EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 13 MAY 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
PRESENT: Council Members
Mr. J. O’Sullivan (Chairman) Mrs. J. Chaloner
Mrs. P. Connon Mr. R. Lowe
Mrs. S. Main Mr. C. Munday
Mr. R. Tranchant
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. G. Breeze, Cllr. Gunning, Cllr. B. Lambert, Cllr. P. Clementson and Community Warden Drew Allardice
IN ATTENDANCE: District Councillor Graeme Barrett and two members of the public.
10.70 Election of Chairman
The Council agreed to hold a paper ballot if there is more than one nomination.
Cllr. Tranchant was nominated by Cllr. Lowe and seconded by Cllr.Connon . There were no other nominations. Cllr. Tranchant was thereby elected Chairman for the coming year on a unanimous vote.
The Council thanked Cllr. O’Sullivan for all his hard work during his time as Chairman.
County Councillor Pieter Montyn arrived.
10.71 Election of Vice Chairman
The Council agreed to hold a paper ballot if there is more than one nomination.
Cllr. Main was nominated by Cllr. Lowe, seconded by Cllr. Chaloner
Cllr. Lowe was nominated by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. Munday
Cllr. Main was elected as Vice Chair after a paper ballot.
10.72. The Council received the resignation of Mr. Stuart Campbell and thanked him for all his work during his time as Councillor. The Clerk explained that the notice for a by election was on the noticeboards until 14 May 2010. The Council unanimously agreed that should the vacancy go to co-option then an advert would be placed in the Parish with a closing date of 21 June 2010 with a view to holding interviews on Monday 5 July 2010 attended by 50% of the Council.
10.73 Declarations of Interest None
10.74 Minutes of the last meeting
County Councillor Pieter Montyn requested that the last sentence of the first paragraph of minute 10.58.4 regarding Tide Way be changed to ‘WSCC is now seeking the views of the Fire Service and this will be reported back when available.’ Proposed by Cllr. Chaloner, seconded by Cllr. Connon the amended minutes of the meeting held on 8 April were confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
10.75 Matters Arising from the last meeting. None
10.76 Appointment of Planning Committee
On a proposal by Cllr. O’Sullivan, seconded by Cllr. Chaloner the Council agreed the following appointments to the Committee:
Cllr. Breeze, Cllr. Lambert, Cllr. Lowe, Cllr. Main and Cllr. Munday.
10.77 Appointment of Bracklesham Park Committee
On a proposal by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed the following appointments to the Committee:
Cllr. Gunning, Cllr. Munday and Cllr. O’Sullivan.
This Committee will attend the Bracklesham Park Action Group meetings with CDC.
The Council unanimously agreed to keep the same members as last year to provide continuity, at least until the building is finished.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman are ex-officio members of all Committees.
10.78 On a proposal by Cllr. O’Sullivan, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed the following appointments to Working Parties:
Public Open Spaces, Parish Lands and Sea Defences : Cllr. Breeze, Cllr. Lowe,
Cllr. Munday and Cllr.Tranchant.
Crime Prevention: Cllr. Chaloner, Cllr. Connon and Cllr. Lambert.
Christmas Lights: Cllr. Chaloner, Cllr. Breeze, Cllr. Lowe, Cllr. O’Sullivan and Cllr. Tranchant. This Working Group welcomes members of the public.
Street Lights: Cllr. Breeze.
Parking Issues: Cllr. Connon and Cllr. Lowe.
10.79 On a proposal by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed the following appointments of representatives to other organisations
1 Chichester Sub-Group of the Association of Local Councils – Cllr. Connon and Cllr. Lowe.
2 Village Hall Management Committee – Cllr. Connon, Cllr. Lambert and Cllr. Main.
3 Youth Club Management Committee – Cllr. Chaloner.
4 Community Forum – Cllr. O’Sullivan and Cllr. Tranchant.
5 Twinning Committee – Cllr. Lowe.
6 County Committee – Cllr. Tranchant.
10.80. Public Questions. Two members of the public wished to raise concerns about Booker Green when it comes up on the Agenda.
