Minutes of Ticehurst Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 1 September 2009 at 19:30. (up to 30 minutes were allowed at the start of the meeting for public questions and comments on relevant matters on the following agenda). The public have a right and are welcome to stay and observe the rest of the meeting.

Public:  Mr Simpson  attended the meeting and reiterated his objection to any forthcoming proposal for development outside the village boundary on the Pashley Road.  The Chairman thanked him for attending and confirmed that to date no application had been received and that the Council are deliberately remaining open minded so that they will be able to comment objectively if and when plans are received.  It was pointed out that the Housing Needs Survey had identified a ‘need’ and Mr  Simpson did state that he did not object to this type of housing on an appropriate site.

Present:  Cllrs. Goodall ©, Maynard, Burley, Yeo, Semple, Seemann, Young, Hastings, Rigby and  Langdown with  C.Cllr. John Barnes in attendance.

AGENDA

141.0 Declarations of Interest: Councillor Seemann declared an interest in any ‘affordable housing matters’.

142.0 Apologies for absence:  The District Councillors had sent their apologies due to needing to attend another meeting.  Cllr. Simmons and Cllr. Mitchell had sent their apologies and these were duly recorded (together with their reasons which were accepted by their colleagues) in the attendance register

143.0 Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2009:  - to approve and authorise the Chairman to sign as a correct record.

144.0 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 decisions/resolutions can be made under this agenda point.
Lighting – Annual Inspection Report.  It was resolved that the urgent issues should be attended to  - to a financial limit of £1000 and that the remainder should be considered by the Financial Advisory Group.  Cllr. Burley offered to look at the column at Lymden Lane.
Allotments:  The Clerk reported that the land to the north of Lymden Close might be available to create allotments for Stonegate.  It was resolved that Cllr. Maynard should investigate this possibility.
Unregistered Land – It was resolved that the Clerk should continue, in accordance with Government guidelines, to register land to the Parish Council where appropriate.
Phone Boxes: Three red Phone boxes are to be disposed of – The Square, Wallcrouch and at Three Leg Cross.  The one in the Square is listed. It was resolved that Cllr. Seemann would ask the proprietor of the Bull if he would like to consider adopting and maintaining the telephone box adjacent to the pub and that Cllr. Langdown would draft a response for the Clerk to send back to British Telecom.  It was felt that the poor use of the Wallcrouch one would not justify its’ retention.

145.0  Chairman’s suggestion:  The Chairman had asked Cllrs. to consider what they were particularly interested in with regard to the Council’s work so that a more even spread of the work load could be drawn up.  It was resolved that Cllr. Young would contact all Councillors to discuss their individual interests and what other advisory Groups might be useful e.g. Litter, Lighting, Emergency Planning, Allotments, Magazine Articles – and report back to the next meeting.  Cllr. Seemann asked that the full Committee listing be re-visited at the October 2009 meeting.

146.0 Power of Well Being:  Cllr. Maynard reported that he is to attend this course on 12 September.  Clerk to send details of other dates and training venues.

147.0  Affordable Housing:  Hastoe Housing held a consultation day during July.  Reactions from the public have been against the project – to date no application has been received by the Council.  Cllr. Langdown expressed concerns that the ‘local connection’ element of eligibility for future tenants included ‘the Rother area’.  It was felt that concrete assurances would need to be obtained that any exception site houses would only be let to local people and that future alterations to eligibility criteria would not be able to ride rough shod over the original terms – the possibility of a 106 agreement could be considered by the Planning Committee. The Clerk has repeatedly asked that a member of the Council be involved in any allocation panel.

148.0  Appendix of Outstanding Matters:

149.0 District Council Report: 
The District Councillors  had circulated a report  - giving a Sussex Flu Friends Help Line 0300 100 1822.
Those over the age of 60 can access free swimming  and lessons at Rye 0845 803 5515.
Free Bus use is available for those over 60  and for the ‘eligible disabled’ – application forms are available from Community Help Points or by phone 01424 787000.
A team from Rother has won the first Indian Ocean Rowing Race.

