MINUTES OF A
MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2004
AT 8 00 PM IN THE PARISH ROOM, BALCOMBE.
Present: Mr Graham Gosney, Mr Robin Williamson, Mr
George Wiginton, Mr Gary Marsh, & Mrs Alison Stevenson.
1345 Public Participation including Balcombe
School PTA Draw
Mr & Mrs Thompson & Mr Pete
Evans, representing Balcombe Estate.
Mr Nick Ertl, representing Balcombe School,
asked that draw numbers be pulled. These were as follows: - 1st No.
46 – Mr & Mrs Massimo. 2nd.
No. 26 – Mr & Mrs Tattersall. 3rd
No. 13 – Mrs Jan Hill.
Mr Evans addressed the Council in respect of
BA/04/02297/LBC – Kemps Farm Cottage, London Road, which was a new application,
following an earlier refusal in 2003.
He explained how the latest proposals would bring the appearance into
character with the rest of the house & reported discussions with Mr Rowan,
the County Architect, on the matter.
Mr & Mrs Thompson were attending in
respect of the playground development & made a number of observations in
respect of their interpretation of the scheme, including the make up of the
possible planting schedule proposed by MSDC.
1346 Declaration of personal or prejudicial
interest
Mr Williamson expressed personal interest as a resident of the London Road in respect of Traffic Calming.
1347 Apologies for absence
Mesdames Gunning & Illsley, Messrs Burke,
Infield, Miners & Greenwood.
1348 Minutes of regular meeting held on 14th September
& 7th October 2004 (special)
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of 14th
September were approved as circulated and signed by the Chairman. The Chairman signed the minutes of the
Special Meeting of 7th October after the following additions/deletions.
1337 – delete “Mr Miners”. Add “Mr
Wiginton also expressed a personal interest in planning applications
BA/04/02200/FUL & BA/04/02237/LBC in respect of Troytown Cottage.”
1339 – delete wording beginning “The scheme however”…..to “….. “for the
present street lighting”. Add “Mr
Wiginton also expressed a personal interest in planning applications
BA/04/02200/FUL & BA/04/02237/LBC in respect of Troytown Cottage”.
1341 – delete “Mr Wiginton…….within the overall scheme”. Amend penultimate sentence to read ”two
abstentions”.
from Regular Meeting of 14th September
1329 (1320) – revised quote from Steve Jones
received re installation of pull cord alarm & re-siting of light
switch in disabled loo at pavilion. Clerk had ascertained no funding available from MSDC. After discussion agreed that the quote of £220
be accepted.
1323 – It was suggested that mention be made
in the Parish Magazine of possible grant availability from MSDC if applications
are made by local organisations.
1335 – It was confirmed that a representative
from WSCC had inspected the “sloping” pavement & that a reply was awaited
as to action.
From Special Meeting of 7th
October
1337/1339 –referred to under 1348 above.
1344 – Community Speed Watch. Agreed that this could be important to the
village & contact should be followed up.
a) Cash Book Receipts & Payments for
September 2004 – approved as circulated
b) Bank Reconciliation Statements as at 30th
September 2004 for all accounts – approved as circulated. Agreed that in view of the abysmal handling
of our account with Alliance & Leicester we should now involve our MP. Clerk to handle.
c) Receipts & Payments by Budget Heading 6 months ending
30.09.04 – approved as circulated
d) To receive details of any “Wish List” requirements to assist
budget planning for financial year 2005/06.
Requests being compiled. These
would include provision for new disabled loos in the Victory Hall &
possibly the Church clock.
e) To approve purchase of a paper shredder
for the Parish Council office. Cost of
approx.£30 approved.
1351 Traffic
Calming following decision to whether to proceed with only part of the proposed
scheme
Reference was made to the letter sent to WSCC regarding
the revised plan to be adopted. The
Chairman had spoken to them & reported a positive response to our
decision. The Exception Report had been
completed & signed off. A number of
minor variations were to be incorporated.
Owen Williams would possibly need to provide a revised drawing relating
to the revised scheme as well as a revised costing. The Safety Audit would be prepared on completion. WSCC will now proceed with arrangements for
obtaining a Traffic Order for the scheme.
Funding was said to be secure & there should be no problem in carry
over into the next financial year.
Concern was expressed for residents who felt that they
had been “left out”, as a result of the present decision. Letters received on this subject had been
circulated to all Councillors. It was
unanimously agreed that the Parish Council is resolved to actively &
urgently re-plan a suitable substitute for the remaining sections of the
village not currently featuring in the plan.
With this in mind a Special Meeting would be convened shortly.
1352 Consideration
of the following Planning Applications -
a). BA/04/02297/LBC – Kemps Farm Cottage, London
Road. Removal of hanging slates on two
of the eastern elevations of the property.
Replace with painted white weatherboard to match the remainder of the
property. Majority consensus was that
this application should not be allowed to proceed in its present form. This cottage is unusual, being mainly
weather boarded, & possibly the only local dwelling remaining in this
form. The proposal would obliterate
the slate hanging section, which is a charming feature.
b). To consider any additional
applications received prior to the meeting
It was agreed that the
following be delegated to the Environment Planning Group.
BA/04/02347/TCA – Oakland, Stockcroft Road – remove lower branches of the oak & reduce tree all round by 30%
BA/04/02386/LBC – 18 Newlands – proposed
traditionally built rear extension under 50 cu.m. (Application to establish whether the proposed development is
lawful).
BA/04/02411/FUL – Blackbirds, Bramble Hill –
single storey rear extension with roof adjustments, insertion of roof light
& formation of paved terrace.
1353 Recreation
Ground Development – progress report following meeting with MSDC
Advice received that at a Cabinet meeting of MSDC earlier
that evening funding (£40k) for the Balcombe scheme had been approved. This would require addition of some
equipment at a later stage, but internal landscaping would be done initially,
with external landscaping next autumn & the planting of the proposed fruit
trees also later. Drainage would also
be addressed, allowing a contingency for upgrading if necessary. MSDC indicated a Press Release for the
scheme in due course. Mr Wiginton &
the Clerk would additionally prepare a release for both the Parish notice board
& the December Parish Magazine
Deferred, as Mrs Illsley was not present.
Deferred in the absence of Mrs Illsley, but the Chairman mentioned that we still had no real feedback on the Club’s activities.
Had been attended by Messrs. Gosney & Greenwood, the main topic being Crime & Disorder. Information will be circulated.
Attended by the Chairman & reported to have been very good. Peter Bradley of WSCC was present & even mentioned at the meeting the forthcoming traffic calming to be undertaken by Balcombe!
A discussion took place at the request of the Christmas Tree Society about the prospects of BPC adding insurance cover for the Christmas tree to their existing policy. After extensive discussion it was decided that because of the detailed criteria that would need to be met, taking additional time & effort by both parties, it would be best to adopt the arrangement made for another organisation. This would cover payment of 50% of the premium, up to a reasonable level of say around £100.
Other 1 – agreed that BPC would pay for oak posts for the
MSDC supplied signs for the (upper) part of Deanland Road.
WSCC Seminar to be attended by Mr Greenwood.
Other 17 – Good idea to put on notice board
details of the NHS Primary Care Trust.
Other 8 – Boundary Commission + Regional
Assembly.
1360 Exchange
of Information
Mrs
Stevenson had the earlier MSDC letter regarding possible new sites for
development within Balcombe. Mr Marsh
mentioned land opposite the garage & behind Barn Meadow. There had also been a slight revision to the
garage flats application, concerning the underground part, but no increase in
height would be involved.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.17 hours.
Signed…………………………………………..
Date……………………………………………..
Revised following meeting of
16 November 2004