YAPTON
PARISH COUNCIL
12 May 2003 - At a meeting of the Parish Council held at the Yapton & Ford
Village Hall.
Present: Mrs Barnes, Mr Caiger, Mr Coe, Mr Fellows, Mr Faulkner, Mr Haymes, Mr Jones and Mr Tompsett.
Also present: County Councillor Mrs Freeman, District Councillor Mr Matthews, Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 3 members of the public.
Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Joanna Williams (The Five Villages Society).
MEMBERSHIP
66. The Clerk reported that as a result of the uncontested Parish Council election
on 1 May 2003, 8 members had been appointed as Parish Councillors for the Yapton
Village Ward for the four year term of office (copy of Result of Uncontested
Election attached to minute book). The two remaining vacancies on the Parish
Council would be filled by co-option.
67. It was noted that there had been no nominations for the Hoe Lane Ward. The
Clerk had recently made an approach to local residents to see if anyone was
interested in putting their name forward for co-option.
CODE OF CONDUCT/REGISTER OF MEMBERS' INTERESTS
68. Members signed the written undertaking to observe the Council's Code of Conduct. Members also noted that they were required to complete the Register of Members' Interests.
CHAIRMAN
69. Resolved - That Mr Fellows be re-elected Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year.
VICE-CHAIRMAN
70. Resolved - That Mr Haymes be re-elected Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
71. Resolved - That the membership of the committees for the ensuing year be as follows:
Playing Field: Mr Caiger, Mr Coe, Mr Tompsett
Planning: Mr Faulkner, Mrs Barnes, Mr Jones, Mr Tompsett.
Allotments: Mr Caiger.
(The Chairman was an ex-officio member of each Committee)
VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
72. Resolved - That Mrs Barnes, Mr Coe and Mr Faulkner be appointed as the Council's representatives on the Village Hall Management Committee for the ensuing year.
REPRESENTATIVE ON JOINT DOWNLAND AREA COMMITTEE
73. Mr Haymes, the Council's former representative, had been appointed as one of the District Council's representatives on the Joint Downland Area Committee. The Council agreed to defer an appointment until the next meeting when it was hoped that one of the two new co-opted members would be interested.
MINUTES
74. Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2003 be approved
as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISING
Siting of recycling bins in Yapton (minutes 34-35/2003)
75. The Clerk reported that he had recently heard that the proposed site on Ford Airfield had not been agreed and District Council Officers were now exploring an alternative location in Rollaston Park. District Councillor Mr Matthews however reported that because of problems with the developers it was unlikely that this alternative site would be successful either. He felt that in the longer term the problem might be resolved by the introduction of doorstep collections.
Planning Application Y/39/01: Development on Orchard Nursery Site (minute 39/2003)
76. The Clerk reported that the new development was being investigated by the District Council's Enforcement Officer.
New street lamps for Loveys Estate (minute 41/2003)
77. Columns for the new street lamps had recently been erected. The servicing
of the new lamps was awaited.
Canal Road - Dropped Kerb (minute 43/2003)
78. The Clerk reported that the County's Legal Services Department had given the occupants 28 days notice to undertake the required works. This period had since expired and the County Council was now instructing a contractor to remove the concrete area and recharge the cost to the occupants.
Recognition of the Ancient Hamlet of Flansham (minute 49(e)/2003)
79. The Clerk reported that following a local referendum the Post Office had agreed to the request of the residents for the name of the ancient hamlet of Flansham to be retained in their postal address.
Children's Play Area - Security Lighting and Signage (minute 54/2003)
80. The Council noted that two new photo-electric cells had been installed for the security lights. These cells would operate the lights on a part-time basis switching off the lights at around midnight each night. Notices for the play area had been ordered. These limited the age range for use of the play equipment to 14 years since most of the new equipment was designed for children up to this age.
Finance - Computer Software (minute 62/2003)
81. The Clerk advised that he had experienced considerable difficulties with the new software in closing down the 2002/2003 accounts and setting up the system for the new financial year. He was hopeful these problems would be resolved by the supplier shortly.
The Croft - access difficulties (minute 64(c)/2003)
82. The Clerk reported on the response he had received from the Area Highway Engineer. Mr Tompsett asked if a copy could be sent to him by the Clerk.
COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS' REPORTS
83. County Councillor Mrs Freeman reported that the Inspector's Report on the County Structure Plan did not include any plans for sizable new development in the area. She also offered to discuss with the school the possibility of introducing a "walking bus" to help reduce traffic congestion outside the school entrance at the start and end of the school day.
84. District Councillors Haymes and Matthews reported on their appointments to District Council committees and as representatives on various outside bodies.
CORRESPONDENCE
85. Receipt of the following correspondence was reported by the Clerk and action agreed as indicated:-
a) Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) - The 'QUALITY'
Town and Parish Council Initiative (copy attached). The Council agreed to consider
whether to apply for Quality status when further details of the requirements
were known.
b) The Countryside Agency - Parish Plans: Guidance for parish and town councils.
