Parish News - updated 31st January

From the Chairman ……

The new Localism Act 2011 became law last November. Maresfield Parish Council has voted to embrace it completely. It is likely to be the most important change for shaping local communities for many years. It tells us that we need to determine a vision for our villages to be achieved by 2030. It encourages us to create a plan that will achieve that objective.

The Council has commissioned the organisation ‘Action in Rural Sussex’ to provide a consultancy to assist with the project.

The plan must be determined and approved by the residents and business owners in the Parish. It will state what services should be a priority and how and where we wish any development to progress (i.e. business, residential, leisure, infrastructure etc).

Because our three main villages are quite different, the plan will have three village-based working parties to the Steering Group. Each of these sub-groups has begun work in the relevant village. They are seeking suitable members from each community who are willing to contribute by participating in the group. If anyone reading this feels that they have a contribution to make and wants to do so, would they please contact the Parish Clerk, Tony Allen, or any of the parish councillors.

The high-speed broadband improvements are pressing on. These are specifically aimed at rural communities and in particular businesses. We are told that there is already fibre-optic cabling to most local exchanges and the new initiative proposes to take this on to the green cabinets. The question arises, of course, of who will pay for improvements beyond the cabinet.

Wealden District Council is in the process of consulting on their designation of the Strategic Sites Development Areas for Wealden District. They are proposing to build approximately 9000 new houses over the next 20 years. Of these, 1300 are fairly close to us, with 300 in Crowborough and 1000 in Uckfield. The consultation paper contains a number of options and it can be viewed in the District Council Website www.wealden.gov.uk. There are also the dates a number of public meetings that are to be held this month.

The Parish Council is still short of two councillors to represent Nutley. At an important time like this we need to be at full strength. If you would like to become a councilor please get in touch. The Parish Clerk will be pleased to show you what is required. Full training is given to new councillors.

What’s happened……

BUDGET AND PRECEPT FOR 2012/12

At its meeting on 20^th December 2011, the Parish Council set its budget and precept requirements for the financial year 2012/13. The budget will be £93,923.00, representing an increase of 4% on the current year’s budget. The precept (the amount of your Council Tax that is for the Parish Council) will be £85,206.00, representing a 4% increase on the current year’s precept, which in actual money terms is very small, an annual increase of £2.26 per household paying Council Tax.

You will read elsewhere in this newsletter about the opportunities and projects that the Parish Council will be pursuing on behalf of, and involving Parishioners, such as creating a Neighbourhood Development Plan and a Community Led Plan, but to achieve this needs a small level of investment. Whilst the Parish Council continues to achieve cost savings in several areas, investment in the future of our Parish is essential. Grants to some local groups have been reduced by up to 20% for 2012/13 to support this investment in the Parish globally. Also, the Parish Council does not receive incentive money from Central Government (as does the District Council for example), so its only main recourse for funding is through the precept.

Unsuccessful grant applicants have been notified; approved grants will be paid in April or May of this year.

What people are working on……

To Tweet or not to Tweet

Social media is a collective term used to describe easy ways to create and publish on the internet. People generally use the term to describe how organisations and individuals share content – text, video and pictures – and create conversations on the web. It is transforming the way that companies do business and individuals interact with each other. It is providing a voice for those who weren’t well heard before. Social media will change the way that councils interact with local people.

Social media is all about community. It connects people together, helps them share who they are, encourages conversation and builds trust. It is the most powerful tool available today for building a sense of belonging and collaboration in a virtual, or local, area.

Only by working together with local people can the Parish Council hope to crack some of the most intractable issues. Councillors working in their wards, neighbourhoods and parishes are placed at the right level to deliver the changes we need. Social media can help people make the connections to share information and take action on these difficult issues.

There are many considerations to be taken into account before a public body embarks on such a course and we will keep you updated on progress. In the meantime we welcome any views that you may have.

Nutley Jubilee  Village Party

2^nd June 2012

To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year’s Village Party will be held on Saturday 2^nd June – please put this date in your diaries!

As well as the usual children’s party and evening live band we are organising various activities including an orienteering challenge, sports games, BBQ and a Beer Race. The day’s events will start with a short Church Service on Fords Green. For this year only our recently introduced Scarecrow Competition will be brought forward to culminate with the Scarecrow Trail on the Jubilee weekend. As this is the year of the Jubilee and Olympics we will be having a theme for the Scarecrows which will be ‘Red, White and Blue’.

We are also looking at ways of commemorating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with something tangible that can be used by everyone in the village – ideas are welcome.

Following a request for help last year we have a small group of representatives from village organisations planning the day’s events. If you have any suggestions or would like to become involved please contact us on either 01825 712955 or 01825 713141. Alternatively email us at info@nutleyvillageday.org.uk

More details on the Party and Scarecrow Competition will be announced soon but keep an eye on our website (www.nutleyvillageday.org.uk) for the latest news.

