MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL, HELD ON TUESDAY 17 MAY 2005 AT 8.00pm IN THE WI ROOM, BALCOMBE

Present: Mr. G Gosney, R. Burke, Mrs K. Gunning, Mrs S. Illsley Mrs A Stevenson, Mrs S Tibbott, Mr. G Wiginton, Mr. R Williamson

1490 Election of Chairman and to receive Chairman's Acceptance of Office

Mrs Gunning (Vice Chairman) took the Chair. Proposed by Mr Williamson, seconded by Mrs Illsley, Mr. Graham Gosney was elected Chairman unanimously and took over the Chair.

1491 Election of Vice Chairman

Proposed by Mr Burke, seconded by Mrs Stevenson, Mrs Gunning was elected unanimously as Vice Chairman

1492 Public Participation

Mrs Rosemary Robertson, representing the Balcombe School 100 Club, requested that three tickets be drawn. The winners were No. 33 - Trish Gardener; No. 21 - Rachel Ertl; No. 54 - Catherine Rix.

Mrs Tina Seear, Mrs Fiona Coveney, Mrs Jackie Harris and Mrs Judith Hook, residents of the northern end of London Road, addressed the meeting on their concerns about speeding traffic. All northern-bound traffic passes by their homes, most cars travelling in excess of 60 mph.

They have presented evidence to WSCC and Police of many incidents of damage to their cars and properties as a result of vehicles speeding. Despite repeated requests for staged speed limits (50, then 40, then 30), and double white lines, they have had no success. These Parishioners are expected to exit their properties at considerable danger to life and limb, and would appreciate our help.

There are horses and deer traversing this area all the time. One of the properties is a farm, with animals crossing the road on a regular basis - some traffic refuses to stop, instead zig-zagging through the animals! In one incident a lorry being driven at high speed ran out of control, crashing through a wall and overturning in field.

If possible the four people mentioned above would like to become involved in measuring speed at their end of London Road - to be ascertained by BPC.

1493 Apologies for absence

Mr. S. Greenwood, Mr. G. Marsh, Mr. D. Miners,

1494 Declaration of personal or prejudicial interest

Mr. Burke, Mrs Gunning, Mr. Williamson expressed a personal interest in respect of Traffic Calming, as residents of London Road

1495 Re-election of Honorary Responsible Financial Officer

Proposed by Mrs Gunning, seconded by Mr. Wiginton, Mr. Robin

Williamson was re-elected RFO unanimously

1496 Re-appointment of School Governor

Proposed by Mr. Burke, seconded by Mrs Tibbott, Mrs Sheila Illsley was re-elected as School Governor

1497 Membership of Working Groups & Nomination of Group Leaders

(i) Environment Planning - Mrs Alison Stevenson (Leader),

Mr Marsh, Mrs Gunning, Mr. Wigrfiton, Mr Greenwood (ad

hoc)

(ii) Traffic Calming/Road Safety Group - Mr David Miners,

Mr Gary Marsh, and the Clerk

(iii) Recreation Ground Development - Mr. George Wiginton

(Leader), Mrs Illsley, Mr. Burke and the Clerk

1498 Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 April 2005

Item 1477 change from »19 April» to "22 March"

Item 1479 (a) change from "April" to "March"

(b) change from 0»30 April 2005 for all accounts" to

"31 March 2005 for all accounts" and add "was approved"

Item 1488 Other 2 last line replace "Agreed leave matter until a later stage» with "Agreed to post this letter on Parish noticeboard”

1499 Matters Arising

Item 1479 (c) Place on June Agenda

Item 1487 A letter has been received from Mike Wood, Mid Sussex Primary Care Trust, answering questions raised at our Annual General Meeting.

Item 1489 Mr. Greenwood

Mrs Tibbott walked the footway (land belongs to WSCC)

Since then, the path has been cleared by person(s) unknown. Signage is a problem, in some cases non-existent; Mrs Tibbott will contact Margaret Enstone, WSCC, to ask for help.

Mrs Stevenson has asked that the Clerk write again to WSCC regarding trees planted on green area adjoining water tower - June Agenda item

The Chairman 2nd line change "A master plan in progress" to "A master plan for Haywards Heath is in progress"

1500 Financial

a) Cash Book Receipts and Payments for April 2005 - agreed

b) Bank Reconciliation Statements at at 30 April 2005 for both accounts should be reported at June meeting

c) Parish Room Grant £500 acknowledged

d) To approve donation to Balcombe Superstars of up to £150 - the Meeting agreed to leave it to the discretion of the Chairman and RFO to make a payment up to £125 when the final cost is known

1501 Planning Applications

BA/O5/00783/TCA - Bramerton, Victoria Road Fell one Sycamore; lift canopy of Prunus by Remove eastern-most stem of Malus and remove remaining stem: no objections

approx. 1 metre branch on

BA/O5/00832/TCA - Balcombe House, _ywards Heath Road Thin Plane by 15/20%; fell one Cypress: no objections

BA/05/00832/TCA - Balcombe House, Haywards Heath Road Thin Plane by 15/20%; fell on Cypress: no objections

The Caravans, Rowhill Lane - stationing of 2 residential caravans and domestic curtilage (Area 0.2 HA). This is an application to establish whether the existing development is lawful; it will be a legal decision where the planning merits of the existing development cannot be taken into account, therefore we defer to MSDC Legal Department.

1502 Traffic Calming

Clerk to reply to D. Coles letter (refer to item 1492 above and correspondence item W6) BPC are 100% behind the sentiments expressed by the delegation whose lives have been made intolerable by speeding motorists. The cost of signs and road markings would not be prohibitive.

Copy of this letter to Mr. F. Maude, M.P., Mr. W. Acraman County Councillor, and Police).

Mr. Gosney reported that the Traffic Order for Haywards Heath Road traffic calming is proceeding. Rachel Saunders will be supervising the initial scheme

1503Recreation Ground Opening Update

Mr. Wiginton will check that Friday 24 June at 2.45 p.m. for 3.00is the official opening date and time given to MSDC. Clerk to send invitations and the Recreation Ground Working Group will meet next week to finalise arrangements

Balcombe W.I. have agreed to donate a bench.

1504 Community Speed Watch Scheme Update

Nothing to report, except training to take place by the Police. Equipment has been purchased

1505 To approve draft of the circulated response to SE Plan

The Clerk will circulate Mrs Stevenson1s statement

1506 To discuss Youth Club developments following formation of

Support Group

Mr. Burke reported that the Youth Club was not open last Thursday because of a misunderstanding by the Leader about Insurance cover. There will be a meeting on 6 June between Mr. Burke, Mrs Tibbott and Youth Leader

1507 To report on visit of French visitors from Wissous and

installation of new sign

Mr. Gosney reported the visitors and Balcombe members of the Twinning Association are very pleased with the new sign.

All parties enjoyed a very pleasant weekend

_

1508 To discuss Quality Parish Council Scheme

Mrs Stevenson had read there are Grants available to QPCS's but we do not know the criteria. Messrs Gosney, Williamson and Mrs Gunning will meet to further discuss the viability of our becoming a QPC. They will report at next meeting

1509 To make arrangements for Village Litter Week planned for w/c

5 June 2005

Clerk will distribute black bags to Councillors. If any Councillor cannot collect litter during w/c 5 June, it will be in order to collect at another time

1510 To agree reply to MSDC concerning Scrutiny Review

Sewerage Infrastructure in the District

In David Pollington's letter (MSDC) there are concerns expressed about future demands on the sewerage system.

At this point they are looking solely at sewerage, and not

water supply. Clerk to publicise it in Parish magazine

1511 Correspondence

M3 - Small Scale Housing Allocations Development Plan

there will be an exhibition on 25 May 2.00-8.00 p.m. in the Victory Hall by MSDC

25 - Future planning of settlements in the High Weald AONB - to be circulated by Clerk (with enclosures)

1512 Exchange of information

Mrs Illsley - Clerk to investigate ownership of overhanging tree on farming side of Crawley Lane

Mrs Stevenson - Deanland Road has a new sign "Private Road Access only"

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.20 p.m.

Signed.................................

Date ..................................

KG