|
A meeting of Grimstead Parish Council was
held at 7:30pm on 20th May 2004 in West Grimstead Village
Hall.
Present: Mr R Britton (Chairman), Mr R
Amor (Vice-Chairman), Mrs R Clark, Mr G Bayford, Mr M
Emmerson, Mr C Wilkinson, Mr R Parsons (Clerk) and four
members of the public.
75/04 Annual Parish Meeting: 1. The
Chairman, in delivering his report, explained that he had
initially been appointed by SDC under emergency powers in
October following the resignation of five Grimstead
Parish Councillors. Three parishioners quickly offered
themselves for co-option as members of the PC. Electors
should be especially grateful to Rosemary Clark and
Robert Amor because without their steadfast support, the
continuity of the PC might not have been secured. During
the last twelve months, the PC has been researching
ownership issues relating to the West Grimstead Chalkpit,
trying to keep up with legislative changes to the
management of common land and attempting to provide all
electors with a quality service. There is still a
shortage of communal recreation land in both villages and
the PC is very aware of this shortfall. The full text of
the Chairman's report will be attached to these minutes.
2. The Clerk reported that although
there had been a marginal increase in expenditure against
the previous year, the balance to be carried forward was
only slightly less at £2,829.36p.
3. The Clerk reported that there had
been no transactions in the account of the Recreation
Ground Charity. The Parish Council is the sole trustee of
this charity, which is maintained for the benefit of
parishioners.
4. The Clerk reported that the Brooke,
Evelyn and Thistlethwaite Charity, run for the benefit of
parishioners in East Grimstead and West Dean, generated
income of £3,515 in the year to 31-Dec-03 and grants and
donations of £2,457 were distributed. The Parochial
Church Council of West Dean with East Grimstead is
responsible for the appointment of two of the charity's
trustees and the Parish Councils of West Dean and
Grimstead each appoint two trustees. The ex-officio
trustee is the incumbent church minister.
76/04 Public Question Time: Parishioners
were concerned that the grass-cutting contractors had
failed to avoid the snowdrops on Crockford Green this
spring. Action: It was agreed that the
Clerk would write to the contractors explaining the
importance of avoiding cutting the spring bulbs too early.
77/03 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman: Cllr
Amor proposed and Cllr Clark seconded, Cllr Britton as
Chairman. Cllr Britton proposed and Cllr Bayford
seconded, Cllr Amor as Vice-chairman.
78/04 Candidates for Co-option: There
were no candidates to fill the single vacancy for a West
Grimstead Ward Member of Grimstead Parish Council.
79/04 Parish Council meetings: Members
resolved that regular meetings should be at six weekly
intervals following the next meeting on Monday, 5th July
at East Grimstead Reading Room. Planning meetings to be
held as and when required.
80/04 Declaration of Interest: None.
81/04 Minutes: The minutes of the PC
meeting held on 5th April, having been circulated, were
approved and signed by the Chairman.
82/04 Management of Maypole Village Green in East
Grimstead: Cllr Emmerson produced quotes for
resurfacing the turning circle that ranged from £2,900
for scalpings to £3,400 for gravel. Members agreed to
seek a less expensive solution from alternative local
contractors. Action: Cllr Emmerson.
83/04 Easements across Maypole Village Green in
East Grimstead: The House of Lords Judgement
delivered on 1 April found that the Hanning v Top
Deck Travel Group Limited case had been wrongly
decided and must be overruled. This case had been the
basis for the legislation that sought to limit the amount
of money that a landowner could charge for the granting
of an easement. Grimstead PC never did seek to charge
parishioners for crossing the village green to access
their properties and members believe that this judgement
provides an opportunity for monies paid to be returned. Action:
Members resolved that the monies paid to secure
easements should be returned forthwith.
84/04 Warning Notices in West Grimstead
Recreation Field: The Chairman reported that he
was awaiting appropriate information about the proposed
warning notices. Action: The Chairman.