10.81. Reports from District and County Councillors.
District Councillor Graeme Barrett has been following up various issues raised by the Parish Council and suggested he answered questions as the items arose on the Agenda.
County Councillor Pieter Montyn reported on a local charity in West Wittering that recycles wheelchairs which are sent to help those with disabilities in Africa. Storage of wheelchairs is a big problem and he is forwarding a request to anyone who has some storage space to contact the Clerk who will put them in touch with the charity.
10.82 Finance.
10.82.1 The Council received a statement of the current financial position.
10.82.2 Cllr. O’Sullivan had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
10.82.3 The Council received the following list of previously agreed Direct Debits and Standing Orders withdrawn since the last meeting.
Volwona (OakProperties) Office rent 400.00
D. Pearce Name the hall competition winner 25.00
0.82.4 On a proposal from Cllr. Tranchant, seconded by Cllr. Lambert the following
accounts totalling £8643.92 were approved for payment.
Doug Goodman Handyman contract Apr 10 240.00
J. Griffith Clerk’s salary Apr 10 1181.61
J. Griffith Clk’s expenses 166.74
L. Wright Office Assistance Apr 10 290.40
BT Telephone & internet 248.28
Travis Perkins Clock chain 3.33
S. Dobbin Financial assistance to Clerk 400.00
AON Annual Insurance premium 4595.69
WSCC Street Light Maintenance charge to 31.3.10 828.22
Hedleys Solicitor’s fees purchase of Booker Green 617.19
CDC Dog Warden Feb/Mar 10 72.00
British Gas Downview Pavilion 0.46
10.83. Local Rag Newsletter
The Council received a report from Cllr. Lambert regarding the cost of Council inserts.
Proposed by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. O’Sullivan the Council agreed to pay £75/qtr for Parish Council inserts up to 12 pages a year into the Local Rag and payments would commence covering the period starting 1 April 2010 payable quarterly in advance.
10.84. Highways.
10.84.1 Street Lighting. A street light inspection was carried out on Wednesday 8 May and two lights were found to be out. 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 and also report Col. 4 Church Road is lying on the verge and the column next to the bus stop at the junction of Bracklesham Lane and Tile Barn Lane is overgrown.
10.84.2 Highway Safety including school crossing in Stocks Lane.
County Councillor Pieter Montyn confirmed that Mr. Andy Ekinsmyth, Service Manager, Transport in WSCC will attend the next Parish Council meeting on 10 June to give a more detailed briefing regarding highway safety in the Parish.
10.85. Clock.
The Council received a report from Cllr. Lowe that the welding had broken around the base of the clock pole. John Davis and Terry Chaplin very kindly fixed the problem free of charge. The Council unanimously agreed to write to them to thank them for their help.
10.86 Car Parking
The Council felt that the price structure proposed by CDC were not appropriate as there was not enough incentive to use the Marine Drive car park. District Councillor Graeme Barrett explained that the charges are effective from 1 April 2011 and will run for one year during which time the Parish Council is invited to make comments to CDC.
10.87. Foreshore.
The Council received a report from Cllr. Tranchant on his meeting with CDC on 5 May together with the Clerk. Proposed by Cllr. Munday, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed the following wish list for Bracklesham Foreshore for submission to CDC (in no particular order):
a. A vibrant centre that will attract visitors to Bracklesham.
b. A good café and eating area with weather protection for year round use – could be filled in quite cheaply.
c. Improve toilets.
d. Sufficient parking.
e. Water sports organisations set up there – noticeboards for their use.
f. Permanently open slipway providing good launching facilities for the two CDC safety boats and pleasure craft.
g. Achieve a blue flag beach award.
h. 2 showerheads on outside wall with push button operation.
i. Picnic tables on Kosy Kot site.
