28 September

Rudgwick Parish Council

Weekly Clerk’s Update: 28 September – 4 October 2020 (Agenda October 2020)

To: Parish Councillors c.c: Christian Mitchell (West Sussex County Councillor)
Richard Landeryou (Horsham District Councillor)

From: Jonna Foote ____________________________________________________________________________

The weekly update provides information regarding:

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Announcements/delegated decisions by the Clerk Planning information Correspondence/communications from parishioners Correspondence/communications from outside organisations

List of organisations that communicate with the Council on a regular basis.

o AIRS (Action in Rural Sussex)

o APCAG (Association of Parish Councils Aviation Group)

o CAGNE (Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emission) o CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) o HALC (Horsham Association of Local Councils) o HDC (Horsham District Council) o NALC (National Association of Local Councils) o SSALC (Surrey and Sussex Association of Local Councils) o WSCC (West Sussex District Council)

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Clerk’s announcements/delegated decisions:

GENERAL REMINDER: Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parish Office staff are working their regular hours but not always in the office. If you wish to speak face to face to a member of staff, please contact the Clerk on 07927 702321 during working hours (Monday – Wednesday 8.30 – 16.00).

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Staff and users of Rudgwick parish council facilities have been sent the following email:

There is a QR Code on A4 posters on the main entrance doors and in Rudgwick Hall beside both fire exits to sides of buildings which you may be asked to use as an alternative entrance when office is in use.

If you have downloaded the Government Track and Trace app to your mobile device you can check in to the village hall upon arrival by scanning the code on your mobile device. This obviously also applies to all those that will be attending your sessions or event so please let them know.

Anyone who intends to take part in the Government Track and Trace Scheme needs to download the app onto their mobile devices. To do so those participating need to go to either the App Store (for those with an iPhone) or Google Play (for those with an Android device) and download the free App.

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Please be aware that some older mobile devices will not support it but all meeting /event/class organisers are requested to hold contact details of all those attending their session.

Track and Trace is not a requirement of law but it is being strongly urged by the NHS and the Government and so we have added this facility in our attempts to be as Covid-19 secure as we possibly can and to help protect our community.

Please ensure that face masks must be worn into the halls/buildings at all times, unless participating in an exercise in which case they can be removed once in situ for class, but replaced when leaving or moving within buildings.

Thank you for your support in helping keep the Councils buildings Covid secure and therefore ensuring continued use of the Community facilities.

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Ten “Please take your litter home” signs have been ordered to be placed at the entrances of RPC facilities; WSCC Highways have informed the Council that an oak tree (next to nr 1 Queen Elizabeth Road is going to be felled as there are concerns regarding the tree. An exact date could not be given. However, the Council is aware that the tree blew over last weekend and has informed WSCC Highways that felling is not necessary;

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The Litter Warden has reported concerns regarding a tree in a potential similar situation, the Council has contacted the owner and appropriate actions are being undertaken. Annual defibrillator survey has taken place, two defibrillators were found to be requiring attention, appropriate action is being undertaken;

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Tismans Common fingerpost crown has been ordered; Letter to Co-op staff thanking them for their support to vulnerable households during COVID-19 lockdown has been written and sent;

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Four nominations for West Sussex High Sheriff Volunteer Awards have been submitted; Skate park repairs have been completed and skate park is open for use; NHS QR codes have been posted at RH; JH and KGV changing rooms and appropriate documentation is in place;

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Letters to Loxwood West Sussex County Councillor asking for clarification regarding Loxwood Claypit EIA Scoping Document/ webinar 25.8.2020 have been sent;

Letter in support of Rudgwick Brickwork’s application for an extension of deadline for WSCC/040/19

and WSCC/00419/RW has been submitted to WSCC Planning Department; Working Group Members have been sent Confidentiality Agreement with signing request;

Requested quotes from three firms for undertaking Health and Safety tree surveys for Churchman’s

Meadows, King George V playing fields and Foxholes Copse;

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Arranged for cutting back of growth at the entrance of Foxholes Copse/ path to Medical Centre; Letter to Croudace Homes regarding verge maintenance and request for support for a wildflower garden has been submitted;

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Musketeer Water compliance checks have been undertaken; Facilities Officer has had to update all COVID-19 risk assessments; ask all hirers for their updated COVID-19 risk assessments in response to latest Government guidelines/ legislation; Rudgwick Neighbourhood Plan update was noted in the West Sussex County Times 1.10.2020/ HDC website:

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Rudgwick Neighbourhood Plan (Reg 16) Rudgwick Parish Council has been preparing a Neighbourhood Plan. The submission draft Rudgwick Neighbourhood plan is out to consultation in line with the Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning

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(General) Regulations 2012 (as amended). The consultation is for 7 weeks from 5pm 2 October to midnight 20 November 2020. Please click on the link below for further details on how you can comment:

https://strategicplanning.horsham.gov.uk/consult.ti/Rudgwick/consultationHome

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Pension update: the recent McCloud court case has resulted in a consultation seeking views on proposed changes to the LGPS in England and Wales to remove the unlawful age discrimination identified in the McCloud judgment. This has no effect on Rudgwick Parish Council pension contributions but may require providing information regarding Clerk’s number of working hours/ length of service;

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Clerk has been contacted regarding the HDC community facilities study: this does include the Youth Centre and KGV Building – contact will be made in October to arrange for an auditor to come and assess the buildings (age/ general condition). VAT repayment of £2,097.46 received 25.09.2020

