MINUTES OF A MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2007 AT 8 PM IN THE W I ROOM, BALCOMBE VICTORY HALL.
Present: Messrs. Gary Marsh, Robin Lindsay-Stewart, Rodney Saunders & Mrs Alison Stevenson, Susan Barker Danby, Sarah Moore-Williams &
Mrs Stevenson chaired the meeting in the absence of the Chairman.
In attendance: Richard Greig – Clerk to the Council.
2078. Public
Participation
No members of the public were present.
2079. Declaration of
personal or prejudicial interest
Mrs Stevenson expressed a prejudicial interest in respect of planning application BA/07/02791/TCA - see 2090 d) below.
2080. Apologies for
absence
Received from Messrs. Robin Williamson, Richard Turner, Simon Greenwood, Neville Ashcroft & Ms. Carol Jarvest
2081. To approve
Minutes of Regular meeting held on 15th August
Agreed that 2077, first paragraph, 10, should now read “…now that the lease was changing”. The minutes, having been circulated, were then approved as a correct record & signed by the Chairman.
2082. Matters arising
2075 - BA/07/02004/FUL – Lodgelands,
2069 – As Mr Ashcroft was not present there was no news on the current status of Newlands parking.
2075 – Mr Gould’s latest application BA/07/01648/COU – Land adjacent
Correspondence W4 - Consultation Gypsy & Traveller Sites. A member requested additional background if possible. This has now been provided.
Problems with rubbish collection from the Alberts, of Sherlocks, High Street. There had been further difficulties, in spite of earlier assurances. One member queried whether the black sacks were being placed in the approved pick up location
2083. Financial
a). Cash Book Receipts & Payments for August 2007 – noted as presented
b). Bank Reconciliation
Statements as at 31st August 2007 for both accounts – noted as
presented
c). Receipts &
Payments by Budget Heading 5 months to 31st August 2007 – noted as
presented.
d).Precept/Budget
proposals for 2008/09
It was agreed that
although the Budget for 2008/09 will not be finalised until March 2008, the
major expected expenditure needs to be known and agreed in order to set the
precept, by January 2008. The expected
expenditure on future traffic calming was a key element. It needs to be
established whether there will be any further external contributions to this. Other items that need to be assessed include
support for village institutions such as the Victory Hall.
Also agreed:
(i) A set of ‘year to
date’ detailed expenditure figures up to end September to be passed to Group
Leaders as background information.
(ii) Group Leaders to look
ahead to major non-routine expenditure that they would expect/wish to spend in
the year 2008/09. This information to be
available by the October 17 meeting at which the RFO will report further,
dependant on outcome
(iii) A meeting of Group
Leaders, to be held before the November meeting to refine the preliminary
estimates
(iv) Following this
meeting the RFO will prepare a proposal regarding the precept, to be tabled and
discussed at the full Council meeting on 6 November. No final decision will be taken at this
meeting, but a formal proposal will be on the Agenda for the meeting on 10
December to approve the precept for 2008/09.
e) Update on arrangements
for updated valuation of the Council’s structural assets. Mr Lindsay-Stewart reported that a Mr John
Elam from Humberts would be able to assist, subject to a quotation being found
satisfactory.
f). Victory Hall
Electrical Work. It was agreed that the
reply from the Victory Hall Management Committee, explaining why Bottings’s
quotation had been accepted, was satisfactory.
The bill, on agreed terms, would now be passed for payment.
2084. Report from
Housing & Environment Group
Mesdames. Jarvest & Moore Williams had attended this. In view of their concerns at the inappropriate way & manner the workshop had been conducted, putting, it was felt, participants under pressure, it was agreed that the Clerk should write to the organiser placing on record these concerns.
2085. Report from
Safety & Security Group
No report received. It was agreed that pavilion security was an important factor, now needing urgent handling.
2086. Report from Young
People Group
A report had been received indicating that the Group’s main focus was determining the need for a Youth Club & progressing with ideas for the playground. There will be a follow up meeting in October to review progress.
2087. Report from Local
Societies Group
Mrs Barker-Danby was thanked for her work in preparing an up to date list of the societies & contact persons. It was agreed that this list would be complimentary to the welcome pack.
2088. Reports from
other Groups (where applicable)
Traffic - Members were reminded that Neil Smith from WSCC Highways will be coming along at 7.30 pm on 17th October (before the main meeting) to discuss traffic matters with us. Agreed that he needs to be given an agenda beforehand detailing points likely to be raised.
