Present:

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

Public :

3.

02/05/08

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE FORTHCOMING YEAR

Cllr. Coxon, in the absence of Cllr. Crowe the retiring Chairman, conducted the election. Cllr. Coxon proposed and Cllr. Chalmers seconded that Cllr. Crowe be elected Chairman of the Council. The Clerk reported that Cllr. Crowe had indicated her willingness to accept the Office if elected. The motion was carried.

03/05/08

SIGNING OF DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE BY THE NEW CHAIRMAN

The Clerk to arrange for Cllr. Crowe to sign the declaration on 14 May 2008.

04/05/08

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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

05/05/08

DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS.

None this meeting.

06/05/08

ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL

Cllr.  Sheard proposed and Cllr. Downing seconded that Cllr. Warner be elected as Vice Chairman of the Council. Cllr. Warner indicated that she was willing to accept the Office. The motion was carried.  

The Council passed a vote of thanks to Cllr. Coxon for his past contributions as Vice Chairman.

07/05/08

ELECTION/ APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND OTHER BODIES AND TO AGREE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Elections and appointments were made as indicated on the associated list.

08/05/08

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Cllr. Sheard proposed and Cllr. Chalmers seconded that the minutes of the meeting of 8 April 2008 be accepted and signed. Carried.

09/05/08

ESCC REPORT

No report this meeting.

10/05/08

PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Cllr. Daniel said that she was aiming for publication of the next edition by the end of May 2008.

11/05/08

OUTSTANDING MATTERS

Item 1 Parish Plan:

PP/ Action 1.  Youth Council: Cllr. Warner reported that this was a quiet period for the Youth Council as it was the exam season. Sam Pearson of the Youth Council had attended a meeting of the Ionides memorial Centre Committee.

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

Item 2 Road Safety: Nothing to report.

Item 3 Grampian site FAD: The Clerk reported that there had been a further meeting with Barchester Healthcare on 8 May 2008 which had been constructive. A further meeting was due to be arranged with Ward Homes.

Item 4 Land west of Church Road / new Parish Hall & health centre: Cllr. Chalmers said that he had attended a meeting earlier in the day with the GPs, the PCT, Cllr. Buck and Ryhurst. Ryhurst will now be developing the design for the new surgery.

Item 5 South East Plan: Nothing to report

Item 6 Wealden LDF: Nothing to report.

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

Item 8 Property Issues: Nothing to report.

Item 9 Clerk recruitment: It was agreed that this item should now be removed.

12/05/08

CORRESPONDENCE

The various items were noted as follows:

Item P2 Cllr. Treacher / McQuillen memorial update: Cllr. Treacher said that she had attended the site meeting the previous day. The proposal was for a paved area, 3 benches, a small table, two planters & low fencing. ESCC wanted a £10M indemnity insurance taking out as the site was Highways land. The total cost was estimated as £6,000. The High Hurstwood Village Hall Committee was willing to make a contribution and to do fund raising. The Council would also be asked for a contribution. The proposal was discussed and some concerns were expressed about safety as the site on the corner of the road and the risk of misuse by customers of the Maypole Inn. The Council agreed to put the subject on Outstanding Matters.

Item P6 WDC Invitation to Housing Summit 3 June 2008: Members to contact Clerk if they wished to attend.

Items S5, S6, S23 and S24 were discussed and noted.

13/05/08

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

No meetings this month.

14/05/08

FINANCE

Cllr. Wilkes gave an overview of the monthly accounts and observed that 50% of the precept had now been received.  Cllr. Wilkes proposed and Cllr. Warner seconded that cheques 446 to 457 drawn on the current account totalling £6,895.50 including voucher charges be authorised for payment - Carried. The Clerk said that confirmation from the Bank of this months voucher charge was still awaited. The month’s bank statements were verified against the bank reconciliations.

The purchase of a new computer for the new Clerk was discussed and the four specifications and estimates were considered. Cllr. Coxon said he would also review the estimates and feedback to Cllrs. Cllr. Wilkes proposed and Cllr. Daniel seconded that expenditure of up to £2,000 be authorised and authority to complete the selection and purchase be delegated to the Chairman of the Council – agreed.

15/05/08

OTHER MEETINGS

Cllr. Downing reported that she had attended a Buxted & High Hurstwood Action Group meeting on the previous day. The parking problems in High Hurstwood had been discussed. Cllr. Warner said that a High Hurstwood Ward meeting had been arranged to discuss the issues. Cllr. Downing said that the Group had also discussed the Buxted Court verges (already raised with Highways) and their intension to conduct surveys in both localities about transport – they hoped that Morrison’s might finance a bus. The Group would also consider arranging community activities; whist drives for example. Cllr. Downing said she would continue to attend the Group’s meetings. It appeared that not all residents of Buxted Court had been receiving copies of Community Voice. Cllrs. Coxon and Warner will prepare an updated Parish mailing list.

Cllr. Treacher reported that she had attended a High Hurstwood School Governors meeting. The school roll had now risen to 100. Meetings were taking place on the Phase 2 works and parents were fund raising for the contents of the new building.

Cllr. Daniel reported that she had attended a Buxted Park Grounds meeting with Cllr. Sheard. Topics discussed included bracken removal, fencing, grazing, access, vandalism and deer. The Hotel has an English Heritage grant for work on the grounds and wanted to  involve community groups. They would involve Next Step and Uckfield Youth Council. They were interested in communication and will input into Community Voice. They were considering creating a ‘Friends of Buxted Park’.

