Minutes of a meeting of the Ticehurst Parish Council held on Tuesday 3 February 2009 at 7.30pm 

Present:   Cllrs.  Goodall ©, Burley, Langdown, A Cook,  Semple and  Seemann.
In attendance:   D. Cllr. Elliston arrived towards the end of the meeting, having been working.

The Chairman invited questions from the floor:

1. A lady thanked the Council for the vastly improved pavement surfacing towards Upper Platts.
   
2. The lack of Salt Bins in Springfields has made the pavements very dangerous in the icy conditions.  It was further reported that a man fell and broke his leg on an icy pavement on Sunday night  opposite the architects office in the High Street.
   
3. It was suggested that the continuous flooding outside Ticehurst House should be looked at again, the rodding of the drains there only temporarily disperses the water – if nothing can be done, it was suggested that warning signs be put up.
   
4. It was noted that after heavy rain fall and the now freezing conditions, there are many dangerous pot holes in the road that can damage tyres or throw vehicles making driving conditions more hazardous.
   
   

It was resolved that the Clerk contact ESCC Highways and Drains about the problems above.

AGENDA

22. Declarations of Interest: Cllr. A Cook declared a personal interest in item 41, the Bell Field, as a neighbour of that land.
    
    
23. Apologies for absence:  Apologies and reasons were. recorded in the attendance register.   Cllrs.  Hastings, G Cook, Rigby, Mitchell, Simmons and Maynard were not present.
    
    
24. Minutes of the meeting held on 6th January 2009:  - to approve and authorise the Chairman to sign as a correct record.
    
    
25. Additional Agenda Items:  No such additions had been forthcoming.   
    
    
26. Lighting:  EDF Energy will be giving up their maintenance contract for the street lights around the Parish on 31st March 2009.  They will continue to provide power as before.  It was resolved to obtain two competitive tenders from SEC Lighting Services and Direct Technical Services who appear to be the main contenders in the Rother area for taking over parish maintenance shemes.  It was further resolved to ask the successful candidate to have a meeting with a delegated group of councillors to discuss ways of improving light efficiency, either by using different bulbs or reducing ‘lighting up’ times.
    
    
27. Cilca Portfolio:  The Clerk reported that she has completed the CILCA portfolio of evidence of good practise and will start to compile the Quality Status file at a meeting on 11th February.
    
    
28. Appendix of Outstanding Matters:
    

    Topic	Update
    Drains	Drains have been rodded at Cottenden, and outside Ticehurst House.
    Stonegate Post Finger Posts	ESCC have looked at the post, feel that they can not reinstate it in its current position and have this as a priority for next year’s budget to install a new one in the grassed area at the junction of Cottenden Lane and Station Road. It was resolved that the Clerk ask for a meeting on site to discuss possible problems with this plan, as much of this ground belongs to Stonegate Court, there are underground cables there and other signs might need to be moved. It was reported that the numbers are still not on the Flimwell post and that the one outside the Village Hall is looking scruffy and the mileage numbers have dropped off – Clerk to report to ESCC.
    Footpath	Tarmacing of Upper Platts footpath has been completed. Clerk obtaining opinions about extending this to Upper Platts and the relevant costs.
    Street Lights	There is a street light near the ponds at Upper Platts that is not working and one in Church Street that is alight all the time and two in Steelands Rise that are not working.
    Ditches	The Clerk wrote to Mr Stevens at RDC on 3.12.08 with regard to these two pieces of land – Mr Stevens has advised the Clerk to contact Rother Homes and Downland Housing Association.
    Playground at Farthing Hill	Clerk has written to the Rotary Club to ask if they would be happy with their funding being used for a less ambitious project at this site. A quotation has been obtained for just putting in cradle swings and safety surfacing which it was resolved to accept. Clerk to ensure that Downland will allow the Parish to install this on their land.
    Ticehurst Rec. Ground	Cllr. A Cook reported that having consulted with the primary school, she has applied for a £20000.00 grant

    
    
29. District Council Report:  Cllr. Elliston briefly addressed the meeting  reporting that the Local Rate would only be increasing by 20.34p per day/household.
    
    
30. County Council Report: Cllr. Barnes was not in attendance and no report had been circulated.
    
    
31. Church/Council meeting:  Cllrs. A Cook, S Burley and the Chairman reported back on the meeting held at the Vicarage on 29th January 2009.  It was generally felt that this was a pleasant event but that the two bodies were separate in their responsibilities towards the community.  It was reiterated that the principle of the idea of getting together was for the betterment of the whole community.
    