Peter Harris

(Secretary Nutley Village Day)

Are there issues about ……

CAB HELP WITH FUEL BILLS

Caroline Mack, Chief Executive of Wealden Citizens Advice, reports that many people have consulted CAB about problems affording their energy bills and it is expected that even more people will need help this winter. CAB is urging people to get in touch with them or their energy supplier as soon as they realise that they are falling behind with their bills; there is no need to try to cope alone. CAB advisers are just a phone call or a visit away and can also make sure that any appropriate benefits and tax credits are being claimed. Contact Carol Clark on 01825 764940.

BOGUS BANK CALLS

Police are warning residents in Sussex to be aware of bogus bank callers after three elderly residents in Crawley received phone calls from people claiming to be from the victim’s bank.

The callers convinced the victims that their bank cards had been compromised and said they would send a courier to collect them. A short time later a man arrived and collected the cards. Money was then taken from the accounts at local ATMs.

Detective Constable Matt Wilson of West Sussex CID said: "The caller knew personal information about each victim and they were able to obtain further information during the phone call.

"If your bank cards are ever compromised your bank does not need them back. They will never collect them but will cancel them and arrange for replacements to be sent.

"If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be from your bank then you should never give any personal information or your PIN.”

"If you are in any doubt about who the caller is then hang up and call your bank, or if someone arranges to collect your cards call police immediately on 999."

IF you would like further advice, you can call Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 0637 of 21/01 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Hollie Farley

Project Officer

Trading Standards

East Sussex County Council
St Mary's House

52 St Leonard's Road

Eastbourne

East Sussex

BN21 3UU

T: 01323 464481

Could someone help with ……

The Parklands Play Area needs your help

The Parish Council would like to request your help in maintaining a clean and tidy site at this fantastic new play area in Maresfield.  There are occasions when litter does not always find its way into the bins provided, which can then hinder the play of others that use the play equipment on a daily basis.

If you have any time to spare to help collect litter and would like to help then please do get in touch with Jess Bradford at the Parish Office on :- 01825 714555.  Many thanks.

SUPERFAST BROADBAND?

Work is underway to get superfast broadband to East Sussex and those areas with the poorest service should be top priority, which is mainly in rural areas. East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is leading this project and will be taking advantage of additional funding from Central Government. It is expected that the Local broadband Plan will be completed and approved in Spring of this year, with contracts in place and delivery anticipated to start by the end of 2012.

The Government has the ambition to deliver superfast broadband (2Mb/s) to 90% of homes and small businesses nationally by 2015. ESCC aims to take this further by having 100Mb/s to 100% of homes and small businesses by 2017.

What is the current performance of the broadband service you receive? Go to www.speedtest.net and find out. Do the test three times to get an average and then email the results to the Parish Office - clerk@maresfieldparish.org.uk.

Speed Watch

The aim of promoting Speed Watch in our local community is to encourage safer driving in communities through education, rather than prosecution.  There is nothing like a Speed Watch scheme to bring division and controversy, some drivers do not endorse local people out with a speed gun, however far more people are positive towards this incentive and stop to give encouragement.

Maresfield Parish Council holds Speed Watch exercises in various authorized locations in the Parish.  Volunteers are trained to use speed indicator devices which displays vehicle speed. The registered owner of any vehicle seen exceeding the speed limit is sent an advisory letter from their local Neighbourhood Policing team, explaining that speeding is unacceptable to the local community.

If you would like to be part of this worthwhile team of local people then please do contact the Asst Clerk, Jess Bradford on 01825 714555 or email Jessica.bradford@maresfieldparish.org.uk.

What’s coming up……

Police Panel Meetings

Sussex Police is facilitating quarterly Police Panel meetings for our Parish. This is a chance for officers to report on the latest issues affecting our three villages and for Parish Representatives to raise issues they have in addition; the next meeting will take place at the end of February. If you have any matters that you would like to be raised at this meeting, please email the Parish Office (clerk@maresfieldparish.org.uk), or telephone 714555.

And finally……

The Marjory Pegg Salver for Services to the Community

When Marjory left Maresfield in September 2003 for her new home in France, the village said goodbye to someone who had been enthusiastically involved in community life for over 30 years, including a number as Chairman of the Parish Council.  It was decided that each year a salver would be presented in her honour to someone nominated by the residents of Maresfield and now extended to Nutley and Fairwarp in the Maresfield Parish.  This memento of appreciation will be presented at the Annual Parish Assembly, Friday 18^th May 2012 and will be held for a year.

Many people help to build the fabric of village life in many different ways, by running local businesses, organising social clubs, serving on committees, giving their time to support local events and being a good neighbour and friend.

Nominate the person whom you feel would be a worthy recipient of the award this year, by filling in the Nomination Form below and returning it to the: -

Tony Allen                                     
Clerk
Maresfield Parish Council
 Parish Office, Churchfields, Nutley, East Sussex, TN22 3NA

clerk@maresfieldparish.org.uk

The award will be given to the person who, in the opinion of the judges, fulfils the above criteria best and not necessarily the number of nominations. Nominations Close on Friday 6^th April 2012

Nomination Form

I Mr/Mrs/ _____________________

Of Address_____________________ Post Code_________

Nominate

Name  _______________________

Address  _______________________ Post Code _________

Reason in no more than 30 words

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__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Signed

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