Minutes of a meeting held on 3rd March 2009 at 7.30 p.m. in Ticehurst Village Institute.

Present:  Cllrs.  Goodall ©, Maynard, Hastings, Mitchell, Rigby, Langdown,  Simmons, A Cook,  Yeo,  and Semple.
In attendance:  D Cllrs.  Elliston and Jenkins and C. Cllr. Barnes.

The Chairman invited comment from the 23  members of the public present.   Items raised were:
The licensing application for the Bewl Reservoir Site:
K Miller spoke on behalf of those present to ask the Council to support their objections to the current application to Wealden District Council for an alcohol and entertainment license over the whole Bewl site, from 7 .00 am to 2.00 am.  There are seven different types of application.  The Clerk explained and circulated the grounds on which individuals can object:

1. The prevention of Crime and Disorder
2. Public Safety
3. The prevention of public nuisance
4. The protection of children from harm.

She further reported that she had spoken to Southern Water who had confirmed that there are bye-laws in place with regard to Bewl and these had been transferred on to the current lease.  It was suggested by Cllr. Barnes that the bye-laws could be adopted by Wealden Council as planning conditions on the application.  The applicant had offered, through the Clerk to attend a public meeting to answer questions and it was suggested that this meeting be held on 10th March 6.00 – 7.00 pm in the Village Hall – Now confirmed.  It was confirmed that until objectors had their objection/s verified by Wealden Council, the Parish Council could not support them.  The meeting on 10th March would give objectors the chance to ask for this support having heard back from Wealden Council.

Green Bins:  A member of the public asked if more than one green bin would be available to households – Cllr. Jenkins reported that more than one might be available in the future.

43. Declarations of Interest: by Councillors on any matters on the agenda, the nature of that interest and whether the Councillor considers that interest to be prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct – this should then be repeated prior to that agenda item.
44. Apologies for absence:  Apologies were received from Cllr. Seemann, G Cook and Burley  and their reasons were recorded in the   attendance register.
45. Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd February 2009:  These were proposed as correct by Cllr.  A Cook  seconded by Cllr.  Semple and signed by the Chairman.
46. Additional Agenda Items:  To consider such other items as the Chairman    decides are urgent and due notice of which has been given to the Clerk by 12 noon on the day.  No matters had been put forward, not covered in the Public question time.
47. Lighting:  The Council considered the quotations received for providing the new maintenance contract from 1st April as EDF are relinquishing responsibility from 31st March 2009.  It was resolved that  Direct Techinical Services be appointed for the coming twelve months.  Clerk to inform them that their tender had been successful.  (Proposed by Cllr. Maynard and seconded by Cllr. Simmons).
48. Bus Stop:   Cllr. Langdown brought the Council up to date on the three bus stops within the Flimwell Ward.
    •  Dale Hill – this has been flooded with mud and she reported that R. Studholme will dig it out by the end of the week.
    • Corner Farm – The Parish Council responded to ESCC’s inquiry (about painting hatched lines to prevent parking that stops the bus pulling in) on 3rd December 2008.    ESCC are now looking into alternative parking within Corner Farm and writing to those residents it would affect.  Statutory notices will be put up for 4 weeks, after which, if no objections are received, the lines will be painted over that area.
    • Flimwell (eastern side A21) – The Parish has received no response from RDC to their request that this  Festival of Britain Bus Stop and the finger post be listed.  
      It was resolved that the Clerk should write again requesting the listing.
49.   Appendix of Outstanding Matters:

    Topic	Update
    Car at Tinkers Lane	Owner of vehicle contacted who said he had permission from the police but will remove it on Saturday as the tax runs out – asked him to be careful of the bulbs.
    Stonegate Post	Clerk has written to ESCC informing them of the restrictions with regard to the area of grass at the junction. They responded with a phone message to say that some of the area does belong to ESCC.
    Warrens Site	Planning appeal is now 12th May for 4 days. Cllrs. met with applicant and owner to discuss ways of encouraging people to attend.
    Street Lights	There is a street light near the ponds at Upper Platts that is 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	Rotary Club have confirmed they are happy to contribute to a smaller project – awaiting written permission from Downland to erect play equipment on their land – will need insurance post installation.
    Finger Post – Cross Lane	The Clerk has notified ESCC of the broken and uprooted post at the end of Cross Lane and the owner of the car has provided details for an insurance claim.

