YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

9 January 2006 - At a meeting of the Parish Council held at the Yapton & Ford Village Hall.                  

 

Present:    Mr Fellows (Chairman),  Mr Andrews,  Mr Caiger,  Mr Faulkner,  Mr Haymes (from item on the Police/Community “Drop-in” Centre onwards),  Mr Jones,  Mrs McDonough and Mr Taft.

 

Also present:  County Councillor Mrs Freeman, Sergeant Ryan from Sussex Police, Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 24 members of the public.

 

Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Parish Councillors Mrs Barnes and Mr Coe and from District Councillor Mr Menzies.

 

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

1.   Members were reminded to make any declarations of personal and/or prejudicial interest that they may have in relation to items on the agenda.   

 

MINUTES

 

2.    Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2005 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.  

 

MATTERS ARISING

 

Children’s Play Area – safety surface (minute 187/2005)

 

3.  The Clerk reported that the sub-contractor engaged by Playdale was proposing to carry out the resurfacing work as soon as the weather improved in the late Spring.  The play area would need to be closed for 3-4 days whilst the work was carried out.

 

Restoration of Old Canal Bridge off Downview Road (minute 188/2005)

 

4.   The Clerk reported that following consultation with Peter Jones, an appeal for volunteers to assist with the project was being included in the January issue of Yapton News & Views due out shortly

 

Comet Corner – consultation on proposal to reduce speed limit to 40 mph (minute 193b/2005)

 

5.  The Clerk reported that the County Council had advised that the proposed Speed Management Scheme was to be funded from a separate budget managed by the County Council and would not impact on the major improvement safety scheme planned for Comet Corner.

 

Developer contributions towards the provision of children’s play area facilities (minutes 194 – 196/2005)

 

6.  The Clerk reported that after a period of prolonged negotiations, a proposal was now going forward from the officers of Arun District Council to the next meeting of the Joint Downland Area Committee that developer contributions arising from the West View and Wayside developments together with contributions from future small housing developments in the village should be made available to Yapton Parish Council towards the cost of the Arena Sports System.

 

Street Lighting Maintenance Contract (minutes 197-199/2005)

 

7.   The Clerk reported that he had contacted WSCC and asked them to arrange for the necessary  repair and replacement work to the street lamps on the Loveys Estate to be carried out as soon as possible.

 

8.  Mr Taft advised that via the Flansham Residents’ Association, survey forms had been sent to all the residents to determine their wishes.  The consensus was that after disregarding the street lamp at the entrance to Hoe Lane (which was likely to be affected by the siting of the planned relief road/roundabout), 2 of the existing columns (YP 2 and YP3) should be replaced with new “Heritage” style lamps, YP 5 (old lantern style) should if possible be refurbished and YP4 should cease to be maintained.

 

9.  Mr Taft indicated that residents might be interested in purchasing the old columns and lanterns and this would help to offset the replacement cost to the Council.  One resident had also suggested that the Council’s legal liability should be checked if any of the existing lamps ceased to be maintained.

 

Playing Field – Mole eradication service (minute 204/2005)

 

10.  The Clerk reported that Mr Kennedy had indicated that to be successful there would have to be a period of treatment over several weeks involving a combination of gas and sunken traps to eradicate the moles.  A “one-off” treatment would not resolve the persistent problems with moles on the playing field. 

 

11.  In the ensuing discussion doubt was expressed as to whether any lasting benefit would be obtained from paying for a special treatment service; simple regular raking and flattening of the active mole hills should be just as effective.  The Council agreed in the circumstances to continue to monitor the situation.

 

Unpleasant odour from Ford Industrial Unit (minute 212/2005)

 

12.  The Clerk advised that the complaints had been passed to WSCC.  An Odour Alert Line had now been set up at County Hall to monitor the position at the Ford Wastewater Plant.

 

 

COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS

 

13.  County Councillor Mrs Freeman reported on a number of county matters including the disappointing outcome of the Viridor planning application, the support for the proposal to reduce the speed limit at Comet Corner, the budget consultations currently taking place prior to fixing next year’s Council tax, neighbourhood policing and the reduction in complaints about smells eminating from the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Ford.     

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

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

 

a) Arun District Council – Planning Applications Online.  Advising that a new system which allowed  viewing of planning application plans and forms was now accessible via the District Council’s website. The Clerk reported that he had since arranged for a direct link to the planning records to be provided from the Parish Council’s own website.

 

b) One email from a local resident (opposing the proposed Arena Sports System) and one letter (in support of the proposed Arena Sports System) from the Neighbourhood Youth Worker at Westergate Youth Wing.    The Council understood and respected the points made by the resident, but the consensus of opinion was that any disadvantages were far outweighed by the benefits which would accrue to Yapton’s young people from providing this new facility.  The Chairman indicated that every effort would be made to ensure that as far as possible the enclosure blended in with the local environment.

 

c) A petition had been received signed by 153 residents and users of Maypole Lane requesting the provision of an additional street light for Maypole Lane.   The Council agreed as a next step to obtain an estimate for the cost involved.

 

 

DRAINAGE SYSTEM ON DOWNVIEW ESTATE

 

15.  With reference to minute 189/2006, the Council had before them and considered a report by the Clerk on a meeting with residents held on 7 December 2005 (copy attached to minute book). 

