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Minutes of Thakeham Annual Parish Council Meeting - Monday, 15th May 2006 Meeting opened: 7.35 p.m. Present: Mr D Berry Mr J Bearman Ms K Dawes Mrs C Goring Mr A Harwood Mr D MacEachern Mrs P Maggs Rev P Messenger Mr R Walker In attendance Cllr David Jenkins District Council Mr J Denman Clerk to the Council Members of the public 78. Election of Chairman Cllr Berry was re-elected to the Chair of the Parish Council. 79. Chairman's Declaration of Office Cllr Berry made a Declaration of Acceptance of Office in the prescribed form. 80. Election of Vice-Chairman Cllr Goring was re-elected as Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council. 81. Apologies for absence Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllrs Hardisty and Prince. 82. Interests of Members No interests were declared. 83. Register of Members' Interests Member's Declaration in the prescribed form was distributed, to be completed and returned to the clerk by 31st May. 84. Appointment of Planning Committee 84.1 The following were re-appointed to the Planning Committee: Cllrs Dawes, Hardisty, MacEachern, Maggs and Messenger. 84.2 It was agreed that the Planning Committee could continue with a membership of 7 that included the Chairman and Vice-Chairman as ex officio members. 85. Appointment of Open Spaces Committee The following were re-appointed to the Open Spaces Committee: Cllrs Harwood, Maggs, Messenger and Prince, together with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman as ex officio members. 86. Designation of Duties to Councillors Sport, Leisure and Communications: Cllr Hardisty Police: Cllr Bearman Health: Cllrs Maggs and Messenger Tree Warden: Cllr Prince Footpath Warden: Cllr Prince Highways and Transport: Cllr Walker Village Hall: Cllr Messenger Youth: Cllr MacEachern 87. Annual Subscriptions It was agreed that annual subscriptions be renewed as follows: •87.1 Horsham Association of Local Councils (HALC): to be renewed May 2006 at £15.00 •87.2 Sussex Associations of Local Councils (SALC): last renewed April 2006 at £264.00 •87.3 CPRE: last renewed September 2005 at £25.00 •87.4 Action in rural Sussex: last renewed February 2006 at £40.00 •87.5 Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC): last renewed December 2005 at £108.00 •87.6 Federation of Sussex Amenity Societies: last renewed February 2005 at £7.50 88. Appointment of representatives to the Horsham Association of Local Councils Cllrs Bearman and Prince were appointed. 89. Appointment of representatives to the South Horsham County Local Committee Cllrs Berry and Goring were appointed. 90. Inspection of deeds and trust instruments in the custody of the Council 90.1 The following were produced by the Clerk: 90.1.1 Land certificate for the High Bar Lane playground. 90.1.2 Land certificate for a small area of land at Linfield Copse. 90.1.3 Licence agreement for the Parish Office with Heveco Mushrooms Ltd dated 1st March 2004.
90.2 The following documents were held for the Parish Council by Stuckey Carr & Co., Solicitors: 90.2.1 Conveyance and Trust Deed dated 12 October 1979 and made between Henry Bernard Marslen and Margaret Constance Denyer (1) and The Parish Council of Thakeham (2). This is a Conveyence of the freehold of the land where the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall stands and it also contains the Declaration of Trust in relation to The Village Hall, and 90.2.2 Lease dated 12 May 1989 made between Thakeham Parish Council (1) and the Trustees of the Pulborough Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (2).
90.3 Copies of the leases of the Village Hall and Kingdom Hall are held at the Parish Office. 91. Minutes of the last meeting Minutes of the last meeting of the Parish Council held on 11th April 2006 were approved and signed.
92. Matters Arising 92.1 (73.2) Thakeham Tiles / TPO: Cllrs Berry and Prince to visit, clerk to obtain copy of TPO if deemed necessary.
92.2 (47.5) School tree surgery: Clerk to seek procedural clarification from HDC.
92.3 (54) Village clean-up day: Cllr Berry expressed thanks to all who participated, an extensive area was covered and 37 bags were collected.
93. Correspondence HDC: Summons to Development Control (South) Committee meeting 20th April with minutes of 21st March. Summons to Development Control (South) Committee meeting 16th May with minutes of 20th April. Summons to Standards Committee meeting 26th April with minutes of 18th January. Invitation to Local Development and Transport Advisory Group meeting 3rd May with notes of last meeting 28th March. Community Transport Strategy - Consultation Draft, previously forwarded to Cllr Walker. Community Partnership - Priority Projects, update. Horsham Museum heritage walk initiative. WSCC: Statement of Community Involvement: First Review Preferred Option, passed to Cllr Berry. Revisions to Bus Services, passed to Cllr Bearman. Public Rights of Way routine maintenance - summary of works undertaken. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Local Authority Bylaws in England, discussion paper. Friends of Lodge Hill: Summer concert Jane Hitchcock / Roger Brown: Complaint from residents regarding Thakeham Halt sign, Cllr Goring to research and report back. 94. Finance 94.1 Financial Performance A report on the current financial year to 30th April 2006 was received.
