MINUTES OF A
MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 14TH MARCH 2007
AT 8 PM IN THE W I ROOM, VICTORY HALL, BALCOMBE
Present: Messrs Graham Gosney, David Miners, George Wiginton, Robin Williamson, Simon Greenwood, Gary Marsh & Mesdames. Katherine Gunning & Alison Stevenson
In attendance: Richard Greig Clerk to the Council
No members of the public were present.
Mr Greenwood declared a prejudicial interest in respect of Planning Application BA/07/00227/FUL - 47 Westup Farm Cottages
Received
from Mrs Sheila Illsley & Messrs. Roland Burke & Richard Turner
1972. To approve Minutes of Regular Meeting held on 21st February 2007
Signed by the Chairman as a true & correct
record without revision.
1973. Matters
arising
1953 - Local Elections. At the time of the meeting MSDC had still not provided the requested information. Mr Marsh would follow the matter up.
1951 - (Other 20) Balcombe Football Club regarding Dog poo. Possible removable fencing around the rec
pitch. Agreed would now be useful to
refer the matters to MSDC (Ian Burton/Rupert Browning).
M7 - Consultation on Draft Rural Affordable Housing Strategy. Now that the Parish Plan had been published the matter would be placed on the April agenda.
W1 - Central Mid Sussex County Local Committee Meeting 27th February. Attended by Mr Greenwood. Likely that the major A23 works not now before 2010. Public exhibition planned for Sept. /Oct. 2008. There will be a review of all speed limits. Abandoned vehicles scheduled for removal within 24 hours. Problems with street furniture to be referred to the MSDC Community Safety Team. Recent mobile camera visit had resulted in 6 tickets. Speedwatch update new guns likely to cost around £2k each. Parish Council led grant for Balcombe Scouts had been approved. Grant roll over to be applied. Next meeting (after elections) planned for Wednesday 23rd May.
W3 - Central Mid Sussex County Local Committee Community Grants. Agreed in view of foregoing that BPC should now apply for 2 of the new police approved speed guns under this scheme
Other 2 - Communities & Local Government Model Code of Conduct for Local
Authority Members. Chairman plans to report
at the March meeting.
1974. Local
Council Elections update
Discussed under 1973 (1953) above.
1975. Financial
a). Cash Book Receipts & Payments for February 2007 - noted as presented
b). Bank Reconciliation Statements as at 28th
February 2007 for both accounts - noted
as presented
c). Receipts & Payments by Budget Heading 11
months to 28th February 2007 - noted
as presented
d). To agree costs for distribution of Parish Plan
& presents to Steering group + 3 key helpers totalling £149.18. Proposed by Mrs Gunning & seconded by Mr
Williamson the proposal was accepted unanimously.
e). To agree continuation of the present subsidies
of £5 (or £9 to those on benefit) for Senior Rail Cards. (Cost year to date £353). Agreed.
f). Extra
Item Station
shelter lamp. EDF had reported the pole
bracket & lantern are in poor condition & require replacement (squirrel
damage). Quotation received to remove old, supply/install new pole bracket,
lantern & transfer service for the sum of
£386.55 plus VAT at the current rate. Proposed
by Mrs Gunning & seconded by Mr Marsh the proposal was agreed unanimously. Clerk to check whether EDF install/maintain
motion operated lights & whether repairs to the new station light would be
more squirrel proof.
1976. To approve the 2007/08 Budget
A final version had been circulated. This was based on an unchanged precept
(£32k) & a grant of £9k from WSCC towards Traffic Calming. Excluding the Traffic Calming grant
& expenditure the proposed budget would show a year end deficit of £2.1k
(2006/07 £2.3k). Traffic Calming is
estimated to incur a deficit of £3.5k, after expenditure of £22.5k on Traffic
Calming & adding the £9k grant. It
is planned to draw down reserves to cover the running
costs & Traffic Calming deficit.
The new financial year will start with a reserve of around £15.4k &
end the year with £9.8k. A motion was
put by Mr Williamson & seconded by Mr Miners that the budget be formally
accepted. All were in favour. Mr Williamson was thanked for his hard work
in preparing the budget.
1977 Planning
a). to consider the following applications.
For
representation by 16th March 2007
BA/07/00308/FUL 1 Minette Cottage, London Road (revised
application) Dormer window to rear.
No objection to this revised application.
For representation by 23rd March 2007
BA/07/00227/FUL - 47 Westup Farm Cottages, London Road Demolition of outbuildings to
rear of property and proposed two storey rear extension. Mr. Greenwood left the room. Thought a sensible improvement. No objection.
b). to
consider any additional applications received before the meeting.
