YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL

13 March 2000 - At a meeting of the Parish Council held at Yapton & Ford Village Hall.

Present: Mr Boxall, Mr Bryant, Mr Coe, Mr Found, Mrs Freeman, Mr Haymes, Mr Tompsett and Mr Rowlandson.

Also present: County Councillor Mr Betteridge, Mr Tansley, Clerk of the Council, and 6 members of the public.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr Fellows, Mrs Palmer, District Councillors Mrs Goad and Mr Matthews.

CHAIRMAN

23. In the absence of Mr Fellows, the Vice-Chairman, Mr Rowlandson, chaired the meeting.

MINUTES

24. Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2000 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

MATTERS ARISING

Millennium Clock (minute 2/2000)

25. It was noted that Ford Parish Council were to consider the possibility of a conribution towards the cost of the clock tower at their next meeting.

Kickabout Area (minute 3/2000)

26. The Clerk reported that the District Council had confirmed that work on the Kickabout area would start on 5 April following the departure of Coles Fair from the playing field. The contract was expected to take 2 weeks.

The Countryside Agency (minute 4/2000)

27. Mr Coe reported that he had made contact with the Agency but had been informed that no funds were likely to be available for village halls for the next 2 - 3 years

Speed Limit along Church Lane, Clymping (minute 6c/2000)

28. The Area Highway Engineer had advised that he was currently considering a number of sites across the area where a speed limit could be trialled using the County Council's revised speed limit criteria. Church Lane was one of the sites that were being considered.

Application by Kingchem Ltd to open a pharmacy in Yapton (minute 6d/2000)

29. The Clerk advised that an appeal had been lodged against the decision made at the first stage and consequently consideration under the second stage, the "desirable test" had been deferred pending the outcome of the appeal.

Request for grant-aid : Yapton Pre-school (minute 6g[iii]/2000)

30. Mrs Freeman advised that the Pre-school had submitted an application to the County Council for a grant of £500.00 towards their operating costs.

Playing Field - grass cutting contract (minute 10/2000)

31. The Clerk was asked to contact the contractor to arrange for the field to be rolled and cut as soon as possible.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

32. Mr Betteridge advised that it was important for the Parish Council to bring forward and remind the Area Highway Engineer of desirable projects within the village from time to time as resources were limited and necessarily therefore the available highway funds had to be rationed.

33. Council members were concerned that the road marking works at the entrances to the village, which were originally to be undertaken as part of the traffic calming scheme, had now been deferred pending the resurfacing of the roads in 2001. The Clerk advised that he had pursued the matter with County Surveyor without success. Mr Betteridge was asked if he could look into the matter and try to expedite the completion of the traffic calming works.

CORRESPONDENCE

34. Receipt of the following correspondence was reported by the Clerk and action agreed as indicated:

a) Arun District Council - Working partnerships with Town and Parish Councils -
review of current protocol .(copy attached to minute book). The Council felt that no changes were needed to the present protocol.

b) Arun District Council - Invitation to send a representative to Six-Monthly Town and Parish Meeting on 27 March 2000 at 6.30 pm in the Civic Suite, Council Offices, Littlehampton. Mrs Freeman hoped to attend as the Council's representative.

c) Arun District Council - Conservation Area Grants. No projects were proposed for Yapton.

d) Arun District Council - Neighbourhood Recycling Centre - response to concerns expressed at last meeting about damage being caused to surface of large car park (copy attached). The Council discussed the matter at some length and concluded that the Clerk should write again to the District Council stressing that the major part of the damage and wear and tear to the car park surface had undoubtedly been caused by the vehicles which serviced the recycling bins. Therefore it was incumbent on the Council to effect the necessary repairs in order to restore the surface to a reasonable and safe condition.

e) Environment Agency - invitation to send representative to meeting of Flood Warning Service. Mr Rowlandson volunteered to attend.

f) County Surveyor - Consultation on updated Walking & Cycling Policies - "Stepping Ahead in West Sussex" and Pedalling Ahead". The Council noted the receipt of these documents.

