LONG MAN PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Held at Wilmington Village Hall on Monday 13 January 2020 at 7.30pm

Present: Councillors Pam Merritt (Chairman), Tyler Butterworth, Helen Baulcombe, Claire Church, Jeremy Christey Claire Reynolds (Clerk)

1. Chairman’s welcome Councillor Pam Merritt welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2. Apologies Councillor Michael Bridges, Councillor Lizzie Chisholm and County Councillor Stephen Shing

3. Declarations of Interest Agenda Item 17 – The Clerk will leave them room whilst this item is being discussed.

4. Public Discussion (15 minutes maximum) None

5. To consider the Minutes of the meeting dated 11 November 2019 and approve by signature as a true record The Minutes were signed as a correct record.

6. Matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2019. Item 6: The stile that comes out next to the Ox Pub had not yet been repaired. Councillors Baulcombe and Butterworth to contact ESCC Footpaths to report it. Item 8b: Councillors Baulcombe and Butterworth reported that during the recent flooding, a number of cars had been abandoned after attempting to drive through the flood water in Milton Street. One car was remained abandoned and was reported to Operation Crackdown and the matter was resolved. Councillors Baulcombe and Butterworth to contact ESCC Highways and report the flooding issue. Item 8c: Church Railings – Councillor Christey reported that further railings up by the church are showing signs of deterioration and will need replacing. Councillor Merritt to report this.

7. Request for seat by The Morris Men Two representatives from The Long Man Morris Men attended the meeting. The group was established in 1978 and they have performed at the foot of the Long Man, the Priory and the pub over the years. They would like to pay for and maintain a bench situated in the green enclosed area next to the car park opposite the Long Man. It would not only be to commemorate those group members who have passed away but would also give the opportunity for visitors to sit and enjoy the views. They would also like to have a plaque on it so that visitors know that it is from the group. After discussion Councillors agreed to the request initially. However, the Clerk would need to clarify who the Parish Council would need to get permission from for this to be done.

8. Report of District Councillor – Cllr Michael Lunn Nothing to report.

9. Reports of the Parish Councillors a. Folkington Nothing to report.

1

b. Milton Street Nothing to report. c. Wilmington Verge Cutting: Councillor Merritt reported that an additional two cuts had been confirmed with ESCC for 2020 / 2021 following agreement by Councillors via email.

10. Report of the Tree Warden Alison Cotton had submitted the following report:

Last year we benefitted from the SDNPA’s project to ‘bring back elms to the Downs’ and received 37 disease resistant elm cultivars which were planted by 11 residents of Long Man Parish.

Round 2 of this initiative is under way and several more people have signed up to receive trees. I’m very pleased to report that 94 trees are about to be planted by 16 residents. There are 6 different cultivars with slightly different characteristics, so I have tried to match them up with the various planting sites on offer, given that we have some very waterlogged ground at present. Ten of these trees are Small Leaved Lime which are important in the life cycle of the White Letter Hairstreak butterfly, as are the elms.

11. Replacement of noticeboard for Folkington To be carried forward to the next meeting.

12. The car park at the top of Chapel Hill Folkington Estate have been contacted and we understand that matters concerning the condition of the car park will be looked at in due course.

13. Surrey and Sussex Associations of Local Councils (SSALC) Survey 2020 This had been previously been circulated to Councillors. After discussion it was agreed that the Chairman and Clerk will go through and complete the survey and send round to Councillors for their final comments before submitting it.

14. Traffic Management Committee No new information received.

15. A27 news Councillor Butterworth had written to District Councillor Lunn asking if any update on this was available. MP Maria Caulfield has stated that a bid for funding to dual the existing A27 was made to the Department of Transport before the election. No discussion re routes would occur unless funding was secured.

16. Councillors email addresses – update The Clerk reported that Councillors should be receiving an email through in the next 10 days from the website provider which will allow their emails to be set up to meet GDPR requirements.

17. Annual appraisal of the Clerk (the Clerk left the room for this item) Councillor Merritt reported that she had carried out the Clerk’s annual appraisal before Christmas. It was a very positive appraisal and the Councillors were pleased to state how much they valued the work of the Clerk. Councillor Merritt proposed a pay rise to the next level on the NALC scale should be approved from April 2020. This was seconded and approved by all Councillors present.

2

18. To receive the Report of the Clerk to the Council a. Finance -To receive the Finance Report and agree the accounts for payments. The report was circulated at the meeting which revealed a bank balance of £11,806.64 in the Current Account (as at 30 December 2019). This figure included the £3690.95 which had been transferred into the account from the closure of the LMPC Savings Account and £250 for the Milton Street Phone Box Fund.

Authority was sought from the Clerk to make the following payments: C Reynolds (Clerk Salary for Dec 2019 and January 2020) £707.98 STRIPES (2nd half year cut of Triangle at Wilmington) £150.00 WDC – Training Workshop attended by Councillor Butterworth £25.00 TOTAL: £882.98

The above payments were proposed by Councillor Church and Seconded by Councillor Christey. b. To agree the precept figure for 2020 / 2021 The Clerk circulated the proposed budget figures for next year. After discussion it was proposed that a precept figure of £8,888.00 be submitted to Council for approval. All Councillors were in agreement.

19. Planning a. To report on Applications and Decisions received and observations made since the last meeting.

South Downs National Park Authority: SDNP/19/05185/HOUS Southease, Folkington Lane, Folkington, BN26 5SA 2nd Dormer window and roof alteration. LMPC supported this application at Planning Meeting held on 11/11/19. Decision – approved 19/12/19

SDNP/19/05865/HOUS – Mebis, The Street, Wilmington, BN26 5SQ Proposed extensions, external and internal alterations including replacement of windows. LMPC supported this application at Planning Meeting held on 13/01/2020

Wealden District Council: WD/2019/2122/F - Churchwood Farm, Lewes Road, Wilmington, BN26 5RS Permanent retention of mobile home and garage for agricultural worker previously approved under temporary planning permission WD/2016/2645/FA (removal of Condition1 of WD/2015/1099/FA (a minor material amendment to WD/2013/1657/FR (mobile home for agricultural worker and proposed garage (renewal of WD/2010/1421/F)))). LMPC supported this application at Planning Meeting held on 11/11/19. Decision – Pending

WD/2019/2285/O – Crossways Hotel, Lewes Road, Wilmington, BN26 5SG The erection of two new two-storey buildings containing a total of eight self-catering two and three-bedroom apartments. LMPC objected to this application at Planning Meeting held on 16/12/19 Decision – pending

WD/2019/2358/PO – Milton Gate Farm, Lewes Road, Wilmington, , BN26 5RS Modification of Section 106 Agreement dated the 3 November 1995 attached to Planning Permission WD/1994/1767/F (erection of new farmhouse) to allow separation of two field plots from the remainder of the farm. LMPC had no objection to this application at Planning Meeting held on 16/12/19 Decision - pending

3

WD/2017/1528/F – Milton Field, Milton Gate, Wilmington, Polegate, BN26 5RW Static caravan on existing gypsy site for occupation by close family member currently living on site. LMPC supported this application at Planning Meeting held on 13/01/2020.

WD/2017/2261/MAJ – Land and buildings at Natewood Farm, Polegate Road, , BN27 3PH Proposed demolition of existing former farm buildings and removal of photovoltaic solar array installation, and construction of commercial units (B1) and storage and distribution (B8), with replacement roof mounted solar array. LMPC support this application at Planning Meeting held on 13/01/2020.

WD/2019/2122/F – Churchwood Farm, Lewes Road, Wilmington, BN26 5RS Permanent retention of mobile home and garage with addition of porch and conservatory for agricultural worker previously approved under temporary planning permission WD/2016/2645/FA (removal of condition 1 of WD/2015/1099/FA (minor material amendment to WD/2013/1657/FR (mobile home for agricultural worker permanent retention of mobile home and garage for agricultural worker previously approved under temporary planning permission WD/2016/2645/FA (removal of condition 1 of WD/2015/1099/FA (minor material amendment to WD/2013/1657/FR (mobile home for agricultural worker and proposed garage (renewal of WD/2010/1421/F)))) and proposed garage (renewal of WD/2010/1421/F)))). LMPC supported this application at Planning meeting on 13/01/2020

WD/2019/2478/F – Wilmington Green Stud, Thornwell Road, Wilmington, BN26 5PZ New detached two-bedroom single-storey dwelling to replace mobile home, off-road parking and landscaping. LMPC supported this application at Planning meeting held on 13/01/2020

b. To report on Applications and Decisions received and observations made since the last meeting. None c. To report on any application that is received too late for the agenda. None d. To report on any correspondence, enforcement letters or any other planning matter including any out of Parish applications on which LMPC has been consulted. i. Out of Area Consultations - none ii Planning Appeals notified to LMPC - none iii Enforcement Action carried outstanding – none iv Correspondence with SDNPA / WDC - none

20. Report of the County Councillor Councillor Stephen Shing had submitted the following report: Early last year the County Council was considering having to make a saving of £25m in 2020 / 2021. In November 2019 this reduced to £10m. Currently the County Council is working on £5m saving. The full report and the proposed council tax increase will be reported to the Cabinet on the 21 January 2020. The proposed council tax increase is 1.99% and 2% for adult social care. In total the increase would be approximately £1.10 per week or £57 a year.

21. Representation feedback from: a. Wealden District Association of Local Councils Nothing to report. b. Cuckmere Flood Forum Nothing to report.

22. Date of next meeting Monday 9 March 2020 at Wilmington Village Hall starting at 7.30pm.

4

There being no other business the meeting was declared closed at 8.25pm.

These Minutes are a true and accurate record of the meeting.

Signed: ………………………………………………………………………………….

Position: ………………………………………………………………………………….

Date: ………………………………………………………………………………….

5