EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 11 FEBRUARY 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
PRESENT: Council Members
Mr. Joe O’Sullivan (Chairman) Mr. Geoff Breeze
Mr. Stuart Campbell Mrs. Jane Chaloner
Mrs. Pat Connon Mr. Basil Lambert Mr. Ray Lowe
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. John Gunning, Cllr. Sylvia Main, Cllr. Ray Tranchant, County Councillor Pieter Montyn, District Councillor Peter Clementson, District Councillor Graeme Barrett, PCSOs Rose Bainbridge and Ann Bromley and Drew Allardice (Community Warden)
IN ATTENDANCE: PC Dave Lyons
10.15 The Council agreed that PC Dave Lyons speak under agenda item 5 (Public Questions) and that agenda item 9.3 regarding safety at the bends in Bracklesham Lane also be dealt with at the same time.
10.16 Declarations of Interest. None.
10.17 The minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2010 were confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
10.18 Matters arising from the last Council meeting not included on the Agenda.
The Clerk reported that further information regarding the change in Standing Orders should be available at the next meeting.
10.19 Public Questions. PC Dave Lyons gave a brief report on his work in the Parish in particular the concentration on driving offences. He advised that all the speeding motoring offences that he has dealt with in the last month have involved local people. The safety of the Bracklesham bends was raised and he advised that he had witnessed excessive speeding at this location and this area will be monitored by the Police. He also advised that 90% of traffic accidents are due to driver error. He agreed to the Council’s request for him to contact WSCC Highways to request a survey of the road surface through these bends to ensure that they complied with safety standards. The Parish Council agreed to contact WSCC Highways to ask that the speed indicator devices located in Bracklesham Lane and Bell Lane be repaired.
The Council agreed to Cllr. Chaloner’s request that she represent the Parish Council on the Manhood Parishes Road Safety Group.
10.20 Reports from County Councillors and District Councillors. None.
10.21 Finance.
10.21.1 The Council received a statement of the current financial position from the Clerk.
The Clerk clarified that the figures reflected the situation at the date at the top of the
monthly balance sheet.
10.21.2 The Chairman had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
10.21.3 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
10.21.4 On a proposal from Cllr. Campbell, seconded by Cllr. Breeze the following
accounts totalling £6965.71 were approved for payment.
Doug Goodman Handyman contract Jan 10 – £480.00
Doug Goodman Erecting and removing Xmas tree and decs - £100.00
J. Griffith Clerk’s salary Jan 10 - £1181.41
J. Griffith Clks expenses - £58.10
L. Wright Office Assistance Jan 10 - £280.00
CDC Dog bin and litter bin emptying - £2597.66
BT Office phone calls and broadband - £307.72
Hedleys Brack. Pk. Licence to Build and BLF - £734.38
Southern Electric Contracting Xmas lights installation final invoice - £1172.44
CDC Dog warden Jan 2010 - £54.00
10.21.5 The Clerk advised that the annual 2009/10 contribution of £3000 to Chichester
District Council for the EW village centre CCTV will be due before the next meeting. The Council agreed for the Clerk to pay this as it is in accordance with the budget.
10.21.6 The Council considered extending the Dog Warden inspections to provide more cover in Bracklesham Park. After lengthy discussion it decided to reconsider this item at the May meeting when it can assess the impact of the new Dog Watch project that the Police are setting up in the Parish. Details will be available on the notice boards and website.
10.22 Annual Parish Meeting – Thursday 22 April 2010, E. Wittering Village Hall
The Council agreed to distribute leaflets to all properties in its Parish. It also welcomed the suggestion that it joins forces with another non political local organisation who might also want to distribute leaflets. The Clerk to coordinate the distribution. The Council will distribute leaflets from 1 April 2010. The Council will appreciate offers from anyone able to distribute in their road, or beyond, to contact the Parish Council Office.
10.22.1 Proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Breeze the Council agreed a budget of £500 to print the leaflet. On one side of the leaflet there will be information about the Annual Parish Meeting and on the other side information on Bracklesham Park.
10.22.2 The Council agreed to ask PC Dave Lyons to give a 5-10 minutes talk to introduce himself and his work in the Parish, then a report on the Christmas Lights, followed by a report on the Bracklesham Community Centre.
10.23 Highways
10.23.1 Street Lighting
10.23.1.1 There was no street light inspection carried out this month. Cllr. Campbell reported that Col. 3 Hale Close is now lit.
10.23.1.2 The Council unanimously agreed to sign the WSCC maintenance contract for Parish street lights.
10.23.2 Cllr. Lowe reported that WSCC had started to fill in the potholes in the Parish and that over £2m has been allocated to carry out the work. He gave a list of potholes to the Clerk to report. The Clerk reported that an email had been sent to WSCC requesting that Piggery Hall Lane and Church Road be included in future gritting programmes.
10.24 Library
The Council received information about the consultation taking place until 20 February on the services provided by Wittering Library. It urged Parishioners to go to the Library and submit their comments. The Clerk was instructed to write to WSCC with its concerns that the proposal intends to reduce the opening hours from 28 to 24 hours a week. Cllr. Chaloner to provide the Clerk with information on Midhurst and Selsey library hours.
10.25 Bracklesham Park
10.25.1 Cllr. O’Sullivan reported on the Bracklesham Park Committee’s first meeting. There will be events to cover the cutting of the first turf and putting the roof on. Also there will be an information day on 15 September 2010 to which everyone will be invited together with potential users.
10.25.2 The Clerk distributed an email received from George Thomas questioning the procedure of appointing volunteers. There is no requirement to advertise for volunteer staff. If in the future these roles become substantial enough to require a paid person then the position will be advertised in accordance with regulations.
10.25.3 To help clarify the position of the Parish Council and the BBCA the Clerk explained that administration of the centre will be the Parish Council’s responsibility and the BBCA’s responsibility is community involvement and development of the use of the centre. This is a very broad outline because these roles could often be overlapping in order to achieve a successful, smooth running centre.
10.25.4 Centre Name
The Council unanimously agreed to ask East Wittering and Bracklesham Parishioners to suggest a name for the new centre. Posters will be displayed throughout the Parish and details will be on the website. Anyone wishing to take part is asked to submit their suggested name to the Parish Council Office by 31 March 2010. The Parish Council will choose the winning name from all the entries which will be announced at the Annual Parish Meeting on 22 April in E. Wittering Village Hall. If more than one person enters the same name chosen by the Council then the names will be entered into a draw to decide the winner. The prize will be £25.
10.26 Booker Green
Due to the sensitive financial and legal nature of the matter on a proposal by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Lambert the Council agreed to discuss this matter in closed session at the end of the meeting.
10.27 Parish Office
Any information from the Clerk and the Chairman regarding the office. None.
10.28 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 11 MARCH 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
