Bolney
Annual Parish
Assembly 2008
Chairman’s Report
This report summarises
the activities of the Parish Council during the past year.
This has been a
particularly eventful year for the Bolney Parish Council during
which there has been a number of significant changes within the
Council since the Annual Assembly last year.
Following the elections
on the 3rd May only four of the previous Councillors
continued and we were joined by a new Councillor, Frank White,
which made five in all, four short of our full complement of
nine.
A new councillor,
Annabel Moir, joined our ranks in August raising our number to
six.
Nevertheless, operating
with this small complement of Councillors was the first
challenge of the year.
The New Hall on
Batchelor’s Field continued to be a controversial issue and in
July a Parish Poll was conducted to determine whether the Parish
Council should raise a loan for a maximum of £150,000 towards
the cost.
Following the Poll (and
taking into account previous responses and feelings expressed at
various meetings) it was decided by the majority of the
councillors that, on balance, it was the wish, and in the best
interest of the Parish, and the Parishioners, that a loan be
arranged at the appropriate time.
At the end of the
September Council Meeting the Chairman, John Seward, advised
that the Parish Clerk had tendered her resignation and would
leave at the end of October.
Furthermore, he
announced that he was also resigning as both Chairman and as a
Councillor with immediate effect.
At this point may I pay
tribute to John who served on the Parish Council for 21 years,
twice as Chairman, and thank him for his significant
contribution to both the Council and the Parish throughout that
time.
The Vice Chairman,
Patrick George, stepped into the breach to fill the role of
acting Chairman and as the next longest serving Councillor I
agreed to assist him to fulfil the duties of both Chairman and
Clerk and to keep the Council functioning.
This was successfully
achieved with the help and support of our remaining Councillor
Colleagues, Annabel Moir, David Williams and Frank White, but we
were now back down to five!
The recruitment of a
Clerk and additional Councillors therefore became a top priority
coupled with handling the ongoing clerical and financial work of
the Council.
Fortunately we were able
to recruit three new Councillors, Joy Dennis, Peter Hopgood and
Keith Mayer, in October.
They have all proved to
be excellent colleagues and make a great contribution to the
work of the council.
Patrick George decided
that he could not permanently take on the role of Chairman so,
after some reflection, I volunteered and was duly appointed
Chairman at the Council Meeting in October.
Patrick agreed to
continue at Vice Chairman, a decision which pleased us all very
much.
However, despite
considering several possible candidates, it was not until the
end of January this year that we found a suitable Clerk and Mrs.
Debbie Thomas was appointed to that position. Debbie cannot be
with us this evening due to a long standing holiday commitment,
but, in her absence I formerly welcome her at this Annual
Assembly.
Debbie came to the role
without previous experience but has already proved to be an
excellent choice and the Parish are most fortunate to have her
services as Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.
So, at the beginning of
February we were finally re-established with a new clerk, and an
almost full complement of Councillors with a valuable and
diverse range of individual skills, qualifications and
experience which they bring to the role.
The Council comprises;
Eddie Hazel –
Chairman Patrick George – Vice Chairman
Annabel Moir
Joy Dennis
David
Williams Frank White
Keith
Mayer Peter Hopgood
and, of course
Debbie Thomas – Clerk
and Responsible Finance Officer
There is still a vacancy for a new councillor on the Parish
Council and it would be nice if a younger member of the Parish,
and perhaps a female applied, which would improve the both the
age range and also the gender balance of the Council.
Training -
steps have been taken to ensure that the
persons serving on the Parish Council have some recognised
training for the role they perform. Since the beginning of the
year;
Bolney now has a well
trained team to serve you on the Parish Council, and it is well
equipped to move forward to address more issues and with more
initiatives for the benefit of everyone who resides in the
Parish.
Monthly Meetings;
Council and Planning – have been
held as usual on the third Tuesday of each month with the
appropriate time allowed for questions from the attending
Parishioners before the formal proceedings.
All Parishioners are
welcome at our meetings, and we would like to see more than the
few who attend other than when key issues are addressed.
Special thanks are due
to Charlie Batchelor, who attends the meetings every month and
makes very meaningful contributions to the proceedings.
Finance
– apart from the increase necessitated by the provision for the
Public Works Loan we have managed to keep the precept low and
the overall rate increase, without the PWL is just 2%.
Cost savings have been
made on the cost of Insurance, the Clerk role (as Patrick and I
fulfilled that function for some four months) and the Street
Lights Contract and we will continue to look for further economy
and efficiency.
