Present: Harvie Steele (Chairman), Neil Longson, Estelle Warriner, Pietro di Marino, Peter Knowles, Ken Line, Roger Watts, Dennis Tyler, Jonathan Trees and Isabel Butcher

Also in Attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk), Pat Arculus (County Councillor) and 15 members of the public

Michael Jackson, Celia Rayner and Paul Royce.

It was proposed by Roger Watts, seconded by Dennis Tyler and resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 30^th August 2005 as a correct record of the meeting. The Chairman signed the minutes.

3. MATTERS ARISING

Ken Line raised the matter of the new gate on the allotments and Roger Watts said it would be installed in the near future.

The Chairman opened the discussion by explaining the reason for the installation of the bollards. Because of safety concerns County Highways intend to erect bollards along East Street from behind the PO to the school entrance. Although the Parish Council have twice considered the proposal, because of concerns about the appearance of the black & white posts the Parish Council have agreed to look at it again. To install the black "Gladstone " style requires a contribution from the Parish Council of £2500/ £3000. The area is not within the Conservation Area, which finishes behind the PO. Another proposal is to ask HDC if the use of s106 money would be appropriate.

Fran Davis opened the discussion by outlining the reason for wanting the ‘Gladstone’ black posts rather than the black and white ‘Dolly Posts’, which are installed further along East Street and at the end of Church Street. The residents were concerned that the ‘Dolly Posts’ proposed were not in keeping with the rural outlook of the street being close to the Conservation Area, and that the ‘Gladstone’ style posts would blend in better. The ‘Dolly Posts’ were easily damaged and replacement costs were higher than the alternative style. The Chairman explained that the Parish Council had no provision in the budget for this expenditure, and that enquiries would be made to see if Section 106 money could be used for this purpose. The Clerk would also investigate what alternative styles of bollards were available. The residents also raised the wider issue of safety at the junction of East Street, Broadford Bridge Road and Church Street and whether this also be addressed by County Highways. The Chairman said this was not part of the matter before the meeting and reconvened the meeting.

(a) Payments and Receipts: The Clerk reported payments and receipts since the previous meeting covering the period 27^th August 2005 to 31st October 2005.

It was proposed by Estelle Warriner, seconded by Roger Watts and agreed to approve the list of payments made from 27^th August 2005 to 31^st October totalling £14,424.88.

ii) Budget Meeting – It was agreed that the Finance Committee would meet on Thursday 15^th December 2005 at 7.30 pm to discuss the draft budget for 2006/7. Isobel Butcher expressed an interest in joining the Finance Committee and the Chairman welcomed her to attend.

i) The revised plans received from Morfield Everest showing the access to the toilet from inside the building and the smaller opening between the Museum and Office were discussed and approved, and the Clerk asked to give approval to the architects to proceed to obtain planning approval.

ii) A meeting has been arranged with Jeremy Knight, Curator of Horsham Museum, for Tuesday 15^th November 2005 to discuss how we proceed with conserving the exhibits and re-opening the Museum once the refurbishment has been completed.

i) The West Chiltington Sports Association – A meeting has been arranged with representatives of the WCSA and the Parish Council for Wednesday 16^th November 2005 at 6.30 in the pavilion.

ii) Repairs to Tractor Shed – The repairs have been completed and the cost recovered from the driver.

iii) HDC – Monkmead Lane Flood Relief Scheme – It is proposed to drill a borehole in the carpark in Monkmead Lane to carry out a topographical survey to alleviate flooding in the area. The pipe carrying surface water is too small and it is proposed by the contractors to place a large tank under the carpark to take surplus water, which will later be pumped away.

iv) HDC – State of the District Debate – The councillors were invited to attend on Thursday 10^th November in Horsham, details available from the Clerk.

v) Sussex Police/SALC – Police Community Support Officers – The first tranche of funding from Central Government finishes in March 2006, Parish Councils were being asked if they would be willing to contribute part of the £27,000 cost of each officer.

The councillors did not consider it was the Parish Councils responsibility to contribute further to police budgets over and above that already paid in the Community Charge by residents.

vi) Speeding – Letters from the Police and WSCC - Following traffic surveys carried out by WSCC using monitoring cables across the roads in various places around the village it is apparent that the 30 mph speed limit is being ignored by the majority of drivers, average speeds being in excess of the limit by over 10 mph in places. To make it clear to motorists 30 mph roundels are to be painted on the roads. The police are to monitor the situation and are setting up, with other Parish Councils, the purchase of speed measuring equipment to be used by trained residents with the support of the police. Roger Watts requested the Clerk obtain more information as it something that he thought should be tried in the village.

vii) First Responder Scheme – A meeting is to be held at Storrington Parish Hall on 9th November to discuss the interest in providing defibrillators for trained volunteers to provide emergency treatment to heart attack victims within the critical first five minutes, prior to the arrival of an ambulance. Dennis Tyler would attend and report back to the council.

viii) SALC – AGM on Friday 18^th November at Ardingly – details from the Clerk if anyone able to attend.

ix) Community Partnership – Copy of report of first meeting available from the Clerk.

i) Allotments - Ken Line thought the work carried out on tidying up the allotments was very good and thanks should be passed on to the contractor. The Clerk raised the issue of who was working on some of the plots as the information available did not seem to represent what was happening on the ground, Ken Line said if the Clerk gave him a list and plan he would try to clarify the matter.

ii) Benches - Jonathan Trees raised the issue of the refurbishment of the benches on the recreation ground that was agreed at the Open Spaces Meeting in July. The Clerk explained that it had not been budgeted for this year but would be included in next years budget.

iii) Church Meadow Toddlers Playground – Estelle Warriner asked for an update on the playground. The Clerk informed the meeting he had had discussion with HDC who had provided contact details for contractors and equipment suppliers, who he had now contacted for preliminary discussion on the proposal. The solicitors have been asked for an update on progress in drawing up the lease and licence agreement, no response at the moment. The position of the football pitch will have to be moved if the playground is to sited behind the youth hut, Estelle will find out from the PCC who is responsible.

iv) Leaves Blocking Drains – Neil Longson said leaves were still blocking the drains and the Clerk was requested to write to HDC to ask them to for the work to be carried out.

Tuesday 10^th January 2006 at 7.30 pm in the Reading Room.

There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9.45 pm.