MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF ASHURST PARISH COUNCIL, REMOTELY VIA ZOOM ON THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER 2020 AT 7.00PM
Attendance
Chairman
Cllr Fischel
Ashurst Parish Council (APC)
Cllrs Hedley, Jesse, Knight, Nicholson and Russell
Horsham District Council (HDC)
Cllr Platt
West Sussex County Council (WSCC)
Clerk
Elizabeth Leggo
Further to the Coronavirus Act 2020, this meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Members of the public were given the opportunity to email or telephone the Clerk in advance with any questions or statements and were invited to ask for a link to observe the meeting remotely.
To discuss any questions submitted by the public.
No members of the public were present at the meeting.
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Lloyd (HDC).
None for this meeting.
The minutes were circulated to all councillors and taken as read. It was RESOLVED that the minutes are a true record of the meetings and were signed by the Chairman. The Chairman would send these to the Clerk.
It was noted that given government guidelines on social distancing, along with guidance from SSALC and NALC, meetings for the coming months would continue to be held remotely via Zoom.
The play equipment which was closed for several months has now been re-opened with signage informing the public that the equipment is not cleaned and that it is at all users’ own risk. Cllrs Fischel and Russell had undertaken a risk assessment at the Ground prior to this reopening.
The Cricket Pavilion and the John Eaton Hut (including the toilets) have remained closed since the start of lockdown in March. This position now needs to be reviewed since the Partridge Green Football Club (PGFC) will be coming to play at Ashurst this Autumn. (Note: - See the minutes of the Annual Recreation Ground Meeting held immediately prior to this meeting for a detailed discussion and consideration of PGFC’s use of the Recreation Ground this winter.)
HDC has revised the budget which is with the auditors. Revenues have reduced. Some redundancies have been made at the museum and theatre. Last year the Council declared a climate emergency and has achieved the following:
reduce direct emissions under the Council’s control to 0% by 2030.
reduce the other 81% (ie. those outside its control, e.g. rented buildings, contractors etc.) to 0 by 2050.
HDC continues to work on the Local plan. Much of this work remains confidential. The Council’s senior planning officers are fighting the new housing target set by central government.
It was agreed that Ashurst feels very strongly that the housing numbers, which were already too high when the Local Plan was first drafted, are now ludicrously so. Cllr Platt was asked to convey this sentiment to the appropriate authorities and to take any action he can on this. Cllr Fischel thanked Cllr Platt.
Action
Outcome
Cllr Fischel to speak to the Landlord of the Fountain Inn regarding its registration as an Asset of Community Value.
To carry over until Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed.
Cllr Fischel to find out more about the VAS and what
Planning permission was required.
To carry over until after Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed.
Cllr Nicholson to continue talking to Greg Merrett and WSCC
regarding Broadband and the Universal Service Obligation.
Ongoing. See item 13 below.
Clerk and Chairman to follow up the outstanding payment for
the School’s use of the Recreation Ground.
Cllr Fischel is liaising with the Chair of Governors of Ashurst Primary School.
Clerk to email the Cricket Club Chairman to advise that no
charges would be made for this season.
Completed.
Clerk to advise PGFC of the Council’s decision regarding match
Fees & that the John Eaton Hut remains closed due to Covid-19.
Completed.
Cllrs Fischel and Russell to meet at the playground to undertake
a risk assessment.
Completed.
Clerk to email Norris and Fisher, the Council’s insurance
provider, to find out if they have any further guidance on
reopening the play equipment.
No further guidance available, other than to complete a risk assessment and put up signage. Completed.
Cllr Fischel to draft a letter for the Clerk to send regarding the Horsham District Local Plan.
Cllr Fischel has been in touch with HDC.
Completed. See 10 below.
Cllrs Nicholson and Knight to arrange the formation of a sub-committee regarding Broadband in Ashurst and to consider how to take this initiative forward.
Ongoing. See 13 below.
Cllr Nicholson to continue with setting up the Community
Speedwatch Group.
Ongoing. See 14 below.
