STORRINGTON & SULLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN THE CHANCTONBURY ROOM,
THE PARISH HALL,
THAKEHAM ROAD, STORRINGTON,
ON WEDNESDAY, 26th FEBUARY, 2009,
COMMENCING AT 7.00 p.m.

Present: Mr. R. Dawe in the Chair, Mr. D. Atkins, Mr. A. Head, Mrs. G. King, Mr. J. Macey, Mr. C. Mason, Mr. A. Mullard, Mr. D. Roper, Mr. J. Sanson and Mrs. A. Worthington-Leese.

In Attendance:   Mr. F. Wilkinson (County Councillor).
            1  Member of the Public.

185.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE had been received from Mrs. L. Wheatley (personal commitment).  The reason for absence was duly ACCEPTED.

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

187.    CO-OPTION OF A MEMBER.  Of the three people that had expressed an interest in joining the Council, only one person had responded.  Mrs. Prince was in attendance and gave a short presentation on her background and reasons for wishing to become a councillor.  Mrs. Prince was duly co-opted and following the signing of her acceptance of office she joined the meeting.

188.    POLICE MATTERS.  PCSO Carol Boniface had e-mailed the following report :-

    A Section 59 warning had been issued to a local youth for riding his motorbike anti-socially around the Parish Hall car park.  This would remain in place for 12 months and the bike would be seized should he be seen riding in the same manner again within that period.

    The Police had caught up with most of the youths who had been ‘door knocking’ and hedge jumping within the Hawthorn Way/Merryfield Road area.  Whilst they claimed they were ‘having a laugh’ the Police anti-social behaviour team had sent them individual warning letters regarding their behaviour and advised them that this sort of behaviour was evidential towards future ASBOs being sought.  The number of calls the Police had received in these areas had now decreased considerably.

    Speeding issues had been reported to PCSO Boniface regarding Rock Road and the Amberley Road.  She was in talks with the Roads Policing Department to set up speed traps along these areas and these would be in place soon.

    The Storrington and Sullington Anti-Social Behaviour Sub-Group had targeted some families living in the Beech Grove/Sullington Copse area.  These families were the key to some of the anti-social behaviour the village had suffered.  The families were being dealt with by various agencies and some were engaging.

    Unfortunately there had been a lot of fuel thefts from vehicles overnight which was being investigated.  They would try and provide an update when more was known.

    PCSOs are in Forge House every Thursday between 10.00 a.m., and 4.00 p.m. running a drop-in clinic.

    The Clerk advised that following receipt of this report she had sent an e-mail to PCSO Boniface requesting that the speeding issue in Fryern Road should also receive attention.  PCSO Boniface had responded that this road went from a 60 m.p.h., to a 30 m.p.h., so could be a very nasty stretch of road especially where there were no footpaths.  Whilst she was waiting for Traffic to sort something out she would ask their local Neighbourhood Policing Officer to assist with a couple of mobile stops, but this would be dependent on workload. 

189.    TO RECEIVE PETITION REGARDING FRYERN ROAD.  Mrs. Worthington-Leese had been asked to present a petition that had been signed by all householders along the stretch of Fryern Road between Melton Drive and Mill Lane where there was no pavement and where the speed limit was regularly exceeded.  The request was that the Parish Council should pass this to Cllr. Mr. F. Wilkinson of W.S.C.C.  The Chairman therefore handed Mr. Wilkinson the petition.  He said he would present it to the Head of the Highways Accident and Speed Prevention Team.  Mr. Wilkinson stated that a couple of weeks ago W.S.C.C., had undertaken speed monitoring in this vicinity and the average speed had only been 32.9 m.p.h., however, that did mean that there would have been vehicles travelling at 45/50 m.p.h.  Mr. Wilkinson was still awaiting a print-out of the speeds of the number of vehicles travelling in excess of 35 m.p.h.  There were in fact roads in the county where the average speed was 42-43 m.p.h., and the officers had to prioritorize use of resources.  There had been no serious accidents in Fryern Road.  Enforcement was a Police matter and therefore Mr. Wilkinson would send a copy of the petition to the Police.

