YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

13 July 2009 - 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 Faulkner, Mr Jones,  Mr D Mills and Mr J Mills (from item 125 onwards).

 

Also present:   Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 5 members of the public.

 

Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Parish Councillors Mr Caiger and Mr Taft and from County Councillor Mrs Freeman and District Councillor Mrs Neno.

 

 

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

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

 

122.  Mr Haymes declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 10 insofar as the application for grant aid from the 1st Yapton & Ford Scout Group was concerned as he was President of the Scout Group. Mr Haymes also declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 13(a) (Planning Committee) and took no part in the discussion/decision making on both these items.    

 

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

123.  With reference to minute 78/2009, the Clerk reported that since the last meeting two applications had been received from persons interested in being co-opted on to the Council.  Details of the candidates had been circulated to members but one applicant had since decided to withdraw.

 

124.  Resolved - That Mr John Mills of Walnut Tree Cottage, Church Road, Yapton, be co-opted to serve as a Parish Councillor for the remainder of the four year term of office ending in May 2011.   

 

125.  At this point, Mr J Mills signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took his seat on the Council.  

 

 

VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES

 

126.  Resolved - That Mr J Mills be appointed as one of the Council's three representatives on the Village Hall Management Committee for the ensuing year.  The remaining vacancy would be carried forward for consideration at the next meeting.

 

 

MINUTES

 

127.  Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2009 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.               

 

 

 

MATTERS ARISING

 

Street Lighting in Hoe Lane, Flansham (minute 87/2009)

 

128.  The Clerk advised that he had been in contact with WSCC to arrange for the new lights to be included in the County Council’s maintenance contract.

 

Bilsham Road Telephone Box (minute 88/2009)

 

129.  The Clerk advised that following a personal approach to the Chief Executive, the repairs had been promptly carried out by British Telecom.  The Clerk had since asked if the telephone box could be re-painted and the damaged front panel replaced and this was being considered by BT.

 

Improvement projects (minute 90/2009)

 

130.  The Clerk reported that he had heard from WSCC that work on installing the new street lighting in Fairholme Drive was expected to start in August.   With regard to possible improvements to recreational facilities on the playing field, the Clerk advised that he had approached both the Youth Club and local primary school to seek their views and was waiting to hear from the headteacher with the children’s suggestions.

 

Footpath No. 166 (rear of Fairholme Drive) (minute 97/2009)

 

131.  The Clerk reported WSCC Public Rights of Way had advised that the illegal use of a Public Right of Way was a matter for the police.  Such incidents should be reported via the Pathwatch scheme by telephoning 0845 60 70 999 so that the police could monitor the situation and take appropriate action. It was suggested that the assistance of the local PCSO might also be sought.

  

Arun District Council – replacement of bus shelter for Main Road, Yapton (minute 101c/2009).

 

132.  The Council were advised that following the agreement of the Joint Downland Area Committee at its meeting on 6 July 2009, the Clerk had been advised that installation of the new shelter was scheduled to take place in November 2009.    

 

Ford Eco-town proposal (minute 102/2009)

 

133.  The Council noted that a decision on the Government’s eco-town programme was expected to be announced before the parliamentary recess on 22 July 2009.

 

Ford Parish Council – newsletter partnership (minute 109/2009)

 

134.  The Chairman reported that Ford Parish Council had since decided to publish its own newsletter rather than join in a partnership arrangement with Yapton.

 

 

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

135.  With reference to minute 129/2009, it was suggested that young people’s views should be sought via a questionnaire on what extra provision should be made for recreational facilities in the village in the event of extra funding becoming available.

 

136.  It was reported that one of the security cameras which covered the children’s play area had been damaged.  There was still a problem with dog fouling on the playing field.

 

137.  Mr Bryan reported that there were two vacancies on the governing body (one for a parent governor and one for a local authority representative) at Yapton CE Primary School.  It was suggested that publicity might be given to these vacancies by way of an article in the September newsletter.

 

 

COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS

 

138.  Members had before and received a copy of a written report from County Councillor Mrs Freeman (copy attached to minute book).