Clerk to email HDC regarding the availability of S106 funds for
The purchase of equipment for the Community Speedwatch
Group.
Email to WSCC – Peter Smith had passed on query. Clerk has chased and also asked Cllr Barling for assistance on this.
Cllrs Fischel and Hedley and the Tree Warden to agree the
timing and extent of the cutting back of the trees on the
Recreation Ground this Autumn and to review the planting
scheme for the new trees.
They had met and discussed. To meet again once the saplings arrive. Ongoing. See 15 below.
Cllrs Fischel, Hedley and Russell to set up a planting programme
of the new trees which, if circumstances allow, will involve
the Ashurst community - both its residents and the School.
Ongoing. See 15 below.
Cllrs Knight and Russell to discuss applying for more Operation
Watershed funds for Peppers Lane, with a view to submitting an
application before the end of the financial year.
Ongoing. See 16 below.
Clerk to set up a Zoom meeting with Cllrs Knight and Nicholson
for her review.
Review by email. Completed.
The bank balance at HSBC as at 20th September 2020 was £8,477.62
Income received 3rd July 2020 – 1st Oct 2020
None for this period
Expenditure authorised 3rd July 2020 – 1st Oct 2020
Sussex Land Services Ltd
Grass cutting July
£229.50
Sussex Land Services Ltd
Grass cutting Aug
£229.50
EDF Energy
Electricity - July, Aug & Sept
£84
Please note that the Annual Recreation Ground Meeting was held via Zoom at 6pm prior to this meeting, and other issues concerning the Ground are included in the minutes of that meeting.
The following should be noted:
iii) Partridge Green Football Club (PGFC) would like to return to Ashurst on the same terms as last year ie
to pay £300 upfront for 6 games and then pay £50 for each additional game.
Matters requiring Council attention:
It was noted that the Wicksteed inspection had recommended some medium level risk rating, including replacing the matting around the swings and the slide. It was agreed that the long-term action would be considered when councillors met at the Recreation Ground this autumn. Meanwhile, in the short-term, Cllr Russell agreed to speak to Cllr Hammond about making the repairs and improvements recommended. In addition they would be willing to repair the recently broken pane of glass in the Cricket Pavilion.
The Trustees were informed that the band had donated £60 following use of the Ground to rehearse.
The Clerk has been contacted frequently by Utility Aid which offers a free service of seeing if cheaper options for water and electricity are available to the Recreation Ground as a charitable trust. It requires copies of the latest bills to do this. It was AGREED that the Clerk would proceed with this.
work needs to be done. The Clerk was asked to circulate some possible Sundays (early afternoons).
Actions:
Application Number: DC/20/1769
Site Address: Merrion Farm Bines
Proposal: Installation of a 36m x 50m clay-lined earth walled slurry lagoon with associated surrounding engineering works.
The Clerk was asked to submit the following:
Stance: Support
Comments: Ashurst Parish Council supports the development as a local business. It is concerned, however, about extra traffic during construction and would ask that any disruption is kept to a minimum.
Application Number: DC/20/1337
Site: The Wisp North Blows Bines Green Partridge Green Horsham West Sussex RH13 8EH
Description: Conversion of existing ancillary accommodation to a holiday let.
Decision: Application Permitted Date of Decision: 23/09/2020
Cllr Fischel has been trying in vain to contact the liaison officer at HDC about Ashurst’s comments on the Local Plan. She has taken this higher at HDC and is hoping to hear back. The Council objects to Ashurst being reclassified in the Draft Local Plan from an ‘Unclassified Settlement’ which it has always been, to a ‘Secondary Settlement’, which it clearly is not. The proposed reclassification is quite inappropriate.
Action: Cllrs Fischel and Knight agreed to discuss this, hopefully, once a response has been received.
