STORRINGTON & SULLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Recreation and Property Committee held in the Chanctonbury Room, The Sullington Parish Hall, Thakeham Road, Storrington, on Wednesday, 11th July, 2007, commencing at 8.00pm.

Present: Mrs. L. Wheatley in the Chair, Mr. R. Carter, Mr. R. Dawe, Mr. A. Head, Mr. A. Read, Mr. D. Roper, Mr. B. Walter and Mrs. A. Worthington-Leese.

24.    Apologies for Absence.  Apologies for absence were received from Mr. C. Mason (holiday).  The reason for absence was duly ACCEPTED.

25.    To Receive Declarations of Interest from Members.  Mr. Head declared a personal interest in minute No. 1 of the last minutes and Mrs. Wheatley declared a personal interest in agenda item 10 the cricket practice strip.

26.    To Approve and Sign the Minutes of the last Meeting held on the 11th June, 2007. These minutes were duly AGREED to be a correct record of the proceedings thereat and were signed by the Chairman.

    Matters Arising :-

27.    Minute No. 22: Recreation Ground Sign.  The Leisure Centre had now requested that their logo be included on this sign and a member of the Cricket Club had asked that the Cricket and Football Clubs should be included.  Following discussion it was AGREED the sign should read :-

        Storrington Recreation Ground, Leisure Centre and Pavilions.

28.    Minute No. 20: Access, Rear Sullington Parish Hall.  The deadline for removal of this had now passed.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    That a Recorded Delivery letter should be sent advising that the Council would now be instructing a contractor to remove this access and reimbursement of the costs involved would be expected, otherwise legal action would take place.  
       
29.    Minute No. 14: Front Door, Sullington Parish Hall.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    A Recorded Delivery letter should be sent advising that unless all the problems were remedied, the Council would be obliged to engage another contractor and would send them the bill for this work.

30.    To Consider the Inspection of Play Equipment Reports.  The Meadowside equipment was of continued concern.  There were no other urgent works requiring attention.

    Mrs. Wheatley advised that there was Lottery money that could be applied for to assist with the renovations of the Sullington Play Area and Meadowside, but the schemes would need to be innovative and exciting.  Anna Chapman from H.D.C., would be giving advice on these schemes and the application.

    The Cone Climber had caused problems between the manufacturers (Tayplay) and Proludic.  However, Mrs. Wheatley had been advised that the Council would be getting a new net during week commencing 16th July.  This would have a new guarantee.

Allotments :-
   
31.    Agreement/Deposit.  It was AGREED that this item should be taken in closed session at the end of the meeting.
   
32.    Draft Terms and Conditions Amberley Road Allotment Association.  The Council were still awaiting a response from the Amberley Road Allotment Association.
   
33.    Trimming of Vacant Plots.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

        To ask Garden Care to strim the vacant plots.
   
34.    Amberley Road Compost Heap.  A complaint had been received from the resident of Spring Cottages that vegetation from the compost heap was growing into their garden.  As it was not sure exactly what this resident was referring to, Mr. Roper agreed to go and look at this.  The allotments could not be allowed to cause problems to nearby neighbours.  Therefore, it was AGREED :-

    Dependent upon the inspection by Mr. Roper, the appropriate action should be taken.
   
35.    Storrington Recreation Ground. 
(a)    Infrastructure Improvements.  The contractors had promised to be complete by the 19th July.  Currently there was a dispute with the contractors over the area behind the football wall, as this had been flooding, despite the fact this was one of the original criteria to be cured.  The contractors had now installed a further gully, in order to prevent further flooding.  The other area of flooding, in front of the garages, this was caused by the fact that the top surface had not yet been laid.  As of today there was discussion about the width of the garage doors, as they were not considered to be correct. 

    The contractor doing the cricket practice strip had caused damage behind the football wall, and they had attempted to remedy this, but the turfs had been put down on the top and they were ‘all over the place’.  Mrs. Wheatley would take photographs of this.  Garden Care should be asked what it would cost to put right.  The turfs around the new cricket practice strip had not been laid properly, they were not butted together and hence had dried out quickly.  The Cricket Club groundsman should be asked to water these turfs.  There was now a potential hazard because of the drop into the cricket practice strip, quite close to the footpath, therefore, prices should be obtained for installation of post and rail fencing.
   
36.    The Glade.  The Council’s solicitors had still not received a response from Bellwinch Homes.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    When the solicitor returned from holiday he should be asked what could be done to get tougher. 

