TUESDAY 16th DECEMBER 2003 AT 8 PM
IN THE WI ROOM, BALCOMBE VICTORY HALL
Present: Mr Graham Gosney (Chairman), Mrs Katherine
Gunning, Mr Neil Infield, Mr David Miners, Mrs Alison Stevenson, Mrs Sheila
Illsley, Mr Robin Williamson, Mr George Wiginton, Mr Gary Marsh, Mr Neil
Infield, Mr Roland Burke (arrived 8.10 pm), Mr Richard Greig (Clerk).
The Councillors
present residing on the London Road, as well as Mr Miners, a resident in the
lower end of the Haywards Heath Road, in respect of Traffic Calming.
None
1103 – add “Consideration
had been given to making grants to the Victory Hall and provision is made for
grants to other village organisations.
1105 – add “Also
we are awaiting some additional information from Proludic re alternatives to
wet pour safety surfaces, as well as a price for a permanent ping-pong table”.
None.
1123 Report
on Traffic Calming
Mr Miners addressed the meeting and others
reported on the following:
1. An update on developments for the Solagen
Light installation by the school and how WSCC are still unwilling to allow 20
mph signage. He had had a meeting with
Mr John McKerrell on 16 December.
2. Mr Marsh would be having a meeting shortly
with Councillors Phil Coote, Bill Acraman and Henry Smith (WSCC Leader) to
express our concerns at the delays.
3. Mr Gosney had had several telephone
conversations with Mr Peter Bradley (WSCC), who seemed concerned at the size of
the Solagen lights and how their efficiency might be impaired (as they are
solar powered) by tree screening. Mr
Bradley appeared “co-operative” and had promised to come down to Balcombe in
the New Year for an on site discussion.
It appears that there is now a better understanding of the financial
background and our problems!
4. Mr Marcus Stanton of Owen Williams, their
Head of Contracts, has now been contacted and a meeting for early in 2004 is
planned.
5. The WSCC drawings + estimates were
promised by Mr John McKerrell for “next week”, as they were now in the final
stages.
Mr Miners was thanked by the meeting for his
hard work and involvement in the scheme.
1124 Financial
Matters
a) Cash Book Receipts & Payments for
the month of November 2003 – approved as circulated. Mr Greenwood asked that it be recorded that the payment of £51.86
to Balcombe Estate (cheque number 500938 of 30.11.03) for replacement wood for
benches was being made to an organisation of which he was the owner.
b) Bank Reconciliation Statement as at 30.11.03 – approved
as circulated
c) To agree Precept for 2004/2005. Proposed by Mr Williamson and seconded by Mr
Greenwood it was agreed unanimously that the existing precept figure of £32k
would remain unchanged for 2004/2005.
d) Update on Budget Plan for
2004/2005. There would be slight
adjustment to the figures already supplied at earlier meetings. For safety Mr Williamson now proposed that
instead of allocating £2.5k from recreation ground equipment to other projects
and adding a further provision of £2.5k for continuing the programme of public
lighting upgrades, which could leave us only approx. £4.5k in credit by the end
of the year, we now allocate just £2.5k to other projects and leave any decision
as to whether this is best spent on lighting or anything else to next
year. In this way the end of year
balance is left at a safer figure of approx. £7k.
e) Mazars Audit Approval 2002/2003. Noted.
The Clerk was instructed to display Sections 1 to 3 of the Annual Return
to comply with the Accounts and Audit Regulations [Regulation 9(5)] as well as
a notice to the effect the statement of accounts and external auditor’s report
are available for inspection and that the public have the right to obtain copies
of these documents.
f) Additional Item. The Christmas Tree Society has advised us
that the premium for insuring the tree has risen from £90 to £290. Could BPC assist? At this late stage there would be no opportunity to seek out
alternative arrangements, but the Clerk will look into the whole matter of this
type of insurance at a later stage.
Agreed that we would donate £100 to the Society, on an ex gratia basis,
providing that insurance for this contingency was being arranged.
g) Noted that a Drama Group, under Mr
Rodney Saunders, were planning a production of “Oh What a Lovely War” between
the 31 March and 3 April. As yet there
had been no approach to BPC for funding.
h) Retirement of Postman Alan Francis in
January 2004. Mr Fairweather would be
asked to co-ordinate a village collection and make a suitable announcement in
the magazine as he kindly did for Bob Cornell.
It was agreed that the Parish Council would again match on a “£ for £
basis” the amount collected, up to a ceiling of £250.
1125 Report
on Street Lighting
The previously
reported night check had been completed and 9 faulty lights found. SEEBOARD had now repaired these and it was
now hoped that all lights in the village were working satisfactorily.