BA/07/00454/TCA Sunnybrae, Victoria Road 2
multi-stemmed Sycamores Fell. The
application had been made by Mrs. Bryant, on behalf of the landowner, as the
trees were adjoining her garage. No
objection to felling.
Also noted:
BA/07/00212 Deanland Road garage change of
use. MSDC Planners had indicated that
this application was likely to be recommended for rejection.
BA/07/00232 Downland Housing had received
approval for thinning work on the Barn Meadow Oak tree.
BA/06/02356/FUL The Clerk confirmed that a
letter had now been sent to the owners of Buttercup Barn thanking them for
their co operation in agreeing to changes on the second (successful)
application, following our concerns with the first application.
1978. Parish Plan
& BPC response
Thanks were once again recorded to all who participated in preparing the Plan. There had been modification to the first page of our proposed response. Agreed that our comments should be seen to be formulated without constraint or negatives. Further comments to the Clerk by 23rd March requested. The Annual Report would contain a section with the Councils comments. A draft of this to be circulated by around 30th March. Final draft to be sent to printers latest 5th April with distribution to the village planned for 16th April. The meeting on 15th March with the Parish Plan Steering Committee would be of an informal nature.
1979. Traffic
Calming Report & proposals for safer footways
Solagen lights reported to
need adjusting. Suggested that Joan
Thomason might be able to assist.
Following earlier discussions with Mrs Betty Pearson
(Tile Cottage owner) & Andy Powell (WSCC Highways) we would now write
formally to Neil Smith ((WSCC Highways) requesting consideration to the
proposed pavement modifications.
1980. Community
Speedwatch report
Roy Bliss (CSW Co ordinator) had written to CI Chris Ball expressing concern at the likely problems that the scheme would incur if having to collect the new guns on loan from the station. It was considered useful to invite the new Inspector, Ed. Henriet, to address the Parish Council on a future occasion.
1981. Parking & proposals for
centre of village
Following a suggestion by the Chairman it was agreed
that we should write to the Victory Hall Management suggesting that they mark
out the area adjoining their wall to deter parking, which narrows the entrance
from Bramble Hill into Stockcroft Road.
However it was considered better to dissuade the white van owner at
Cross Cottage from parking inappropriately by verbal representation, rather
than correspondence, at this stage. The
Chairman, Mr. Marsh, & Mrs. Gunning would like to see a draft of the letter
to VHMC before it was sent off. Where
appropriate we should cite appropriate comments from the Parish Plan regarding
parking.
1982. Arrangements for Annual Parish
Meeting to be held on 25th April
This would take the usual format. Guest speaker would be Sonja Bescoby from
Mid Sussex NHS Primary Care Trust. Mr
Williamson would kindly arrange posters.
1983. Report on Bus Shelters
Ron Stevenson was congratulated on his precise
survey. Agreed that it would be
sensible to establish an order of priority for repair work, at the same time
being cost conscious.
1984. MSDC Charter with BPC
The Chairman updated members on the background as
well as its reference to Quality Parish Councils. This would now be signed & returned.
1985. Prosperous Communities Bill
The Chairman & Clerk would attend the inaugural
meeting at Clair Hall on 3rd April & report findings.
1986. Correspondence
Other
4 SE England Assembly Partial review of SE Plan. Related solely to Minerals.
Other 11 SE Regional Assembly
Housing Strategy Review. Mrs Stevenson
+ Mr Greenwood agreed to assist in formulating a reply (questionnaire).
Other 14 Fiona Coveney re speed on
B2036 road. We should acknowledge
Fionas letter & ask for updates to be communicated. We should separately refer the subject to
WSCC Highways, using as appropriate the assistance of our own Road Safety
Group.
Other 7 AirS Village Shops &
Post Office Survey. The Clerk confirmed
details of his reply to AirS on the subject.
Other 5 Calor Gas Village of the
Year competition. No action
required.
In Confidence The input of Jim Cooke
in communicating local views about recent vandalism within the village to
Sussex Police was noted. A sanitised precis
will be given in the May Parish Magazine.
1987. Exchange of Information
Mr Marsh - 1. Redbridge
Lane - just after bridge. Railtrack
have churned up the verge on the left hand side opposite their entrance into
the woods for access to the tracks. It
is in a terrible state & we should insist they make good.
2. There are still a number of potholes on the south side of the highway
adjoining Great Coopers.
3. Fly tipping mess in High Street
4. A Parkers lorry thought to be responsible for damage to verges.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.40 hours.
Signed ..
RG/HS
Approved at Meeting of 11.04.07