MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11th
JANUARY 2006 AT 8.00 PM IN THE W I ROOM, VICTORY HALL, BALCOMBE
Present: Messrs Graham Gosney, George Wiginton, David
Miners, Robin Williamson, Simon Greenwood & Mesdames Katherine Gunning,
Sheila Illsley & Sue Tibbott.
In attendance: Richard Greig – Clerk to the Council
1675 Public Participation
No members of the public were in
attendance.
None noted.
1677 Apologies for absence
Messrs. Roland
Burke, Gary Marsh (indisposed), & Mrs Alison
Stevenson
1678 Minutes as circulated of Meeting held on 13th
December 2005
The minutes of the meeting held on 13th December were agreed, and after amendment, as below agreed were signed off by the Chairman as a true & accurate record:
1659 – penultimate line page 2 – delete “unanimous”
BA/05/02593/FUL – general consensus that in future differention is made between opinions expressed at meeting & the subsequent more detailed advice passed to MSDC on the same basis
1666 – first sentence now
to read “Rachel Sanders (WSCC)
mentioned that she has no access to any budgets that may be considered for
additional traffic calming works in Balcombe”.
1667 – amend to read “ it was
considered that WSCC’s consideration to not changing the layout in this area would be
advantageous “.
1679 Matters arising
1662 To consider letter (circulated) from MSDC re
Corporate Capital Grants Scheme. The
Clerk had circulated local organisations that might require funding. The only details received were from the
Balcombe Parish Room & accordingly MSDC had been passed details.
1672 - Proposed January 2006 Newsletter.
This had been printed at Worth (Abbey) & circulated to
each Balcombe household. Messrs Williamson
& the Clerk were thanked for their efforts.
1674 – Youth Club. Mr Burke was
absent. The Clerk had met up with Paul
Kibble who thanked us for the Christmas payment & also indicated that it
seemed possible that a new leader might be in place during February.
1680 Financial
a). Cash Book Receipts & Payments for
month of December 2005 – noted/approved
b). Bank Reconciliation Statements as at 31st
December 2005 for both accounts -
noted/approved
c). Receipts & Payments by Budget Heading 9
months to 31.12.2005 – noted/approved
d). “Budget Financial Year 2006/2007 Nothing additional to report. Agreed that we would need to consider figure
for 2007/08 precept well in advance, bearing in mind possible projects
requiring major expenditure this summer – possibly traffic calming.
e).
Update on offer of grant of £3k to Balcombe Victory Hall – latest information
received is that the agreed payment for 2006/07 will be required by the end of
March. A formal request from the
Management Committee to follow.
1681 a).To consideration the following Planning
Applications
a) .For representation by 6th
January 2006 (extension requested)
BA/05/02733/TCA – Woodpecker Mount, Stockcroft Road – fell
conifer
BA/05/02818/TCA – Glenmore, Deanland Road – Front Garden – Thin
canopy by 15% of Malus (1) Trim back canopy on southern side to edge of
driveway of Yew, fell Cherry, thin, reduce & reshape by 20% Malus (2) Trim
back lower branches on eastern side by 1.5m of Sycamore. Rear Garden – Trim back canopies on western
side by approx. 1m of row of Pines & Yews.
No objection to either application voiced. MSDC to be advised accordingly.
b). To consider any additional applications received prior to the
meeting. None received.
1682 Parish Plan
An update given on arrangements for the public consultation on 25
February. Display boards would be
obtained on loan from both MSDC & AirS.
The procedures for the posting of visitor comments would be “fine tuned”
by the sub committee well in advance.
Members were asked to make themselves available on the day.
Mr Greenwood requested that details of the plan be sent to Pete Evans at
the Estate Office for possible circulation to their tenants.
The Chairman mentioned a possible candidate for the “Facilitator” to
head up the Steering Group. Funding to
assist in start up costs (up to £0.5k) seemed to be available via AirS. Additionally there could be a grant from
DEFRA. We might need to make a
provision in the accounts to reflect such grants.
1683 Update on LDF
from MSDC
We received a copy of MSDC’s report presented to
their Better Environment Policy Environment Group on 10 January 2006.
