Minutes of the Meeting of Maresfield Parish Council held on

 Tuesday 19 October 2004 in Nutley Memorial Hall

Present:  Cllr W King, Cllr P Tester, Cllr J Gutteridge, Cllr K Ogden,

Cllr R Street, Cllr R Tester, Cllr H Fry, Cllr Ms M Thomas, Cllr Mrs S Weekes

Cllr R Woodgate, Cllr T Sparrow. DCllr F Brown. Clerk: Tony Allen.

1.            Apologies for absence - Cllr C Stephens (unwell), Cllr S Leaney (urgent personal business), Cllr G Hardy (medical reasons), CCllr A Reid, DCllr J Hollins.

2.            Declarations of interest – None.

3.            Minutes:-

                        3.1            Minutes of last meeting (21 September 2004) for approval – These were Approved.

                        3.2            Minutes of Special meeting (29 September 2004) for approval – These were Approved.

                        3.3            Matters arising from those minutes – None.

4.         Reports by and questions to:-

                        4.1            County councillor – No report or questions raised.

                        4.2            District councillors – DCllr Brown stated that he was ensuring that the refurbishment of Council housing in Hillmead, Nutley, and Parklands, Maresfield, was going ahead, and that this would include providing disabled access where required.

5.         Council bodies actions, minutes and reports by, and questions to, Chairmen:-

                        5.1            Business Park Development Sub-Committee – The Clerk stated that he had now received updates from all parties involved and would copy this to Cllr P Tester, with regard to arranging a meeting of the Sub-Committee. ACTION: Clerk.

                        5.2            Civil Protection – Cllr Street reported as follows:-

·                     The generator had been ordered and would be funded jointly from the remaining CP budget and the Parish Office budget, reflecting the joint requirement for its use. The price had been reduced to £539.99, reduced by £60 in lieu of free gifts offered

·                     Mr Glyn Davies, parishioner of Fairwarp had been co-opted onto the Committee

·                     The Emergency Plan was being finalised and the guidance to Parishioners had to be produced

·                     The involvement of the churches would take place once the new Vicar for Fairwarp had been appointed

                        5.3            Communications Team – The Chairman reported that Cllr Leaney was finalising the current version of Parish Matters, to be distributed shortly

                        5.4            Environment & Maintenance – Cllr R Tester stated that the ‘kissing gate’ on the footpath near Londonderry Farm was to be installed imminently. ACTION: Cllr Sparrow to check and report.

Cllr R Tester stated that the two new fingerposts were to be installed imminently by the ESCC Village Maintenance Team. The Chairman stated that it would make a good photo’ opportunity. ACTION: Cllr P Tester to obtain a photo’ if possible.

                        5.5            Finance & Administration

·                     Income/Expenditure to Month 6 (paper) – Cllr Street reported as follows:-–

o                    The second Precept payment had been received from WDC allowing the second tranche of grants to be paid

o                    That overall 35.6% of the budget had been spent so far and that there were no financial issues to report or problems identified

o                    Areas of underspend would be highlighted over the next couple of months

o                    Councillors inputs to the Asset Register were crucial to bring it up to a reasonable level of accuracy. ACTION: All

The Clerk stated that he would be submitting a paper to the next Council meeting concerning meeting the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act

The Clerk stated that the Parish Council had adopted the NALC model ‘Publication Scheme’ in 2003 which satisfied the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and would be valid until 2007, when a new Scheme would have to be adopted.

Council Minutes 19 October 2004                                                             Page 2

·                     Budget/Precept 2005/06

·               Grants/Donations 2005/06

Cllr Street gave a flip-chart presentation comparing the current budget with the first-pass figures produced for 2005/06, outlining main areas of difference, as follows:-

Cllr Street stated that based on the above figures, initial predictions for spending in the current year and assuming reserves are kept at approximately £15K, the level of expenditure for 2005/06 would only increase by 4.1%, and the Precept request for 2005/06 would be £71,990, representing an increase of 27.4% over the Precept for 2004/05. Councillors were asked to think about acceptability of increases in expenditure and Precept for consideration at the next meeting. ACTION: All.

Cllr Street stated that the budget bids from the Strategy Sub-Committee and the Traffic & Transport Committee needed to be more detailed to enable Council to be sure of the best use of public money. ACTION: Chairmen of these Committees  to revisit their bids.

It was noted that there may be grants available for some forecast expenditure in 2005/06, but that these could not be assumed.

                        5.6            Parklands Play Area Sub-Committee – Cllr Gutteridge reported that the equipment screening option was being pursued as a means of ensuring the privacy of Forest Park residents from overlooking, and that the Chairman of the New Parklands Residents Association had stated that WDC had agreed this solution in principle from a Health & Safety viewpoint. Cllr Gutteridge stated that the site had been visited by Martin Garrad, Crime Prevention Design Adviser to Sussex Police, who was happy with the running of the Play Area and the actions of the Sub-Committee in addressing the privacy issues.

                        5.7            Planning – Cllr Ogden stated that representatives from the Old Forge Community Committee had attended the Planning Committee’s meeting on 11^th October 2004 to present a written statement expressing concerns with regard to the proposed Affordable Housing development at this site. Cllr R Tester stated that this Community Committee did not, in fact, represent all of the residents as claimed, and that there were other inaccuracies in their written statement. Cllr Ogden invited Cllr R Tester to the next meeting of the Planning Committee to be held on 25^th October 2004.

Cllr Ogden made the following points concerning Affordable Housing:-

• WDC had some problems in identifying the exact number of dwellings required
• Only the HOPE scheme gives priority  to locals, the 30% of Local Plan housing set aside for Affordable Housing would have a wider allocation
• WDC were prepared to pay up to £20K to purchase building plots

Cllr P Tester informed the meeting that WDC had issued a Notice of the intention to start work on improving the culvert at the ‘sloop’ A22 near Lampool Roundabout.

·         Wealden Local Plan – Discussed later under Item 10.

                        5.8            Policy Committee – Cllr Ms M Thomas stated that the deadline for the response to the WDC Parish Boundary and Electoral review was 31^st October 2004, and that the Policy Committee would use the detailed study conducted by the Parish Council in 1999 as the basis for a response. It was agreed that the final response to WDC should be delegated to the Policy Committee, to be discussed at its meeting to be held on 27^Th October 2004, with all Councillors invited.

Council Minutes 19 October 2004                                                             Page 3

5.9            Strategy Sub-Committee – Cllr Sparrow gave the following updates:-

·                     Youth – Cllr Sparrow had visited the youth ‘bus’ at Fords Green and was awaiting progress reports

·                     Web Site – a working party had been formed to take development of the web site forward

·                     Healthcare – local people were being identified who would be able to meet with Primary Care Trust representatives to discuss local issues

·                     Local Business – producing a local business directory and  ways of promoting business awareness and networking were being considered

·         Elderly – this was an area that needed to be revisited

                        5.10            Traffic & Transport Committee – The Chairman announced that Cllr Woodgate had been elected to replace Cllr Leaney as Chairman of this Committee, following Cllr Leaney’s resignation due to health reasons. As Cllr Woodgate had not attended the previous meeting of the Committee, Cllr P Tester reported the following:-

• The format of the Parish Consultation had been agreed for inclusion in Parish Matters, and only the method of receiving completed forms remained to be resolved
• A budget proposal for 2005/06 had been prepared
• The response to the Local Transport Plan had been sent
• Public Transport  and the sharing of speed detection devices would be agenda items for the next meeting of the Committee, to be held on 10^th November 2004

The Clerk stated that he had received a letter from ESCC indicating that the proposed pavement widening in Nutley High Street would not technically be possible to achieve and that this would also be discussed at the next meeting of the Committee.

6.         Outside bodies’ reports:-

                        6.1            Ford's Green Committee – Cllr P Tester confirmed that FGMC had written to the Parish Council, to point out that the youth ‘bus’ was being parked in a different position to that originally proposed, i.e. next to the play area; this was not a complaint but to point out the potential for accidents or damage

                        6.2            Maresfield Conservation Group – Cllr Gutteridge stated that the last meeting was held on 4^th October 2004, where the following projects were discussed:-

• Upgrade of footpath from S Maresfield to Uckfield
• Cutting of grass in Maresfield Church graveyard
• Traffic problems at the Lodge Maresfield Park
• Speeding in the Straight Half Mile
• New crossing at Batts Bridge Road
• Widening of pavement on School Hill
• Donation to Parklands Play Area
• Improvement of barriers around Maresfield Church
• Special meeting of MCG on 28^th October to consider the Local Development Framework

                        6.3            Maresfield Recreation Ground Committee – no new items for reporting.

Councillor Sparrow reported on Items 6.4 to 6.7 as follows:-

                        6.4            Wealden District Association of Local Councils - Main report from others who attended but note WDALC approved the LSP inspired return of Local Police Forums.  These would be more frequent than those of the Police Authority and be specifically for Wealden parishes.  Representatives from each Parish Council in the area would meet with local police to discuss general policing issues.  There would be one circuit for North Wealden and the other for South with forums held in different villages.

