Council Meeting Minutes - July
The Minutes of
the Meeting of Bolney Parish Council held on
Tuesday 21st
July 2009
PRESENT:
Mr E Hazel
(Chairman) (EH)
Mr D Williams (DW)
Mrs J Dennis (JD) Mr P
Hopgood. (PH)
Mr A Smith (AS) Mrs A
Moir (AM)
Mrs D Thomas (Clerk) (DT)
Mr P Griffiths (WSCC) (PG) Mrs S Seward (MSDC)
(SS)
7 members of the public
Questions/Comments
from Members of the Public
-
It was advised
that the posts at the junction of Foxhole Lane /A272 are in
a poor state of repair. PG noted this.
-
It was advised
that the willow tree in Batchelors Field by the footpath at
the south of the toilet block is in need of pruning. Also
the hedge along the length of Batchelors Field. DT will
report this.
Report from County
Councillor
CLC - PG advised that he is now the chairman of the CLC for the next
year and was pleased that 3 councillors from Bolney attended the
last meeting.
Highways PG has received the fingerpost report from Frank White and
has been to see the new fingerpost in Stairbridge Lane and
Colwood Lane. He also commented that although the potholes had
been filled, that the footway up the steps to the church hadnt
been cleared which he will pursue. There is also a lack of
consistency on verge cutting around the village that will be
taken up with the contractors.
Questions/Comments
to County Councillor
1.
In relation to the formation of the National Parks
Authority, DW asked about the large number of members on the
committee and also about the loss of planning authority from the
District Council to the National Parks Authority.
PG confirmed that
the large number of committee members was usual due to the very
large area covered and that it would be managed by a good
chairman. There would be 6 representatives from parish councils
on the committee. If a parish council wants a place they will
need to make a case for their eligibility. In relation to
planning, the National Parks Council will make strategic
decisions for the whole park but the local planning authority
will still have delegated authority for individual planning
consents.
2.
Following the meeting to discuss the bollards at Forge
Cottage, EH asked about the funds that PG had indicated were
available to put in a kerb. PG corrected this matter stating
that he would put aside funds in the new budget to cover the
cost and has spoken to Bob McKinnon who will be asking Peter
Bleathman, a designer, to cost this. There will not be funds to
do the work until next year.
3.
SS commented that the new fingerpost at Stairbridge Lane
is missing its fourth finger that points to Ansty/Haywards
Heath. EH confirmed that he is aware of this. The cost to
correct it will be quite high as it will need to be taken back
to the workshop to be dealt with but it will be considered as
part of the full fingerpost refurbishment program.
PG left the meeting.
Report from District
Councillor
SS confirmed that she is now the Cabinet Member for Economic Investment
and Regeneration. SS also discussed the unemployment situation
in Mid Sussex and advised that with 2% of people now claiming
benefits this is the lowest in West Sussex.
Questions/Comments
to District Councillor
1.
DW asked about the new contracts for the management of
the leisure centres. SS confirmed that they are still owned by
MSDC who remain responsible for delivering the service. The
reason for contracting out is to save on business rates and VAT
which then goes back into the services. The contract commenced
on 1st July 2009.
2.
Carl Willis asked whether the National Park would
restrict development as 10% of Mid Sussex is within the National
Park. SS advised that an AONB is the highest landscape
designation and has the same controls within planning so it will
remain the same.
3.
In relation to the minimum standards report concerning
the size of new dwellings, Carl Willis asked whether this would
impact on the number of new houses in the area. SS advised that
the density would remain the same at about 30 units per hectare
as the houses would be built higher.
4.
JD mentioned that at the top of Colwood Lane, where it
joins the Warninglid Road, the welcome to Warninglid sign blocks
the view of traffic when turning right. SS will contact PG
concerning this.
SS left the meeting.
1. Receive a
notice of resignation from Councillor Mayer
DT read out a notice
received from Mr Mayer on 10th July 09, advising of
his decision to leave the council. EH expressed his thanks to
Mr Mayer for his contribution to the council and all agreed.
2. Apologies for
Absence
Mr F White and Ms B
Sands.
3. Minutes of the last meeting
It
was agreed by all that the Minutes of the meeting held on 16th
June 2009 be
approved and signed by the Chairman.
4. Declarations of Interest
There were none.
5. Finance
5.1
Agree the list of accounts for payment
The list of accounts for July was agreed by
all.
5.2
Consider a donation to the Bolney Rovers Football
Club
Following discussion, it was agreed to defer
a decision until the next council meeting.
6. Receive a report from the roads and
highways focus group to include an update on the bollards and
parking issues at the end of The Street.
