EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 12 MARCH 2009 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
PRESENT: Council Members
Mr. J. O’Sullivan (Chairman) Mr. S. Campbell
Mrs. P. Connon Mr. B. Lambert
Mr. R. Lowe Mrs. S. Main
Mr. C. Munday
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. J. Chaloner, Cllr. G. Breeze, Cllr. J. Gunning, District Councillor Graeme Barrett, PCSOs Bainbridge and Bromley and Community Warden Drew Allardice.
IN ATTENDANCE: District Councillor Peter Clementson, Mr. Dermot Wright, Mr. Dean Miles and Mrs. Jackie Hawkins (Witterings Youth Centre).
09.36 The Council unanimously agreed to move agenda item 7.4 regarding the Youth Club to before agenda
item 4.
09.37 Declarations of Interest.
The Clerk declared an interest in agenda item 12.4 regarding maintenance of Bracklesham Park because it involves a family member.
09.38 The Council agreed to amend the minutes after minute 09.31.3 to record that the Clerk returned to the meeting then the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February were confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
09.39 Youth Club. The Council received two separate bids for funds from the allocated budget for the Senior Youth Club and the Junior Youth Club. Proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed to donate the following:
Senior Youth Club: £1050.00 towards refurbishing the sofa, training for the senior members to help more effectively at the Junior Club and for 2 female football coaches to develop a girls football team.
Junior Youth Club: £906 towards a cheer leading course, painting done by members to sell, to take 26 young people windsurfing and for a sewing machine to help craft work.
09.40 Matters arising from the last Council meeting on 12 February. None.
09.41 Public Questions.
Councillors were reminded of the Twinning Presentation on 17 March. Cllr. Lowe hoped that at least six Councillors would be attending.
09.42 Reports from County Councillors and District Councillors.
District Councillor Peter Clementson reported that Chichester District Council congratulated the Parish Council on the transfer of the BLF grant. He also advised that the Council Tax levy had been ratified and the District Council’s increase is 3%.
09.43 Finance.
09.43.1 The Council received a statement of the current financial position from the Clerk together with a response from Mr. Stuart Dobbin to Cllr Lambert’s email which was received by the Clerk yesterday outlining the queries he had with the Budget Monitoring statement.
The Council with the exception of Cllr. Lambert was satisfied with Mr. Stuart Dobbin’s confirmation that the accounts were in order and required no further alteration, as the format
was accepted by the Internal and External Auditor. Cllr. Lambert was not satisfied with the explanation. Proposed by Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed to move on and refused Cllr. Lambert’s request to contact Mr. Dobbin to pursue his query.
Cllr. Munday voiced concern that again this matter had been left to the day before the meeting before being addressed by Cllr. Lambert.
09.43.2 The Chairman had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
09.43.3 The Council received a list of previously agreed Direct Debits and Standing Orders withdrawn since the last meeting plus payments previously approved.
09.43.4 On a proposal from Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Connon the following accounts totalling £8695.95 were approved for payment.
STANDING ORDERS AND DIRECT DEBITS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.
Volwona (OakProperties) Office rent SO 400.00
PAYMENTS FOR APPROVAL 12 MARCH 09
Doug Goodman Handyman contract Feb 09 491 480.00
Doug Goodman Repair to grass at Bracklesham Park 491 64.93
J. Griffith Clerk’s salary Feb 09 492 1132.25
J. Griffith Clerk’s expenses 492 509.99
HM Revenue & Customs Clerk’s NI 4th Quarter 493 1548.38
L.Wright Office assistance Jan 09 494 260.00
EW Village Hall Mngmnt Cttee Hire for Christmas Lights 25/10/08 & 15/11/08 495 48.00
CDC Contribution to CCTV 496 3000.00
Johnston Publishing Ltd Advert in Chi Observer for Grass cutting 497 74.86
Oak Properties Office electricity 498 182.37
WSCC Annual Insp of offfice fire extinguishers 499 34.90
Staples Office Stationery 500 66.62
Knight Fencing Ltd New Gate at Bracklesham Park 501 253.00
Southern Electricity Electricity at Downview Pavilion 502 38.82
CDC Bracklesham Park Ground Maintenance 503 1001.83
09.44 Casual Vacancies
Three applications had been received by the Council. Proposed by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed to a paper ballot. The majority vote by a paper ballot was for Mr. Rod Tranchant.