 

139.  The Chairman advised that there were no significant issues to report from the District Council. 

 

 

REPORT FROM SUSSEX POLICE REPRESENTATIVE

 

140.  The Council had before them and received a report by PCSO Billingham covering the period       1 May to 30 June 2009 (copy attached to minute book).

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

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

 

a) WSCC Street Lighting – West Sussex Street Lighting PFI – progress report on new contract.  Members noted that the Private Finance Initiative contract was expected to be finalised shortly and parish councils would then be invited to sign up to the new arrangements for the ongoing maintenance of parish owned street lights in their area. This would include the replacement of old columns (over 15 years old) with new in the 1st year of the new contract.

 

b) WSCC Local Development – Planning Application Y/37/07, Bilsham Road, Yapton – consultation on proposed highway works (copy attached to minute book).   Members were reminded that the Parish Council had previously indicated that it would wish to explore the possibility of  a “Welcome to Yapton” sign designed by a local resident being incorporated into any entrance gateway to the village which might be provided (minute 210k/2008 refers) .

 

Resolved  – To strongly recommend to WSCC:

 

i) That the two new bus shelters should be of timber construction to match the new shelter recently provided at Sparks Corner in Bilsham Road;

 

ii) That the distinctive “Welcome to Yapton” sign designed by a local resident, David Day, should be incorporated into the design of the entrance gateway;

 

iii) That the Council explore the possibility of obtaining funding to provide similar signs at the three other main entrances to the village.

 

c) Sussex Crimestoppers – request for donation of £50 per year for the next 3 years towards the    running and development costs of the charity (copy attached to minute book).   The Council declined to give a donation but it was suggested that it might be helpful if some publicity were given to the Crimestoppers scheme in the next issue of Yapton News & Views.

 

d) Arun DC – Appointment of Parish Representative to serve on the District Council’s Standards Committee (copy attached to minute book).   The Chairman explained the role of the local Standards Committee.  There were currently two vacancies for parish council representatives on the Committee  and if any member was interested they were asked to contact the Clerk.

 

 

APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT-AID 2009/2010

 

142.  The Council had before and considered a schedule prepared by the Clerk setting out details of the applications for grant-aid received from local organisations and charitable bodies for the 2009/2010 financial year (copy attached to minute book).

 

143.  Resolved – That grants totalling £800.00 as indicated below be made to the following organisations listed on the schedule:-

 

the upkeep of the churchyard)                                £150.00

 

 

PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER (YAPTON NEWS & VIEWS)

 

144.  Details of the contents of the July 2009 edition (37th issue) of the newsletter were reported to the Council.   Mr J Mills offered to assist with the delivery of the newsletter to households in the village.  

 

 

MEETING OF QUALITY PARISH COUNCILS IN ARUN DISTRICT

 

145.  The Council had before them and received the notes of the meeting of the quality councils in Arun with senior officers from Arun District and WSCC held on 21 May 2009 (copy attached to minute book).

 

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

146.  The Council had before them and received details of planning decisions made by Arun District Council in April and May 2009 (copy attached to minute book).

 

 

PLAYING FIELD

 

147.  There were no matters to report.

 

 

ALLOTMENTS

 

148.  The Clerk reported that letters had been sent to three tenants whose plots were untidy and were not being properly worked in accordance with the terms of the tenancy agreement.

 

 

 

VILLAGE HALL REPRESENTATIVES

 

149.  The Chairman stated that he had been unable to attend the last meeting of the Management Committee.

 

 

POLICE NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT FORUM

 

150.  As Mr Caiger was not present no report was given on the meeting held on 17 June 2009.  Mr Bryan reported that he had not received an agenda or prior notice of the meeting.

 

 

JOINT DOWNLAND AREA COMMITTEE

 

151.  The Chairman reported on the meeting held on 6 July 2009.  Len Prior from Findon Parish Council had been elected as Chairman and Christina Freeman elected as Vice-Chairman, for the ensuing year.  

 

 

FINANCE                  

 

152.  Resolved –

 

(a) That the financial statement showing the payments and receipts covering the period 1 April – 30 June 2009 be adopted (copy attached to minute book);

 

(b) That the summary of income and expenditure over the various budget heads for the period 1 April – 30 June 2009 be received (copy attached to minute book).

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN