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Minutes of Thakeham Parish Council Meeting - Monday, 20th November 2006
Meeting opened: 7.30 p.m.
Present: Mr D Berry Mr J Bearman Ms K Dawes Mrs C Goring Mr D MacEachern Mrs P Maggs Rev P Messenger Mr N Prince In attendance Cllr David Jenkins District Council Mr J Denman Clerk to the Council Members of the public
211. Apologies for absence Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllrs Hardisty, Harwood and Walker. Cllr Goring joined the meeting as shown below.
212. Interests of Members Cllr MacEachern declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 6(e) (minute 216.6) and withdrew from the meeting at the appropriate time. Cllr Messenger declared a personal interest in agenda item 6(d) (minute 216.5) and Cllr Prince a personal interest in agenda item 16 (minute 230).
213. Minutes of the last meetingMinutes of the last meeting of the Parish Council held on 16th October 2006 were approved and signed.
214. Report on Action Items 214.1 (196.1) Thakeham Tiles / TPO: Cllr Prince to arrange to meet with Mr Davidge.
214.2 (199) Heveco Mushrooms: Cllr Goring replaced Cllr Walker on the working group and letters have been sent welcoming the new mushroom companies.
214.3 (200) Highway Safety: Papers forwarded to WSCC, no response yet. Also copied to schools requesting support.
214.4 (201) December Newsletter: Outstanding input to be submitted by 24th November.
214.5 (205) Laybrook Landfill: Comments submitted by the due date. Invitations issued for public meeting.
214.6 (208.1) Remembrance Service: Well attended by Cllrs and public.
215. Correspondence HDC: Summons to Council meeting 1st November. Summons to Development Control (South) Committee meeting 21st November - side extension at The Flower Corner included on the agenda as neighbour requested to speak, TPC objected to the application but HDC are recommending approval. Summons to Standards Committee meeting 18th October. Invitation to Local Development and Transport Advisory Group meeting 14th November. Spring bulbs - none on offer this year. Chairman's charity pantomime performance 9th December. WSCC: A24 Route Safety Strategy - update Sussex County Playing Fields Association: Annual report, notice of AGM 27th November and request for donation. West Sussex Mediation Service: Annual report and request for donation. TVA: Forwarded e-mails with HDC regarding unauthorised use of mushroom sites. Local Works: Sustainable Communities Bill - request to lobby after Private Members Ballot 23rd November, clerk will respond on receipt of information.
216. Finance 216.1 Financial Performance A report on the current financial year to 31 October 2006 was received.
216.2 Payments A report on the current bank balances was tabled and the following were approved for payment: Roger Smith: October Outdoor Maintenance 290.00 HDC: Dog bin unit plus November emptying 96.40 HDC: 6 Playground inspections 84.60 Storrington Squash Club: Donation 80.00 Staples UK Ltd: Office supplies 54.42 British Telecommunications plc: Calls and service charge 123.31 Sussex Associations of Local Councils: CiLCA training course for clerk 105.75 Gross salaries including PAYE / NI and Clerk's OP expenses and mileage 1243.08 £2077.56
216.3 Budget for the financial year 2007/2008 It was agreed that a budget of a total net expenditure of £33,921.00 be adopted for the financial year 01 April 2007 to 31 March 2008.
Cllr Goring joined the meeting.
216.4 Precept for the financial year 2007/2008 It was agreed that the precept be set at £29,400.00 for the year ending 31 March 2008,
216.5 It was agreed that a contribution at the budget level of £1100.00 be made for the maintenance of the churchyard in 2006.
216.6 In view of the positive impact of the Purple Bus, it was agreed that a donation of £150.00 be made now to the West Sussex Rural Mobile Youth Trust together with a request that they write again in the next financial year when a further donation can be considered.
217. Directory of Local Organisations Clerk to pass contacts as at April 2000 to Cllr Bearman for updating.
218. Parish Action Plan Cllr Goring reported that a meeting had been held on 23rd October and actions were agreed. Mark Keenan has agreed to head the Steering Group Committee.
219. Open Spaces Committee Cllr Prince reported on the meeting held on 14th November. A site visit of the playground with Anna Chapman/HDC had proved helpful and an action plan will be developed for 2007 and an application will be made under the "Trees for Shade" scheme. Difficulties are being experienced with the maintenance contractor and alternatives are being explored.
220. Parish Office/Playing Fields Advisory Committee Aiming to report in January.
221. Footpaths The clerk advised that contact had been made with the Planning Inspectorate regarding Furze Common Road; a public inquiry is to be held but has not yet been arranged. It was agreed the clerk would obtain details of the inquiry procedure, provide a monthly update and include as an item in the next newsletter. Cllr Prince reported that Darren Rolfe/WSCC will be undertaking a footpath inspection next month and he will ensure that the stiles and Strawberry Lane issues are also covered.
222. Laybrook Landfill Cllr Berry advised that Laybrook is still included as a proposed site and the public meeting will therefore go ahead as planned, Mike Elkington and Tony Odam of WSCC will attend. Ibstock and Cory have declined but given an undertaking that they will involve the PC and wider community in discussions if and when they have formed a view as to how they wish to proceed. The proposed agenda was presented to the meeting and the clerk will put a poster on the notice boards.
223. Planning Committee Minutes The minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 3rd October were received.
224. Open Spaces Committee Minutes The minutes of the Open Spaces Committee meeting held on 12th September were received. 225. Reports from Councillors 225.1 Cllr Bearman reported on current police, HDC/HALC and West Sussex PCT issues and also referred to some good practice indicators which the clerk will circulate.
225.2 Cllr Prince advised that he is planning to attend an HDC play strategy meeting on 4th December and also is undertaking a fingerpost survey throughout the parish at the request of WSCC.
226. Liaison with TVA Copies of the correspondence regarding unauthorised use of mushroom sites were made available to the meeting. The Promise Auction proved a success and the AGM is scheduled for 23rd January in the village hall.
227. Chairman's Announcements 227.1 HDC is offering to promote details of 2007 public events free of charge. Clerk has passed details to Cllr Bearman, copy also to be forwarded to Cllr Messenger.
227.2 LDF Village/Town/Parish sustainability appraisal received from HDC, passed to Cllr Dawes.
228. Any other business for noting or inclusion on a future agenda 228.1 Cllr MacEachern requested that the ownership of Furze Common Road be ascertained together with their future intentions, District Cllr Jenkins suggested it may be appropriate for this to be covered by the JPAWG.
228.2 Cllr Bearman advised that the Christmas dinner has been arranged for 9th December, tickets available from Gillian Bird. Also refreshments will be provided after the December PC meeting and it may therefore be appropriate on this occasion to hold the planning meeting, if one is necessary, before the PC meeting.
228.3 Cllr Berry urged a strong attendance by Cllrs at the 5th December public meeting.
228.4 There was a request from the floor that it should be made clear that any decision resulting from discussions in closed session under agenda item 16 (minute 230) has not been taken with the consent of the public at large.
229. It was resolved that in view of the confidential nature of the business the public be excluded from the following items.
230. Joint Planning Advisory Working Group Cllr Berry briefed the meeting on his report and District Cllr Jenkins provided an update on the current situation before leaving the meeting in closed session. Deep concern was expressed by Cllrs that the scenario now put forward by HDC has changed fundamentally and it is extremely important they are given the opportunity to understand the detail this changed approach may entail. It was agreed that a proactive approach be supported provided any work at this stage is purely exploratory and not binding but that the above concern should also be made clear to HDC. It was further agreed that the clerk would draft a letter to HDC on this basis and circulate to Cllrs for any comments before issue.
231. Clerk's contract hours It was agreed that the contract hours be increased to 22 per week effective 1st October and also that the clerk be reimbursed for 144.5 additional hours worked during the period March to September 2006.
Date of next meeting: Monday, 18th December 2006 at 7.30 p.m. Meeting closed: 10.30 p.m.
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