Minutes of the Maresfield Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 15^th June 2010 at 7.30 pm in Maresfield Village Hall

Present: Cllr W King (Chairman), Cllr K Ogden, Cllr Mrs. G Brady, Cllr A Clarke,

Cllr D Finch, Cllr R Galley, Cllr J Gutteridge, Cllr P Harris, Cllr Mrs. P Palmer,

Cllr C Stevenson, CCllr A Reid, DCllr Mrs. S Martin, Asst. Clerk Mrs. K Larkin

There was one member of the public present.

Public session – Mr F Thorogood stated that he wished to hold over a particular discussion until a particular councillor was present.

1760. Apologies for absence and other non-attendance: Cllr Barlow, Cllr Handley,

Cllr Street, CCllr Whetstone, DCllr Buck, DCllr Hoy, and Mr A Allen (Clerk).

1761. Declarations of Interest - None

1762. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 18^th May 2010:

• For adoption – It was resolved to adopt the minutes.
• Matters arising from these minutes – additional Community Bus (Item 1751 para 4(ii)). The Chairman reported on behalf of Cllr Barlow that there was now a real possibility of funding for the additional bus.

1763. Reports by and questions to:

• County Councillors – CCllr Reid reported first on the budget. A shortfall of £8 million from government sources was now expected. Furthermore the government had refused to make any announcement about funding for the proposed Hastings/Bexhill link road until after the October Budget. Secondly, regarding the land at Normans Pond it had not been possible to achieve sale at a good enough price for the County Council to proceed. An approach would now be made to Veolia for sponsorship, and if they were interested then discussions would be opened with the Maresfield Conservation Group who might manage the site. In discussion it was suggested that the owners of the local commercial waste management site might also be approached. Finally regarding the Waste Transfer Centre, CCllr Reid offered to bring an ESCC officer to discuss the operational problems with MPC, though it was noted that operations had been satisfactory for the last six months. ACTION: The offer was accepted.
• The Chairman then drew attention to the meeting held earlier in the day between representatives of ESCC and MPC; the Superintendant of Ashdown Forest, Mr Hugh Prendergast; and the Ashdown Forest Riding Association, on Traffic Calming on the B2026. Given that ESCC had a potential budget of £47,000 for the scheme but was now required to carry out a further assessment of any spending over £10,000, the support of local County Councillors would be very much appreciated. CCllr Reid indicated that he would support this to the fullest extent possible. A question was also raised about the re-surfacing works scheduled to be carried out in Fairwarp but apparently delayed. CCllr Reid gave assurance that the projected cuts to the Transport and Environment budget would not affect highway maintenance.
• District Councillors – DCllr Martin reported on Operation Crackdown, a new campaign against anti-social driving, promoted by WDC, the Safer Wealden Partnership, Sussex Police and the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership. In the face of disturbing statistics unearthed by a recent report of the Community Scrutiny Committee, the campaign would particularly target drivers using mobile phones; ignoring speed limits; driving under the influence of alcohol; and tailgating other motorists. Details should be reported either to the website, www.operationcrackdown.org, or by phone to 01243 642222.
• DCllr Galley reported on the progress of the LDF. Significant planning changes had been announced by central government. The Regional Spatial Strategy with its centrally imposed housing targets was to be revoked; the South East Plan would go with it and a number of quangos would be culled. Legislation would be needed to clarify the position (perhaps an early Statutory Instrument) and it was to be hoped that regulation of the altered scene could be introduced soon to prevent too much development being led by commercial operators whilst community schemes remained in limbo. The WDC Core Strategy would be delayed, but only by a few weeks, and would still be evidence-based. Its stance on Affordable Housing would not be affected.
• DCllr Ogden reported that the new Grampian Housing development in Buxted would have six Affordable Homes coming up in July, with more to follow. He would ask for Maresfield to be included in the bidding process.
• Cllr Clarke asked for news on the new government’s stance regarding development in back gardens. DCllr Galley responded that there was no blanket provision, but developers were restricted. The criteria for exception sites were under review and it would be possible to change them.
• The Chairman drew attention to the provisions of PPS 3 on Development Boundaries and Rural Exception Sites. Although sites outside the boundary could in theory be sold for Affordable Housing, potential vendors were inclined to wait and hope for changing circumstances to increase the value of their land. Further out, however, sites could not be considered for Affordable Housing because they would not meet the sustainability criterion, being insufficiently accessible. Thus very few sites were becoming available. DCllr Galley stated that different villages were taking different stances on this issue. Although the relaxation of the criteria was under discussion it was not expected that controls would be abolished. Economic constraints would of course remain.