Planning Applications - we have reviewed and responded to
30 applications this year of which 26 received our approval. It
may be of interest for you to know that Mid Sussex Planning
agreed with us on 23 (88%) of them and one is still pending.
A meeting was held with the head of Mid Sussex Planning to
determine what is required or expected from us when dealing with
applications. This meeting resulted in the creation of a review
check list which has received positive acclaim from the Mid
Sussex Planning Authority. All planning applications are now
dealt with using this check list to ensure, as far as possible,
that a consistent approach it applied to all applications
received.
Website –
www.bolney.com
We have experienced
problems with the website hosting service providers but the site
continues to function in quite good shape.
If it is not up to date in any particular area this is probably
because we have not been advised of changes. Please let us know
of your amendments.
We are, however,
considering a new website which will be easier to operate and
maintain. We have identified a potential new service provider to
host the site and are working on simplifying the structure to
make it easier to navigate and to maintain.
What else has been
done so far?
 | The Action Plan
has also been resuscitated to consolidate the activities of
the Focus Group and to address other key issues. This will
place emphasis on and will benchmark the attainment of
objectives.
|
| Sewage Works
– we have engaged with Southern Water and Hollerans on the
matter of the new sewer in The Street to the benefit of the
affected residents. The two public meeting arranged were a
success and we were influential in the matter of the
temporary arrangement of the sewer prior to the permanent
diversion behind the Eight Bells and the immediate
neighbours. We were also able to ensure that the area where
necessary generators are temporarily located is as
reasonable as possible.
|
| |
| Whilst the buses
were diverted away from The Street, we arranged and paid for
two benches to be erected at the bus stops on London Road,
which will remain a permanent facility for those using
public transport. Also temporary lighting was arranged in
Ryecroft Road.
|
| The servicing and
power supply to the Street Lights, which are owned and
operated by the Parish Council, has been reviewed and a new
contract for maintenance and energy will be arranged. This
will not only improve the service but also bring about a
significant cost savings in the immediate and longer term.
|
| New Village Hall –
following the significant financial commitment which has
been made, we have engaged with RHMC to make a meaningful
contribution to the project and to monitor progress in the
interest of the Parishioners and the Parish.
|
| WSCC – positive
input has been made to WSCC and an excellent working
relationship established with our County Councillor, Peter
Griffiths, who has complimented the Parish Council on its
approach to business and performance.
|
| MSDC – we have
worked with our District Councillor, Sue Seward on various
matters involving the Parish and have maintained the good
relationship which has been developed over the years.
|
| Highways
Authorities – we have successfully represented the interest
of Bolney on the A23 widening scheme at Handcross Hill and
with the A272 developments and requirements.
Attention has also recently been given to the access
recently created off the roundabout on the London Road.
|
| The verges on the
London Road footpath have been cut back and the pathway
cleared by the Highway Rangers, but this needs attention
again.
|
| We have also
arranged for the broken step at the end of the Bankside
pathway, near to the bus stop to be repaired!
|
Throughout these
activities and involvements many key contacts have been
identified and their responsibilities established within their
respective organisations, viz;
-
WSCC Highways and Rangers
-
Interoute (ex Highways Agency)
-
WSCC Highways Lighting
-
EDF Lighting and Power
-
MSDC; Planning, Waste Management, Leisure
-
SALC
all of which serves to
speed up communication and response to problems and issues we
may have within the Parish.
The coming year
In the coming year, as
well as continuing with the activities we have already commenced
it is our intention to review the issue of
·
Affordable Housing in the
parish,
to initiate the creation
of a
·
Parish Design Statement,
to help with planning
applications and conduct and update
·
Needs Survey
to determine what the
Parishioners want, or expect from Bolney and the Parish Council.
We will also work harder
to develop closer links and liaison with the
·
Parish and Village
Organisations,
which we anticipate will
contribute to these objectives.
Particular thanks
are due to those Parishioners who tirelessly work in various
ways to serve Bolney and make a significant contribution to the
community living in the Parish and Village of Bolney.
Involvement
Of course we realise
that we have much to do and cannot achieve our goals and
objectives without help and support. Parishioners’ involvement
and input into what we do is needed and we welcome everyone and
anyone that is able and willing to join us in our endeavours.
It is your Parish so
please get involved, particularly with the Focus Groups – there
is much we can, together, achieve for Bolney.
This concludes my Report
for 2008.
I will now be pleased to
take questions from the floor.
Eddie Hazel
20 May 2008
