Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held at The Jolly Sportsman, Chapel Lane, on Monday 11 th July 2005

Present: Cllrs Geoffrey Benjamin, Carrie Parnell, Charles Dampney, Marina Bury, Stephen Toomey, Jane Amerio

Also in Attendance: Graham Whittaker (Clark to the Council) and one member of the public

1. Apologies for absence: Cllr Nigel Welby and Cllr Meg Stroude (ESCC)

2. Chairman’s remarks and notification of urgent business not included in the agenda.
The Chairman welcomed all present and advised there were no urgent matters not included in the Agenda 

3. Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 9 th May 2005

The minutes were agreed and signed as a true record of the proceedings

4. Matters arising (not covered elsewhere on the agenda):-

(i) Land fronting Chapel Lane and present situation re Charitable Trust

Nigel Welby had faxed the Chairman and Clerk with information from the solicitors handling the proposed purchase and details were circulated to the councillors. The name of the trust would be the East Chiltington Trust providing there was not already a trust with that name. Proposed by Charles Dampney, seconded by Jane Amerio and agreed by five councillors present. The proposed objects of the Trust were then outlined as follows: 1. ‘The provision of recreational facilities which are open to residents in the Parish of East Chiltington’, proposed by Charles Dampney, seconded by Marina Bury and carried unanimously 2. ‘The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of the residents of East Chiltington by the provision of facilities for events, sport and the playing of games’, proposed by Charles Dampney, seconded by Jane Amerio and carried unanimously 3 This clause concerns the protection and preservation of the land and had yet to be drafted by solicitors 4. This clause would enable the Trust to continue to make small grants such as those previously made from the Gradwell Hall Fund and had yet to be drafted by solicitors. It was unanimously agreed that Nigel Welby could agree the wording with the solicitors. As objects 1 & 2 were slightly different to those originally drafted it was agreed that if they were not acceptable they could revert to the former wording. The Trustees would all be nominated by the Parish Council with a minimum of four and at least two being members of the Parish Council – Proposed by Geoffrey Benjamin, seconded by Carrie Parnell and carried unanimously. The first trustees would be Peter Gossage, Nigel Welby, Geoffrey Benjamin and one other parishioner - Jane Amerio would approach Steven Funnell. The proviso being that the Parish Council procured the agreement of the Charities Commission and the remaining trustees that Peter Gossage and Nigel Welby would be acceptable in view of their possible conflict of interest. This was proposed by Charles Dampney, seconded by Geoffrey Benjamin and carried unanimously.

(ii) The Springett and Campion Educational Charity – As the Parish Council’s nominated Trustee had retired it was proposed by Geoffrey Benjamin, seconded by Carrie Parnell and carried unanimously, that John Anderson should step up from co-opted member to the Parish Council’s nominee.

(iii) Positioning of East Chiltington village signs – A parishioner felt that the East Chiltington road sign at the southern end of Novington Lane should be moved northwards. As the proposed South Downs National Park decision had yet to be made this could have a bearing on signage and, as the costs could be considerable, it was agreed any discussion and decision on this subject should be deferred until an announcement was made.

(iv) Future of the parish of St John Without – An amalgamation between East Chiltington and St John Without had been broached at the St John Without Parish Meeting. No formal approach had been received from them nor, to the best of any councillors knowledge, had St John Without approached Lewes District Council. Any amalgamation could have far reaching consequences. As such, if a formal approach was received the Parish Council would convene an Extraordinary Meeting of the Parish Council, to specifically discuss the issue.

