Minutes of Ticehurst Parish Council Meeting
held on 1 April 2008 at 19:30. start for public questions, followed by the meeting at 20:00. in Ticehurst Village Institute

Present:   Cllrs.  Goodall ©, Burley, Simmons, Langdown, Mitchell, Rigby, Maynard, A Cook,  G Cook, Hastings, Semple, Seemann and Yeo
In Attendance:  D. Cllrs.  Elliston,  Jenkins and C Cllr  Barnes.

Public Questions:
There were two members of the public present.  Matters raised:
Welcome Packs – The Council were asked about how they found out who had moved to the village.  D Cllr. Elliston reported that RDC have a welcome pack and he is meant to be informed when a new resident registers on the electoral role, and offered to distribute the Parish one at the same time.  Cllr. Maynard pointed out that originally the estate agents were used to hand to purchasers in the village.  Cllr. Elliston to liaise with the Clerk.  The Pack is on the web site.
Leaflets on Cars – A member of the public felt that the notes on windscreens were not helpful and alienated the general public.  She felt that the Parish should be harnessing support for positive change.  The Chairman suggested that this should stay on the agenda and perhaps be a matter for discussion at the Annual Assembly.  C Cllr. Barnes pointed out that if people legally parked in the road, it would slow the traffic.

0.0  Declarations of Interest:  Cllr. Seemann declared a personal interest in Item 6 – Affordable Housing as a member of Rother Homes Board and Cllr. A Cook declared a personal interest in item 21 The Bell Field as a neighbour of the property.  Both matters were recorded in the interests register.

1.0 Apologies for absence:   Nil.

2.0  Approval of the minutes of 4th March 2008.  Cllr.  Simmons  proposed and Cllr. Semple seconded these as an accurate record of those proceedings and they were recorded as such.

3.0 Order of agenda points:  Cllr. Langdown proposed that the correspondence list is not of much interest to the public and that it should be considered further down the agenda.  It was resolved that the Clerk should position this in an appropriate position, so that there is not a duplication of discussion between agenda points and correspondence items.  D. Cllr. Jenkins requested that the District and County reports were positioned higher up the agenda, as they often had other meetings to attend.  It was resolved to bring them up the agenda, and that they would submit written reports to be circulated with the agenda and other papers so that Cllrs. could consider them in advance.

4.0 Appendix of Outstanding matters:
Footpaths:  No response from ESCC regarding clearing footpath at Farthing Hill
Village Maintenance Teams:  Clerk has sent wish list off to ESCC.
Ditch in Springfields: Downland H Ass. will scrape out the mud in the ditch within the next few months.  Clerk  wrote to ask when  19.3.08.
Woodroffe Lodge: Notes circulated – remaining residents are happy with the current proposals for re-housing in about two years time.
Car Park:  No response from RDC regarding walk way from car park to surgery.
Allotments: Only four plots have not been paid for – Clerk to chase up and ask Scouts if they want to continue as the plot is poorly maintained.
Car Park:  Cllr. A Cook reported that £500 has been received from Ticehurst News & Views and that works will start on re-tarmacing the car park on 18th April 2008.
Action Plan: All papers have been received – volunteers needed to fill envelopes – please contact the Clerk.
Drains: Drain by the school has been established and is working – other drains have been jetted.
Football Field:  Cllr. Yeo reported that she has cleared up the rubbish in the Bell Field.
A21:  The lights are due to be installed around the cross roads within the next couple of weeks.
Stonegate Play Ground:  The hedge has been cut.

5.0 Correspondence List:
It was resolved that Cllrs. Maynard, Goodall, Yeo, A Cook, and the Clerk would attend the Annual Parish Conference.  Cllr. Burley said he might be able to attend.
The light in Church Street has been installed and Cllr. Yeo reported that local residents were very pleased with the effect – it turns off at 11.00 pm.
It was resolved that the Clerk should write to John Poole thanking him for all his work on the Annual Assembly.

6.0 Affordable Housing:  Cllr. Seemann reiterated his personal interest in this matter.  The Clerk reported that Hastoe Housing Association have made an offer to the owner of the Cherry Tree Field which has been identified by them and the District Authority as the most appropriate ‘exception site’.  They are slightly disappointed that things are moving rather slowly and will keep the Council informed of any progress.

7.0  Annual Assembly:  Cllr. Mitchell reported that she had contacted most of the village organisations and that many were going to attend. To date ten tables have been booked.  Posters have been ordered for various village points throughout the three Wards.  Cllr. Mitchell, the Clerk and Cllr Semple will organise the drinks and the Clerk and Cllr. Mitchell the food.  At least two Cllrs. are needed to run the afternoon event with Cllr. Mitchell. 

8.0  Community Bus:   Cllr. Yeo reported that funds are needed urgently to replace one of the buses - £35000.  Original sources of funding are no longer available.  Cllr. Maynard  pointed out that there is £800 in this year’s precept for the project.  Cllrs. felt that alternative sources of raising monies should be looked at e.g. sponsorship.  It was suggested that Cllr. Yeo approach coach companies such as Fuggles.

