ARLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

A QUALITY COUNCIL

(QC –12-06-00359)

Tel: 01323 811870

www.arlington-parish-council.org.uk

Minutes of a meeting of Arlington Parish Council held in Arlington Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Thursday 19^th November 2009 (Paragraphs 09.119 – 09.129)

PRESENT: Councillors Paula Ertl (in the Chair), Ed Dickie (items 09.122 - 09.129), Doreen Goodchild, Carolyn McCutchan and Helen Proctor.

In attendance: Katrina Larkin (Clerk); County Councillor Nick Bennett (items 09.119 - 09.125); District Councillor David White; one member of the public throughout, and four further members of the public for items 09.119 – 09.125 inclusive.

09.119 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillor Mike Garner.

09.120 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Dickie declared a prejudicial interest in item 09.125: Stud Yard and Crossways Cottage. The Clerk had circulated a Note on property ownership and Declarations of Interest, and on the effect of declaring a prejudicial interest. This was discussed and noted.

09.121 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING. The Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 15^th October 2009 were confirmed and signed.

09.122 MATTERS ARISING. The following matters were reported and noted.

Item 09.111 Speed data measurement. ESCC Highways had reported that motorists in Wickstreet appeared to be keeping to the speed limit. There were no proposals to lower the limit to 30 mph because the hamlet did not have enough houses accessing the highway within the prescribed distance. However, proposals for installing the hamlet signs would now be put into action, and the high-profile cats’ eyes which caused noise disturbance for residents might be replaced with flatter ones.

Item 09.111 Adoption of red telephone kiosk. EDF Enery had sent a 29 page Agreement to set up an unmetered supply account for the Parish Council. This had to be in place before the adoption could proceed. The Clerk would circulate the papers and put the matter on the January 2010 agenda.

Item 09.111 Repairs on the green. A second quotation had now been received. LARAC had recommended that Mr Albert Warren should now undertake the repairs. Mr Warren had agreed.

Item 09.112 Michelham Priory Road. ESCC Highways had refused to cut the hedge further back as there was no official sidewalk in the section of road in question. However, they would not object if the work were carried out by the parish council with permission from the landowner. The Clerk would contact the landowner. ESCC Highways had no plans to put lane markings on the road either side of Michelham Priory Bridge. The road was simply too narrow for this to be possible.

Item 09.117 LARAC. The missing bin lid near the village green had been replaced, thanks to St Bede’s. The school was also about to resurface the road down to the shop with tarmac. This was excellent news which would be much appreciated by the council and by residents. A new sign had been provided asking pedestrians not to wear a path across the green, but needed modification; Cllr Dickie had it in hand.

Item 09.117 Play Project. No response to the Expression of Interest had yet been received from the WARR Partnership. The Clerk would make enquiries.

09.123 REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS. County Councillor Nick Bennett reported on the progress of the ESCC’s Waste and Minerals Consultation. He explained the underlying problems which the draft Strategy sought to address, and paid special attention to forthcoming events in the consultation process. In particular, District Councillor Barby Dashwood-Hall would be holding another meeting for parish councillors in the coming week, following which a full public consultation session would be held at a local civic centre – probably on the morning of Saturday 12^th December. The consultation period had been supposed to end on 2^nd December, but Cllr Bennett and others were pressing for the deadline to be extended to the last week of January 2010. No specific sites had yet been suggested, but search areas had been identified, and the Broad Farm area was at risk. Cllr Bennett himself would oppose any land raise on a greenfield site. In discussion it was noted that 60% of the waste came from construction and demolition work in the south coast conurbation. The Wealden District Council was much more strict in its requirements for the disposal of such waste, and the city councils should follow their example.

Cllr Bennett also reported that he had asked ESCC for an update on the Arlington Bridleways 22/24 (Item 09.128 to come on the agenda).

District Councillor David White reminded APC that as part of the Stud House planning consent, Wealden had sent an Informative to ESCC requesting both a safety audit and a 20 mph speed limit outside the schools. No response had yet been received, but this would be pursued and the outcome reported to the Clerk. Cllr White also reported that the latest Robin Post Lane planning application had in fact been approved under delegated powers. It hard become hard to refuse as the remaining problems identified by the Inspector at the previous Appeal had largely been addressed, and a number of letters of support had in fact been received from residents. However, the size of the proposed unit was still open to question and would be the subject of planning conditions, as would the future use of the unit.

Cllr White produced further information about the Waste and Minerals consultation, identifying areas of possible interest to the parish :

the Coggers Cross brickworks with consent for clay extraction (off the A267);
the Hailsham sewage works with lack of capacity now limiting housing in Hailsham (perhaps not needed if lower limits for housing were adhered to?),and the possible new plant putting treated effluent into the Cuckmere either above or below Arlington Reservoir;
a land raise corridor along the A22, with areas particularly threatened including Terrible Down, Whitesmith, and Broad Farm.

In discussion it was agreed that land raise was a very bad form of disposal, bringing odour, vermin and traffic to affected areas. Heaps could reach a height of 50 metres and would be very obvious in level landscapes such as that around Broad Farm. Considerable dissatisfaction was also expressed with the consultation process so far. It was agreed that APC’s comments should be sent in by the published deadline of 2^nd December as a precaution against ESCC refusing to extend the deadline. Cllr White would share his comments made on behalf of Hellingly parish with the Clerk.

09.124 PUBLIC ADJOURNMENT. Mr Parsons on behalf of the Dicker Residents’ Association supported the concerns expressed over the haste and poor publicity given to the Waste and Minerals Plan. He noted that Southern Water already had a dispensation enabling them to release effluent into the Cuckmere in heavy and prolonged rain when the sewers in Upper Dicker could not cope with the volume of water.

The DRA was also keen to hear the results of the safety audit arising from the Stud House planning consent. Police had attended for a brief spell on 16^th November, at the Crossroads. It was to be hoped that this was not the audit. There was a perceived problem with speeding. The DRA had raised some objections to the retrospective planning application for change of use of part of Stud Yard and the Granary. A copy letter was supplied to the Clerk.

09.125 PLANNING

(a) Pre-planning application consultation under s.106 Agreement.

Retrospective planning application for change of use of part of Stud Yard (former stables) and The Granary from boarding accommodation with single staff unit to day-house accommodation with single staff unit. St Bede’s School, The Dicker, Hailsham. Cllr Dickie withdrew from the room. In discussion it was noted that St Bede’s had altered the roof windows at the request of the occupants of the White House, but that further changes were still requested, particularly that all windows overlooking the White House should be triple glazed, non-opening and with frosted glass; and that no students should be allowed on the strip of land behind the west side of the Granary facing the White House. Further requests also related to noise and privacy, namely that only staff should be allowed to use the upper floors of the Granary (St Bede’s had indicated that this was already the case); that sound proofing insulation should be incorporated in the walls and roof of the buildings facing the White House; and that if at all possible the external boiler which was audible inside the White House should be either relocated or sound-proofed. APC would support these requests but had no objection in principle to the change of use.

(b) New applications:

WD/2009/2055/F. Crossways Cottage, Camberlot Road, Upper Dicker BN27 3QG. Extensions and alterations comprising enlargement of single storey element on rear, first floor extension on enlarged rear, conservatory and roof conversion. An amended plan had been received dated 18^th November showing an alternative dormer arrangement to the rear roofscape and a lightwell to accommodate the stairs head height. APC welcomed the amendments and agreed to SUPPORT the application. Cllr Dickie returned to the room.

WD/2009/2173/FR. Mylor Cottage, Coldharbour Road, Upper Dicker BN27 3QJ. (a) New detached garage. (b) Removal of side dormers – Drawing No. 93948/01/B. Date stamped 4 November 2009. In discussion the amended drawings were welcomed but the roof space was still regarded as unnecessarily large, and the need for a window into the roof space was queried. APC would request that the height of the roof be lowered, probably by making the pitch of the roof less steep. Subject to this amendment, APC would SUPPORT the application.

WD/2009/2295/F. Field House, Coldharbour Road, Upper Dicker BN27 3PY. Refurbishment of existing house and a single storey extension to the south east. It was agreed that APC should SUPPORT the application.

WD/2009/2317/FA. Bushywood Farm, Main Road, Hailsham BN27 3LZ. Permanent use of portable unit for habitable purposes. Change of wording on conditions attached to WD/2008/1364/FA. In discussion the council referred back to their previous consideration of proposals from Bushywood in April 2009. It was agreed that the use of the portable unit for habitable purposes should still be temporary, and that the wording on conditions attached to WD/2008/1364/FA should remain unaltered.

(c) Lawful Development application:

WD/2009/2211/LDE. Brenchley, Hempstead Lane West, Hailsham BN27 3PR. Livery Yard and Training School. Cllr Mike Garner had notified WDC that he could give evidence as to the nature of the use of this property and the length of time the use had been in existence.

09.126 FINANCE

The bank reconciliation for the period ending 31 October 2009 was approved.

The following accounts were approved for payment:

19.11.09	101168	WDC	Dog bin emptying	£65.03
19.11.09	101169	P Allison & Sons	Asbestos Removal	£690.00
19.11.09	101170	AiRS	SALC/SRCC conference fee	£23.00
19.11.09	101171	CPRE	Subscription	£29.00
19.11.09	101172	AiRS	Workshop fee	£6.00
19.11.09	101173	RP Taylor Ltd	Lawn mowing	£80.00
19.11.09	101174	SE Water Ltd	Allotment supply	£132.55
19.11.09	101175	Mrs K Larkin	November expenses (see below)	£62.06
19.11.09	101176	SLCC	Arnold Baker, 8^th edition	£53.60

09.127 ESTIMATES FOR PRECEPT 2010-2011

The Clerk reported that of the £21,743.99 balance in the bank at the end of October, £7,060 was already precepted to be spent by the end of March 2010, and unprecepted expenditure of £500 for hamlet signs in Wickstreet and £700 for repairs to the memorial seats on the green, which would be drawn from reserves, had already been approved in principle. In addition, earmarked reserves were being held for the play project (£4587), for an election (£750) and for contingencies (£750), so that the projected unallocated general reserve at the year end should be £7396 approx. This would be acceptable under the general rule that unallocated reserves should not exceed 50% of the precept demand.

The draft precept of £14,565 was approved. This would result in a demand of £48.66 per band D property. It would be reviewed at the January 2010 meeting in the usual way.

09.128 CLERK’S REPORT

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Rural Services Event – Cllr Goodchild would attend (Friday 27^th November, Weald Hall, Uckfield, 9.30 am – 3.30 pm).

Community Led Plans Database Training – the Clerk would attend (Thursday 11^th March 2010 at Ringmer Village Hall, 11.00am – 12.00 noon).

Norman Baker’s response to Downland Petition – a copy letter had been circulated. The council took note..

Arlington bridleways 22/24 – a letter had been received from the British Horse Society County Access and Bridleways Officer, requesting the council’s support in keeping the bridleway open and in good order. It was agreed that a letter of support should be sent to ESCC.

Weald Way, Arlington F2 – APC agreed to request remedial works (possibly a one-way swing gate) to the high stile on St Bede’s golf course. Cllr Dickie would relay the request to St Bede’s.

Tree O’Clock, BBC world record tree planting attempt – Saturday 5^th December, 11.00 am – 12 noon. Cllr Dickie would coordinate efforts in the parish.

09.129 ITEMS OF INFORMATION

The following items were noted for inclusion on a future agenda:

Two parishioners had declared an interest in filling the casual vacancy on the parish council.
AiRS Conference Report. Cllr Goodchild had much useful information to report and to circulate. In particular, advice had been given on parish action plans. The future of the Arlington Parish Plan should go on the January agenda.
S.106 Agreement with St Bede’s School. Cllr Goodchild would contact Dr Maloney for preliminary discussion on what should replace the present Agreement when it ran out. Cllr Dickie would also suggest a review of the arrangements for liaison between the school and the parish council.
Walk Wealden – a local project should be devised in support of WDC’s recent initiative.

The meeting closed at 9.50 pm

Katrina Larkin

Parish Clerk

30 November 2009

Signed………………………………………………………….Chairman

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NOTE: the next meeting will be a Planning Meeting in Upper Dicker Village Hall at 7.00 pm on Thursday 17^th December