T
The
Minutes of the Meeting of Bolney Parish Council held on
Tuesday
18th August 2009
PRESENT:
Mr E Hazel
(Chairman) (EH)
Mr F White
(Vice Chairman) (FW)
Mrs J Dennis (JD) Mr D
Williams (DW)
Mr A Smith (AS) Mrs A
Moir (AM)
Ms B Sands
(BS) Mrs
D Thomas (Clerk) (DT)
Mr P Griffiths (WSCC) (PG) Mrs S Seward
(MSDC) (SS)
8 members of the public
Questions/Comments from Members of the Public
-
Mr
Batchelor commented that the fingerpost at
Stairbridge Lane should have 4 fingers, not 3. EH
confirmed that this has already been noted following
his similar comments at the meeting last month and
that it is being addressed as part of the full
refurbishment program.
-
Mr
Batchelor commented that there is a litter issue at
the roadworks on the A272 whilst motorists wait at
the lights. He also advised that there have been 5
accidents in the last 4 weeks along this stretch of
road. EH acknowledged this but asked why the points
had not been raised with the Council prior to the
meeting.
-
Mr
Batchelor commented on the anti-social behaviour in
the village. FW commented that much had been done
to address matters and that he will invite the
police to attend the next Parish Council meeting.
Report from
County Councillor
Highways PG is disappointed that the steps on the old A23 to the
church still havent been cleared. He hasnt seen a
schedule for the work but has been told it will be done.
Warninglid sign PG is pursuing the issue of the poor visibility caused
by the sign at the top of Colwood Lane with the new
Highways Manager.
CLC The next meeting will be on 5th October at Birchwood
Grove School. PG asked the Parish Council to write to
him before the meeting with regard to the speed limits
and skid sections on the A272 to ensure they are
effective.
Buses PG confirmed that there is a review of the use of buses in the
community and suggested that the Parish Council
continues to pursue the use of a community bus.
Questions/Comments to County Councillor
1.
FW advised that flashing speed signs called
Casper signs were possibly to be used on the A272. PG
confirmed that WSCC have one which they move around the
CLC area and he will arrange for it to be put on the
A272. PG to advise FW when this will be scheduled.
2.
EH advised that Derek Whittington has requested a
meeting to agree the way forward with the costs involved
for refurbishment of fingerposts. The Parish Council
would like WSCC to provide the resources or the cost to
do their element of the work under the new community
initiative. It is hoped that following further
discussions, the result will be that all the fingerposts
in Bolney are fully refurbished.
3.
EH advised that the Parish Council has dates
agreed to meet with Neil Smith to discuss Highways
issues.
4.
JD asked if WSCC had thought about budgeting yet
for next year. PG advised that WSCC needs to spend £50m
less by 2012. They have a £2b annual budget.
Report from
District Councillor
Mid Sussex Matters SS confirmed that this newsletter has been sent out
to 17,000 households this week. MSDC would appreciate
any feedback.
Budgeting A consultation begins in September for next years budget
based on setting priorities for what people would like
to see council tax spent on.
Statistics SS is looking into how correct recent statistics are,
including the Affordable Warmth Strategy that show
Bolney to be an area of deprivation and need.
Pavilion SS has received a letter concerning the state of the Pavilion
from Mr J Bridger (Bolney Rovers Football Club). SS
confirmed that the work MSDC are doing on the pavilion
will ensure it is fit for use for the coming season.
Longer term considerations will need to be looked at.
FW confirmed that work has started.
Questions/Comments to District Councillor
There were none.
1.
Apologies for Absence
Mr P Hopgood.
2. Minutes of the last meeting
Following an amendment to point 8,
changing AS to EH, it was agreed by all that the Minutes
of the meeting held on 21st July 2009 be
approved and signed by the chairman.
3. Declarations of Interest
There were none.
4. Finance
4.1
Agree the list of accounts for payment
The list of accounts for August was
agreed by all.
4.2
Agree donation of the profit of £43.50 raised by
the parish council at Village Day
It was agreed by all that 10% (£4.35)
should be donated to the Village Society in accordance
with the agreement and that the remaining 90% (£39.15)
be donated to the Rendezvous Club.
4.3
Consider a donation to the Bolney Rovers Football
Club
Following discussion, it was agreed
to ask a representative to attend a council meeting to
discuss this further. PG suggested that when granting
money to local organisations, that we ask them to show
our sponsorship on their headed paper etc. It was also
discussed that the parish council needs to consider how
to encourage and support local organisations/clubs in
Bolney.