1126 Report
on Recreation Ground Development
Following the recent presentations/proposals
from two equipment suppliers, Proludic & Playdale Mr Wiginton updated the
meeting on the latest discussion with MSDC (the same day), who had been most
supportive. A detailed plan and cost
estimate would be prepared by them in time for the proposed consultation
presentation to the village on 7 February.
Representative/s of MSDC would attend this and all Councillors were
requested to keep this date free themselves.
1127 Revision of Standing Orders -update
A
draft detailing our proposals following the discussions between the Chairman,
Vice Chairman, Mrs Gunning & the Clerk, were circulated and Councillors
were requested to study these and advise any comments prior to the January
meeting.
1128 Consideration of
the following Planning Applications
i) BA/03/02904/TCA – Rectory, Haywards Heath Road – Fell
line of sycamores, saplings & one conifer.
Mr Simon Greenwood declared a personal interest.
Mrs Stevenson reported that
following inspection it was not evident that the trees were in fact
“destroying” the wall. The entire
screening effect of the row would be lost if the trees were to be felled. Apparently Mr David Saunders (Tree Officer
MSDC) had not yet been consulted. It
was the unanimous opinion of all present that the application be rejected.
ii) To consider any other applications received prior to the
meeting.
BA/03/0291/LBC - Old Rectory,
Mill Lane. Internal & external
alterations to a listed building.
BA/03/03051/FUL – Land to W.
of Stone Hall Farm. Installation of 15m
mast with 4 antenna, 2 equipment cabinets & ancillary development.
BA/03/02358/FUL – Demolition
of existing buildings & erection of 10 x 2 bedroom flats, together with
associated parking. Amended plans
received showing parking provision to be provided under the proposed building.
Agreed that these three
applications be considered further by the Environment Planning Group, who would
then report to the Parish Council with their comments. If possible the Clerk would seek an
extension from the present cut-off date for all of 9 January 2004 for
representation to MSDC.
The Clerk gave preliminary details of the proposed make up of the weekend that had been planned. It was suggested that the Parish Council be included in the village organisations that would be represented. Mr Williamson mentioned that the Catholics would be holding a Charity Day on 13 March and that the Victory Hall Management Committee would be included.
1130 To note publication of the 2004 Electoral Roll
& Conditions of Availability
Details of
availability of this were displayed on the Notice Board. It was requested that copies of the abridged
version be made available to all Councillors.
1131 Local
Transport Discussion
The Chairman mentioned
that he was in the process of tidying up a summary of all services available
and for it to be put into a readable form for reference purposes. This could then be circulated to villagers,
and a copy placed on the Notice Board.
1132 Ant-Social
Behaviour
The sheet on this
subject published by Sussex police was thought useful in some respects,
although bonfires and speeding were not mentioned. It should be published in the Parish Magazine and put on the
Notice Board.
1133 Quality
Parish Councils Scheme
A small group of Councillors would be formed
in 2004 to look into the implications of the above and the drafting of a Parish
Plan. Mr Miners requested a copy of the
defra booklet describing the Quality Scheme.
1134 Post
Office Security issues at Balcombe – update
Indi Thaker had
presented her appeal on 12 December, but no result was to hand. It was advised that the present screen was
to be strengthened and that she was to install a CCTV system.
It was agreed that
the Parish Council would hold off until we received some further information on
the future. Would the location be
changing for example? We might possibly
consider an appeal for funds on a matched £ for £ basis. The Clerk would continue discussions with
Indi.
1135 Meeting
Dates for 2004 (April onwards)
The following were proposed:
20 April (regular), 27 April (Annual Parish
Meeting), 18 May (Annual General Meeting), 15 June, 13 July, 17 August, 14
September, 19 October, 16 November & 14 December.
A speaker would be required for the 27 April
meeting, possibly the Ardingly Ranger or someone from the Water Board.
Agreed that the Clerk continues his discussions with them. The posts should be oak as they are now. Possibly some locations for new signs superfluous. Malcolm Kenward (Deanland Road Residents’ Association Chairman) should be advised.
Mr Greenwood declared a personal interest. There was nothing further to report. |It was agreed that Mr Marsh’s kind offer of sponsorship of a gate be deferred until the next meeting. It would also be necessary to check out the precise details relating to sponsorship – close association of person being remembered with the village etc.
A SALC course for new Councillors was being held in early March, but would clash with the consultation day for the Playground Development – see Minute 1126 above
1139 Exchange
of Information
There being no
further business the meeting closed at 10.15 pm
Signed……………………….
Date………………………….
RG/HS