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: • 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) ____________________________________________________________________________ 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). • 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. 1 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. • 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; • 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; • 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; • 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; • 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; • 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; • 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: 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 2 (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 • 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; • 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 Applicant Reason for Application Recommendation Official No Response Date DISC/20/0222 Hall House, The Approval of details reserved by 23.10.2020 02.10.2020 Haven, Billingshurst condition 3 to approved application DC/17/2233 DC/20/1820 Sweetlands Farm, Erection of a pole barn for hay 20.10.2020 25.09.2020 The Haven, and hay equipment storage Billingshurst (Certificate of Lawful Development Proposed) DC/20/1876 First Floor Offices, Prior approval for the conversion 22.10.2020 28.09.2020 Rudgwick Garage, of existing office accommodation Loxwood Road, at first floor to a residential flat. Rudgwick Decisions HDC Council Decisions – Rudgwick Parish Council Meeting 12.10.2020 Application Applicant Reason for Application RPC Recommendation HDC No Decision DC/20/0410 Heathers Farm, The Construction of building No objection Application Haven, Billingshurst to provide stabling, tack Withdrawn room and 3 feed/bedding/equipment storage for livery use purposes. Construction of horse walker. DC/20/1610 Sweetlands Farm, The Prior notification for the No objection Prior Haven, Billigshurst construction of a pole Approval barn for hay and Not agricultural equipment. Required DC/20/0750 43 Woodfield Road, Conversion of rear No objection to the Permitted Rudgwick conservatory into a amendment 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 Applicant Reason for Application RPC Planning No Recommendation Committee Date none Appeals Lodged / Appeals Decided Appeals Lodged / Appeals Decided – Rudgwick Parish Council Meeting 12.10.2020 Application No Applicant Reason for Application 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 27th September. 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 4 image 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.