Boxgrove Parish Council Imogen Whitaker - Clerk & RFO to the Council 2 McAdam Close, Hambrook, PO18 8FG T: 01243 575094/E: [email protected]/www.boxgrovepc.org ______Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting Monday 7th Jan 2019 at 7.00pm at Boxgrove Village Hall and Community Centre
Present: Cllr H Potter Chairman Cllr Tynan Cllr Addison Vice Chairman Cllr Raikes Cllr Bish Cllr Moyler
In attendance: The Clerk CDC – Cllr Henry Potter 9 members of the Public
1. Apologies WSCC Jeremy Hunt, Cllr Lloyd Tooze 2. Declarations of interest None 3. Minutes – to agree and sign the minutes of 3rd December 2019 meeting The Minutes were unanimously agreed to be a true and accurate record and were duly signed by the Chairman. The Chairman said that the proposal to install the Silent Soldier in the Churchyard was unfortunately not possible. The soldier will be put away for the moment and used again next year. 4. Actions from the previous meeting Minute Action/Councillor Further action 5 Chair report Clerk – write to English Heritage NFAR 5 Chair report Clerk write to CDC Enforcement re development Cllr Potter wrote -NFAR 7i Gully in car park Cllr Tooze/Potter. Cllr Tooze had examined the state of the gullies and written a report which was read out. The clerk is to contact the architect to try and find the name of original contractor. 8 Clerk to follow up with Mike Allgrove CDC re Sent and response received Neighbourhood Plan as no response received
5. County Councillor, District Councillor and Chairman’s report
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Cllr Henry Potter CDC "Very little to report due to the seasonal break. The temporary ice rink ran its full period and I understand it proved popular though there were several instances of excessive noise from the generators. Whether it will return next year remains to be seen. A reminder that the District Local Plan Review is open to Public Consultation and I urge anyone who has concerns regarding the allocation of additional housing (50 new homes) to the rear of Priors Acre and Crouchcross Lane respectively, to write to the Planning Dept. at CDC. There is a copy of the Review in the Village Store. That is all of any real significance to report."
Cllr Henry Potter – Chairman i. "The new ‘gates’ at the entrance to Boxgrove have been met with much praise and compliments! A couple of negative remarks have been heard like “the money could have been spent elsewhere”! I feel that for the small amount that they did cost that they have been very effective! ii. Traffic Calming proposals for Stane Street through Halnaker are moving along at a good pace thanks to the work of the Calming Group and a meeting with Chris Dye this morning was generally successful. They do like it when so much of the groundwork is done for them, it’s also a credit to those involved. iii. It is disappointing that the development of the houses in “Fiske” Close is producing so much mud being brought out onto Priors Acre. The deployment of a road-sweeper would improve things no end. These developers, complete strangers, arrive at the project and show such little regard for the residents who are affected! Some consolation may be found in the Community Infrastructure Levy paid to the Parish from each home. It would have been better were we to have received the full 25% rather than the 15%. iv. The road leading to the Priory Ruins and the St Blaise Centre is really in a worse condition than ever and I hope our letter to English Heritage will result in very prompt action. I wonder if a couple of photographs sent to them might help. Sadly the 30 or so residents at the Goodwood Park Hotel didn’t make the coach trip to the Midnight Mass service on Christmas Eve this year. Many of them complained bitterly about the surface they had to walk over a year ago. v. Sad to say the store building beside ‘Boxies’ was broken into on Saturday late evening. Nothing appeared to have been stolen, thankfully, but this must be a warning. Not too long ago this Parish was a pretty safe place to live, but not anymore! Michael Bish’s experience and the incident concerning the AirB&B recently are clearly indicative of rises in crime and we all should be more aware of our security arrangements. The lack of police presence and attendance is of little comfort either. vi. I’m pleased to see so many walkers enjoying the various footpaths across the common and past the Vineyard. These paths are really well used and in some areas the grass is worn away. I can fully understand the concern the SDNPA have with the erosion of the South Downs Way since so many more walkers and bikers have been encouraged to use it, and in places wear it away. That concludes my report. I wish you all a very Happy and healthy New Year and thanks for listening. Henry Potter, Chairman"
6. Report on Planning applications
Planning number Address Detail Closing Date SDNP/18/06404/FUL Land East of Warehead Stud proposed hay and grassland For SDNP officer to Thicket Lane Halnaker machinery store review as complex policies
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BX/18/03397/TCA Peartree house fell one fir tree No 0bjection
Three further applications were added.
Planning number Address Detail Comment BX/18/03453/TCA Thatch Cottage, Church Lane Prune cypress tree No Objection
BX/18/03472/DOM 33 Crouch Cross Lane Single storey rear extension No Objection BX/19/00014/DOM Remove conservatory and build No Objection 43 Priors Acre extension Cllr Bish presented each application. None were found to be contentious and the council agreed the above comments. Mr Leah brought up the issue of planning in conservation areas and the disregard for the requirements. For example, the tree trunk in front of 47 Stane Street and had there even been a planning application submitted for this listed building? Cllr Bish explained that the Article 4 directive came about because there were so many listed buildings that had already been "damaged" the Art 4 was designed to prevent further degradation to "positive buildings". It was agreed to clarify the position of the Article 4. 7. Clerk’s report i. Correspondence received From Concerning Action
Cllr Potter Gully in car park. Documentation referring to car Clerk to contact architect park unable to be found. Many sections are broken and displaced. A list of remedial work is required. Cllr Potter CDC Local Plan review. Cllr Potter said that the Parish Council to respond - Clerk public should respond to this review. He challenged the need for more houses when the infrastructure requirement/implementation had not changed. CDC have proposed the site "south of Crouchcross Lane" for 50 new homes (although the site is large enough for 115). The consultation is not easy to respond to but there needs to be sufficient objections from the community. Clerk The works on the electricity in the pavilion have Clerk been slightly delayed as the parts have not arrived. The pavilion should not be being used before the works are complete. Hopefully early next week. Clerk 2 W Sussex Police Constables have been named NFAR in the New Year's Honours' list. Clerk The nomination papers for the Election will be Clerk distributed by the Clerk. Anyone in the Parish who wishes to stand for election please contact the clerk A27 Alliance The A27 Alliance had distributed a response to As it is likely to be printed in the the news of the failed bid for funding for the A27. Chichester Observer, no action for The Clerk asked if the document should be the moment. The council distributed more widely. supported the content.
Boxgrove resident A resident had contacted the council asking for a The clerk had forwarded to safe cycle route from Halnaker to Chichester. Neighbourhood Plan Committee
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Clerk The council had received a letter in response to its Clerk request to tidy the garden at Halnaker. She is to respond. Clerk The clerk had received a letter asking for the lane Clerk to contact CDC up to Blunden's to be named "Blunden's Lane" as Clerk to write asking for recognition of the contribution to the community permission to publish letter by the Blunden Family since the mid-19th Century. The council unanimously agreed. She is also to write to ask if the letter can be published as it contains interesting local historical information
The clerk proposed that as it was an election year the meeting for the residents of the Parish should be held on Monday 4th March and that some refreshments should be served to the residents using the Chairman's allowance to fund. This was proposed by Cllr Potter and seconded by Cllr Tynan. Unanimously AGREED.
ii. To vote on budget for 2019 -20. The clerk had circulated the budget (V4) which reallocated some funds to the churchyard (but less than last year). She explained the different increases or decreases in the precept for versions 1 - 4 Cllr Potter proposed to accept version 4; seconded by Cllr Addison and unanimously RESOLVED. This sets the tax band D rate to £74.40 per annum – a decrease of 1.78% over last year. iii. Payments for consideration – the payments for consideration were unanimously RESOLVED. iv. Bank reconciliation and Expenditure to date – circulated.
8. Pavilion – update During the Christmas break Cllr Potter had forwarded photographs of the muddy mess that had been left in the pavilion after the football match. After all the hard work of Mr McDonald, Cllr Potter and Cllr Addison, it was a disgrace and Cllr Potter questioned the wisdom of turning over the pavilion to the sports' clubs. The head of the football team has been ill but had asked his son to clean the pavilion. The clerk said again that the use of the pavilion was forbidden until the electricity had been rectified. Despite having issued this instruction the Football club had still used the pavilion. It was agreed to ask the clubs to return their keys temporarily and to put a notice on the door of the pavilion. The ground works are to begin on Stage one within the next week. The clerk to notify CDC. 9. Neighbourhood Plan – update (Appendix 1) A letter had been sent to Mike Allgrove asking yet again for a timetable to completion. Several letters had been exchanged leading to exasperation from the chair of the NP committee. This time CDC has said that two other neighbourhood plans will be completed before Boxgrove's. Boxgrove PC has made it clear that it will not comment on the proposed plan of CDC to add another 50 homes (at the now designated "south of Crouchcross Lane development). However, the PC has noted that although CDC says for 50 homes this site is for 115 homes. The Parish Council would also be very concerned about any access that might happen for this potential site. An update to the plan was presented by Mr Leah (attached).
10. Traffic Calming – update (Appendix 2) The TCG had a meeting with Chris Dye which was very productive. Sites are being assessed for the Halnaker Speedwatch. The Boxgrove Community Highways Scheme has been placed with the engineers for feasibility assessment, 6 months earlier than anticipated. The Halnaker CHS application is well on the way. Some members of the group visited Rogate to determine how Highways feel about the Rogate installation now that it is in place.
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The Boxgrove Traffic Calming group is now being used as a reference by West Sussex on how to do it! Congratulations were offered by the chairman to the whole team for the fantastic work they have done and are continuing to do and with such professionalism.
There will be a public consultation for Halnaker residents on January 26th so that crucial public feedback can be gleaned. The CHS application for Halnaker should be submitted for March 19. The Speedwatch teams started again this week, and the newly acquired radar gun has its christening tomorrow. The teams will now be wearing a body cam when they go out to try and reduce the about of abuse they receive from the public (or at least record it!).
Mr Birchenough also wished to thank the group on behalf of Halnaker residents for the great work they are doing.
Traffic Calming group update attached.
11. Agenda Items for next meeting Any items please let the clerk know before Friday 25th January. 12. Date of next meeting The next meeting will be on Monday 4th February 2019
There being no further business to be discussed the meeting was declared closed at 9 pm.
Signed:______Dated:______Cllr Henry Potter - Chairman
Boxgrove Parish Council Financial Statement Meeting 7th Jan 2019
Balances on accounts Current account £ 58,817.13 uncleared cheques Total £ 58,817.13
Received since last meeting
£ - Paid since last meeting
percy woodcock £ 100.00 clerk's salary £ 554.85 castle water £ 47.12 radar gun £ 492.19 bvh room hire £ 31.00 Boxgrove Parish Council Minutes of the Meeting 7th January 2019 Page 5
nest december £ 26.88 st john ambulance £ 50.00 rj dixon £ 350.00
total £ 1,652.04
Payments for consideration
nest £ 26.88 Percy Woodcock £ 100.00 I Whitaker £ 555.05 HMRC £ 167.60 council running costs £ 157.08 J McDonald £ 65.28 traffic calming banner £ 42.00 castle water £ 47.12
total £ 1,161.01
bank accounts as of 4th Jan 2019
current account £ 58,817.13 unpaid total £ 58,817.13
opening balance 1st April 2018 £ 23,724.42 add receipts in the year £ 62,036.61 less payments in the year £ 26,943.90 Balance £ 58,817.13
less reserve @ 50% of annual precept of £32990 £ 16,495.00
Total £ 42,322.13
ring-fenced funds
neighbourhood plan £ 2,978.60 Boxgrove Parish Council Minutes of the Meeting 7th January 2019 Page 6
CIL (pavilion) £ 1,505.52 CIL traffic calming £ 1,477.80 capital replacement fund £ 2,000.00 cricket pavilion extension £ 25,000.00 traffic calming £ 1,032.52
Total £ 3,994.44
total available funds (less ring fenced and reserve) Total £ 8,327.69
Appendix 1
Neighbourhood Plan Update i. As agreed at the December Parish Council meeting our clerk wrote to Mike Allgrove at CDC to chase the previous unanswered correspondence. ii. A response was finally received on 17 Dec. This advised that the Habitats Reg assessment had been completed and that potentially a SEA would be required. This is about any effects that our plan may have on the bat’s habitat in the long disused Singleton and Cocking railway tunnels. He also mentioned that in terms of their priorities the Selsey and Westbourne NP’s are ahead of Boxgrove. iii. We will be given a timetable for our plan after their SEA’s have been completed. iv. On 18 Dec 2018, Gillian Keegan made a reply to my request for help dated 6 Nov 2018. This reply advised that my request would be investigated at a meeting in the New Year with the relevant leaders at CDC. To date nothing further has been received. v. A further email was received on 18 Dec 2018, also from Mike Allgrove’s office stating that the screening indicated that out NP would not impact on the habitat concerned and that this would be signed off and sent to our plan examiner. This clearly seemed to contradict with the previous advice and we have asked for clarification. vi. Today, 7 Jan, I was advised that we would be sent a further email explaining this complicated situation. Clearly CDC are themselves having difficulty with this issue. vii. In the meantime, Chichester District Council have embarked on the consultation process for their own Chichester Local Plan Review Preferred Approach Consultation - December 2018 to February 2019. viii. This is a 5 year review of their made plan which all Neighbourhood Plans will need to comply with or have housing imposed. It is this document which requires another 50 houses in Boxgrove during 1-5 years increasing to 115 in total over 5-10 years. This consultation lasts until 7 February 2019. Comments should be made through the portal at the web address below or local events. www.chichester.gov.uk/localplanreview
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Clearly, one issue is how thousands more houses can be justified and what assurances we can be given for infrastructure improvements such as the A27, alternative transport and waste management being in place beforehand.