09.45 Highways
09.45.1 The Council received a response from County Councillor Daws Chew regarding the Council’s request to meet with senior members of the County Council to discuss local highway matters advising that the Councillor responsible for transport issues, County Councillor Derek Whittington, would prefer to support a presentation at a County Local Committee rather than to an individual Parish Council. The Council was disappointed at this response as the Parishes attending the Local Committees have different transport problems to those on the Manhood Peninsula. Proposed by Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Lambert the Council agreed to request that a meeting be arranged with CC Derek Whittington and West Wittering, Earnley, Birdham, West Itchenor and Sidlesham Parish Councils.
09.45.2 Traffic calming in Farm Road.
The Clerk reported that the consultation had been completed and the bus company using Farm Road had raised concerns. Proposed by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. Campbell the Council queried the County Council’s statement on the high level of usage of this bus in Farm Road.
09.45.3 Street Lights Report from Cllr. Breeze. The inspection took place on Wednesday 11 March beginning at 7.45 pm and ending at 8.20 pm and found two lights out, Col. 1 in Coney Six and
Col. 3 in Hale Close. Col. 1 in Coney Six was reported as coming on all day. The Clerk to report these faults 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. It was also noted that Col. 3 in Church Road still had not been fixed.
09.46 Environmental Matters
Downview Public Open Space
09.46.1 Proposed by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Lowe the Council agreed to adopt the byelaws approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
09.46.2 The Council received a request to hold a small funfair on Downview. Proposed by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. Lowe the Council agreed with regret that it could not agree to holding a funfair at this location and that this would be the Council’s policy regarding such requests in the future.
Booker Green.
09.46.3 The Council had not received a response from the Booker Trust regarding its proposal to maintain the seating area and grass immediately in front of the seats without a lease.
09.46.4 Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 – Dog Control Orders
– Notification of Consultation.
The Council received information and the Clerk was instructed to ask who is authorised to tell people to keep their dogs on a lead and that more Dog Wardens are needed to police the areas.
09.47 St. Richard’s Hospital.
The Council received a response from the Royal West Sussex NHS Trust on the question of money spent on hospital meals by the West Sussex NHS Trust compared to other NHS Trusts in Sussex. The explanation was that some meals were costed on the raw ingredients purchased and prepared at the hospital while other hospitals bought in ready meals. The Council felt that this didn’t really answer the question and they have requested more details.
09.48. Bracklesham Park.
09.48.1 The Council announced that the Big Lottery had agreed the transfer of the £220,000 grant to the Parish Council. Having received agreement from CDC re. the Terms and Conditions on a proposal by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Lowe the Chairman signed the agreement.
09.48.2 The Council reported that building could start in the early Autumn. Proposed by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed that CDC use its list of vetted contractors but with a request that a local workforce be used whenever possible.
09.48.3 Proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed that regretfully it would not allow funfairs on Bracklesham Park and that would be adopted as a Parish Council policy.
09.48.4 The Council thanked Sarah Hughes, CDC Wildlife Officer, and her team for the lovely natural fence that they have provided along the ditch.
09.48.4 Proposed by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Campbell the Council agreed that the BBCA use the Parish Council photocopier for a charge of £25 pa.
09.48.5 Proposed by Cllr. Campbell, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed that the Clerk purchase new advisory signs for Bracklesham Park to replace the CDC signs.
09.48.6 The Council asked the Clerk to start work on producing byelaws for Bracklesham Park.
09.48.7 On a proposal by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed to close the meeting to the press and public at the end of the meeting to discuss sensitive legal and financial matters.
09.49. Parish Council Office.
Any information from the Clerk and the Chairman regarding the office. None.
09.50 The Chairman reminded the Council that the next two Council meeting dates have changed to Tuesday
7 April, 2009 and Tuesday 12 May, 2009.
09.51 The Chairman reminded the Council of the Annual Parish Meeting on 23 April at the Village Hall. The Clerk was asked to approach the Phab Club to find out if they would like to entertain the public at the meeting for about 10-15 mins. The Council also suggested approaching Drew Allardice (Community Warden) and John Rosser, the (CDC Dog Warden), to find out if they could speak for 10 mins.
09.52 The Clerk was asked to find out whether the money in the Village Hall Fund would be available to use next year.
The meeting then closed to the press and public.
Signed______________________________Chairman Date_________________________
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE AT 7PM ON TUESDAY
7 APRIL 2009 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
