STORRINGTON & SULLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN THE CHANCTONBURY ROOM,
SULLINGTON PARISH HALL,
THAKEHAM ROAD, STORRINGTON,
ON WEDNESDAY, 23rd APRIL, 2008,
COMMENCING AT 7.30 p.m.


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

In Attendance:   Mr. F. Wilkinson – County Councillor
            3 Members of the Public.   


244.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Mr. D. Atkins and Mr. J. Macey (attending another meeting on behalf of the Chairman).  The reason for absence was duly ACCEPTED.

245.    TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS.  Mr. Head declared a personal interest in Minute No. 229.

246.    POLICE MATTERS.  There were no Police present and no report had been received.  However, Mr. Mason reported that there was a gang operating in the area where they break into people’s homes and steal car keys and when people awake in the morning they find their cars have gone.  Another house had had all its antiques stolen.

247.    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 :-

248.    Minute No. 230: Kestrel Alarms.  The insurance company had visited and undertaken their survey of the Hall and they had approved the new system.  The current problems with the door needed to be sorted out prior to an order being placed.  The Court had set a hearing date to decide whether or not another surveyor’s report was required.  A response from the Council had been sent pointing out that one independent report had already been obtained.  The solicitors of Thomas Door and Window Controls Limited had requested a meeting half-an-hour prior to this hearing to see if the dispute could be resolved.  They had been informed that this could easily be resolved by their undertaking the work required or paying the costs involved. 

249.    Minute No. 233: Storrington Pond.  Mr. Kershaw of W.S.C.C., had responded confirming that they accepted responsibility for pollution caused by normal use of the highway drains, but the reply was considered ambiguous, although they had stated that as a  gesture  of  good will they would be prepared to consider contributing to the costs of any cleaning of the pond that remained necessary.  The County Council had now been asked whether they would be prepared to contribute towards the cost of providing preventative measures in the pond such as planting reed beds around the inlet points to the pond.

250.    Minute No. 237 (b): Parish Walks.  Mr. Roper reported that he had referred County to the programme of walks that H.D.C., organize.  H.D.C., had agreed to take this into account when drawing up their next programme of walks.

With the agreement of the meeting, the adjournment was taken next :

251.    ADJOURNMENT.  A member of the public queried the fact that they had requested an allotment plot at Ravenscroft before Easter, queried the waiting list as they considered there were plots not being used.  They were informed that the Council were still waiting for the official documents from W.S.C.C., that the site could continue to be used for a further four years and hence it was not possible to give permission at the current time. 

    Another resident advised that a parcel of land (top of New Town Road and Clay Lane) had recently been sold so the Council would need to be vigilant.

252.    TO RECEIVE AND IF APPROVED TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEETINGS:-
(a)    Infrastructure, Communications and Environment Committee Meeting held on the 9th April, 2008.  These were duly ADOPTED.
(b)    Recreation and Property Committee Meeting held on the 9th April, 2008.  These were duly ADOPTED.
(c)    Planning and Development Committee Meeting held on 10th April, 2008.  These were duly ADOPTED.

253.    COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS.  Mr. Wilkinson reported that the village enhancement scheme had started and traffic had reduced by 50%.  People were requesting that at the next opportunity the Council should push again for the A.27 at Arundel to be completed.  Mobile waste site update – there was to be a meeting with Parish Councillors when W.S.C.C., would come up with options of what they could offer.  Positive and proactive action was required from the officers as they were the experts and should know what was possible.  County had so far been left with a clear idea of what the residents of the downland villages felt.

    Mr. Wilkinson had contacted the Youth Service regarding the fact that the Leisure Centre entertained 30 young people with only two helpers and they would do what they could and look at the possibility of getting extra staff.

    Mrs. Wheatley reported to Mr. Wilkinson that there were a number of potholes in Wantley Lane.  Mrs. Worthington-Leese pointed out that the drain at the bottom of Manleys Hill that had been clicking had been filled in instead of being repaired and this caused concern because it was one of the areas that flooded.

