YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL
9 May 2005 - At a meeting of the Parish Council
held at the Yapton & Ford Village Hall.
Present: Mr
Andrews (from item on Planning Committee onwards), Mrs Barnes, Mr Caiger, Mr
Coe, Mr Faulkner, Mr Haymes and Mr Jones.
Also
present: County Councillor Mrs Freeman, Mr Tansley
(Clerk of the Council), Mr Field (Chairman of Ford Parish Council) and 5
members of the public.
Apologies for absence were received and
accepted from Parish Councillors Mr Fellows and Mr Taft.
CHAIRMAN
67. Resolved - That Mr Fellows be re-elected Chairman of the
Parish Council for the ensuing year.
VICE-CHAIRMAN
68. Resolved - That Mr Haymes be re-elected
Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year.
69. In
the absence of Mr Fellows, the meeting was chaired by Mr Haymes.
DECLARATIONS
OF INTEREST
70. Members were reminded to make any declarations of personal and/or
prejudicial interest that they may have in relation to items on the
agenda. Mr Haymes declared an interest
in agenda item 15 (a) Planning Committee.
APPOINTMENT
OF COMMITTEES
71. Resolved - That the membership of the
committees for the ensuing year be as follows:
Playing
Field: Mr Caiger,
Mr Coe.
Planning:
Mr Andrews, Mrs Barnes, Mr Faulkner, Mr Jones.
Allotments:
Mr Caiger.
(The Chairman was an ex-officio member of
each Committee)
VILLAGE
HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES
72. Resolved - That Mr Andrews, Mr Coe and Mr
Faulkner be re-appointed as the Council's representatives on the Village Hall
Management Committee for the ensuing year.
REPRESENTATIVE
ON JOINT DOWNLAND AREA COMMITTEE
73. Resolved - That Mr Taft be re-appointed
as the Council's representative on the Joint Downland Area Committee for the
ensuing year.
REPRESENTATIVE
ON JOINT MEETING OF BOGNOR REGIS & DISTRICT LOCAL COUNCILS (KNOWN AS
“UNITY” COMMITTEE)
74. Resolved - That Mr Taft be confirmed as
the Council's representative on the “Unity” Committee for the ensuing
year.
MEMBERSHIP
75. With reference to minute 35/2005, the Clerk reported that there
had been no nominations received as a result of publicising the vacancy for a
co-opted governor in the newsletter.
The Council agreed to carry forward the vacancy to the next meeting.
MINUTES
76. Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March
2005 be approved as a correct
record and that they be signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS
ARISING
Provision of gas-fired central heating/hot water system for Village Hall
(minutes 37-38/2005)
77. The Clerk reported that the contractor was due to start work on
16 May 2005. The contract was expected
to last two months. By careful
planning it was hoped to avoid too much disruption to regular bookings of the
village hall.
Proposed police/community “drop-in” centre at the Co-op Store (minute
41/2005)
78. The planned meeting had had to be postponed. A new date of 24 May 2005 had since been
agreed.
Moles on playing field (minute 56/2005)
79. The Clerk confirmed that the Arun Pest Control Service had been
contacted and asked to deal with the continuing problem.
VE/VJ DAY CELEBRATIONS
80. Mr Field, Chairman of Ford Parish Council, invited the Council to
join with Clymping and Ford Parish Councils in planning a day of celebrations
to mark VE/VJ Day on 10 July 2005. Mr
Field outlined the proposed programme of events which would be held at Clymping
Village Hall during the afternoon and early evening. The Council agreed in principle to support the event which
would include a financial contribution
in the region of £100 towards the costs and Mr Faulkner volunteered to serve on
the Joint Committee set up to organise the day.
COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
81. The Chairman congratulated Mrs Christina Freeman on her recent
re-election as a County Councillor for the Middleton-on-Sea Ward which included
Yapton.
82. The Chairman also congratulated Mr Ian Menzies from Barnham on
his recent election to the District Council in place of Mr Matthews who had
resigned.
83. County Councillor Mrs Freeman updated the Council on the
following matters:
a) designs for the proposed highway
improvements at Comet Corner (either traffic lights or a roundabout) would be
published shortly and sent to the parishes for consultation;
b) discussions were continuing with
Southern Water concerning the drainage/sewerage problems on the Downview
estate. It was recognised that the new
building planned for Warmere Court would have an impact and it was hoped to
have more positive news for the residents in due course;
c) WSCC officers were actively
involved in negotiations with Southern Water to see if it was possible to reach
agreement on a revised means of preventing odour nuisance arising from the Ford
Wastewater Treatment site. Should the
negotiations prove unsuccessful the planned Public Inquiry would go ahead as
planned on 17 May 2005;
d) there were concerns about HGV
vehicles from a local garage being parked on the highway.
CORRESPONDENCE
84. Receipt of the following correspondence was reported by the Clerk
and action agreed as indicated:-
a) WSCC Public Rights of Way – annual report on routine maintenance (copy
attached to minute book).
b) Arun District Council – enclosing for consultation a copy of the
proposals for review of the present byelaws on Good Rule and Government (copy
attached to minute book). The
Council agreed to request that the Old Canal Bridge at The Pines, Yapton,
should be included in the list of bridges specified in the schedule.
c) Sussex Associations of Local Councils – giving details of a planned
training weekend for Councillors at Dunford House, Midhurst, on 10 – 12 June
2005.
d) The Bognor Fun Bus Company Ltd – offering to organise a Children and
Family Fun Day in the summer. The
Council decided not to take up the offer in view of the activities for children
already scheduled to take place on the playing field in the summer holidays.
PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER (YAPTON NEWS & VIEWS)
85. The Council had before them and approved a draft of the May 2005
edition of the newsletter which had been drafted by the Clerk and which he
hoped would be available for distribution through the usual outlets by the end
of the week. The newsletter would
include a copy of the Chairman’s Report to the Annual Parish Meeting together
with a crossword puzzle compiled by Parish Councillor Mr Jones. The number of pages was increased from 12
to 16. The extra printing costs would
be £50.00.
STREET LIGHT MAINTENANCE
86. The Clerk reported that a comprehensive survey of the street
lamps owned and maintained by the Parish Council had recently undertaken by the
WSCC Superintendent responsible for Street Lighting. The survey had been
undertaken, accompanied the Clerk, prior to the County Council entering into a
contract with the Parish Council for the future maintenance of the lamps.
87. A number of problems had been identified as a result of the
survey including an unsafe column in Loveys Road which had since been urgently
replaced by Southern Electric Contracting Ltd
and was now the subject of an insurance claim. Other required maintenance works would be costed by the County
Council and reported to the Parish Council in due course.
88. A particular issue concerning the enclosure of one of the columns
within private boundary fencing would be actioned by the Clerk as agreed.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
89. Mr Haymes declared a
prejudicial interest because of his membership of the District Council’s
Development Control Committee and withdrew taking no part in the discussion on
the Planning Committee’s report.
90. The Council had before them and received details of planning
decisions made by Arun District Council in March/April 2005 (copy attached to minute book).
91. The Council noted that Planning Application FP/92/04 relating to
Policy Site 6 (development of land between Felpham and Flansham) had been
called in for determination by the Secretary of State.
The Council endorsed the contents
of a draft submission by Mr Taft which had been handed into the Inspector at
the Public Inquiry in support of the diversion of the proposed cycle track near
Hoe Lane.
92. Discussion took place about the outcome of Planning Application
Y/64/04/CLE and concern was expressed about the on-going development works
taking place on the Cinders Lane site.
The Council agreed to seek a meeting with the District Council’s
Enforcement Officer to discuss the matter further.
PLAYING FIELD
93. The Sports Equipment store had been further damaged and was now
being methodically demolished by vandals such that potentially it was now in an
unsafe condition. Bricks taken from the site were being used as
ammunition to cause damage to the Village Hall. The Clerk had met with a Loss Adjuster who had indicated that
the Council’s insurance company would only contribute towards the cost of
reinstatement works not the full cost of demolition. An estimate for the reinstatement works and a second estimate for
the complete demolition of the building were
being obtained.
94. The Council agreed that the Chairman and Vice Chairman should
approve the letting of a contract for the urgent demolition of the Sports
Equipment Store subject to the necessary finance being available.
95. The Clerk reported that on a couple of occasions recently he had
been called out to deal with smeared banana skin and faeces on the slides in
the children’s play area. He had also
contacted Playdale Ltd., the installers of the play equipment as it appeared
that the rubberised safety surface they had installed was crumbling in
places. Playdale were arranging for
an engineer to inspect the site.
96. A new flagpole which had been ordered to replace that damaged by
vandals had been delivered and would be installed shortly.
JOINT DOWNLAND AREA COMMITTEE
97. The notes of the meeting held on 4 April 2005 attended by Mr
Taft were received (copy attached to
minute book).
FINANCE
Audit of Accounts for the year
ended 31 March 2005.
98. The Council were reminded that
in connection with the audit arrangements, an Annual Return had to be completed
by the Parish Council. This included (i) a report by the Internal Auditor (audit
to be undertaken shortly by WSCC Management Audit Section) (ii) an explanation
of any significant variances between 2003/04 and 2004/05 financial years and a
bank reconciliation statement and (iii) a Statement of Assurance to be signed
by the Chairman on behalf of the members.
99. Resolved – That the
Statement of Accounts prepared by the Responsible Financial Officer for the
year ended 31 March 2005 together with the accompanying Statement of Assurance,
as completed and signed by the Chairman, be approved (copies attached to minute book).
Financial Statements
100. Resolved –
(a) That the financial statement
showing the payments and receipts covering the period 1 March – 31 March 2005
be adopted (copy attached to minute
book);
(b) That the summary of income and
expenditure over the various budget heads for the financial year 2004/2005 be
received (copy attached to minute book).
NEW SALARY STRUCTURE AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR CLERKS
101. With reference to minute 64/2005, the Chairman reported that the
special Working Group had met on 25 April 2005 and reviewed the Clerk’s
position in relation to the new salary structure and conditions of service
issued by the National Association of Local Councils.
102. The Working Group had made certain recommendations which were
considered by the Council.
103. Resolved – That a
decision on the matter be deferred until the next meeting pending the
availability of further facts and figures.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
104. It was reported that the Church Vestry door had been vandalised
again. The police had been called and
had responded promptly.
105. In response to a question, the Clerk explained that instead of a
“flashing” reminder 30 mph sign being provided by the County Council as the
Parish Council had requested, an intermediate smaller sign had been installed
along North End Road.
CHAIRMAN