YAPTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

10 May 2010 - At the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held at the Yapton & Ford Village Hall.                  

 

Present:    Mr Andrews, Mrs Barnes (from item 85 onwards), Mr Bryan, Mr Caiger, Mr Haymes,  Mr D Mills and Mr J Mills.

 

Also present:   County Councillor Mrs Coleman, Mr Tansley (Clerk of the Council) and 2 members of the public.

 

Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Parish Councillor Mr Taft.  Apologies were also received from District Councillors Mr English and Mrs Neno and from PCSO Matthews.

 

 

CHAIRMAN

 

63.   Resolved - That Mr Haymes be re-elected Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year.                   

 

 

VICE-CHAIRMAN

 

64.  Resolved - That Mr Faulkner be re-elected Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council for the ensuing year.                   

 

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

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

 

66.  Mr Haymes declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 20(a) (Planning Committee) and took no part in the discussion/decision making on this item.    

 

 

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES

 

67.  Resolved - That the membership of the committees for the ensuing year remain unchanged as follows:

 

Playing Field:   Mr Caiger, Mr Jones

 

Planning:          Mr Faulkner (Chairman), Mr Andrews, Mrs Barnes, Mr Jones, Mr Mills.

 

Allotments:       Mr Caiger.

                        

(The Chairman would be an ex-officio member of the Playing Field and Allotments Committees)

 

 

VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES

 

68.  Resolved - That Mr Haymes and Mr J Mills be re-appointed as the Council's representatives on the Village Hall Management Committee for the ensuing year and that the third vacancy remain unfilled for the time being.

 

 

REPRESENTATIVE ON JOINT DOWNLAND AREA COMMITTEE

 

69.    Resolved - That Mr Taft be re-appointed as the Council's representative on the Joint Downland Area Committee for the ensuing year. 

 

 

REPRESENTATIVE ON POLICY SITE 6 ADVISORY GROUP

 

70.    Resolved - That Mr Taft be re-appointed as the Council's representative on the Policy Site 6 Advisory Group for the ensuing year. 

 

 

REPRESENTATIVES ON POLICE NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT FORUM

 

71.    Resolved – That Mr Bryan and Mr Caiger be appointed as the Council’s representatives on the Yapton, Ford and Clymping Police Neighbourhood Management Forum for the ensuing year.

 

 

MINUTES

 

72.  Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2010 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.               

 

 

MATTERS ARISING

 

Illegal riding of motorbikes and quad bikes (minute 32/2010)

 

73.  The Clerk advised that PCSO Lee Matthews had submitted an article on the subject which would be included in the May issue of Yapton News.  The general consensus was that there was less of a problem with motorbikes and quad bikes in the village at the present time.   

 

Maypole Lane - potholes (minute34/2010)

 

74.  The Clerk advised that WSCC Highways had scheduled the necessary repairs to the road surface in Maypole Lane and these would be undertaken within the next three months.

 

Angels Nursery Site in Barnham (minute 35/2010)

 

75.  The Chairman reported that the District Council had refused the recent application by WSCC for housing development on the site.

 

Provision of extra dog bins (minute 38/2010)

 

76.  The Chairman reported that the District Council had reviewed its policy on the provision of dog bins and where additional bins were requested by Parish Councils or developers a charge would be made for the bins provided and for emptying.

 

Village Hall – external maintenance contract (minutes 40/2010)

 

77.   The Clerk reported that the roofing and guttering repairs had been completed.  Work on the external redecoration was scheduled to start the week commencing 17 May 2010.  It was reported that unfortunately a section of the new guttering at the rear of the village hall had already been dislodged/damaged and there was a need for a new downpipe to be provided with a converter section at its base.  The Clerk undertook to follow both these points up.     

 

Proposed “Welcome to the village of Yapton signs” (minute 46a(ii)/2010)

 

78.  The Clerk updated members on the discussions he had had with officers from WSCC Highways.

The outcome was that the developer was prepared to supply three additional signs at a total cost of £1213.80 and these would be installed by the Highways Rangers at no additional cost to the Council.

 

79.  Resolved – That the Council approve the funding of the additional signs utilising the grant received from the Sussex & Surrey Associations of Local Councils (minute 88a/2010 refers) and that an application for grant aid to cover 50% of the cost be submitted to the WSCC Community Grants Scheme.      

 

Letting of playing field for Dog Shows (minute 46d/2010)

 

80.  The Clerk advised that the Chichester British Association for German Shepherd Dogs had since booked the playing field for the September event only.

 

Provision of Goal Posts (minute 49b/2010)

 

81.  The Clerk reported that in the event Yapton FC’s goal posts were not available. Accordingly an order had been placed for new posts to be provided and installed at a cost of £718.00 + VAT.  A grant provided by the developer of Warmere Court would be used to fund the new equipment.   

 

Skate Park project (minute 49d/2010)

 

82. The Clerk reported that an application for grant-aid to the Arun Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership had been unsuccessful due to reduced funding being available in the current financial year.  He had since submitted an application to the Three Harbours and Coastal Plain LEADER Programme for grant-aid  to supplement that already submitted to the SITA Trust.      

 

Dog fouling in the village (minute 50/2010)

 

83.  The Clerk reported that an article would be included in the May issue of Yapton News to help promote a village campaign against dog fouling.

 

 

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

84.  There were no questions from the members of the public.

 

 

COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS

 

85.  County Councillor Mrs Coleman expressed her disappointment at the low turn out for the Annual Parish Meeting of all electors of the Parish.    She went on to report that there would be an election at the end of May for the Leader of the County Council following Henry Smith’s recent election as MP for Crawley.  She expressed her appreciation of the efforts of PCSO Matthews in eliciting further information about the possible development of fields at the rear of Goodhew Close and Fordwater Gardens.    Mrs Coleman also indicated her strong support for the proposal to install “Welcome to the village of Yapton” signs as the four main entrances to the village. 

 

86.  The Chairman reported that the District Council would shortly be taking over from the police, responsibility for Civil Parking Enforcement in the Arun area following its adoption by WSCC  and its consequent “decriminalisation”.    He also advised that the possibility of establishing a second traveller/gipsy facility at Ryebank was currently under consideration by the District Council.

 

 

REPORT FROM SUSSEX POLICE REPRESENTATIVE

 

87.  The Council had before them and received a report by PCSO Lee Matthews covering the period       29 January to 28 April 2010 (copy attached to minute book).

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

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

 

a) Sussex & Surrey Associations of Local Councils – Quality Council Qualification for Local Area Agreement (LAA) Funding.  The Council noted the receipt of a cheque for £925.00 as the Council’s share of the Safer and Stronger Communities element of the LAA reward grant.

 

b) WSCC Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport – Amended Capital Works Programme 2010/11.  The Council noted that the County Council had reviewed its highways capital programme following the damage caused to the road network in West Sussex by the severe winter weather.   Carriageway repairs including the filling of potholes were to be given priority in the current financial year to ensure the roads were safe.  As a result some improvement projects had been deferred but a £20,000 scheme for drainage works along Main Road remained in the programme of works to be undertaken in 2010/2011.

 

c) WSCC Invitation to attend meeting on 26 May 2010 at 2.00 pm at the White Swan Hotel, Arundel,   with Member Working Group to consider future operation of CLCs.   It was hoped that the Chairman and Mr Taft would be able to attend.   

 

d) Local resident – concern about the nuisance caused to neighbours by garden bonfires.  The Clerk indicated that he would include a mention of this in the May issue of Yapton News.

 

 

VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

 

89.  With reference to minute 53/2010, the Clerk advised that copies of the responses received to the consultation exercise with other local councils who had produced Village Design Statements for their localities had been circulated to members before the meeting.

 

90.  Resolved – That having given careful consideration to the responses received to the consultation exercise and the need for a partnership to be developed with a local organisation willing to progress the scheme, no further action  be taken by the Council to pursue the matter at this stage.    

