Minutes of the Maresfield Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 15^th April 2008

 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall, Nutley

Present:        Cllr J Gutteridge (Chairman), Cllr D Barlow, Cllr Mrs V Taylor, Cllr J Handley,

Cllr A Clarke, Cllr P Harris, Cllr H Fry, Cllr C Stevenson, DCllr Mrs S Martin, CCllr A Reid,

Clerk T Allen and Minutes Secretary Julie Best.

In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Cllr Mrs Taylor proposed Cllr Gutteridge chair the meeting, Cllr Stevenson seconded, all agreed.

A.        Public Session – None.

1407.   To approve apologies for absence and to note other non-attendance - Cllr K Ogden,

Cllr R Street, Cllr W King, Cllr R Galley, Cllr D Finch, Cllr Mrs J Penfold, DCllr N Buck, DCllr M Hoy, CCllr F Whetstone.

1408.   Declarations of Interest – None.

1409.   Minutes of the previous meeting held on 18^th March 2008:-

1.    For adoption – It was resolved that the minutes be adopted.

2.      Matters arising from these minutes – The Clerk gave an interim report regarding the consideration of changes to the Council’s structure, noting that an outline of the applicable law and process had been circulated with the meeting papers. It was noted that the bodies approached for advice could only comment on law and process, the ramifications of any changes being individual to the Parish. The Clerk stated that he will be talking to Rother District Council where recently a similar exercise has taken place. ACTION: Clerk to report at the next meeting of Council.

Regarding his action point from the last meeting, CCllr Reid stated that the ESCC web site allows for responses to be made for all planning applications it is responsible for.

1410.   Reports by and questions to:-

1.      County Councillors – CCllr Reid reported the following:-

·         Government’s proposed strategy to transfer planning and other areas form SEERA to SEEDA is out for consultation; ESCC will be responding to this.

·         There is concern for development of eco towns being approved without consultation from Government; there is one site proposed for the south-east in Arun District and the final short-list is awaited.

·         ESCC has approved plans to introduce efficiencies for sustainability and climate change; group to be chaired by CCllr Reid.

·         Cllr Finch is working with the ESCC Highways Office at Ringmer on the subject of conserving energy from streetlights.

·         The waste site at Maresfield Camp is expected to be operational by late 2008/early 2009. A temporary road has been constructed for building works access; the original road will then be reinstated and the planned bunding put in place.

·         Contractors are on site and have begun work on the Newhaven incinerator which is expected to take around two years to complete; in the meantime rubbish will continue to go to landfill at Beddingham.

·         Reports that the County will have to take rubbish from London for processing seem to be unfounded.

·         Energy saving and green issues are considered when re-negotiating contracts and this is done in liaison with neighbouring authorities in order to bulk-up.

·         Regarding deer collision, the Conservators have published a scheme for the public which gives Sussex Police as first point of contact for deer related incidents.

2. District Councillors DCllr Martin reported on the following items:-

·         Planning – With the present WDC Planning Scheme of Delegation the local member if unable to view the Parish Council response to a planning application.  It is proposed to change this so that local members will receive the application one week longer than Parish Councils to allow them to see the Parish Council’s response to a planning application.

·         Collection of Waste – Currently only the urban areas such as Forest Row and Danehill benefit from a kerbside recycling service.  It is proposed to roll out kerbside recycling to all domestic properties in Wealden by 2010.  By using alternative weekly collections the cost of this will be £560,000 per year.  Recycling credits income of £422,000 should be received as our recycling rate will increase from 33% to 50%.  £100,000 is proposed to be spent on a new baling machine for Bellbrook.

·         Partnership with Parish Councils – Wealden is still battling to work in closer partnership with Parish Councils although in some cases this is proving to be historically very difficult as many Parish Councils seem to insist that they are individual bodies working on their own.  Partnership is important in all aspects of council work and particularly regarding planning.  So often the local Wealden member has information which would be helpful to the Parish Council in their discussions, but is never invited to be a helpful part of the Council.

·         There are no plans in place at present for recycling facilities for plastic due to the varying plastic product types. 

1411.   Council bodies - To receive minutes and decisions, followed by reports from Chairmen and any questions:-
1. Environment – Cllr Barlow reported that play area maintenance issues are being addressed, at Fords Green this has required the removal of two items of equipment; this work is either conducted by a local handyman or Wicksteed Leisure, depending on the nature of the work involved. Cllr Clarke stated that the Fairwarp Village Hall Committee was looking for maintenance contacts for the Fairwarp play area. ACTION: Clerk to provide these details.