Cllr. Chalmers reported that he had attended a Basil Ionides Memorial Centre Committee meeting; preparations were in hand for the Buxted Fete on 19 July 2008. The surgery project was discussed and a response would be made to the Council. The design was to be drawn up – the Committee needs to be involved. The Charity Committee says that subject to conditions the land could be let for the surgery but that it must be under commercial terms. The Committee will approach the District Valuer as a first step. The Committee had discussed the potential lease arrangements and a possible lump sum.

Cllr. Sheard reported that he had attended a three tier meeting about the land west of Church Road site. All parties thought a signalised junction was feasible. Cllr. Chalmers said that there would need to be an access route to the new surgery. Cllr. Downing said that it would be good to be able to have a better access from the Ionides site through to the Recreation Ground. Cllr. Chalmers said that should the Committee decide to go ahead with the lease there would need to be a public meeting. Cllr. Coxon said that the plans drawn up earlier for the new Parish Community Hall were very attractive.

16/05/08

MEMBERS QUESTIONS.

Cllr. Harding asked if the Oast View Five Ash Down application had been considered by the DCN yet. The Clerk replied that it hadn’t yet been scheduled but that he would advise Cllr. Harding of any news. Cllr. Warner said that there would be a High Hurstwood Ward meeting next week with residents to consider the Maypole Cottages parking issues. Cllr. Treacher asked if the Council might be willing to contribute to the cost of providing a parking area but other Cllrs. were concerned that it would make an unsustainable precedent. Cllr. Wilkes suggested that the matter would be best considered after the meeting had taken place.

Cllr. Downing asked when the damage to verges in Church Road be dealt with. The Clerk replied that Highways were due to consider once the Buxted Traffic Order scheme was due for implementation.

17/05/08

ANNOUNCEMENTS

No announcements this meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.20 p.m.

Signed:                                                    Chairman                                                  

Date:

Role

2008/09

1

Chairman of the Council

Cllr. Crowe

2

Vice Chairman

Cllr. Warner

3

Planning Committee

Cllrs. Sheard (Chairman), Coxon (Vice Chairman), Chalmers, Dopson, Harding, Rose.

Co-opted for LDF working party: Mr. P Bowdery

4

Finance & Policy Committee

Cllrs. Wilkes (Chairman), Dopson, Downing, Rose.

5

Recreation Grounds & Properties Committee

Cllrs. Chalmers (Chairman), Downing, Rose, Treacher,

Co-opted Mrs. E Smith.

6

Environment Committee

Cllrs. Daniel (Chairman), Harding, Treacher, Warner, Wilkes.

7

Community & Communications Committee

Cllrs. Daniel (Chairman & ‘Community Voice’ , Chalmers, Coxon (website), Harding, Warner (Youth Council)

8

Ward Chairman Buxted

Cllr. Downing

9

Ward Chairman High Hurstwood

Cllr. Warner

10

Parish Tree Warden

Cllr. Crowe

11

School Governor Buxted

Cllr. Warner

12

School Governor High Hurstwood

Cllr. Treacher

13

Wealden Association of Local Councils (1 or 2 representatives)

Cllr. Chalmers, Rose

14

Police Liaison Officer

Cllr. Rose

15

Uckfield Rail Line Parishes Committee

Cllrs. Downing, Sheard

16

ESCC Transport Liaison Committee

Cllr. Downing

17

High Hurstwood Village Hall Management Committee

Cllr. Treacher

18

Five Ash Down Village Hall Management Committee (2 representative members)

1. Cllr. Dopson

2. Cllr. Harding

19

Buxted Almshouse Charity

Cllr. Wilkes

20

Buxted Pavilion Charity Management Committee

Cllr. Rose

21

Basil Ionides Memorial Centre Management Committee (3 nominated members)

Cllr. Chalmers, Coxon, Warner

22

Buxted United Charity

(Chairman + 1 other Trustee)

Cllr. Crowe, Chalmers

Area

2008/09

Buxted

1

Gordon Road, Framfield Road, Tanyards Cottages

Cllr. Chalmers

2

Etchingwood, Limes Lane, Shepherds Hill, Nan Tucks Lane

Cllr. Crowe

3

High Street - west, Station Road, Britts Farm and Orchard, Littlewood Lane

Cllr. Coxon

4

Church Road, Park View, Nursery Field, St. Mary’s Garth, St. Mary’s Mead

Cllr. Downing

5

High Street - east, Eight Bells Close, Plovers Barrow, St. Raphaels

Cllr. Wilkes, Coxon

6

Pound Green, Spotted Cow Lane, Redbrook Lane, Howbourne Lane

Cllr. Coxon

Five Ash Down & Coopers Green

7

Coopers Green - east of traffic lights, Lephams Bridge, Budletts, Ringles Cross, Buxted Park

Cllr. Dopson

8

Five Ash Down, Coopers Green – west of traffic lights, Millwood Lane and Close, Donkey Lane

Cllr. Harding

High Hurstwood

9

Fowley Lane, Hurstwood Road HH  & Hurstwood Road Buxted

Cllr. Warner

10

Burnt Oak Road

High Hurstwood Ward Cllrs.

11

Perrymans Lane, Herons Ghyll, Chillies Lane, Poundgate

Cllr. Sheard

12

Royal Oak Lane, Maypole Cottages, Cherry Garden Cottages

Cllr. Treacher

13

Rocks Lane

High Hurstwood Ward Cllrs.