Minutes July 2010 (unconfirmed)
EAST WITTERING AND BRACKLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
HELD ON 8 JULY 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
PRESENT: Council Members
Cllr. Rod Tranchant (Chair) Cllr. Geoff Breeze
Cllr. Jane Chaloner Cllr. Pat Connon
Cllr. John Gunning Cllr. Basil Lambert Cllr. Ray Lowe Cllr. Sylvia Main (Vice Chair) Cllr. Cedric Munday Cllr. Joe O’Sullivan
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Drew Allardice (Community Warden),
IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Pieter Montyn, District Councillor Graeme Barrett, District Councillor Peter Clementson & PCSO Rose Bainbridge,
10.108 Declarations of Interest. None.
10.109 Casual Vacancy. Due to the lack of response the Council agreed to extend the closing date to Friday 20 August 2010.
10.110 The minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2010 were then confirmed by the Council as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
10.111 Matters arising from the last Council meeting not included on the Agenda. None.
10.111 Public Questions. None.
10.112 Police.
The Council received a report from PCSO Rose Bainbridge reporting on the recent speeding and drink driving campaigns. Newsletters will be posted on noticeboards to encourage people to come forward with information. There has been an increase in burglaries and suspicious door callers and people are urged to call 999 immediately if they have a suspicious caller. Complaints have been received about speeding traffic in Beech Avenue but to pursue this any further the Police need witnesses to report registration numbers.
10.113. District Councillor Graeme Barrett reported that the Local Development Framework consultation has been put on hold – see more details under Minute 10.119.
On 29 June 2010 members were briefed on the current budget situation by the Officers. In summary, we were advised that there will be a major cut in the Government Support Grant over the next 4 years and there is a freeze on the Council Tax charges for 2 years. However, Parish and Town Council precept will be permitted to rise.
At the next CDC Executive Board meeting on 13 July the Board will be asked to recommend that the facilities at Bracklesham Car Park should be refurbished and provide new toilets, showers and an improved café unit. There are no plans to make any changes to the other facilities in the Ward.
Also at the next Executive Board meeting on 13 July the Board will be asked to recommend that the District Solicitor amends the CDC (Off-street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement and Consolidation) Order 2010 to implement parking charges.
County Councillor Pieter Montyn reported that WSCC Youth Services have to cut £2m from its budget and recommendations will be considered by the Select Committee on Wednesday 14 July 2010. He also requested that the Parish writes to David Lambert at WSCC with its request for a pedestrian crossing in Stocks Lane to be paid for out of Section 106 money that is available and that he would follow this up and report back to the Parish Council.
10.114 Finance.
10.114.1 The Council received a statement of the current financial position.
10.114.2 The Chairman had agreed and signed the bank reconciliation prior to the meeting.
10.114.3 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
Konica Minolta Photocopier rent 41.16
10.114.4 On a proposal from Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. O’Sullivan the following accounts totalling £2719.05 were approved for payment.
Doug Goodman Handyman contract June 2010 680 600.00
Doug Goodman Installing bench on Booker Green 680 200.00
J. Griffith Clerk’s salary June 2010 681 1181.61
V. Argyle Assistant to clerk salary 682 56.00
CDALC Local Association of Local Councils subs 683 15.00
Gwen Pritchitt Internal Auditor final insp. y/e 31.3.10 684 220.80
Travis Perkins Handyman supplies 685 36.83
Southern Electric Street Lighting Energy 686 341.27
EW PCC Churchyard water donation 687 47.25
British Gas Business Downview Pavilion supply 688 20.29
10.114.5 Proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed the appointment of Gwen Pritchitt as internal auditor for 2010-2011 pending confirmation of costs. Charges are based on income and the Parish Council will have an additional £330,000 pass through its account from the Big Lottery and WSCC which will go straight out to CDC to pay for the construction of Bracklesham Barn. This amount of income would normally take the internal audit charges into the top bracket but a request for a lower fee is to be made because of this particular one off situation.
10.114.6 CDC Dog Warden
The Council noted that the charges for this service were increased on 1 April 2010 from £36/hr to £45/hr. It felt that an increase of 25% is too high especially as it is not in the budget for this year. After lengthy discussion on a proposal by Cllr. Main, seconded by Cllr. Connon it agreed that in these circumstances it would be difficult to find this extra money and asked the Clerk to offer £40/hr.
10.115. Street Lights.
There was no report this month.
10.116 Christmas Lights.
Cllr. Lowe reported that local businesses have been asked to contribute towards the continuation of the Christmas Lights. In response to the advert the Working Party has been approached by electricians who are interested in quoting for work on the Christmas lights. After further discussions with them they will be asked to quote for certain works. The Working Party is still waiting for all the responses back from New Parade businesses to the question of them having lights. Unfortunately, the Race Night was cancelled due to lack of support but there will be more fundraising events in the future which will be displayed on noticeboards.