Facilities & Amenities – Mrs Moore-Williams advised arrangements for the week of the 29th
October - Keep Balcombe Tidy Week. The
aim of the week is to raise awareness of the need to bin litter, recycle and
generally keep our environment a clean and pleasant one to live and work in.
With this in mind the Parish Council have been linked up with local groups and
there will be lots of exciting activities taking place. Full details would appear in the October
Parish Magazine.
2089. To formalise
arrangements for consultation meeting with the PCT re proposed hospital changes
& to agree level of donation to support the “Save the PRH” campaign.
Proposed by Mr Lindsay-Stewart & seconded by Mr Marsh all present were in favour of £100 being donated to the “Save the PRH” campaign. It was unanimously agreed that the meeting arranged with the PCT for 2 November was most important to the village. Accordingly a lot of preliminary work would be required (posters, publicity etc.) An organising committee consisting of Messrs. Marsh, Williamson, the Clerk & Mesdames Moore-Williams & Stevenson would meet on 8th October at 7.30 pm.
2090 Planning. – to consider the following applications.
a). For
representation by 14th September 2007
BA/07/02398/LBC –
Balcombe Stores,
BA/07/02404/TCA – Timbers & Ringwood,
Because of time restraints, & after taking advice from MSDC, it was the recommendation of the Housing & Environment Group Leader that we should raise no objection.
Noted by members.
b). For representation by 21st September 2007
BA/07/02173/ADV – Half Moon Inn, Haywards Heath Road – Two replacement signs & 1 fascia, all to be lit externally. Agreed more pleasing than the previous plastic signs & that this application stipulated wooden signs. No objection.
BA/07/02591/TCA – 1 Diamond Cottages, Bretts Orchard – Reduce one
No objection.
c) For representation by 28th September 2007
BA/07/02510/COU – Glebe Farm,
d).
For representation by 5th October 2007
BA/07/02791/TCA – Lychgate,
e). To consider any Planning Applications received by the date of the meeting.
e).
For representation by 5th October 2007
BA/07/02652/FUL – Brewers Yard, Bramble Hill – provision of new metal gates to vehicular driveway under archway for security reasons. Councillors were of the view that although gates were useful to improve security those proposed were out of keeping & did not enhance the street scene. The large lettering incorporated in the design was considered to be completely inappropriate. Recommended for refusal in its current form.
BA/07/02790/FUL – 12 Newlands – single storey rear extension to replace existing conservatory. No objection.
f). To discuss submission from Balcombe Footpaths Association concerning application received from WSCC for the addition to the definitive Map & Statement for Cuckfield Rural of a bridleway from bridleway 79W in Turners Hill to the High Street in Balcombe, the B2110. A submission had now been received from their Secretary stating the advantages if the bridleway was to be reopened. Details will be passed to WSCC together with our reply.
2091. To consider letter re Bulb Planting on Green
The Council was grateful to the Gardener’s Association for offering to plant up the Green. Agreed that they should arrange this themselves, rather than employing the Ranger.
2092 To agree arrangements for preparation of
Autumn Newsletter
The Newsletter will consist of Reports from each Group, setting out
how we are addressing the Parish Plan issues.
The Newsletter consists of 8 A5 pages, a front and back cover and 6
inside pages.
There will be room for a total of around 2000 words (excluding covers). There will be 9 sections: Introduction, Financial Report, Report on the PCT meeting in November, and 6 Group Reports.
2093 Correspondence
M8. MSDC Request for views from local PC’s. The Clerk would copy each Councillor with the MSDC letter & request any comments to facilitate our reply.
Other 15. Dr. David McMullen re handrail.
Agreed that we should ask WSCC to provide a cost estimate for the
handrail on the path leading down past the flats to the
2094. Exchange of Information
Mr Marsh – there are currently 2 potholes in Newlands. The surface is continuing to break up.
Protestors camp at
Mr Saunders – continuing concern at parking on the grass verge adjoining Springfield Shaw. Clerk would circulate WSCC reply, but mentioned that police PCSO had been asked to investigate. Due to danger element request made for this to be an agenda item at the October meeting.
Advised that no news re future of Balcombe Post Office as yet.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 22.04 hours (10.04 p m).
Signed…………………………………………..
RG/HS
THE NEXT REGULAR
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2007