94.2 Payments A report on the current bank balances was tabled and the following were approved for payment: Roger Smith: April Outdoor Maintenance 190.00 Staples UK Ltd: Office supplies 59.29 HALC: Annual subscription 15.00 Allianz Cornhill Insurance plc: Annual premium 1414.12 Mrs S Berry: APM expenses 26.74 Mr J Bearman: APM expenses 11.04 Mr D MacEachern: APM expenses 28.85 Sussex Associations of Local Councils: Clerk's training course 94.00 Gross salaries including PAYE / NI and Clerk's OP expenses and mileage and agreed reimbursement for additional hours worked on one-off projects 1850.76
£3689.80
•94.3It was agreed that the current cheque signatories of Cllrs Bearman, Berry, Maggs and Messenger, any 2 of whom can sign, should remain unchanged.
•94.4 The Financial Regulations were approved and adopted. •94.5 The Assessment of Risks was reviewed and agreed.
•94.6 The insurance cover levels were agreed.
•94.7 The reappointment of Mrs Irene Marshall as Internal Auditor was approved.
•94.8 Subject to the recommendation of the clerk of Storrington & Sullington Parish Council, it was agreed that Sussex Business Computers Ltd be contracted to install the office IT equipment, with the proviso that it be referred back to Council if the cost would exceed £160.00.
•94.9 It was agreed that a donation of £50.00 be made to the Woodlands Trust in lieu of payment to the APM speaker, Cllr Berry to advise contact details.
95. Clerk's remuneration In accordance with the Contract of Employment, it was agreed that the clerk's salary would be increased to reflect the new rate of pay agreed by the NJC for Scale LC1, SCP 25, with effect from 1st April 2006.
96. Governor vacancy at Rydon Community College Clerk to advise the college that Cllr MacEachern would like to be considered for the vacancy.
97. Newsletter Input for the June issue was agreed and is to be submitted to the clerk by 24th May.
98. Joint Planning Advisory Working Group Nothing further to report.
99. Parish Action Plan Cllr Goring reported that 18 questionnaires had been completed online and not retrieved. Data entry is ongoing and should be finished next week, a further 2 weeks will then be required for analysis following which the Committee will meet; headline figures will be available for the next meeting of the Council. Response received was at the normally expected level. 100. Footpaths Cllr Berry reported vegetation encroachment on the B2139 between Merrywood Lane and Little Thakeham Farm, to be considered by the Open Spaces Committee.
101. Planning Committee Minutes The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 20th March were received.
102. Reports from Councillors 102.1 District Cllr Jenkins reported that the LDF Core Strategy Pre-Examination Meeting takes place on 22nd May, the oral examination itself will be held in September. The Inspector has the power to allocate land which is binding.
102.2 Cllr Bearman advised that the police may need to be chased for SID usage. Village Hall AGM 22nd May. Assistance in preparation for Village Day p.m. 16th June and a.m. 17th June would be most welcome.
102.3 Cllr MacEachern reported that the Purple Bus was now in situ and will possibly also return in the winter, a management meeting will be attended 17th May.
•102.4 Cllr Harwood advised that the next meeting of the Open Spaces Committee would be held on 1st June.
•102.5 Cllr Goring advised that the Planning Committee would respond to the Design Commission.
•102.6 Cllr Berry reported on the CLC meeting held on 4th May.
•102.7 TVA advised that work on the LDF Core Strategy was continuing. Thakeham Oak will be issued within the next 2 weeks.
103. Chairman's Announcements Cllr Berry will be attending the annual meeting of HDC on 24th May. Thakeham were nominated and shortlisted for "Best Place" in the Horsham and South Downs Best Awards and Cllr Berry received a certificate on behalf of the parish at a ceremony last week - copies to be given to litter wardens in recognition of their efforts and also placed on notice boards. 104. Any other business for noting or inclusion on a future agenda 104.1 Cllr Goring queried the status of Kingdom Hall, Cllr Bearman will prepare a briefing note for the next meeting.
104.2 Cllr Goring suggested that the Open Spaces Committee should consider any proposal for facilities for younger children emanating from the Action Plan.
104.3 Cllr Goring suggested that planning for the next Parish Council elections should be considered in the near future.
104.4 The clerk confirmed that any changes in the new Parking Places and Traffic Regulation Order are purely of a legal nature and will only reflect the existing situation. 104.5 The clerk had received a courtesy visit from PCSO Neville Warner and will invite him to a future meeting.
104.6 Financial contribution to the Storrington & District Museum to be included on the next agenda.
104.7 Concern expressed by members of the public over the time being taken to resolve the Furze Common Road footpath issue.
Date of next meeting: Monday, 19th June 2006 at 7.30 p.m. Meeting closed: 9.30 p.m.
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