The Minutes of the Meeting of Bolney Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 18 September 2007

PRESENT:

Mr J Seward (Chairman)

Mr P George

Mr E Hazel

Mr D Williams

Mr F White

Mrs A Moir

Mrs J Wright (Clerk) 

Public:  51

Press:      0

Questions/Comments from Members of the Public

Mr Snow questioned the validity of the recent Parish Poll.

Mrs Holmes expressed concerns regarding the Police Tetra Mast and said that the residents deserved to be kept fully aware and updated on the status of the new Village Hall project and asked who was responsible for supplying the information.

Mr Batchelor said that in his opinion the Police Tetra Mast was higher than was envisaged and asked how many Councillors had been co-opted and how many had been elected and wanted to know who they represented.

Mr Denyer expressed concerns as a school governor about the Police Tetra Mast.  He also made a statement paying tribute to the measured way in which the Parish Council has acted in the difficult issues arising over the proposed new hall.

1.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Seward and Mr Griffiths.  

2.      MINUTES

It was agreed by all that the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 August 2007 be approved, agreed and signed by the Chairman.

3.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest in respect of any item of the Agenda.

4.      MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Mr Williams reported on the meeting held with representatives of WSCC and their contractors on the subject of how residents of The Street would be affected when the road is closed for work to be carried out on the sewers.  It was agreed that the current plans were unsatisfactory and Mrs Wright agreed to write to the contractors asking for more acceptable drawings and detailed information that could be displayed explaining exactly how residents of The Street are likely to be affected.

5.      RAWSON INSTITUTE

After considerable discussion Mr George made the following proposal which was seconded by Mr Hazel:

That the Parish Council vote to proceed with a Public Works Loan of up to £150,000 over a period of 30 years towards the financing of a new village hall subject to:

·        All other funding being in place

·        Signature by MSDC and RIMC of the lease for the land on Batchelor’s Field

·        Approval by the Charity Commissioners of the proposed development.

With the exception of Mr Williams who abstained, all voted in favour of the proposal.

6.      CORRESPONDENCE

i.                     WSCC: Consultation on Two Options for the Distribution of Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites in West Sussex.  Noted.

ii.                   Government Office for the South East:  Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East (The South East Plan) – Publication of the Panel Report.  Noted.

iii.                  Inter Route:  A23 Handcross – Electrical Sign Connection:  Noted.

iv.                 MSDC:  Changes to Development Control Procedures:  Noted.

7.      FINANCE

i.                     List of Accounts for payment:

The September 2007 list of accounts (copy filed with these Minutes) was agreed, proposed by Mr Hazel and seconded by Mr Williams. 

ii.                   Requests for Grants:

None. 

8.      MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION

It was agreed that Mr Hazel and Mr George interview Mr Mayer and Mr Hopgood, who had expressed an interest in becoming Parish Councillors.

It was agreed to write to the Rawson Institute Management Committee asking them to appoint a representative to attend the next and all subsequent Council meetings to report on the status of the new village hall project.  Mr George offered to draft a liaison document to be circulated to all Members for comment.

Mr Seward concluded the meeting by reading two resignation letters, one from Mrs Wright resigning as Clerk to the Council and the other from himself resigning his position as Chairman and Parish Councillor.

9.      DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 16 October 2007 following the Planning Committee Meeting at 8.00 p.m.

There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 9.40 p.m.