EH advised that WSCC are preparing Parking
Restriction signs to manage the parking issue at the end of The
Street. There will be a further meeting with Highways staff at
WSCC to address the matter of improving the service and deal
with issues in regard to the roads in the parish.
7. Receive a report from the footpaths
focus group.
EH read out a report prepared by Frank White
(FW) summarised below;
A list of work carried out in Bolney on the
rangers last visit has now been provided which includes 23 new
way markers placed on footpaths and bridleways, clearance work
on 1155 metres of footpaths and bridleways and a bridge repaired
and new handrail and plank installed. There was some work not
completed which will be done on the next visit if they dont get
time in the interim.
Nick Scott will provide an article for the
parish magazine reminding landowners of their responsibilities
with regard to footpaths and FW will provide details of user
rights for the notice boards, website and parish magazine.
FW now has a template for reporting issues on
footpaths and bridleways and a further meeting will be set up
with Nick Scott in another month to look at the work gang
templates and any other issues or opportunities to improve the
footpaths and bridleways in the parish.
8. Receive a report from the housing and
development land focus group to include an update following the
County Local Committee meeting held on 8th July 2009
AM reported on the CLC meeting. In relation
to affordable housing AM advised that MSDC need to build 350-400
affordable units per year. Last year there were 158, of which
78 were new and only 38 are to be delivered this year.
AM, DW and AS had a meeting to discuss
housing and planning and the outcome was that more information
about the actual housing mix in the village is needed from MSDC.
They are also still looking into the need to hold a Housing
Needs Survey and will be meeting with Carol Tomkins from MSDC to
discuss this. If the decision is taken to do a survey then it
is likely to be in the autumn and the parishioners will be made
aware of why it is being done and what it will achieve to ensure
a good response to the survey.
EH mentioned the Village Design Statement.
AM confirmed that they have terms of reference for this and need
to arrange another meeting to progress it.
9. Receive an update on the village
hall
DW advised that the RHMC are considering what
works are required to keep the hall running. They have had an
independent fire risk assessment done and the main committee
will discuss the recommendations at their next meeting although
some have already been carried out. The RHMC have also looked
at other possible improvements including the implications of
replacing the boiler, taking out 2 windows at the back of the
hall and bricking it up, replacement of the front window,
improving the toilets and general redecoration to the interior.
The roof of the main hall will be overlaid with felt in the next
month.
10. Receive an update on the fingerposts
EH read out a report prepared by Frank White
(FW) summarised below;
FW and EH have met with J&K Engineering who
are responsible for the maintenance and replacement of
fingerposts on behalf of WSCC and have shown them the
fingerposts that need to be refurbished. Following receipt of a
complete document of the nine fingerposts requiring repair or
replacement, J&K Engineering have now provided estimates for the
work and contact has been made with WSCC to get the work
approved and completed. The split of costs between WSCC and BPC
is still to be worked out.
11. Receive an update on the notice
boards.
Following agreement of the number and
location of notice boards at the last meeting, 4 notice boards
have now been ordered. They will be open fronted air dried oak
with plywood back, measuring 100cm x 80cm. Each will have a
header board with Bolney Public Notice Board engraved on it.
One will have posts to enable it to be put into the ground, the
others are to be mounted on the bus stops and wall. The total
cost should be approximately £1068 which is within the budget of
the £1100 grant. Delivery is expected within the next 3 to 4
weeks.
DT has spoken to Bob McKinnon (Highways
Officer) who is sorting out the licence for the notice board to
be put at the Colwood Lane/Jeremys Lane crossroads.
12. Receive an update on the Community
Bus Burgess Hill test route
Following the final bus service to Burgess
Hill on 13th July, DT has spoken to Mrs P Long,
secretary of the Handcross and District Community Bus Service,
to find out the future of this service. Mrs Long advised that
it will be on the agenda for discussion at their next meeting on
10th August. Her feeling was that it may not
continue as a regular route but may be put on as a once a month
excursion. DT advised that between 5 and 8 people used the
service each time but that some had been put off by the cost.
13. Receive an update on the pavilion on
Batchelors Field
EH and FW had a meeting with David Harper
from MSDC Leisure. MSDC are unable to do any significant
improvements at present as funds are no longer available
although it was agreed that they would make the showers more
serviceable. They were considering putting a small kitchen area
in the main room and installing a toilet/officials area in the
kitchen area but will now also consider a proposal to maintain
the current kitchen but still incorporate a toilet.
14. Correspondence
AS took the following document to review:
Partial Review of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South
East. Provision for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling
Showpeople. Recommendations for new policy H7
DW, AM, AS and EH(for FW) took copies of the
Mid Sussex Sustainable Communities Strategy 2008-2018
19. Date of Next Meeting
