Minutes of the Bi-monthly Parish Council Meeting 20 January 2010
Church Hall 7.30pm
Present: Mr A Harland (Chairman), Mr C Field, Mrs C Ranjbar, Mrs E Smart, Mrs D Kennedy,
Mrs T Tull, Mrs D Pound, Mr C Bond and Mr A Malir.
CC Mrs M Whitehead, Clerk (Mr J Paul) and seven members of the public.
1 Apologies for absence. None, all Councillors present
2 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held 18 November 2009. Mr Field proposed and
Mrs Kennedy seconded that the minutes should be signed as a true record. All Councillors agreed.
3 Declarations by Councillors of personal interests in items on this agenda. None.
4 Matters arising from the above minutes not dealt with in separate items below. None.
5 Fingerboard, Mill Lane. Following conversation with Mr Whittington (WSCC). It was understood by the Clerk and passed to the Councillors that to resolve the issue of the fingerboard a ballot could be made of Mill Lane residents, choices to include Sidlesham Quay and Mill Hamlet. Further conversation found this to be in error that Mill Hamlet was not an option. In the light of this and the general unsatisfactory situation Mr Harland proposed and Mrs Pound seconded that the board should be reverted to Mill Lane, this was carried unanimously.
Mr Harland invited members of the public to address the Parish Council, none accepted.
Action The Clerk to organise the change of signage as quickly as possible.
6 Highways, footpaths and cycleways.
6.1 B2145 Sidlesham Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS). The posts to hold these signs are already erected final completion and activation dates not yet known.
6.2 Caspar (semi-permanent VAS) 3 monthly programme. Mr Field reported that the programme has serious flaws; no signs were seen in Keynor Lane in January probably due to adverse weather; Easton Lane is listed for February and Winchester Road, West Wittering; the latter does not exist and Easton Lane is not restricted other than the National Limit. It was agreed that the programme must be compiled with active parish input to have any credibility. The Manhood road group will be contacting WSCC; Councillors agreed that SPC should support the Group with a letter to WSCC Highways.
6.3 Traffic metering tubes. Pairs of tubes were seen recently across Church lane and Church Farm Lane. The PC has no knowledge of why. Action The Clerk to enquire and request data copies.
6.4 Pot Holes. Following the County wide heavy snowfalls, prolonged very low temperatures, heavy rain and road flooding many roads are severely damaged. Many potholes are evident of all sizes, it is expected repairs will take some considerable time. In addition to the importance of roads’ to prioritise repairs, the County Highways Department has size and depth criteria. Mr Field agreed to request publication of the criteria in the Parish magazine.
6.5 Should similar snow conditions occur it was suggested the PC should request that bins or bags of rock salt be placed at hazardous junctions. This was agreed but the logistics were not clear.
7 Hall work group.
Mrs Pound reported that the course she attended at Action in Rural Sussex was excellent and the answers to organisation issues could be obtained from there. Mrs Pound suggested that Louise Beaton should be invited to address the PC at an open meeting. Discussion on the topic concluded that such an address would be premature as no decision by the PC about a hall had been made and a positive decision was unlikely for some years. It was highlighted that the population of Sidlesham was too small to support another hall in addition to the Church Hall and on that no decision would be made on the Church Hall until at least 2016, two PC elections in the future. The PC decided that an AiRS speaker should not be invited.
(Mrs Tull gave apologies and left to attend another meeting) (Two members of the public left.)
8 Recreation Ground.
8.1 Playground. Mr Harland reported on progress. The aim was to raise £110,000. Tenders for £82,000, £84,000 £96,000 were received. The next CDC grant consideration will be in March/April. The Community Group will meet on 2 February to deliberate on Stage 2 application. A grant of £49,999 is the likely request.
8.2 Football Club, insurances. The Clerk reported that following contact with the Football Association confirmation was obtained that their insurance cover of Football Clubs only extended Public Liability Insurance for football associated activities, third party no football activities were not covered. The Football club responded to the Clerk that additional PLI was taken out for each hiring of the Club premises and that example certificates would be forwarded. As none were received prior to the PC meeting the Clerk was instructed to make further request.
8.3 Club Building surveys. The Clerk reported that three suitable survey estimates were obtained two at likely cost of £450, one at £1000. The Clerk was instructed to follow up a quote by Cranes of £450.
9 Amenities and Assets.
9.1 K6 red phone box, Sidlesham Common. The Clerk reported vandalism of glass panes. As this box (a Grade 2 listed building) is still the responsibility of British Telecom the Clerk was instructed to seek repairs by that company. ACTION Clerk
9.2 Bird Pond: A member of the public (two still present) asked to address the PC. He reported that the outlet from Bird Pond was blocked; leading to local flooding. The PC agreed that the Clerk should enquire of Highways that the culvert should be cleared. ACTION Clerk.
(Mrs Pound left 8:45)
10 Local Development Framework. Focus on Strategic Growth consultation. Mr Harland reviewed at length possible replies. The PC agreed that Mr Harland should collate responses and pass the document to the Clerk for despatch to CDC.
(Mrs Whitehead left 9:30)
11 Finance
11.1 Standing Orders and Financial Regulations. (The Clerk reported that he was waiting revision of national guideline document by NALC.)
11.2 Risk assessments for operational and financial procedures. (Mr Harland reported that a document was in progress of production)
11.3 Precept for 2010/2011 £17945, the Clerk reported that he had made the request to CDC.
11.4 The clerk requested approval and recording of the following transactions.
11.4.1 Payments to be made: -
11.4.1.1 Manhood Peninsula Partnership donation £50
11.4.1.1 Church Hall hire November to January £22.50
11.4.1.2 Clerk Expenses November to January £49.12
11.4.2 Payments made since 18 November 2009
11.4.2.1 MH Kennedy Grass on Paddock Straight £92.58
11.4.2.2 Mazars audit fee 08/09 £155.25
11.4.2.3 H Collins, Beggars Lane clearance. £155.25
11.4.2.4 Post Office redirection fee Parish Clerk mail to January 2011 £76.10
Mrs Smart proposed and Mr Bond seconded that the items of 11.4 should be accepted en bloc, the Councillors agreed.
12 Reports
12.1 Annual Meeting of the Parishes. Mr Harland and Mr Field attended this CDC event. Mr Harland reported the major topics:- * Parishes should make best use of their DC representatives for contact. *Current position on the Local Development Framework first stage. *Community forums, south is more active than north. *Enforcement; feed-back improvement particularly through Ward Members (TT). From the floor the problems of slow Broadband was raised.
12.2 Peninsula Forum, minutes already circulated by email to PC.
12.3 Road Group, Clerk to ensure minutes are circulated by email.
13 Correspondence.
13.1 SPCC to increase Church Hall hire cost to £7.50 per hour.
14 AOB
14.4 Mr Field reported that he attended the Ham Walk, it was not organised by RSPB but by the Ham Residents Group.
14.5 Pagham Harbour Pagham Harbour & Coastal Issues Group Terms of Reference. Mr Harland reported that he had signed this document.
14.6 Mr Bond reported that he had been assured that Sidlesham local boat permits for Pagham Harbour issue would not be a problem. It was not known if the consultants had been appointed yet. ACTION. The Clerk to enquire.
14.7 Hare Coursing. Groups of people from the Midlands were seen recently in Rookery Lane taking part in this illegal activity. Their transport was a blue Transit type van. Any one seeing this should call the police immediately and record the van registration number.
14.8 Mr Field reported that he had reviewed the WSCC Transport Plan consultation document and would pass it to the Clerk for sending.
Meeting closed 22:00