Present:

Cllrs. Crowe (Chairman), Chalmers, Coxon, Dopson (from Item 06/03/08), Downing, Harding, Rogers, Rose, Sheard, Treacher and Warner and Wilkes (from Item 06/03/08).

Also present: PCSO Karen Juniper.

Public :

9. Mr. Desmond Gunner showed two more reflectors that had come of the A272 at Pound Green. Cllr. Crowe said that Cllr. Reid would be advised. Mr. Gunner said that Speedwatch notices were needed. Cllr. Crowe said that she had already raised the subject with Michael Oates at the recent residents meeting but the Council would chase Highways. Mr. Gunner said that the crossing was useless because of parked cars. Cllr. Crowe said that inappropriate parking would be reduced when the new traffic order was introduced.

01/03/08

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies received and accepted from Cllrs. Daniel. Apologies also received from ESCC Cllr. Reid and WDC Cllr. Buck.

02/03/08

DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS.

Cllr. Rose declared a prejudicial interest in Item 6 of the agenda by being an owner of an adjoining property and left the room when the item was discussed.

03/03/08

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Cllr. Sheard proposed and Cllr. Coxon seconded that the minutes of the meeting of 12 February 2008 be accepted and signed. Carried.

04/03/08

ESCC REPORT No report this meeting.

05/03/08

COUNCIL VACANCY BUXTED WARD

Cllr. Crowe proposed and Cllr. Rose seconded that Mrs. Margaret Dopson be co-opted to the Council – agreed. Mrs. Dopson signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took up the Office of Councillor.

06/03/08

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COMMUNITY HALL AND HEALTH CENTRE / DEVELOPMENT OF LAND WEST OF CHURCH ROAD BUXTED

Cllr. Crowe explained the background to the two motions. Although the 2005 Wealden Non Statutory Local Plan had specified 40 houses with parking and business use on the site, WDC had made it clear that if only 40 were now proposed the application would be called in by the Planning Inspectorate as the new PPS3 demanded a higher housing density. Additionally WDC was being pressed to achieve faster delivery of housing and, although LDF Issues and Options proposals for Buxted was for 120 houses, the South East Plan had not yet been finalised and GOSE now required a significantly greater number of houses in Wealden than had initially been anticipated. WDC was also asking the Council to indicate which were the preferred sites for the new housing in Buxted. The Council was in negotiation with WDC and it was clear that if the Council was not willing to negotiate then numbers and sites would simply be imposed. If small developments were added piecemeal then there would be no community gain whereas larger developments would attract both infrastructure and community gain and avoid the proliferation of new housing and opening up of further greenfield sites more at the behest of developers/landowners desire than considering focused sustainable development. The proposed motions would allow the Council’s LDF group to continue negotiation with both the developers and WDC for the benefit of the whole community. Cllrs. discussed the position and suggested amendments to the wording of the motions. It was confirmed that any planning application for the site, as well as the next Wealden LDF proposals, would be the subject of full public consultation.

Cllr. Crowe proposed and Cllr. Warner seconded the first motion:

1. Buxted Parish Council agrees to support the efforts to facilitate a co-joined development on the Ionides site to accommodate not only a new Parish Community Hall (and storage etc) but also importantly a much needed new health centre facility alongside it to enjoy the synergistic benefits not least with shared accommodation for example used in health clinics, crèche areas, social meeting place and parking – while enabling better use of the land for the community as part of a broader strategic development accommodating the children’s playground, Scout facilities, rifle club and other as yet to be defined facilities to benefit the community  - including we would hope the linkage through to the wider Recreation Ground area. Motion agreed.

Cllr. Crowe proposed and Cllr. Sheard proposed the second motion:

2. Buxted Parish Council agrees to work with WDC and other parties on the potential enhanced development of the land west of Church Rd within the NSLP period and to strategically consider onward development up to the track opposite the electricity sub station, with a buffer zone to the south to protect the sensitive & visible site, within the longer term LDF process to ensure focused and sustainable development in the village to better meet the needs of the local community with a sense of place within a rejuvenated core of the village. Motion agreed.

Standing Orders were briefly suspended to allow PCSO Karen Juniper to address the meeting. PCSO Juniper said that three garages had been entered in Buxted and some items had been stolen from them. She asked residents to be aware and to check garages and sheds regularly. Any residents would be welcome to contact her for crime prevention advice. She will put an article on BPEC. Cllr. Downing asked if there any leads about the damage to the house and car in Gordon Road. PCSO Juniper said there hadn’t been any developments as far as she knew, but she would check and also contact the householder.

07/03/08

PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER No update this meeting.

08/03/08

OUTSTANDING MATTERS

Item 1 Parish Plan:

PP/ Action 1.  Youth Council: Cllr. Warner reported that two members of Next Step had attended the Youth Leadership Course at Hindleap Warren and had received their certificates. Eight young people had come to the drama workshop in half term and they would consider arranging a further workshop. The fashion show was arranged for 2 June 2008 and clothes would be available for sale. Tickets were £5 and would be for sale at Five Ash Down Post Office. A grant of £442.10 for the High Hurstwood basket ball post had been received from the Youth Opportunity Fund.