            2. Finance & Administration:-

                        I.          2007/08 (Month 12) financial reports (interim) – These reports were noted. The Clerk stated that the final end-of-year reports will be available in May 2008 following the audits.

            3. Planning:-

                        I.          Minutes of the meeting held on 25^th March 2008 - Cllr Stevenson stated that he had no points to raise in addition to those covered in these minutes.

            4. Strategy:-

                        I.          Minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd March 2008

                        II.         Draft minutes of the meeting held on 31^st March 2008 (for info.).

            The Clerk stated that the minutes are an accurate account of the current work of the Committee.  Cllr Fry mentioned the threshold levels for the enforcement of speed limits; he has received replies from the Sussex Police Authority and the Chief constable who are looking into this matter.

            5. Maresfield Recreation Ground Access Sub-Committee – Cllr Mrs Taylor’s report circulated with the meeting papers was noted. A copy of the latest draft access licence from Mr Watts was circulated; it was noted that several parts of this are still unacceptable and Council needs to decide what is acceptable. Cllr Mrs Taylor stated that the Sub-Committee will work further on this and report at the next meeting.

            Regarding parking issues at the Maresfield Recreation Ground, Cllr Mrs Taylor referred to the MRGC Lease and past correspondence. It was noted that in the past measures had been put in place to ease parking issues, including the use of Bonners School car park, but recent site inspections showed that these had not been permanently resolved. Cllr Mrs Taylor stated that Mr Watts had been told that the Council cannot control parking and therefore these issues should be passed to MRGC to resolve.

            6. Working Party on development of the Parish Office - The Clerk stated that Cllr Finch will meet with the new Committee of the Social Club on his return from holiday, and that alternative venues will also be considered.

1412.   Outside bodies reports – None.

1413.   Preparation for village fetes and Annual Assembly – It was resolved that the theme for the Annual Assembly should be ‘The Way Ahead for Our Parish’ where invited speakers from County Council, District Council, Parish Council, Maresfield & Nutley Conservation Groups and the Fairwarp Community Society  will outline their vision for the next five years or so.  ACTION: Clerk to arrange invites and publicity.

The Parish Annual Report must also be produced in advance of the Annual Assembly.

ACTION: Chairman of Council and Committee Chairmen to submit their reports by 2nd May 2008. ACTION: Clerk to invite reports from Parish groups.

For the village fetes, it was resolved that the Council’s marquee would not be used this year and that Councillors should adopt a ‘meet and greet’ approach. It was resolved that the Council’s marquee should be loaned to the Maresfield Fete Committee, providing that a corner is reserved for a Council display and that it is used for non commercial purposes.

1414.   To discuss and decide on the feasibility of rotating Committee meetings around the villages – The Clerk reported that this matter had been raised by the Chairman of Council as a means of giving the Council more presence and visibility around the Parish. The costs and logistics involved were discussed. It was resolved that meetings should be held more frequently in Fairwarp and Maresfield (subject to hall availability) when special projects, significant planning applications, etc. relating to those villages are on the agenda for meetings. It was noted that the Strategy Committee was the most all encompassing meeting outside of Council, and it was resolved to try to schedule some of the Strategy Committee meetings in Fairwarp and Maresfield. ACTION: Clerk.

1415.   Response to WDC re. new street name at Mallards/Coppins development, Maresfield - Councillors had no definite suggestions for a name for this new road.

1416    Attendance of a member of the WDC Standards Committee at a future meeting of Council – It was resolved to invite a speaker to attend a future meeting of Council. ACTION: Clerk.

1417.   Chairman’s Report followed by questions to Chairman – No items.

1418.   Clerk’s Report followed by questions to Clerk – No items.

1419.   Payments to be made: for approval - Payments amounting to £9,219.86 were approved.

1420.   Communications - Cllr Barlow reported that Stephan Butler had resigned from the Easylink Forum, Crowborough Town Council and the North Wealden Community Transport Partnership (NWCTP) due to ill health; Cllr Street will replace Mr Butler as a Trustee and the Company Secretary of NWCTP.

1421.    Date of next meeting – Annual Meeting of Council, 20^th May 2008 (Fairwarp).

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:50 hours.