ARLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
A
QUALITY COUNCIL
(QC-12-06-00359)
Tel:
01323 811870
www.arlington-parish-council.org.uk
Minutes of Arlington Parish Council meeting held in
Arlington Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 12th February 2009. (Paragraphs
09.15 – 09.27 )
PRESENT: Councillors John Turton
(Chairman), Mike Garner, Doreen Goodchild, Carolyn McCutchan, Helen Proctor and
Mark Yeoman.
In attendance: Katrina Larkin, Clerk; Wealden
District Councillor David White (to 09.19); and six members of the public
present (to 09.19).
09.15 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Cllr. Paula Ertl – a death in the family. Accepted with condolences.
09.16 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.
None
09.17 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 8th January 2009 were accepted
and signed as an accurate record subject to the amendment of para 09.13 to
begin not ‘Cllr Proctor’ but ‘The Clerk’.
The Minutes of the Planning meeting held on 22nd
January 2009 were also confirmed and signed.
09.18 MATTERS ARISING. 09.05 Development site at
the old blockworks – the Clerk could not properly identify the
site to make enquiries; she should look in the records for Wilmington parish
and the heading of Placketts Corner.
09.05. Forest Enterprises deer storage unit in
Abbots Wood had received planning permission.
09.08 National Trust Coastal Officer
– Georgia Conolly had accepted the invitation to address the Annual Parish
Meeting.
WDC Community Payback Scheme
– WDC had confirmed that litter picking and cleaning of road signs were
approved activities and APC’s requests had been added to the Payback list.
09.11 Security lighting at St Bede’s
– Mr Newton had given assurances that the problem of light pollution was being
tackled. However, the situation had not yet improved, and the Clerk was
requested to write again.
Malvern House – Taylor Engley
had been informed that the side gate onto the recreation ground was not a legal
access.
09.13 Fingerpost at Milton Hide
– ESCC had supplied new contact details for Mr Anderson and Jakk UK as an
alternative.
09.19 ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. District Cllr White reported that the WDC
precept would be increased by 3.5% not 3.9%, and ESCC was expected to make a
3.5% increase as well. Regarded the St Bede’s appeal, he congratulated the
parish on the coordinated efforts that had helped to produce a favourable
outcome. The recent controversy over another planning application, for a
bungalow for Joe Townsend RM, disabled on active service in Afghanistan, was
also nearing a satisfactory resolution on the basis of a revised application
with conditions attached. District Cllr White also advised APC on the most
effective way to influence the holding of one-off open air events in rural
venues such a Knockhatch. Experience showed that there was little chance of
influencing the licensing process but that effective intervention could be made
about eight weeks before the event when a management plan had to be produced
for approval by the police. Stringent conditions could then be applied.
Applicants should be made to justify their choice of a normally unlicensed
rural venue when permanently licensed venues were readily available. This was a
topic that APC could ask to have put on the agenda for the forthcoming WDC Town
and Parish Planning Conference.
Agreed.
Representatives of the Dicker Residents Association reported that their next liaison meeting with St Bede’s would be held in early March, and that they would wish to discuss Stud House and the future of the Wise site. They were also looking at the possibility of applying Tree Preservation Orders to some of the mature oaks in the grounds owned by the school behind the village, and had made contact with Wealden’s Tree Preservation Officer. DRA kindly supplied copies of recent Minutes to APC.
The Safety and Environment Group reported that
S.I.D. would be back on 27th April and that volunteers would be
required to man it. It was hoped that the new 30 mph limit would be in place by
then. APC agreed that the Clerk should put a notice in the next Newsletter
about this. Restoration of the Coronation Seat was still impeded by the lack of
the right kind of very small bricks, and conservation might have to be done
instead. A site meeting would be held in the spring. SEG also thanked APC for
the New Year Gathering which was felt to have been both useful and enjoyable.
09.20 PLANNING.
WD/2009/0027/LB – Woodlands, Caneheath, Arlington
BN26 6SJ, Removal of existing timber cladding to rear and
sides of house and replacement with painted render finish where necessary. Approved
subject to listed building regulations.
WD/2009/0146, 0147, 0148, 0150, 0151, 0154, 0155,
0156, 0157, 0159, 0160 /OH. Eleven applications from EDF Energy
Networks to re-conductor existing low voltage overhead line at Polhills Farm
Arlington, Ruffets Wood Arlington, Sessingham Farm Berwick, Wickstreet Farm
Arlington, Wilbees Arlington, Yew Tree Inn Arlington, Bates Green Farm
Arlington, Caneheath Arlington, Chilver Bridge Berwick, Old Oak Inn Arlington, Plackets Corner Arlington.
Approved.
The following planning decisions were noted:
WD/2008/2234/F – St Bede’s School, Upper Dicker,
Hailsham BN27 3QH. Provision of four multi-function sports
pitches. Appeal dismissed
WD/2008/2918/F – Knockhatch Adventure Park
– proposed livestock and storage building. A condition had been attached to
ensure that the building could only be used for agricultural purposes. Approved.
WD/2008/3010/F – 2 The Nurseries, Coldharbour Road.
Proposed rear extension. Withdrawn.
Enforcement matters:
Astroturf, nets and shed opposite Stud House. WDC had supplied an aerial photo for the
location to be confirmed. They had queried whether these features predated the
aerial photos flown in 2005-6, or even the earlier photos from 1999, and
therefore predated the current S106
Agreement. In discussion it was
asserted that these features had not been permitted at any time in the past 12
years (i.e. from the inception of the first Agreement), and had not been
constantly present. The Astroturf was the most recent arrival. The Clerk
should report this to WDC and offer a site visit with Cllr. Goodchild.
Pedestrian crossing in Michelham Priory Road.
Cllr Turton and Cllr Goodchild would be holding discussions with ESCC Transport
about the amended plan produced on 4 November 2008 and referred to at the St
Bede’s Appeal hearing. APC had never been formally notified or consulted about
this plan.
Park Mead drop-off time.
Park Mead School had requested support from APC in securing an occasional
police presence in Michelham Priory Road at the beginning and end of the school
day, because of persistent safety issues in this overcrowded and busy spot.
09.21 CLERK’S PROBATIONARY REVIEW.
The Clerk having completed a three month probationary period which was felt to
have been satisfactory, it was proposed that she should be awarded a contract to
work for 30 hours per month.
Approved.
It had come to light that the other applicants had
never been contacted by SALC to say that they had been unsuccessful. A motion
that the Chairman should write, with apologies, was proposed by Cllr Proctor,
seconded by Cllr Yeoman, and Carried.
09.22 LARAC BUSINESS. Tenancies of Allotment Plots
12 and 14. Cllr Yeoman reported that in correspondence with
the current tenant it had come to light that her tenancy agreements did not
follow the current model. The tenant had also referred to a policy statement
which might not be current, giving priority to parishioners of Arlington over
non-residents. In discussion it was noted that in fact nearly half the current
tenancies were held by residents of Deanland
who were excellent allotment holders. The Clerk should look into these
matters, as it was desirable that there should be parity of treatment for all
tenants – agreed. The tenant of
plots 12 and 14 had also queried what constituted the ‘proper cultivation’ that
was normally a condition for retention of a plot. It was agreed that it meant
that the land must be tilled – dug over, and kept free of weeds which would
otherwise cause problems for other tenants. With regard to the shed erected by
the tenant of plots 12 and 14, it was noted that this only replaced an earlier
shed which had been derelict, and it was agreed that no further action
should be taken over it. Finally it was proposed by Cllr Yeoman that the tenant
should be allowed to keep plots 12 and 14 until 31st May 2009, by
which time clear signs of proper cultivation should be in evidence. The
situation would then be reviewed. Agreed.
Car parking at the recreation ground. The
Council considered a request from an allotment holder for additional hard
standing for parking at the entrance to the recreation ground in the winter
months. It was felt that the benefits would be minimal, and strictly vehicles
should not enter onto common land at all. The request was refused.
Derelict shed. The Cricket Club
had indicated that the shed might well be their property and that its removal
would be considered at their recent AGM. The Clerk should write to ask
for news, as the removal of the dangerous structure must be a priority.
09.23 FINANCE. The following accounts were approved for
payment:
|
22.01.09 |
101113 |
Wealden D. C. |
Dog Bin emptying |
£62.04 |
|
22.01.09 |
101114 |
Cllr H Proctor |
Expenses for New Year gathering |
£10.84 |
|
12.02.09 |
101115 |
Cllr C McCutchan |
Expenses for New Year gathering |
£5.00 |
|
12.02.09 |
101116 |
Kings Signs |
Sign boards for Rec. Ground |
£190.77 |
|
12.02.09 |
101117 |
NameHog Ltd |
Web hosting |
£40.25 |
|
12.02.09 |
101118 |
Mrs K Larkin |
Salary |
£205.95 |
|
12.02.09 |
101119 |
Mrs K Larkin |
Expenses |
£134.43 |
09.24 EASTBOURNE-HAILSHAM TRIANGLE. Cllr McCutchan reported on a meeting between
the parishes affected and the Leader of WDC, Cllr Mrs P Doodes and others, held
at Polegate Town Council offices on 27 January. The local councils had been critical of the lack of consultation
despite the £25,000 of public money paid to Grimley’s for undertaking a
comprehensive review. However, they had been promised that no pre-emptive
decisions had been made, and that consultation as part of the LDF process would
be forthcoming.
09.25 CLERK’S REPORT. Start time of Parish Council
Planning Meetings. In future these meetings should start
earlier at 7.00 pm. Agreed.
Gas supply for Upper Dicker.
A parishioner had requested APC to canvass support for bringing a mains gas
supply into the village. Grants were now available from the government, and gas
was ‘greener’ than coal or electricity.
It was agreed that publicity should be given to this in the next
Newsletter, and interested parties referred to the original enquirer.
WDC Town and Parish Planning Conference
– 30th March 2009. Cllr Garner and Cllr McCutchan would attend on behalf of
APC. The Clerk should request WDC to put s.106 Agreements on the agenda. Agreed.
ESCC Cycling Strategy. Now available online for comments by 20
February 2009.
09.26 INFORMATION. The Annual Meeting would
be included in the March agenda.
Use of
village green – also to be on the March agenda (to
include possible ‘Dickerday’; complaint from a neighbour about children’s
activities; need for fresh signs and covers for litter bins).
Cuckmere Valley – Cuckmere Parish
Council wanted to convene a group to assess the impact of the decision by the
Environment Agency to withdraw maintenance. No details yet available, but Cllr
Garner would be willing to serve. The Chairman would write in response.
09.27 Date of next meeting: Thursday 12th March 2009 in Upper
Dicker Village Hall.
No planning meeting would be required in February.
The meeting closed at 10.30pm.
Katrina Larkin, Clerk, 15th February
2009
Signed……………………………………….Chairman