YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL
12 November 2007 - At a meeting of
the Parish Council held at the Yapton & Ford Village Hall.
Present: Mr Haymes (Chairman), Mr Andrews, Mrs
Barnes, Mr Bryan, Mr Caiger, Mr Jones, Mr Taft and Mrs Wallbridge.
Also present: Sgt James Stobart, PCSO Neil Billingham (Sussex
Police), Mr Tansley (Clerk of the
Council) and 4 members of the public.
Apologies for absence were received
and accepted from Parish Councillor Mrs Abbott and County Councillor Mrs
Freeman.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
211. Members were reminded to make any declarations of personal and/or
prejudicial interest that they may have in relation to items on the
agenda.
212. Mr Haymes declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 10(a)
(Planning Committee) as a member of the District Council’s Development Control
Committee and Mr Andrews and Mr Caiger declared an interest in agenda item
10(c) (allotment rentals) as both were tenants on the Cinders Lane allotments
site.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
213. A question was asked about the
proposal, which had been well
publicised, by a development company
to build an Eco-town comprising some 5,000 new homes on the Ford Airfield
site. The Chairman explained that this
was an entirely separate submission to the earlier Ford Hub proposal and which
was still being considered. It was
noted that the latest proposal had yet to be assessed by the District Council
in the context of the Local Development Framework.
214. The Chairman stated that Bersted Parish Council had recently called
a meeting of local councils in the area which he had attended and which was
aimed at gaining support for opposing any further housing development in
Bersted, beyond Policy Site 6 which had already been approved.
215. The Parish Council agreed to monitor the situation closely and to
maintain close contact with both Ford and Clymping Parish Councils over any firm
plans which might emerge for development of the Ford Airfield site for new
housing.
MINUTES
216. Resolved - That the minutes
of the meeting held on 10 September 2007 be approved as a correct record and
that they be signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS
ARISING
Children’s Holiday Club (minute 177/2007)
217. Mrs Wallbridge reported on discussions she had had with Richard
Hayes, the Rector. It was agreed that
the question of the future siting of the marquee on the field would be
discussed by the Clerk with the organisers when they made the booking next
year.
Enhancement of play facilities in Yapton (minutes 189-191/2007)
218. The Clerk reported that he had met with the SITA Trust Project
Manager on site and answered a number of questions she had raised about the “Inclusive
Play for All” project. The Council’s
grant application together with a report from the Project Manager would now go
forward for consideration by the SITA Trust Board on 11 December 2007. If the grant was approved it was likely that the installation
work would be undertaken in the early Spring with an end of March completion
date.
Village Hall Publicity/Fund raising (minute 193/2007)
219. Mrs Wallbridge reported that she was planning a Race Night on
Saturday 16 February 2008 as a fund raising event for the village hall. The event would be advertised in the next
issue of Yapton News & Views and was hoped it would be well supported
within the village.
Raised kerb at entrance to Village Hall Car Park (minute 194/2007)
220. The Clerk reported that a small tarmac gradient had now been
provided on either side of the entrance to the car park to facilitate access
for the disabled.
Gypsy and Traveller caravan sites (minute 198(c)/2007)
221. The Clerk reported that the District Council had since considered
its response to the consultation taking place.
Its view was to express a preference for Option A as set out in the
report ie to find site(s) for eleven (since reduced to nine) pitches for
permanent traveller accommodation in the area. The views of the Joint Area
Committees were to be obtained on possible sites and town and parish councils
were also being asked if they were aware of any suitable locations within their
areas.
Replacement cooker for village hall (minute 208(e)/2007)
222. The Clerk reported that in
consultation with the Council’s representatives on the village hall management
committee he had submitted an application, on behalf of the committee, for a
grant of £2500 from WSCC’s community grant scheme to extend the gas supply to
the main hall kitchen and replace the electric cooker with a professional gas
range cooker. The Council endorsed
the action the Clerk had taken and agreed, if the grant was approved, to
arrange for the gas installation.
REPORT
FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
223. The Chairman reported that County Councillor Mrs Freeman had asked
him to report that the works to resolve the drainage/sewerage problems on the
Downview Estate had been completed at a cost to the County Council of £77,000. Mrs Wallbridge stated that she believed there were still minor
works to be completed on the site.
REPORT
FROM SUSSEX POLICE REPRESENTATIVE
224. The Council had before them and received a report from PCSO Neil
Billingham which included statistics on the number of incidents reported to
Sussex Police since the last meeting (copy
attached to minute book).
225. PCSO Billingham commented on aspects of his report emphasising
the targeting of problem areas within the village including youth anti-social
behaviour and drink related offences.
226. Sgt Stobart reported on other policing matters in the area
highlighting the fact that there was now a change in style in Sussex with a
return to more “bobbies on the beat”.
Within the Arundel neighbourhood team there was now a sergeant, two police
constables and 8.5 police community support officers on the establishment and
as a result a more local presence could be maintained. Sgt Stobart suggested that the possibility
of extending the “no drinking” zone to cover Yapton should be considered at the
next review as it was evident now that this was not solely a youth
problem. The need for a “first
response” register of local skills and equipment was also suggested in the
event of a widespread emergency where the statutory services might initially be
engaged elsewhere. The Council noted
that two speed indicator devices were now available for the team to use within
the area.
CORRESPONDENCE
227. Receipt of the following correspondence was reported by the Clerk
and action agreed as indicated:-
a) Mercia Crematoria Ltd –
Withdrawal of planning application for proposed crematorium at Bilsham. Whilst
welcoming the withdrawal and the decision by Mercia Crematoria Ltd not to
pursue the application further in view of the overwhelming local opposition,
the Council felt it inappropriate to suggest an alternative site to the
company.
b) Sussex Partnership NHS Trust – Public consultation on proposal by the
Sussex Partnership which provides mental health, learning disability and
substance misuse services, to become an NHS Foundation Trust. The
Council noted that public meetings were being held in Brighton, Crawley and
Eastbourne as part of the consultation exercise.
c) West
Sussex Tree Wardens – Trees for Shade 2007-8 scheme. Grants of up to £50 are
available for approved tree planting schemes.
The Council agreed to apply for grant to cover the cost of replacing the
tree which had been planted near to the new picnic seating area on the playing
field but which had subsequently been damaged by vandals. Mr Caiger and Mr Jones would liaise about a
suitable species of standard tree.
d) Sussex
Police – proposal by PCSO to set up a Police Forum for the Yapton, Ford and
Clymping area. The
Council welcomed the proposal and agreed that Mr Caiger should represent the
Council on the forum. The first meeting
was scheduled to take place in the village hall on 14 November 2007 and the
Council agreed to fund the cost of hiring a room for the meeting.
e) John L Baird (Home Farm) Ltd – Footpath No
829 Clymping to Elmer – Invitation to join a committee of interested
organisations to assist the landowners in creating a path of permanent
construction along the foreshore. Mr Taft offered to serve on the committee
and the Council agreed to put his name forward although recognising that it had
no budget provision to assist financially with the project.
f) Arun
Youth Community Awards Scheme 2007 – nominations for the 2007 scheme were being
sought. Any young person aged 11 – 19
who met one of the categories of bravery, voluntary work or charity work was
eligible to be nominated.
g) WSCC
Community Safety Unit – Phase 2 of upgrading the street lighting on the Loveys
Estate. The Council noted that because of financial constraints phase 2 of the
updating project had had to be put on hold for a year. An assurance had however been received that
the work would be undertaken as a priority in the 2008/2009 financial
year.
PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER (YAPTON NEWS &
VIEWS)
228. Details of the contents of the November/December
edition (27th issue) of the newsletter which had been compiled by
the Clerk were reported to the Council.
As in the last two years an insert had been included in the centre pages
publicising the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice Christmas Cards. The latest issue would comprise a total of 24
pages and included a “Christmas Competition for all”. The Council agreed that vouchers should be
awarded for the first two correct entries drawn after the closing date for the
Christmas competition.
229. The direct delivery arrangements which now
covered most of the households in Yapton seemed to be working well. The Council agreed to award Christmas
vouchers of £10 each to non councillors who had helped on a voluntary basis
throughout the year with the delivery of the newsletter.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
230. The Council had before them and received details of planning
decisions made by Arun District Council in August/September and October 2007 (copy attached to minute book).
231. With reference to minute 204/2007 concerning Planning Application
No Y/72/07 (22 Canal Road), the Chairman reported that the District Council’s
Development Control Committee had since approved the application for the log
cabin but incorporating the conditions suggested by the Parish Council.
