Present:

Cllrs. Warner (Chairman), Chalmers, Coxon, Daniel, Dopson, Downing, Harding and Treacher.

Also present: ESCC Cllr. Reid, Mr. C M Reed Clerk, Miss R Macklen Clerk elect.

Public :

2. Mr. Tony Wright thanked the Council for its support over Hollymount. Mr. Wright prefaced his next remarks by mentioning emails and his lack of use of the internet; he said that he understood that the Council was seeking a contribution from the Grampian site developer for a new hall in Buxted. He thought that any money should go to the Five Ash Down as the community had suffered from the Grampian factory for many years. He thought that the Council shouldn’t take that decision without a referendum. Mrs. Robertson also thought that there ought to be a referendum.  Mr. Wright said that if Buxted wanted a new hall they should raise the money as had been done in the past by the High Hurstwood community. Cllr. Warner said that Five Ash Down already had a hall and there no room for expansion. The new hall was being proposed as a facility for the whole Parish community not just Buxted village.

01/06/08

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies received and accepted from Cllrs. Crowe, Rose, Sheard and Wilkes. Apologies also received from WDC Cllr. Buck.

02/06/08

DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS.

Cllrs. Chalmers, Coxon and Warner declared personal interests in any matters concerning Land west of Church Road or the Basil Ionides Memorial Centre by being members of the Ionides Memorial Trust appointed by the Council.

03/06/08

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Cllr. Daniel proposed and Cllr. Treacher seconded that the minutes of the meeting of 13 May 2008 be accepted and signed. Carried.

04/06/08

ESCC REPORT

ESCC Cllr. Read said that this year’s budget allowed for a modest additional spend and County was looking to make that spend in the Highways area; some more roads maintenance was now possible and they were looking to put funding into community transport, probably by Parishes joining together to fund schemes. There had been the first corporate wide meeting on climate change, it was recognised that the issues needed to be addressed through strategy. There was not only the need to reduce CO2 emissions but to look at mitigation and adaptation to changes. He was not sure that climate change was the right word for the approach it was more about sustainability. The County were looking to engage the whole community on this. There was a Cabinet meeting tomorrow and he would like to hear what two things would be the Council’s priorities. Cllr. Treacher said she would like a 30 mph limit in High Hurstwood. Cllr. Daniel said that she would like to see better rural community transport in the County. Cllr. Coxon said that if there was better public transport people might use less fuel. Perhaps that could be reflected in the amounts of Council Tax charged. He thought that the high world population was a cause of some of the problems. Cllr. Warner said that she would like to see discounted fares for rural transport. Cllr. Downing said that having community transport to collect train passengers around Uckfield would reduce car use.

05/06/08

PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Cllr. Daniel said that the next edition was nearly there; she needed to discuss some articles with Cllr. Crowe. The edition would focus on the developments on the Grampian site and at Buxted. There would also be a Chairman’s message and a welcome to the new people. Also there would be articles on the Design Guide, Next Step, Cllr. Downing in the ‘meet your Councillor’ feature, parking and Speedwatch, the Emergency Plan, volunteers for footpaths, Schools updates plus dates & contact details.

06/07/08

OUTSTANDING MATTERS

Item 1 Parish Plan:

PP/ Action 1.  Youth Council: Cllr. Warner reported that 10 members had attended the last meeting. There was a session on social networking, an application had been made for a small grant from the PCT – it was for a health related project. There had been a new member from High Hurstwood. Tim Laughton was to be invited to a future meeting. The group was very aware of environmental issues.

PP/ Action 3. Public Footpaths: Cllr. Treacher raised the issue of the Church drive at High Hurstwood. There had been a site meeting earlier today. Although the drive is a private drive Ian Johnson had discovered that it was also a footpath. A ‘no through road’ sign had been ordered. She disagreed with the Highways ruling that there couldn’t be a sign on Highways land. Cllr. Coxon said that he had received an email from a Britts Farm resident about fencing at their property which adjoined a public footpath; he would send to Cllr. Daniel and the Clerk.

Item 2 Road Safety: Nothing to report.

Item 3 Grampian site FAD: Mr. Wright’s views were discussed. It was agreed that they be referred to Cllr. Crowe and that a communication in Community Voice be considered.

Item 4 Land west of Church Road / new Parish Hall & health centre: The Clerk reported that Rydons had written to Cllr. Crowe to the effect that they were not intending to make a contribution towards a new community hall. Cllr. Crowe had referred the matter to David Phillips.

Item 5 South East Plan: Nothing to report

Item 6 Wealden LDF: The Clerk reported that Miss Macklen was working on the input to the LDF about Parish Plan priorities.

Item 7 Emergency Plan: Cllr. Coxon said that he would finalise the document.

Item 8 Property Issues: The Clerk suggested that now that the Nevill Road fence work had been satisfactorily completed by the contractor and, given the difficulty of finding contractors to tender for larger fencing contracts, that perhaps the same contractor be used for the Buxted allotment work. After discussion the Council referred the matter to the Property & Recreation Grounds Committee to consider.

Item 9 McQuillen memorial: Cllr. Treacher said that the High Hurstwood Village Hall Committee was seeking a quote for the indemnity insurance. Two benches had been acquired already. A Council contribution of £1,000 had been suggested.