190.    TO APPROVE AND SIGN THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 28TH JANUARY, 2009.  These minutes were AGREED to be a correct record of the proceedings thereat and were duly signed by the Chairman.  

    MATTERS ARISING :-

191.    Minute No. 150: Sustainable Communities Act – The Leader of H.D.C. had replied stating that their Council had supported this Bill.  However, they had to consider the practicalities, costs and benefits of putting forward proposals to the Government.  Officers were preparing a report for discussion.  If they decided to proceed they would work with the Horsham Association of Parish Councils, the relevant Parish or Neighbourhood Councils and the Horsham District Community Partnership to identify and agree the proposals. Mr. Wilkinson of W.S.C.C. reported that a motion was put to the Council at the December meeting on this subject.  It was referred to the Cabinet member who had said she would ask for a Committee Report and possible actions to move this forward.  He would then have to wait for the report and then let you know what was recommended.  Mr. Wilkinson handed the Clerk a copy of the W.S.C.C. minutes ‘Briefing note on Motion on the Sustainable Communities Act’.

192.    The Storrington Diamond.  Mr. Mullard asked what the current situation was with this topic.  H.D.C., had prepared a briefing document for potential developers outlining what was wanted but nothing specific.  Developers working for Waitrose had purchased the Old Mill Drive garage and bus turning circle and had been in discussion with HD.C., for the past seven months in order to build a Waitrose store on that site and to double-deck part of the car park.  Waitrose intended opening in Spring 2011.  Waitrose are to produce a traffic assessment study to take to W.S.C.C. and it had been decided they needed more than one entrance into the car park otherwise the pressure on School Hill would be too great due to the conflict between lorries, pedestrians and traffic.  The store would therefore have an exit at the top part of Old Mill Drive.  It was hoped to be possible to upgrade Old Mill Square, but as the owners, Summerfields and other retailers were happy with it there was no desire to do anything.  Waitrose were keen to hold an exhibition in the summer on a Friday afternoon and Saturday. 

193.    TO RECEIVE AND IF APPROVED TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEETINGS:-
(a)    Infrastructure, Communications and Environment Committee held on the 4th February, 2009.  With regard to Minute No. 48: Renewal of road imprint, Manleys Hill: This area needed taking back up and relaying.  There were also manhole covers that were causing problems and this had also been reported.  Both matters were being looked at.  Mrs. Worthington-Leese reported that some of the new kerbs were beginning to crumble.  Vehicles were still parking on the pavement by Mulberry House and there was a need for some strategically placed bollards to stop this.  W.S.C.C., did not want to have ‘keep clear’ written on the surface in the Conservation Area and did not want to put signs up.  It was AGREED the Parish Council should consider purchase of another flower trough so prices should be obtained ready for the next meeting.

Mr. Sanson Proposed; Seconded Mr. Roper and UNANIMOUSLY AGREED that these minutes be duly ADOPTED.

(b)    Recreation and Property Committee held on the 4th February, 2009. Minute No. 81: Allotments: a reply had been received from the Allotment Association indicating that they agree with the various recommendations, therefore a letter was to be sent to allotment holders at Amberley Road advising them of the fact that they needed to become members of the Storrington Allotment Growers Association. 

Minute No. 89: Portsmouth Football Club: Portsmouth Football Club arranged training sessions for local youngsters at Storrington Recreation Ground and the financial arrangement, as far as it had been possible to ascertain, was that they paid the Storrington Football Club the sum of £30.00 to mark out the pitch and there was no other financial contribution. 

The Storrington Football Club had now been approached by a Crawley team for playing mid-week matches for youngsters on the football field due to the excellent condition of the pitch.  £100.00 a time had been suggested as a fee but  this  appeared as too high to them.  Mr. Mason would be arranging a meeting with representatives of the Football Club to clarify the situation.  It was AGREED that the Football Club must ask permission of the Council before they allow Portsmouth to use Council facilities.

    Mr. Mason Proposed; Seconded Mrs. Worthington-Leese and UNANIMOUSLY AGREED that these minutes be duly ADOPTED.
 
(c)    Planning and Development Committee Meeting held on the 12th February, 2009.  Mrs. Worthington-Leese proposed: Seconded Mr. Mullard and Vote: In Favour 8: Against 0; Abstentions 3, it was AGREED that these minutes be duly ADOPTED.

194.    COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS.  Mr. Wilkinson (County Councillor) reported that the Rock Common Quarry application for development of a non-hazardous waste landfill site had been refused.  However, the applicant had six months within which to appeal although they had to have substantial different grounds to win an appeal.

    The Laybrook Brickworks application for non-inert waste had been received but it would be July or August before this would go to Committee.  Mr. Wilkinson advised that he would not be in a position to talk about this subject until after the 28th April.

    Mr. Wilkinson reported that he had met the Police Inspector in charge of Road Traffic Division, Ian Jefferies (an ex-superintendent) Police advisor Sussex Camera Team and J. Forster of the Accident Prevention Team in Amberley Road to discuss what could and could not be done about speeding there.  It had been the aim of Mr. Wilkinson to get regular speed checks along Amberley Road but the Police adamantly refused because for Health and Safety reasons they could not get a tripod up with correct viewing east or west and if they found someone speeding they would not be able to pull they off the road safely.  The Police said they would do checks in their cars along there, but would not promise to do stationary speed checks.  They would check whether the Community Policing Team could get their hand-held cameras out to the road but there again Health and Safety had to be taken into account.  Mr. Forster would see how they could work with the Horsham Crime Prevention Team and Fire Service.  The new speed indicator on trial in Amberley Road would be taken down any day.  At the recent C.L.C., pre-committee meeting Mr. Wilkinson had persuaded them to put £2,000 in the budget and to possibly get the four major Parish Councils, Storrington, Steyning, Pulborough and Henfield, to agree to put in £1,000 each in order to purchase an unmanned S.I.D., machine which could be moved about.  These devises cost about £6,000 each.  The area office at Clapham would take on responsibility for moving it about.  This would mean this sort of device being in the parish probably 12 – 14 weeks of the year.  Mr. Wilkinson would like the Council to seriously consider whether it would be prepared to put £1,000 towards such a device.  The Speed and Accident Investigation Department would present a briefing note to the C.L.C. meeting.  The running costs of this device would be about £1,200 a year.  A formal application would be sent to the Parish Council.

    On the A.283 flooding, W.S.C.C., were still waiting for the water to go down in order to see exactly what the blockage was opposite Sandgate Lodge.  This was a very high priority.

    The County Council budget 2009/10 would be increasing by 3.25%.  Twenty-five senior officers had said they would not have a pay rise and the seventy county council members would not take inflationary rises this year.  The government settlement had been just 1.7% with 24,000 employees all taking above inflation pay rises.

    The County Council were currently overwhelmed by the quantity of potholes caused by the frost, ice and snow and they were putting an additional £300,000 in to assist with repairs.  They were filling the most dangerous areas first and it would take quite a while to get on top of the problems.  One million pounds extra for road maintenance had been put in next year’s budget.

    Mr. Dawe (District Councillor) reported that H.D.C., had passed its budget for 2009/10 and there would be a 3% increase.  Five senior officers were going to be made redundant.  Members were freezing their allowance for the coming year, but there was still another £1 million to be found.  The settlement from central government for Horsham was just ½% and more responsibility was being imposed on them, so actually the grant had gone down.  At the same time the government had negotiated with the trade unions for a 2%+ wage increase.

    Regarding air quality, members were still waiting for a date for the monitoring device to be placed adjacent to Meadowside.  The device would be there for ten years.

    On the subject of complaints of smells from the pig farm at Cootham, there was to be a meeting with H.D.C. officers and others next Tuesday including Environmental Health and Planning people.
  
    Mr. Wilkinson left the meeting.

195.    ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR COUNCILLORS TO READ :- 
    (a)    St. Barnabas Newsletter – Available in the Parish Office.
    (b)    Action in rural Sussex Newsletter – Mr. Sanson took this to read.
    (c)    Southern Water up-date.  Available in the Parish Office.
(d)    Power to promote well-being of the area: Statutory guidance for local councils.  Available in the Parish Office.

196.    CLERK’S CORRESPONDENCE.
(a)    West Sussex Rural Forum, Wednesday, 4th March, 2009 between 9.30 a.m., and 1.30 p.m. at Ashington Community Centre on the future for the countryside in the current economic climate.

