MINUTES OF A
REGULAR MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 15th
FEBRUARY 2005 AT 8.00 PM IN THE WI ROOM, VICTORY HALL, BALCOMBE.
Present: Messrs Graham Gosney, George Wiginton, David
Miners, Roland Burke, Robin Williamson, & Mrs Katherine Gunning.
Mrs Rosemary Robertson representing Balcombe
School PTA. The following numbers were
drawn – 1st. No. 7 – Jean Pappa, 2nd No. 50– Vera Gibson
& 3rd No. 17 – Mrs Hazelden.
1437 Apologies for
absence
Mesdames Illsley & Stevenson, Messrs Gary
Marsh & Simon Greenwood
1438 Minutes of regular meeting held on 18th
January 2005
1416 –
penultimate sentence to read”…carefully & then approach…”
1419 – insert “from Stephen Elliott, Owen Williams” & delete
Alex Sharkey, WSCC.
The minutes were then signed by the Chairman as a true & correct record.
1439 Matters arising
1412 – South East Plan. The Clerk
had circulated details & confirmed that one complete copy was held. (Mrs Gunning took this for Mrs Stevenson in
her absence). The Chairman gave brief
details of the contents & it was mentioned that details were also available
on their website. The geographical
areas for proposed development were explained, as well as the “Gatwick
Diamond”, which includes Balcombe. The
report would need to be discussed as an agenda item shortly, bearing in mind
the requested date for comments of 15 April 2005.
1416 – Highley Manor – balloons etc.
The Clerk explained that new management would take over from 1 April
& that he would write asking them to be more responsible concerning signing
& display material for events.
1419 – correction re Owen Williams – see under 1437
above.
1440 Parish Council
Vacancy Co-option Result
There had been 3 candidates for co-option to
fill the vacancy, following Neil Infield’s resignation. Following a poll amongst Councillors Mrs Sue
Tibbott, of 16 Bramble Mead, had been successful. Proposed by the Chairman & seconded by Mrs Gunning Mrs
Tibbott was unanimously elected as a co-opted member of the Council. The Clerk will deal with the formalities in
time for the next regular meeting on 22 March.
1441 Financial
a) Cash Book Receipts & Payments for January 2005 –
accepted as presented
b) Bank Reconciliation Statements as at 31st January
2005 for all accounts – accepted as presented
c) Revised Budget Proposals for 2005/06. Mr Williamson circulated a revised
spreadsheet. The main purpose of this
was to ensure that at year’s end we would plan to end up with a higher figure
in reserve. This would be achieved by a
reduction in spending on grants & projects
Additional points to be noted were
· Major Expenditure in
2005/06 will be for the revised Traffic Calming scheme
· We have planned to be able
to contribute £3k to the Victory Hall towards the disabled toilet expenditure
· We would confirm at the
March meeting the payment of a residual sum of £0.5k remaining from 2004/05
· Likewise an increase to
£100 towards payment to Victory Hall for the bottle banks
· Although £2.5k had been
allocated in 2004/05 for street lighting upgrades no work had taken place. This would be borne in mind. in conjunction
with SEEBOARD recommendations. The
present lack of lighting in the Bramble Mead twitten was also mentioned as a
matter of concern to several residents.
· Following SALC changes to
the payment scales a proposal for a revision to the Clerk’s salary would be
made at the next meeting
1442 Traffic
Calming
Mr
Miners reported on information received via Owen Williams relating to the legal
consultation required (traffic orders etc.).
Advices from both our District Councillors were awaited, as well as from
the ambulance people. It was
emphasised, particularly by one member, that we must not allow the matter to
drag & we do need to have a firm programme for the work in our possession
shortly.
The
problems with the school Solagen lights were being attended to & a new
circuit board had been fitted to one of the lights.