g) Local resident - Appearance of Village Store. The Council agreed with the concerns that had been expressed although it was noted that the external appearance of the store had improved recently.

i) Westergate Youth Wing - application for grant-aid towards funding an extra youth worker. The Clerk was asked to contact the Head of Community Education at Westergate
Community School for further information regarding the proposed additional youth worker.

j) Sussex Police (PC Towner) - advising of reorganisation of the Highdown Division and the consequential changes planned for the policing of the five villages, including Yapton. The Council noted that Inspector Richards had been appointed to take charge of the new Arun Sector and agreed that an invitation be extended to him to attend the next Parish Council meeting to explain the local policing changes which were being introduced.

YAPTON & FORD VILLAGE HALL EXTERNAL MAINTENANCE WORKS

35. The Clerk advised that revised tender documents had been prepared to take account of some recent repair work which had already been arranged by the Village Hall Management Committee. The date for the return of the tender documents was 30 March with a start date for the contract of 17 April and completion by 12 May 2000. In the circumstances the Council delegated to the Chairman the decision to approve the successful tenderer and the final programme of external maintenance works to be undertaken at the village hall.

ALLOTMENTS

36. Resolved - a) That the allotment rentals be increased to £15.00 per five rod plot for three year period commencing 1 April 2000.

b) That the annual rental due from Mr Caiger be once again waived in view of his assistance with the management of the allotment site and help in collecting the allotment dues from other tenants.

PLANNING

37. The Council had before them and received the minutes of meetings of the Planning Committee on 15 and 21 February 2000 (copies attached to minute book).

38. In the ensuing discussion about planning application No Y/2/00 (revised access at Wivenhoe, Main Road, Yapton), concern was expressed by a member of the public about the unauthorised felling of trees on this property which was part of the Conservation Area. Mr Bryant commented that this was a matter for Arun District Council's Planning Enforcement Officer, who had already been alerted to the problem. For its part, the Parish Council, when commenting on the application, had asked the District Council "to ensure that any ground or building work harmonizes with the Conservation Area".

39. Mrs Freeman advised that she had recently further information from GOSE (Government Office for the South East) which was dealing with the appeal against the non-determination by Arun District Council of the application for residential development of the lad at Burndell Road, north of Goodhew Close. Copies of the relevant papers would be passed to the Planning Comittee so that they could consider what response if any, the Parish Council should make to GOSE in the light of this further information.

40. The Clerk was asked to contact the District Council to enquire if any action could be taken against a taxi proprietor who habitually parked his vehicles causing obstruction on along Main Road.

MILLENNIUM WORKING PARTY

41. Mr Haymes reported that the application for lottery funds for floodlighting the village church had been turned down. Plans were proceeding with the activities proposed for the May Day festivities. It was hoped that the Chairman of the Parish Council would be available to officially open the event. The design for the children's bone china beakers had now been finalised and an order with Staffordshire Tableware Limited would be placed shortly. The cost worked out at £2.36 (less discount) per item.

PLAYING FIELD

42. Continuing problems with motorbikes and horses being ridden across the field were reported. The Clerk was asked to make contact again with Arun Pest Control Service as it was evident that moles were still at work on the field.

FINANCE

43. Resolved - That the financial statements for the months of January and February 2000
be adopted (copies attached to minute book).

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

44. Mr Tompsett reported that the road-name signs outside Goodhew Close had been removed.

45. Mrs Freeman reported on her attendance at meetings of the Sussex Association of Local Councils and the Downland Area Partnership Panel.

46. It was reported that the ditch at the rear of the brick built bus shelter alongside 1 Victoria Villas was full of rubbish. The Clerk undertook to contact the District Council as the area of land concerned was within the Loveys Housing Estate.

47. Another derelict car had been dumped in Loveys Road. The police and District Council had both been informed.

48. A member of the public commented that the Draft Local Plan was rather thin and contained no development criteria. Most of the substance seemed to be contained in the Supplementary Guidance Notes which accompanied the Plan.

CHAIRMAN