YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL
11 September 2006 - At a meeting of the Parish
Council held at the Yapton & Ford Village Hall.
Present: Mr
Fellows (Chairman) Mr Andrews, Mrs Barnes, Mr Bryan, Mr Caiger, Mr Faulkner,
Mr Haymes, Mr Jones and Mr Taft.
Also
present: County Councillor Mrs Freeman, PC Brian
Towner, Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 6 members of the public.
Apologies for absence were received and
accepted from Parish Councillor Mrs McDonagh.
Mrs McDonagh indicated that she would be resigning as a member of the
Parish Council with immediate effect.
DECLARATIONS
OF INTEREST
154. Members were reminded to make any declarations of personal and/or
prejudicial interest that they may have in relation to items on the
agenda.
CODE OF CONDUCT
155. With reference to minute 109-110/2006, Mr Bryan signed the
written undertaking to observe the Council’s Code of Conduct in accordance with
the requirements of Section 52 of the Local Government Act 2000.
MEMBERSHIP
156. The Clerk advised that arising from the resignation of Mrs
McDonagh, the casual vacancy on the Parish Council would be advertised and if
ten or more electors so requested, an election would have to be held; otherwise
the vacancy would be filled by co-option.
MINUTES
157. Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2006 be
approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS
ARISING
Developer contributions towards the provision of play area
facilities/proposed Arena Sports System (minutes 114-115/2006)
158. The Board of the SITA Trust was due to consider the Council’s
application for a grant on 19
September 2006. The Council agreed as
part of the project that two picnic tables should be provided sited alongside
the basketball/hard play area, one of which would be funded with the
contribution of £445 received from the Yapton & Ford Residents’ Association
(minute 151/2006 refers). The Clerk
undertook to explore other possibilities to finance the second table.
Proposed Drinking Control Order for the District (minute 117/2006)
159. A meeting which was planned to take place at the end of August
had had to be postponed. A new date had
yet to be fixed.
Quote for additional street lamp along Maypole Lane
160. The Clerk reported that the County Council was unable to provide
an additional street light in Maypole Lane because of the precedent it would
create and the financial implications countywide of funding additional lighting
where there was similar parish owned lighting would not be affordable.
Drainage system on Downview Estate (minute 120/2006)
161. The Council was pleased to note that the relevant WSCC Cabinet
Members had agreed a report recommending that drainage works be approved on the
Downview Estate at an estimated cost of £80,000 to £90,000 to be funded in
equal parts between the Homes Development, Property Maintenance and the Adults
Services Minor Works programmes. County
Councillor Mrs Freeman commented that officers were now in discussion with the
Southern Water Authority to agree the specification and ensure that the
Authority would adopt the upgraded sewers once the work had been completed.
Surrey & Sussex NHS Strategic Health Authority – future of St Richard’s
Hospital, Chichester (minute 126a/2006)
162. The Clerk reported that a copy of his letter to the Surrey &
Sussex Strategic Health Authority which relayed the Council’s concern about the
threatened closure of the A & E Department at St Richard’s Hospital had
been posted for the information of residents on the Parish Council
noticeboard. A reply to the letter had
since been received from the newly formed NHS South East Coast Body stating “All the feedback we receive will be
collated by an independent analyst who will produce a report highlighting the
issues and suggestions put forward. The
local NHS will be using these findings to help develop proposals for the future
direction of healthcare services. If,
at a later date, there are proposals to
make significant changes to health services, there will be full public
consultation about these, with many more opportunities for people to give their
views.”
Sponsored 10k Coastal Run by Chairman of Arun District Council
(minute126/g/2006)
163. The Chairman and members
congratulated Stephen Haymes on successfully completing the Coastal Run. Some
£2000 had been raised for the Chestnut Tree Children’s Hospice as a result of
the efforts of Stephen and his colleagues on the District Council.
Meeting of Quality Parish and Town Councils in Arun (minute 137/2006)
164. A further meeting involving the Chairman and Clerk had been
scheduled for 20 September 2006.
Amongst the items being considered by the District Council was the
delegation to quality councils in Arun of planning decisions on household
applications.
Visit of John Lawson’s Circus to Yapton (minute 142/2006)
165. The Circus had been booked to appear on the King George V Playing
Field for three consecutive nights from 7 – 9 May 2007 inclusive.
Provision of replacement noticeboard (minute 143/2006)
166. The Clerk reported on the quotations he had received. Since then he had discovered a number of
companies now offered purpose-built noticeboards in aluminium frames. Further quotes on the range available would
be obtained and reported to the next meeting.
