EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 10 DECEMBER 2009 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
PRESENT: Council Members
Mr. J. O’Sullivan (Chairman) Mr. G. Breeze
Mr. S. Campbell Mrs. Jane Chaloner
Mr. R. Lowe Mrs. S. Main
Mr. R. Tranchant
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. Pat Connon, Cllr. J. Gunning Cllr. B. Lambert, Cllr. C. Munday, District Councillor Graeme Barrett, PCSOs Rose Bainbridge and Ann Bromley and Drew Allardice (Community Warden)
IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Pieter Montyn, District Councillor Peter Clementson , PC Dave Lyons and one member of the public.
09.166 Declarations of Interest. None
09.167 The Council agreed to the Chairman’s request to move Agenda items 9 regarding Policing to after ‘Public Questions’.
09.168 The minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2009 were confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
09.169 Matters arising from the last Council meeting not included on the Agenda.
The Council received and noted the contents of a letter received by Chichester District Council regarding the A27 improvements. The Council was advised that CDC would be replying asking for more details about the further consultation proposals.
09.170 Public Questions. None.
09.171 Police
PC Dave Lyons introduced himself and provided an update on his work in the Parish . The Council also thanked Sgt. Ottery for his informal visit to the Council as they felt his explanation of the Police system in the area helped clarify the situation with regard to funding.
09.172 Reports from County Councillors and District Councillors.
County Councillor Pieter Montyn gave a brief explanation of the Dept of Adult Services run by WSCC. This is a very large department and its work is often not understood or even known about by the majority of people. Its contact number will be made available to the Parish and put on the Parish Council website. He also advised that funds are going to get tighter and this will not only affect WSCC but the Police as well. The Westhampnett recycling centre is now working and is available for educational visits.
District Councillor Peter Clementson advised the Council that Chichester District Council will be having a meeting next week to rediscuss and decide funding in the future and where money is going to be spent.
The Council agreed to the Chairman’s request to move Agenda item 10.4 on Parking forward to this point.
09.173 Parking
The Council received an update from CDC on the proposed car parking charges for East Wittering and Bracklesham, including Marine Drive Car Park. The Council raised concern that there was not a large enough deterrent in charges to curtail long term parking in Northern Crescent and leave it available for shoppers. District Councillor Clementson said that there would be time before its implementation in 2011 to reconsider the final charges. The Council agreed to bring this item up again on a future agenda.
09.174 Finance.
09.174.1 The Council received a statement of the current financial position from the Clerk.
09.174.2 The Chairman had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
09.174.3 The Council received the following list of previously agreed Direct Debits and Standing Orders withdrawn since the last meeting.
STANDING ORDERS AND DIRECT DEBITS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED
Volwona (OakProperties) Office rent 400.00
09.174.4 On a proposal from Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Chaloner the following accounts totalling £6238.74 were approved for payment.
Doug Goodman Handyman contract Nov 09 480.00
J. Griffith Clerk’s salary Nov 09 1181.61
J. Griffith Clerk’s tax and NIC 3rd quarter 895.32
J. Griffith Clerks Expenses 635.37
L. Wright Office Assistance Nov 09 280.00
D. Bowen Microsoft XP programme 75.00
Portsmouth Water Pavilion water 12.77
Oak Properties Office electricity 98.13
Access By Design Website annual hosting 138.00
Eradipest Ltd Mole control Downview/Brack Park 224.25
Ray Lowe Reimbursement for Best Window Trophies 48.68
Ray Lowe Reimbursement for Christmas Tree Lights 16.67
Travis Perkins Handyman and Christmas lights supplies 73.19
Southern Electric Pavilion electricity 28.54
Southern Water Pavilion Drainage 23.84
Southern Electric Contracting Ltd Installation of Christmas Lights 1147.49
Kent County Council 2nd half yearly ground maintenance 587.08
CDC Dog Warden 72.00
Gwen Pritchitt Internal Auditor 220.80
09.174.5 Internal Auditor. The Council received a report from the Internal Auditor and was pleased with the comments. The Clerk stated that a Chairman’s Allowance (suggest £100) should be considered in the next budget which will cover expenses such as the Remembrance Day wreath. Also that there will be an item on the next Agenda to consider expanding the Standing Orders as suggested by the Internal Auditor.
09.175 Street Lighting.
A street light inspection was carried out on Wednesday 9 December and the following lights were found to be out.
Longlands Road Column No. 15, Stocks Lane Column No 4, Kimbridge Road Column No. 5,
Tide Way Column No 11, Furzfield Column No1. The Clerk to report these faults.
Col. 3 Hale Close and various lights in Middleton Close have been reported to A2 Dominion and
are still out.
09.176 Highways
09.176.1 The Council was unsatisfied with the very brief response from Mr. Steve Johnson to the letter written to Highways about the access problems due to the large volume of traffic on the west Manhood Peninsula at peak times. The Council unanimously agreed for the Clerk to write back in conjunction with Cllr. Tranchant asking for this matter to be given more serious consideration.
09.176.2 The Council received concerns from Cllr. Tranchant about the footway outside The Trundle Tree and its usage by cars and pedestrians with no clear footway. The Council asked the Clerk to write to WSCC Highways and ask for suggestions to improve the safety of pedestrians in this area.
09.176.3 The Council received a request to place a memorial seat on the grass on The Parade outside Horrocks. Proposed by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed for the Clerk to carry out the necessary paperwork.
09.177 Emergency Plan
The Council received an update from Cllr. Main about the development of an Emergency Plan for West Wittering, East Wittering and Bracklesham and Earnley. Cllr. Keith Smith will be collating all the information. Due to the confidential nature of this information it will only be available to those at the forefront of the Emergency Plan and will be held securely and used in emergencies only. Proposed by Cllr.Chaloner, seconded by Cllr. Tranchant the Council agreed that East Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council Clerk be the prime contact in an emergency and then depending on the incident the responsibility will then be devolved to the prime contacts in each Parish. The prime contacts in East Wittering and Bracklesham will be Cllr. Sylvia Main and Cllr. Stuart Campbell.
09.178 Christmas Lights
The Council received an update from the Working Group on the Christmas Lights Switch On and thanked all those involved. The Best Dressed Window was won by Munneries in East Wittering and Hair and Fair in Bracklesham. Cllr. Lowe reported that the Christmas Lights were a large expense for the Parish and views from the Parishioners would be appreciated. The Working Group is looking for more volunteers to help with the lights for 2010.
09.179 Twinning
Cllr. Lowe gave a brief outline of the activities occurring between 13-16 May 2010 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Twinning. More details will be available on noticeboards and website nearer the time.
09.180 Bracklesham Park.
09.180.1 The Chairman reported that tenders were out and expected back next week. They would then be analysed in accordance with the Big Lottery process and passed by the CDC Executive Board. It is still expected that work will begin on site early next year. The new Bracklesham Park Committee will be meeting early in the New Year to discuss promotional strategies for the Centre and will report to the full Council meeting on 14 January.
09.180.2 Proposed by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Chaloner the Council agreed to sign the Licence to Build agreement with Chichester District Council.
09.181 Annual Meeting with Parishes
Cllrs. Chaloner and Lowe agreed to accept the invitation from Chichester District Council to attend this meeting on Tuesday 19 January 6pm.
09.182 Booker Green
Due to the sensitive financial and legal nature of the matter on a proposal by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed to discuss this matter in closed session at the end of the meeting
09.183 Parish Office
Any information from the Clerk and the Chairman regarding the office. None.
09.184 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 6PM ON THURSDAY
14 JANUARY 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
