EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 10 APRIL 2008 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.PRESENT: Council Members
Mr. J. O’Sullivan (Chairman) Mr. S. Becker
Cllr. G. Breeze Cllr. J. Chaloner
Cllr. P. Connon Mrs. V. Goodall
Mr. J. Gunning Mr. B. Lambert
Mr. R. Lowe Mrs. S. Main
Mr. C. Munday
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: District Councillor Peter Clementson.
IN ATTENDANCE: Community Warden Declan Moody, PC Trevor Burton, 8 members of the BBCA.
08.47 Declarations of Interest. None.
08.48 Minutes of the last meeting Cllr. Lambert asked that his statement regarding the Remembrance Service be attached to the minutes. The Clerk recommended that such statements be kept as a record on file but not in the minutes. After a brief discussion the Council agreed to the statement being attached to the minutes but not part of the minutes. The minutes of the meeting held on 13 March were then confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
08.49 Matters Arising from the last meeting. None
08.50 Public Questions None.
08.51 Report from District and County Councillors. None..
08.52 Finance
08.52.1 The Council received a statement of the current financial position from the Clerk.
The Clerk explained the amount against ‘Contingency’ and how it was made up of £3000 of last year’s CCTV cost, £3000 of this year’s CCTV cost and the balance being the donation to the Village Hall. The reason it had ended up under Contingency was that there was not enough columns on the page. However the layout will be different in year 08/09 to accommodate more items. Cllr. Lambert continued to express his concern with the way it was displayed. The Council then agreed that as the Auditor did not have a problem with the layout and it will be clearer next month when the new layout is used there was no need to alter this particular layout.
08.52.2 The Chairman had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
08.52.3 On a proposal from Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Becker the following accounts totalling £7009.11 were approved for payment at this meeting.
Payee Item Ch. No. Amount
Doug Goodman Handyman payment Mar 08 352 480.00
J. Griffith Clerk’s salary 353 1068.93
L.Wright Office assistance 354 175.50
SALC Subscription to SALC/NALC and LCR 355 1153.60
Travis Perkins Handyman supplies 356 11.87
Southern Electric Street Lighting 357 274.17
Allianz Insurance 358 2651.48
Southern Electric Street Lighting 359 211.54
Wicksteed Playgrd swing repair 360 120.44
CDC Brack. Pk maintenance 361 789.58
CDC Dog Warden 362 72.00
08.53 Bracklesham Park
08.53.1 Clerk reported that she had not yet found any alternative maintenance contractors and suggested that the Council consider a further 6 month contract with the current contractor. Cllr. Munday said he knew someone locally who might be interested in quoting and would pass the details to the Clerk. In order to progress this matter on a proposal by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed to delegate the power to use a budget of £10,500p.a. to the Clerk who will liaise with the Working Group representatives, Cllr. O’Sullivan, Gunning and Becker.
08.53.2 Mr. George Thomas was invited to speak to the Council and voiced his concerns at the recent statement from the Council representatives on the Working Group regarding the future of the community centre. The Council assured the BBCA that they would do nothing to jeopardise the Lottery Application, the result of which is expected mid May. Mr. Thomas’s initial response to the suggestion that the Parish Council consider taking on the administration and financial side of the running of the centre and that the BBCA take more of a ‘hands on’ role in the promotion and actual running of the centre was favourable. The Council and Mr. Tyerman of the BBCA rejected Mr. Thomas’s suggestion that there was a conspiracy between the PC and CDC to take over the project and assured Mr. Thomas that the Council is only looking at the best way of delivering this project to the community. Mrs. Bromley (BBCA) then asked when the footbridge was to be installed and the Clerk explained that the contractor keeps letting them down on the delivery date but expects it to be very soon.
08.53.3 The Chairman then thanked the BBCA for attending and explained that because of legal and financial issues to be discussed he would suggest the Council have a closed session at the end of the meeting. Proposed by Cllr. Becker, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed to close the meeting to the press and public at the end of the meeting for these discussions.
08.54 Highways.
Street Lights Report from Mr. Breeze
Street Lights - Cllr. Breeze carried out the inspection on Wednesday 9 April and found three lights out, Column 1 in Meadows Road and Cols. 3, and 5 in Longlands Road. The Clerk reported this to the contractors. The lights out in Middleton Close and the new development at Pebble Beach which are not yet adopted by West Sussex County Council have been reported.
