EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 12 NOVEMBER 2009 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
PRESENT: Council Members
Mr. J. O’Sullivan (Chairman) Mr. G. Breeze
Mr. S. Campbell Mr. J. Gunning
Mr. B. Lambert Mr. R. Lowe
Mrs. S. Main Mr. C. Munday
Mr. R. Tranchant
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. Pat Connon, Cllr. Jane Chaloner, District Councillor Peter Clementson, PCSOs Rose Bainbridge and Ann Bromley and Drew Allardice (Community Warden)
IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Pieter Montyn and District Councillor
Graeme Barrett
09.148 Declarations of Interest. None
09.149 The Council agreed to Cllr. Lowe’s request to move Agenda items 12.2 regarding Hale Farm Ditch and 13 regarding the Christmas Lights to after item 9.
09.150 The minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2009 were confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
09.151 Matters arising from the last Council meeting not included on the Agenda. None.
09.152 Public Questions. None.
09.153 Reports from County Councillors and District Councillors.
County Councillor Pieter Montyn reported that WSCC are also having to make serious financial cuts although it has not been publicised as much as the District Council cuts.
District Councillor Graeme Barrett advised the Council of the following updates from Chichester District Council:
* The Local Development Plan (LDF) will go before CDC Executive Board and full Council in December. If approved, it will go to Parish Councils for final consultation in January 2010.
* details of the Police website showing crime numbers were circulated to Parish Councillors but agreed with Councillors that some of the information on it is confusing.
* CDC has turned down the proposed Sunday parking charges in Chichester.
* Work on the Emergency Plan for the Parish continues with a meeting to be held with local Parishes on 30 November.
* Reminder to the Parish Council that the Community Warden provision will require financial input from the Parish Council to continue. West Wittering Parish Council have also been asked to contribute towards the Community Warden and Councillors offered to meet informally to answer any questions they may have which might help them make their decision. County Councillor Pieter Montyn agreed to take the offer to WWPC and thanked EWBPC for its offer.
09.154 Finance.
09.154.1 The Council received a statement of the current financial position from the Clerk.
09.154.2 The Chairman had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
09.154.3 Payments previously approved and made since the last meeting.
Manhood Mobility 585 £500.00
1st Responders 586 £1000.00
Wittering Carers Support Group 587 £300.00
Friends of EW County Primary School 588 £100.00
Witterings Twinning Association 589 £200.00
Citizens Advice Bureau 590 £100.00
4 Sight 591 £300.00
Acton in Rural Sussex – workshop 592 £12.00
G. Breeze reimbursement Xmas lights 593 £427.47
09.154.4 The Council received the following list of previously agreed Direct Debits and Standing Orders withdrawn since the last meeting.
Volwona (Oak Properties) Office Rent £400.00
09.154.5 On a proposal from Cllr. Campbell, seconded by Cllr. Main the following accounts totalling £4170.58 were approved for payment.
Doug Goodman Handyman contract Oct 09 & Brack Park bins 594 £678.97
J. Griffith Clerk’s salary Oct 09 595 £1181.61
J. Griffith Clerk’s expenses 595 £88.71
L. Wright Office Assistance Oct 09 596 £332.50
CDC Fitting new bin on Booker Green 597 £338.82
CDC Dog monitoring Aug/Sep 09 598 £72.00
Valuation Office Agency Valuation of Booker Green 599 £575.00
Staples Office Stationery 600 £150.26
BT Office phone & broadband 601 £303.86
Travis Perkins Handyman supplies 602 £10.01
B. Lambert Reimbursement for Armistice Day wreath 603 £20.00
J. Griffith Reimbursement for AVG security 604 £44.99
G. Breeze Reimbursement for Solar Xmas lights 605 £373.85
09.154.6 Proposed by Cllr. Campbell, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed to provide a wreath on future Armistice Days.
09.154.7 Proposed by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Tranchant the Council agreed that the 14 January 2010 meeting commence at 6pm to give time for budget items to be considered.
09.155 Street Lighting. A street light inspection was carried out on Wednesday 11 November and the following light was found to be out.
Col. 11 Tideway, Bracklesham
Col. 3 Hale Close and various lights in Middleton Close are still out.
The Clerk to report these faults.
09.156 Police. The Council received a response to the Council’s letter of 18.8.09 raising concerns about the level of policing in the Parish. The Council agreed to put this item on the next agenda awaiting a response from Andrew Tyrie MP. The Council unanimously agreed to invite Chief Inspector Ali Darge to speak at the Annual Parish Meeting in April 2010.
09.157 Hale Farm Ditch. The Council received information from Cllr. Lowe about the recent ditch cleaning by the Environment Agency. The Council asked the Clerk to write to the Environment Agency asking for assurance that any debris left in the bottom of the ditch after clearing will not cause a flooding problem in the future.