5. Reports from Councillors:-

• Village Action Plan project – The church restoration project was moving forward and a possible funding source had been identified.
• Highways and Transport and Quiet Lanes project – A number of the finger posts around the village had been broken or vandalised and ESCC had been asked to deal with them by both parishioners and Marina Bury. It was agreed the Clerk would formally write requesting action. The Quiet Lanes project was gathering pace with a presentation to Rural Voices Rural Choices on 15 th July at which point it was hoped to commission a feasibility study and secure funding for an engineer to look at the road structure.
• Finance, welfare and education – The accounts had been checked by Geoffrey Benjamin and there was nothing to report on welfare and education.
• AONB and footpaths – Charles Dampney had nothing to report
• Minerals and waste – Charles Dampney had nothing to report apart from the letter the clerk had prepared in respect of the old Hamsey Brickworks site which would be discussed later.
• Trees – Jane Amerio advised there was a dead tree which she would ask Robert Symes’s opinion before taking any action.
• Police and neighbourhood Watch – Carrie Parnell had nothing to report.
• Website and Parish Magazine – Stephen Toomey had asked the person who deals with the website to update it which he had done but some changes to the site were required. Unfortunately, the Parish Magazine had gone to print before the council meeting date was changed. In future, dates would be shown as provisional with the posting of the agenda on the boards being the official notification.
• Parish Notice Boards – Jane Amerio reported that the Hollycroft board was in poor condition but as the cost of a new board would be considerable the clerk would endeavour to get someone to look at it with a view to giving it a longer lease of life.

6. Correspondence:-

• Southern – The company regretted that the timetable change of 9.10am from Plumpton had caused inconvenience but cited the reasons as the need for faster services and a better spread of arrival times.
• LDC – Outline of pre-application discussions on planning proposals
• Cllr. Neil Commin – Offer to attend at council meetings to discuss planning in general – this would be left to Nigel Welby to decide
• LDC – Following a complaint from the Parish Council it was confirmed that the Hollycroft football pitch would be cut on a regular basis and the adjacent large grass area seven times a year. No funding is presently available to provide a pathway to the ball games area.
• Defra – Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 – Jane Amerio will look at the information received.
• LDC – Clarification concerning retrospective planning applications
• Campaign to Protect Rural England – Nigel Welby would assess whether there was a need to attend a conference on the New System for Local Planning. It was not felt membership was necessary.

7. Planning matters

• LW/05/1082 Whitehouse Farm – The Council noted support for replacement of matching chimney pots
• LW/05/1172 Shepherds Cottage – The Council noted there was no objection for the conversion of a single storey outbuilding for use as an art studio and storage
• LW/424/CM Old Hamsey Brickworks – The Council noted the proposed comments to ESCC, Planning Committee following the applicant’s responses to consultations with ESCC and the Environment Agency, and agreed the letter prepared by the Clerk. It had also become known that the Environment Agency had now withdrawn their objection. A copy of the Parish Council’s letter would be circulated to all ESCC councillors.

8. Financial Matters

• The Clerk reported balances held in Bank Accounts as at 30 th June 2005 as follows:
• Community Account £ 1,548.42
• Business Premium Account £ 1,205.10
• Capital Fund £47,156.62
• New Fund £ 1,973.63
• The following cheques were approved for payment:

G H Whittaker -Clerk’s salary and expenses £ 297.89

The Springett and Campion Educational Charity £ 50.00

The Happy Circle £ 50.00

(iii) The Council noted that External Audit of the 2004/2005 accounts was now in progress and notices were on the boards

9. AOB

(1). Trafalgar Day 21 st October – Charles Dampney would attend to the lighting of the beacon and organise festivities over the weekend.

(2). The Clerk advised that some parishioners letters received direct by councillors should be replied to officially by the Parish Council if the content was contentious.

(3). The Clerk and Chairman had been advised that LDALPC would not in future be holding meetings other than an AGM as speakers were now attending Rural Voices Rural Choices. Future subscriptions to LDALPC would be reviewed as appropriate.

(4). The Chairman requested that councillors become more involved in their particular areas of responsibility

(5). Stephen Toomey confirmed he had dealt with questionnaires from LDC and ESCC on the Local Development Framework.

(6). Stephen Toomey confirmed the two benches were in order per the Insurance Company’s request, although the area around the one at the southern end of the village was in need of strimming.

10. Provisional date of the next meeting of the Parish Council is

Monday 5 th September 2005, 7.00pm at the Jolly Sportsman

Date to be confirmed by posting of Agenda

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.15pm

Previous Minutes: May : March : January