YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL

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

Present:
Mr Fellows (Chairman), Mr Boxall, Mr Bryant, Mr Coe, Mrs Freeman, Mr Haymes,
Mrs Palmer, Mr Ranceford-Hadley, Mr Rowlandson and Mr Tompsett.

Also present:
District Councillors Mrs Goad and Mr Matthews,
Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 7 members of the public.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr Boxall and County Councillor Mr Betteridge.

MINUTES

109. Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2000 be approved as a
correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

MATTERS ARISING

Condition of large car park/Recycling Centre (minutes 83 -84/2000)

110. The Clerk reported on a site meeting which he and the Chairman had attended with Tony
Hammond from Arun District Council. Mr Hammond had proposed that the recycling bins be re-
sited to the west of the entrance to the large car park. Subject to the agreement of the Highways
Authority, this would enable the bins to be serviced directly from the main road and avoid the
need for the recycling vehicles to enter the car park itself. Some fencing would be provided by
the District Council to screen the bins and the height barrier could then be reinstated to prevent
heavy goods vehicles from entering the car park without prior approval.

111. It was noted that comparative estimates for either refurbishing or tarmacing the large car
park were being obtained and Mr Hammond had indicated that the District Council should be able
to offer some financial assistance towards the work.

Village Hall - External Maintenance Works (minute 85/2000)

112. The Council noted that the maintenance works had been completed. The Chairman drew
particular attention to the successful removal of the graffitti from the wall at the rear of the village
hall.

Proposed Question & Answer Session (minute 88/2000)

113. The Clerk reported that arrangements for the Q & A session at the village hall to be held on
25 October were being finalised by the District Council. The Council agreed a starting time of
7.30 pm be proposed for the two hour session. It was also agreed that the District Council be
asked to invite Mrs Margaret Johnson, Chairman of the Sussex Police Authority, to attend.

Goodhew Close - replacement road name signs (minute 90/2000)

114. Mr Tompsett confirmed that the new signs had now been installed.

Church Lane - Kissing Gate (minute 91/2000)

115. The Clerk reported on the contents of a further reply from the County Planning Officer. The
Council were still anxious that some structure should be provided to prevent access to the footpath
by motorbikes and horseriders. It was suggested that a more modest proposal would be to
provide two 'looped' galvanised heavy duty tubes cemeted into the ground and offset to one
another, to prevent access. The Clerk undertook to explore this possibility with the County
Planning Officer as a next step.

Highway Grass Cutting and weed control (minutes 97 and 106/2000)

116. The Clerk reported on the contents of a reply received from the Local Highway Manager.

Levelling-off playing field (minute 98(e)/2000)

117. Mr Coe reported that so far one estimate had been obtained for this work.

Clerk's remuneration - National Insurance contributions (minute 104(c)/2000)

118. The Council had before them and considered a confidential paper prepared by the Clerk
setting out the position with regard to the employer's liability for National Insurance contributions
following his retirement from full time employment with the County Council. It was accepted
that in the absence of other proposals it would be necessary for the Council to set up a PAYE
scheme and make monthly payments to the Inland Revenue for the NI contributions due. On the
basis of the Clerk's present salary these would amount to £15.62 per month.

119. Resolved - That the Council agree to set up a PAYE scheme in respect of the Clerk's
employment and accept financial responsibility for payment of the National Insurance contributions
due as his employer.

Future of Warmere Court (minute 105/2000)

120. Mr Matthews advised that a public meeting was due to take place on Thursday 28 September
at 7.30 pm at the Village Hall. It was hoped that as many members as possible from the Parish
Council would be able to attend.

Parking Problems in the Downview Roads (minute 108/2000)

121. The Chairman reported that he had been in contact with the local garage and had been
assured that they did not park any of their cars in the Downview estate roads.

DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS

122. Mrs Goad and Mr Matthews both referred with regret to the incident when the secretary of
the Yapton & District Cottage Gardeners had been physically assaulted and severely injured in the
marquee prior to the opening of the Flower Show in August. The lack of an immediate response
from Sussex Police had been of great concern and Mr Matthews reported on subsequent
correspondence he had had with the Chief Constable who accepted that 'mistakes had been made'
and the emergency call had unfortunately been 'downgraded' in error. Both Councillors stressed
the importance of residents reporting all incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour to the
police (tel: 0845 6070999) so that information recorded by the Police reflected the true extent of
the problems in the village.

123. Mr Matthews reported that at the Pre-inquiry meeting for the draft Local Plan the Inspector
had indicated that the proceedings were expected to last at least 9 months.

CORRESPONDENCE

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

a) Sussex Associations of Local Councils : Best Value - as it applies to smaller Parish
Councils. The Clerk advised that although the Council, because its gross income was below the
threshold of £500,000, was exempt from the specific duties of Best Value as set out in the Local
Government Act 1999, the Government nonetheless expected "all parish councils to embrace Best
Value principles and follow Best Value practices as far as possible".

Members noted the requirements of the Best Value legislation had been summarised by the '4 Cs'
(Challenge, Compare, Consult and Competition) as set out in paragraph 4 of the report from the
Sussex Association of Local Councils (copy attached to minute book). It was felt that Yapton
Parish Council is its established practices and procedures already followed the principles of Best
Value as far as possible and the Council resolved to continue to do so in the future.

b) Arun District Council - enclosing a copy of the Council's draft Housing Strategy Statement
for 2000/2003 and inviting comments. It was agreed that the document should be passed to the
Planning Committee for consideration and any response.

c) Arun District Council - seeking the views of Parish and Town Councils "on the current
level and quality of service and their accessibility and also any suggestions for the future
management of the two day centres for the elderly (Laburnum and Tamarisk) in Bognor
Regis and Littlehampton" . The Council had no specific comments to make although it was noted
that some residents from Yapton attended the Tamarisk Centre in Littlehampton and transport was
available if required.

