YAPTON
PARISH COUNCIL
10 July 2000 - At a meeting of the Parish Council held at the Yapton & Ford
Village Hall.
Present: Mr Fellows (Chairman), Mr Boxall, Mr Coe, Mrs Freeman,
Mr Haymes,
Mrs Palmer, Mr Ranceford-Hadley, Mr Rowlandson and Mr Tompsett.
Also present: County Councillor Mr Betteridge, District Councillor Mr Matthews,
Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 9 members of the public.
Apologies for absence were received from Mr Bryant and District Councillor Mrs Goad.
MINUTES
81. Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 2000 be approved
as a
correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISING
Kickabout area (minute 58/2000)
82. The new Kickabout area had been officially opened by Councillor Mrs Rosemary
Cooper,
Chairman of Arun District Council, on 5 July 2000. Despite the weather there
had been a good
turnout with the Chairman of the Parish Council and other Parish Councillors
together with various
officers and a number of children in attendance.
Condition of large car park/Recycling Centre (minute 60/2000)
83. The Clerk reported that he had had on-going correspondence with the District
Council but
there was a reluctance to accept that the recycling vehicles were "wholly
responsible" for the
damage to the surface of the large car park. A meeting on site involving the
Chairman had been
suggested as a way forward and this would be arranged as soon as possible.
84. Mrs Freeman mentioned that she had had contact with Bill Minton at the
District Council and
he had suggested that there might be a possibility of funds being available
from the District
Council for landscaping/screening-off the Yapton Recycling Centre. This would
be explored at
the meeting with District Council officers.
Village Hall - External Maintenance Works (minute 62/2000)
85. The Clerk reported that Ford Parish Council had sent a contribution of
£1500.00 towards the
costs of these works.
Ford Wastewater & Sewerage Treatment Works - Monitoring Group (minute 63/2000)
86. Mr Coe reported that the programme of work was ahead of schedule. It was
hoped now to
complete the work by the end of October with a view to the plant being commissioned
and fully
operational by 31 December 2000.
Yapton Community Pre-school (minute 67/2000)
87. The Clerk reported on the contents of a detailed reply he had received
from Minister
responsible for Early Years at the Department for Education and Employment.
A copy of the
letter had been forwarded to the Pre-school Group and it was hoped they would
find this helpful.
Proposed Question & Answer Session (minute 68e/2000)
88. The date proposed was the evening of Wednesday 25 October 2000 at the Village
Hall. Two
suggestions were put forward for consideration: (i) that Ken Lloyd, Director
for Community
Services, WSCC, be invited to talk about the new Cabinet Government arrangements
operated by
the County Council and in particular the role of the proposed Area Committee
for Downland
comprising the four local County Councillors serving the area (ii) that the
problem of vandalism in
the area be given a high profile on the agenda and that representatives from
the Sussex Police,
WSCC and District Council be invited to make statements. The Clerk undertook
to pass on
these suggestions to the District Council for consideration when they were drawing
up the agenda
for the evening.
Orchards Nursery Site - Planning Enquiry Appeal (minute 68h/2000)
89. The Clerk reported that the appeal by the developer had since been withdrawn.
Goodhew Close - replacement road name signs (minute 79/2000)
90. The Clerk had been advised some 2 months ago by the District Council that
replacement
signs had arrived in their depot and would be fitted "at the first opportunity".
As they had still
not been fitted he would follow this up.
Church Lane - Kissing Gate (minute 80/2000)
91. The County Planning Officer had since written to say that because of the
nature of the
vandalism which had occurred, the cost of providing a replacement kissing gate
at this location
could not be justified. The Council were disappointed with this response and
asked that the Clerk
pursue it further with the officers concerned.
Closure of Access - Wivenhoe, Main Road, Yapton (minute 80/2000)
92. The District Council's Planning Officer had advised that although there
was no planning
condition requiring the external elevation of the wall to be finished in the
same manner as the
existing wall, the owners were nevertheless intending to do this at their earliest
convenience.
MEMBERSHIP
93. With reference to minute 51/2000, the Chairman reported that two persons
had come forward
for consideration to fill the vacancy on the Parish Council caused by the resignation
of Peter
Found. However, in the ensuing discussion one of the two persons voluntarily
withdrew his
candidature.
94. Resolved - That Mr David Ranceford-Hadley of 22 St Mary's Meadow, Yapton,
be co-opted
to serve on the Parish Council for the remainder of the four year term of office
ending in May
2003.
95. At this point Mr Ranceford-Hadley signed his declaration of acceptance
of office and joined
the meeting.
COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS
96. Mr Betteridge advised that in connection with the proposed cycle route
between Barnham and
Flansham, Orders for diverting parts of Public Footpath no 146 in the parishes
of Barnham and
Yapton had been advertised. Subject to any objections or representations received,
the Orders
would be confirmed by the County Council in due course.
97. The Council shared the disappointment expressed by Mr Betteridge at the
standard of the
highway verge grass cutting this year and agreed that the Clerk should be asked
to make
representations to the Area Highway Engineer in the hope that improvements could
be made for
next year.
