MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 10TH DECEMBER 2007 AT 8 PM IN THE W I ROOM, BALCOMBE SOCIAL CLUB.
Present: Messrs. Robin Williamson (Chairman), Rodney Saunders, Neville Ashcroft, Robin Lindsay-Stewart, Simon Greenwood, Gary Marsh. Mesdames Sarah Moore-Williams, Alison Stevenson, Susan Barker Danby & Carol Jarvest.
In attendance: Richard Greig – Clerk to the Council.
2127. Public
Participation
Councillor Mrs Margaret Hersey (Chairman MSDC) & Cllr. Christopher Hersey attended as observers for part of the meeting. Cllr. Margaret was welcomed by the Chairman & made a short response. Mrs Inderjit Phakey & her husband, Anil, made reference to a separate letter, sent to Post Office Ltd. & copied to BPC, mentioning that overheads associated with the current business are too high & that consequently the business as a whole, in its current location, was unsustainable. The premises were currently being offered for sale.
2128. Declaration of personal or prejudicial
interest
Mr Greenwood declared personal & prejudicial interests in
respect of the Post Office (2127), prejudicial
interest on matters relating to Update on Small Scale Housing Inspector’s
Report (2143) & prejudicial interest relating to development of land opposite
2129. Apologies for absence
All Councillors were present.
2130. To approve Minutes of Regular meeting held
on 6th November 2007
The minutes were accepted as a true record & signed by the Chairman.
2131. Matters arising
2114 (2108) Hand Rail - The Clerk was still awaiting a specification + site plan from WSCC.
2124. Planning.- all applications had been approved.
2132. Financial
a). Cash Book Receipts & Payments for November 2007 – noted as presented
b). Bank Reconciliation Statements as at 30th November 2007 for both accounts - noted as presented.
c). Receipts &
Payments by Budget Heading 8 months to 30th November 2007 - noted as
presented.
d). To consider a proposal
from the Responsible Financial Officer regarding the Precept for 2008/2009.
Mr Lindsay-Stewart (RFO)
reiterated the Chairman’s earlier comments at the November meeting (Minute 2115 c) concerning the effects on cash flow, should a
change to the present level of precept be agreed. A separately circulated paper detailed
proposals for increasing the present level for 2008/09 to £42k, an increase of
£10k. This increased precept would
enable the Council to build up reserves to cover two months expenditure
annually. It was agreed that the current
surplus of approx. £13k accumulated in past years for traffic calming will be
“ring fenced”, together with the £9k already allocated through MSDC.
It should be noted that
the overall effect of the precept increase on Council Tax for Balcombe
residents would represent an increase of 1%.
Proposed by Mr
Marsh & seconded by Mr Saunders all Councillors were in favour of a precept
increase for 2008/09 to £42,000.
In advance of the budget
for 2008/09, that will be submitted for approval in April 2008, a proposal was
made that £3k be allocated, as before, to the Victory Hall Management
Committee, for improvements. This was
proposed by Mr Marsh & seconded by Mrs Stevenson & carried unanimously.
e) Rebuilding costs of the
Council’s structural assets – Update. Mr
Lindsay-Stewart had now had a meeting with the Estate recommended builder, Mr
f). To consider payment of
a Christmas bonus to the Balcombe Ranger.
Agreed without dissent that we would pay the Ranger £50 nett of tax as
in previous years.
2133. To consider
application from Mr Peter Huxley for co-option as a Councillor
Mr Huxley had submitted
a précis of his background & in the absence of any other nominations was
considered to be an excellent replacement for Richard Turner. Proposed by Carol Jarvest & seconded by
Mrs Moore-Williams the motion was carried unanimously.
2134. Report from Traffic Matters Group
Mr Saunders mentioned that the next meeting would be held on 7th February 2008.
Also noted – Julian Smith had not been successful in having his proposal for development of the site adjoining the Rectory included in the Small Scale Housing scheme.
Hopefully this would have included some village parking space. Likewise Balcombe Estate had no success with consideration of the site opposite Springfield Shaw.
Concerning the circulated notes of the TWG held on 29th November, noted:
7.1 & 7.2 – all WSCC recommended Consultants for Traffic Calming would now be written to.
8.1 Rodney Saunders would check with the new owner of
Balcombe Stores, Gemma Lewis, about her proposals for creating some additional
public car parking on what is now the garden to the right of the shop.
8.5 – Concerning the piece of land immediately north of the station (see also above), Mr Greenwood mentioned that it is currently tenanted, but this would not preclude any proposals being received from other sources, e g for additional car parking to relieve commuter parking on Newlands.
8.6 – The problematic Springfield Shaw parking matter would be mentioned on site with WSCC Highways on 20th December.
10.2 – Members were concerned to hear that at the last CLC meeting that the record of RTA’s on the B 2036, north of the village, indicated that a review of the speed limit was not appropriate on that basis alone. Therefore that road would be reviewed under new guidelines, as would each B road in the county. Agreed that this view is to be challenged in writing & letters to be drafted for consideration under delegated powers.
10.3 – Mr Marsh mentioned that the A23 Handcross to Warninglid development scheme, spring 2011 to spring 2013, may impact on the levels of traffic through Balcombe.
2135. Report from Safety & Security Group
2136. Report from Young People’s Group
Agreed pro tem that the two groups would merge. As no action had previously been taken concerning pavilion security the Clerk would now try & obtain some suggestions & indicative prices from outside contractors & report further.
The WSCC Ranger service had been offered should we hold an open day. The new signatories for the Youth Group would be Peter Huxley, Robin Lindsay-Stewart & the Clerk. Mr Ashcroft had attended a recent MSDC Workshop, but reported that it was not directly Balcombe focused.
2137. Report from Housing & Environment Group
Nothing to report.
2138. Reports from other Groups (where applicable)
including analysis of circulated bus proposals from Cllr. Acraman
Facilities & Amenities would report their findings on buses.
Agreed that when complete we should arrange a Parish magazine article giving main train & bus times, together with station booking office hours.
2139. To consider impact of consultation meeting with the PCT re proposed hospital changes held on November 2nd
Reference
was made to the recently published paper submitted to the PCT by MSDC. Agreed that we should write to the latter
saying that we were fully supportive of the proposals. Latest update is that A & E is likely to
continue at the PRH, but that the continuance of Maternity is still
uncertain.
2140. Reprise - Autumn Newsletter
This had appeared on time & circulated to all households.
2141. Ideas for a revised “Welcome Pack”
Mrs Stevenson agreed to help with possible revisions.
2142. Planning
For representation by 30th
November 2007 (extended to 14th December)
BA/07/03196/FUL – Honeychurch,
For representation by 7th
December 2007 (extension requested)
BA/07/03548/TCA – Clayhurst,
For representation by 14th
December 2007
BA/07/03283/FUL – The
Coach House,
b). To consider any Planning Applications received by the date of the meeting
For representation by 28th
December 2007
BA/07/03736/FUL – Maple Cottage, Haywards Heath Road – Reduce overall canopy of a maple by 1.2m & an apple by up to 1m. No objection.
2143. Update on Small Scale Housing Inspector’s Report
Refer 2134 comments above.
2144. To consider Clerk’s salary scale, following recent
SALC guidelines
The
Clerk left the room. In his absence
Members were in agreement with proposals submitted to them by the RFO for an
increase, on current scales, back dated to April 2007.
2145. Correspondence
W2 Balcombe Estate –
Statements under Section 31(6). Agreed
that details to be passed to the Footpaths Association. Potential prejudicial interest of Mr
Greenwood noted.
Other 12 - NALC Publication LCR. Mr Greenwood requested that he should receive a copy of these on a regular basis.
2146. Exchange of
Information
Chairman - Post Office – We will reply to Indy’s letter and fully support negotiations that will keep the Post Office in Balcombe.
Mrs Stevenson – reported some inaccuracies on the MSDC web
site. Mr Marsh will arrange
correction/revision as necessary.
Mr Greenwood had been unable to attend the recent Police Community meeting.
Mrs Moore-Williams – would pass Parish Plan questionnaires to Mrs Jarvest.
Mr Marsh – continuing concern at the condition of potholes on Newlands. There was an arm missing from the finger post
adjacent to the entrance into
There being no further business the meeting closed at 22.05 hours (10.05 p m).
Signed…………………………………………..
RG/HS
THE NEXT REGULAR
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 16TH JANUARY
2008.
revised