10.117 School Crossing in Stocks Lane.
The Chairman reported that he had attended the recent County Local Committee where it was on the Agenda. Several mothers from EW County Primary School also attended and presented a petition of some 200 names. It appears that there could be some money available through Section 106 contributions which come from local developments. It was agreed, with the support of County Councillor Pieter Montyn, that this proposal would now be explored further. On a proposal by Cllr. Gunning, seconded by Cllr. Lambert the Council agreed that a permanent pedestrian crossing should be installed. Also proposed by Cllr. O’Sullivan, seconded by Cllr. Lowe the Council agreed that this should be top priority as safe access to the main school entrance is vital to the community. As suggested by Cllr. Montyn it was agreed to submit this to Mr. David Lambert, Section 106 Projects Officer, WSCC Highways.
10.118 Leader or Directly Elected Mayor for Chichester District Council.
Proposed by Cllr. Breeze, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed that a Leader would be its preferred option for Chichester District Council. Cllr. O’Sullivan and Connon asked that their objections be recorded.
10.119. Local Development Framework (LDF). The Council noted that the CDC consultation is on hold.
The District Council’s Local Development Framework Panel agreed on 23 June that it will recommend to the Council’s Executive Board that the Core Strategy should be put
on hold until there is clarification on:
• local infrastructure provision; and,
• future Government proposals for planning.
In coming to its decision, the Panel considered the continuing concerns over the capacity of local infrastructure and its ability to deal with growth. The capacity for waste water treatment, in particular, has been under close scrutiny, as has the A27 and traffic congestion. The Environment Agency, Natural England, the Highways Agency, Southern Water and West Sussex County Council have expressed their concerns.
10.120. Fire and Rescue Consultation – to receive comments from Councillors re. mail circulated to Councillors on 2 June. This was deferred to the September 2010 meeting.
10.121. Review of Risk Assessments
The Council reviewed the Risk Assessments presented by the Clerk and on a proposal by Cllr. Chaloner, seconded by Cllr. Main the Council agreed they were in order.
10.122 Village Hall – the Council noted the following report from Cllr. Lambert written on behalf of Cllrs. Pat Connon, Sylvia Main and Cllr. Lambert as appointed representatives to the Village Hall Committee.
Report:
Due to changes necessary in the running of the village hall it had become necessary to rewrite parts of the original Trust Deed and Constitution which had come into effect on 27th January 1975.
The main points that had to be considered concerned the charges made for the hire and requirements for using the rooms and the sole, free and exclusive use of the hall to the Parochial Church Council on all Sundays and Holy Week. These revisions had been going on for a couple of years and just recently the final changes had been agreed – or so it was thought.
At the meeting held on 2nd June, when the representative’s names of the organisations involved were being confirmed a member queried the validity of the standing of the three members from the Parish Council. The Chairman (Keith Smith) said this was in order and had been confirmed many years before. His statement was also confirmed by one of the original Trustees. However, being unable to provide the necessary paperwork immediately, the objection was upheld.
Another member then proposed that these councillors be co-opted to the committee – but without the right to vote – which was agreed. This came as a great embarrassment to us as it had never been raised in the past so as we prepared to walk out of the meeting – were asked to stay, which we did reluctantly.
At a subsequent sub-committee meeting on the Constitution, and on behalf of all three of us, I expressed our anger to the Chairman and said that at the next full meeting in September we expected the whole occurrence to be struck from the Minutes and that a public apology is made by that member.
Since then I have again spoken to the Village Hall Chairman and explained that those councillors elected by the Parish Council to represent them on the village hall committee are there by right and are not re-elected annually by the Village Hall Committee but only to have their names confirmed. If necessary, appropriate action must be taken in the new draft Constitution so that the Parish Council paragraph clearly reflects this.
Diana Strange, Chair of BBCA, arrived.
10.123. Bracklesham Park.
10.123.1 The Clerk reported that the main hall roof timbers should be arriving on Monday 12 July which will take 2-3 days to put up.
10.123.2 Cllr. Munday reported that the peeling paint on the railings to the play areas has been reported to the playground contractors and this is under investigation.
10.123.3 The Council gratefully accepted a donation of £25 from the BBCA towards reasonable photocopying to year end 31 March 2011.
10.123.4 The BBCA will be holding another Elvis Night on 31 July – look out for posters, tickets are available from Calamity’s Café. A Retro Night is also proposed, information will be found on noticeboards.
10.124 Parish Council Office.
Proposed by Cllr. Connon, seconded by Cllr. Munday the Council agreed to purchase a safe for £220. (Minute 09.96.7)
10.125. Meeting in August. On a proposal by Cllr. Chaloner seconded by Cllr. O’Sullivan the Council
agreed not to hold a meeting on 12 August and that any previously agreed payments can be made by the Clerk.
10.126 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 9 SEPTEMBER 2010 AT THE FIRE STATION, OAKFIELD ROAD.