(b)    Red Youth Bus.  This was currently visiting Storrington in Old Mill Square car park on Monday evenings.  P.C.S.O. Boniface wanted to know if the Parish Council would allow this to come to the Parish Hall car park on alternate Monday evenings.  It was AGREED :-

    That due to the bookings at the Hall and the use of the Scout Hut on Monday evenings, this would not be appropriate.


(c)    West Sussex Association for the Blind had written requesting that the Council consider them as a beneficiary for a grant during 2009/2010.

(d)    Boundary Commission.  The decision on the electoral arrangements for West Sussex had been decided and would be published on or soon after the 13th March, 2009.

197.    CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ANY URGENT MATTERS.  There were no announcements.

198.    TO CONSIDER THE QUOTATION FROM PEAR TECHNOLOGY FOR MAPPING SOFTWARE.  A presentation of this software had been given at the recent Planning Committee meeting and members had found this very interesting.  The software was felt to have limited use for planning, but could be of great use for the Council as a whole.  This was based on Ordnance Survey maps that could be obtained for nothing.  It would be possible to put on the locations of street lights, allotment plots Council land ownership, etc.  The cost would be between £1,500 - £2,000 for the full set up which would include training and a help desk/line.  There were concerns whether the Council could afford this or whether they had the staff resources to deal with it.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    This would be a very good thing to have, but was not essential and therefore this should not be purchased at the current time.

199.    LAND BETWEEN OAK CLOSE AND THAKEHAM ROAD.  The Clerk reported that the District Valuer’s costs were currently £1,135 working on these negotiations for this piece of land.  Saxon Weald wanted £5,000 for this land.  It was considered that this land currently protected the entrance to the village and there were concerns that this could perhaps be developed at a later date.  However there were concerns about the cost of this in the current economic climate and if the Council made stage payments Saxon Weald would require interest payments of 3% above base rate.  After discussion the following vote took place :-

        In support of purchasing the land      -    3
        To reject the offer                            -    2
        To postpone purchasing the land       -    4

    Following this it was decided to vote on ‘offering Saxon Weald the sum of £1 for the land’ :-

        In Favour                -    8
        Against                   -    2

    It was therefore AGREED :-

    To offer the sum of £1.00 to take this land off the hands of Saxon Weald.  Should this be rejected, the Council might come back to it in a year’s time.
   

200.    TO APPROVE THE DRAFT BYELAWS.  The draft byelaws to cover all Parish Council open spaces had been distributed to members for consideration prior to the meeting.  The Clerk pointed out that it was not possible to include dog fouling byelaws within these as that element was now dealt with by a different government department.  There were two options, to not revoke the old Storrington Byelaw relating to dogs (which only covered the Storrington Recreation Ground) as these would then stand; or to make a new byelaw.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    To revoke the old Storrington Byelaws with the exception of the ones relating to dogs and to adopt the draft Byelaws.   A new dog byelaw will be  produced at a later date.

201.    REVIEW OF VILLAGE ACTION PLAN AND VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT.  An initial meeting had been held on the Village Design Statement and a number of things needed to be changed and added.  The current Village Action Plan was in need of up-dating.  The Storrington and Sullington Community Partnership wanted to put on an exhibition in Forge House and possibly at the Parish Hall over a three-week period asking for comments on the Action Plan, i.e., a public consultation prior to updating it.  It was AGREED :-

        To include the Village Design Statement at the same exhibition.

202.    FINANCIAL COMPARISON (copy attached to these minutes).  It was pointed out that the following additional amounts were expected by the end of the financial year :-

        Parish Hall Hire                            -        £5,400
        Football Pavilion Hire                    -        £1,750
        Environmental Cleansing Grant      -        £6,732
       
    It was therefore NOTED that the finances were reasonably on track to be where anticipated whilst doing the budget in December.

203.    ACCOUNTS TO BE PAID in the sum of £9,399.40 plus V.A.T., were duly AGREED. 

204.    ADJOURNMENT.  There were no members of the public present.

205.    DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Wednesday, 25th March, 2009.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.40 p.m.










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