DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF ASHURST PARISH COUNCIL, HELD AT ASHURST VILLAGE HALL ON THURSDAY 21st JULY 2022 AT 7.30PM
Attendance.
Chairman
Cllr Fischel
Ashurst Parish Council (APC)
Cllrs Hammond, Knight, Nicholson and Russell
Horsham District Council (HDC)
Cllr Platt
Clerk
Emily Simpson
Public
There were none.
To discuss any questions submitted by the public.
There were none.
The Chair formally thanked the previous Clerk, Liz Leggo, for her hard work over the last 5 years and wished her the best with her future career. She then welcomed the new Clerk, Emily Simpson. The Council was looking forward to working with her.
1. Apologies for Absence.
Apologies were received from Cllr Lloyd (HDC) which the Council RESOLVED to accept.
2. Declaration of Members’ Interests, notification of changes to Members’ Interests, and consider any requests for dispensation.
None for this meeting.
3. Approve the Minutes of the Meeting of 19th May 2022.
The minutes were circulated to all councillors whereupon it was RESOLVED to approve them as a true and accurate record. They were then signed by the Chairman.
4. Reports from District & County Councillors.
Cllr Platt reported on water neutrality and advised that it continued to be a problem. This was the reason behind the reduced number of planning applications. The Horsham District Local Plan was still on hold and it was not clear when it would be put back in place. It was also unclear what impact the water neutrality issue would have on Horsham District Plan’s required housing numbers. It was evident however that, unless a water neutral solution could be found, development could not take place.
Cllrs Lloyd and Platt had joined councillors from Bramber & Upper Beeding for a site visit to Huddlestone Farm to consider the application for a large solar installation project. The applicants had submitted a revised plan reducing the size, so the Council Officer brought this new plan for the Councillors to see, and so they could assess the visual impact. Photos were taken of the potential site.
Cllr Platt confirmed there had been a change of leadership in the Council. An Environment and Rural Affairs Policy Advisory Group, chaired by Cllr James Wright, had been set up recently. He also gave a brief update on the Wilder Horsham District project, the five-year partnership between Sussex Wildlife Trust and Horsham District Council, set up to deliver a Nature Recovery Network for Horsham District.
5. Outstanding Actions.
Action and outcome
Cllr Fischel to speak to the Landlord of the Fountain Inn regarding registration as an Asset of Community Value - can now be actioned.
Cllrs Fischel and Russell to keep an eye on issues raised by HDC, when carrying out the weekly play equipment inspections - Ongoing.
Clerk to re-invite a representative of ENSO to speak at a meeting - decided to invite another speaker to the next meeting.
Cllr Fischel to investigate purchasing a new bench for the Recreation Ground and report back - it was agreed to go for a 150cm bench, which had been sourced, rather than a 180cm.
Cllrs Fischel and Russell to investigate options for a refurbished or replacement building at the Recreation Ground - ongoing.
Help for Ukrainian Families in Ashurst - ongoing but no current help seems to be required.
6. Recreation Ground Matters
Income received 19th May – 21ST July 2022
PGFC
Pitch hire - 2 games
£50
Ashington Juniors FC
Pitch hire - 1 game
£25
Total income received = £75.00
Expenditure authorised 19th May – 21ST July 2022
EDF
Electricity
£17
HSBC
Bank charges to 19th April 2022
£5.40
Delia Thornton
Legionella Risk Assessment and advice
£300
Sussex Land Services
Grass cutting (April – June 2022)
£727.20
Total expenditure = £1049.60
The school had a Jubilee afternoon as well as their annual Sports Day which had both gone well.
The Flower Show had taken place at the Village Hall rather than on the Recreation Ground. There had been a Village cricket match last week and they would hopefully be returning for another fixture in September. A Ladies’ Cricket match was taking place at the time of the Council meeting and this would hopefully also become a regular fixture.
Ashurst United Football Club had now been formally inaugurated! They would like to use the Recreation Ground as their home ground. There will be around six to eight matches from September to April. During the summer they would like to have 3 Saturday lunchtime friendly matches and hold training sessions on Tuesday evenings, 7.30 to 9. The Council felt that a £700 annual fee was reasonable, and that initially a one-year agreement should be drawn up.
ACTION: Clerk to draw up a one year contract for APC and Ashurst FC to agree and sign.
Now that the Football Club was on board, Cllr Fischel had started making enquiries re the replacement or refurbishment of the John Eaton Hut. She showed an example of of a purpose built, prefabricated sports pavilion. Whatever option is chosen, and it looks as if showers will need to be provided, the importance of having a low maintenance building was reiterated. It should also be as environmentally sympathetic as possible (eg green roof, improved energy and water efficiency etc.)
7. Community Climate Fund
The Council noted the report circulated ahead of the meeting on the Community Climate Fund, initiated by Horsham District Council. It was AGREED to investigate this further when it came to the refurbishment or rebuild of the John Eaton Hut.
8. Planning Applications
There were none.
9. Planning Decisions from HDC.
None for this meeting.