PLAYING FIELD
232. The Clerk reported on two serious incidents of anti-social
behaviour which had occurred recently in the large car park. On both occasions wheely bins had been taken
out of the Recycling Enclosure and their contents tipped over the car park and
surrounding area. On the first occasion
(a Sunday morning), the broken glass had been cleared up by the Parish
Council’s litter collector, Mrs Smithers, and her husband. On the second occasion (a Saturday morning)
the Clerk had called the District Council’s emergency “out of hours” line and
arranged for its refuse contractor, Verdant, to attend and clear the car park
and children’s play area of glass and paper rubbish which had been strewn
around. The District Council had since
agreed to pay for the cost of the first clearance and the Clerk was authorised
to pass this on to Mrs Smithers as an additional payment for working on a
Sunday.
233. The District Council had also, since the second incident,
arranged for the bins to be chained together to help prevent a recurrence. It was suggested by members that for extra
security the chain itself should be fixed to metal posts(s) within the
enclosure or alternatively a collapsible metal barrier post should be installed
at the entrance to the bin enclosure.
The Clerk undertook to pass on these suggestions to the District
Council.
234. It was reported that moles were still prevalent at the far end of
the field. An old set of goal posts
which belonged to Yapton Football Club were still on the perimeter of the field
awaiting collection/disposal. The Clerk
agreed to follow both matters up.
ALLOTMENTS
235. Mr Andrews and Mr Caiger having declared a personal interest took
no part in the consideration of the following item and subsequent vote on the
resolution.
236. The Clerk reported that the allotment rentals for plots on the
Cinders Lane site were subject to annual review. The present annual rental of £15.00 per 5 rod plot had been fixed
in April 2000 and had remained unchanged for 7 years. In the interim there had been increases in running costs
including grass cutting and water rates
and the Cinders Lane site rental itself was now due for review.
237. Resolved – That
allotment rentals for a 5 rod plot on the Cinders Lane site be set at £20.00
per annum for the year commencing 1 April 2008.
VILLAGE HALL
238. Mrs Wallbridge reported on a meeting of the Village Hall
Management Committee held on 31 October
2007 as follows:
a) The Committee had agreed that
the possibility of a grant towards the cost of a replacement cooker should be
explored (minute 222/2007 above refers).
b) The siting of a new filing
cabinet for use by the Hall Manager had been discussed and agreed.
c) The hiring agreement with the
Church for use of the Committee room as an office was being reviewed.
d) The showers on the first floor
were to be refurbished with those no longer used being capped off.
e) Work on the Health and Safety
policy was on-going with Mr Bryan reporting that there were still a number of
issues to be resolved.
JOINT DOWNLAND AREA COMMITTEE
239. Mr Taft reported on his attendance at the meeting held on 8
October 2007.
POLICY SITE 6 ADVISORY GROUP
240. Mr Taft reported on his attendance at various meetings. The plans had recently been received from
the developer for the temporary access to the site from the A259 road at
Flansham where the new roundabout to serve the Relief Road was to be
constructed. The Council also noted
that there was an issue about the routing of footpaths which straddled the
parishes of Felpham and Yapton and the associated proposed cycle track route
from Barnham to Felpham which was still to be resolved.
FINANCE
241. The Council noted that the external audit by Mazars of the
Council’s accounts for the year ended 31 March 2007 had been satisfactorily
completed. A copy of the statement of
accounts and the external auditor’s report had been posted on the Parish
Council’s noticeboard in accordance with the regulatory requirements.
242. The Clerk reported that the NJC for Local Government Services had
recently agreed a 2.475% cost of living pay award for local government staff
with effect from 1 April 2007. The
Clerk’s salary was linked to the national scales and the award was within the
2.5% which had been budgeted for by the Council.
243. Resolved –
a) That the financial statement
showing the payments and receipts covering the period 1 September – 31 October 2007
be adopted (copy attached to minute
book);
b) That the summary of income and
expenditure over the various budget heads for the period 1 September – 31 October
2007 be received (copy attached to minute
book).
DATES OF MEETINGS IN 2008
244. The Council approved the following programme of meetings for 2008
in the village hall starting at 7.30 pm:
14 January; 10 March; 12 May (following on from Annual
Parish Meeting at 7.30 pm)
14 July; 8
September; 10 November.
245. The Parish Council meetings would be preceded by meetings of the
Planning Committee starting at 7.00 pm.
CHAIRMAN