The Annual Parish Meeting for the Parish of West Chiltington was held at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 11th April 2006 in the New School Hall, West Chiltington Community School, East Street, West Chiltington. About 11 residents and guests were in attendance.

The Chairman of the Parish Council, Harvie Steele, presided. He welcomed all present, especially our guest, Mr Geoff Adams, Co-ordinator for West Chiltington Neighbourhood Watch Schemes.

Neil Longson, Vice Chairman of the Parish Council

These were available at the start of the meeting. It was proposed by Margaret Tyler seconded by Estelle Warriner and agreed nem con that they be signed as a correct record of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 11 April 2005.

There were no matters arising.

The Chairman had presented a written report for attendees of the meeting but gave a brief synopsis to the meeting. The Chairman thanked all the Parish Councillors for their support during the year with particular thanks to Neil Longson (Vice-Chairman) and Michael Jackson, who is also our District Councillor. Thanks were also given to Pat Arculus, our County Councillor, for her attendance at meetings and her support at County level. Thanks were also given to the Clerk, Litter Warden and Cleaner for their work over the year.

The Chairman thanked the school for the use of the new hall and community room, which would be an asset to the parish. The Council continued to support the sports clubs by improving the facilities in the pavilion in the recreation ground, and this year planned to renovate the storage shed, refurbish the playground equipment and make minor repairs to the skate-ramp.

The plans for the refurbishment of the museum and provision of a toilet were still progressing and quotations for the work were being considered, and funding will come from Section 106 funds.

Section 106 funds were now being distributed and the Council had already provided new tables and chairs for the sports pavilion and village hall from the funds and new projects are being looked at for future claims, including the toddler’s playground in Church Meadow for which the District Council were making a grant. Contributions will now be sought from all new developments in the parish to benefit the local community. Parishioners are requested to nominate capital projects that would be suitable for Section 106 funding.

Mr Pat Tinworth asked why the Parish Council had decided to increase the precept by 9.75%, four times the rate of inflation and twice that of the other authorities included in the council tax bills. The Chairman referred to his statement setting out the reasons for the increase due to the increase in hours of the Clerk, expected increases in utility bills and repairs to the storage shed and playground. The Chairman pointed out that all of these items had been explained in writing to Mr Tinworth and that he had all the information he required. Mr Tinworth then asked why the Parish Council was spending 67% of the precept on administration. The Chairman explained that as the work of the council was to represent the interests of the parishioners it entailed dealing with the many consultation documents produced by Central government, County and District Councils and many other organisations, Planning matters effecting the parish and addressing the many other concerns of the parishioners. Mr Tinworth then asked if the council intended to increase next year’s precept by a similar amount, the Chairman replied that the increase for the current year was for one off reasons and at that moment there was no intention to increase next years precept by a similar amount.

The Clerk had prepared a written report for the meeting containing details of receipts and payments and bank balances at the 31^st March 2006. Receipts were lower than the previous year due to the large refund of VAT received in the previous year in respect of the expenditure on the refurbishment of the pavilion. Expenditure was lower due in the main to reduced expenditure on repairs to the pavilion and skate-ramp. The Council’s reserves had increased by £7000 and the unallocated reserves by £5000, more in line with previous years. Although the Parish Council Precept had risen by £2 on a Band D property (9.75%), it still remained the ninth lowest of the Horsham District Parishes, 50% less than the average of our neighbouring parishes and two thirds of the average for the Horsham District.

In answer to Mr Tinworth’s earlier comments he thought that quoting percentages did not give a true indication of the level of increase, that the maximum increase payable on a Band H home would be £4, equivalent to just over 1p per day. The comparison of our precept with the neighbouring parishes was relevant as the services provided were similar, and it indicated our efficiency.

(i) Geoff Adams spoke about the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, which the Parish Council supported financially, other costs being met by Sussex Police. He explained that there were 37 individual schemes in West Chiltington, covering approximately 830 houses. This meant that only 50% of the houses were covered and that there was no coverage in the Sinnocks, Roundabout Lane, Threals Lane, Harborough Hill, Foxfields and Harborough Gorse. Co-ordinators are sought for these areas, if you would like to know more please contact him on 01798-812984 or Kathryn Hayhurst (Crime Prevention Co-ordinator), Steyning Police Station on 01444-445965

(ii) Section 106 (Planning Gain) Projects – The Parish Council would like the parishioners to nominate capital projects that might be suitable for funding, please send details to the Clerk.

There being no further formal business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.15 pm.

Chairman…………………………………………Date……………………