10. Payments and bank reconciliations
The bank balance at Lloyds TSB as at 16th June 2022 was £15,504.30
Date
Payee
Cheque No
Cost Centre
Amount
7.6.22
St Barnabas
792
Grants
100.00
10.7.22
Information Commissioner
Direct debit
General, Admin & Insurance
35.00
13.7.22
Emily Simpson
795
Salaries & associated costs
440.33
13.7.22
Emily Simpson
796
Salaries & associated costs
26.60
13.7.22
HMRC
797
Salaries & associated costs
110.00
TOTAL
711.93
11. Parish Online
The Council RESOLVED to approve the renewal subscription quote from Parish Online for £30 for the period May 9th 2022 to May 8th 2023.
12. WSALC Update
Councillors were reminded of the current training programmes on offer and were encouraged to attend.
13. HALC Update
Cllr Fischel updated the Council on The Big Conversation where water neutrality, housing numbers and the frequent incorrect disposal of sewage were discussed. The HALC meeting last week was mainly to elect officers. There was little change, with the same Chairman, Malcolm Eastwood, at the helm.
(Post meeting note: There was also a useful update from CI Kendal Wells from the Operations Command and Partnerships Team. He spoke about Operation Downsway, a Police led operation, aiming to tackle anti-social driving and riding on the roads of Sussex. It targets areas of concern to local communities. Further information provided in HALC’s 13th July meeting notes are now on our website.)
Cllr Fischel advised that she would attend an HDC water neutrality briefing that was taking place on July 27th.
Cllr Knight updated the Council on the recent Weald to Waves community event which was attended by himself and Cllrs Fischel and Headley. The aim of the initiative is to connect nature across Sussex by creating a biodiverse environment to provide a connecting wildlife corridor from Climping Gap to Ashdown Forest. The aim of the event was to encourage Parish Councils to think about increasing biodiversity, when considering planning applications, but also in areas where councils currently had control. Cllr Knight reported that although Ashurst had improved in its ‘green’ awareness, there was still a gap between Knepp and the Adur River and the Council should encourage additional biodiverse initiatives.
ACTION: It was agreed that a presentation by Sussex Wildlife Trust to Ashurst residents would be beneficial.
14. Local Plan
There was no update.
15. Grants
There were no applications to discuss at this meeting.
16. GDPR
The Council was reminded to delete emails over 6 months old.
17. Correspondence
Action Point (Post Meeting): Clerk to discuss this initiative with Partridge Green Clerk to ensure that, timing-wise, we are able to co-ordinate this initiative, since we need to set up our own Consultation process for Ashurst residents, and give them enough time to respond!
18. Reports from Outside Bodies
There were none.
19. Information Items.
There were none.
Date of next meeting: Thursday 29th September 2022
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.40pm
Signed ……………………………………. Chairman Dated ………………………
Appendix 1 Bank Reconciliations for Ashurst Parish Council for May and June 2022
Bank Reconciliation May 2022
Balance per bank statement
Closing balance 31st May 2022
15,604.30
Add: outstanding receipts
0.00
Less: outstanding payments
-220.00
Cheque 787 - £120 and cheque 780 - £100
Net balances
15,384.30
Cashbook
10,612.89
Add receipts
6,600
Less payments
-1828.59
Net balance
15384.30
Bank Reconciliation June 2022
Balance per bank statement
Closing balance 16th June 2022
15,504.30
Add: outstanding receipts
0.00
Less: outstanding payments
-220.00
Cheque 787 £120 Cheque 792 £100
Net balances
15,284.30
Cashbook
10,612.89
Add receipts
6,600
Less payments
-1928.59
Net balance
15284.30
Appendix 2: Draft Consultation Paper from West Grinstead Parish Council.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
PROPOSED WEIGHT RESTRICTION FOR VEHICLES PASSING THROUGH PARTRIDGE GREEN
West Grinstead Parish Council members remain concerned about pedestrian and road safety, traffic volumes and parking in Partridge Green and Dial Post, and has been discussing the possibility of applying for a weight limit on certain roads in the parish to reduce the number of large vehicles using our roads as a cut through between the A24 and the A281 and A283.
The Parish Council, together with Ashurst Parish Council, wish to propose a Traffic Regulation Order which would prohibit vehicles weighing 12 tonnes or more from using local roads, other than for servicing local businesses and homes.
This would significantly reduce the number of larger vehicles which use West Grinstead, Partridge Green, Ashurst and Dial Post as a cut through.
For West Grinstead, Partridge Green and Ashurst, it is proposed that the weight limit restriction would apply to the B2135 from its junction with the A24 to the A283 junction (Steyning Bypass), Park Lane, Mill Lane, Littleworth Lane and the High Street.
Through traffic will be required to use the A24 and A281 (north to south) and the A272 and A283 (west to east).
In Dial Post the weight restriction would apply to Worthing Road, Dial Post
We propose that 12 tonne vehicles would be permitted on an ‘Access Only” basis to service the local community and businesses. Therefore vehicles needing to access the Star and Huffwood Industrial Estates, the Fire Service, bus services and deliveries to the Co-op would be unaffected by the restriction. It would only apply to vehicles passing through.
This is a proposal only at this stage but, to be successful, any application requires the support of local residents and businesses.
If you wish to support, or object, to this proposal, please submit your comments, including your name and address, by email to the Parish Clerk clerk@westgrinstead-pc.gov.uk by 31July 2022.
THANK YOU