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 Upper Dicker Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 12^th March 2009. (Paragraphs 09.28 –09. )

PRESENT: Councillors John Turton (Chairman), Paula Ertl, Mike Garner, Doreen Goodchild and Carolyn McCutchan.

In attendance: Katrina Larkin (Clerk); Wealden District Councillor David White; and six members of the public.

09.28 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr M Yeoman. Cllr H Proctor – caring for a sick relative - accepted.

09.29 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. Cllr Turton declared a prejudicial interest in Item 6(a) as he had proposed an SHLAA site on land he owned in the village.

09.30 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING. The Minutes of the meeting held on 12^th February 2009 were accepted and signed as an accurate record.

09.31 MATTERS OUTSTANDING

09.20 Park Mead drop-off time. Cllr Goodchild had already discussed the safety issues with ESCC Highways, but the school would still like an occasional police presence. The Clerk should request this.

09.18 Development site at the old blockworks – the Clerk should try the parish of Long Man and use grid references to pursue this enquiry.

09.18 Security lighting at St. Bede’s – the Clerk had written again; no response as yet.

09.18 Finger post at Milton Hide – Mr Anderson had agreed to do the work for £100 (ESCC reimbursing 50%of the cost to APC).

09.32 ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. District Cllr White reported that the controversial planning application lodged on behalf of Private J Townsend had finally been approved on a revised scheme. It was largely due to time constraints that this could not happen first time around. WDC was still on schedule to open public consultations in May on the draft strategy for the LDF. Five hundred sites had so far been identified for the SHLAA which was part of the LDF strategy. WDC would also ask parishes to identify their facilities (halls, recreation grounds, shops etc) and their needs. All this information would inform the LDF strategy and would be a valuable resource for developers. The next Town and Parish Planning Conference would be held on 30^th March.

Members of the DRA reported on their March meeting, including liaison with St Bede’s School. The School would now concentrate on the Stud House development, and plans were expected to be available by May; the school did not wish to enter into further discussions about the Park Mead crossing. Longer term, they might have plans for the field behind the shop, and the development of the Wise site to include some affordable housing. Otherwise, the focus of attention had shifted to the Junior School in Eastbourne. The stored soil on the Appeal site would now be cleared.

It was noted that Michelham Priory had applied for another two year extension of their permission to hold corporate dinners in the evenings.

Residents had complained to the police about an explosion (simulated with theatrical ordnance, but heard in Hailsham) which had been carried out without warning by the firearms unit as part of an exercise. Agreement had been reached that any future exercise would be preceded by consultation with residents.

09.33 PLANNING. Applications for consideration

WD/2009/0263/FR - Ruffetts Wood, Knockhatch Farm, Hempstead Lane, Hailsham BN27 3PR. Retrospective application for construction of two timber dry composting toilet blocks on land owned by Knockhatch Leisure Ltd for use in connection with the Out of the Ordinary Festival. It was noted that the toilet blocks had been erected by festival goers, not by Knockhatch. The structures were clearly temporary and were situated on remote, private land, not visible from any house or road. Although Portaloos might have been more hygienic, it was agreed that APC would have no objection to permission being granted on a temporary basis, up to three years.

WD/2009/0289/AN – Knockhatch Adventure Park, Hempstead Lane, Hailsham BN27 3GD. Two hoardings.

Two letters of objection had been sent to the WDC by residents. APC considered that the proposed hoardings would be out of character with the green surroundings, whereas the existing brown signs were acceptable and were perfectly adequate. The proposed billboards would be visually very dominant, and distracting on the roundabout – the ‘Piccadilly Circus’ effect. A previous application of a similar nature had been refused. APC should object to the application – agreed.

WD/2009/0461/FR – 2 The Nurseries, Coldharbour Road, Upper Dicker BN27 3PY. Proposed rear extension – retrospective. APC noted that this was essentially the same application as the one they considered at their January meeting, WD/2008/3010/F2, Minute 09.05, which had been withdrawn because the plans did not correspond to what was there on the ground, and had now been resubmitted with corrected plans under a new reference number. As the circumstances had not materially altered there was no reason to alter the previous response made by APC to WDC. Agreed to reiterate the previous response.

The following decisions by WDC were noted:

WD/2008/3088/F – Knockhatch Adventure Park, Hempstead Lane, Hailsham BN27 3PR. Erection of single storey building for use for child care facilities. REFUSED as an unsustainable form of development, intrusive in this semi-rural location.

WD/2008/3106/FR – Wilbees Farm, Arlington BN26 6RU. Part Retrospective change of use of former buildings to B1 and B8 uses plus outside storage. GRANTED subject to conditions preserving amenities.

WD/2009/0027/LB – Woodlands, Caneheath, Arlington BN26 6SJ. Removal of existing timber cladding to rear and sides of house. Listed building consent GRANTED.

Tree works

TM/2009/0034/TPO – St Bede’s School, The Dicker, Hailsham BN27 3QH. Various tree works as per schedule within TPO Arlington no. 31, 2005. Approved by WDC.

Enforcement matters

St Bede’s s.106 Agreement. Cllr Goodchild reported on a site visit by a WDC officer to view the Astroturf, cricket nets and shed opposite Stud House, as well as the stile on the golf course where the footpath has been slightly moved. His response in writing was still awaited. In the meantime, the Clerk should pursue the matter of the stile with Mr LeGresley of ESCC.

Weald Way. The ESCC Rights of Way Officer had replied that no help could be offered. It was agreed that the Clerk should refer this matter also to Mr LeGresley, and enquire about the possibility of a footpath diversion.

St Bede’s security lights. If the situation did not improve, the Clerk should make representations to the Chairman of the Board of Governors, and to John Gallop of WDC Environmental Protection.

Mobile home, High Barn, Upper Dicker. Planning permission might not be required if the home was merely parked, not being lived in. Referred to WDC, and a reply awaited.

Garage at The Plough. The relocated garage might be covered by permitted development rights. Referred to WDC, and a reply awaited.

09.34 CLERK’S REPORT

Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment. APC did not own any suitable sites.

Flood Forum. Confirmed that Cllr Garner should be APC’s representative on the Flood Forum.

ESCC Transport Seminar. Cllr Goodchild would attend for APC.

Annual Parish Meeting.The draft agenda for the Annual Parish Meeting was approved subject to minor amendments (no display of play equipment; no interval; tea and coffee to be served afterwards). Expenditure of up to £100 from Chairman’s Expenses to provide refreshments was approved.

Dickerday. Tess Flower had asked for APC’s consent to hosting another Dickerday on the Village Green on Sunday 28^th June from 3.00pm. Approved.

Restrictions on use of the green. The green was a public space and could be used as such, but activities should still be appropriate to the surroundings i.e. no invasion of privacy of the surrounding dwellings, or games in the road to the shop. The Clerk should put an article in the next Newsletter.

Signs and covers for bins on the green. A sign should be provided for motorists: ‘Beware pedestrians’. St Bede’s should be consulted about providing covers for the bins. The Clerk should deal with these items.

Derelict shed. The Cricket Club had confirmed that they would agree to the removal of the shed. The shed might need specialist dismantling because of the possible asbestos content, and the Clerk should seek advice from WDC. The Cricket Club had also asked whether a new shed would be allowed for the storage of the groundsman’s equipment. It was agreed that the footings of the old shed could be used for a new shed.

09.35 FINANCE The following accounts were approved for payment:

12.03.09	1011120	AVH	Hall hire	£28.00
12.03.09	1011121	AVH	Hall hire – Parish Plan	£44.00
12.03.09	1011122	A S Warren	Village Notice Board	£900.00
12.03.09	1011123	Mrs K Larkin	Salary – March 2009	£247.14
12.03.09	1011124	Mrs K Larkin	Expenses – March 2009	£66.00
12.03.09	1011125	Park Mead School	Grant	£500.00
12.03.09	1011126	Hailsham CAB	Grant	£150.00
12.03.09	1011127	Cuckmere Bus	Grant	£100.00
12.03.09	1011128	Flood Forum	Grant	£50.00
12.03.09	1011129	Cllr D Goodchild	Expenses	£19.23

The sum of £900 for the Village Notice Board had not been itemised in the 2008-09 budget, and this sum would need to be drawn from reserves. Agreed. On the other hand, much of the £1566 which had been earmarked for the publication of the Parish Plan remained unspent, and might not be required thanks to the large amount of help given by St Bede’s to the Parish Plan Group; this sum could be returned to the reserves. Agreed. The total sum required for subscriptions and donations over the year totalled £140 more than had been budgeted for. However, the sum earmarked for the Clerk’s salary had been underspent by £366, so a sum of £140 could be vired across to cover the grants to Park Mead School, Hailsham CAB, the Cuckmere Community Bus, and the Flood Forum. Agreed. A spreadsheet listing all the payments made during the year was tabled, together with a bank reconciliation for the period ending 28^th February 2009 (though this contained an arithmetical error which should be corrected). The Council took note.

09.36 REPORTS

WDALC – Cllr Garner reported that the Minutes of the last meeting were not yet available.

Parish Planning Panel – Cllr Goodchild reported chiefly on the discussion of Affordable Housing. Arlington needed eight affordable homes, and sites would be required. These could be put forward either as exception sites, or included as an element in any commercial development.There was a points based system of allocation. Information was provided for circulation, and the topic should be highlighted in the Newsletter. Agreed. APC could offer to host another Cluster meeting on this topic, ideally with input from Kelvin Williams at WDC. Agreed.

LARAC – Cllr Goodchild reported that information was being collated about possible new suppliers of play equipment, and that a meeting would shortly be held with young families to ascertain their wishes.

Police Liaison – Cllr Goodchild reported that there was now a PCSO and a shared PC for every ward in the District. The Police Commander had asked for direct communication with residents, and would welcome feedback from the public. This too should be publicised in the Newsletter. Agreed.

09.37 ITEMS OF INFORMATION

Chairman’s resignation – Cllr Turton had given notice of his intention to resign from APC immediately before the Annual General Meeting of the council in May. The vacancy should be notified to WDC and advertised in the Newsletter.

Village Maintenance – the ESCC team would be operative again this year. Possible sites for attention outside the Plough (clearing and turfing), near Primrose Farm (tidying car park and repairing potholes), opposite the Yew Tree (blocked drain) and litter clearing on Coldharbour Road and Hempstead Road could all be listed for attention, though works would be carried out on a first come, first served basis.

09.38 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Annual Parish Meeting – 23^rd April in Arlington Village Hall. A brief APC Planning Meeting might be required afterwards.

Annual Parish Council Meeting – 14^th May 2009 in Upper Dicker Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 10.30pm

Katrina Larkin, Clerk, 18^th March 2009

Signed………………………………………………………Chairman