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 21st
January 2010 (Paragraphs 10.1 –
10.13)
PRESENT: Councillors Mike Garner
(in the Chair), Ed Dickie, Paula Ertl,
Doreen Goodchild, Carolyn McCutchan and Helen Proctor.
In attendance: Katrina Larkin (Clerk); County
Councillor Nick Bennett (items 10.1-10.5); District Councillor David White; six
members of the public (items 10.1-10.6), and one member of the public for the
remaining items 10.7-10.13.
10.01 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None
10.02 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr
Dickie declared a prejudicial interest in item 10.06, Providence Cottage.
10.03 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS. The
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 19th November 2009
were confirmed and signed. The Minutes of the Planning Meeting held on 17th
December 2009 were confirmed and signed.
10.04 MATTERS ARISING. The
following matters were reported and noted.
Item 09.122 Play Project..
The Clerk reported that WARR had asked for an assurance that if a grant were
awarded the council would be prepared to bank-roll the project and then to use
the grant monies for reimbursement. If appropriate the council should seek a
loan from the Public Works Loans Board.
Item 09.122 Speed data measurement.
Residents had been notified of the outcome. Cllr Bennett reported that the
hamlet signs had been designed and would be ready in April. The new catseyes
might be done at the same time if the County could afford them.
Item 09.122 Repairs on the green. Mr
Warren would defer ordering materials until it was known who would carry out
the other repairs at the reservoir. A second quote was still needed, but Mr
Warren could put the Clerk in touch with another contractor.
Item 09.122 LARAC. Cllr
Dickie had the matter of the new sign in hand.
Item 09.123 Safety audit in Michelham Priory Road. Dr
Maloney had confirmed that St Bede’s would do the audit themselves when the
Stud House project went out to tender.
Item 09.125 s.106 Agreement. A
question had been raised as to whether the current Agreement was due for
renewal. The Clerk confirmed that it was not.
Item 09.128 Weald Way, Arlington F2 – stile on the
golf course. Cllr Dickie confirmed that the replacement of this
high stile with a more user-friendly alternative had been put on St Bede’s
schedule of works.
Item, 09.134 Waste and Minerals Core Strategy.
The public meeting which was to have been held on 9th January had
been rescheduled for Saturday 23rd January, 10.00am in Hailsham
Community Centre.
10.05 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS.
County Cllr Nick Bennett reported that ESCC had produced an explanatory letter
about their refusal to carry out a safety audit in Michelham Priory Road.
The Clerk would circulate it to all councillors. APC should monitor the
situation and notify Cllr Bennett of any developments that gave cause for
concern. With regard to the Waste and Minerals Core Strategy, Cllr
Bennett was working with the Lead Member and other councillors to press for a
review of the strategy. He would be presenting the public petition to the full
Council on 9th February.
District
Cllr White reported on the progress of WDC’s Transformation Programme,
which might exceed the target for savings originally set. He confirmed that the District Council’s
response to the Waste and Minerals Core Strategy contained strong
opposition to land raise and support for the principles of turning waste into
energy and for dealing with waste where it arises, to achieve sustainability.
Work on the LDF Core Strategy continued, and an Infrastructure Delivery
Panel was being compiled. This would be essential to ensure the deliverability
of the strategy as a whole.
PUBLIC ADJOURNMENT. The Chairman welcomed Dr Richard Maloney, the
Headmaster of St Bede’s School, to talk about the School’s new masterplan. Dr
Maloney outlined both the content of the plan and the rationale for its
production. The plan was underpinned by some radically new thinking which it
was hoped would both allow the School to meet its need for new sports pitches
and for improvements and small extensions to its current stock of classrooms
and other buildings, whilst at the same time meeting the aspirations of the
villagers to live peacefully alongside the school in a reasonably protected
rural setting. Copies of the plan had been circulated to all residents, with an
open invitation to attend a meeting about it at the school on 7th
February. Without wishing to pre-empt the outcome of that meeting, councillors
and members of the public who were present complimented Dr Maloney on the new
plan and were optimistic that it might indeed achieve all its stated aims. Dr
Maloney also assured the council that the School supported local residents in
their opposition to the ESCC’s Waste and Minerals Core Strategy, and had hosted
the December meeting convened by the Dicker Residents with Southern Water (Mr
John Challoner, County Sewer Engineer) to discuss sewerage provision in Upper
Dicker. It had become clear at that meeting that Southern Water had not yet
been consulted by ESCC about the wastewater plans included in the Strategy.
Mr
Wollaston reported on progress in setting up a village communications network.
The next step would be to form a Focus Group making use of expertise available
in the parish. The value of such a network had recently been demonstrated by
the need to circulate all households twice in quick succession about the Waste
and Minerals Core Strategy. Mr Wollaston also drew attention to the open
evening being held at the Village Shop on 23rd January to celebrate
the refurbishment of the premises.
10.06 PLANNING
(a) Pre-planning application consultation under
s.106 Agreement.
(b) New applications:
WD/2009/2570/F. Brenchley, Hempstead Lane West,
Hailsham BN27 3PR. Stationing of a mobile home for a temporary
period of three years whilst developing equine business. The Council
agreed to SUPPORT the application.
WD/2009/2703/OH. Claverham Manor, Wick Street,
Berwick. Removal of 3 spans of 2 wire HV overhead line
(between points A and B). The installation of a wooden HV terminal pole with
associated stay wires at point C. The Council agreed to SUPPORT the
application.