 

16.  The Chairman reported that as far as the Parish Council was aware there had been no further developments.   County Councillor Mrs Freeman indicated that she would contact with Richard White, Head of Property Services at WSCC, to ensure the proposals agreed at the meeting with residents were followed up as quickly as possible.  

 

 

YAPTON & FORD VILLAGE HALL – HEATING INSTALLATION

 

17.  The Council had before them and received a final breakdown of costs for the project (copy attached to minute book).

 

18.  It was noted that the total cost of the project was just under £34,000 of which Yapton and Ford Parish Councils had contributed £4,000 with the remainder being funded from successful grant applications. Once the final account for installing a fire enclosure for the boilers in the roof space had been settled and the grant of £1,000 offered by Ford Parish Council had been received, the Clerk’s input in managing the project on behalf of the Parish Council and Village Hall Committee would be complete.

 

 

PROPOSED POLICE/COMMUNITY “DROP-IN” CENTRE AT THE CO-OP STORE

 

19.   The Council noted that following discussion with the management of Southern Co-operative Limited and the Sussex Police the new Yapton Advice Partnership “drop-in” Centre (to be known as the YAP Centre) was planned to open on the morning of Saturday 4 February 2006 (9.00 – 12 noon). PC Brian Towner and PCSO Richard White would be in attendance and it was hoped that members of the Parish Council would also be present on weekly rota basis. 

 

20.  Members agreed that the dates for openings of the centre should be circulated with view to agreeing an attendance rota for Parish Councillors to cover the first few weeks of opening.

 

 

21.  Discussions were taking place with West Sussex County Council, Arun District Council and the Citizens Advice Bureau about the possibility of their each having an input.   Both WSCC and Arun DC initial responses had been positive with the County Council offering the possibility of financial support and the District Council offering to install a computer in the centre for residents to use to access information via the internet and possibly also establishing the drop-in centre as a local surgery for Council tenants. 

 

 

 

PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER (YAPTON NEWS & VIEWS)

 

22.   A proof copy of the January 2006 issue of the newsletter which had been prepared by the Clerk was shown to members.  Mrs McDonagh offered to assist with finding further advertising revenue to help support the cost of publication.  

 

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

23.  Mr Haymes declared an interest because of his membership of the District Council’s Development Control Committee and temporarily left the meeting taking no part in the consideration of this item.

 

24.  The Council briefly discussed the present procedural arrangements for considering planning applications.   It was felt that once it was fully established it might be possible to arrange for future meetings of the Planning Committee to be held at the new YAP “drop-in” Centre.

 

25.  The Council had before them and received details of planning decisions made by Arun District Council in October/November/December 2005 (copies attached to minute book).

 

 

PLAYING FIELD

 

25.  Resolved – That the quotations received from M H Kennedy and Son Ltd for (a) grass cutting and (b) litter collection (to include the bus shelters in Bilsham Road) for the 12 month period commencing 1 April 2006, be accepted.             

 

 

ALLOTMENTS

 

26.   The rental demands for 2006/07 were due to be sent out shortly.   There were one or two changes to the tenancies and a waiting list for new plots was in operation.   

 

 

VILLAGE HALL

 

27.   Fund raising and finances were reported to be a continuing problem. The Village Hall Committee was hoping to find a volunteer to co-ordinate fund raising activities for the village hall.    The Chairman indicated that he had asked that copies of the minutes and financial statements of the Village Hall Committee should be made available to the Parish Council so that continuing help and support could be provided wherever possible.    

 

 

 

 

FINANCE

 

Precept for 2006/2007

 

28.  The Council had before them and considered a report prepared by the Clerk on setting the precept for 2006/2007.  The report included the revised estimates for 2005/2006 and the estimates of expenditure for 2006/2007 (copy attached to minute book).

 

29.  It was noted that as a result of successful grant applications, Council spending on maintaining existing services and specific capital projects continued to exceed the precept levied and this was of long term benefit to all residents.  The Clerk reported that if the precept was kept at the present level of £40,000 for the third year running and the projected income and expenditure went to plan, this should allow for the Council’s reserves to be maintained at a reasonable level whilst allowing for some new expenditure to improve street lighting in the coming year.

 

30.  Resolved – That the Council precept for the sum of £40,000 for 2006/2007 to cover (a) the estimated cost of (a) maintaining existing services (b) providing replacement street lighting columns in Flansham and (c) maintaining a reasonable contingency reserve.

 

Financial Statements

 

31.  Resolved –

 

(a) That the financial statement showing the payments and receipts covering the period 1 November - 31 December 2005 be adopted (copy attached to minute book);

 

(b) That the summary of income and expenditure over the various budget heads for the period from   1 November to 31 December 2005 be received (copy attached to minute book).

 

 

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

32.   Mr Taft reported that he had been appointed by the Joint Downland Area Committee as stand-in representative for John Whittington on the Conservation Advisory Committee. 

 

33.  Mr Caiger reported that Haskins Garden Centre, Angmering, just before Christmas had offered the Council a supply free bulbs for planting around the village.   He had obtained a supply from the nursery and planted these on the playing field and the grass verge at the entrance to Canal Road.  A quantity of bulbs had also been passed to the school to plant.   The Council agreed that a letter of thanks should be sent to the nursery.    

              

 

 

       

 

CHAIRMAN