The purpose of this report is to summarise the
results of the consultation exercise relating to the Small Scale Housing
Allocations Development Plan Document Preferred Options Report that was carried
out in May & June 2005. Also to
seek MSDC’s Members’ views on which housing sites might be included in the
Small Scale Housing Allocations Development Plan Document to be submitted to
the Secretary of State later this year.
Unfortunately Gary Marsh, our District Councillor, was indisposed &
not present at the meeting. However he
would report further to allow clarification on the Balcombe sites mentioned in
the report. A covering article would
then be prepared to appear in February’s Parish Magazine.
1684 Problem with Pavilion Showers – Balcombe
Football Club
Agreed that the best way to resolve the problem would be to have a
meeting with Club representatives on site & if possible have their President,
Eddie Bryant present. The Clerk would
arrange this.
1685 To consider letter dated 28 November from
MSDC re Affordable Rural Housing
Agreed that we would acknowledge & advise that
as it was likely that housing would be covered in the forthcoming Parish Plan
we would make contact in due course when the views of residents were clearer.
1686 Report
on Meeting with Neil Smith (WSCC) on 19th December re Parking.
A
report circulated. Varying views from
members as how to proceed. Agreed to
refer details to the Parish Plan Action Group bearing in mind that parking will
be included in the subject matter to be considered by residents.
1687 Community
Speed Watch Scheme
Overall view was that the pre Christmas party for members
was very successful.
1688 Traffic
Calming including Safer Routes to School
Mr Miners circulated recent information received
from WSCC re Stage 3 Safety Audit & would reply to them on this. Traffic monitoring equipment will be
installed at the end of February 2006.
As it was most unlikely that the additional items identified – 30 mph
roundels/vehicle activated signs – could be funded by WSCC, even though the
cost of the scheme was under what we had anticipated, it was suggested that
especially in view of the high cost of the latter we should obtain
information/comments from existing users on their effectiveness.
Concerning possible assistance via Safer Routes to
Schools no positive information had yet been received.
1689 Footpath Report
Mrs Tibbott, the Chairman & Clerk had recently
walked the path between Kelsey House & Yew Tree Farm.
The undergrowth had been cut back successfully, but
we do not yet know whether this through WSCC or local work. Agreed that a meeting with Margaret Enstone
(WSCC Leisure Ranger) & Paddockhurst Estate would be useful as certain
refinements to stiles etc. adjoining the farm still required & there is
still concern at the slippery surface of the mineral spring boardwalk, on which
it is not now possible (for Health & Safety reasons) for WSCC to affix
chicken wire.
1690 Neighbourhood Watch – comments from Jim Cooke (as circulated)
Jim Cooke was still looking for a successor. The Chairman thought that the post might be
successfully split between two people, which might make it less onerous. Also appointments to be for an agreed time
limit, of say two years. Agreed that
further consideration to this useful village function required & it should
form part of the forthcoming Village Plan.
1691 Correspondence
M5 Mid Sussex LDF Sustainable
Construction – Mrs Stevenson to consider
M6 Report on Youth Seminar
11.11.06 – to be passed to Mr Burke
Other 2 South East Plan – Public
Consultation Housing, Jobs & W. Sussex Infrastructure – might need to be
considered further after comment from Mrs Stevenson
Other 11 Charles Oman re Mill
Lane – Peter Dutton handling damage problems caused by cars going off the
road. Agreed refer request for
additional signage to Neil Smith (WSCC Highways).
Other 13 Standards of Conduct in
English Local Government: The Future – read with amusement! Noted from page 44 - Codes shall be clearer,
simpler & more positive.
Other 15 Publication
Community Safety - “Connections” – includes interesting article headed “Why
Provide Street Lighting?
Other 5 Report from Julie Worrall
on Footpaths. Discussion on chicken
wire – see Minute 1689 above
1692 Exchange of Information
The Chairman – leaves around Jobes. (Clerk had already advised Ranger to hire leaf machine to tackle
this & other paths)
Mr
Greenwood – Bends
Mr Wiginton – Twitten between Troymede & Combers. Trees at Water Tower triangle. Recent mention of possible loss of Police
support of CSW. We need to monitor this
carefully.
Signed…………………………………………..