STORRINGTON & SULLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN THE CHANCTONBURY ROOM, SULLINGTON PARISH HALL,
THAKEHAM ROAD, STORRINGTON,
ON WEDNESDAY, 26th MARCH, 2008,
COMMENCING AT 7.00 p.m.


Present: Mr. R. Dawe in the Chair, Mr. D. Atkins, Mr. R. Carter, Mr. E. Gibbons,  Mr. A. Head, Mr. J. Macey, Mr. C. Mason, Mr. A. Mullard, Mr. D. Roper, Mr. J. Sanson, Mrs. L. Wheatley, Mr. J. Williams and Mrs. A. Worthington-Leese.

In Attendance:   Mr. F. Wilkinson – County Councillor
            P.C.S.O. Tracey Field
    4 Members of the Public.   


222.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Mr. A. Read and  Mr. B. Walter (work).   The reasons for absence were duly APPROVED.    

223.    TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS.  There were no declarations of interest from Members.

224.    POLICE MATTERS.  P.Sgt. Lillywhite had sent his apologies and would be leaving to go to C.I.D., in just over a week’s time.

    P.C.S.O. Field reported that Sgt. Lillywhite’s temporary successor for three months from 4th April would be Sgt. Kendall.  She hoped it would not be too long before the PCSOs could be based in Forge House rather than travelling from Pulborough or Steyning Police Stations.  P.C.S.Os were to take over the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.  There had been issues with the Big Issue sellers in Storrington due to their selling techniques, which had resulted in complaints being received.  These people should have on display a Big Issue badge which should also state ‘Storrington’ on it.

    There had been criminal damage caused to the Leisure Centre, but whilst the incident was caught on C.C.T.V., the recording was not clear enough to prove categorically who it was.  Problems had been experienced when the Red Bus visited as well as at the Leisure Centre sessions where 30 youngsters were now attending, but there were only two Youth Workers.

    One A.S.B.O., had been obtained and it was hoped that there would be a second later this week.

    There was currently a problem in the area with people stealing dogs.  There had been a fire in an area off Sullington Copse (adjacent to Paula Rosa site) that had destroyed a camp made by youngsters, but also destroyed a fence and a tree.  Saxon Weald did not own this land, but would be happy to erect a permanent fence to stop future access.


225.    MOBILE WASTE SERVICES – THE FUTURE AND PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES.  MR. DANNY COX, OFFICER, WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION OF WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS/QUERIES.  Mr. de Mierre of W.S.C.C., had e-mailed the Chairman stating that
neither he nor his senior officer could attend this meeting due to prior commitments.  It had been suggested that a more junior colleague should attend, but given the sensitivity it was felt this would be a discourtesy to the Parish Council and asked for an alternative date.

    The Chairman reported that this and other affected Parish Councils had been complaining about the handling of this matter and putting W.S.C.C., and H.D.C., under enormous pressure.  At a meeting the previous day an Officer had explained the circumstances as to why they wanted to suspend the service.  The matter of what alternatives could be put in place was explored.  H.D.C., has said it would be prepared to continue the service at least in the short term in its present form, but could not do so if W.S.C.C., did not provide the funds.  County were still saying the service would be discontinued from the end of June, but then also it could continue in some way or another.  As 75% of material collected was green waste, the obvious thing to do if want to encourage recycling was to provide a container for green waste only one visit and collect bulk items the next.  There had been a lack of consultation.  It was hoped to introduce mixed dry recycling bins next February to replace the baskets.  There were due to be another two meetings on this topic.

226.    THE STORRINGTON MUSEUM – PRESENTATION BY NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES.  Copies of their Annual Report and Accounts were given to Members.  The Museum were hoping to put input the information they have onto computer in order to allow better access because currently space did not allow for everything to be displayed.  This would be a very big job and could take several years to accomplish.  They also had their own website.  Their newsletter ‘Our Times Past’ was issued three times a year and the articles contained therein were assessable on the website.  The Museum also hoped to create an oral archive because there were many residents in Storrington and the surrounding villages who had memories of what went on in the area 80 years ago as this was considered to be a valuable extra resource for the Museum to have.  The Museum would like a brown direction sign at the gateway to the village, but it was not felt that there were sufficient visitor numbers to warrant this. 

    The Museum had been awarded £5,000 from Awards for All and an inspector had advised them to apply again this year.  Once they had tenure of the Old School they would be in a position to apply for further funds.  However, their problem was with finding funds to cover the day to day running expenses.  The rent was £3,600 a year (£300 a month) plus insurance and other running costs and it was not possible to obtain grants towards such expenditure.  The Museum had asked other Parish Councils for contributions and some had granted small amounts. 

    The Museum was advised to apply to H.D.C., for a grant towards the cost of computers and the County Local Committee gave grants up to £5,000 if they could find something to apply for.  

    It was AGREED :-

    Now that the Council had been provided with the information they had requested, consideration would be given to see what support could be given.

227.    TO APPROVE AND SIGN THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 20th FEBRUARY, 2008.  These Minutes were duly AGREED to be a correct record of the proceedings thereat and were duly signed by the Chairman.

    MATTERS ARISING :-

228.    Minute No. 210: Storrington Improvement Scheme.  The Council had been advised that the works would commence on the 14th April, 2008 with considerable one-way working for a period of sixteen weeks.  The County Council expect through traffic to drop by 50% within the first week.

229.    Minute No. 205: Floodlights, Football Field.  The Football Club had e-mailed and indicated that in principle they agreed the conditions, but they had been referred to their solicitor to check that they were legally acceptable.  Until the Club signed the conditions, they could not install any lights.  The Club had advised that it was not possible to obtain a device that timed how many hours the lights were on each month.
   
230.    Minute No. 213: Kestrel Alarms - the following information was required :-

•    Maintenance costs – were parts additional?  - Parts will be chargeable under the maintenance agreement after the first 12 months.

•    Call-out costs?  Would be charged at £56.00 plus V.A.T. (during office hours) and £101.00 plus V.A.T. (outside normal office hours).

•    What was the warranty on this equipment?  There is a twelve months warranty on the work.

•    A quotation should be obtained for linking to the fire alarm.  To link the five doors at the main hall to the fire alarm system so that when activated the doors will release.  This can be connected for £750.00 plus V.A.T.  Depending on the pavilion, if there is a fire alarm installed, there will be an additional cost of £150.00 plus V.A.T.

•    A quotation should be obtained for this company taking over maintenance of the existing C.C.T.V., system.   C.C.T.V. Maintenance can be taken out for an annual charge of £118.00 plus V.A.T.

Currently there was no fire alarm in the Football Pavilion; therefore, a quotation for one to be installed should be obtained.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    To link the doors to the fire alarm system and to change C.C.T.V., maintenance accordingly.

231.    TO RECEIVE AND IF APPROVED TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEETINGS:-

(a)    Recreation and Property Committee Meeting held on the 12th March, 2008.  Minute No. 138: Terms and Conditions of Hire item (d)  this  charge  should  be  at  the discretion of the Office.  Minute No. 135: Skate Park – Meadowside was not considered by Members to be an appropriate site due to the closeness of houses, but suggested perhaps Sullington Recreation Ground might be more appropriate.  These minutes were duly ADOPTED.

(b)    Planning and Development Committee Meeting held on 13th March, 2008.  These minutes were duly ADOPTED.

232.    COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS.  Mr. Wilkinson reported that at the Highways Seminar at County Hall the point was raised that Southern Water could be looking to replace the main sewer main in Storrington within the next 6 – 7 years, and is the department working with them to ensure the diversion of surface water runoff, which runs into it, and avoiding problems that currently occur with flooding during periods of heavy rain.  The reply was that surface water never goes into the sewer, so it was pointed out that this was not so and that they needed to start talking to Southern Water.  A Senior Officer would liaise with Southern Water to see what Mr. Wilkinson had been talking about.  

    The street lighting in Manleys Hill was going to be replaced commencing 31st March and would take approximately two weeks.   Mr. Wilkinson would ensure that the people arranging this co-ordinated their works with the Storrington High Street Improvements to ensure no duplication.

    It was reported that the work had started on car parking areas at Meadowside.

233.    STORRINGTON POND.    The recent letter received from Mr. Kershaw of W.S.C.C., had been ambiguous.  The County Council accepts responsibility for the normal use of the highway drains – that is draining any substance from the highway.  On certain occasions such pollution was though attributable to the negligence of third parties – perhaps resulting from a traffic accident or spillage of material being carried by a vehicle, rather than the standard pollution which may come from normal road use.  The incident which caused pollution two or three years ago did not arise from the normal use of the highway drains, but arose from a fractured foul sewer which ran alongside part of the highway drain; they do not intercept.  They consider it would be wholly wrong for the County Council to take on the burden of liability beyond what can be reasonably considered normal usage.  As a gesture of good will, given that the Parish Council has had so much difficulty in recovering compensation from those responsible for the incident, County is now prepared to consider contributing to the costs of any cleaning of the pond which remains necessary.