The Neighbourhood Plan process is supposed to be about local democracy.
If you have strong feelings about this subject, please participate in the consultation and/or write to your councillor and/or MP.
The Boxgrove Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed on the dedicated website:
https://www.boxgrovenp.co.uk/
David Leah - Chair, Boxgrove Neighbourhood Plan Team 7 January 2019
Appendix 2
Boxgrove Traffic Calming Group Update
• Boxgrove village gates now fully installed. New village signs ordered via Balfour Beattie expected by end of January.
• SID now being deployed around Boxgrove at approved sites. Additional brackets in process of manufacture to allow brackets to be left in place.
• Application to use SID in semi-permanent way in Halnaker in process. West Sussex Highways to make site visit shortly to confirm approved locations.
• Halnaker Community Highway Scheme:
o Sub group been meeting every week for last 3 months to progress ideas. Visits made to Rogate and other locations to benchmark. o Team met with West Sussex Highways Jan 7th to discuss issues/ideas. o Public consultation planned for January 26th. o Presentation of proposals to PC at Feb 2019 meeting. o Submission to be made by end of March for October 2019 approval process.
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• Speed watch commencing this week in both Boxgrove and Halnaker
• Second CSW radar gun now operational in Halnaker. Now possible for both CSW teams to operate independently.
• Speed watch teams now equipped with one body cam per team as safety measure and way of recording foul language and abuse.
• Speed watch reporting data – see separate sheet.
• Drop kerb application for Halnaker across from pub approved, awaiting confirmation of timing but on priority list for action.
• Bus stop relocation re-submission actioned.
• Group recommending purchase of additional SID to deploy in Halnaker. Funding proposal to be presented at Feb 2019 PC meeting.
Town/Parish Council Report for Boxgrove and Halnaker Speedwatch Group.
Reporting between 02/12/2018 and 02/01/2019
Current Volunteers = 12
Summary for this Period
Number of Sessions this period = 8
Total Vehicles exceeding limit = 111
DVLA Valid vehicles = 113
Accuracy = 101%
Maximum Speed recorded in 30 limit = 56 mph (+86%)
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Police Actions this Period
Letter Sent = 110
Overall
Our group started Recording* on = 09/10/2017
Number of Sessions since start date = 160
Vehicles recorded exceeding limit since start date = 1931
Maximum Speed recorded in 30 limit = 62 mph (+106%)
• Two Teams now established in Boxgrove and Halnaker. • Complete set of tools for each team. • Thank you, Parish council for the grant to allow purchase of second Radar Device. • Halnaker still a serious issue with Speeding, up to 30+ speeders reported in a 2 Hour session. • Boxgrove, rarely report more than 4/5 vehicles in a similar 2 hour session Traffic more local and drivers are becoming aware when we are active and result of being reported to Police. • Use of SID will have impact when Teams are not active at roadside Boxgrove fully authorised, licensed and ready to go.
League tables for data received during the past 28 days
Hours standing at the roadside recording offending drivers is the most commendable achievement of all the work being done by CSW groups. Without operators being visible to passing drivers, the connection between receiving a warning letter and the community visibly showing their concern, many offenders would not make the connection and slow down next time they drive through the speedwatch organised area.
Minutes at the Roadside
Harwich 1830min
Wateringbury 840min
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Slinfold 720min
Boxgrove 720min
Storrington 690min
Burwash 510min
Brasted 510min
Etchingham 510min
Higham 420min
Measuring Shepherdswell & a group's average 420min accuracy Col rate is important to maximise the effect of the invested time and efforts put in by volunteers. Training is an ongoing process helping operators improve their skills. However, it is equally important to ascertain that the pairing of team members' skills is optimal in order to correctly obtain the necessary data
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Accuracy
Boxgrove 98%
Hastings & 98% Westfield
Slinfold 97%
Buxted 97%
Harwich 97%
Chevening & 96% Chipstead
Hadlow 96%
Wateringbury 95%
Etchingham 95%
Brasted 95%
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