    Mr. Mason reported that the Trustees of the Leisure Centre had been having discussions with H.D.C., and a follow up paper would be ready by the end of this week for discussion. The Leisure Centre were grateful that the centre had been publicized in the Horsham magazine for the first time. 

    Saxon Weald walkabout.  The Cabinet Member responsible for housing had visited Beech Grove and been shown the state of the estate.  Occasionally problem families moved in and caused troubles for others.  It was felt the only way to improve this situation was to get people to request to go to Beech Grove rather than be put there by default.  There were particular concerns about one block of flats.  The contrast between the leasehold properties and rented ones were enormous as the leaseholders looked after their flats and communal areas whereas the others did not.  Attempts were being made to enlighten people as to what was going on there.

    Mr. Sanson reported that the Meadowside car parking was now under construction and the works should last about nine weeks.  It was mentioned that the residents of Hanover thought that this was going to be for their usage as parking in there was horrendous.  H.D.C., would be bringing in the parking controls after the completion of the village enhancements, otherwise there could be chaos.  Mr. Dawe pointed out that there would be a meeting with regard to how H.D.C., propose to administer the passes for shopkeepers, etc.
  
254.    ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR COUNCILLORS TO READ :-
(a)    West Sussex NHS Primary Care Trust – A new mind-set for improving health and well-being.  Available in the Parish Office.
(b)    Action in rural Sussex Newsletter.  Available in the Parish Office.
(c)    Horsham Leisure Link Walk and Talk your way to health!  Available in the Parish Office.
(d)    Partnership News – West Sussex Public Partnership Forum.  Available in the Parish Office.
(e)    West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) Creating an NHS Fit for the Future Executive Summaries.  Available in the Parish Office.   
           
255.    CLERK’S CORRESPONDENCE :-
(a)    Invitation from Horsham Area Council for Voluntary Service to attend their A.G.M.
(b)    Horsham Area Council for Voluntary Service – A.G.M., 15th May, 2008 at 7.30 p.m., at Mill River Lodge, Dukes Square, Off Denne Road, Horsham.
(c)    Health and Safety – Parish Policy Statement.  Copies of this had been distributed, any comments should be passed to the Clerk.

256.    CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ANY URGENT MATTERS. 

(a)    H.D.C., Licence Application: Somerfields.  Somerfields were asking to extend the hours that they may sell alcohol to 7.00 a.m., to 11.00 p.m., Monday to Saturday.  There was to be no change to the Sunday hours.  Concern about this was raised due to the fact that this was in a populated area and therefore this could cause a public nuisance and there would be a need for proper supervision for those hours. 

(b)    Chanctonbury C.L.C.  The next meeting would be at Henfield Leisure Centre commencing at 3.30 p.m., and on the themes of speed and safety and fire and rescue.

(c)    Waitrose.  This proposed new store would be in addition to what was already in the village and would go where the Williams Garage is.  This store would be the same size as the one in Worthing.  It was proposed to include public toilets which Waitrose would take responsibility for. 

257.    TO APPOINT AN INTERNAL AUDITOR FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2007 TO 31ST MARCH, 2008.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

        To appoint Mr. Tony Thomas as Mr. Evans was ill and unable to do this.   

258.    TO AGREE PARISH COUNCILLORS’ ALLOWANCES.  Following discussion Mr. Head Proposed; Seconded Mr. Roper and UNANIMOUSLY AGREED :-

        Not to pay basic allowances, but to continue paying subsistence allowances.

259.    TO CONSIDER GIVING A DONATION TO THE STORRINGTON & DISTRICT MUSEUM SOCIETY.  Following discussion during which various amounts to be donated were suggested by Members, a vote was taken as follows :-

        To donate £2,000        2
        To donate £1,500        5
        To donate £1,000        1
        Abstentions            4

    It was, therefore, AGREED :-

        To donate the sum of £1,500.00. (Local Government Act 1972, s.111).
   
260.    ACCOUNTS TO BE PAID in the sum of £20,319.52 plus V.A.T., were duly AGREED.

261.    DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Wednesday, 28th May, 2008.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.00 p.m.