Thursday, January 04 2018

Minutes December 2017

MINUTES of the Meeting of the Parish Council,

held on Thursday 7^th December 2017 in the Sports Pavilion,

                                        Rookwood Road, West Wittering, PO20 8LT           

PRESENT: Mr R Shrubb (Chairman), Mr R Hutton (Vice Chairman) Mr R Lewis, Mr W Buckland, Mr D Sadler Mrs J Barrett, Mr K Martin, Mrs N Pike, Mr H Patel and 47 members of the public. Cllr Barrett, was also present.

143.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – None

144.      DECLARATIONS UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT – Mr R Shrubb Planning Application Nunnington Farm, personal and Merston Cottage prejudicial (Mr Shrubb left the meeting while this item was discussed) Mr W Buckland, Nunnington Farm, personal. Mrs N Pike and Mrs J Barrett personal, The Old House at Home

145.      URGENT ITEMS – Planning – 56 Howard Ave, 43 Russell Rd, 1, Watersedge Gdns

146.      PLANNING - Noted the decisions of the Council were as follows:

147.      PLANNING APPLICATIONWW/17/02307/DOM 43 RUSSELL ROAD SUBSTITUTE PLANS – No objection

148.      THE OLD NURSERY CHAPEL LANE – No comment

149.      NDP UPDATE – Mr Lewis reported on the two consultation workshops that had taken place in November which had been well attended. The next Steering Group meeting was on 14^th December 2017 and the updated project plan had been circulated to members.

150.      THE OLD HOUSE AT HOME – COMMUNITY ASSET STATUS - Members noted the application of sale which triggered the Community Right to Bid regarding this business and property. Mr Martin advised members that a strong expression of interest existed from the community and that the Council should submit such an expression of interest and ask to be treated as a potential bidder. The Chairman opened the meeting to allow the representative of Punch Taverns to speak. He stated that any trigger of the moratorium period would delay the proposed sale of the premises to a local bidder. Mr Martin felt that if the proposed sale failed then the Council would have lost its opportunity and following debate he proposed that the Clerk be authorised to obtain legal advice regarding any withdrawal of an expression of interest so as not to compromise any viable sale of the business subject to a limit of £1000 in the first instance. This was seconded by Mr Lewis and all agreed. Mr Shrubb then proposed that the Parish Council makes contact with the current owner to request formal engagement in the sale process, this was seconded by Mr Martin and all agreed. The Council also discussed the letter from the owners Solicitor challenging the community asset registration and the Clerk was instructed to correct the point made about the legality of the meeting summons and also to provide additional information regarding community activity.

151.      CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING – Subject to adding that Mrs Pike attended the meeting on a proposal by Mr Hutton and seconded by Mrs Barrett the minutes were signed as a true and correct record by the Chairman.

152.      A27 – The Chairman reported that the brief to the consultants had been discussed and that they would be appointed by 22^nd December 2017, with the next meeting being held on 29^th January 2018.

153.      DATE OF NEXT MEETING – On a proposal by Mr Hutton and seconded by Mrs Pike it was agreed that the next meeting would be held on 11^th January 2018

154.       –DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLOR UPDATE – Cllr Barrett reported that the CDC group on the A27 improvements would meet on 19^th December 2017. He referred to the Members bulletin which had been circulated.

155.      CLERKS REPORT

a)        Allotments – No items

b)        Footpaths and Open Spaces – Noted WSCC Ranger inspection carried out, Footpath No. 5 was a priority. Members considered the quotes for fencing on the Village Green and tree works as detailed in Mr Hutton’s report. Mr Martin stated he would prefer posts rather than knee rail fencing. Following discussion it was agreed just to have posts along the boundary by the bus stop. Mr Hutton agreed to obtain a revised quote and proceed. Members then considered the quotes for tree surgery which would be subject to planning consent as follows;

Quote A - £1620

Quote B - £1750

On a proposal by Mr Hutton and seconded by Mr Buckland Quote A was approved.

It was agreed that the bylaws should be put on the village green by the toilet block and on the back of the existing noticeboard.

Regarding the WSCC Better Pavements initiative it was agreed that Members would forward defects to the Clerk to list.

c)        Sportsfield Management – Members considered the proposals for a flag pole at the Pavilion. Following discussion it was agreed to proceed with the quote which included installation for the sum of £509 plus £415 for the flagpole as the other quotes did not include installation.

d)        Snowhill – No items

e)        Finance Regarding approval of accounts listed below, on a proposal by Mr Hutton and seconded by Mr Patel, Members approved payment.

Mr Shrubb referred to the Budget and precept preparation work and asked members to consider the precept proposals circulated. On a proposal by Mr Lewis and seconded by Mr Buckland an increase of 3% was approved making the precept for 2018/19 £101,764