The bank balance at Lloyds TSB as at 1st September 2020 was £16,034.28
Income received 3rd July 2020 – 1st Oct 2020
None for this period
Expenditure Authorised 3rd July 2020 – 1st Oct 2020
Information Commissioner
Data Protection Fee
£35
Public Works Loans Board
Loan repayment - Village Hall
£1,479
E Leggo
Salary July-Sept
£694.93
E Leggo
Back pay Apr-Sept
£37.78
E Leggo
Office Allowance
£40
HMRC
E Leggo tax for both of above
£183.20
HALC
Annual subscription
£15
4Sight Vision Support
Grant
£50
It was RESOLVED to once again opt out of an interim internal audit.
Lloyds Bank has offered to refund the safe custody standing order fees of £300 paid over the last 20 years, as it is unable to establish what exactly the Council has been paying for. It was RESOLVED to accept this.
The draft precept had been circulated to all councillors. The draft proposes a precept of £13,050. This is a 6% increase on last year’s precept of £12,300. The main reason for the increase is the anticipated lack of income that will be received by the Recreation Ground as a result of Covid-19. The Council AGREED this draft figure in principal, but it can be reviewed in January prior to submission to HDC.
Actions:
The Clerk was pleased to inform the Council that the plug in for the website provided by Cllr Knight earlier had enabled her to amend every page of the website to ensure that it meets accessibility requirements, and this was achieved from September 2020 as per new legislation. Uploading agendas and minutes is a more time-consuming job as they need to be embedded into a page of the site to allow the plug in to be used.
Cllrs Nicholson and Knight had met previously to discuss setting up a sub-committee to take forward a scheme to enable residents to apply for superfast Broadband. It was decided that they needed to find out how many households in the Parish would be interested in the Gigabit Scheme. To this end, they would write to households via the Village e-mail, the Village Newsletter and even by doing an individual letter drop. Cllr Nicholson suggested that the additional cost of setting this up could be added to the precept.
Cllr Nicholson was pleased to advise that good progress has been made. There are five volunteers in the Group, all of whom have completed their online training. The next step was to meet for ‘on-the-job’ training.
Cllr Nicholson reported that several other councils had been successful in applying to WSCC to pay for the cost of the equipment (around £500) from available s106 funds. The Clerk informed the Council that she had not had any response from WSCC or Cllr Barling regarding the s106 funds which have apparently already been used on a different project without the knowledge of the Council. She agreed to chase this again.
Actions:
Cllr Fischel advised that Cllr Hedley has kindly agreed to cut back the hedges on the East side of the Recreation Ground, following on from his thorough job on the South side. It was agreed that the Council would ask someone else to do the necessary tree surgery as Cllr Hedley has done a lot of work on the Recreation Ground already and is now busy with his own work.
The 420 trees from the Woodland Trust will be delivered during November. The local community will be invited to get involved in planting, including the School, residents, as well as councillors and the Clerk!
Actions:
Cllr Russell was pleased to inform the Council that the work on the B2135 is due to begin on 2nd November.
Cllr Knight had agreed to take up an Operation Watershed application for work on Peppers Lane. Residents in adjacent properties were not keen as they felt any excess water would drain through their land. It was AGREED that Cllr Russell would contact Landbuild when it next flooded for any other suggested solutions.
The Council discussed recent correspondence about the ‘Value for Money’ review commissioned by WSALC. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would write to the administrator for this project to ask that any vote on the outcome of the research, and future membership of SSALC would be put to all West Sussex parishes in a transparent manner. She should suggest they have a postal ballot, overseen by an independent body.
Cllr Fischel informed the Council that not much has happened on the HALC front in recent months. The Clerk reminded councillors that the annual meeting of HALC and HDC was taking place on Wednesday 21st October at 7pm. Cllr Knight suggested that the ‘Value for Money’ project, as above, should be a tabled item at this HALC meeting. The Council asked the Clerk to write to the secretary of HALC to request this.
Actions:
Cllrs Knight and Nicholson gave the Clerk positive feedback via an email appraisal. It was noted that she was now at SCP 16 with just one further increment until she is at the top of the LC1 payscale. In addition, a 2.7% pay-rise was applied as per the national salary review for local government.
All councillors were reminded to delete any emails over 6 months old.
None for this meeting.
None for this meeting.
None for this meeting.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 20:10
Signed ……………………………………. Chairman Dated