WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL
THE MINUTES OF WADHURST PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT
THE PAVILION, SPARROWS GREEN RECREATION GROUND,
ON THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2008 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Price (Chairman), Bell, Berger, Mrs Colvin, Doyle, Miss Gadd, Kent, Mamlok,
Mrs Monaghan, Mrs Pearman, Phipson, Standley, Miss Whatmore and Wheeler.

Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy, District Cllr. Wells, PC Etherington, five members of the public and one member of the press.

1.         TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
None.

2.         DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
None.

3.         POLICE REPORT
Overall reduction in crime in the parish in the last month. Some of the reported items as follows:

• unwanted doorstep callers
• activated house alarms
• burglaries from sheds
• road traffic accident outside the station.

A number of staff changes are taking place and the PCSO for Wadhurst is expected to be announced soon.

4.         PUBLIC FORUM
Request from representatives of the Rotary Club for a grant towards hardware for the Christmas display. There will be additional lights in the High Street this year and the Christmas event will be held 19.12.

Parish Council was congratulated on the Parish Plan. It was suggested that the area behind Wood-B-Pine may be suitable for additional parking in the centre of the village. The small industrial site at Durgates could provide land for affordable housing if the existing industrial area at Cousley Wood was extended.

5.         TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MEETING 14.10.08 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the Minutes of the meeting held 14.10.08 as a true record.

6.         TO DETERMINE MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES FOR UPDATING AND NOTING
None.

7.         TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS.
County Council
County Council elections will be held 4.06.09.

Parish Council congratulated on Parish Plan; comment that there are some inaccuracies which need to be resolved with ESCC.

Discussions are taking place regarding the Police precept for 09/10.

Applications for village green status are being submitted by communities keen to protect areas against development. Some County Cllrs. are being trained on assessing the applications; this is a separate function from the planning committee.  

District Council
The expansion of kerbside recycling is progressing, with Wadhurst scheduled to begin at the end of 2009. New vehicles will have split containers to enable a number of different recycling materials to be collected at the same time.

Report of changes to the planning process. The title of Development Control to be changed to Development Management with a single committee for the whole district.

Over 100 children attended a youth conference. Issues raised included the lack of facilities for teenagers, poor public transport and the cost of some activities. The creation of more youth parish councils to be encouraged.

A survey is being conducted about the standard of public services.

Members commented that many households will not have the space for the additional recycling containers. Request for recycling instructions to be explicit.

8.         CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING.
Correspondence was reviewed and noted.

9.         HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND LIGHTING MATTERS
9.1       To receive Highways, Transport & Lighting Committee Report and consider recommendations
Verbal report received on items to be considered by the Committee:

• Traffic and parking issues at the Cockmount Lane/Sparrows Green Road junction. Police have suggested the use of a white line would advise motorists they were causing an obstruction.
• Posts opposite the Chapel in Pell Green have been moved, reducing the width of the pavement.
• Removal of graffiti from bus shelter opposite the station.

Cllr. Mrs Monaghan reported on a meeting of the New Wadhurst Residents Association.
Delay from ESCC on proposal for highways improvements at the Washwell Lane/High Street junction; the improvements are to be funded as part of the agreement for the affordable housing development.
Nominations for the new affordable homes will begin next April with occupation in June.
Residents have requested traffic calming/‘elderly people’ signs to slow traffic at Courthope Avenue. Community bus service continues to be well used with 60/70 passengers each week.
The Wadhurst Emergency Plan is being updated following the recent ESCC/WDC conference.

Other highways issues

• Posts in need of attention at Bayham Court and Church Street.
• Dog waste bin in Washwell Lane needs to be straightened.

10.       PLANNING MATTERS
10.1     To adopt Minutes of Planning Committee meetings 25.10 and 8.11
              Resolved to adopt Minutes of Planning Committee meetings held 25.10 and 8.11.

10.2     WADHURST COLLEGE – TO CONSIDER WHAT INFORMATION AND ADVICE IS REQUIRED IN RELATION TO THE PLANNING APPLICATION AND CONSIDER POSSIBLE EXPENDITURE
Application received for 48 dwellings at Wadhurst College WD/2006/2750/MAJ. Drainage was a critical factor in the previous submission and it is not clear if the proposed solution is workable.
Whilst WDC and the Statutory Consultees will consider drainage issues, in was considered that the Parish Council should take advice on this important issue which will impact the whole parish.

Resolved to commission a drainage report on the Wadhurst College site to enable the Parish Council to respond fully to application WD/20006/2750/MAJ. Expenditure of £2000 + VAT approved under LGA 1972 s111.

Resolved to appoint Christiaan Zwart to provide further advice to enable the Parish Council to respond fully to application WD/20006/2750/MAJ. Expenditure of £2000 + VAT approved under LGA 1972 s111.

Discussion on affordable housing allocation and that dwellings should be on the college site as opposed to providing a commuted sum. Request for a footpath between the college and Best Beech.

11.       RECREATION GROUND MATTERS
11.1     To review Recreation Ground Management Committee Report and consider recommendations
A consultation on proposal for new play equipment will be held at the pavilion 4.12.

Other matters will be reported following the committee meeting 27.11.

12.       ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
12.1     To adopt Minutes of Environment Committee meeting 6.11 and consider recommendations
Resolved to adopt the Minutes of the Environment Committee meeting 6.11.

The proposal for planting roses at the Jardin d’Aubers was supported subject to the clearance of brambles.

13.       FINANCE
Cllr. Standley attended, having previously sent apologies for lateness.

13.1     To consider grant applications received.
Grant application from the Rotary Club, Citizens Advice and the Church reviewed and recommendations from Finance Committee considered.

It was resolved to approve the following grants:

• £500 to the Rotary Club towards hardware for the Christmas display (LGA 1972 s144).
• £1500 to the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul towards the upkeep of the churchyard (LGA 1972 s216(6)).
• £1000 to Wealden Citizens Advice in recognition of the outreach service offered at Carillon Cottage and the increased use of the facility in the present economic climate (LGA 1972 s142).

As the total grants exceed the budget, £500 will be used from the reserve earmarked for churchyard provision.

13.2     To review outline budget 2009/10
Outline budget 2009/10 reviewed; this will be finalised at the December meeting.

13.3     To approve accounts payable

It was resolved to approve accounts for payment as listed in appendix A [not here]

14.       TO CONSIDER ANY MATTERS FOR INCLUSION IN COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW
It was not considered that there are any matters in Wadhurst under a Community Governance Review at present.

15.       TO CONSIDER APPLYING FOR RENETION OF K6 PAYPHONE AT DURGATES
The K6 payphone at Durgates was not included in the recent review as it is classified as a courtesy telephone due to the proximity of another service within 400m; the payphone at Gloucester Place has the same classification. Courtesy telephones can be removed without consultation.

BT offers a scheme to adopt a telephone kiosk for £1 where the telephone equipment is removed or to sponsor a working kiosk at £500pa. The closing date for applications under the scheme was 1.11.08; some late applications have been accepted.

It was resolved by a majority to adopt the K6 kiosk at Durgates for £1 plus costs associated with the application and the electrical supply, subject to a review of the legal agreement and obligations.

16.       URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON        FUTURE AGENDA
None.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21:52

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