PLANNING COMMITTEE

125. The Council had before them and received the minutes of meetings of the Planning
Committee held on 17 July 2000 (copies attached to minute book).

126. Mr Bryant reported on the latest position with regard to enforcement issues which had been
raised with the District Council concerning (a) a change of use at Victoria Lodge, Main Road,
Yapton, and (b) a residential property in St Mary's Meadow, Yapton, where it appeared that a
business use was taking place. The District Council were to issue a Contravention Notice in
respect of the former to gain more information regarding the intensity of use of the premises by
Cabco. In the case of the latter there had been no complaints and therefore no enforcement action
had been initiated.

128. Mr Bryant also referred to the position concerning the Local Draft Deposit Plan and the
representations made by the Council concerning the urgent need for exterior refurbishment works
at the Old Post Office which was sited in a Conservation Area and also to the old Canal Bridge
situated on the Burndell section of the former Canal. The Council noted that the Planning
Officer had now replied to indicate that a response to the Old Post Office issue would be reported
to the District Council's Planning Committee in October but the canal bridge lay outside of the
Conservation Area and therefore could not be included in the report.

129. Following discussion, it was agreed to refer back to the Planning Committee the concerns
expressed about the need not only to restore the old Canal Bridge but also to preserve the
surrounding copse as being an 'Area of Special Character', with a view to further representations
being made on these matters to the District Council.

PLAYING FIELD

130. Mr Coe reported that the playing field was generally in a good state at the present time and
the grass cutting contractor was doing a good job. The Clerk advised that he had recently asked
the contractor to strim around the base of the new mound surrounding the Kickabout/Basketball
area as an addition to the existing contract.

VILLAGE HALL REPRESENTATIVES

131. Mr Rowlandson reported that the flooring in the Club Room had recently been replaced at a
cost of £2,500. Work was proceeding and advice being sought about the submission of a lottery
bid for the new heating system which was estimated would cost in the region of £8,000. The
planned fund-raising dance would now take place in February 2001 as a Valentine's Dance. The
problems which had been experienced with the new Millennium Clock on the village hall were
referred to by Mrs Freeman.

MILLENNIUM WORKING PARTY

132. Mr Haymes reported that the china beakers had been presented to the Yapton CE Primary
School children by representatives of Ford & Yapton Parish Councils. At the same time a framed
copy of the new Yapton Village Map had been presented to the school. The extra supply of
beakers which had been ordered had arrived and had been distributed. A small quantity
remained for sale. The Working Party still retained some money in its funds and consideration
would be given as to how this should be used at the next meeting.

VANDALISM IN THE VILLAGE

133. The Council discussed the continuing problems with vandalism in the village. The
Chairman commented that although the incident at the Flower Show had been most regrettable, in
his opinion the overall level of vandalism had not increased significantly over the last 6 months
and it was still just a small element in the community who were continuing to be disruptive and
intent on anti-social behaviour. The problems appeared to be associated also with under-age
drinking and the fact that alcohol was allegedly readily obtainable from the local One-Stop store.

134. In the ensuing discussion Mrs Freeman referred to the efforts being made by officers from
the District Council to provide more recreational facilities and interests particularly for young
people in the older age groups. Members agreed that the sale of alcohol to underage young
people was a problem as was the drug abuse which was known to be taking place. It was noted
that under the provisions of the Crime & Disorder Act 1998 the District Council could issue anti-
social orders against individuals or families who were known to be a problem within a community.
However the general public were often reluctant to report incidents of anti-social behaviour and
vandalism because of the fear of reprisals and there was a difficulty therefore in getting evidence
and witnesses to support a prosecution or take any further action.

135. The Council agreed:

a) to obtain further information from the District Council of the procedures for anti-social
behaviour orders and the evidence needed to support such orders;

b) to advise the proprietor of the local One-Stop store of the Council's concerns with regard to the
alleged sale of alcohol to under-age young people within the community with a view, if
appropriate, to making a complaint to the Licensing Authority;

c) to explore the possibility of extending the present byelaws in respect of the King George V
Playing Field to prevent the consumption of alcohol on the field;

d) to encourage the general public with the full support of the Parish Council to report all
incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour to the police so that the true extent of the
problems within Yapton can be properly assessed.

DOWNLAND AREA PARTNERSHIP PANEL AND THE ALDAC - JOINT MEETING OF
DOWNLAND, EASTERN AND WESTERN BRANCHES

136. The Council had before them and received reports from Mrs Freeman on these meetings
(copies attached to minute book).

FINANCE

137. Resolved - that the financial statements for the months of July and August 2000 be adopted
(copies attached to minute book).

138. The Council noted that the National Joint Council for Local Government Services had
recently agreed a 3% salary increase for full and part-time clerks with retrospective effect to 1
April 2000. The Clerk's contract of employment provided for his salary to be adjusted in
accordance with any awards made by the NJC. In this instance the 3% award amounted to an
additional £172.80 per year provision for which had been included in the budget for 2000/2001.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

139. A number of concerns were mentioned by Councillors and members of the public present.
These included street lights not working in certain locations, dog bins not being emptied on the
playing field, broken glass deposited in Church Road, Sunday evening church services no longer
taking place at St Mary's, Yapton, the possibility of further housing development off Church Road
and the speed limit through the village. Mr Tompsett referred specifically to concerns about
footways raised with him by a resident and produced photographic evidence in support. These
would be followed up again with the Area Highway Engineer by the Clerk.

CHAIRMAN

Return to main menu