Minutes of Ticehurst Parish Council Meeting held on 2 Sept 2008 in the
Village Institute, Ticehurst at 7.30 p.m.

Present:  Cllrs.  Goodall ©, Maynard, A Cook,  G Cook, Semple, Rigby, Langdown, Burley, Simmons, Yeo and Hastings.
In attendance:  D. Cllrs.  Elliston and Jenkins and C. Cllr. Barnes.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS:
The Chairman invited questions and debate from those in attendance:
Items raised included:
Traffic Calming at Upper Platts: Residents from Upper Platts expressed their displeasure at the Council having supported the proposals (and now implementation) for a 40 m.p.h zone to the front of this crescent of houses.  C. Cllr. Barnes explained that the buffer zones were believed to be more effective in slowing traffic on the approach to a village.  It was resolved that the Clerk should write to ESCC requesting a review to reflect the effectiveness of the ‘zone’ and if it is found to be ineffective the Council would consider asking for a reversal of traffic speed limits.  The Clerk would also ask for ‘repeater’ signs within the zone.  It was further resolved that attempts should be made to improve pedestrian access from Upper Platts to the village.

0.0  Declarations of Interest:  Cllr. Cook declared a personal interest in item 25 – The Bell Field as a neighbour of the land.

1.0  Apologies for absence:  The new attendance register was passed around and Cllrs. Mitchell and Seemann who had duly sent their apologies were noted in the register.

2.0  Approval of the minutes of 1st July 2008:  These were proposed by Cllr. A Cook seconded  by Cllr. Hastings  and carried as a true record of those proceedings.

3.0  Additional Agenda Items:  None received by midday on 2nd September 2008.

4.0  Appendix of Outstanding Matters:
The appendix had been circulated to all Cllrs: 
No update on clearance of Steelands Rise footpath.
New lamp post will be erected soon at Steelands Rise to light the path to the school.
Clerk has chased Downland Housing again about clearing out the ditch.
Minutes of Traffic Calming meeting of 10th July circulated.  New 40 mph limit at Upper Platts will commence on 1st September.
Most playground work has been done at all three playgrounds – the swing seats at Flimwell need replacing. Four new bins have been installed at Ticehurst and a new fence erected at Flimwell.
Additional two cuts to the field edges at Flimwell and Ticehurst have been added to the KCC contract for £240 per year.
Oak tree at Forge Yard Stonegate is now protected with a Tree Preservation Order – Clerk to provide a copy of the Order to Cllr. Maynard – tree warden.
Clerk to ask Inter-route why the Flimwell lights are not on every evening.

5.0  District and County Reports:
The Clerk reported that both District and County Cllrs. had felt it was not necessary to make a report as the summer period had been very quiet.  Cllr. Barnes added that a new form of local government would be coming in towards the end of next year and that ESCC is currently performing at level 3 in most target areas.
Cllr. Rigby asked about green re-cycling bins and D. Cllr. Jenkins assured the meeting that all homes in the area would be receiving their new bins soon.

6.0  Affordable Housing: 
Dealt with under Core Strategy agenda point.

7.0  The Village Square and its surroundings:  Cllr. Yeo reported that she felt that as a pedestrian, the village is becoming untidy and unkempt.  Gardens were not as carefully tended as a few years ago and areas of grass that used to be cut were being left.  The Clerk explained that verges were the responsibility of ESCC and that in many places local residents voluntarily tended these areas.  Cllr. Yeo agreed to telephone the estate agent of one neglected property and produce an  article for Ticehurst News and Views.

8.0  Village of the Year competition 2008:  Cllr Langdown reported that Ticehurst had been awarded the runners up award in the competition, which, being the first time Ticehurst had entered, was fantastic.  She thanked all those who had supported the village and the Council gave her a vote of thanks for leading the competition group so successfully. The criteria  of the competition was about how the community functioned and supported  one another as opposed to an aesthetical competition.  It was resolved that the prize of £75 be spent on planting a tree to celebrate the village’s success and the Clerk suggested planting a Tulip tree to replace the tree lost at the Recreation Ground (planted for the Queen’s coronation).  The Chairman offered to see if the Forestry Commission could source one.

9.0 Dog Waste Bins and collections:  The Clerk reported that Rother District Council can offer a collection service but advised that whilst the public liked the idea, they generally tended not to want them any where near their houses, especially during the summer.  It was resolved that the Clerk obtain a quotation and a licence from ESCC to put a dog waste bin on the  grass verge outside the recreation ground.  Cllr.  Rigby reported that he will be attending the Cleaner Neighbourhood course on 17th September and that he would also chase up the signs ordered for the villages.

10.0  Open Space at Farthing Hill:  The Clerk  reported that she has been collecting competitive quotations for a toddlers’ playground – average costs are in the region of £12000.  It was resolved to look for matched funding, asking Rother District Council, and Rother Homes to contribute towards the scheme.  It was resolved to ask D. Cllr. Jenkins and Cllr. Seemann to work with the Clerk to push this forward.

11.0  Parking on verges:  Cllr. Langdown reported that she had reported a vehicle on the small grass triangle where the Lower Platts Road meets the High Street and she had also received complaints about a car parking on the grass church verge down Church Street.  The Clerk reported that she has applied to ESCC for a licence to put wooden bollards in both these areas which would solve the problem and has spoken to the complainant in Church Street to explain that the matter should be sorted within the next two months.  It was resolved that places for bollards/ tree planting to discourage cars from blocking pedestrian areas should be identified and discussed by the Council on a regular basis.