07/06/08

CORRESPONDENCE

The various items were noted as follows:

Item P5 ESCC Invitation to Emergency Planning Conference 28 October 2008: Cllr. Daniel will attend with Mr. George Claydon – the Clerk to book.

Item P7 AirS Invitation to Sussex Affordable Housing event on 25 September 2008: Cllr. Daniel will attend – the Clerk to book.

Item P9 Buxted Football Club planning application/ request of contribution: referred to the Property & Recreation Grounds Committee.

Item P10 Buxted Football Club request to extend bar opening at event: request had been refused. Cllrs. observed that there had been no reports of disturbance.

Item P11 Mr. R McDonnell request for the Council to install new perimeter fencing at Buxted allotment site: referred to the Property & Recreation Grounds Committee.

Item P13 SEERA South East Regional Sustainability Framework: the Clerk said that he would give the hard copy of the pack to Cllr. Crow.

Item P14 WDC Home Energy Efficiency Officer: Mr John Proctor to be invited to attend either the September or October 2008 PC meeting – the Clerk to write

Item P15 Buxted Football Club request to hire ground for 2008/09 season: request granted – the Clerk to write

Items S11 WDC application WD/2008/0574/F for Oast View FAD: Cllr. Harding reported that he had attended the DCN meeting together with Mrs. J Best and had spoken against the application. Neither of them had been impressed with DCN’s approach and Mrs. Best was considering further action.

08/06/08

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

No meetings this month.

09/06/08

FINANCE

The Clerk gave an overview of the monthly accounts.  Cllr. Coxon proposed and Cllr. Downing seconded that cheques 458 to 474 drawn on the current account totalling £10,964.25 including voucher charges be authorised for payment - Carried. The month’s bank statements were verified against the bank reconciliations.

The Council discussed and noted the Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2008 which had been previously sent to members. The Clerk reported that the Internal Auditor, Mr. John Moffat, had completed the annual internal audit of the Annual Accounts and would now be considering the Annual Return which was currently in preparation.

Cllr. Warner said that at the recent SALC training course it had been explained that it was intended that Section 137 payments would be replaced, at a date to be announced, with the Power of Well Being which would give Council the power for unlimited expenditure. Councillors and Clerks would be given training.

10/06/08

OTHER MEETINGS

Cllr. Downing reported that she had attended an Uckfield Railway meeting. The proposed temporary parking at Uckfield was discussed again with the same issues raised – whether or not the access was adequate and that BRB wanted to charge a commercial rent. Mr. James the preferred developer said that there may be better news in the autumn when the Uckfield Town Plan was produced. There had been no one from Southern or Network Rail in at the meeting. They would try for one more meeting with Southern & Network Rail in attendance. The Uckfield to Lewes Line Study may help the situation when that was published. Cllr. Reid said that there was a need for a temporary arrangement in the meantime. Cllr. Downing said that she really did not understand why BRB were so reluctant.

Cllr. Chalmers reported that he had attended an Ouse Catchment Area meeting. A report had been produced that referred to the problem of the bridge at the White Hart with only one culvert. The whole country was to be reviewed.

Cllr. Chalmers said that there had been an Ionides Memorial Centre meeting. There had not been much progress as no plan had been received from the developers yet. He had attended a meeting at the surgery with the PCT in attendance about the specification for the new surgery. The Charity Commission said that the Trust was obliged to maximise the take for the site. A lump sum payment was possible rather than rental. The Trust had discussed the engagement of a solicitor and he had spoken to James Lench of Rix & Kay. He had pointed out that there might be a conflict of interest if the Council also engaged Rix & Kay but had understood that that could be resolved.

Cllr. Treacher reported that she had attended a High Hurstwood School curriculum meeting. The meeting had considered a revision to sex education policies and also the policy relating to out of school activities.

Cllr. Warner said that she had attended a meeting of Maypole Cottages residents to consider the parking issues and some good suggestions had been made. There were 7 largely unused garages and WDC were looking at the possibility of clearing them to provide more parking space and would also look at the area in front of the flats. Cllr. Buck was involved as was David Gibson of WDC.  Cllr. Treacher said that she had heard that someone had contacted the Fire Brigade as they had been concerned about the access for emergency vehicles. The Fire Brigade would like to attend should a further meeting be arranged.

Cllr. Warner had attended a finance meeting at Buxted School when they had considered the introduction of the audit regime.

11/06/08

MEMBERS QUESTIONS

Cllr. Downing asked if there had been any progress on the affordable housing in Gordon Road. The Clerk replied that there had been no recent progress.

Cllr. Harding asked about the charges for Five Ash Down hall for the Ward Homes exhibition. The Clerk suggested that Cllr. Harding requests Mrs. Dennison to prepare an invoice for Ward Homes and to include charges for refreshments as well has hall rental.

Cllr. Treacher reminded members that the High Hurstwood fete was on 14 June 2008. Cllr. Chalmers noted that Hadlow Down fete was on the same day.

12/06/08

ANNOUNCEMENTS

No announcements this meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.20 p.m.

Signed:                                                    Chairman                                                 

Date: