Minutes of Ticehurst Parish Council meeting held
on 4th November 2008 at
7.30 pm in the Village Institute, Ticehurst, East Sussex
Present: Cllrs. Goodall ©, Maynard, Hastings, Burley,
Simmons, Yeo, Semple, Seemann, Langdown, Mitchell and Rigby.
In attendance: D. Cllrs. Elliston and Jenkins and C. Cllr.
Barnes
Public Questions:
The Chairman invited questions from members of the public. Points raised included:
1. Christmas Lights: Mr Vidal informed the meeting that the lights would be
turned on in the Village Square at 6.30 p.m. on 29th November 2008. The Stonegate
lights will be switched on 30th November 2008 accompanied by the Stonegate
Choir.
2. A resident of Lower St Mary’s asked if traffic calming measures could be
considered for St. Mary’s Lane and the Clerk was instructed to talk to ESCC
Highways about possible measures there.
3. A resident commented on the overhang from the area of woodland to the east
of the Cherry Tree that forces pedestrians further into the road – Clerk to
ask the landlord of the pub to arrange to have them cut back.
0.0 Declarations of Interest:
There were no declarations of interest.
The Chairman thanked the Council for the box of fruit received during a period
of convalescence.
1.0 Apologies for absence: Cllrs A Cook and G Cook had passed on their apologies and this was duly noted in the attendance register.
2.0 Approval of the minutes of 7th October 2008: Cllr. Yeo proposed, and Cllr. Semple seconded that these were a true record of those proceedings.
3.0 Additional Agenda Items: None had been received by the Clerk.
4.0 Appendix of Outstanding Matters:
Light in Steelands Rise: It was reported that this column
is now up and working.
Traffic Calming: The Clerk has written to ESCC regarding
all the various traffic matters and is awaiting a response. The Clerk and
Cllr. Semple met with a contractor earlier today and gained a price of £3300.00
for tarmacing the path from Upper Platts towards the village. It was resolved
that this be accepted – Clerk to action.
Bollards: These have been installed in the various areas,
bulbs have been planted around them and the reflector plates ordered for
delivery next week.
Core Strategy: Rother District Council are holding an exhibition
on 25th November 2008 in Ticehurst 2.30 – 7.30 pm – Clerk reported that she
has ordered a large poster to encourage people to come along.
Litter: The Clerk reported that she has written to Ms Gorman
at RDC again about the provision of litter bins in Pickforde Lane and a dog
waste collection service.
Playground: An offer of £500 (with a possible further £500)
has been pledged towards a playground in Farthing Hill by the Rotary Club.
The Chairman has written to thank them.
Cardboard Recycling: The Clerk has the forms to apply for
planning permission.
Cllr. Rigby reported that having done the Cleaner Neighbourhood Course, he
felt it would have little impact due to the level of detection required to
issued a fixed penalty ticket. He was thanked for the time he spent completing
the course.
5.0 District and County Reports:
Cllr. Jenkins had circulated a report –attached.
Cllr. Seemann reported that the several associations within the Amicus Horizon
Group are being amalgamated into one Company (including Rother Homes and Casa
Support) to be known as Amicus Horizon. Although there will be only one Board
for the new Company it will have underpinning it, a strong resident involvement
structure which ought to empower residents more than the present structure.
These changes should take effect next April, 2009.
Cllr. Rigby asked about the
delivery of Green Bins, and Cllr Jenkins informed the meeting that all properties
would have their Green Bins by March or April. Complaints about services should
be directed through the RDC Customer Services Dept
6.0 Bulb Planting: Cllr. P Langdown reported that bulbs have been planted down Church Street and opposite the Village Hall. She expressed her disappointment that there had been little support from colleagues with this exercise and with the tree planting on the recreation ground on Saturday 1st November. She was thanked for all her work in organising and then planting the bulbs. The Chairman asked that any one able to help plant more bulbs should contact Cllr. Langdown on 01580 200599.
7.0 The Bell Inn: The Clerk reported that she has a meeting
organised with the new owner next Tuesday.
8.0 Dog Waste Bin and Collections: The Clerk reported that
she was waiting to get confirmation that a collection service was possible
before purchasing and installing a dog waste bin in the grass verge outside
the Village Institute car park.
9.0 Emergency Procedures:
Cllr. Semple reported that he had attended a conference for the drawing up of emergency plans for each Parish. He reported that an officer from Rother District Council would visit the village to talk to a delegated group about drawing up a specific plan for the three villages of the Ticehurst Ward. The plan would cover any type of emergency that might befall the area, identifying vunerable people and sources of help.
