Minutes of the meeting of Maresfield Parish Council held on

Tuesday 20 May 2003 in Fairwarp Village Hall

Present.  Cllr P Tester, Cllr J Gutteridge, Cllr G Hardy, Cllr W King, Cllr K Ogden, Cllr T Sparrow, Cllr C Stephens, Cllr R Street, Cllr R Tester, Cllr Miss M Thomas, Cllr Mrs S Weekes, Cllr R Woodgate. 

District Cllr B F Brown, District Cllr N Buck, District Cllr J Hollins, District Cllr Mrs P Kennedy. 

Clerk: Sue Wilson.

1208    Public Questions.  There were no members of the public present.

1209            Declarations of interest.  There were no declarations of interest.

1210            Apologies for absence.  Apologies for absence were received from County Cllr Tony Reid and Cllr H Fry.

1211    To receive and adopt the minutes of the Parish Council meeting of 15 April 2003.  Cllr R Tester said he was present at the meeting although his name does not appear on the list of those present.  District Cllr Brown, referring to item 1200.3, said he had not reported on the Community Rail Partnership.  The minutes were amended to show that this was Cllr Sparrow's report.  Item 1196 Matters arising from the Planning Committee minutes has been omitted from the minutes.  There were none.  The minutes were adopted.

1212            Matters arising from those minutes not on this Agenda.  The Chairman, Cllr King suggested that Mrs Sweetnam's paper on the Ashdown Business Park should be brought to the Finance & General Purposes Committee, Enviroment & Maintenance Committee and the Planning Committee.  In his view this paper is deserves thought.  This was proposed by Cllr P Tester and seconded by Cllr Ogden.

At the bottom of page 2 of the minutes, reference is made to Cllr Cottingham inspecting the bus shelters and advising if the work has not been carried out within a reasonable time.  As Cllr Cottingham stepped down at the election, Cllr Woodgate kindly offered to inspect the shelters and report to the clerk.

Action: Cllr Woodgate

1213    To receive and adopt the minutes of the following Council Committees:

            1213.1            Minutes of the Planning Committee of 14 April 2003

            1213.2            Minutes of the Planning Committee of 28 April 2003

            1213.3            Minutes of the Planning Committee of 12 May 2003

            1213.4            Minutes of the Environment & Maintenance Committee of 8 May 2003

The minutes were adopted.

1214            Matters arising from the above 1213 minutes.  The Chairman, Cllr King, suggested that in future the minutes of Planning Committee meetings should be read and adopted by that committee, rather than being brought to full Council meetings.  This was proposed by Cllr Sparrow, seconded by Cllr Gutteridge and carried unanimously.

Similarly, the minutes of the Environment & Maintenance Committee meetings should be read and adopted by that committee.  This was proposed by Cllr R Tester, seconded by Cllr P Tester and carried unanimously.

1213.3            Referring to the minutes of the Planning Committee for the meeting on 12 May 2003, Item 12, Cllr P Tester said that the application had in fact been withdrawn, not refused, as he had reported.

1213.4 Item 6 of the Environment & Maintenance Committee minutes refers to the fitting of a kissing gate.  Cllr P Tester reported that this had still not been done and that the gate remained at Tylers Yard.  In his view the delay was becoming embarrassing.  If Mr McDonnell did not wish to carry out the work, Mr P Kirby is willing to do so.

Action: Clerk

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1215    To receive and adopt reports from Sub-Committees and Working Groups:

1215.1            Preliminary meeting on Youth of 16 April 2003.  Cllr Sparrow offered to speak to this item so that Councillors did not immediately have to read the note which was handed round.  Comments could be passed to the Clerk later.  To provide activities for the youngsters in the Parish had been one of the proposals from the Village Plan Survey.  Support is available from East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and Wealden District Council (WDC).  Although there are many youngsters in the Parish, only one had attended the Youth meeting.  It was reported that some of the suggestions and ideas from Councillors as to activities had been greeted with apathy.  A further meeting of the Group was planned.

1215.2            Parklands Sub-Committee of 17 April 2003.  Cllr Gutteridge said there were no points of accuracy to note in the minutes.

1215.3 TEWP meeting of 17 April 2003.  Cllr Sparrow said that traffic was the prime issue arising from the Village Plan Survey.  The group had been working hard to formulate a strategy for the Parish and surrounding villages.  The Speedwatch Weeks in Nutley and Maresfield had provided a powerful argument for a camera.  An application had been drawn up by TEWP in the form of a letter to ESCC which had been approved by the Environment & Maintenance Committee.  Council was asked to approve the application and reminded that it may be necessary to pay towards the cost of the camera. 

In answer to a question from the Chairman, Cllr Sparrow explained that although the camera would be specific to Nutley, it did not preclude the other villages from putting in place other traffic calming measures.

The Chairman queried how much local support there was for the camera as the residents have a duty to observe the speed limits and this was clearly not the case.  As overwhelming support had been shown in the Village Plan Survey the Council agreed to approve the application.  A copy will be sent to Inspector Allum of Uckfield Police and County Cllr Tony Reid to keep them informed.

1216    To receive reports from Members and Council Representatives on outside bodies and matters arising:

1216.1 Action in rural Sussex.  Cllr Sparrow talked about the pending Free Skateboard Day and leaflets were passed round.  Cllr Sparrow and Cllr Ogden will probably attend the day.  The Chairman asked that special attention should be paid to the physical aspects of a skateboard park and reported back to the Parish.  Cllr Miss Thomas expressed concern about the youngsters who skateboard near The Orchard, Nutley which runs downhill to the A22.  A skateboard facility is needed, but not by the A22.

