MINUTES OF A
MEETING OF BALCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 22nd MARCH 2005 AT 8.00 PM
IN THE WI ROOM, VICTORY HALL, BALCOMBE.
Present: Messrs Graham Gosney, Robin Williamson,
Roland Burke, David Miners, George Wiginton, Simon Greenwood & Mesdames Sue
Tibbott, Alison Stevenson & Sheila Illsley
Mrs Rosemary Robertson, on behalf of Balcombe School PTA, attended & the following draw tickets were chosen: 1st No. 65 Mrs Hazelden, 2nd No. 29 Nancy Towers, 3rd No. 12 Mrs Hazelden
Prior to the meeting, at 7.45 pm, Ms. Natasha Denbeigh, the local Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for this area talked to us about her role in the community & her typical duties when visiting Balcombe. Her colleague Sgt. Fanner also attended.
Mr Steve Burgess, a resident of Oldlands Avenue, then addressed the meeting about his concerns that restricted - & possibly charged for parking in the station car park following resurfacing & new kerbing might result in additional congestion of the already crowded bottom end of Oldlands Avenue.
1458 Apologies for
absence
Mrs Katherine Gunning & Mr Gary Marsh
1459 Minutes of regular meeting held on 15th
February 2005 & Planning Meeting on 15th March 2005
Both approved as circulated
1460 Matters Arising
Meeting of 15th February Minute 1441 we need to have a
discussion with Dave Gilbert (SEEBOARD) about possible upgrading of street
lighting during financial year 2005/06.
Minute 1445 Mid Sussex Local Development
Framework & Housing Needs in Balcombe Details of the MSDC strategic plan
had recently been received. The
arrangements for a response to the SEERA SE Plan were covered under agenda item
11 for this meeting.
Planning Meeting of 15th March Minute 1455 Application
BA/05/00491/TREE delegated to Environment Planning Group would be covered
under agenda item 13 for this meeting.
1461 Financial
a).Cash Book Receipts & Payments for February 2005. Approved as circulated
b) Bank Reconciliation Statements as at 28th
February 2005 for both accounts.
Approved as circulated
c).To discuss salary for Clerk in accordance with
NALC 2005/06 National Salary Award for Local Council Clerks of January 2005
The Clerk left the room. In his absence the following was agreed
unanimously: With effect from 1st April 2004 the Clerks
remuneration will be based on Scale LC1/SCP20, at the NALC recommended hourly
rate of £8.760. It was further agreed that the Clerks
quarterly Home as Office allowance be increased from £106 to £150.
d).To discuss & approve expenditure for BPC
Annual Report 2005/06 to residents (last £68 + delivery). One member indicated that the section in the
draft of the report circulated dealing with traffic calming should possible be
extended. Cost of the report printing +
circulation within the village reported to be estimated at around £110
total. This expenditure approved
unanimously.
e).To approve donation to Victory Hall. It was again unanimously agreed that an
unallocated sum of £500 from financial year 2004/05 be donated to the Victory
Hall. The Clerk would arrange this.
1462 Traffic
Calming
Mr Miners updated the meeting on progress. The informal consultation was complete. The legal orders are being progressed &
Northern Area Office (Horsham) is to arrange the tender procurement &
supervise the construction. The actual
start date is dependent on local works programme & contractor
availability. Because temporary road
closure will be required likely start date is likely to be August 2005. Latterly Owen Williams has advised that the
order is progressing & that it can be progressed as part of the fast track
procedure. The drawings for the scheme
are undergoing their final amendments & checks to conform to the items
raised in the stage 2 Safety Audit. Mr
Miners would continue pressure on Owen Williams to ensure that this was done
promptly.
One member emphasised the need for advanced notice
to be given by WSCC for the August road closure. It would also be necessary to check that the updated lighting
installation was scheduled within the same time scale as the other work. In any case we would need to discuss the
timetable with WSCC in specific detail after receiving confirmation of granting
of the orders.
The earlier proposals made to WSCC for Phase 2 of
the scheme were discussed & it was again mentioned that the reply received
had indicated that it was most unlikely this could be actively examined until
all matters pertaining to the current scheme had been completed. In view of this it was agreed that if no
response was received by the June meeting of the Council we would need to
determine by further discussion the steps necessary to expedite a response from
WSCC.
