YAPTON
PARISH COUNCIL
8 Januray 2001 - At a meeting of the Parish Council held at the Yapton &
Ford Village Hall.
Present: Mr Fellows (Chairman), Mr Bryant, Mr Coe, Mrs Freeman, 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 53 members of the public.
Apologies for absence were received from Stuart Boxall and Stephen Haymes.
MINUTES
1. Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2000 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISING
Church Lane - Kissing Gate (minute 143/2000)
2. The Clerk reported that the District Council's Planning Officer had confirmed that the erection of two hooped barriers in place of the kissing gate would be regarded as "permitted development" and no planning application was therefore necessary even though the site was in the Yapton Conservation Area.
Planning issues (minutes 149/2000)
3. Mr Bryant reported that the Planning Officer had reaffirmed that the issues put forward by the Council with regard to the Old Canal Bridge and Copse could not be considered by the Inspector in connection with the Local Plan Inquiry as they had not been submitted within the timespan available.
Millennium Clock (minute 150/2000)
4. The Clerk advised that the problem with the clock failure was found, in the event, not to be due to radio transmissions but was simply caused by a blown fuse. The circuit to which the floodlighting for the clocks had been wired was already full and the powering up of fans on the same circuit had overloaded it and blown the fuse. The matter had been taken up with Good Directions who had indicated that the problem of the "overcrowded" fuse board had previously been brought to the attention of various persons at the Village Hall. Whilst Good Directions had supplied the floodlighting as a gesture of goodwill, they considered that they could not reasonably be held responsible for the associated additional costs of providing a separate electrical supply for the lighting.
5. Members discussed the situation and agreed in the circumstances that the
cost of the separate electrical supply for lighting the clocks should be covered
from Council funds. The Chairman of the Village Hall Management Committee was
authorised to make the necessary arrangements subject to a maximum cost of £250.
Sale of alcohol to under-age young people (minute 151/2000)
6. The Clerk advised that a reply had been received from the Clerk to the Justices which indicated that the Council's letter which raised concerns about the granting of the License had been placed before the Magistrates when they considered the application. The Clerk to the Justices pointed out that each case was dealt with on its own merits and in this case the Magistrates had been satisfied that the applicants were "fit and proper people" to hold a Liquor Licence.
Yapton CE Primary School - Parish Council Representative (minute 157/2000)
7. The Clerk advised that Mrs Christine Ranceford-Hadley's name had been submitted to the Governors for co-option to the governing body as the Parish Council's representative.
Police presence in the area (minute 169/2000)
8. Mrs Freeman reported that as Chairman of the Arun District Association of
Local Councils she had written to the Home Secretary requesting more police
resources for the area. A similar letter had been sent to the Chief Constable
of Sussex Police by the Leader of Arun District Council.
Inspection of Playing Field/Children's Play Area (minutes 164-165/2000)
9. The Council had before them and received a copy of a letter and enclosed guidelines from Zurich Muncipal, the Council's Insurers (copy attached to minute book). It was noted that the Council's present arrangements were considered satisfactory but in order to provide evidence of "due care and attention", the Clerk undertook to maintain a written log of any problems on the field or play area reported to him by the Litter Warden or other persons, together with a note of the action taken.
DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS
10. Mrs Goad in her capacity as Chairman of the Littlehampton Shopmobility
Service thanked the Council for the grant approved at the last meeting.
11. Mr Matthews advised the Council of his decision henceforth to sit as an
independent Councillor on Arun District Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
12. Receipt of the following correspondence was reported by the Clerk and action
agreed as indicated:-
a) Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions - enclosing a copy
of the Government's White Paper "Our Countryside: the future, a fair deal
for Rural England"
It was noted that the Clerk had requested copies of the accompanying summary
booklet and copies would be distributed to Councillors when they arrived. In
the meantime it was agreed that the copy of the White Paper, which it was noted
included a section on increasing the responsibilities of Parish Councils, would
be circulated for Councillors to read and note.
b) West Sussex County Council - enclosing a copy of a Public Consultation Document "Waste: The Challenge We All Face" which set out options for land-use for waste management in West Sussex. It was agreed that the Consultation Document and accompanying papers be referred to the Planning Committee to consider whether or not to make any comments.
c) West Sussex County Council - Millennium Project Heritage Traffic Signs (Finger Posts). The County Council had decided to mark the Millennium with the provision of the County Crest and Village Name on the finial of one finger post in each parish. The letter sought the Council's views on which post in the village should be enhanced in this way. It was agreed that the matter should be referred to the Planning Committee to consider and make a recommendation.
d) West Sussex County Council - summarising the results of the public consultation
exercise on the revisions to the West Sussex Structure Plan. It was agreed that
a copy of the WSCC document should be posted on the Parish Council's noticeboard
as well as being circulated to all Councillors.
e) National Playing Fields Association - advising that a service of annual visits
and monitoring of King George V Playing Fields was being reintroduced in 2001.
The Clerk undertook to seek the advice of the NPFA on the levelling of the playing
field and raise with them the possibility of grant-aid towards the costs involved.
f) Arun District Council - inviting the Council to send a representative to
a special meeting of the Arun District Joint Land Drainage Group on Tuesday
16 January 2001 at 2.30 pm at the Arun Civic Centre, Littlehampton (minute 160c/2000
refers). It was agreed that Mr Rowlandson should attend as the Council's representative.
g) Arun District Council - inviting the Council to send representatives to the
Annual Civic Service to be held in Arundel Cathedral on Sunday 18 February 2001
at 3.00 pm.
