YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL

10 March 2003 - At a meeting of the Parish Council held at the Yapton & Ford Village Hall.

Present: Mr Fellows (Chairman), Mr Caiger, Mr Coe, Mr Faulkner, Mr Haymes and Mrs Palmer.

Also present: County Councillor Mrs Freeman, District Councillor Mr Matthews, PC Andy Foster (for part of meeting), Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 21 members of the public.

Apologies for absence were received from Inspector Jeff Lister of Sussex Police who had recently been appointed to take charge of the newly established Arundel Neighbourhood Policing Team.

DAVID RANCEFORD-HADLEY

30. The Chairman reported with sadness that David Ranceford-Hadley, former Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council, had died on 13 February 2003. The Chairman and members acknowledged
David's experience, his wise counsel and valuable contribution to the work of the Council which would be greatly missed. The Council's condolences had been sent to David's wife and family. A donation of £50.00 had been sent to the Chestnut Tree House Appeal in his memory.

31. The meeting stood for a minute's silence in David's memory.

VICE-CHAIRMAN

32. Resolved - That Mr Haymes be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council.

MINUTES

33. Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2003 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

MATTERS ARISING

Siting of recycling bins in Yapton (minute 6/2003)

34. The Clerk reported that a meeting involving the Chairman, District Councillor Mr Matthews and the Clerk had been held on 5 March 2003 with District Council Officers. At the meeting it had been suggested that the concreted area in front of the Air Rifle Range on Ford Airfield might be suitable for locating the recycling bins. The Council Officers undertook to explore this possibility which would provide a facility for Yapton, Ford and Clymping residents. It was hoped that this would be a joint District Council/Parishes project supported by the parishes, with the possibility of some recycling income being reinvested in the local community.

35. Members indicated they would be happy to be involved in promoting the new location within the village and agreed that if the project went ahead the Council should assist with the cost of signage for the new site.

Future visits to Yapton by Coles Fair (minute 11/2003)

36. The Clerk reported that he had spoken to Bill Cole who had expressed regret at the concerns which had been expressed following the fair's last visit to Yapton. Mr Cole had indicated that the fair's next visit would not be until the Autumn and he had suggested a meeting be held beforehand involving the Chairman and David Coe to agree on the location of the fairground rides and stalls so that the noise nuisance could be kept to a minimum.

37. The Council agreed to proceed on this basis.

Litter in ditch adjacent to Victoria Villas (minute 13/2003)

38. The Clerk reported that the District Council had since arranged for the accumulated litter and rubbish to be cleared from the site.

Planning Application Y/39/01: Development on Orchard Nursery Site (minute 18/2003)

39. Mr Caiger provided further details about the conversion of 6 further greenhouses to industrial usage. This information would be passed to the Planning Officer to establish whether planning permission had been granted.

New street lamps for Loveys Estate (minute 26/2003)

40. The Clerk reported that the estimate received from SEC Lighting Services for the installation
and servicing of two new street lamps for Loveys Road and Foundry Road was some £204.00 in excess of the figure budgeted for 2003/2004.

41. Resolved - That the estimate provided by SEC Lighting Services amounting to £1704.00 + VAT be accepted.

Foundry Road - One-way Road system (minute 28(c)/2003)

42. County Councillor Mrs Freeman reported that she understood from Mike Egleton, Area Highway Engineer, that there was currently no funding available for a the introduction of a one-way road system.

Canal Road - Dropped Kerb (minute 28(g)/2003)

43. The Clerk reported that he had just heard that the County Council's Legal Services Department was to write to the householder detailing the remedial works required to the access and giving 14 days to comply with the stated requirements. If this order was not complied with, the County Council would carry out the works on a rechargeable basis.

ARUNDEL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING TEAM

44. PC Andy Foster reported that a new Arundel Neighbourhood Policing Team had recently been established under the command of Inspector Jeff Lister. The new team comprised 2 sergeants and 12 constables and would cover the rural villages area from Findon to Westergate including Yapton. As a result instead of one officer being allocated to cover the locality, there would now be a team of officers who would respond to any incidents and deal with "quality of life" issues.

45. PC Foster commented on the recent visit to Yapton of the Mobile Police Station. It was hoped that there would be more publicity in advance of future visits.

46. In response to a question, PC Foster advised that the police should be contacted by dialling 999 if motorbikes were being illegally ridden over the playing field.

COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS

47. County Councillor Mrs Freeman reported on a number of highways matters including (a) the diversion of Footpath 146 to create a cycle track was now going ahead following appeal (b) the Chairman of Governors of Yapton CE Primary School had written to the Area Highway Engineer about the continuing traffic problems in North End Road and (c) the proposed introduction of a
50 mph speed limit on parts of the A259 Grevatts Lane & Crookthorn Lane, the B2233 Yapton Road and Church Lane, all in the Parish of Clymping.

48. District Councillor Mr Matthews reported that the proposed Local Plan was reaching the final stages. A full Council meeting would be held shortly to ratify the Plan which included inter alia protection of the existing village boundaries.

CORRESPONDENCE

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

a) West Sussex County Council - enclosing for consultation purposes a copy of the West Sussex Waste Local Plan. Amongst the proposals was a new site for waste management on the former airfield at Ford (copy of proposed site plan attached to minute book). It was noted that Ford Parish Council were objecting to the proposal for Ford Airfield which would include, it was suggested, provision for the disposal of plastic products.

b) West Sussex County Council - enclosing details of the Highways Works Proposed Schemes 2003/2004 and Forward Programmes (extracted copies covering works proposed for Yapton attached to minute book).

c) West Sussex County Council - enclosing a copy of the final version of the Strategy for Gypsis and Travellers in West Sussex which had now been approved on behalf of the County Council by the Cabinet Member for Community Development.

d) West Sussex County Council - consultation on the County Electoral Review. The Council noted that under the proposals Yapton would be included in a new Barnham Ward (incorporating Barnham, Eastergate, Walberton and Yapton) with Hoe Lane being in a Middleton Ward which incorporated the district wards of Felpham East and Middleton-on-Sea.

e) Resident of Hoe Lane, Flansham - seeking the Council's support for recognition by the Post Office of the ancient hamlet of Flansham (copy attached). The Clerk advised that historically Hoe Lane had been part of the administrative area of Yapton Parish Council since the Parish was first established in 1894. Members of the Council were keen to preserve their heritage and were unaminous in their support for the submission by the residents of Hoe Lane that the ancient name of Flansham should be retained in the postal address, in perpetuity.

f) Secretary of the West Sussex Community Broadband Society - seeking the Council's support for their application to West Sussex County Council for funding for a project to develop a wireless broadband network for the benefit of the 6 villages community (copy attached to minute book). The Council were happy to lend their support to the project.

g) Local resident - registering concern about the siting of the proposed skate board facility (copy attached to minute book).

PROPOSED SKATEBOARDING FACILITY AND ARENA MEETING POINT FOR TEENAGERS

50. The Clerk reviewed the background to the proposal to provide a skateboarding facility on the playing field and the latest position regarding the applications for grant-aid. It was noted that Arun District Council had approved a grant of £3,000 from their Village Enhancement Scheme but none of the other Council's bids for grant-aid had yet been determined.

51. As part of the planning for the project the Chairman had suggested that an Arena Meeting Point for teenagers (a purpose-built partially covered seating area for youngsters of the type manufactured by SMP Playgrounds Ltd might be provided alongside the skateboard ramp and possibly sited near to the basketball area in the centre of the village. The Clerk indicated that such a project would have the wholehearted support of the Western Area Youth Officer as well as the Sussex Police as it would provide an outlet for the youth in the village and hopefully discourage them from vandalism and anti-social behaviour. It was recognised that at present, because they had no alternative meeting place, a small cohort of the youth in the village tended to congregate either in the Bilsham Road bus shelter or more recently around the picnic seats provided in the children's play area. Their presence in the children's play area late at night was causing concern and disturbance to the residents in Downview Way as well as the elderly residents in the adjacent Warmere Court Home.

52. In the ensuing discussion, a number of residents from Downview Way and Beverley Close spoke of their concern about the decision to site the new children's play area near to their properties and of the problems of vandalism which they felt this had generated for them. The residents were particularly concerned that the play area security lights should not be left on all night as the illuminated play area was attracting older youths who were using it as a meeting base into the early hours. Residents were also concerned that the skateboarding facility, if it went ahead, should be located in a situation where it would not disturb residents and that notices should be erected indicating the age limit for use of the play area equipment.

