STORRINGTON & SULLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN THE CHANCTONBURY ROOM,
THE PARISH HALL,
THAKEHAM ROAD, STORRINGTON,
ON WEDNESDAY, 24th June, 2009,
COMMENCING AT 7.00 p.m.
Present: Mr. R. Dawe in the Chair, Mr. D. Atkins, Mr. R. Jerman, Mr. A Mullard, Mr. D. Roper, Mr. J. Sanson, Mrs. L. Wheatley, Mr. J. Williams and Mrs. A. Worthington-Leese.
In Attendance: 5 Members of the Public. 1 Member of the Press
29. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE had been received from Mr. R. Carter, Mr. E. Gibbons, Mr. A. Head, Mrs. G. King, Mr. J. Macey and Mr. C. Mason (all prior engagements. The reasons for absence were duly ACCEPTED. County Councillor Frank Wilkinson also sent his apologies (holiday).
30. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS. Mr. Atkins, Mr. Jerman and Mr. Sanson declared an interest in item 13, Allotments. Mr. Williams declared and interest in item 12 (a) Sullington PCC - Churchyard Upkeep.
31. POLICE MATTERS. There were no issues raised.
32. TO APPROVE AND SIGN THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 27th May 2009. These minutes were AGREED to be a correct record of the proceedings thereat and were duly signed by the Chairman.
MATTERS ARISING :-
33. Minute No. 2 Presentation by Rydon School. It was reported that contact would be made
with Rydon School to enquire whether a meeting was still required.
34. Minute No 12 Portsmouth Football Club. Members were informed that a representative
of the Finance Department at Portsmouth Football Club had contacted the office to query the
invoices received. Copies of the Parish Council’s previous letters advising of the costs of
ground hire and requirements for risk assessments would be forwarded to this representative.
35. Minute No. 17 (a) Boundary between rear of 8 Rowan Close and the District Council’s adjacent land. It had been reported at the Planning and Development Committee meeting held on 11th June 2009 that HDC intended to grant the residents of 8 Rowan Close a licence for pedestrian access over its land on provision that a new fence and gate were erected. Members had expressed concern at this since the Parish Council were lessees and had contacted HDC about this matter. The decision to grant the licence had been referred to the Parish Council and it was AGREED:
That a letter would be sent to the residents declining the licence and requesting that a fence be erected immediately.
36. Minute No. 21 : Purchase of Flower Troughs. It had been reported that permission for placing the troughs had been sought from West Sussex County Council which had advised of its intention to erect bollards at the same location in School Hill where a trough was to be placed. Members discussed the need for a further trough outside NatWest Bank and therefore the three originally agreed purchases should go ahead once formal permission had been granted by WSCC.
37. Minute No. 22: Members Register of Interests. Members were reminded of the necessity to complete Register of Interests and return the forms to the office as soon as possible.
38. TO RECEIVE AND IF APPROVED TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEETINGS:-
(a) Infrastructure, Communications and Environment Committee held on the 3rd June 2009.
With regard to minute 7 (b) It was reported that Water Habitats had gone out of business and alternative quotations for destocking of the pond were being sought. These minutes were duly ADOPTED.
With regard to minute 13 (b) Mr Sanson reported that discussions had taken place in conjunction with HDC to investigate the possibility of holding a weekly village market in Storrington and that plans were now underway to finalise this venture. Members of the public present expressed concerns regarding the potential loss of business that existing traders would suffer if such a market were to go ahead. Council members also mentioned that previous discussions on this matter had been based around the idea of an occasional market where mainly alternative products, not generally available within the village, would be offered to shoppers. The Chairman asked each member for their opinion on the weekly market idea. There was little support for progressing the weekly market as suggested and the Chairman said that HDC should be advised of this. There remained general support for pursuing the occasional alternative products idea.
(b) Recreation and Property Committee held on the 1st April, 2009.
With regard to minute 9, Mrs Wheatley reported that the planning application for the Youth Shelter was to be heard by the planning committee on 21 July 2009. Works were
due to commence on the play project on 2 July 2009 and a quotation had been received for minor surfacing works, which would be presented for approval at the next Recreation and Property Committee Meeting.