New Applications (Delegated Decision)
New Planning Applications for consideration by Delegated Decision and noting at the Rudgwick Parish
Council Meeting 12.10.2020

Application No

Applicant

Reason for Application

Recommendation

Official

Response
Date

New Applications
For discussion at Rudgwick Parish Council Meeting 12.10.2020
Application
No

Applicant

Recommendation

Official

Response
Date

DISC/20/0222

02.10.2020
Hall House, The Haven, Billingshurst
Approval of details reserved by condition 3 to approved

23.10.2020

application DC/17/2233

DC/20/1820

25.09.2020
Sweetlands Farm,
The Haven,
Erection of a pole barn for hay and hay equipment storage
(Certificate of Lawful

20.10.2020 22.10.2020

Billingshurst
Development Proposed)

DC/20/1876

28.09.2020

First Floor Offices, Rudgwick Garage, Loxwood Road,
Rudgwick
Prior approval for the conversion of existing office accommodation at first floor to a residential flat.

Decisions
HDC Council Decisions – Rudgwick Parish Council Meeting 12.10.2020

Application
No

Applicant

RPC Recommendation

HDC

Decision

DC/20/0410

Heathers Farm, The Haven, Billingshurst
Construction of building to provide stabling, tack room and

No objection

Application Withdrawn

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feed/bedding/equipment storage for livery use purposes. Construction of horse walker.

DC/20/1610 Sweetlands Farm, The

Prior notification for the construction of a pole barn for hay and

No objection

Prior
Approval
Not

Haven, Billigshurst agricultural equipment.

Required

DC/20/0750

43 Woodfield Road,
Rudgwick
Conversion of rear

No objection to the amendment

Permitted

conservatory into a garden room with a replacement balcony. Stair enclosure for new staircase down to lower level workshop.

Applications going to Committee
Applications going to Committee – Rudgwick Parish Council Meeting 12.10.2020
Application
No

Applicant

RPC

Planning

Committee Date

Recommendation

none

Appeals Lodged / Appeals Decided
Appeals Lodged / Appeals Decided – Rudgwick Parish Council Meeting 12.10.2020

Application No

Applicant

RPC

Public

Recommendation Inquiry/Written
Representation

Enforcement Numbers

Enforcement Numbers – Rudgwick Parish Council Meeting 12.10.2020

Correspondence/communications from parishioners / to the Council Emails/correspondence from external organisations/people 25.09.2020, Email from WSCC Further to the email below the Parish Council have been advised that the tree fell on Sunday 27^thSeptember.

Dear Jonna, I would like to provide you with news that due to the current condition of a mature Oak tree within the Highways extent adjacent the property of 1 Queen Elizabeth Road, arrangements have been made to remove this tree as a high priority. Please find attached to this email a site map and google streetview screenshot

4image confirming which tree is to be removed. We thought Rudgwick PC should be made aware due to the potential high local interest that may arise as a result of the tree works to be carried out.

This decision has not been taken lightly and we have been monitoring it’s condition carefully for some time.

We will however endeavour to plant a replacement tree in the vicinity of the one to be removed if funds become available in the future.

Kind Regards

Marcus du Preez

Arboriculturist, Economy, Infrastructure and Environment, Highways and Transport, West Sussex County Council

25.09.2020 Email from HDC Community Facilities Study 2020

Dear Parishes and Neighbourhood Councils, I just wanted to inform you that we are due to commence the Community Facilities Study as agreed by Cabinet earlier this year. We have now appointed consultants Knight, Kavanagh and Page Ltd (KKP) to undertake the review of Horsham Town and District wide community facilities. The last review was conducted in 2014 as part of the Horsham District Planning Framework 2015.

The outcome of the study will be used to update the evidence base to inform the development of policies in the 2019-2036 Local Plan which is being prepared at the moment. This is to ensure that there is a sufficient amount of community building venues to meet existing and future demand arising from any proposed new residential development.

The study will also provide a framework in the local plan to guide decisions on whether new facilities are required and what the priorities for investment in existing facilities should be across the district. As the District’s population grows it will be essential to take a strategic view to ensure the right facilities are in the right locations to meet community needs.

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This commission will also address the provision and use of community buildings and assets within Horsham Town with specific reference to the future or other use of the Drill Hall and its site following the Council’s Cabinet decision earlier this year. I have attached a copy of the Project Brief for your information and the

contact details for Tim Eady who will the main person managing the survey for KKP ‘on the ground’ and

visiting your venue(s). The study will require the completion of survey data about the age, condition, use and size of facilities available for use or hire by your local communities and capture future aspirations. I have provided KKP with links to all your websites where some survey data can be logged initially. However, Tim will need to visit premises in person to undertake a building condition assessment as well as capturing other information.

I appreciate this will take time when there are other significant demands on all our time given the current restrictions. I would be grateful if you would offer KKP any assistance in completing the surveys. Colleagues from KKP will be in contact in due course. As a former Fire Officer for West Sussex County Council, who lives locally, Tim is very familiar with Horsham district. He will strictly observe all Covid restrictions and guidance when completing the surveys.

I have also attached the Halls List which has been updated for your information. If there are any public halls missing please let me know.

If you have any queries in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact me, Regards Clive

Asset Study Project Brief Hall List 2020

Clive Burley

Corporate Project Manager

Email: [email protected]

28.09.2020 Email from HDC Latest news: LEAP small business grants return | 10 Top Tips for Healthy Eating Week | Savings on solar panels | Guided Walks return

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