150.0 County Council Report: Cllr. Barnes reported on the 75th and 30th anniversaries of the Music Service and Youth Orchestra.  Cllr. Langdown offered to pass on the email address of the Ticehurst News and Views so that events of interest to the area can be sent to the editor for consideration.  He reported that speed limits in Wallcrouch have been agreed in principle and that he would like instruction from the Council as to their opinion on the Bus Stop pull-in area at Flimwell.

151.0 Ramp to Village Shop:   ESCC Officers have visited Mr McCrumlish to try to find a way of providing a disabled ramp to the shop – Mr Arnold is dealing with this.  The Clerk reported that the current siting of the disabled bay is being reviewed by ESCC ( Victoria Mackerel),  as it leaves the shop vulnerable to being rammed.  A license is being sought to install bollards along the pavement in front of the shop as car bonnets prevent pedestrian use and vans with ladders on roof racks, sometimes hit the shop windows.

152.0 Springfields Road Works:  Cllr. Semple and the Clerk met with ESCC Roads Dept to discuss damage to the kerbs  there.  Cllr. Seemann pointed out that other areas are also in need of work  and it was resolved that the Clerk should bring this to the attention of Mr Heasman ESCC.  The Clerk reported that Advartex have mended the part of Pickforde Lane for which they are responsible, and that the remainder falls within the remit of ESCC – Clerk to chase up.

153.0 Finance Report:  The following list of cheques were sanctioned for payment.

154.0 Planning Report:  Report on meetings held during the summer of 2009.
RR/2009/1374/0 The Firs Dale Hill – Extension of garage – retrospective – recommendation for approval.
RR/2009/1459/L  21 Church Street Ticehurst – conversion of outbuilding to studio – recommendation for approval.        
RR/2009/1470/P  Evergreen, Hg St. Ticehurst – Single storey rear extension and porch – recommendation for approval
RR/2009/1516/P  Downash Farm Flimwell – change of use of agricultural building to equestrian – no objections but felt it should be covered with 106 agreement.
RR/2009/1525/L  Stableyard Cottage  Whiligh – modifications to door – approval.
RR/2009/713  2 Clare House Church St – removal of conditions – recommendation for refusal.
RR/2009/1605/C  Flimwell and Ticehurst School – new childrens centre – recommendation for approval.
RR/2009/1670/P  7 Berners Court Yard – erection of fence and trellis – retrospective – recommendation for approval.
RR/2009/1709/P Battenhurst Meadow Stonegate – brick and slab bbq shed and screening of tank – retrospective –  recommendation for approval.
RR/2009/1865/P  Granary Cottage Church St. – single storey rear extension and replacement of shed – recommendation for approval.
RR/2009/1878/P  Pagdar Flimwell – single storey rear extension and internal alterations
RR/2009/1902/P – The Bell Hotel – demolition of 1930’s wing – proposed extensions to north and west elevations. Internal alterations and three detached guest lodges and external works – two houses with associated parking. Recommendation for approval but suggesting 106 agreement to tie new properties with the original to prevent re-sale.

The next planning meeting is likely to be on Thursday 17 September at 18:00.

155.0 Van on A21: Cllr. Langdown  reported that she has received  complaints about a Horse Van for sale on the A21.  The Clerk has suggested to the complainant that they would need to contact the relevant authorities if they wanted to take this matter further but that it is not really a Parish Council matter.

156.0 Hedge to Football Field:  Cllr. Yeo  reported that she has been approached about  the hedge and trees opposite Newington Court.  The hedge is the responsibility of the owner of The Bell Field and was kept high to prevent balls from hitting the building.  The Clerk was passed a letter from a resident and was instructed to  consult with Rother Homes.

157.0 Traffic Calming:  Traffic Calming Advisory Group will meet at 6.30 pm on 17th September 2009 – venue to be arranged.

158.0 Correspondence: 

159.0 Items for the October Agenda:   
Committees and Advisory groups – Fairer distribution of the work load.
Community Bus – more voluntary drivers are needed.
Village Notice Boards.

160.0 The Bell Field:  (Confidential). The Council moved to exclude the press and public for this item on the agenda by reason of the confidential nature of the business, as stated in section 1 of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972.  The reason for the confidentiality is due to on going litigation matters.

161.0  Date of the next meeting: The meeting ended at 9.05 p.m. and the date of the next meeting was set as 6 October  2009