1463 Recreation
Ground Update
Mr Wiginton reported that the inclement weather had
caused delays, but landscaping work had been scheduled for later in March. There had been good progress on the paths
& seating. A donation for one bench
had already been made & it was hoped that similar would follow. Section 106 Money specified under the terms
of the new Springfield Shaw development would be mentioned to Gary Marsh to see
whether any of this could go towards the present playground scheme. Agreed that we needed to mention possible
donations for benches/trees in any future articles Parish
Magazine/Newsletters.
1464 Community Speed Watch Scheme
Ian Jeffrey from the Police, together with Sgt. Andy
Bradford, would be meeting with the Co-ordinators & some members of the
Council on April 8th. It
might be possible to incorporate SID (speed indicating) devices within the
scheme - we have details of where to go for them.
1465 To
discuss arrangements for response to SE Plan
A general discussion relating to the Executive
Summary as well as the Mid Sussex District Council precedent of November 2004
took place. The Gatwick Triangle was
relevant, as was danger of erosion of AONB areas & potential water
shortages. It was agreed unanimously
that we needed to formulate an official reply & that arrangements for this
to be covered by an agenda item at the April meeting. The reply should be published in the Parish Magazine at a later
stage.
1466 Youth Club
There had been recent meetings by Councillors
& the Chairman had spoken to residents previously involved behind the
scenes. David Paul would continue as
Chairman of the Management Group, but would be happy for a change. Sean Cuffley would also continue as the
Accountant. Although Julia Beckett
didnt need help in the past it was now obvious that Julie Stewart, her
successor, will. Sue Tibbott will join
Roland Burke from the Parish Council on the newly formed Youth Club support
Group. Rachel Field also offered help
& it was hoped that Chris Marsh might also be able to assist. The volunteers were thanked for their
co-operation.
1467 Consideration of the following
Planning Applications
For representation by 8 April 2005
a) BA/05/00491/TREE Pemby, Oldlands Avenue Lime
(T15): Thin canopy by approx 40% by
removing poorer stems. No
objection. Considered to be most
necessary work.
b) To consider any additional applications
received prior to the meeting.
For representation by 15 April 2005
BA/05/00545/FUL (renewal application)
Northcote, Stockcroft Road - Single garage at front boundary of
property. Agreed that as the previous
application had already been approved there was little we could do other than
emphasise our objections in the past to similar applications at neighbouring
properties. We wish to see restriction on the erection of buildings forward of
the building line within the conservation area.
c) To note Deposit under section 31(6) Highways Act 1980 Land at The Old Rectory. A long discussion took place about the background to this & how the footpath had been in use for many years. As there were generally considered to be no disadvantages over the present situation & the owners were co-operative it was agreed that we should leave the matter for the time being.
1468 To note application for Theatre Licence from the Victory Hall
for events in April & December 2005
Noted that details of the above had been received from MSDC & there was no objection from our side.
1469 To note reply to WSCC re
Local Council Local Committee
Noted that the Chairman had replied to the
WSCC Leader (Mr Henry Smith) saying it would be a sensible decision to locate
the parishes of Slaugham, Balcombe & Ardingly within the central
Mid-Sussex area committee, rather than leaving them in the present northern
Mid-Sussex area committee.
1470 To discuss requirements for possible pavement improvements
within the village
Agreed we would need to write to WSCC Highways for clarification of their policy towards pavement improvements, also mentioning the present problem with the pavement leading past the Rectory, inspected by them last year. It might be possible for BPC to offer assistance towards funding for this in due course.
1471 To
discuss arrangements for Annual Parish Meeting on 26 April
Mike Wood, Chief Executive of Mid Sussex Primary Care Trust, would be our speaker & giving a presentation on the proposals in the Best Care, Best Place consultation. We should ask the W I if they would do refreshments, arrange posters & send out invitations to interested parties.
1472 Correspondence
W3 Road Safety in West
Sussex. Noted that Brenda Smith had
been appointed Road Safety Community Safety Liaison Officer for the whole of
West Sussex.
2 &3 EDF/SEEBOARD re street light repair problems.
Mr Miners clearance of site adjoining the Rectory. Was this a conservation area?
Mr Greenwood overhanging branches outside
Knollwood House
Mrs Stevenson The
Old School House application had been refused
Mrs Illsley loose
kerbstones in village centre
Mrs Tibbott damage
by vandals to daffodils on the rec
l
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.55 hours.
Signed
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Date ..
RG/HS