4.4 Agree purchase of the new
Eighth Edition of Arnold-Baker: Local Council
Administration, cost £53.60
DT also requested purchase of the
Clerks manual at £45.00. Both guides are invaluable to
ensure statutory requirements are met and good practice
in the Parish Council. Both purchases were agreed by
all.
5. Receive a report from the
roads and highways focus group
EH advised that there has been some
improvement at the south end of The Street with Please
Keep Clear - Bus Route signs in place. A date is being
arranged to meet Neil Smith, Highways Manager, with
regard to The Street and roads/highways matters in
general. PG asked if the signage for the road works on
Colwood Road were adequate. JD advised that when it
says access only this doesnt make it clear how far up
the road you can get.
6. Receive a report from the
footpaths focus group
FW advised that there will be future
meetings with Nick Scott who is very proactive.
Promised work is done competently and most of the
requests have now been completed. Nick is working with
the parish council to publicise general rules about the
upkeep of footpaths.
DW asked about the hedge on
Batchelors Field which requires cutting on the inside.
It was confirmed that this is the responsibility of
MSDC. Problems with Batchelors Field have been reported
to MSDC and are being addressed.
PG and SS left the meeting.
7. Receive a report from the
communications and action plan focus group and agree a
request for funding Open Door Sessions
BS talked about Open Door Sessions
which is a plan to have an open surgery at regular
intervals for parishioners to be able to turn up and
speak to a councillor about any issue. They will be
held at the Rawson Hall at a hire cost of £12 per
session and eventually it is hoped to have various
leaflets and information available. BS would like the
launch date to be in October.
AS questioned the capability of
councillors to be able to help people and it was
discussed that councillors can direct people to the
right place for help or enlist other volunteers to help.
Following discussion about the
frequency of sessions, it was agreed on twice a month
initially on alternate Wednesdays, with future sessions
determined by the amount of response and usage.
8. Receive a report from the
housing and development land focus report group
DW confirmed that he, AM and AS will
be meeting Tom Warder (Airs) and Carol Tomkins (MSDC) on
25th August to go through the Housing Needs
Survey.
9. Receive an update on the
village hall
DW advised that the RHMC are
currently renewing the roof on the hall which should
last a further 3-5 years. The cottage window has been
repaired in the Post Office area and proposals to
improve the toilets are being evaluated. A quote for
£1200 has been received to decorate the main hall.
DW advised that he had been invited
by David Robins to attend a meeting with Mr Raymond
Stoner and Mr John Snow concerning their land at the
north of the built up area of the Village. They are
suggesting a planning application for a housing
development and advising that they would make a donation
in the region of £500,000 to £1,000,000 for either
improvement to the existing village hall or for a new
village hall, should the development of the land be
permitted. The development site is in an AONB.
EH advised that the Parish Council
are already aware of this proposal for the site which
has been submitted to MSDC with a request that it be
considered for inclusion in the SHLAA.
FW suggested that the Parish Council
inform our District Councillor that the developer has
been making approaches to people in the Parish in that
regard. DT will advise Nathan Spilstead and Sue Seward.
10. Receive an update on the
fingerposts
This was discussed at length in the
questions/comments to County Councillor.
11. Receive an update on the
notice boards
FW confirmed that the notice boards
were delivered last week and will be put up as soon as
possible. DT will chase Bob McKinnon for the licence
required for the notice board to be put up at the
Jeremys Lane/Colwood Lane junction.
12. Receive a report from the
police neighbourhood panel
FW reported that the last meeting was
held on 30th July and there were four
villages represented so this is improving each time.
Speeding They are looking to use
Casper signs on the A272 as it is not a safe place to
use speed detectors as there is nowhere safe to pull
motorists over. The Street has been designated as a
safe place to have a speed watch service. .
Antisocial behaviour - There were
problems 3 nights in a row at the pavilion where glazing
putty was pulled out of a window following which police
action has been taken with one youth. There is
discussion as to whether Crossways could become gated to
prevent various problems, including prostitution. The
police are looking into a programme to help with
anti-social behaviour which includes other things such
as bad parking issues and dog fouling.
Police have increased their patrols
in Bolney and also use an unmarked car.
13. Receive an update on the
Community Bus Burgess Hill test route
DT advised that Handcross Community
Bus service meeting has been delayed so no decision is
yet available on the test route.
FW and BS are looking into services
offered by Bluebird and will be meeting with them.
There are also other options to improve the bus
services.
14. Agree a position on and
response to MSDC on the matter of Councillors allowances
and expenses
Following discussion it was agreed to
adopt the procedure attached to these minutes which
would be advised to any new councillor at interview
stage. This view will be submitted to MSDC.
15 Correspondence
There was none.
16 Date of Next Meeting
