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Willingdon and Jevington Parish Council Meeting The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on 9th December 2013 at Willingdon Community School, Broad Road, Willingdon

Present: Cllrs’ John Pritchett (JP) (Chairman), Bonnie Beck (BB), Jo Carr (JC), Martin Cooper (MC), Howard Coote (HC), Ron Cussons (RC), Linda Francis (LF), John Martin (JM), Les Moor (LM), Douglas Murray (DM), Richard Nunney (RN), Fran Pritchett (FP), Raymond Shing (RS), Stephen Shing (SS), Andy Watkins (AW), Colin Wood (CW) In attendance: Andy Beams (AB) (Parish Clerk), Caroline Mack (Wealden CAB), Len Baker (CCB representative)

Item Subject Action By C13/050 Apologies for absence Cllrs’ Susan Hunt, Colin Laycock and Christina Lynn C13/051 Declarations of interest relating to items on this agenda

C13/052 To accept and adopt the minutes of previous meetings RESOLVED: To accept and adopt the minutes of the Full Council meetings held on 7th October 2013, and these were signed by Cllr J Pritchett C13/053 Public question time SUSPEND STANDING ORDERS None REINSTATE STANDING ORDERS C13/054 Update on Wealden CAB changes Cllr J Pritchett welcomed Caroline Mack to the meeting. Caroline updated Members with progress at CAB over the last year. They had been awarded a grant of £300,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, and had been able to employ an additional debt advisor and a welfare and housing benefit specialist. They had also established strong links with Homestart, an organisation working with families with children under eleven. The CAB had also obtained new telephone and case recording systems. The next step was to work towards making their services more accessible, and they had been working with Rotherfield St Martin using a Skype advice system. Caroline was keen to test the system in Willingdon, after consulting with the library to ensure a confidential room could be made available. Members asked a number of questions on the practicalities involved, and Caroline assured them that existing telephone and face to face facilities would remain available in addition to Skype. Caroline agreed to keep the Parish Clerk informed of progress with the project. C13/055 To receive an update regarding public toilets at the Triangle Cllr J Pritchett informed Members that following an initial meeting of the working group, a response had now been received from ESCC regarding potential transfer of the land and/or lease. ESCC would not consider disposing of the land, due to its strategic importance for highway development. Transfer of the lease was possible, with a suggested period of 10 to 20 years. RESOLVED: A further meeting of the working group to be arranged for early 2014 to consider the response from ESCC, and decide on next steps. C13/056 To discuss potential parking restrictions around Orchard Parade Members discussed the idea of implementing parking restrictions to assist shoppers in Orchard Parade. The length and placement of the restriction was debated. RESOLVED: To ask ESCC to consider a one hour restriction in the tow laybys in Orchard Parade. The Clerk to send this request to Ian Johnson for addition to the yellow lines listings for Willingdon C13/057 To receive an update from SDA 4 working party Following agreement at the Planning Committee, Cllr F Pritchett proposed ‘the working group continue with this very useful dialogue with the owners/agents, the various authorities and those who may provide the infrastructure on the site. Also for the group to draft any response to the next stage of public consultation and, if necessary, provide the representation at any examination in public’. RESOLVED: Members agreed to the resolution as above. C13/058 Council Chairman and Clerk reports Members noted the report of the Chairman. Cllr Martin showed Members the draft map, which was approved by all. The Clerk is keeping a copy in the office should anyone want to have a closer look. The Chairman asked if all Members had received their newsletters yet. About half had, although it was noted that they had been delivered mixed with other ‘junk’ mail.

C13/059 Reports of County and District Councillors Cllr S Shing gave a verbal report outlining ESCC’s budgetary plans to date. The following figures had been allocated – Adult Social Care £174.3m, Business Services & Governance £32.9m, Children’s Services £79.1m, Communities, Economy & Transport £69.4m, Environment £31.4m (of which £30.4m for Waste and £1m for Rights of Way and Environmental Planning). Within the Transport budget, £13.6m is allocated to Highway Maintenance, £1.4m Winter Services, £13.9m Concessionary Fares, Passenger Transport and Road Safety, £7.6m Libraries, Archives and Registration Services. ESCC are looking to make savings over the next three years – 2013/14 £16.8m, 2014/15 £27.7m, 2015/16 £16.1m. Cllr J Pritchett asked when a final decision might be made about the future of the library. Cllr S Shing explained that the Director of Library Services had left their post, and there had been a realignment of departments. At present, there had been no final decision made. Cllr Cussons had provided a written report which was noted by Members. He added to this that the Minister of Planning, Nick Bowles had recently visited Tower Mill along with Cllr Murray, Bob Standley of WDC and Caroline Ansell, and had commented on the extremely high build standard of the development. Cllr Watkins asked a number of questions regarding the allocation and charging policy of WDC at the development. Cllr Cussons confirmed that Willingdon people, or those with Willingdon links, were given priority during allocation, although a number of other factors also had to be taken into account. Cllr R Shing updated Members regarding the waste issues with Kier. He had been investigating where repeated problems had been reported, and confirmed additional staff had been employed in some areas, and further checks were being put in place in an effort to alleviate issues. Cllr R Shing and S Shing left the meeting. C13/060 Questions to Committee Chairmen and minutes for adoption Cllr Cooper reported that following a visit to the pavilion at Huggetts Lane, the football club had not been cleaning to an acceptable standard. Members agreed that the Clerk write to the football club informing them that an inspection would take place next week, and if the cleaning was not AB satisfactory, a full clean would be arranged by the Parish Council and charged to the football club. RESOLVED: The following minutes were proposed and accepted for adoption by Full Council: Amenities – proposed by Cllr Martin, 11 Nov 2013 Cemetery – proposed by Cllr Francis, 21 Oct 2013 Events – proposed by Cllr Nunney, 22 Oct 2013 Finance & Policy – proposed by Cllr Francis, 18 Nov 2013 Planning – proposed by Cllr F Pritchett, 7 Oct & 11 Nov 2013 Recreation – proposed by Cllr Cooper, 28 Oct 2013 C13/061 Reports of Parish Representatives Members noted the report provided by Len Baker regarding the CCB, and Len was thanked for his continued hard work and for keeping Members updated. Cllr Carr suggested that the CCB be encouraged to make active contact with the SDNPA, as they are keen to work with organisations such as them. Cllr J Pritchett informed Members that Trinity Church had successfully obtained £30,000 funding from SITA, and the Parish Council were now able to present the £5,000 grant cheque previously agreed to allow the kitchen refurbishment to take place. The cheque would be presented by Cllrs Francis, F Pritchett and J Pritchett at Trinity Church’s Christmas Lunch on 20th December. C13/062 Financial matters Members noted the reports provided by the Clerk. The Clerk pointed out that the payments figure included £100,000 which was transfers between Parish Council accounts at different banks. The Clerk updated Members regarding the precept, and WDC’s decisions over grant allocation and tax base numbers, and outlined the impact on overall funding for next year. Following agreement at Finance & Policy that Members would like to not increase the individual rate householders paid, the Clerk recommended a precept amount of £159,759 in addition to the WDC grant of £13,937. RESOLVED: To accept the bank reconciliation and payments totalling £157,001.41 for the period 2 October to 30 November inclusive. To agree the precept amount of £159,759, meaning no increase to the band ‘D’ equivalent. C13/063 Any other urgent items - for noting or reference to next agenda for Council or appropriate committee None Meeting closed 9.35 pm. Date of next meeting 10th March 2014