                        6.5            Action in rural Sussex - The Rural Transport Partnership would be exploring users' needs and views on public transport in rural areas.  The Community Rail Partnership officer would also be seeking a meeting with the Parish Council to discuss needs in relation to the Uckfield-Oxted line.  Note new Sunday services continue through the winter.  Free rides on certain Sundays in October/November – go on-line to get tickets.  From December, hourly services direct to London Bridge from Uckfield.

                        6.6            Wealden Local Strategic Partnership - Moving into a more active phase to ensure delivery of currently agreed objectives and strong relationship between local needs and the construction of the Wealden Local Development Framework.

Council Minutes 19 October 2004                                                             Page 4

                        6.7            Sussex Association of Local Councils - The AGM, along with the AirS AGM is on 12 November 2004 at Ardingly.

Note SALC is promoting the return of very local magistrates' courts to deal "overnight" with minor "non-criminal" offences (but would take ages to come about even if approved by NALC).

Also SALC is "campaigning" for better services for the elderly in the county following the ESCC policy of closure of care homes and possible reductions in other services.

·                     Annual General Meeting 12^th November 2004 – It was agreed that Cllr Leaney and Cllr Ogden would be asked to attend.

7.            Chairman's Report – The Chairman stated that a Parishioner had recently expressed concern about Councillors declaring interests at meetings, noting that Councillors had a duty to report other Councillors if they were aware of interests not being declared. The Chairman stated that this was an important area as the Council’s reputation could easily be tarnished, and that advice was available from the Clerk if needed.

The Chairman stated that he would be meeting the Leader of WDC on 10^th November 2004, to discuss issues of poor process and conduct at WDC, concerns which were shared by many experienced Councillors.

The Chairman reported that, following his complaints to Sussex Police, the brothel in Maresfield had been closed down.

8.         Clerk's Report – In addition to his report circulated prior to the meeting, the Clerk stated that he had helped with the Wealden Electric Blanket Testing held at Fairwarp Village Hall on 14^th October 2004, and would be giving a talk at the SALC new Clerks course on 21^st October 2004.

9.            Payments to be made: for approval – These were Approved. The Clerk confirmed that, following the receipt of the second Precept payment from WDC, remaining grants would now be paid.

10.        Local Development Framework – timetable and work programme – The Local Development Framework work programme was reviewed, noting that the Revised Draft Local Plan was first in this programme. The Chairman stated that there would be no public inquiry for the Local Plan, as WDC would have to hold one for the LDF, and that WDC had brought forward the public consultation to November/December 2004, due to an urgent need to formally identify sites for development, prior to the adoption of the LDF. The Chairman stated that the changes in the Local Plan affecting the Parish were for dwellings to be built in Maresfield at Park Farm increased to 100, with access via the bowling club, 10 Affordable Housing dwellings to be built at Hillmead in Nutley, and some modifications to the land identified in Maresfield Park.  

It was agreed that a public meeting would need to be held in Maresfield to obtain Parishioners views, which could be combined with the WDC consultation event if one is scheduled for Maresfield. The Chairman stated that WDC had yet to confirm their consultation venues.

Cllr Ogden stated that a separate WDC consultation event for the Affordable Housing at Hillmead would be held in the Nutley Memorial Hall in November 2004 and that he would notify the exact date once it is known. ACTION: Cllr Ogden.

The Chairman stated that WDC’s LDF development timetable was not known, but it was unlikely to start this work until Summer 2005 as its resources would be employed on Local Plan work until then.

It was agreed that authority for organising and producing the bulk of the Parish Council’s input to the LDF would be delegated to the Chairman and Cllr Ms M Thomas, with all Councillors involved and kept informed. ACTION: Chairman and Cllr Ms M Thomas to speak to Councillors individually regarding their specific input and actions required.

11.        Date of next meeting – 16 November 2004 (Nutley)

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 22:10.