Vehicle speeds in North End Road (minute 150/2006)
167. Mr Bryan reported on his findings to date.
Satellite Centre in Ford Lane (minute 152/2006)
168. County Councillor Mrs Freeman
reported that planning consent for the new development was a matter for the
District Council. In view of the
concerns which had been expressed generally about the problems with increased
traffic and development taking place in the rural villages she offered to
arrange a joint meeting involving local parish councils and Tex Pemberton, the
Cabinet Member with responsibility for Transport Planning and Highway
Services
REPORTS FROM COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
169. County Councillor Mrs Freeman drew the Council’s attention to a
number of County matters which concerned the Parish. She had recently been re-appointed as a Governor of Yapton CE
Primary School.
170. District Councillors Mr Haymes and Mr Taft reported on a number
of District matters. Mr Haymes pointed
out that the District Council’s 3 year agreement with Ford Prison over the
category of prisoners held and other issues was shortly up for review. Mr Taft advised that the submission of the
Section 106 planning agreements with regard to Policy Site 6 was imminent,
following which a decision on the proposed housing developments at Felpham and
Bersted would be made by the Secretary of State. A problem with anti-social behaviour in Hoe Lane appeared to have
been resolved following intervention/action taken by the police.
REPORT FROM SUSSEX POLICE REPRESENTATIVE
171. PC Brian Towner reported.
The Downland Neighbourhood Team had recently been joined by 3 special
constables and renewed efforts were taking place to address the under-age
drinking problems and associated anti-social behaviour in the village. PC Towner gave a statistical breakdown of
the 67 police reported incidents in the Yapton area over the last month.
CORRESPONDENCE
172. Receipt of the following correspondence was reported by the Clerk
and action agreed as indicated:-
a) Sussex Policy Authority - Notice of Public Meeting on Thursday 5
October at 6.30 pm at Arundel Town Hall.
The meeting, in association with the Sussex Police and the Arun Crime
& Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), was open to all and would feature
a presentation by a Sussex Police Authority member, an update from the CDRP and
a report by the Arun District police commander. Mr Caiger hoped to attend.
b) Portsmouth Water Ltd – Update on Water Resource Situation in the South
East (copy attached to minute book).
c) WSCC Adults’ Services – letter from John Dixon, Director of Adults’
Services (copy attached to minute
book).
d) Arun District Council – Planning Consultations Online (copy attached to minute book). The Council had a number of concerns about the proposals which the
Clerk would relay to the Head of Information Management but it was nonetheless
agreed to volunteer to participate in the planned pilot group.
e) Arun District Council – Planning Training and Update for Town &
Parish Councils (copy attached to
minute book). Mr Faulkner and the
Clerk hoped to attend the training day on 23 October 2006.
f) Arun District Council – Street naming of new development near Wayside,
Burndell Road. The developer had
suggested the new development be known as Mayfield Close and had already
advertised it as such. The Council
however felt that this name was inappropriate as it had no apparent relevance
or connections with the locality.
Resolved – That in
recognition of the exceptional service given by the Chairman to the Parish
Council and the village community over the last 15 years, the Council submit
the name ‘Fellows Close’ to the District Council as its preferred name for the
new development.
g) Letter from two residents of Bilsham Road – protecting the natural
environment and habitat. The
Council shared the concerns set out in the letter to Richard Taft and agreed as a next step the Clerk should
contact the District Council’s Head of Planning to seek his advice on what
steps might be possible to prevent further erosion of the countryside and
natural habitat from further development.
APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT-AID 2006/2007
173. With reference to minute 128/2006, the Council had before them
and considered a further application for grant aid which had been received
outside the deadline previously set. (copy
attached to minute book).
174. Resolved – That the
application for grant-aid submitted by the Arun Co-ordinated Community
Transport be declined.
PROPOSED CHILDREN’S CENTRE FOR YAPTON
175. The Clerk reported that in line with
Government policy, the County Council was considering establishing a Children's
Centre locally which would serve Yapton and the neighbouring villages.
Preliminary discussions had recently taken place involving the Clerk of the
Council and Chairman of the Village Hall Management Committee to explore
whether accommodation in the village hall which was at present underused could
be developed as a base for the Yapton Centre. Further discussions were
to take place with the Village Hall Management Committee following on from a
feasibility study to be undertaken by an architect engaged by the County
Council. The feasibility study would assess the present accommodation and
determine what internal adaptations might be necessary to accommodate the
Children's Centre without detriment to existing usage.
THE YAP CENTRE
176. With reference to minute
131/2006, the Council reviewed the operation and present arrangements for the
opening of the Centre. It was agreed
to continue for the time being with the Wednesday evening openings supplemented
with one Saturday morning in the first week of every month. A rota inviting volunteers to man the
Centre for the next two months would be circulated by the Clerk.
PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER (YAPTON NEWS & VIEWS)
177. Details of the contents of the September 2006 edition of the
newsletter were reported to the Council.
The Council approved the award of £10.00 vouchers to the winning
entrants in the “Paint-a-bird box” competition. The Clerk indicated that
following the inclusion of notes of tonight’s Parish Council meeting, the
newsletter would be printed and distribution was planned to start at the end of
the week.
178. With reference to minute 136/2006, the Chairman reported on the deliberations of the working party. The working party had recommended that a payment of £100 per issue plus 8% of the advertising revenue should be made to the editor/producer of the newsletter for each issue produced. The possibility of reducing the number of issues to 4 instead of 6 per year had been considered but it was hoped the present bi-monthly production could be maintained. An approach had been made to a local person with journalistic experience to see if she would be interested in taking on the role of editor/producer and her response was awaited. If she agreed the Chairman and Councillors would assist with the distribution arrangements. The possibility of obtaining further advertising revenue from a small business directory within the newsletter would be explored. If necessary a further meeting of the working party would be convened by the Chairman.
179. The Council endorsed the recommendations and proposals of the working party.
180. With regard to the application made to the County Council for a grant, the Clerk reported that a “one-off” grant of £500 had been agreed from the Parish Initiatives Fund on the understanding that future meetings of the Joint Downland Area Committee were advertised in the newsletter.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
181. The Council had before them and received details of the planning
decisions made by Arun District Council in June/July/August 2006 (copy attached to minute book).
182. The Council noted that planning application Y/1/06 (Erection of 2
bedroom house on land at rear of Hope Cottage, Bilsham Road) which had been
refused by the District Council, was the subject of an appeal to the Planning
Inspectorate.
PLAYING FIELD
183. The Clerk reported that since the last meeting in two separate
incidents, four of the concrete bollards on the boundary of the playing field
car park had been damaged. Repairs had
been arranged promptly to ensure the field remained secured.
184. The Council noted
with concern that further vandalism damage had occurred at the end of July in
the children’s play area. One of the
speaker units and part of the climbing frame had been broken. A quote for
repairing the damaged items had been obtained and the Clerk had submitted a
claim to the Council’s insurance company.
185. A resident of Downview Close had been in contact with the Clerk
concerning the state of conifer trees on the boundary of the playing field
which were blocking light from her property. Contact had been made with the
County Council but it had been established that the trees concerned although
next to the footpath were not on the highway verge and as such were not the
County Council’s responsibility. An
inspection had since been arranged by Mr Caiger and estimates were being
obtained for cutting back the trees.
The Council agreed that the work should go ahead and the lowest estimate
when received should be accepted.
ALLOTMENTS
186. Mr Caiger reported that all the plots were occupied and being
worked. A waiting list had been
established.
VILLAGE HALL
187. Mr Faulkner reported on the last meeting of the Village Hall
Management Committee. The Committee urgently needed someone to take on the role
of secretary and it was agreed that the vacancy should be advertised in the
Parish Council’s newsletter. Following
an inspection a number of minor internal repairs had been undertaken. The cooker in the kitchen was in need of
replacement. Some redecoration was needed in parts of the building. Hire rates had been increased by 5%. A Christmas draw was being arranged by John
Dickeson to raise funds for the hall.
The Committee had agreed, without commitment, that a feasibility study should be undertaken by
the County Council to assess what adaptations
might be required to accommodate
the Children’s Centre which had been proposed for the village hall.
188. The Chairman advised that the Millennium Clock tower on the
village hall needed cleaning/painting.
JOINT DOWNLAND AREA COMMITTEE
189. Mr Haymes and Mr Taft reported on the meeting held on 17 July
2006. Mr Taft had been appointed as a
member of the sub-group set up to consider and make recommendations on the
community grant scheme.
FINANCE
190. The Clerk reported that the payments made in August 2006 included
a sum of £3,349.03 to West Sussex County Council to cover the cost of
refurbishing/repairing the Council’s stock of street lights to bring them up to
County standards. The work had been
undertaken in the previous financial year and budget provision had been made
accordingly. However submission of the
invoice had been delayed. The cost
would accordingly be met in the current financial year from the Council’s
contingency reserves.
191. Resolved –
(a) That the financial statement
showing the payments and receipts covering the period 1 July – 31 August 2006
be adopted (copy attached to minute
book);
(b) That the summary of income and
expenditure over the various budget heads for the period 1 July to 31 August
2006 be received (copy attached to minute
book).
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
192. Concern was expressed that a vagrant was apparently camping out
at night in St Mary’s churchyard. The
Chairman undertook to speak to one of the churchwardens about the matter.
CHAIRMAN