85/04 Goalpost nets in West Grimstead Playing
Field: The Clerk reported that SDC had intimated
that a replacement net could be purchased with funds from
the PC's R2 account.
86/04 Recycling Centre at West Grimstead: Members
were disappointed that SDC had failed to deliver the mini-recycling
skips to the West Grimstead Playing Field. Action:
Both Cllr Clark and the Clerk will attempt to
persuade SDC Environmental Services to deliver the three
promised mini-recycling skips.
87/04 West Grimstead Chalkpit: The Clerk
reported that he had been unable to get a response from
the Development Lawyer living in West Grimstead. Action:
The Clerk will continue to initiate a new
approach.
88/04 Dog Fouling: Cllr Clark reported
that she was proposing to initiate a campaign to persuade
dog owners to act responsibly when walking their dogs in
public places. Notices would be published in the Parish
newsletter, new signs will be erected throughout the
Village and leaflets delivered to every householder. Action:
The Clerk will source the notices and the
leaflets that Cllr Clark agreed to deliver.
89/04 Noticeboard for East Grimstead: Cllr
Amor agreed to arrange for the installation of the
noticeboard.
90/04 R5 Designated Land behind West Grimstead
Village Hall: Members agreed to draft a letter
in reply to the landowner's letter of 17-May-04.
91/04 Youth Development: Cllr Clark
agreed to liaise with the WCC YD Co-ordinator.
92/04 PC Accounts for 2003/04: Members
resolved to consider the accounts in time for the next
meeting.
93/04 SDC Skip grant for 2004/05: Members
resolved that Grimstead PC would not provide skips.
94/04 Finance: The following payments
were approved:
West Grimstead
Village Hall - hire ---- 216 -- £30.00p
WALC - annual
subscription ---------- 217 - £134.58p
Community
First - Insurance Premium - 218 - £281.40p
R Parsons -
Clerk's fee and expenses - 219 - £190.13p
95/04 Absence from meeting: The Chairman
made his apologies and left the meeting.
96/04 WCC Parish Lengthsmen: Members
noted the next visit on 7-8 July followed by 29-30
November.
97/04 Roadside Hedgerows: The Clerk
reported that the owner of the Laurel hedge opposite
Bugmore Green was proposing to substantially reduce the
size and height of the hedge next Autumn.
98/04 Finger Signposts: Members noted
that the fingerposts at West and East Grimstead had still
not been replaced. Action: The Clerk
99/04 Road Maintenance: Members will
review the report of the meeting on 21 April.
100/04 South Wiltshire Strategic Alliance: Only
the PC Chairman, in his capacity as District Councillor,
had attended the special Southern Area Committee meeting
at the City Hall earlier in the afternoon. The
Partnership Team Manager hopes that all Parish Councils
will complete the consultation pro-forma to enable the
publication in July of the Southern Area Community Plan.
101/04 Planning:
* S/2004/1083 - FULL APPLICATION -
ERECTION OF HOUSE ADJOINING LAUREL COTTAGE FORMATION OF
NEW ACCESS AND CLOSURE OF EXISTING ACCESS at LAND
ADJOINING LAUREL COTTAGE LONG DROVE EAST GRIMSTEAD - This
application appeared to be little different from S/2004/0584
that GPC had recommended for refusal. No change of
decision necessary.
* S/2004/1065 - FULL APPLICATION -
DEMOLISH EXISTING GARAGE ERECT TWO STOREY SIDE EXTENSION
AND ONE STOREY FRONT EXTENSION at 29 GREENFIELDS WEST
GRIMSTEAD - Members agreed to support this application.
102/04 Correspondence: Members noted the
schedule of correspondence and reports and resolved that
these should be circulated and comments brought to the
next meeting.
The meeting closed at 9:25pm
Signed by the Chairman, Cllr R Britton, on 5th July 2004
Return to index
|