These minutes were duly ADOPTED.
(c) Planning and Development Committee held on the 9th April, 2009.
These minutes were duly ADOPTED.
39. COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS. There were no issues raised.
40. TRAFFIC ISSUES – REPORT ON PARTNERSHIP MEETING 9TH JUNE 2009.
It had been hoped that Mr. Head would be present to report on this meeting but the item would be included on the agenda for the next meeting. Following the recent Waitrose exhibition, members posed questions regarding the effect that plans for Waitrose and the Old Mill Square might have on traffic in the village. The Chairman said that he would enquire to see if Waitrose could come and make a presentation to members and answer any questions.
41. ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR COUNCILLORS TO READ.
(a) “Life” St Barnabus House Newsletter – Available from the Parish Office.
42. CLERK’S CORRESPONDENCE.
(a) NHS Trust – Trust Membership Scheme – registration forms were available from the
Parish Office.
43. CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ANY URGENT MATTERS.
(a) Cricket Club and Football Club Rent Reviews.
At this point Mrs Wheatley declared an interest in the item referring to the Cricket Club.
It had been reported that both Clubs had written to the Parish Council to point out clause F1.1 in their leases which stated: At least 3 months prior to the date of each rent review date, the landlord shall by writing indicate to the tenant the proposed rent for the period commencing on the following rent review date. The rent review date being 30th April 2009. It had been noted that the Parish Council had not complied with this clause when reviewing the rent and this matter would be considered at the next Recreation and Property Committee meeting once legal advise had been received.
(b) Football Club Floodlights. Members had been advised that the Football Club had
been unable to provide a separate meter for the floodlights and permission had been
requested to install a kilowatt charge meter as an alternative. Such an installation would result in the Parish Council being invoiced for the additional electricity costs of the floodlights and it would require the office to calculate charges and recover the costs from the Football Club. It was pointed out that the Deed Of Variation, signed by both parties, contained a condition that the Club provided a separate meter, thereby avoiding any responsibility to the Parish Council. This matter would be referred to a contractor for a report and considered at the next Recreation and Property Committee meeting.
44. REQUESTS FOR DONATIONS.
(a) Sullington PCC – Churchyard Upkeep
Mrs Worthington-Leese Proposed; Seconded Mr Mullard and UNANIMOUSLY AGREED:
Mrs Worthington-Leese Proposed; Seconded Mrs Wheatley and UNANIMOUSLY
AGREED:
To donate the sum of £15.00. (Open Spaces Act 1906 s9)
45. ALLOTMENTS.
(a) Amberley Road Lease. The lease had now been received from the solicitor and it was AGREED:
That the lease be signed by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman and
that a copy be sent to the Trustees of Storrington Allotment Growers
Association for signature.
(b) Ravenscroft Update. It was reported that plots had now been offered to everyone on
the waiting list and that the agreement between plot holders and the Parish Council would be considered at the next Recreation and Property Committee meeting.
46. TO CONSIDER QUOTATIONS FOR HALL REFURBISHMENTS.
Two quotations had been received as follows:
RS Building Solutions £44,591.25
Silver Tower Services £46,000.00
One other company had been invited to quote but declined to provide detailed designs.
Members discussed the quotations received and commented that although there was a slight
difference in costs, Silver Tower Services was known to the Parish Council as a reputable
contractor who had completed a number of projects on its behalf. It was UNANIMOUSLY
AGREED:
To accept the quotation from Silver Tower Services in the sum of
£46,000 (Local Government Act 1972, s.133)
47. BANK RECONCILIATION. This was duly NOTED.
48. ACCOUNTS TO BE PAID. In the sum of £24,252.81 Plus VAT were duly AGREED.
49. ADJOURNMENT. No matters were raised.
50. DATE OF NEXT MEETING AND TO CONSIDER DELEGATION OF POWERS.
It was AGREED
That the next meeting would take place on Wednesday 26th August and
that the Clerk be given delegated powers to make any emergency decisions
in conjunction with the Chairman and Vice Chairman that were necessary until the next meeting.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9 p.m.