Mrs Freeman and Mrs Palmer hoped to attend the service.
h) Arun District Council - enclosing copies for consultation of draft copies "A Leisure Strategy for the Arun District" (i) Facilities Plan and (ii) Recreation and Open Space Plan.
i) West Sussex County Council - enclosing a copy of the West Sussex Fire Brigade Annual Report which details the brigade's activities during the year 1999/2000.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
13. The Council had before them and received the minutes of a meeting of the Planning Committee held on 20 November 2000 (copy attached to minute book).
14. Mr Bryant advised that the District Council's Development Control Sub-Committee had since considered a report on the processing of Planning Application Y/43/00 [Eappa House] and had taken into account the comments of the Parish Council, but had endorsed the officer's decision, made under delegated powers, to approve the application subject to certain conditions. To try and avoid situations such as this recurring, the District Council's Planning Committee had subsequently agreed changes to their internal administrative procedures. The Parish Council had since been sent a letter of apology from the Chairman of the Committee.
15. With reference to minute 173/2000, Mr Bryant reported that the Planning Committee had agreed to make representations to the Highway Authority seeking additional parking restrictions in North End Road, Church Road and Church Lane as set out on a map of the area (copy attached to minute book). A reply had been received indicating that a Traffic Officer would review the situation in the New Year and the Council would be advised of the outcome in due course.
16. The Council discussed Planning Application Y/57/00 [Church House], an outline planning application for 6 houses within the curtilage of Church House in Church Lane. The members noted that the Council had received a number of written representations from local residents who were opposed to the application which was in the Conservation Area. The Clerk had summarised these representations in a paper which was circulated to members (copy attached to minute book).
17. Mrs Frances Barnes, Chairman of a local Action Group, together with other local residents, outlined their concerns about the application and sought the Council's support for their views. Mr Rowlandson, Acting Chairman of the Planning Committee, advised that the residents' concerns had been noted and the Planning Committee had already resolved to register a strong objection to the application on behalf of the Parish Council. Mr Rowlandson gave details of the reasons for the objection which would be included in the Council's letter to the Planning Authority.
18. Mr Rowlandson reported that the Planning Committee had recently considered two other planning applications (Planning Application Y/55/00: Detached Garage/Store at Red Barn Cottage, Hoe Lane and Planning Application Y/58/00: Conservatory at 2 Church Farm Cottages) but had decided not to raise any objections.
PLAYING FIELD
19. Mr Coe reported that due to the weather a number of football fixtures had had to be cancelled recently. An approach had been made by the Arundel Devils for a junior-sized Football Pitch to be sited on the field. A section of galvanised boundary tubing near the Recycling Bins was missing.
VILLAGE HALL REPRESENTATIVES
20. Mrs Freeman gave further details of the Valentine's Dance being planned for Saturday 17 February. The band "Nightlife" had been booked to provide entertainment for the evening. The ticket cost would be £8.00 which included food. There would also be a bar.
21. It was noted that the brick wall which enclosed the litter bins was starting to "crumble". An estimate of £1300 had been obtained for the wall to be re-built at a slightly lower level to help deter vandals. It was agreed that the Council's Building Maintenance Surveyor should be asked to consider the project in connection with next year's external maintenance programme for the Village Hall and include it if he considered it was a priority.
23. A rainwater leak had developed in the ceiling of the small hall. The Clerk undertook to report it to the Buildings Maintenance Surveyor for urgent attention.
ARUN DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS (ADALC) AND THE
DOWNLAND AREA PARTNERSHIP PANEL (DAPP)
24. The Council had before them and received reports from Mrs Freeman on recent meetings of the ADALC and DAPP (copy attached to minute book).
25. Mrs Freeman reported that the District Council had since agreed to adopt as a Pilot Scheme a Cabinet Style of Government for their managerial structure in the future.
26. It was noted that Mrs Freeman, in her capacity as Chairman of the Downland Area Partnership Panel, had sent a letter to the Minister for the Environment expressing the Panel's opposition to the designation of the South Downs as a National Park.
FINANCE
27. The Council had before them and considered a report preapred by the Clerk setting out the estimates of expenditure for the financial year 2001/2002 and the revised estimates for 2000/2001 (copy attached to minute book).
28. Resolved -
a) That the Council precept for the sum of £27,500 to cover the estimated cost of maintaining existing services together with the additional items of expenditure as set out in secion 4 of the accompanying notes;
(b) that the financial statements for the months of November and December 2000 be adopted (copies attached to minute book).
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
29. The following matters/concerns were raised by Councillors and members of the public present at the meeting:
a) Yapton Road had had to be temporarily closed on 7 January due to subsidence;
b) the flooding problems in Bilsham Road just past The Lamb PH appeared to
be relatively new and possibly associated with a ditch being filled in to provide
access to Hobbs Farm. The Clerk undertook to refer the matter to the Area Highway
Engineer to investigate;
c) contributions were being invited to a newsletter "Read all about it"
being promoted by the District Council;
d) some young carol singers in the village wearing pink ribbons and purporting to be raising money for Breast Cancer Research were unauthorised to do so. The matter had been reported to the police;
e) the need for a replacement roof panel in the new bus shelter on the eastern side of Bilsham Road;
f) the hedgerow alongside the footpath at the rear of the village hall needed cutting back;
g) there were graffiti on the road surface in Church Road which needed removing. The Clerk undertook to refer the matter to the Area Highway Engineer;
h) a small number of plots on the allotment site in Bilsham Road were still being overshadowed by trees from the adjoining nursery. The Clerk was asked to write again to the owner of Bilsham Nursery to request that the trees be cut back.
i) a member of the public paid tribute to the work of the Parish Council and the efforts being made to improve the local community.
CHAIRMAN