Minutes taken at Ticehurst Parish Council meeting
held on 6 January 2009 in Ticehurst Village Hall at
19:30
Present: Cllrs Goodall ©, Maynard, A Cook, Yeo, Langdown, Mitchell, Burley,
Rigby, Semple and Hastings.
In attendance: D. Cllrs. Elliston and Jenkins and C. Cllr.
J Barnes.
The Chairman introduced David Marlowe from Rother District Council
who gave a brief summary of the ideals behind the draft Core Strategy and took
questions from Councillors. There was lively discussion, the main points that
needed to be addressed in the response to Rother are listed under agenda point
11.0 for deliberation on 13 January 2009 19:00 The Chairman thanked
Mr Marlowe for attending the meeting.
PCSO McAspurn was present for some of the meeting and was pleased
to report that crime rates were low in the area, but that care should be taken
to keep sheds locked and to drive carefully in icy conditions. The issue of
obstruction of driveways was raised and he advised that the 0845 6070999 number
should be used to report such matters. The Chairman thanked him for attending.
- Declarations of Interest: There were no declarations of interest.
- Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Cllrs. G Cook and
C Simmons reasons were recorded in the attendance register.
- Minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2008: These
were proposed by Cllr. Cook, seconded by Cllr. Langdown and the Council
authorised the Chairman to sign them as a correct record of that meeting.
- Additional Agenda Items: The Clerk reported that Mr K Maynard who leads
the ‘walking bus’ for the Primary School had been in contact regarding the
icy pavements in Steelands Rise. ESCC had said it was not their responsibility
as the road remains unadopted. C.Cllr. Barnes offered to ascertain who was
responsible for this.
- To appoint a internal auditor for 2008/09 accounts: Cllr. Semple suggested
using King and Co from Wadhurst. It was resolved that the Clerk contact
them to appoint and report back to the Financial Advisory Group.
- Cilca Portfolio: The Clerk reported that she will have finished compiling
the twenty six chapters of the Portfolio this week. Clerk is to meet with
SALC to start the compiling of the Quality Status documentation soon and
it is hoped that this will be completed and ready for submission by the end
of February 2009.
- Freedom of Information Act: Copies of the standardised
version had been circulated on 4 December 2008 – It was resolved to adopt
this version, adapted for Ticehurst Parish Council. Proposed by Cllr. Maynard,
seconded by Cllr. Langdown and carried. Chairman signed the top page.
- Appendix of Outstanding matters
| Topic Item 7 |
Update |
| Drains | All those reported as being blocked have been rodded – please report any new or reoccurring blockages to the Clerk. |
| Stonegate Post | Cllr. Burley has been in contact with the owner of the hedge who is prepared to allow ESCC to replace the post – the base has rotted and is being held in place by the hedge. It was resolved that if the waiting list is too long the Council would fund it’s repair with a hardwood main stem as this is an important feature and sign in the middle of Stonegate. |
| Light in Church Street |
The Clerk has made enquires of EDF Energy and they can not attach a light
to a British Telecom pole. |
| Street Lights | Springfields light has been repaired.
Light opposite Smokery has been repaired.
The mains department has been informed of the lights at Eden Court and by Mark Lilly’s garage and are on the list to be mended.
The light in the Car Park at the village Hall is working.
It was resolved that Street Lighting should be looked at with a view to turning off some lights at night, replacing the bulbs with energy efficient bulbs and a plan for maintenance when EDF withdraw this facility in April 2009. |
| 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. Awaiting reply. |
| Playground at Farthing Hill | The Clerk has not received a very favourable response when discussing the idea of residents forming a fund raising group – It was resolved to ask the Rotary Club if the pledged funding of £1000 could be transferred to provide a roundabout at the Ticehurst Recreation Ground – Clerk to action. |
- District Council Report: A written report is requested by the Council
to be circulated with the agenda for Councillors’ consideration and attachment
to Council minutes.
Cllr. Jenkins reported verbally:
- RDC are trying to keep any Council Tax rise down to reflect the difficult
economic times.
- He will be attending an A21 consultative meeting at Westminster soon.
- He noted during the Christmas period that there was nothing on the ‘What’s
On’ pages on the Ticehurst web site.
- County Council Report: A written report is requested by the Council to
be circulated with the agenda for Councillors’ consideration and attachment
to Council minutes.
Cllr. Barnes reported verbally:
- He reassured the meeting that ESCC have not been adversely affected by
any bad investments.
- ESCC will keep any Council Tax rise within its pledge of 3.5%. They have
run a successful campaign with Age Concern to help promote the Council Tax
relief scheme but feel there are more eligible people who are not aware
of the scheme.
