Minutes of the Maresfield Parish Council Strategy Sub-Committee meeting held on Thursday 29 July 2004 at 7.00pm in the Parish Office

Present:                      Cllr Hanno Fry

                                    Cllr John Gutteridge

                                    Cllr Tim Sparrow (Chair)

                                    Cllr Peter Tester

                                    Mr Andrew Wallace

                                    Mr Tony Allen (Clerk)

Apologies                    Cllr William King

Mr Andrew Wallace was warmly welcomed to his first meeting and thanked for offering his help to this busy sub-Committee.

4.1       Youth

            4.1.1            Full reports received from AirS but not yet fully read and understood             so held over until next meeting.

4.1.2            As a result of our earlier work and AirS work, approach from Uckfield Youth Services Officer, Jack Sefton, to provide youth bus in 'Maresfield' in September.  Idea welcomed and agreed that Cllr Sparrow contacts Mr Sefton and makes arrangements subject to:

·        how often?

·        for what period?

·        which (all) villages?

·        how much?

·        how to test/assess value?

·        what happens at end of pilot?

·        who runs it?

·        what's on offer in bus?

·        what re-communication required, by whom, etc.?

4.2            Information

4.2.1            Website.  Agreed that Cllr Fry continues to lead.  He will check out local contacts.  Cllr P Tester will review websites and send good examples to Cllr Fry.  Agreed that once some sites have been checked then a working meeting will be arranged (including Cllr King) to draw up basic brief.  ESSENTIAL to do this before following up offer to help build.

4.2.2            Distribution of Parish Matters.  Being attended to by Communication Team and F&A Committee.

            4.2.3            Welcome pack.  Probably not worth following up but:

4.2.4            Directory of clubs, societies and contacts.  Agreed to get first rough drafts drawn up to 'test' market in next edition of Parish Matters – is your club, etc. here, if not please send details.  Cllr Sparrow to ask Beryl Easton for Nutley draft list and Cllr Gutteridge to ask Barbara Isitt (Maresfield) and Sue Bergen-Gander (Fairwarp).

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4.3            Medical services

Agreed that there probably is a need for better services.  Two aspects (a) doctors, (b) other medical support services (particularly mums with babies and the elderly).  Agreed that Cllr Sparrow makes first contact with Chief Executive of Primary Healthcare Trust to see what is on offer, in the pipeline, etc. for our Parish and to enquire how we best assess need (if they haven't done it).  Then, agreed that we must identify a local champion to follow this one through.

4.4            Public/local transport

Agreed that the T&T Committee should have this as a priority (and them to ask Council should they need resources).  Basic aim is to:

1.            provide clear information for all Parishioners as to current services

2.            review how better to provide for need (including therefore assessing need)

3.            push for that provision via District/County (including Rural Transport Partnership and Community Rail Partnership) and wider.  Be prepared to provide some finance and do something locally.

Also agreed to follow up Fairwarp Community Bus provision and search for new driver(s).  (Who will do this?).

 Cllr Tester agreed to search current timetables and draw up current Parish transport provision and timetables note (bus, train, taxi, dial-a-ride, community bus, etc.).

4.5       Tidy roads

Basically an E&M responsibility (remind them to ask for grass cutting "by length"!).  Litter drives to be more fully supported by Parish Council please (but no work alongside A22 – safety hazard).  Cllr Sparrow will write (via Clerk) to the Nutley Horticultural Society and Maresfield Conservation Society (and Fairwarp Village Hall?) to suggest they think about ways of improving odd corners and consult Parish Council about help.

4.6       Local business

            Agreed that the Parish Council should:

            (a)            be supportive of the businesses

            (b)            encourage their use by parishioners, particularly the shops/post offices.

In return Parish Council can then make suggestions to businesses if parishioners raise points about service provision and delivery.

Agreed that second directory of local businesses/services should be drawn up and published.  First draft in Parish Matters in September.  Cllr King to be asked to help with first draft, following his successful business event in Nutley Church.

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4.7       Other issues

4.7.1        Need to have some understanding of priority of the various issues listed . Cllr Sparrow to check original survey results.

            4.7.2            Need to review all the various services the Parish:

                        (a)             could offer (i.e. full scope of a Parish's options)

                        (b)             wants to offer

following achievement of Quality Parish status.  Finance must follow Function if Parish takes over service provision from another authority.

5.0            Consultation

Agreed to include Youth and Business in next Parish Matters.  Cllr Sparrow to draft.

6.0       Other points

6.1            Obviously as soon as the website is available more rapid and updated consultation can occur.

6.2            There are a number of cross issue points to be developed, often involving transport, e.g. youth need better transport provision to get to/from out of parish activities; medical services could be provided on a mobile basis; improved local businesses could help to reduce the need to travel to other centres, etc., etc.

7.0       Next meeting

            Monday 20 September 2004 at 7.00pm in Parish Office.