1443 Recreation Ground - Update
Mr Wiginton circulated a most detailed report on his
discussion held with Rupert Browning (MSDC) at 14.30 hours on 10 February. Some important matters included
·
There was no slide in the new lay out & for safety reasons it would
not seem prudent to re-locate the present one (by the pavilion)
·
The predicted date for use of the hard surfaced areas of the new
playground is end April 2005
·
Donations towards benches/trees would be welcomed. Lettering could be carved @£3 per
letter. The Bells would wish to donate
a bench in memory of their daughter
·
Formal opening is likely to be around 14.30 –15.00 on Friday 24
June. Balcombe School would hope to be
able to participate. Agreed that
adequate publicity would be necessary & that Mr Wiginton & if necessary
the Clerk would assist MSDC as required.
·
Skate board facilities – temporising at present, but possibly some
contingencies possible in the future
·
We must keep active regarding the Phase 2 area of the play area & continue our negotiations with MSDC on
this.
1444 Community Speed Watch Scheme
Now that we appear to have enough volunteers
for the Community Speed Watch scheme, to be headed up by Mr Roy Bliss as our
Co-ordinator, the Clerk would approach Haywards Heath police requesting an
early meeting to talk things through.
Inspector Chris Ball had earlier indicated a possible start date for us
of “end March”.
1445 Update
on Mid Sussex Local Development Framework & Housing Needs in Balcombe
It was confirmed that we had now submitted a paper
compiled by Mesdames Stevenson & Gunning, following the agreed guidelines
discussed earlier by the Council, to MSDC.
It had been emphasised that the paper gave our preliminary observations
only & was not an endorsement for any of the sites to be developed. Additionally it was concluded that although
Balcombe did have some scope to expand this was be limited & phased to
allow a gradual & slight enlargement of the community.
A vote of thanks was carried & the two ladies
were commended on the excellent nature of the report.
1446 Youth Club
Recent visits had taken place. The Clerk had secured some new cushions for
pavilion use. Mr Burke would kindly
help with a Youth Club support group & secure the help of others to try
& make contact more regular. It was
mentioned by one Councillor that the area outside the pavilion (British Legion
memorial garden) could do with some attention in the future & that this
should not be forgotten.
1447 To consideration the following Planning
Applications –
For representation by 25th February 2005
a) BA/04/01513/FUL – Midwicket, Brantridge Lane –
proposed hamlet 3 bay barn, pitch roof to existing garage & improved
entrance. (Amended plans received showing revised roof design to existing
garage to provide office/dark room accommodation over. To include an external oak stairway &
landing & rear dormer window).
Agreed that this amended application be considered
by the Environment Planning Group.
b) To consider any additional applications received prior to the meeting– none received. None received.
There was no objection raised to the name of “Springfield Shaw” for the Balcombe Garage development & the Clerk would advise MSDC of this.
1448 Sussex Police Haywards Heath – Community Support
Officer’s (CSO’s future visit
Natasha Denbeigh is the CSO dealing with
Balcombe & she had recently visited the village & met up with the Chairman & Clerk. Natasha would be asked to talk at the
meeting on 22 March.
1449 Correspondence
M2 – Mrs Gunning kindly agreed to represent the Council at MSDC’s “Better Mid Sussex” Presentation on 16 March
at 2 pm.
W1 – WSCC Works Programme. The
Clerk was requested to reply expressing concern at possible “slippage” relating
to the re-surfacing of the London Road, although the timing given of “2006/07”
is qualified by a footnote “co-ordinate with TC scheme”. It was also the unanimous opinion of
Councillors that we also ask for the present cats eyes to be eliminated. At the same time it was requested that we
raise the question of pavements & ask whether these too constitute any
priority. We should mention the present
problem with that leading down to the Green on the Rectory side, recently inspected
by a WSCC representative.
1450 Exchange of Information
Mr Burke – dog “poo” on rec. Was there a Dog Ranger? If dogs were seen off their lead on the rec
it would be useful to make a description & report such incidents.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.32 hours.
Signed…………………………………………..
Date……………………………………………..
RG/HS
Approved at Meeting of 22.03.05