Other News

The Environment Planning work group, led by Alison Stevenson, has given advice to the Parish Council on all planning applications following their site visits, and to residents who have sought our help. The group has also prepared a response for the Parish Council about the viability of potential sites for the future housing development, as requested by Mid Sussex District Council.

Mid Sussex District Council will be consulting widely on their proposals for the Local Development Framework (LDF) for 2006/2026 in May.

SEEBOARD has undertaken to improve its service to maintain the street lighting for which the Parish Council is responsible. There have been a number of over-long delays in recent months. We are insisting that they keep to the advised terms for repairs, normally within 5 working days from date of report.

The MSDC rubbish freighter service has been curtailed due to economy cuts. The Parish Council has funded two additional visits in 2004/05 to maintain this service to residents.

In addition to those made in earlier years a grant of £3000 has been made to the Victory Hall to enable the heating system to be renewed.

We were able to contribute towards the cost of installing a CCTV system at Balcombe Post Office, following Indi’s last robbery

A Community Speed Watch project is being co-ordinated with the Sussex Police. The Co-ordinator will be Roy Bliss, assisted by Bryan Hammans, and we already have over 20 volunteers will to take part. A pilot scheme in West Hoathly. will provide useful experience as to how we should proceed, and the project will be funded by the Parish Council.

The three Solagen (solar powered) school patrol warning lights are a useful addition to improved safety on the approaches to the school. Each has a sign “20 mph when the lights are flashing”.

Recent Appointments

Following the resignation last year of Neil Infield we are very pleased that Sue Tibbott has agreed to be co-opted as a member of the Parish Council. Sue has lived in Balcombe 24 years and brought up her family here. She has many links with village groups and is a former Chairman of the Honeywood Playgroup.

Roland Burke has agreed to lead a Support Group of the Youth Club. Julie Stewart is the newly appointed Youth Club leader.

Roy Bliss and Bryan Hammans have kindly accepted the roles of Co-ordinator and Deputy Co-ordinator of the Community Speed Watch scheme (see above).

Natasha Denbeigh has been appointed Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for three parishes, including Balcombe.

Financial Report

Our Precept was set at £32,000 four years ago in order to accumulate reserves to pay for Traffic Calming. At the beginning of the financial year starting 1st April 2004 reserves stood at £37,000. In the financial year ending on 31 March 2005 our total income was £40,200 and expenditure, including Traffic Calming costs of £8,500, was £42,700. The deficit of £2,700 reduced our reserves to £34,300. It should be noted that income included a grant from MSDC for the Victory Hall that was paid via the Parish Council.

The Budget for 2005/2006 shows the Precept remaining unchanged at £32,000. Income is estimated at £36,000 and expenditure, including Traffic Calming costs of £18,000 is estimated at £51,000. The deficit of £15,000 will be met from reserves, which will fall to £19,300 by the end of the financial year ending 31 March 2006.

Graham Gosney

Chairman

April 2005

ACTUAL 2004-2005

The year’s main activities

The Parish Council held 12 regular and 8 special meetings. Anyone is welcome to attend and speak at the start of the meeting.

Two major developments have been progressed and the outcomes will become apparent in the months ahead.

Mid Sussex District Council has worked closely with us to create the new children’s’ play area on the Recreation Ground, in conjunction with our working group led by George Wiginton. The results of the good co-operation are now visible and most of the new facilities will be ready for use soon. The grass area should be useable in the summer. While a detailed planting schedule has yet to be prepared by the MSDC, the intention is to include a number of fruit trees, and the layout of the new play area provides space for more play equipment to be added at a later date. Donations towards the provision of benches and trees are welcomed. Any individuals or groups interested in participating are asked to contact either the Parish Clerk or George Wiginton. Ideas for the redevelopment of the previous Toddlers' play area and the area adjacent to the Pavilion continue to be explored with MSDC, together with other longer term improvements to the Recreation Ground in general. The views and ideas of residents are welcomed and encouraged.

The revised Traffic Calming scheme agreed with West Sussex County Council for a mini-roundabout on the Green and speed cushions up to the village centre has taken much longer to prepare than expected. The current forecast is that work could start in August of this year. David Miners and his work group continue to apply pressure on the County Council to pursue their consultations speedily. It should be noted that the scheme exhibited in July was revised following residents’ comments.

The aim of the immediately planned work is to improve pedestrian safety on the approach to Balcombe School and to the village centre. We have advised WSCC of two sections of the Haywards Heath/London Roads which will be our priority for a future scheme.

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INCOME

PRECEPT	£32,000
GRANTS	£4,796
BANK INTEREST	£1,914
RECREATION GROUND	£1,047
OTHER	£444
TOTAL INCOME	£40,201
FROM RESERVES	£2,542
TOTAL	£42,743

EXPENDITURE

SALARIES	£11,866
TRAFFIC CALMING	£8,545
GRANTS	£8,296
ADMIN.	£7,684
PUBLIC LIGHTING	£4,211
MAINTENANCE	£2,141
LIGHTING UPGRADES	£0
TOTAL	£42,743

ANNUAL REPORT TO RESIDENTS

Our regular services to the village

The Parish Clerk

Richard Greig acts for the Council to provide a range of services. There are four main types of activity undertaken by the Council. We co-operate with Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) and West Sussex County Council (WSCC) in some of the key tasks. The Clerk handles financial matters. Robin Williamson, the appointed Responsible Finance Officer (RFO), assists with preparation of budgets and other special financial projects.

The Parish Environment and Planning

We respond to all planning applications from MSDC. We aim to help residents to ensure that their proper interests are known to the planning department. We are also responsible for the provision of street and public area lighting, which are contracted through SEEBOARD.

Community Services

We try to help maintain the viability of the post office, shops and the railway station. We wish to improve bus and rail services. We subsidise rail and bus passes for local residents over the age of 60. We support the Balcombe Youth Club to provide varied activities for young people.

Recreation and Social Facilities

We manage the use of the Recreation Ground for MSDC and give support to the Balcombe Football Club. We maintain the Sports Pavilion, which is also used by the Youth Club. We provide support to the Victory Hall, as it is the chosen venue for the main village events.

Advice

We provide advice and information to residents and village organisations on a wide range of issues.

BUDGET 2004-2005

INCOME

PRECEPT	£32,000
GRANTS	£0
BANK INTEREST	£2,010
RECREATION GROUND	£1,429
OTHER	£679
TOTAL INCOME	£36,118
FROM RESERVES	£14,736
TOTAL	£50,854

EXPENDITURE

SALARIES	£12,459
TRAFFIC CALMING	£18,052
GRANTS	£3,775
ADMIN.	£7,398
PUBLIC LIGHTING	£4,422
MAINTENANCE	£2,248
LIGHTING UPGRADES	£2,500
TOTAL	£50,854