PP/ Action 3. Public Footpaths: Nothing to report.

PP/ Action 6. New Parish Hall: Cllr. Crowe reported that there was to be a meeting about the new hall and GPs surgery on 19 March 2008 with the Ionides Trustees, Ryhurst, the PCT, a GP from the practice and WDC. More detailed work would follow. Cllr. Rose said because of a conflict of interest he would stand down as a Council representative on the Trustees with immediate effect. Cllr. Rose proposed and Cllr. Chalmers seconded that Cllr. Warner be the new Council representative on the Ionides Memorial Committee – agreed.

Item 2 Road Safety: Cllr. Crowe said that the Buxted Traffic Order had not yet been issued but that it would be shortly. Cllr. Crowe reported that 56 cars had been caught speeding on the previous Saturday by the Buxted Speedwatch team and 16 cars had been caught speeding over 46 mph on the Saturday before. One company’s vehicles had been caught speeding more than once and the Police were now talking to the company. PC Paul Stephens was doing an audit and would provide some statistics. He would also be reviewing the sites. The Buxted Speedwatch team now had access to two cameras. There would be a training session for the new volunteers on 15 March; Cllr. Crowe, the Clerk and Colin Mills as volunteer coordinator would attend. Any other Cllrs. would be welcome. Some High Hurstwood residents had expressed an interest in Speedwatch and if any Five Ash Down residents wanted to be involved they would be welcome.

Item 3 Grampian site FAD: Cllr. Crowe reported that Ward Homes, part of Barratt Homes, had bought the site and that a meeting had been arranged with them for a preliminary discussion on March 18th. Dominic Lawson had been retained by Barchester Care Homes for the care home; ESCC was not now involved. The care home was to provide full nursing care. A meeting with Barchester Care Homes would be arranged for April.

Item 4 Land west of Church Road Buxted: Covered above.

Item 5 South East Plan: Nothing to report

Item 6 Wealden LDF: Nothing to report.

Item 7 Emergency Plan: The Clerk asked Cllrs to reply to George Claydon about people with chainsaws, tractors, etc.

Item 8 Property Issues: The Clerk reported that a quote (Correspondence item P6 below) had been received for the Nevill Road fencing job. Cllr. Chalmers proposed and Cllr. Rogers seconded that the quote of £1,861 be accepted – agreed. The Clerk to write.

Item 9 Clerk recruitment: SALC had sent out 47 application packs and had so far received 17 applications. The applications were now awaited.

09/03/08

CORRESPONDENCE

The various items were noted as follows:

Item P3 Mr. G Allt Campaign material CARP EU Treaty polls: noted.

Item P7 Ashdown Forest Villages Road Safety Partnership SID day 23 April 2008: the Council would not participate on this occasion – the Clerk to reply.

Items P8 Walk in the Woods initiative request for grant : Cllr. Treacher proposed and Cllr. Rose seconded that a grant of £60 be awarded to assist HH school participation – agreed. The Clerk to respond.

10/03/08

COMMITTEE MEETINGS No meetings this month.

11/03/08

FINANCE

Cllr. Wilkes gave an overview of the month’s accounts and noted that the reserves were in a healthy state. Cllr. Wilkes proposed and Cllr. Rose seconded that cheques 418 to 430 drawn on the current account totalling £5,107.47 including voucher charges be authorised for payment - Carried. The month’s bank statements were verified against the bank reconciliations.

12/03/08

OTHER MEETINGS

Cllr. Chalmers reported that he had attended the recent WDC Planning Conference. David Phillips made the point that WDC was under pressure to deliver housing. A representative from Highways had discussed contributions. There was also a session on LDF online consultation. The Clerk reported that he had re-registered on the LDF website. Cllr. Crowe reported that she and Cllr. Daniel had attended the first meeting of the Buxted Residents Action Group. The meeting had been organised by a WDC Housing Manager and there were a good number of WDC tenants from both Buxted and High Hurstwood at the meeting. The Council was already dealing with many of the issues raised. Michael Oates from Highways and ESCC Cllr. Locke attended the first two meetings. A resident’s traffic group had been formed and they will probably help with the disabled access audit. A bus service had been re-routed through Buxted providing more bus connections. The group aims to contact supermarkets about transport services. There was a discussion about Easylink, the service may be extended; Cllr. Downing was willing to work with the group on this. Though there was informal car sharing in Buxted, it had not reached Buxted Court. Cllr. Locke said that ESCC was spending some £30M on bus services and it aimed to work with Parish Councils to identify where community services should go.

13/03/08

MEMBERS QUESTIONS.

Cllr. Downing noted that 2008 was the 100^th anniversary of the Reading Room and thought an article should go in the newsletter – Cllr. Crowe suggested that Cllr. Downing discuss it with Cllr. Daniel. Cllr. Rose said that he had had a contact with the company who owned the vehicle that had got stuck under the railway bridge. The agency driver had ignored warnings and, it was understood, was to be prosecuted.

14/03/08

ANNOUNCEMENTS No announcements this meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.45 p.m.

Signed:                                                    Chairman                                                 

Date: