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Links to: Local Organisations & Information
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1. Parish Council I am grateful to all the Parish Councillors for their hard work over the last year, in particular Neil Longson (Vice-Chairman) and Michael Jackson, who is also our District Councillor. Thanks are also due to Pat Arculus, our County Councillor, who attended all but one of our Council meetings last year, and is always willing to take up our concerns at County level. On a sad note, Ewen Steele, a lifelong resident of the Parish and a Parish Councillor for 5 years, died in April last year. Paul Royce was co-opted to fill the vacancy on the Parish Council, and Paul has since taken over as our Rights of Way Warden from Dennis Tyler. Thanks are also due also to Stephanie Dumbrill, Pavilion Cleaner, Margaret Pollack, our Litter Warden, and Ivan Pullen, our Gardener, who all do so much to keep the Parish clean and tidy and attractive. The full Parish Council met on 6 occasions last year, the Planning Committee 10 times, and the Finance Committee once. Parish Councillors also held meetings with the local sports clubs and with street sports enthusiasts. Estelle Warriner and Jonathan Trees attended meetings of the Horsham Association of Local Councils, and Members and the Clerk attended meetings of the Sussex Rural Community Council, the Sussex Association of Local Councils and various consultative groups, and seminars for Councillors and Clerks.
2. What has the Parish Council achieved in 2004/5? Recreation Ground: We have again had to clear a blocked drain at the tennis courts. As a result of increased mole activity, and the proximity of the moles to the cricket square and croquet lawns, we have appointed a new contractor to deal with the problem. The Football Club have put up a spare set of goalposts on the practice area for local youngsters to use, and we have agreed to the Cricket Club’s request to lay an artificial wicket for use by juniors. Pavilion: following last year’s extension and refurbishment, we have laid new floor coverings in the pavilion and after discussions with the sports clubs, we shall be providing new furniture. The Sports Clubs have kindly carried out minor repairs as necessary, and the Cricket Club have refurbished the old Meals on Wheels hut adjacent to the pavilion.
Other Leisure facilities: as part of the project to build a new hall at the Village School, the Council supported the provision of a new room for community use with a grant of £2,000. The local education authority funded the hall itself, and the room for which the Parish Council’s grant was given will be available for use by all community groups. Reading Room and Museum: following last year’s work to the reading room, the museum has been cleared in preparation for refurbishment. Gina Wilmshurst, the Assistant Curator from Storrington Museum, is conserving and repairing our museum exhibits, and we are very grateful to Mary Eames and Maureen Tully for their help with this work. Youth facilities: after 2 years of heavy use, the Council carried out major repairs to the skate ramps. We have tried to involve local youngsters in helping to manage the skate park. Such an arrangement has worked well in other places, and giving users a sense of ownership of the facilities has been beneficial to all concerned. The Parish Council continues to fund the successful Youth Cinema, and has provided financial assistance to the West Chiltington Youth Football team. Highways/Footpaths: Police Sergeant MacKay attended our meeting in November to discuss local concerns about speeding traffic. After several years of lobbying, the Council was successful in persuading the County Council to introduce 40 and 50 mph speed limits around Broadford Bridge crossroads, and to reduce the speed limit in the built up areas of the Parish to 30 mph. The area covered by the limit has also been extended. We have asked the District Council for training in the use of the hand-held speed cameras under the "Speedwatch" scheme. Celia Rayner single-handedly planted over 700 daffodil bulbs in the Sunset Lane/Westward Lane area, and the County Council inspected and cleared the Parish rights of way. Sadly, fly-tipping of garden refuse is becoming a problem. Cuttings have recently been dumped at the allotments, and previously at the recreation ground and on roadside verges. Residents are requested to assist by reporting any incidents to the District Council. Contact details are on the notice boards. Planning: this continues to occupy much of the Council’s time, and last year had its fair share of contentious planning applications. The Parish Council commented on 149 planning applications (2003 - 171), including more than 16 applications for new houses. The Council supported the Preservation Society’s application to create a Conservation Area in the Birch Tree, Bower and Grove Lanes area. Budget: The Council set a balanced budget for 2005/6, with an increase in the Parish Council's charge to local council taxpayers of only 2.3%. 3. Plans for the coming year, 2005/6 The Council has provided funds in its budget for revenue expenditure, that is for carrying out its normal functions and for managing and maintaining its assets. It will continue to support activities such as the Youth Cinema, and other facilities which provide a direct benefit to Parishioners. We have every hope that, after many months of uncertainty, substantial funds will shortly be available through the planning contributions system to enable us to carry out a number of capital projects which in the past we would have financed through our precept and through grants from other bodies. These projects are (i) refurbishment of the museum to display the collection more effectively and in more suitable conditions, and to install a lavatory and wash-basin in the building: (ii) if the Church authorities agree, and with financial assistance from the District Council, to construct a toddler playground in Church Meadow: and (iii) to assist the Village Hall Committee to carry out a further extension to the Village Hall, which will benefit the many clubs and societies and individuals in the Parish who wish to use the Hall. There are several other projects on the list the Council has drawn up, many of them suggested by local residents following last year’s Annual Parish Meeting, which we hope may be funded from future planning contributions.
James Mursell Chairman April 2005 |