 

 

RENEWAL OF LEASE FOR CINDERS LANE ALLOTMENTS SITE

 

91.   The Council noted that a renewal of the lease had been proposed by the solicitors acting on behalf of the landowners for a six year term commencing on 25 March 2010 at an initial annual rental for the first three year period of £400.00 and at £500.00 for the second three years of the term.  The new lease would follow the format of the previous lease extensions including that dated 25 March 1993 taking into account the new Land Registry requirements.

 

92.  Resolved - That the terms of the extended lease be approved and that the Chairman, Mr Andrews and Mr Caiger endorse the formal agreement on behalf of the Council by signing the document accordingly.

  

 

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF MEMBERS/STAFF

 

93.   Mr J Mills reported on his attendance at a ‘Meet the Council’ event organised by Arun District Council.

 

 

PARISH COUNCIL MAGAZINE (YAPTON NEWS)

 

94.  Details of the contents of the May 2010 edition (42nd issue) of Yapton News were reported to the Council. 

 

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

95.  The Council had before them and received (a) the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 8 March 2010 and (b) details of planning decisions made by Arun District Council in February/March/April 2010 (copies attached to minute book).  

 

96.   Mr Faulkner, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, advised members of the expectation that a planning application would be submitted shortly to the District Council for development of land at the rear of Goodhew Close.   In view of the likely interest in the proposed development a special meeting of the Planning Committee would be called to enable members of the public to air their views before the Committee determined its response to the application.

 

 

PLAYING FIELD

 

97.  The Council noted that the flagpole at the entrance to the playing field had unfortunately been damaged beyond repair by vandals.   As this was the second time this had happened, the Council decided not to replace the flagpole again.   The Clerk was asked to arrange for the base to be removed to make the area safe.

 

 

ALLOTMENTS

 

98.  There were no matters to report on the allotments site.

 

 

VILLAGE HALL

 

99. Mr J Mills gave a verbal report.   The Council was encouraged to hear that the Village Hall finances had improved considerably and that its new website appeared to be instrumental in attracting new bookings.

 

100.  It was noted that the Village Hall Management Committee was considering structural changes to the main entrance of the building to improve security, further details of which would be brought to the Council for approval in due course.

 

101.  The Village Hall AGM would take place on 8 June 2010.     

 

 

JOINT DOWNLAND AREA COMMITTEE

 

102.   In the absence of Mr Taft, the Chairman reported on the meeting held on 19 April 2010.  A Local Area Agreement (LAA) Reward Grant of £50,000 was to be split equally amongst the three Joint Area Committees to support ‘Area Action Planning’.   A small member working group had been set up to identify priorities and report back to the Committee. 

 

 

POLICE NEIGHBOURHOOD  MANAGEMENT FORUM

 

103.  Mr Bryan reported on the meeting held on 28 April 2010.

 

 

MEETING OF QUALITY PARISH/TOWN COUNCILS IN ARUN

 

104.  The Council had before them and received the notes of the meeting of quality councils in Arun with senior officers from Arun District Council and WSCC held on 8 April 2010 (copy attached to minute book).

 

 

FINANCE

 

Audit of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2010

 

105. The Council was 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 (the audit for the current year had already been undertaken by WSCC Internal Audit Services) (ii) an explanation of any significant variances between the 2008/09 and 2009/10 financial years and a bank reconciliation statement and (iii) an Annual Governance Statement to be signed by the Chairman on behalf of the members.

 

106.  Resolved  -

 

a) That the Statement of Accounts prepared by the Responsible Financial Officer for the year ended 31 March 2010 together with the accompanying Annual Governance Statement, as completed and signed by the Chairman, be approved (copies attached to minute book);

 

b) That the continuing appointment of WSCC Internal Audit Services as the Council’s internal auditors be confirmed and that the letter of agreement dated 5 March  2010 from them setting out the terms be duly signed (copy attached to minute book).  

 

 

Financial Statements

 

107.  Resolved

 

(a) That the financial statement showing the payments and receipts covering the period 1 March – 31 March 2010 be adopted (copy attached to minute book);

 

(b) That the summary of income and expenditure over the various budget heads for the financial year 2009/2010 be received (copy attached to minute book).

 

(c) That the “Spent vs Budget” statement for the financial year 2009/2010 be received (copy attached to minute book).

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN