposed by Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Breeze the Council agreed to donate £240 to the Youth Club.
08.20.5 Proposed by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed to Wicks Farm quote of £1460 for grass cutting and rolling Downview Public Open Space in 2008.
08.20.6 Proposed by Cllr. Chaloner, seconded by Cllr. Gunning the Council agreed that the Clerk and her assistant attend the Clerks’ Networking Day on 7 March at a cost of £60 + VAT.
08.20.7 The Council noted the letter from the Audit Commission advising that Mazars LLP will be appointed the auditor to the Council for a 5 year period commencing with the 2007/8 accounts. The Council had no objection to this proposal.
08.21 Remembrance Day Service
The Royal British Legion and Fr. Steve responded to the Council’s request, on behalf of members of the public, to consider holding a service at the Dedication Stone in East Wittering every Remembrance Sunday. Mr. Smith and Mr. Simes attended the Council meeting to advise the Council that the service was alternated on an annual basis between the War Memorials at St Anne’s Church East Wittering and St Peter and Paul’s Church West Wittering and had done so for many years and will not change and felt that the Council was being unhelpful. It was explained to the Parish Council that the stone by the flagpole, although it has ‘In Memory of the Fallen’ on it, is a Dedication Stone and not a Memorial even though the public perceive it as such. The Council clarified that it was merely passing on a public request for consideration and that those present at the stone on Remembrance Sunday were unaware of any memorial service taking place in St. Anne’s. Proposed by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Gunning the Council agreed to note the comments made and suggest services be better publicised by using the public noticeboards.
08.22 Bracklesham Park
The Chairman reported that a preferred tender has been selected for the play facilities and CDC will be meeting with them to discuss contract details. As soon as legalities are confirmed pictures of the play areas will be on public display.
08.23 Highways
08.23.1 Street Lights - Cllr. Breeze carried out the inspection on Wednesday 13 February and found only one light out, Column 9 in Church Road. The Clerk reported this to the contractors. The lights out in Middleton Close and the new development at Pebble Beach which are not adopted by West Sussex County Council have been reported
08.23.2 The Council received further information on the Speed Indicator Device from the Police and the Manhood Parishes Road Safety Group. Proposed by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Lowe the Council agreed to ask the Police to conduct surveys of speeding in the area and to use their SID’s in Church Road and Bracklesham Lane to help prevent speeding.
08.23.3 Cllr. Gunning reported that the bus stop lay-by northbound in Bracklesham Lane at the junction with Tile Barn Lane is too narrow for the bus to fit in. This means the rear of the bus is still on the carriageway. Cars travelling north overtake the stationery bus and encroach on to the southbound carriageway. There have been several very near misses as southbound cars have come round the corner to find a car travelling towards them on their side of the road. The Council unanimously agreed to the Clerk reporting this to WSCC as a matter of urgency.
08.23.4 The Council received a letter from a local parishioner raising concerns about the illegal parking on the double yellow lines outside the Bracklesham Post Office and Spar. Proposed by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Gunning the Council agreed to pass this letter to the Police and West Sussex County Council Highways for action.
08.24 Christmas Lights
The Working Party reported that the Beetle Drive held on Saturday 2 February at the Village Hall raised £187 toward the lights and thanked all those involved and hoped to have more support from the Councillors at their next fundraising event, a Quiz Night on 19 April. Posters will be on noticeboards for details nearer the time.
08.25 Village Clock
Cllr. Lowe reported that together with the Clerk approaches have been made to numerous clock maintenance companies and proposed that the Clerk, as Council Officer, was given the power to arrange maintenance for the clock within the budget of £1000. This proposal was seconded by
Cllr. Goodall.
08.26 End of Shore Road
Mr. Keith Smith reported on the recent history of the lack of maintenance of this area and called upon the Parish Councils of both West and East Wittering to join together to work with local authorities to bring about the improvements needed to regenerate this main approach to the seaside.
The Clerk advised the Council that an email had been received from W. Wittering Parish Council advising that they have made contact with the leaseholder and some improvements have been made. However, WWPC would consider putting some seating here and improving the paved area.
Proposed by Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Lambert the Council agreed to write to West Wittering Parish Council, Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council to request a meeting to discuss the improvements needed to the appearance and facilities in this area.
08.27 Parish Council Office. The Council unanimously agreed that the 1st Responders use the Council’s front office as a base on a temporary basis until the security door is installed in the Fire Station and they are able to return to their original base there.
08.28 Annual Parish Meeting. The Council unanimously agreed that notification of the event will be improved, possibly by a door to door leaflet drop. The Clerk advised that the hall would be available at 7pm and suggested a start of 7.30pm for 8pm, giving an opportunity to have refreshments before the meeting. The Clerk was asked to contact Insp. Bartlett to ask if he can attend to give a brief talk on Policing in the area. The Council also agreed for the following reports to be available for the meeting: Planning by Cllr. Breeze, Bracklesham Park by Cllr. O’Sullivan and the Youth Club by Cllr. Becker and the Clerk.