The Council agreed that the Planning Committee should consider the full implications
of preparing a Parish Plan whether to pursue the matter further.
c) West Sussex County Council - Traffic Calming Measures for Burdell Road,
Yapton -.
suggesting that consideration be given to installing WSCC Speed Commitment signs
along with posters designed by local school children similar to those provided
in Walberton. The Council welcomed and agreed to offer their full support to
the proposal.
d) West Sussex County Council - enclosing a copy of the deposit draft of the
West Sussex Waste Local Plan and representations form.
e) Sussex Police Authority - advising that the Local Policing Plan for Sussex
2003/2004 has recently been published and is accessible on the internet at www.sussex.police.uk
or at the main libraries in West Sussex.
f) Arun District Council - advising of proposal by the Arun Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership to undertake a Neighbourhood Community Safety Survey in the parishes of Barnham, Eastergate and Yapton during May 2003.
g) Arun District Council - Arun in Bloom Competition 2003. The Clerk advised
members of the
arrangements for this year's competition.
h) Yapton & Ford PCC - request for financial support towards the cost of maintaining St Mary's Church, Yapton. The Council agreed a grant of £100.00 towards the maintenance of the fabric of the church and the upkeep of the churchyard.
i) West Sussex Fire Brigade - request for contribution towards cost of voluntary SAVED scheme (Smoke Alarms for the Vulnerable, Elderly and Disadvantaged. Council members had no previous knowledge of this scheme and asked if the Clerk could obtain information from the Fire Brigade about the arrangements made to publicise the scheme and the current number of recipients of the service in Yapton.
j) Village Friends - request for financial support towards cost of maintaining voluntary social and caring services in the six villages area. Before making a decision, the Council agreed to invite the Co-ordinator of the Village Friends to their next meeting so that they could receive further information about the services currently offered by the organisation to residents of Yapton.
k) Young resident - note of thanks for grant and report on Youth with a Mission project.
PROJECT FOR NEW TEENAGERS' ARENA MEETING POINT/SKATEBOARD FACILITY
86. The Clerk reported on the progress of grant applications to date. The total project cost was now estimated to be in the region of £16,000 - £17,000 of which Arun District Council and West Sussex County Council had so far agreed grants totalling of £5070. Decisions were still awaited from the Sussex Police and the SITA Environmental Trust. An application had been submitted to the latter organisation in the absence of any assistance this year from the Seagull Trust because of apparent funding difficulties. In addition, the local Co-op store had agreed to provide a £100 hamper to be raffled in the store with the proceeds going towards the project.
87. The Council noted that it might be necessary depending on the outcome of the other grant applications to phase the project over a two year period because the deadline for WSCC Capital Grant Aid for Youth Projects for the current financial year had already passed.
88. Mr Haymes mentioned that at the Joint Downland Area Committee a report on the provision of youth shelters had been considered. Thurrock District Council in Essex had installed a number of youth shelters in its area and the Downland Area Committee had agreed to invite officers from Thurrock to give a presentation to the Committee on their experiences. Mr Haymes suggested that the Yapton & Ford Village Hall would provide a suitable venue for the presentation and the Parish Council agreed to finance the hiring charge if a convenient date could be found.
PLANNING
89. The Council had before them and received (a) the minutes of meetings of the Planning Committee held on 8, 10, 24 March and 25 April 2003 (copies attached to minute book) and (b) details of the planning decisions made by Arun District Council in March/April 2003 (copy attached to minute book).
90. Mr Faulkner commented on the objection that had been lodged in respect of the Pollards Nursery development in Lake Lane. The Planning Committee was concerned about the increase in large vehicle movements, in particular articulated vehicles, serving the many greenhouses in the area. Concerns had also been expressed about road and rail safety with such vehicles at the Yapton level crossing when arriving or departing from Lake Lane, as well as the light pollution the development would cause in the surrounding area.
PLAYING FIELD
91. Mr Coe drew attention to the fact there were gaps in the western boundary fencing at the Mary Woolven Centre adjoining the playing field. The Clerk and Mrs Freeman undertook to contact the County Council to see if gaps could be closed.
ALLOTMENTS
92. Mr Caiger reported that the allotments were now all let and the rentals paid for the year. There was a waiting list for vacant plots.
VILLAGE HALL
93. Two estimates had been received for converting the central heating system.
An estimate was awaited from Transco for providing the gas supply. Further damage
had been caused to the roof tiles by vandals. The Clerk would contact Philip
Acton concerning the proposal to lower the refuse bin container wall which it
was believed was being used by youngsters for accessing the Village Hall roof.
94. The Pre-school were reported to be moving from the Village Hall to the
Primary school site in September.
FINANCE
95. Resolved -
(a) That the financial statement showing the payments and receipts for March 2003 be adopted (copy attached to minute book);
(b) That the summary of income and expenditure for the financial year 2002/2003 be received (copy attached to minute book).
OTHER MATTERS
96. The following matters/concerns were raised by Councillors and members of the public present at the meeting:-
a) Mr Haymes reported on matters raised at the Joint Downland Area Committee. He commented in particular on the fact that light pollution was becoming a planning issue in the area. At the next meeting the District Council was to give a presentation of the development of parish council websites.
b) Mr Tompsett referred to the continuing problem of traffic congestion caused by parked vehicles outside the primary school at the start and end of the school day. A suggestion was made that the problem might be eased if the field next to the school was available for parents' parking.
c) Mr Caiger advised that the limbs of the elms on the eastern boundary of the large car park would need pruning shortly.
d) It was suggested that the Parish Council should look into the possibility of having the chicane wall at the North End Road end of the Twitten footpath taken down because the narrowness of the gap prevented mothers with pushchairs from using the route to walk their children to school.
e) A new application to establish a pharmacy in The Old Post Office premises had recently been submitted to the Pharmacy Committee.
97. Follow-up action with regard to the matters raised would be taken by the Clerk as appropriate.
CHAIRMAN