9.0  Bus Stop at Flimwell:  The Clerk reported that she had signed and returned the license forms to ESCC today, allowing a bus stop to be positioned within the layby.

10.0 Asset Register:  Cllr. Langdown  reported that she was willing to establish a photographic record of assets in Stonegate and Ticehurst as she has already done in Flimwell.  She asked for a Cllr. from each of those Wards to accompany her – Cllr. Simmons volunteered for Stonegate and Cllrs. Yeo and A Cook for Ticehurst.

11.0 Village Square:  Clerk reported that she has written to the Land Registry to request registering the Square and Island in the Parish’s name.

12.0  Safety Audits:  Cllrs. Burley, Semple and Mitchell had met with the Clerk and drawn up a list of works that need to be done at the ponds and the three playgrounds.  The Clerk is in the process of costing the lists.  The hedge at Stonegate playground has been cut.

13.0  Parking on Pavements:  Cllr. Langdown reported that she had put the approved notices on some cars that evening – she reported that she had only put notices on those cars which she felt compromised reasonable pedestrian access  (eg  pushchair/wheel chair access).   It was resolved that any wheels on the pavement should be  targeted.  It was felt that  parking outside the Village Hall might lessen after the car-park and new street light have been installed.

14.0  Graffiti:  The Clerk reported that she had spoken to the Police today and that the cleaning kits had still not arrived for the Parish.  She further reported that four youths had been identified as the culprits and the Police are dealing with this.  Cllr. Yeo felt that the culprits should be seen to be clearing up some of the mess.  Cllr. Mitchell reported that the primary school would like the graffiti cleared up during the Easter holidays.

15.0  Café Van in Rosemary Lane:  Cllr. Rigby reported  that the rubbish emanating from the van is being dropped as people walk away from the van.  This would then be on Southern Water ground.  Rother District Council will visit the van to check on its hygiene levels but that as long as the van is not obstructing the pavement or road they are not contravening any law. 

Rosemary Lane:   Cllr. Langdown reported that 16 bags of rubbish had been collected in Rosemary Lane last Saturday and thanked those who had helped her.  A  barrel of toxic chemicals and bag full of credit cards had also been found and handed to the appropriate authorities.
Cllr. Langdown offered to help clear up rubbish in other areas of the Parish if they were identified as problem areas.  Cottenden Lane had been mentioned as one.  Cllr. Maynard pointed out that if areas are identified they should be reported to RDC who will send a team out to clear the area.  Cllr. Rigby reported that the open-topped small refuse vans often create a problem as rubbish flies out of the back of the vans.  D. Cllr. Jenkins reported that Etchingham and Sheep Street Lane held a community clearing up day last Saturday which was very effective. 

16.0  Traffic Calming:  The Clerk tabled a report that she had attended a meeting with ESCC and residents of Upper Platts (notes circulated) who are not prepared to withdraw their objection to the proposed ‘buffer zone’ of 40 mph outside Upper Platts with the 30 mph limit starting nearer the village.  Cllr. Maynard reported that the temporary lights at end of Cross Lane are proving to be a very effective traffic calming measure at the western end of the village.

17.0  District Report:  Cllr. Elliston reported that from the 1st April anyone over 60 can have a free national bus pass.  Much of the printing has not been completed so the existing tickets will still be valid.  Cllr. Rigby asked if the Community Bus is therefore necessary, but it was pointed out that the community bus goes to pick up individuals from their homes, which are not on bus routes and that the bus service is not very comprehensive in this rural area. D Cllr Elliston confirmed to Cllr. Yeo that the passes were valid in London as well as other areas.

County Report:   Nothing to report.

18.0  Finance Report:  The Clerk tabled a financial statement with a clear reconciliation and the following cheques were sanctioned for payment:

19.0  Planning Committee:   Cllr. Maynard reported that there had been two contentious matters
- 1. the extension of Cross Lane House – wishing to add 37 bedrooms and a laundry.  – Parish recommendation was refusal due to rural lane, additional traffic, over-bearing  building .    - 2.  Forge Yard Stonegate  where the owner wanted to build four cottages and  included the  provision of a café/shop which would have been  invisible from road and with inadequate parking, thus strangling the concept from the start.  There had been a unanimous vote against the proposal.  Cllr. Maynard reported that he had written to the developers who are compiling an application for the Warren’s site, asking them not to deny a future access to land to the rear of Hilbury Gardens in their scheme.

20.0  Items for the May agenda:   
Statutory points for the AGM.
Cardboard recycling (TS).

21.0  The Bell Field:  There were no matters to discuss.

22.0  Date of the next meeting:  The meeting closed at 20:35 and the date of the next meeting was set for 6th May 2008.

Annual Assembly   22nd  April  2008 19:00 - 21:00