10.0 Cardboard Recycling:
Cllr. Semple reported that 2.9 tonnes of cardboard had been removed last
week, and the new container was filling up fast as there was regular use of
the facility now.
11.0 Pedestrian Crossing: Cllr. Langdown reported that having spent time planting bulbs opposite the play area at the Recreation Ground, she had witnessed how many children cross the road at this point and suggested that a pedestrian crossing here would facilitate them accessing the playground safely and provide a good traffic calming measure at this end of the village. It was resolved that the Clerk contact ESCC Highways to arrange a meeting to talk about this site, a possible site opposite the proposed site for Woodroffe Lodge and the centre of the village. Whilst the Clerk has been informed that a pedestrian crossing would not be permissible from the Bell to the Island in the Square, Cllrs. Jenkins and Barnes believed this not to be the case.
12.0 Phone Boxes: Cllr. Langdown reported that after extensive communications with British Telecom it had been ascertained that the box in the Village Square is listed and therefore cannot be removed – she reported that she is now pushing for it to be restored (ie door and paintwork) and for the original calling facilities to be reinstated within the box. She was thanked for her persistence in following this up.
13.0 Rother District Council: David Marlowe has informed the Clerk that Rother will be hosting an exhibition in Ticehurst on 25th November 2008 from 2.30 pm to 7.30 pm. The Clerk has ordered a poster promoting the event to encourage people to come and have their say about the number of new houses that are proposed for each village in the Ticehurst Ward.
14.0 Japanese Knotweed: Cllr. Maynard reported that he and the Clerk had cut down a patch of the Knotweed on the Bell Field and treated each stem with Roundup as recommended by experts. It will not be apparent until the Spring as to whether this has been successful, but it is hoped that the same treatment will be given to the other patch seen in the corner of the Bell Field and to the Knotweed that is in a garden off the High Street. Cllr. Hastings has provided the Clerk with details of the address.
15.0 Traffic Calming: The painted speed limit signs have been installed at the eastern and western ends of the village. The Clerk has requested a meeting with the ESCC Highways officers to discuss where an effective ‘gateway’ sign could go near Upper Platts. Cllr. Langdown requested that Mr Studholme be thanked for installing the bollards so quickly and suggested that Cllrs. consider other areas where they would be effective. Financial Advisory Group to consider cost implications.
16.0 Finance Report: A reconciled account was tabled at
the meeting. There were three cheques to sanction:
2382 Greenman Enterprise The Web site fee £235.00
2383 Wealden Ironcraft New railings
£622.75
2384 May Gurney Reflector plates £178.60
These were sanctioned for payment and duly signed.
17.0 Planning Committee Report: Cllr. Maynard reported that the proposal for four houses at the rear of Somerton in St. Mary’s Lane had been unanimously recommended for refusal by the Planning Committee at its meeting on 30th October. Other recommendations for refusal had been a chalet annexe in a rear garden in Cross Lane, two semi-detached houses had been recommended for refusal in Rose Hill and an extension of Old Bearhurst Oast although recommended for refusal by the Parish Council had been passed at District level.
Next
Planning Meeting 13th November.
Cllr. Maynard was authorised by the Council to chase up what was happening
on the Warrens site, as this is looking more neglected each month.
18.0 Correspondence:
Diversion of footpath – comments needed by 16th December.
Timber supports in The Twitten – these are apparently only temporary and will
be removed.
Battle Community Bus – delegated to Financial Advisory Group.
WRVS – delegated to the Financial Advisory Group.
Rural Rother Trust – delegated to the Financial Advisory Group.
Tubs in Village Square – Cllr Langdown had ‘mocked up’ a street scene image
of planters in the Square and it was resolved that the Clerk should place an
advert in Ticehurst News and Views to see if private businesses/individuals
would sponser some boxes and plants. Planters to be within range of shop CCTV
cameras.
19.0 Items for the December Meeting:
Downland Homes - Farthing Hill Hedge
The Chairman reported that she would be unable to attend that meeting and Cllr.
Maynard agreed to Chair it.
20.0 The Bell Field – The Chairman asked members of the public to withdraw and these minutes are recorded separately on pink paper.
21.0 The meeting closed at 9.10 p.m. and the date of the next meeting set for 2nd December 2008.