    This problem could conceivably happen again and the Parish Council would find itself in the same position.  The only way of ensuring it did not happen again would be to block up the pipe.  There was a need to get a test undertaken of the sludge in order to know what action needs to be taken.  County had now taken steps to assist, support and advise the Parish, not only in relation to the costs of any cleaning which may still be required, but also to assist in securing insurance should the Parish choose that as the way forward.  The County’s highway inspectors had now increased the regime of inspections to ensure a throughput of water to assist the natural cleansing of the pond.

   
It was wondered whether W.S.C.C., would be prepared to provide preventative measure such as planting of a reed bed around each of their inlets.   It was AGREED :-

    The Clerk should write officially to Mr. Kershaw asking whether they would be prepared to provide preventative measures and send a copy to Mr. Wilkinson, who would follow this up. 

234.    SOUTHERN WATER.  A sheaf of papers had arrived from Southern Water in response to the Council’s for information under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.  Mr. Mullard volunteered to take this to read and provide a report.

235.    LANDFILL SITES.  Mr. Roper stated that Southern Water had implied that it was 90% certain that Rock Common would be a landfill site.  He considered that if this was the case it would blight the area for years to come and wondered whether the Parish Council was doing enough to object and push for incineration.  Southern Water was unable to get extra reservoirs and yet this would be an ideal site.  That evening on the television it had been stated that SEERA had said it should go ahead.  The County Council would not be deliberating on this matter until May or June this year. 

236.    ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR COUNCILLORS TO READ :-
   
(a)    H.D.C. Parish Council Members’ Allowances.  Available in the Parish Office.
   
(b)    St. Barnabas Life Newsletter.  Available in the Parish Office.
   
237.    CLERK’S CORRESPONDENCE :-

(a)    Town and Parish Standard – Changes to the standards framework.  (Copies had been circulated to Members).  This was duly NOTED.

(b)    W.S.C.C. Parish Walks – June, 2008.  The 16th June was ‘Sussex Day’ when communities are encouraged to celebrate the county’s rich heritage and take pride in where they live.  An excellent way for people to do this is to explore their local area to discover the local rights of way and green spaces as part of a guided walk.  W.S.C.C., were encouraging Parish Councils to get involved with Sussex Day by organizing a walk on this day or one of the week-end days either side of Sussex Day.  If interested in organizing a walk, please register interest by the 14th April, 2008.  Mr. Roper took this document to see what could be done.

(c)    W.S.C.C. Local Walking and Riding Information.  W.S.C.C., were currently revising and updating the walking, cycling and horse riding pages on their website.  They would welcome copies of any local material giving details of any of these and had provided a questionnaire for completion.

(d)    N.A.L.C. Larger Councils’ Conference.  This would be held on the 20th and 21st November, 2008 in the Hotel Russell, Russell Square, London.  The cost for the two-day event was £352.50 or a day delegate rate of £176.25.


238.    CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ANY URGENT MATTERS.

(a)    To Consider Holding some Meetings at the Guide Hall.  Mr. Read had requested that the Chairman raise this matter.  Following discussion, with various comments being raised, both for and against this suggestion, it was AGREED :-

        Not to hold some meetings at the Guide Hall.

239.    WEST SUSSEX VILLAGE OF THE YEAR 2008.  There were no volunteers to assist with this, but Mr. Head would speak with Mr. Read, although he would not be in a position to take on anything significant.

240.    TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING REQUEST FOR DONATION :-

(a)    Sussex Air Ambulance Fund.  Following discussion Mr. Sanson Proposed; Seconded Mr. Roper and UNANIMOUSLY AGREED :-

        To donate the sum of £500.  (Local Government Act 1972, s.137).
   
241.    ACCOUNTS TO BE PAID.  Mr. Mullard asked that the cheque made payable to him in the sum of £8.80 be withdrawn.  Therefore, the accounts to be paid in the sum of £10,562.33 plus V.A.T., were duly APPROVED.

242.    ADJOURNMENT.  No questions were raised by members of the public.

243.    DATE AND FORMAT OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    That the Annual Parish Meeting should be held immediately prior to the next Parish Council Meeting to be held on Wednesday, 23rd April, 2008.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.55 p.m.