08.55 Environmental Issues
08.55.1To receive a request form Adrian Howell together with the Chamber of Commerce for a charity fun day/beach event on 31 May/1June using Booker Green to include a marquee and
no more than 3 vehicles with no movements between 10am-6pm on both days. Proposed by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed to this request.
08.55.2Bowls Club Lease. The Clerk reported that the Council Solicitors are dealing with this now. Clarification is needed with regard to the noticeboard requirement which is a new addition to the lease. Proposed by Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Chaloner the Council agreed that the noticeboard should be of a size and design previously approved by the Council outside the Club, probably by the gate at the north end of Downview Close, containing information with regard to the Club and its activities and to maintain the same during the term of the Lease.
08.55.3Football Pavilion repairs. The Clerk advised that she has not yet arranged a meeting date for the working party reps to meet with the Club but would do so as soon as possible.
08.56 Foreshore Improvements The Clerk advised that the Council has still not received a reply to their e mail regarding their concerns about the state of the sea front at Bracklesham and East Wittering. After further discussion about the amount of stones on the beach and how it will affect the tourism in the area on a proposal by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed to ask the Clerk to write to Mr. David Lowsley and the Business Development Manager at Chichester District Council to address this issue at a Council meeting. A copy of this request will be posted on noticeboards to inform residents and businesses and the matter will be raised at the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm on 24 April in E. Wittering Village Hall.
08.57 Police The Clerk reported that members of the public had raised concern over the lack of visible police constables in the parish. Having been promised our own PC by Insp. Bartlett and that he would be seen as a visible presence walking the streets, parishioners were disappointed that they had not seen him. It was made clear that the PCSOs were seen about the Parish. PC Trevor Burton explained that shift patterns did not always make him visible on the streets. Concern was also raised about response times, in particular a recent incident caused by adults outside the Youth Club. PC Burton noted the comments and said he would make every effort to be more visible. The Council asked him if he was still able to speak at the Annual Parish Meeting on 24 April and he confirmed he hoped to be there.
PC Burton also advised the Council that there would be a new shift arrangement introduced in the near future which would involve three shifts, the 2 PCSOs would be working two separate shift patterns and he would be working the third so that the coverage would be improved.
08.58 Christmas
The Working Party reminded the Council that there is a Quiz Night on 19 April at the Village Hall and tickets were available from Calamity’s café and Candies sweet shop.
08.59 Meetings attended The Council received a brief report on the following meetings:
08.59.1South Chichester County Local Committee. The Chairman reported on the meeting and in particular an item on 20 mph speed restrictions. WSCC will only put in a 20 mph speed restriction if it was self policing i.e., the majority of the traffic already keep to 20 mph. To get a 20 mph speed restriction in the village centre current speed readings are taken over a period of time. If the results are such that the majority of traffic is already travelling at 20 mph then the 20 mph restriction will be implemented and WSCC will help to enforce it for the remainder of the traffic by signs and traffic calming measures. After discussion it was decided that it was in the roads leading to the village that the 20 mph speed limit was required and unfortunately we were unlikely to get a 20 mph speed limit there. It was noted that it is Highways’ intention to provide a school zone of 20 mph adjacent to the school entrance in Stocks Lane but no date has been given.
08.59.2Chichester Assoc. of Local Councils. Cllr. Lowe reported on the meeting. Quality Councils status was discussed but there was a general view that it was not going to be taken up by many Councils.
08.59.3Chichester and District Older Peoples Partnership. Cllr. Lambert reported that items raised included access to GPs, hospitals, Post Offices, village shops, policing and housing. His report will be circulated to Councillors.
08.60 Annual Parish Meeting - 24 April 2008 The Chairman requested that those writing reports submit them to the Clerk by the end of next week. Proposed by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. Chaloner the Council agreed to the Clerk having a budget of £50 for refreshments for the meeting.
08.61 Referring to minute 08.53.3 proposed by Cllr. Becker, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed to close the meeting to the press and public due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the legal and financial business to be discussed.