1216.2            Wealden Local Strategic Partnership.  Cllr Sparrow reported that there will be a meeting on 26 June 2003 at WDC for representatives of Parishes in the area.   WDC has won £10,000 for community activity which will be available, on application, to parishes to assist with village plans.

1216.3            Wealden District Council Stakeholders Forum - Annual Housing Strategy.  Cllr Ogden had attended a meeting at WDC.  A complaint had been made that there was insufficient land available for affordable housing, athough Cllr Ogden said he knew of 25 acres which are available.  In his view it is important to obtain at least a small quantity of affordable housing as soon as possible.  He also introduced the idea of smaller properties suitable for older people who wish to move out of large houses, but remain in the villages and had had a preliminary potential sites visit with English Courtyards.

1217            Matters arising from the Annual Assembly held on 25 April 2003.  It was felt it had been a good meeting although Inspector Allum had not appeared aware of the concerns of parishioners with regard to road traffic crime, training of officers to use speed guns and the lack of an allocated regular police officer.

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1218    Cllr Ogden's report on Seeboard/street lighting.  Cllr Ogden reported that he had found seven lights on the A22 for which the Parish Council has been paying for about ten years.  Due to their position, these should be the responsibility of ESCC.  Cllr Ogden has made contact with a Mr Fletcher at Seeboard to whom the Council should write to claim a refund.

Action: Cllr Ogden and Clerk

1219    Village fetes – to have a stall manned by Councillors.  The Maresfield fete is on 26 May which is imminent.  Cllr Ogden kindly offered to co-ordinate obtaining a trestle table, umbrellas, signboardss, etc. and Cllr Mrs Weekes kindly offered to co-ordinate the attendance of councillors to man the stand. 

Action: Cllr Ogden, Cllr Mrs Weekes

1220            Hedges – draft procedure.  Cllr Sparrow had prepared a draft policy.  Cllr R Tester felt it was better to approach owner/occupiers in person before sending letters which he felt angered some parishioners.  District Cllr Mrs Kennedy drew attention to the laurel hedge near The Chequers in Maresfield which needs cutting.  It was decided that the chairman of the Environment & Maintenance Committee should trigger the sending of letters after a visit, if no action has been taken after one month.

1221    To agree monthly payments.  Cllr Sparrow explained that the first list related to the monthly payment of outstanding invoices.  The second list was the subscriptions, grants and donations which the Council makes annually and which had been agreed in December.  As half the annual precept had just been received, it was suggested Council should make these payments as soon as possible to local organisations.  Some amounts had been rounded up and councillors would be advised of any discrepancies.  The accounts had been checked and there was sufficient money to cover all the payments.

It was noted that the Hospice is in fact named St Peter & St James Hospice and that Sussex Farmers & Wildlife Action Group should be the Farming & Advisory Group.

Cllr P Tester said he thought there ought to be a payment listed to the Inland Revenue for the clerk's tax and national insurance contributions.  It was proposed by Cllr P Tester to add a payment to the list, not to exceed £700.00, seconded by Cllr Hardy and carried unanimously.

1222            Correspondence.  Cllr R Tester kindly agreed to represent the Council at the re-opening of the renovated Maresfield Recreation Ground Pavilion on Saturday 24 May 2003. 

A volunteer is needed to attend a two-day meeting of the Rail Passengers Committee to be held on 14/15 July 2003.  As the venue has not yet been notified, it was agreed this matter should be brought back to Council when this information is received.

It was noted that Mr A Cottingham had expressed concern to Cllr P Tester about overgrown hedges in the Parish.  A procedure has been drafted and the system of three letters requested from ESCC.

Mr P Kirby reported to Cllr P Tester that he had recently carried out work to a footbridge in Funnells Wood but that further major work will be required in two or three years' time.

Mrs Pitt-Lewis has complained about the banning of dogs from Maresfield Recreation Ground.  Cllr P Tester has spoken to her and a letter written.  Cllr Tester suggested this matter be brought to the next Environment & Maintenance Committee meeting.  District Cllr Mrs Kennedy objected to the limiting of use of the Recreation Ground and it was explained that the Parish Council is in the process of obtaining a Designation Order through WDC to ban dogs from being walked in the Recreation Ground due to the fouling.  The youngsters are having to clear up the mess before playing football and there are dangerous disease implications.

Cllr P Tester has received a letter from Stuart Fullwood of WDC about sites for house building.  It was agreed this should be passed to the Planning Committee for attention.

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The clerk had received a call from a parishioner, Mr M Hanson, who had heard about the Housing Survey but not received a copy of the questionnaire.  He lives at 86 Five Ash Down, at the edge of the Parish, and is concerned that he is being forgotten.  Further forms will be obtained and sent to Mr Hanson and his adjoining neighbour as requested.

Action: Clerk

Councillors were asked to note that there would be a Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting on 3 June 2003.

1223    Any other business.   

The Chairman reported that he had had a reply from Sussex Police concerning crime issues.  Cllr Sparrow said it was important for the Council to co-ordinate its relationships with the police rather than going in different directions with individual councillors contacting the police direct.  Council agreed.

District Cllr Brown drew attention to meetings to be held at County Hall, Lewes on 25/26 June at 10.00am in connection with changes to the parliamentary boundaries.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.00pm.