MINUTES
OF A MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 17TH OCTOBER
2006 AT 8 PM IN THE W I ROOM, VICTORY HALL, BALCOMBE
Present:
Messrs Graham Gosney, George Wiginton, Robin Williamson, & Mesdames.
Sheila Illsley, Sue Tibbott & Katherine Gunning
In attendance: Richard Greig – Clerk to the Council
Cllr. Bill Acraman
(WSCC). He reminded us of the useful
County Council Local Committee meetings (= CLC) that we were able to attend as
observers. CLC meetings are held about
4 times annually at 3 centres; our nearest being East Grinstead, but Copthorne
is a possible future venue. Recent
matters of keen interest have been health matters. Cllr. Acraman also mentioned that CLC ‘s have around £20k
available to be allocated as grants & as a Parish Council we are eligible
to make an application. Matt Hall @
WSCC is our point of contact.
No declarations
recorded.
Received from Mrs Alison Stevenson, Messrs. Roland Burke, Simon
Greenwood, Gary Marsh & David Miners.
1874. To approve Minutes of Planning Meetings 3rd
October & Regular Meeting held on 12th September 2006
a). Meeting on 12th
September
1852 (f) – Minutes to contain a
notation that Mazars had successfully approved & signed off the annual
accounts for 2005/06. They were
consequently approved as a correct record & signed by the Chairman.
b). Planning Meeting on 12th
September
No revisions necessary. Approved as a correct record & signed by
the Chairman.
1875. Matters
arising
a). Meeting on 12th September
1866 - EDF. Meeting advised that
following Mr Williamson’s observation we were still awaiting a detailed reply
from EDF concerning what we consider to be unjustified interruptions of power
supply to Balcombe households. The
Clerk confirmed that a follow up letter had been sent.
1860 - Following the agreed donation of £100 financial
support for High Weald AONB £2million bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund we had
received a letter of thanks, returning our cheque, & requesting that our
assistance be deferred until confirmation of their grant funding application
was to hand.
1862 – Reported that the soggy entrance
to the footpath leading into Walk Wood appeared to be a little better after
Peter Dutton’s kind work, but it was considered too early for a final decision.
b).
Planning Meeting on 12th September
No
matters were considered to have arisen.
1876. Financial
a). Cash Book
Receipts & Payments for September 2006 - noted as presented
b). Bank Reconciliation
Statements as at 30th September 2006 for both accounts - noted as
presented.
c). Receipts & Payments by
Budget Heading 6 months to 30th September 2006 - noted as
presented.
d). To approve EDF Repair
Estimate – new pole bracket & lantern (Column A Mill Lane) for the sum of
£376.51. A motion was put by Mrs
Gunning & seconded by Mr Williamson that the expenditure be approved. The motion was successful, there being one
abstention. The Clerk was reminded of
an earlier request, namely that EDF be encouraged to provide a more detailed
breakdown on future estimates, ideally to include labour & materials.
1877.
2007/08 Budget Timetable
& “Wish List”
Mr Williamson, RFO, circulated a
copy of the proposed budget for 2006/2007.
Although this would need to be finalised at the November meeting members
were requested to study carefully the basic assumptions made in its
compilation. These included: a). Unchanged Routine Payments, b). Draw
Down of Reserves to cover planning & consultancy for Phase 2 of Traffic
Calming, c). Grants & Projects @ £5k, as at present, d). Unchanged Precept
of £32k. It was suggested that on this
basis we would have certain flexibility in e). spending less on Traffic Calming
plans & consultancy & f). an adjustment to Grants & Projects
priorities. Accordingly the Precept
amount could be changed if, on the basis of the above, reduced or possibly
increased expenditure resulted.
It was suggested that if the
draft budget proposals were accepted that at year’s end there would be an
amount in reserves sufficient for cash flow purposes to cover one month’s
expenditure. It was pointed out that
assuming that Phase 2 of Traffic Calming proceeds there will be major
expenditure in 2008/2009 & that this will have to be secured, either by
a significant increase in that year’s precept or through a loan.
It was suggested that the above
details appear in the December Parish Magazine.
1878.
Planning – to consider the
following applications
For
representation by 27th October 2006
a).
BA/06/02126/TCA - Brekon, Deanland Road - Fell one conifer. No objection.
b). To consider any applications
received prior to the meeting. None
received.
1879. MSDC Alternative Development Sites &
Proposed Boundary Changes – Site adjoining the Rectory
Members were referred to Minute
No. 1853 of the Meeting held on 12th
September reading as follows:
“Site adjoining the Balcombe Rectory. It was reported that Julian Smith had been
in discussion with our Environment Planning Group concerning development of
this site, for which no planning application has yet been made. We opined that a mix of flats & houses,
the former, possibly similar in style to those on the station garage site, had
no merit & that as an alternative it would be preferable to reduce the size
of the development, possibly to 4 houses, the remainder of the land being
devoted to car parking. However it was
agreed unanimously that before agreeing to any proposals for this site a
village consultation would be necessary.
The discussions are presently in the early stages. Agreed that the Council, after further
discussion with the site owner, will write to MSDC, outlining their suggestions,
with a view to agreeing a suitable scheme for consultation & subsequent submission”.
Accordingly a letter had been
sent to MSDC within the cut off deadline on this basis, a copy being circulated
to each Councillor.
1880
To discuss MSDC letter of 26.09.06 –
Protocol with Local Councils
The Chairman pointed out that a
lot of time had already been expended on this matter through negotiation with
MSALC. Accordingly it was unanimously
agreed that we should reiterate our statement to MSDC reading “The Mid Sussex Association
of Local Councils Conference is an opportunity for all parishes to come
together in joint forum with Mid Sussex District Council”.
The Clerk
will reply to Anne Halligey accordingly.
1881. Traffic Calming – report of Work Group
conclusions for future traffic calming (as circulated)
It was agreed that further
progress on this should await the publication of the Parish Plan, which may
well highlight the views of residents.
One Councillor had indicated some alternative views, which have been
noted, for further consideration when the Work Group is reconvened on the
return of Mr Miners, probably in January.
The Chairman commented that one of the indicated “pinch points” may not
now be suitable, due to limited vision.
Agreed it would be useful to obtain a “ball park” figure for the likely
cost of planning & consultancy for Phase 2 of the scheme.
1882.
Precept 2007/08 – Report of
Work Group proposals
It was mentioned that holding the
Precept at the present £32k for since 2001/02 had enabled the Council to
exercise “good housekeeping”. However
the following categories were still being re-examined with a view to seeing
whether further savings were possible - a). Public Lighting, including
upgrades, b). Pavilion electricity costs, c). EDF charges compared to an
alternative supplier & possible adoption of our lighting contract by WSCC,
d). Ranger costs. Mr Williamson to
discuss further with the Clerk.
Further discussion relating to
the points made under 1877 above in conjunction with the proposed Precept level
for 2006/2007 then took place. There
was one registered preference for the level to stay unchanged & one request
for it to be increased to build up a greater end of year reserve. A laudatory comment was made by one
Councillor concerning the efforts made by the Sub Committee to try & find a
“happy medium”. Agreed that in view of
absences we would refrain from a firm decision until the November meeting. However any input appreciated to either the
Clerk or RFO before then.
1883.
Parking update
Parking still causing
problems. MSDC to enlarge the upper car
park at the upper end of Newlands, adjoining Jobes, but this only likely to
give about 3 extra spaces. A letter
from a Mr Rick Evans had been received.
This requested that the Rail organisation managing the station car park
drop charges to commuters. To be
suggested that as Mr Marsh reported a similar approach some months ago he &
Mr Evans discuss the matter further.
1884.
Youth Club
Situation still unsatisfactory as
no Balcombe Club presently operating.
Cllr. Acraman suggests that we write to Mark Dunn, Cabinet Member for
Child Services, expressing our concern at lack of Youth Leader supply resources
in rural areas, at the same time explaining our problems.
1885. Parish Plan
The following information has
been received. a). 66.3% response rate
to questionnaire (= 2/3rds of those targeted).
b). the school response had been good & a small competition
arranged. c). the next meeting of the
Action Group was planned for 31st October. d). Michael Noble had designed a pleasing cover for the final
document. Agreed that the latest
background information on Action Group activities be circulated to all
Councillors.
1886. Footpath Report
It was mentioned that the stile
on Footpath 22b – coming down from Westup – had not been replaced. The wire structure currently in place was
not considered suitable. Cllr. Acraman
said that we would need to check who had done the remedial work, Balcombe
Estate or WSCC. We were advised that it
is the normal policy of the latter to replace broken stiles with a gate. The Clerk will speak to Kate Chapman at the
Estate Office.
It appears that the boundary
dispute at Forest Farm continues. It
was reiterated that this is not a direct matter for the Parish Council
involvement & that WSCC Legal Department must be the final arbitrator.
1887.
November Newsletter
A draft has been circulated
together with proposed timetable.
Members were reminded to advise any errors or omissions to the Clerk as
soon as possible. Rodney Saunders would
shortly be submitting a Parish Plan report for inclusion.
1888.
Correspondence
M4 - Concessionary Fares Event
– the Clerk had attended & found the evening useful.
M5 - LDF – Boundary Changes
Document. Does not concern Balcombe
M9 Mid Sussex Ancient Woodland Survey – Ken Lewis invited to
attend
M11 Additional Green Fido Bin Request – Chairman suggested
that the location be advised as “midway between the County Council signpost
& the gate”.
Other
4 - Police Neighbourhood
Policing – mainly of a PR nature
Other 5 - Flood Risk Show. Details noted
Other
6 - Bramble Hill
Footpath. The owner had replied &
is actioning our request.
Other 9 - Horsham DC Action
Plan. Large number of proposed houses -
noted.
Other 10 - EDF re Electricity Supply.
Reply still awaited.
Other
11 Police Message to the Community. Translation of the “acronyms” noted!
Other
12 Network Rail re Bridge – Work currently overdue
Other 16 SE England Regional Assembly Gypsy Sites etc. –
bureaucratic document
Other 21 Sussex Police Local Council Support Policy – Agreed that
Mr Greenwood to act as our Police Community Safety Representative
Other
23 Balcombe Estate re Flood Risk
Assessment. Noted
Additional – Jim Cooke’s meeting 20
October – “How to discourage cold calling”.
Mrs Joan Dutton to be requested to represent BPC at the WSCC reception
on 23 November to celebrate the publication of “A Sense of Place: West Sussex
Parish Maps”.
1889.
Exchange of Information
Mr Wiginton – Sarah Roberts, the PCSO will be joining a
forthcoming CSW team at the roadside.
The Chairman updated members on recent CSW developments & was in
close touch with Roy Bliss on this.
The Clerk gave details on recent further damage to both the
pavilion & the Bowl’s Club & the security measures that are being
introduced, with the good assistance of the Ranger. Proposed dates for 2007 meetings had additionally been
circulated.
Mrs Tibbott asked that the Football Club be reminded not to
leave unnecessary tape & paper around after matches. Agreed the Clerk would speak to them.
There being no further business the meeting closed
at 22.07 hours.
Signed…………………………………………..