53. A young person in attendance at the meeting reiterated the need for more activities to be provided for teenagers in the village and hoped that the Council would consider sympathetically the request for a skateboarding facility.

54. No decision was taken by the Council regarding the siting of the new facilities proposed for teenagers pending the outcome of the various bids for funding being known. However, the Council agreed that the Clerk should look into the possibility of replacing the present photo-electric cells with time clocks so that the security lights in the play area could be switched off at around 11.00 pm. At the same time notices would be obtained which would limit the age range for use of the play equipment to 12 years.

PLANNING

55. The Council had before them and received (a) the minutes of meetings of the Planning Committee held on 13 January and 1, 7 and 11 February 2003 (copies attached to minute book) and (b) details of the planning decisions made by Arun District Council in January 2003 (copy attached to minute book).

56. The Council noted that the applicant had lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate against the decision of Arun District Council to refuse the application for the erection of a detached bungalow and associated parking spaces on land at Church Farm House, Church Lane, Yapton. The Clerk had forwarded details of the Parish Council's objections to the Planning Inspectorate.

PLAYING FIELD

57. The problem of the diseased/dead elms bordering the playing field along Church Road would again be drawn to the Area Highway Engineer.

ALLOTMENTS

58. The Clerk reported that the budget agreed at the last meeting had been prepared on the basis that there would be no increase in the allotment rentals for 2003/2004. Mr Caiger declared an interest and took no part in the discussion on fixing the annual rental for the allotment plots.

59. Resolved - That the annual rental for a 5 rod plot on the Cinders Lane Allotment site remain at £15.00 for the year commencing 1 April 2003.

60. The Council agreed that the Clerk should review the conditions of tenancy in consultation with Mr Caiger. In particular the ban on bonfires before 7.00 pm (in the summer months) should be highlighted as well as the fact that bonfires should not be left unattended on the allotment site.

VILLAGE HALL

61. Invitations to tender for the replacement heating system had been invited from 5 contractors.
A door at the rear of the Village Hall had twice been damaged by vandals. It was thought that the vandals might have used fencing posts left behind by contractors when the neighbouring Mary Woolven Youth Centre was being renovated.

FINANCE

62. The Clerk reported that the new software designed to assist with the management and monitoring of the Council's finances was now place and all the data for the 2002/2003 financial year had now been entered on to the computer. The existing manual accounting system would be maintained alongside the computerised system for the remainder of the current financial year.

63. Resolved -

(a) That the financial statement showing the payments and receipts for January and February 2003 be adopted (copy attached to minute book);

b) That the financial statement showing a breakdown of the amount Spent vs Budget since the start of the financial year be received (copy attached to minute book);

c) That the summary record of the Council's income and expenditure since the start of the financial year and the latest balances be received (copy attached to minute book).

d) That Barclays Bank PLC be re-appointed as the Council's bankers and that the three authorised signatories for cheque payments be Mr Fellows (the Chairman), Mr Caiger and Mr Tompsett.

e) That the Council's funds in the Business Reserve Account be transferred to the new Barclays Bank Business Base Tracker Account as soon as possible;

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

64. The following matters/concerns were raised by Councillors and members of the public present at the meeting:-

a) Mr Haymes confirmed the matters discussed at the meeting of the Joint Downland Area Committee held on 27 January 2003.

b) Mr Tompsett had been approached by a resident about the possibility of a dog bin being provided at Rollaston Park, Ford.

c) Residents of The Croft in North End Road were concerned about their access being blocked by parents' cars at the beginning and end of the school day

d) Mr Rowlandson stated that this would be his last meeting He said he had enjoyed his time on the Parish Council and congratulated Mr Fellows on his effective chairmanship and the Council on the huge amount it had achieved over the last few years. The Chairman, on behalf of the members, warmly thanked Mr Rowlandson for his valuable service to the Council since his appointment in May 1995.

e) Mr Caiger referred to the article in the Local Council Review on the "walking bus" to school. It was hoped that parents at the local Primary School might consider this.

f) District Councillor Mr Matthews reported that there was an accumulation of rubbish near the fence at the far end of the playing field

g) The Council noted that the next meeting of the Parish Council was scheduled for Monday 19 May
2003. The meeting would be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting starting at 7.30 pm.

65. Follow-up action with regard to the matters raised would be taken by the Clerk as appropriate.

CHAIRMAN