Minutes April 2010 (unconfirmed)
EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 8 APRIL 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
PRESENT: Council Members
Cllr. Joe O’Sullivan (Chairman) Cllr. Geoff Breeze
Cllr. Pat Connon Cllr. Jane Chaloner
Cllr. John Gunning Cllr. Basil Lambert Cllr. Ray Lowe Cllr. Rod Tranchant
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. Stuart Campbell, Cllr. Sylvia Main, Cllr. Cedric Munday, Drew Allardice (Community Warden), District Councillor Peter Clementson and PCSO Ann Bromley
IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Pieter Montyn, District Councillor Graeme Barrett and PCSO Rose Bainbridge
PCSO Rose Bainbridge left the meeting to attend to a police matter.
10.48 Declarations of Interest. None.
10.49 Minute 10.35.4 was amended to read the payment to Southern Electric as £28.15. The amended minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010 were then confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
10.50 Matters arising from the last Council meeting not included on the Agenda.
Cllr. Lambert raised a query on the budget monitor and the Chairman advised that this would be dealt with under the Finance item.
10.51 Public Questions. None.
The Council agreed to defer the next item on Policing until PCSO Rose Bainbridge returned.
10.52 Reports from District and County Councillors.
District Councillor Graeme Barrett reported that he was assisting with the provision of contacts for the Fire Service for the Emergency Plan and expected to have some information for the Clerk in the next week. Three new Planning Enforcement Officers, with previous planning experience, have been appointed to CDC which will strengthen the Enforcement Department and speed up the process. The licence application for Rossi’s Fried Chicken takeaway in Bracklesham is not for alcohol but to allow the selling of food until 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Cllr. Barrett was very pleased to hear about the Turf Cutting ceremony at Bracklesham Park on 15 April.
County Councillor Pieter Montyn reported on the Snow Summit held by WSCC the conclusions of which will be duly processed and improvements made wherever possible. He did point out, and the Parish Council agreed, that it is difficult to prepare for such irregular weather events and there may be ways in which the community can help itself and each other. This is a subject which should be covered in the Emergency Plan. The vacancy for a Lollipop Lady at the school is raising concern. WSCC is advertising the post and anyone interested can obtain details from the Clerk. WSCC is responsible for finding someone to fill the post but is not responsible for the consequences of not finding anyone. He expressed disappointment that no parents had applied.
PCSO Rose Bainbridge returned to the meeting.
10.53 Police. PCSO Rose Bainbridge reported on the theft of numerous drain covers throughout the Parish and any new thefts should be reported to the Police. The Police do have some leads. There have been a couple of burglaries in both East Wittering and Bracklesham shops. Also several bikes have been reported stolen. Speeding has also been targeted in the Parish using the mobile speed gun.
10.54 Finance.
10.54.1The Council received a statement of the current financial position. Cllr. Lambert queried the presentation of the figures. The Clerk explained that the budget monitor had been run into April so that the Council could see the inclusion of last month’s payments. For the April meeting the monitor should really have started with nil as nothing had yet been spent in the new financial year starting 1 April 2010. The figures were now being prepared by Mr. Dobbin for the Auditor’s Annual Return which would then be circulated to the Council for approval. Councillors were satisfied with the accounts and the Clerk said they were welcome to arrange a meeting at the office to see how the accounts were maintained.
10.54.2The Chairman had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
10.54.3The Council received the following list of previously agreed Direct Debits and Standing Orders withdrawn since the last meeting.
Volwona (OakProperties) Office rent 400.00
Konica Minolta Copier rent and copy charge 51.66
10.54.4On a proposal from Cllr. Tranchant, seconded by Cllr. Lambert the following accounts totalling £6797.11 were approved for payment.
Doug Goodman Handyman contract Mar 10 600.00
J. Griffith Clerk’s salary Mar 10 1181.61
J. Griffith Clk’s expenses 47.20
L. Wright Office Assistance Mar 10 315.00
Staples Stationery 75.89
CDC CCTV contribution 2009/10 3000.00
Travis Perkins Handyman supplies 16.21
SALC Subscription to NALC & SALC and LCR 1188.09
WSCC Annual Inspection of fire extinguishers 35.66
Southern Electric Street Lighting Energy Account 337.45
10.54.5Proposed by Cllr. Tranchant, seconded by Cllr. Lambert the Council agreed to pay the annual AON (formerly Allianz) insurance premium of £4595.69 at the Council meeting on 13 May 2010.
10.55 Millennium Clock
10.55.1Proposed by Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed to the quote of £299.00 for a stainless steel plaque listing donations for the Millennium Clock.
10.55.2Proposed by Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed to write to Barclays Bank and ask for permission to fix the plaque to its wall before placing the order.
10.56 Local Rag Newsletter.
Proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Breeze the Council agreed that Cllr. Lambert negotiate the number of inserts with Castle Printers for a price of £50/qtr.
10.57 Annual Parish Meeting – 22 April 2010.
The Clerk handed out leaflets to Councillors for distribution. The Chairman confirmed that refreshments would be provided by Cllr. Chaloner and asked that Councillors be at the hall from 6.30pm to assist with tables and chairs. The Council agreed that the Chairman and speakers would sit at the front table. The Clerk to arrange collection of hall keys.