- ESCC have put in place advice services for small businesses in trouble.
- Church/Council meeting: Councillors were requested to inform the Clerk
or Cllr. Langdown if they will be attending the Vicarage, Ticehurst on 29th
January 2009 7.00 pm. Six Cllrs. indicated that they would be attending.
- Core Strategy: Cllr. Maynard produced a draft response on behalf of all
three wards with regard to the Rother District Core Strategy – the Parish
Council response has to be at the Town Hall, at Bexhill by 30th January 2009.
It was resolved that Cllrs. and others who wished to meet to finalise this
response would meet at 7.00 pm on 13th January 2009 in the Village Hall.
It was agreed that the response had to be specific in direct response to
the points made in the Core Strategy document. Items to be covered:
- Boundary Movements – gradual or immediate.
- Ribbon Development – to be avoided.
- Retention of green wedges – important to retain.
- Value of agricultural land
- Resources such as water, doctors surgeries, parking provisions.
- Undermines the principle of exception sites.
- Reiteration of the point that the starting point was April 2008.
- Extra allotment space to be taken into account.
- Finance Report: A bank reconciliation was tabled and cheques were sanctioned
for payment.
- Precept – It was resolved to hold a meeting of the Financial Advisory Group
at 6.00 pm on Tuesday 13th January to finalise the 2009/10 precept.
| Cheque | Amount | To whom | For: |
| 2395 | £25.62 | EDF | Column 52 Lower Platts mended |
| 2405 | £450.67 | Glasden UK | Dog litter bins |
| 2397 | £17.61 | EDF | Coumn 50 Village Hall mended |
| 2398 | £75.00 | T N & V | Parish pages winter edition |
| 2399 | £650.00 | Thyme in Garden | Maintenance Flimwell Church Yard |
| 2400 | £1359.20 | EDF | New light near school |
| 2401 | £662.50 | Nowne | 50 hours for Cilca Complilation |
| 2402 | £100.20 | Nowne | Alteration in PAYE Coding |
| 2403 | £468.86 | Inland Rev | Paye – months nine and ten |
| 2404 | £284.53 | Inland Rev | Paye – month eight |
| 2406 | £983.25 | Hedleys | Solicitors fees – Bell Field |
- Planning Report:
- Well Being Centre – Rother District Council have invited the applicant for
this property to resubmit a planning application as the current one has expired.
Stonegate Hall – Parish Council recommended approval for this application for
extended parking area.
Orchard View – Parish Council recommended approval for this application for
single storey side extension.
- Village Signs: Cllr. Langdown reported that due to the Christmas period
no progress had been made but she would be seeking volunteers through the
Ticehurst News and Views.
- Traffic Calming: The Clerk received a formal report from ESCC Highways
that has been submitted to the editor of Ticehurst News and Views explaining
the rationale and Highways rulings with regard to the decision to alter the
speed limit at Upper Platts. A meeting of the Traffic Group was set for
3rd February 2009 at 6.30 p.m.
- Traffic Calming – Flimwell: A resident at Flimwell reported that their
questionnaire to ascertain the views of local residents about the speed of
traffic through Flimwell their ward will be circulated in the next week or
so. The Clerk and District and County and some Parish Councillors had responded
to her initial emails. She thanked all those who had responded to her.
- Allotments: Cllr. Maynard has drafted a letter that the Clerk will send
to all allotment holders in the middle of January. The letter will ask those
who have not got time to tend their allotment to a satisfactory standard
to consider giving it up to someone on the waiting list.
- Date for the Annual Assembly: 21 April 2009 – 19:00
was set for the Annual Assembly following the same format as previous years.
Major topics for debate and questionnaires to date are Emergency Planning,
Street Lights and Cardboard Re-cycling.
- Correspondence: A correspondence list was tabled at the meeting.
| From | Action |
| 1. | ESCC – Review of Bus Services | Clerk to write and state that the 254 should meet and deliver to all commuter services on Wadhurst Line. |
| 2. | RDC Bulletin | Cllr. Maynard to read |
| 3. | RDC – Pathfinder funding | Cllr. Langdown to follow up |
| 4. | Communities and Government | Response needed by 12th march |
| 5. | Rotary Club – pledge of £1000 | Clerk to thank and request alteration of allocation of funding. |
| 6. | ESCIS | Clerk to provide information. |
- Items for the February Agenda: Lighting, 2009/10 Precept, Core Strategy,
The Bell Field and Traffic Calming.
- Date of the next meeting: The meeting closed at 21.07 and the date of the
next meeting set for 3 February 2009 at 19:30.