37.    Request for Funds from St. Mary’s Storrington to repair gravestones.  The H.D.C. budget for upkeep of closed graveyards was about £25,000, of which St. Mary’s received £2,400 and in addition to this H.D.C., were willing to pay £3,250 towards the cost of making safe the 122 gravestones that were in a dangerous condition.  Should the Church not manage to find the other half, H.D.C., would simply make the gravestones safe by laying them down.  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

    To suggest that the St. Mary’s Church apply to the C.L.C., for a grant and also they should be referred to Mr. H. Collins of H.D.C., in order to ascertain details of other sources of grants.

38.    To Consider giving some form of recompense for inconvenience caused by the works being carried out at the Storrington Recreation Ground.   Mrs. Wheatley declared a personal interest in this item and took no part in the proceedings.  Mr. Dawe therefore took the Chair. 

Due to the delay in the provision of the cricket practice strip, the Cricket Club had been hiring the Leisure Centre and this had cost them £350.  Following discussion Mr. Walter Proposed that as a goodwill gesture a payment of £175.00 should be made; Seconded Mr. Read.  Vote: In Favour 2; Against 5.  Motion lost.

Mr. Walter Proposed that the Council abate next year’s rent by £75.00; Seconded Mr. Read.  Vote: In Favour 2; Against 5.  Motion lost.

Mr. Dawe Proposed a payment of £125.00; Seconded Mr. Walter.  Vote: In Favour 2; Against 5.  Motion lost.

Mr. Dawe Proposed; Seconded Mr. Walter and UNANIMOUSLY AGREED :-

    That the Council donate the sum of £100.00.
 
    Mrs. Wheatley re-took the Chair.

39.    To Consider request from the Storrington and Sullington Vipers Youth Football Club to have some earth moving and added top soil put down in places in the Hormare Field.  A price for this work should be obtained and then an application for grant assistance from H.D.C’s Grant Committee should be submitted.

40.    To Consider the quotation received from Guardian Facilities Ltd., to upgrade the Fire Alarm System at the Sullington Parish Hall.  Guardian should be requested to provide a copy of the current maintenance agreement with the Council.  Two further quotations for a replacement Fire Alarm System should be obtained.  Once received an application should be made to the C.L.C., for funding towards this.

41.    To Consider what to charge a prospective hirer for use of the Sullington Parish Hall for a ‘New Orleans Stomp’ (fish and chips and band).  Following discussion it was AGREED :-

        That this hirer should be charged the Party rate.

42.    To Consider giving permission for the use of the Storrington Recreation Ground for the Village Day on Saturday, 28th June, 2008.  Concerns  were  raised  about  the  high level of under age drinking at this year’s event and the organizers should be asked for assurances that better controls would be in place next year.  No decision would be made on this until an answer had been received. 

43.    Christmas Lights.  Long discussion ensued on the various options and also as to whether the Parish Council would be supporting the Late Night Shopping event.  It was felt appropriate to divorce these two issues.  It was AGREED :-

    To write to STAG, Rotary, Roundtable, Lions, advising that due to the costs involved, the Council needs to scale down the Christmas festivities and are not in a position to organize the Late Night Shopping event.  If they were interested, the Council would be willing to arrange a meeting.

44.    To Consider quotations for replacement chairs.  Brochures and prices had been obtained.  It was AGREED :-

    To purchase 30 padded chairs at approximately £15.00 each (similar to the ones at the Sullington Parish Hall.

45.    Noticeboards.  It was reported that there had been four broken again, but these had been repaired.  Dependent upon the cost of the repair an insurance claim would be submitted.

46.    H.D.C. Scrutiny and Overview Work.  Mr. Dawe declared a personal interest in this item and took no part in the discussions. 

    A list of suggestions had been sent to all Members.  It was considered that this list could be consolidated because many of the items were examples that could be put together to support one item.  Individual forms would need completing for each subject.  The Clerk should consolidate this list and submit accordingly.

47.    Smoking Ban – this applies to the Parish Council’s Bus Shelters.  The ban was now in force and the appropriate signs had been erected.  It was pointed out that users of the various buildings could not smoke within 2 meters of the buildings.

48.    Children World Wide are staying outside of Horsham on camp at the beginning of August and would like to know if the Council has any suggestions of any projects they could undertake.  More information was required about the ages of the youngsters involved and what type of work these children had undertaken in the past.

49.    Health and Safety.  There were no matters raised.

    Documents for Councillors to Read.

50.    Brighton Play Seminar – 17th July, 2007.

51.    Urbanscape – Mr. Read took this to read.

52.    Chairman’s Announcements.  None.

The Press and Public were duly excluded from attendance during this item due to the confidential nature of the matter to be discussed.

53.    Replacement Allotments Land.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.15 p.m.