    
32. Core Strategy:  Cllr. Maynard had produced a response to the proposal that was sent to Rother District Council before the 30th January 2009.  Copies of the response were tabled at the meeting – copy attached.
    
    
33. Finance Report:  A reconciled bank statement was produced and the list of cheques below, were sanctioned – proposed by  Cllr  Semple and seconded by Cllr. Langdown.  It was resolved to look at the Flimwell Hall commitment and progress by the end of 2009.
    
    Precept – It was resolved that the sum of £250 should be allocated to Stonegate Church Yard  and this sum should be allocated in the coming year from the maintenance budget in the draft proposal.  Cllr. Semple proposed that the draft precept drawn up by the Financial Advisory Group be adopted and this was seconded by Cllr Langdown and carried.   Clerk to send to Rother District Council without further delay.

    Cheque	Amount	To whom	For:
    2405	£450.67	Glasden	Dog litter bins
    2406	£983.25	Hedleys	Solicitor fees
    2407	£ 85.00	RDC	Planning Permission
    2408	£ 35.86	A Cook	Expenses
    2409	£43.27	SE Water	Water Allotments
    2410		Hedleys	Release of papers
    2411	£2095.59	KCC	Half year cuts
    2412	£95.00	RDC	Welcome booklets

    
    
34. Planning Report:
    Well Being Centre – Clerk reported that she has written to Mr Searle, RDC Enforcement Officer, about the continued use of this building.
    High View Dale Hill Flimwell – approval recommended for loft conversion.
    Kiln Byre – approval recommended for amendment to existing permission.
    Bell Hotel – approval recommended for reduction of Ash tree.
    Rosaem Flimwell – Recommended approval for change of use of first floor
    
    
35. Village Signs:  Cllr. Langdown reported that she has put an article in Ticehurst News and Views but has not had any feed-back to date.
    
    
36. Traffic Calming:  It was resolved that Cllrs. Mitchell and Rigby should set a new date for a traffic meeting as soon as possible.
    
    
37. Traffic Calming – Flimwell: A resident at Flimwell has organised the distribution of a questionnaire in Flimwell, the results of which should be known by the end of February.  She has asked for help in the collection of the paperwork.
    
    
38. Allotments:  The Clerk reported that a letter has been sent to allotment holders asking them to consider relinquishing their allotments if they are not going to use them during 2009. To date one allotment holder has reported his intention to give up a plot.  There are currently eleven people on the waiting list. Cllr Langdown suggested that the annual contract should be amended so that if the land lies fallow or unkempt for six months, the contract should be terminated.
    
    
39. Correspondence: 
    

    1	ESCC	Draft Cycling Strategy – comments needed by 20.2.09
    2	Police	Dec 08 crime figures: 3 x Burglaries to sheds 2 x vehicle crimes (one theft of a car and one theft of £3000 + diesel).
    3	RDC	Clerk reported that she had written to J Collins ‘Buddy’ again to see if he would like to attend a meeting in Ticehurst.
    4	Salt Box	Clerk has written to ask for Salt box at top of Old Wardsdown due to severe black ice there.
    5	Auditors	Clerk wrote to King and Co for estimate of costs and to see if they are prepared to do the internal audit.
    6	Memorial Railings	Clerk has requested reimbursement of funds from NFU
    7	ESCC	Diversion of Public Footpath – comments by 27.2.09 – Cllr. Burley took the planned proposals and was delegated to draft a response from the Council to pass on to the Clerk to action.
    8	Phone Box	Tinkers Lane – irreparable – destined for removal
    9	D Maynard	Thank you letter
    10	Action in Rural Sussex	Village of the Year competition – Cllr. Langdown took the details to consider on the Council’s behalf
    11	Historical Research	Researchers want to carry out a metal detecting survey around the Bell Field – Clerk to consult solicitors.
    12	Litter	A lady has commented on the large amount of litter around the village – it was resolved that the Clerk should contact RDC requesting more litter picking teams for the whole village as used to happen when Serco had the contract before Verdant

    
    
40. Items for the March  Agenda:  Action Plan,   Lighting in Farthing Hill,  Update on Play area on the Recreation Ground
    
    
41. The Bell Field:  (Confidential).
    
    
42. Date of the next meeting:  The meeting ended at 8.55 p.m. and the date of the next meeting set for 3rd March 2009 – The Clerk did mention that she might have a family commitment on that date, and if so the meeting would be moved on to 10th March 2009.