50. District Council Report:  A written report was requested by the Council to be circulated to all Cllrs.   Cllr. Elliston tabled a report showing that the Local Authority Council tax increase was 3.94% , representing an 11p increase per D band home.   Cllr. Jenkins informed the meeting that Cllr. Elliston has been appointed as Vice-Chair of the District Council and congratulations were extended to him.  He further reminded Councillors that Community Grants were available – up to £30,000 and the Chairman reported that Stonegate Hall was applying for monies under this heading.
51. County Council Report: A written report was requested by the Council to be circulated to all Cllrs.   Cllr. Barnes reported that ESCC have just been ranked amongst the  best performing Councils in the country.  The elderly population in the area (4 in every hundred over the age of 85) mean that social services, health and voluntary concerns have to work closely together.  Interest rate cuts have cost ESCC £9 million to date but they are able to, as promised cap the Council Tax rise at 3.5%.
52. Allotments:  Cllr. Maynard  reported on a potential area for new allotments at Flimwell – some 0.8 acres.  It was resolved that Cllr. Maynard be authorised to continue with negotiations with the owners of the land to ascertain whether it is financially viable.  He reported that monies (approximately £2000) would be needed to lay on water and fence this area.
    All allotment agreements have been sent out for 2009/10 and a gentle reminder included for those allotments that have not been tended very well sent to the relevant tenants.  Two allotment holders have decided to relinquish their allotments and Cllr. Maynard has informed the next people on the waiting list that they can take up these plots.
53. Finance Report:  A bank reconciliation was tabled and cheques listed for sanctioning listed below:  It was resolved ( proposed by Cllr. Langdown and seconded by Cllr. Maynard)  that the cheques should be signed and the Chairman signed the reconciliation that balanced with the bank accounts.
    

    Cheque	Amount	To whom	For:
    2414	£528.00	Nowne	Change in PAYE code – rebate
    2415	£2053.11	Campbell Fisk	Insurance for one year
    2416	£109.25	Pear Tech.	Annual fee for mapping system
    2417	£4200.95	Nicholls Bros	Pavement to Upper Platts
    2418	£19.00	British Legion	Wreath
    2419	£26.45	More Ideas	Ticehurst Stickers for portfolio
    2420	£86.25	RBS Software	Annual fee for accountancy pack

54. Planning Report: 
    Cllr. Maynard reported on the applications that had been received and deliberated upon since the February meeting:
    Landscapes Rise – application to lift agricultural occupancy restriction – Council have recommended refusal in line with Parish Plan.
    Shovers Green House – application to build a dividing brick wall – Council have recommended refusal in line with Planning Inspectors recommendation for a Yew hedge.
    Chelworth – application for porch, and removal of hedge – Council recommended approval with consideration being given to affording enough space on the roadside for safer pedestrian access towards the High Street.
    Holmans, Union Street – application for car port and conservatory – Council recommendation for approval.
    Cllr. Elliston asked if the sites were visited by Cllrs. and it was explained that the Cllrs. from a particular Ward would visit if possible and report back to their colleagues at the next planning meeting.
    The next planning meeting will be 12th March 2009 at 6.00 p.m.
55. Village Signs:  Cllr. Langdown – nothing to report to date.
56. Traffic Calming:  Cllrs. Mitchell, Langdown and Semple met with ESCC Highway engineers on Friday 27th February.   They reported that it was rather a reiteration of previous meetings but that they had promised the Cllrs. that a design brief would be produced, together with a list of consultants, within a fortnight to allow the Council to obtain prices for schemes and therefore move this project forward during 2009.  This Committee felt that they would need to keep pressing for information if it were not forthcoming.  Cllr. Yeo reported that she was in favour of pilot schemes of removing road signage as there is some evidence of this slowing traffic quite effectively.  The Chairman thanked the group for their continued work on this project.
57. Correspondence: 

    1	Stonegate Court	Stonegate ‘grassed area’.
    2	ESCC	Grit Bin at Wardsdown
    3	RDC	Acknowledgement of Core Strategy representation
    4	Tony Warlow	Allotments – third year free?
    5	RDC Cameron	Litter matters – forms for cardboard refund
    6	NFU	Reimbursed for war memorial works
    7	Pay Back	Work in the community – it was resolved that the Clerk contact them to see if litter picking would be something that could be undertaken in the three Wards.
    8	S Moody	Copy of letter sent to RDC re litter in village Cllr. Langdown reported that she had watched the Verdant litter picking van shed a large amount of rubbish whilst tipping bins into the back of the van earlier in the day. Cllr Yeo advised ringing RDC rather than Verdant as RDC are the overseers.
    9	Parish Council	To ESCC re Stonegate grassed area – copy to Mr Hurst
    10	Bus Stop Flimwell	Council wrote on 3rd Dec re bus stop markings.

58. Items for the April  Agenda:
    Bewl Water Licensing Application
    Annual Assembly
    Grit Bins
59. The Bell Field:  (Confidential).
    There was nothing to report.
60.   Date of the next meeting:  The date of the next meeting will be 7th April 2009 and the meeting closed at 8.40 p.m.