10.58 Highways
10.58.1 Street Lighting. A street light inspection was carried out on Wednesday 7 April and one light was found to be out: Col. 5 Church Road. The Clerk has reported this fault.
Various lights in Middleton Close and Pebble Beach have been reported to A2
Dominion and are still out. Clerk to chase up the replacement light required in Windmill Court.
10.58.2 Safety on the path behind the hedge in Church Road.
County Councillor Pieter Montyn supported the Parish Council’s request that the safety of this path needed improvement. He encouraged the Council to apply to Mr. Matt Starling who administered the Community Safety Fund at WSCC with a view to improving the lighting of this path. The Clerk added that she had also been in touch with Pam Bushby at CDC Community Safety who was also supporting the improvement of the path.
10.58.3 Gritting of Church Road and Piggery Hall Lane.
Cllr. Montyn reported that he had followed up the Parish Council’s request but WSCC’s responded that there was not the degree of traffic on this road to warrant gritting. However, the results of the Snow Summit may affect gritting provision and he would bring pressure to bear whenever possible.
10.58.4 Tide Way – limited width road access.
Cllr. Montyn reported that the road width is in accordance with the highway regulations. It is not possible to extend the width of the road by using some footways because the services running under footways are not as deep as required for roads so it would mean re-laying the services. The grass area in the middle of the estate is privately owned and it would be up to the residents to negotiate for provision of parking which would be expensive. The area is being surveyed by WSCC and the results are awaited.
The Planning Committee suggested that this is a situation which must not happen again and should be raised with the planning department and WSCC Highways. The Council was advised that planning guidance for parking provision is under national review. The Council noted all the comments made but had to rely on WSCC to deal with this matter.
10.58.5 Parking
The Council received information regarding the de-criminalisation of parking in the Parish as from 12 April 2010 and that parking would no longer be a matter for the Police but Chichester District Council. The Council was advised that it was expected that 2 wardens would be assigned to the peninsula. The Council received details of the following car parking charges from 1 April 2011 which will be regularly reviewed:
Northern Crescent Up to 2 hrs Free
9am-5pm Mon-Sat Up to 3 hrs £1
inclusive Up to 4 hrs £2
(maximum stay)
Bracklesham Seafront
Seasonal Apr-Oct Up to 2 hrs £1.20
9-5pm Mon-Sun inclusive More than 2 hrs £3.50
Seasonal Nov-March Up to 2 hrs Free
9-5pm Mon-Sun inclusive More than 2 hrs £1
Marine Drive
Seasonal Apr-Oct Up to 2 hrs £1.20
9-5pm Mon-Sun inclusive More than 2 hrs £3.50
Business Car Park Free
Councillors were not confident that a suitable price structure had been implemented and asked that it be on the next Agenda for further discussion.
Diana Strange, Chair of the Bracklesham Bay Community Association, arrived.
10.59 Foreshore.
The Clerk advised that she and Cllr. Tranchant would be attending CDC to meet with Jane Hotchkiss and Bob Riley to discuss the future of Bracklesham Foreshore.
10.60 Remembrance Day arrangements.
The Council unanimously agreed it would not be responsible for the organisation of the event. Proposed by Cllr. Gunning, seconded by Cllr. Lowe the Council agreed that Cllr. Lambert be the contact with the Royal British Legion and to bring any comments back to the Council.
10.61 Bracklesham Park.
10.61.1 The Council reminded Parishioners that the contractors were now starting to arrive on site and the ceremony of cutting the first turf would take place at 3.30pm on Thursday 15 April.
10.61.2 The Council agreed to leave it to the contractor to decide on the positioning of its porta cabins.
10.61.3 The Council received entries for the name the hall competition and together with Diana Strange unanimously agreed to use the word ‘Barn’ in the name. Cllr, Tranchant suggested it be called Braccol Barn after the original Saxon Braccol who first settled in the area. The Council agreed that the different spelling would be difficult to communicate over the telephone and might lead to misspelling so decided that it be spelt ‘Brackle Barn’. The winner of the competition is Mr. Pearce.
10.61.4 CRB Checks. Diana Strange, Chair of the BBCA, reported that the BBCA will be able to get CRB checks done for volunteers through Atlantic Data.
10.61.5 The Clerk reported that CDC Licensing Dept would be invited to attend the next Bracklesham Park Committee to advise on the best licence for the centre.
10.61.6 Cllr. Jane Chaloner advised of the following fund raising events:
15 May – Beetle Drive in EW Village Hall
31 July – Elvis Night in EW Village Hall
10.61.7 Diana Strange, Chair of the BBCA, reported a 2 day training event in Brighton on managing volunteers.
10.62. Booker Green.
10.62.1 The Council confirmed that its purchase of the freehold of Booker Green for £29,000 has been completed. The Clerk was asked to approach The Farmhouse at the Shore Road entrance to Booker Green to discuss moving the gate.
10.62.2 Proposed by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Lowe the Council agreed to place a seat on Booker Green near the planter in the centre.
10.63. Parish Council Office.
The Chairman advised the Council that Lucy Wright, Assistant to the Clerk, has submitted her resignation in order to pursue another career. The Council agreed that the Clerk start looking for a volunteer to assist her.
10.64. Urgent matters that the Chairman wishes to bring to the attention of the Council. None.
Signed______________________________Chairman Date_________________________
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE AT 7PM ON
THURSDAY 13 MAY 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