1764. Parish Wards – issues, needs and Councillors’ reports:

• Fairwarp Ward – covered in Item 1763.
• Maresfield Ward – covered in Item 1763
• Nutley Ward – covered in Item 1763.

1765. Council bodies – receipt of minutes and decisions, followed by reports.

1. Environment Committee – Cllr Stevenson reported that although MPC had budgeted for cutting verges it might not happen this year. Ideally the work should be carried out five times during the growing season, but the times and locations needed to be clarified (e.g. not during daffodil time). In discussion it was noted that the new village gateway signs in Maresfield had quickly become obscured by new growth and also required attention. CCllr Reid advised that Public Liability Insurance of £10 million was currently required for working on Highways, but that this rule might need to be relaxed for village operators. The topic should be raised at the forthcoming Ward meeting. ACTION: the Clerk to put this item on the Ward meeting agenda.

2. Finance & Administration Committee: (i) Month 2 – 2010/11 Financial Reports. The Council took note.

(ii) Draft minutes of the meeting held on 7^th June 2010. The Council took note. With regard to Item 11, Annual Review and Increment for the Clerk, the question was raised whether the increment should be discussed by the F&A Committee before being put before the Council. ACTION: The Chairman of the Committee to clarify procedure.

3. Planning Committee: (i) Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th March 2010. The Minutes were received.

(ii) Draft minutes of the meeting held on 1^st June 2010. The Council took note. The Committee Chairman had submitted a written report confirming the success of the new three-weekly cycle of planning meetings, and generally commending the electronic pilot scheme, although the technical support offered by WDC needed to be improved. The postponed meeting with WDC to discuss planning issues would soon take place. The Vice Chairman commended the Asst. Clerk for conveying planning reasons to WDC along with the Committee’s recommendations following the 1^st June meeting.

4. Strategy Committee: (i) Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th March 2010. The Minutes were received.

(ii) Draft minutes of the meeting held on 15^th April 2010. The Council took note.

(iii) Satellite Surgery (Nutley). Cllr Finch stated that he would postpone further comment to the next meeting when Cllr Barlow was present.

5. Maresfield Recreation Ground Access Sub-Committee report. The Chairman reported that the solicitors had this in hand.

6. Parish Plan Development Working Party Report. The Chairman reported that he had the preparation of the Questionnaire in hand. It would be sent out with a future issue of The Parish Matters.

1766. Report from, and questions to, the Chairman. The Chairman had submitted a written report. The Council took note. The Chairman added that he had not been able to attend the opening of the Children’s Centre at Uckfield, mentioned in para 4, but would visit it on another occasion.

1767. Report from, and questions to, the Clerk. None

1768. Payments to be made – for approval. It was resolved to approve the scheduled payments amounting to £8,840.50.

1769. Communications. Discussion focussed on the next issue of The Parish Matters, which should be planned for issue in September. Cllr Harris asked for ideas to be put together by mid August.

• The County and District budget deficit would be an important issue for a future edition, but sufficient detail would not be known before the government’s October Budget.
• Self-help in the snow would be a topic promoted by ESCC in the autumn. Parish Councils (and possibly only Parish Councils) would be able to buy salt from ESCC at favourable rates, and would be encouraged to supply grit bins. However, the cost was thought to be considerable – up to £250 per bin, with hippo bags as an alternative. Their placing would have to be carefully considered.

ACTION: Councillors to put forward items for inclusion to the Clerk

The first issue of Your Parish Brief had been well received, but it had yet to be turned into hard copies for further distribution. It was hoped that relatively small numbers of copies could be placed strategically in the garage, at pubs, shops, churches etc. ACTION: the Clerk to obtain permission to put leaflets into these outlets.

1770. Date of next meeting – 20^th July 2010 (Nutley).

There being no further business, the meeting closed at  8.25 pm.