WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

A meeting of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 10th July 2007 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

 

Present: Harvie Steele (Chairman), Dennis Tyler (Vice-Chairmen), Amanda Apps, Simon Booth, Ken Line, Pietro di Marino, Paul Royce, Ruth Simmonds, Jonathan Trees and Roger Watts.

 

 

Also in attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk), Pat Arculus (County Councillor), Philip Circus (District Councillor) and 35 members of the public.

 

 

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

 

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies received from Isabel Glenister, Michael Jackson and Neil Longson.

 

 

2. PLANNING

 

DC/07/1460 – West Chiltington Golf Club

Prior approval for Telecommunications Mast for T Mobile

 

The Planning Committee at it’s meeting on the 3rd July considered the application and as no objections had been received raised no objection to the application. The Parish Council were not aware that no one had been notified by HDC of the application until after the meeting. Following representations to the Parish Council agreement was given to include the application for discussion at this meeting.

 

The Chairman therefore adjourned the meeting to allow members of the public to speak.

 

T Mobile wants to site a telecommunications mast on the West Chiltington Golf Club site at the southern end of the driving range about 130 metres from Orchard Dell. Members of the public attending the meeting voiced their opposition to the mast raising issues such as the proximity to Orchard Dell, the Community School, the conservation area and a well used footpath. Although safety issues do not form part of the local planning process, it being a matter for Central Government, the residents still voiced concerns at health risks, particularly to small children both living locally and at the school. The style of the mast disguised as a coniferous tree also drew criticism as it would be located near deciduous trees and therefore more noticeable during the winter. It was proposed that a meeting be held with the manager of the golf club to identify another location within the golf club site but further away from residents and Philip Circus (District Councillor), Simon Booth (Parish Councillor) and Katherine Lyall representing the residents of Orchard Dell would attend the meeting.

 

The Chairman in view of the opinions now expressed agreed to write again to HDC Planning Department outlining the objections to the proposal and that the Parish Council supported those views.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and reconvened the meeting.

 

 

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

It was proposed by Dennis Tyler, seconded by Pietro di Marino and resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 8th May 2007 as a correct record of the meeting. The Chairman signed the minutes.

 

 

4. MATTERS ARISING

 

The Clerk reported on the following items:-

 

a)      Housing Needs Survey – Paul Rowley of HDC has indicated that the draft survey submitted for approval does not meet the requirements of the Planning Department. It was agreed that Philip Circus would discuss the requirements of the survey with David Jenkins, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and report back to the Parish Council.

 

 

b)      A Public Meeting has been arranged for 2nd August at 7.00 pm in the Village Hall - To consider the proposal by Southern Water to lay new foul & surface water pipes through recreation ground, expected to take six months.

 

 

c)      The Public Enquiry into the refusal of permission to build 21 Industrial Units on the Willets Farm site is to be held on 17th & 18th July in Horsham – It was agreed that the Parish Council will to be represented by the Clerk.

 

 

d)      Rally by the 2CV Club – An application has been submitted to HDC Licensing for a premises licence for The Meadows, Fryern Road, Storrington – to hold a rally with live and recorded music on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th August from 20.00 to 0.00 plus refreshments and drinks to 23.30.  The application has been opposed by Storrington PC due to concerns about noise and disturbance and as the southern part of the Parish is likely to be effected the members after discussion agreed we should object and asked the Clerk to make an objection on the grounds of noise and traffic problems.

 

 

 

 

5. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

a). Finance Committee:  Payments and Receipts:

 

The Clerk reported payments and receipts for the period 1st May to 30th June 2007.

 

It was proposed by Ken Line, seconded by Dennis Tyler and agreed to approve the list of payments made from 1st May to 30th June totalling £7638.21 and receipts totalling £584.02.

 

6. RESOLUTION:

 

a)      To Adopt the revised Code of Conduct – including paragraphs 7 and 12(2).

 

The members unanimously agreed to adopt the revised code including paragraphs 7 and 12(2).

 

 

b)     To Appoint New Bank Signatories

 

It was agreed that Dennis Tyler and Paul Royce become additional signatories on the bank account.

 

 

c)      To Prioritise the Projects to be Funded by s106 Transport Contributions

 

It was agreed the priority should be as follows:-

 

i)        Safety Improvements at the crossroads at The Common, next to the garage.

ii)      Safety Improvements at the crossroads in the old village next to the Post Office Stores.

iii)     Improving the footpath from Haglands Lane to Church Grove to provide a ‘Safe Route to School’ path.

 

The Clerk was asked to write to WSCC Highways to inform them of our priorities.

 

 

d)     To approve the Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2007

 

After discussion it was proposed by Roger Watts and seconded by Dennis Tyler and resolved to approve the accounts and the Clerk was authorised to send them to the auditors.

 

 

7. CORRESPONDENCE

 

a). WSCC, Tex Pemberton – Has confirmed the Bus4U service is to be terminated in September due to high cost per passenger carried and lack of funding.

 

b). West Chiltington Village Hall – Due to parking problems  in the recreation ground car park the village hall committee have asked the Parish Council to consider marking spaces to maximise use. After discussion it was agreed to postpone any decision until after the work proposed by Southern Water had been carried out because part of the car park would be excavated and resurfaced.

 

c). HDC – Making Scrutiny & Overview Work – Meeting 16th July and consultation    by 17th August. The Clerk has copies of the survey.

 

d) West Chiltington Rural Preservation Society – Conservation Area proposal for triangle bounded by Grove Lane, Birch Tree Lane, Bower Lane and Threals Lane – Copies of the proposal have been given to Michael Jackson and Philip Circus for them to report back on whether the proposal should be supported by the Parish Council and how the matter should be progressed.

 

 

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

i). Jonathan Trees asked when the work on the children’s playground would start. The Clerk reported that one piece of equipment was being imported from the USA and was scheduled to arrive at the end of July, following which work would commence and take about two weeks.

 

ii). Pat Arculus informed the members that a meeting had been arranged for the 4th September in Steyning entitled ‘Fit for the Future’ to discuss the proposal by West Sussex PCT to close two of the A & E departments in the county.

           

 

9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

Next Parish Council meeting – Tuesday 11th September 2007 at 7.30 pm in the Reading Room,

Future meetings – 13th November 2007 and 15th January 2008.

 

 

There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 10.05 pm.