WEST CHILTINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

A meeting of West Chiltington Parish Council was held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 11th September 2007 in the Parish Office at the Reading Room, Church Street, West Chiltington.

 

Present: Harvie Steele (Chairman), Dennis Tyler (Vice-Chairmen), Amanda Apps, Isabel Glenister, Michael Jackson, Ken Line, Neil Longson, Paul Royce, Ruth Simmonds, Jonathan Trees and Roger Watts.

 

 

Also in attendance: Tony Thomas (Clerk)

 

 

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

 

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies received from Simon Booth, Pietro di Marino, Pat Arculus (County Councillor), Philip Circus (District Councillor)

 

 

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

It was proposed by Dennis Tyler, seconded by Paul Royce and resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 10th July 2007 as a correct record of the meeting. The Chairman signed the minutes.

 

 

3. MATTERS ARISING

 

The Clerk reported on the following items:-

 

a)      Security of Tenure for Tennis Club – The Tennis Club have asked for a letter offering security of tenure for 21 years to enable them to apply for loans and grants to enable them to erect floodlights and make improvements to the courts and facilities. The club has occupied the facility from 1987 and the members were happy to provide the letter subject to having it approved by Fields in Trust as the owners of the recreation ground.

 

b)      Security of Tenure for Cricket Club – The Cricket Club have asked for a letter offering security of tenure for 15 years to enable them to obtain Focus Club status which in turn will enable them to obtain grants and loans to continue to improve the facilities. The club has occupied the facility from 1935 and the members were happy to provide the letter subject to having it approved by Fields in Trust as the owners of the recreation ground.

 

c)      Museum Refurbishment – Due to the high prices received for carrying out the refurbishment work including the provision of a disabled toilet it was agreed to obtain quotes to only refurbish the museum room, making provision for the installation of a toilet at a later date if funds permit as it was this cost that was making the project so expensive. The Clerk agreed to seek alternative quotes for this work.

 

 

 

 

4. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

a). Finance Committee:  Payments and Receipts:

 

The Clerk reported payments and receipts for the period 1st July to 31st August 2007.

 

It was proposed by Ken Line, seconded by Michael Jackson and agreed to approve the list of payments made from 1st July to 31st August totalling £23487.37 and receipts totalling £611.35.

 

 

 

5. CORRESPONDENCE

 

The Clerk reported the following correspondence had been received:

 

a)      Action in Rural Sussex – A Consultation meeting on “Horsham Draft Rural Housing Strategy”, is to be held on 15th October between 5-7 pm in Washington Memorial Hall, School Lane, Washington. Details are available from the Clerk.

 

b)      Horsham District Community Partnership –‘Life is for Living ‘event will be held on 13th September at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre. Details are available from the Clerk.

 

c)      Horsham Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership – A Public meeting is to be held on 23rd October at the Y Centre, Albion Way, Horsham at 7.30 pm with Sussex Police Authority. Details are available from the Clerk.

 

d)      Street Scene & Neighbourhood Wardens – A team of wardens have been recruited to reduce the fear of crime & disorder and will cover the whole of the district. The Clerk has a list of contact details.

 

e)      West Sussex Police – Have launched ‘Operation Crackdown’ which enables members of the public to report  bad driving direct to the police by e-mail or telephone – All councillors have been given a leaflet explaining the service and copies are on all the notice boards.

 

f)        West Sussex Living History Project – The County Library Service is considering setting up a website in which Museums, societies, researchers and anyone interested in their local area would be involved. Details are available from the Clerk.

 

 

 

 

 

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

a)      Michael Jackson asked the Parish Council to consider resurfacing the twitten linking Monkmead Lane and Common Hill; other members thought it was adequate for the use that was made of it.

 

b)      That the entrance and exit to the car park in Haglands Lane should be clearly marked with signs and arrows.

c)      Roger Watts reported that a tree was in a dangerous condition in Lower Voakes Farm, West Chiltington Road adjoining the road and asked whether we could contact the owner to take action. The Clerk said it was in Thakeham Parish and he would speak to the Clerk.

 

d)      Amanda Apps reported that a number of cars were using the triangle of grass at the junction of Monkmead Lane and Sunset Lane as a car park restricting visibility and ruining the grass. The Clerk was asked to obtain quotes to install wooden posts along the roadside to prevent vehicle access.

 

e)      Michael Jackson asked for the plan for the proposed enlarged triangle of Conservation Area formed by Threals Lane, Grove Lane and Roundabout Lane to be discussed at the next meeting.

 

 

           

 

7. ADJOURNMENT

 

Anne Salmon raised the issue of development at Cambournet in Silver Glade which was done without planning permission but the Clerk said that the work so far undertaken did not require planning permission as it was covered by ‘permitted development rights’.

 

8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

Next Parish Council meeting – 13th November 2007 Tuesday at 7.30 pm in the Reading Room,

Future meetings – 15th January 2008, 11th March 2008, 13th May 2008 & 9th September 2008.

 

 

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