(c) Planning permissions granted by WDC:
WD/2009/1332/MAJ. St Bede’s School, Upper Dicker,
Hailsham BN27 3QH. New Stud boarding houses and car parking.
APC took note.
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 extension. It was noted that this application was
no longer required.
WD/2009/1932/F. High Barn,
High Barn Road, Upper Dicker BN27 3QJ. Change of use from holiday let to
granny annexe for elderly relative. APC took note.
(d) Planning permission and listed building consent
refused by WDC:
WD/2009/1839/LB; WD/2009/1864/F. Granary at Wick
Street Farm, Arlington BN26 6TN. Conversion of an existing
granary within the curtilage of a listed building into studio accommodation for
use by owner’s family. Works to include renewal of roof structure, construction
of a mezzanine sleeping platform, insertion of new windows and general fabric
upgrading internally. Refused on the grounds that the works would have an
adverse impact on the historic fabric and character of the building and would
be contrary to PPS 15. APC took note.
(e) Agreement with EDF Energy.
An unsigned Agreement was in circulation; it was
intended to enable APC to take on the ownership of the power supply to the red
telephone kiosk in Arlington and thereafter to adopt the kiosk. It was hoped that the Agreement could be
signed at the next meeting.
10.07 FINANCE
The bank reconciliation for the period ending 31
December 2009 was approved.
Expenditure of up to £75 as appropriate towards the
cost of opposing land raise was approved.
The following payments from December 2009 were confirmed:
|
17.12.09 |
101177 |
Arlington Village Hall |
Hall hire |
£84.00 |
|
17.12.09 |
101178 |
SLCC |
Annual subscription 2010 |
£72.00 |
|
17.12.09 |
101179 |
Mrs K Larkin |
December expenses |
£106.47 |
The following accounts were approved for
payment:
|
15.01.10 |
S/O |
Mrs K Larkin |
January Salary |
£247.83 |
|
21.01.10 |
101180 |
RP Taylor Ltd |
Hedge cutting |
£60.00 |
|
21.01.10 |
101181 |
East Hoathly PC |
Landraise flyers etc. |
£37.21 |
|
21.01.10 |
101182 |
Ann Newton |
Landraise hall hire |
£5.72 |
|
21.01.10 |
101183 |
Mrs K Larkin |
January expenses |
£86.13 |
|
21.01.10 |
101184 |
WDC |
Dog bin emptying |
£65.03 |
Finance for SALC training courses for councillors and chairmen would not be needed in February 2010.
The hire of AVH and UDVH for two hours each so that
free Active Play sessions could be provided in the February half term 2010 was approved.
10.8 PRECEPT 2010-2011
It was resolved that the precept demand for
2010-2011 should be set at £14,565, equating to £48.99 per Band D property,
based on the figures previously considered at the November meeting (Item
09.127). This was a reduction of £3.43 on the figure per Band D property in
2009-2010.
10.9 LARAC
The council approved the provision of nest
boxes for dormice in the Dicker Copse. The boxes would be provided and
installed by St Bede’s School. LARAC councillors reported that the Trees
planted on the BBC’s Tree O’clock day were now in the safe keeping of St Bede’s
head groundsman, and their relocation could be considered in due course when
conditions were favourable. Councillors expressed their appreciation of the
School’s expert help. The next meeting would be held when the WARR Partnership
gave its verdict on Arlington’s Expression of Interest in grant aid for the
Upper Dicker Play Project. Cllr Dickie would convene the meeting and the
Chairman would attend to help the project along.
10.10 HIGHWAYS
The council considered whether to take direct
action to cut back the hedge in Michelham Priory Road between Park Mead and the
Priory gate. It was noted that the adjacent property known as Oldwaye had now
changed hands and that the new owner (St Bede’s) was prepared to have the work
done. This willingness was much appreciated but it was still considered that
the work was the responsibility of ESCC Highways. The council also considered the provision of a grit box outside
Endlewick Farm on Chilverbridge Road, but agreed that this would not be practicable
nor affordable. A previous arrangement whereby farmers were provided with snow
ploughs by ESCC had worked well, but if that were to be brought back it would
be necessary to permit farmers to use red diesel for this purpose.
10.11 REPORTS
AiRS Conference – Cllr Goodchild
reported with special reference to parish action plans and the future of the
Arlington Parish Plan. It was agreed that all councillors should look at
the Plan before the next meeting to see how best it should be carried forward.
Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Rural
Services Event – Cllr Goodchild reported particularly on the
Walk Wealden proposals. It was agreed that these should be publicised in the
next Newsletter.
10.12 CO-OPTION OF A COUNCILLOR
Mr Wollaston had withdrawn his candidacy. It was
agreed unanimously that Mr John Ballard should be co-opted to fill the vacancy
on the parish council.
10.13 ITEMS OF INFORMATION. The
following would appear on the next agenda: revision of list of councillors’
duties; recycling.
The meeting closed at 9.20 pm.
Katrina Larkin
Parish Clerk
1st February 2010
Signed…………………………………………Chairman
Date………………………………………………………..
NOTE: DATE OF NEXT MEETING, THURSDAY 18TH
FEBRUARY IN UPPER DICKER VILLAGE HALL