12.0   Ground Rules:  The Chairman reminded the meeting that these rules, being adopted by many parishes had been circulated in July for consideration at the September meeting.  It was resolved to adopt the rules – Proposed by Cllr. Langdown, seconded by Cllr.  Simmons and signed by the Chairman.

13.0  Cardboard Recycling: Cllr. Semple reported that the cardboard re-cycling unit was being well used and the positioning of the bin was now much better.  Rother District Council have informed him that it needs planning permission and this will  be applied for by the Parish Council.

14.0  Bank Mandates:  The Clerk circulated the mandate forms to members of the Financial Advisory Group to sign.

15.0  Phone Box Adoption:  Cllr. Langdown reported that it would be possible (in the event of British Telecom deciding to remove the Village Square telephone box) to pay an annual sum of £500 to retain the facility.  As it is not yet known whether the box will be axed, it was resolved that the Clerk write to Rother reiterating the wish of the village to retain the working box and pointing out that it is integral to the local Emergency Plan. 

16.0  Steelands Rise:  The Clerk reported that the land owner at the entrance to Steelands Rise was not obliged to cut the grass there and had no responsibility to maintain a rockery constructed by Berkley Homes in this area.  As the greenery does not impair the sight lines in any way, there is nothing that the Parish Council can do about this.  It was resolved that the Clerk should write to the residents at Steelands Rise to inform them of the situation.

17.0  Rother District Council – Core Strategy – Cllrs. Maynard and Burley reported that they had attended a meeting at the Town Hall on 8th July, and had reported back to the Planning Committee that Ticehurst Flimwell and Stonegate had been identified as areas that could support up to another 100 houses. It had been resolved at the Planning Meeting that David Marlow should be asked to come up to the villages so that Cllrs. could put forward their objections and arguments as to why the Ward can not, and would not want to consider more housing in the area.  The Clerk had drafted a letter, circulated to Cllrs. and it was resolved to invite him to discuss the matter in full.  The options available to Rother had been dependant to a certain extent on the Bexhill link road.  D. Cllr. Jenkins added that Cabinet had approved the draft option on Monday evening. Cllr. Semple pointed out that Ticehurst had been designated as a ‘service centre’ due to its good facilities and felt that the village was not being supported by Rother in that the ‘facility’ provided by the villagers for themselves i.e. the multicourt, was under threat and the District Council were not supportive of the problems that are being experienced.  Cllr. Barnes pointed out that the current system leaves developers taking the initiative and this plan would allow local government to lead the way rather than those looking for profit.  It was unanimously agreed that Ticehurst had taken enough ‘estate’ type development without the normal proportion of affordable housing and that any housing that should be allowed should be entirely for affordable homes as identified in the recent Housing Survey.

18.0  Rosemary Lane – Theft from cars: It was reported that  a car had been broken into during the summer and that with the permission from Bewl Water, the police had now put up signs warning people that it was  a high risk area.  Cllr. Rigby reported that people were still leaving their cars with windows open right next to the signs.

19.0  Japanese Knotweed:  Cllr. Hastings reported that a resident in the High Street had reported that Japanese Knotweed was encroaching into her garden.  It was resolved that the Clerk should obtain a quotation from a specialist as to how to deal with the problem as this is a notifiable plant.  It is very prevalent on the Bell Field.

20.0  Traffic Calming:  Details of the meeting held in July had been circulated to all Cllrs.  The 40 mph buffer zone at Upper Platts should be completed this week.  The Clerk reported that she is obtaining a quotation for a ‘gateway’ sign at the far end of Upper Platts to emphasis the point that drivers would be entering a village at that point.  It was resolved that Cllr. Rigby would work with the Clerk on pushing traffic calming measures on and respond to the letter from ESCC – in correspondence list.

21.0  Finance Report:  The clear bank reconciliation – attached to minutes and list of cheques to sanction was circulated to all Cllrs. and it was resolved to sign those cheques for payment.

22.0  Planning Committee Report: Cllr. Maynard reported that there was nothing of note to report – all minutes had been circulated to Cllrs. during the summer.

23.0  Correspondence:
Traffic matters  ESCC: – it was resolved that Cllr. Rigby and the Clerk should respond  to Brian Banks on the various matters  - Speed limits in Flimwell, the A268 bend, the Old Wardsdown Junction and the Village Square.
ROSPA safety reports: – have been received with regard to the three playgrounds and two ponds.  It was resolved that Cllrs. Burley, Mitchell and Semple would look through the reports and decide what needs doing.
Rother District Council: Emergency Rest Centres – it was resolved that Cllr. Semple respond to the District Council by 26th September.  It was also resolved that he would attend the Emergency Planning Conference on 28th October.
AIRS – Funding and Action Plan workshop – It was resolved that  Cllr A Cook would  attend the workshop.
RSB Solutions – Clerk reported that the course on Planning has been moved to October.
Information on Mr Kemp – Gee - Cllr.  Maynard  agreed to respond.
Water Colour of Ticehurst Station:  It was resolved that the Clerk should write back to Mr Moore asking for a copy.
Annual Return – correction signed by the Chairman and Clerk.
AIRS meeting 7th November  - It was resolved that  Cllr A Cook. would attend.

24.0  Items for the October meeting:
Nil to date other than those points to be carried over from this meeting.

25.0  The Bell Field – The Chairman asked all those, other than Parish Councillors to withdraw as this matter is treated as confidential to the Council.  Minutes on pink paper to be kept by the Clerk.

26.0  The meeting closed at 9.20  p.m. and the date of the next meeting set for 7th October 2008.