10.88. Booker Green.
10.88.1 The Council received a verbal report from the Clerk on Booker Green.
10.88.2 Two members of the public requested that the gates be removed at Booker Green as they obstructed the through path forcing walkers through wet and puddled ground. The Council was concerned about moving the gates which it felt prevented cars accessing the green. Therefore on a proposal by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Connon the Council agreed to investigate upgrading the path alongside the gate.
10.88.3 The Clerk put forward a proposal that the planters on the green are refurbished and re-designed to produce one using small pebbles to spell East Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council and Booker Green and two others to provide
barbeque surfaces. The Council agreed in principle and requested further details.
10.88.4 Proposed by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed that a contribution towards the maintenance of the open space of £50 per day be requested from businesses requesting to use of Booker Green.
10.88.5 Proposed by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed to a request from Shore Watersports to use Booker Green over weekend 26-27 June 2010 and Wittering Churches Together on 8 August at 3pm.
10.89. Christmas Lights.
Cllr. Lowe reported that the Working Party is trying to repair some of the broken emblems. After the positive response to the lights was received at the Annual Parish Meeting it has decided to put them up again this year.
Funds are still required and a Race Night will be held at East Wittering Village Hall on 19 June.
10.90 Annual Parish Meeting.
The Council agreed that the lower attendance was probably due to the political broadcasts on the television that night. It agreed that the leaflet was good but could be improved and that the information provided on the tables looked messy and should be produced in a neater format next year.
10.91. Bracklesham Park.
10.91.1 Due to the public dissatisfaction received about the name ‘Brackle’ the Bracklesham Park Committee (BPC) was asked to bring two alternative names to the Council in June for consideration to be used around the name ‘Barn’.
10.91.2 The Clerk reported that there were some faults in the playground which were being dealt with by CDC and the contractor.
10.91.3 The Council unanimously agreed that the Park be used by CDC for its Summer of Sports programme during the school holidays for young people (similar to the one that we staged last year). It would like to stage some free MultiSport sessions on the days detailed below (no toilet/changing facilities are required as each session is only for an hour). Qualified, CRB checked coaches will be used to run the sessions and the activities will be fully risk assessed. Consent forms will be sent out to all the local schools, youth clubs etc so that people can sign up. The scheme is being delivered in partnership with HydeMartlet, Home, A2 Dominion, Affinity Sutton, Raglan Housing Association, and the Youth Service. These schemes are open access so anyone can sign up.
Bracklesham Park, 4pm-5pm
Tuesday 27th July
Tuesday 3rd August
Tuesday 10th August
Tuesday 17th August
Tuesday 24th August
Tuesday 31st August
10.91.4 Proposed by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. O’Sullivan the Council agreed that the Clerk be given the power to take bookings at Bracklesham Park without consulting the Parish Council.
10.91.5 Bracklesham Park Committee has received the draft lease from Hedleys Solicitors and will be submitting any queries to them before forwarding it to CDC for its input.
10.91.6 BBCA reported a good feedback from the questionnaire. The results will be collated and the Council will be given a copy.
10.91.7 The Council agreed that the Clerk liaise with the BBCA to organise the Information Day on 15 September at the United Reformed Church.
10.91.8 The BBCA asked if the 5 year plan will be updated. The Clerk replied that the current one is the one submitted to the BLF and that it will have to be updated as the building progresses and more information is available.
10.92. Parish Council Office.
10.92.1 Proposed by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. O’Sullivan the Council ratified the advert for replacement of Assistant to Parish Clerk.
10.92.2 Proposed by Cllr. O’Sullivan, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed that due to the financial and sensitive nature of the matter it would discuss the terms of the contract and remuneration in closed session at the end of the meeting.
10.92.3 Any other matters the Clerk or Chairman wish to raise regarding the Parish Office. None.
10.93. 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 JUNE 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
