MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 11th OCTOBER 2005 AT 8

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 11th OCTOBER 2005 AT 8.00 PM IN THE

W I ROOM, VICTORY HALL, BALCOMBE

             

Present:  Messrs Graham Gosney, David Miners, Roland Burke, Robin Williamson, Mesdames Alison Stevenson, Sue Tibbott & Sheila Illsley

 

1612          Public Participation

No members of the public were in attendance. 

 

1613          Declaration of personal or prejudicial interest

          No declarations made.

 

1614          Apologies for absence

Messrs Gary Marsh, George Wiginton & Simon Greenwood & Mrs Katherine Gunning

 

1615          Minutes as circulated of Meetings held on 15th (Special) & 20th (Regular) September 2005

The minutes of both meetings, having been previously circulated, were signed off by the Chairman as a true & accurate record.

 

1616          Matters arising

Minutes of Meeting on 15th September - 1591 – agreed that this should have read:     “It was confirmed that within the next 10 years West Sussex would be required to find spaces for 3000 new dwellings each year      “

Minutes of Meeting on 20th September - 1572 d).  As no progress to date on the fence the Clerk would follow this up through Balcombe Estate

1576 – Traffic Calming – confirmed additional expenditure already agreed up to a limit of £4k

1586 – barred gate on footpath at entrance to Kemps Farm.  No news as yet

1602 - MSDC Small Scale Housing Allocations Development Plan agreed we need to continue regular contact with MSDC regarding dates & timing fore submissions etc.  Notes for the Sussex & Surrey Rural Housing Conference in Crawley on 12th October would be obtained for £5 in case Mrs Stevenson was unable to attend. 

          1605 – Quality Parish Council Scheme.  Trevor Leggo from SALC would be addressing the November meeting on this subject & outlining possible benefits to Balcombe.

          1606 - Parish of St. Mary, Balcombe’s Parochial Church Council’s “Friends of the Church” scheme.  In the absence of Mr Wiginton no further news available. 

1603 - W3          Area Transport Plans.  Details had been made available to Councillors

Other 11 - Julie Worrall re donation for Kissing Gate – Mrs Tibbott was examining a possible site for an additional gate & would report further.

White Lining in church lay by/PRH Baby Unit – the agreed action relating to both matters had been taken

 

1617          Financial

a). Cash Book Receipts & Payments for month of September 2005 - approved as circulated

b). Bank Reconciliation Statements as at 30th September 2005 for both accounts - approved as circulated

c). Receipts & Payments by Budget Heading 6 months to 30.09.05 - approved as circulated

d). To approve EDF proposal for lighting repairs/updating as per email dated 12.09.05 totalling £1292.00.  Proposed by Mr Williamson & seconded by Mr Burke the motion was accepted without dissent & the Clerk instructed to reply to Dave Gilbert

e). “Wish List” for Financial Year 2006/2007.  To be discussed in more detail at the next meeting, but present ideas included £1k for additional playground equipment as well as possibly something towards the pavement leading past the Rectory  

 

1618 To consideration the following Planning Applications

For representation by 14th October 2005

a). BA/05/01915/FUL – 18 Foxwells – pvc conservatory to rear elevation, Edwardian design.  No objection.

BA/05/02008/FUL – Gilletts Surgery, Deanland Road – Macrocell installation, 3 antennas building mounted + ground level equipment cabinet.  Mrs Stevenson again confirmed strong local opposition.  Following a query from the Estate Sub Agent the Clerk confirmed that MSDC replied “the applicant originally described the proposal as a macrocell, although the submitted drawings referred it to being a microcell.  This matter has been raised with the applicant & it has been confirmed that a typing error occurred & the proposal is for a microcell.  Neighbour letters were re-sent correcting this information”.

 

It was agreed that in view of the local concern we should minute details of the submission already made to MSDC, following consideration of this application at the meeting of 20th September   These read:

“BPC has objections to the proposals.  The site is relatively small and has been camouflaged as well as possible. This however does not outweigh the opposition we have to any base stations being sited within the built up area of the village.

To date we have had a dozen or so sites placed within the parish but none has been sited on buildings and none within the built up area.

We feel strongly that this is not something we want and that this site would set the precedent for microcells/base stations within the village itself.

It is a well-established fact that a site, once established for one operator, is likely to become a site used by other operators. The surgery would, no doubt become a multi operator site.

 

We feel this site, being in close proximity properties and overlooking a number of back gardens would be visually intrusive to those properties. Given the unpopular nature of cell sites this intrusion is most unwelcome.

We do not feel that the operator has searched all the options for a site”.

b).To consider any additional applications received prior to the meeting.  None received

 

1619          Parish Plan – discussion of proposed scheme

A paper on the subject already circulated.  Any subsequent Action Plan would set priorities, but these would only be for guidance.  Completion of a final plan to depend very much on whether it was considered to be 100% workable.  The Clerk would obtain & make available copies of plans produced by other Parish Councils.  Agreed that the initial Steering Group would need to be capable of excellent management.  The precise make up of this needs to be decided, e g mix of PC/non PC members.  Names would be welcome to enable progression to the next stage.

 

1620          MSDC Small Scale Housing Allocations Development Plan - future consultations

Reference was made to correspondence item W5 - W5          South East Plan – Public Consultation on behalf of SEERA.  (Details already on notice board & in Parish Magazine).

A reply needed to be sent on behalf of BPC & Mrs Stevenson would kindly arrange this.  Page 29 of the major document gave dates, details of which need to be circulated. 

 

1621          Parking in the village  - Update

In view of the rather unsatisfactory information on yellow lining, received by email from John McKerrell, agreed that we would now write to Mr McKenna, WSCC Chichester, for more formal clarification.  Concern expressed about obstruction on Newlands as well as the village centre.  Mr Marsh was understood to have been in touch with the authority dealing with charging for use of the station car park.

 

1622          Community Speed Watch Scheme – report

The recent report circulated by the scheme co coordinator, Roy Bliss, had been circulated to Councillors.  It was mentioned that since the scheme commenced logged speeds in excess of the starting point of 37 mph appeared to have reduced.

 

1623          Traffic Calming – review of scheme completed & additional proposals

There had been no further news from Rachel Saunders (WSCC) following our most recent meeting.  General consensus that the scheme is generally “very good”.  Mr Miners would follow up reply as appropriate.

 

1624          Community Based Development for Balcombe (e-mail from P Newman)

          Agreed send details to Trevor Leggo (SALC) for advice.

 

1625          Update - Memorial Plaque for Pavilion

The Chairman reported arrangements for affixing the plaque, kindly provided by Masters without charge, to the pavilion exterior.  It was hoped that the Royal British Legion would wish to arrange some form of ceremony, possibly on November 13th.

 

1626          Playground Report

The Clerk reported details of some vandalism to the seats/plaques, which would be mentioned in the November Parish Magazine.  Agreed that we would now need to formulate details on our proposals for future stages of development.

 

 

1627          Downland Housing Association – Joint Housing Allocation Scheme

Agreed that in view of Jim Cooke’s recent article in the Parish Magazine we should emphasise that BPC plays no part whatsoever in the selection process & would continue not to wish to do so.

 

1628  Risk Assessment Report

Circulated & approved in connection with the end of year audit process

 

1629          Honorary Balcombe Archivist

Joan Dutton & Leslie Fairweather to meet & comment further.  The Chairman had updated his paper on the subject.

 

1630          Update – Clerk’s Pension Arrangements

The Chairman reported that the pay award for the Clerk, agreed at the meeting on 20th September, has been made & accepted.

 

1631          Correspondence

M1          Licensing Act 2003 – Half Moon Inn – clarification of the precise hours of opening granted to be obtained from MSDC

M7          Guide to Pubs & Attractions of Rural Mid Sussex – Chairman suggested that in addition to the Balcombe book we should also send a millennium map.

W2          Complaint re new mini roundabout – we had given our comments, as requested, to WSCC Highways & heard no more.

 

1632  Exchange of Information

Mr Burke – Youth Club update.  Possible use of funding ex Christmas Tree Society.  More help from parents to be sought.  Would provide information on availability of mini bus to transport the youngsters around on outings etc. 

Mrs Illsley – School update.  18 new entrants.  New loos & dispensers installed.  SATS results “good”.

 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20.58 hours.

 

Signed…………………………………………..

 

Date……………………………………………..

 

RG/HS