CORRESPONDENCE
98. Receipt of the following correspondence was reported by the Clerk and action
agreed as
indicated:-
a) West Sussex Health Authority - Application by Kingchem Ltd for inclusion
in the
Pharmaceutical List for Yapton (copy attached to minute book).
The Council heard from Dr Foulkes of Yew Tree Surgery who was representing
the views of the
the general practitioners in Yapton. Following discussion it was agreed that
the Council should
strongly oppose the establishment of a separate pharmacy in the village. The
Council's view was
that for the residents of the parish of Yapton, the present arrangements were
entirely satisfactory;
the needs of the patients were being fully met and there was no apparent benefit
to patients in
setting up a separate pharmacy. The particular site for the proposed new pharmacy
was also a
concern. It was regarded locally as a parking blackspot, located just outside
the village centre
and not easily accessible to pedestrians, expecially the more elderly in the
community.
The Clerk was asked to make these points in the response he sent to the Area
Health Authority to
the application by Kingchem Ltd.
b) WSCC Director for Community Services - advising of the establishment of
an Area Committee
for Downland comprising the four local County Councillors for the area.
c) WSCC - Consultation on revising the West Sussex Structure Plan. The Council
noted that the
consultation arrangements included provision for individuals to make representations
by way of a
questionnaire. In the circumstances it was decided not to submit any specific
comments from the
Parish Council.
d) Arun District Council - Advising that the appeal for redevelopment of the
Orchards
Nursery site with 46 dwellings had been withdrawn
e) Yapton Football Club - requesting that potholes on the playing field be
filled in. The Council
appreciated trhat there were problems with levels on certain part of the field
and agreed that the
Clerk, in consultation with Mr Coe, should seek quotes from local contractors
for levelling-off the
playing field in the late Spring next year.
f) Bognor Fun Bus Co Ltd - request for grant-aid. The Council declined to approve
a grant to
this Company.
g) Arun District Council - advising of the recent election of Councillor Mrs
Rosemary Cooper as
Chairman of the Council and Councillor Mrs Jacqueline Maconachie as Vice-Chairman
for the
current Municipal Year.
h) Arun District Council - Plant-a-Bulb Scheme 2000. The Council decided not
to participate in
the scheme this year.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
99. The Council had before them and received the minutes of meetings of the
Planning
Committee held on 25 May 2000 (copies attached to minute book). Mr Matthews
reported that
a decision from the Secretary of State was still awaited concerning the planning
application for
housing development at the rear of Goodhew Close.
PLAYING FIELD
100. Mr Coe reported that the missing the dog bin at the far end of the playing
field had still not
been replaced by the District Council. He reported also that there was evidence
of moles back
on the field. Mr Rowlandson advised of an incident involving an unlicensed motorcycle
being
ridden across the field and the action he had taken.
VILLAGE HALL REPRESENTATIVES
101. An application was to be submitted to the Lottery Fund for assistance
with the replacement
of the heating system. The cost of the new heating system was estimated to be
in the region of
£9000.00. The recent presentation evening for the Parish Map had been
very enjoyable. A copy
of the map had been given to the Chairman of the Parish Council. It was agreed
this should be
framed and presented to Yapton CE Primary School. The dance planned for October
had had to
be postponed and would now take place on 16 December.
MILLENNIUM WORKING PARTY
102. Mr Haymes reported that the china beakers to be given to the schoolchildren
in the village
as a mememto of the Millennium had been received. Copies were passed to Parish
Councillors.
It was noted that arrangements had been made for the beakers to be presented
to the children at
Yapton CE Primary School the following week. A further quantity of beakers would
be ordered
to make up a slight shortfall in the numbers.
DOWNLAND AREA PARTNERSHIP PANEL AND DOWNLAND BRANCH
MEETING OF THE ADALC
103. The Council had before them and received reports from Mrs Freeman on these
meetings
(copies attached to minute book). Congratulations were extended to Mrs Freeman
on her election
as Chairman of both these organisations for the year.
FINANCE
104. Resolved -
(a) That the auditor's certificate and opinion on the statement of accounts
for the financial year
ending 31 March 1999 be received (copy attached to minute book);
(b) That the response as drafted by the Clerk to the auditor's memorandum of
matters arising be
adopted, signed by the Chairman and forwarded to the auditor (copy attached
to minuite book);
(c) That arising from enquiries currently being made to the Inland Revenue
by the Clerk, the
Council agreed to accept financial responsibility for any National Insurance
liability arising from
the Clerk's employment with the Parish Council;
(d) That the financial statements for the months of May and June 2000 be adopted
(copies
attached to minute book).
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
105. Mr Matthews reported that proposals for the future operation of Warmere
Court were being
considered by the County Council and would be out for consultation shortly.
106. Mr Tompsett asked if the County Council's Highways Department could be
contacted about
the prevalence of weeds by the kerbside to see if they were planning to spray
them with
weedkiller this year.
107. Mr Coe advised that garden rubbish had been dumped near the footpath over
Canal Bride
close to Dyers Croft.
108. A resident was concerned about the increasing numbers of cars believed
to be from the local
garage which were being parked in the Downview Close, Downview Road and Downview
Way.
The Chairman undertook to speak to the proprietor of the garage concerned.
CHAIRMAN