09.158 Christmas Lights The Working Group reminded the Council that the Switch on will be at 4.30pm at the Medical Centre followed by a procession to the Youth Club where there will be refreshments and stalls for everyone to enjoy. The Council thanked Munneries for donating the tree for the Medical Centre garden and Castle Printers for offering to print the winning Christmas Card design free of charge.
09.159 Licensing Act 2003. To receive details of any applications including those received after the preparation of the Agenda.
09.159.1 Ref. 09.00359.LAPRE Rendevous, 61 Shore Road, EW. Application: Premises Licence.
Closing Date for representations 20.11.09. The Council had no objection.
09.159.2 Proposed by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Lowe the Council agreed to comment by email on any applications that fall between meetings.
09.160 Traffic Problems
09.160.1 The Council noted the contents of a letter written from the Community Forum to the Highways Agency about the future of the A27 for information.
09.160.2 The Council had not received a response to the letter written to WSCC Highways about the access problems due to the large volume of traffic on the west Manhood Peninsula at peak times. A response was received from WW Beach, who had been copied in to the letter, but was found not to be very helpful.
09.160.3 The Council received a request from a resident for the Council to consider the parking situation on the bends at the western end of Longlands Road. After lengthy discussion the Council agreed that the parking in the bays on the bend was deemed dangerous as it seriously inhibited visibility of oncoming traffic. Proposed by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Cambell the Council agreed to submit a request that double yellow lines be extended through the parking bays. Meanwhile the Clerk was asked
to raise with the PCSOs the Council’s concerns about the illegal parking that was also occurring in that area.
09.161 Medmerry Realignment The Council received information from Cllr. Tranchant about the proposed realignment scheme. A plan of the proposed banks under consideration will be posted on the Parish Office window.
The Council agreed that its only comment at this stage is that a new cycle route be considered from the Parish via Earnley to Selsey.
The Council was reminded there is a public exhibition on 14 November at Selsey Town Hall and on 16 November at Sidlesham Hall.
09.162.Bracklesham Park.
09.162.1 The Chairman reported that the specifications are expected to go out to tender next week and they should be back before Christmas. They will then have to be assessed and a preferred contractor agreed. We are working towards the contractor starting in the New Year.
009.162.2 Cllr. Lambert provided a plan of suggested alterations and queries regarding the building. The Clerk briefly explained some of the queries to Cllr. Lambert’s satisfaction. The Chairman and Cllr. Munday explained that the plan was now frozen and going out to tender and to make any alterations at this stage would cause delay which the Council agreed it did not want. It was also pointed out that until the tenders were in it would not know whether it was going to come in within budget and whether there were any ‘spare’ funds available. On a proposal by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Breeze the Council agreed that during the build minor alterations will be put forward to the Action Group for consideration.
09.162.3 Proposed by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Tranchant the Council agreed to the appointment of Joyce Griffith as the Centre Manager on a voluntary basis to be reviewed after the first year of opening.
09.162.4 The Chairman reported that the Bracklesham Park Committee had received an application from Dave and Lyn Waller to volunteer as Caretakers of the centre. Cllrs. Munday, O’Sullivan and Main all commented on the assistance they have given to the Council by carrying out the park and playground inspections for the Council over the past year and that they are regularly seen in the Park. The Clerk added that they have been very helpful dealing with the arrival of contractors and regularly meeting the Community Warden and the PCSOs. Cllr. Munday gave the appointment his full support stating that the Council will benefit from having volunteers who are committed to the provision of the centre, live very close to the site and have experience running other buildings and sees this as a great opportunity. Also to have them ‘on board’ at this stage will be very helpful during the build. Proposed by Cllr. Gunning, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council unanimously agreed to appoint Dave and Lyn Waller as volunteer Caretakers for the centre with a review after the first year of operation. The Council also agreed to arrange for Lyn Waller and the Parish Clerk to attend a Food Hygiene course next year.
09.162.5 Proposed by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed to extend the powers of the Bracklesham Park Committee to allow it to make decisions on the byelaws and the on-going development of the Park.
09.163. Booker Green Due to the sensitive financial and legal nature of the matter on a proposal by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Gunning the Council agreed to discuss this matter in closed session at the end of the meeting
09.164 Parish Office
Proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Breeze the Council agreed to a request from the Parish Clerk to purchase a new computer for a budget of £700 which includes using a £500 grant from West Sussex County Council.
09.165.Urgent matters that the Chairman wishes to bring to the attention of the Council. None.
The meeting was then closed to the press and public.
Signed______________________________Chairman Date_________________________
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE AT 7PM ON THURSDAY
10 DECEMBER 2009 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
