MINUTES OF WHATLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 19th MARCH 2015 IN THE VILLAGE HALL FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY PRESENT:- Councillor Fisher in the Chair Councillors, Eade, Underhill and White District Councillors and Vereker County Councillor Field 1) OPEN SESSION / LATE ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY There were 9 local electors attending A parishioner asked if the council could do something about the blacked drains near Fair Moorings. The water not going down the storm water drain is running down the road gradually eroding the verges and taking all the earth along the road and into the blocked drains. The Highways had a while ago carried out work on the drain near Kinica but no other nearby drains. The clerk advised the council have been in contact with the Highways regarding blocked drains and they had said they will be clearing all the drains in May. The clerk will contact them again advising the blocked drain near their property. A parishioner asked if the council had considered having a Defibrillator sited in the village, if they did he was aware of monies being available to go towards the costs. The Chairman advised councillors had discussed this but had decided not to take it further. Councillor White said this was a matter that would be included when the Emergency Plan is discussed at the May council meeting LATE ITEMS No items 2) APOLOGIES Councillor Apthorp 3) DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST Councillor White declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in both 5.2 as his partner’s family are future owners of the land to be used and 12- Grants - as he is a member of the Village Hall Committee also a Personal interest in 6.3 as a member of the Village Hall Committee 4) MINUTES OF THE MEETING Minutes of the Meeting held on the 15th January 2015, copies of which had been circulated, were , confirmed and signed.by Councillor Fisher 5) MATTERS ARISING 5.1 Visit from Highways re possible new footpath from Riccards Lane to Village Hall- No visit yet due to their Busy work schedule but they have again promised to investigate when in the area. Councillor White declared his Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the following, but as only information was to be relayed he stayed in the meeting 5.2 Siting of new substation – Councillor White advised the he had spoken to Mr Moses from Freedom and was they have identified a suitable site for the 4’ x 4’ substation just off the A.21. This will progress further as soon as the identified land changes ownership in the coming weeks.. 6) CORRESPONDENCE 6.1 East Sussex County Council- Update on introducing faster Broadband to the parish Councillor Field had forwarded an email from East Sussex County Council advising timeframes for coverages in parishes. As Whatlington was not listed the clerk had contacted them and been advised parishioners can go on line to find out their area, cabinet number and dates for connection. www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSL Checker.TelephoneNumberOutput This information had been passed to the Newsletter editor, 6.2 National Association of Local Councils They have advised that there is a new audit code that must be complied with by July 2015. All transactions/items of expenditure above £100, where possibly excluding vat and confirming the date the expenditure was incurred and a summary of the purpose of the expenditure must be listed separately on the council web site. They must also be listed when an order is placed and not just when a cheque is issued, as the money is then committed. It is no longer sufficient just to include payments as we do now in the minutes. Page 2 of 2 CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED Councillor White declared a personal interest 6.3 Village Hall Committee- The committee have advised they will be amending clause 19 of the Hall Trust Deed which restricts use of the hall on Sundays to entertainments of a religious or cultural character. The clerk advised the parish council, as Custodian Trustees, are not the organisation to give permission for this. The committee need to write to the Charity Commission advising what they wish to do. It is also possible that permission will be needed from the church as the Commission have said the clause is unusual and may have been included as the building was originally a church hall. 6.4 Rother District Council - The Local Plan Core Strategy had been received and passed to councillors. 6.5 Action in Rural Sussex. They are holding a meeting in Mountfield Village Hall on 16th April 7.30pm - 9.00pm They will be putting forward their views on the future of halls and how they can help them councillors are invited to attend 7) Election Time Table - Election nomination forms had been received and passed to existing councillors and were available for the public from the clerk or direct from Rother. The forms need to be hand delivered between the 30th March and by 4.00pm on the 9th April. The forms can be checked when delivered and any amendments made in time. 8) REVIEW OF CHARGING POLICY. Policy reviewed and approved . 9) REVIEW OF EQUALITY POLICY Policy reviewed and approved 10) APPROVE NEW PHOTOGRAPING, FILMING AND AUDIO RECORDING POLICY Councillors approved the new policy 11) PLANNING RR2014/2961/P Bonnie Place GRANTED Appeal lodged RR2014/1922 Woods End Cottage Mr & Mrs Ivil RR2015/106/P Spilstead Farm Remodel land to improve visibility on airstrip Mr W. Cole The council have objected to the application RR2015/123/P 1 Forest Cottages Alterations to application GRANTED RR2015/477/P Willow Cottage. A.21 Extension to existing detached garage Mr T Shoobridge 12) FINANCE / GRANT REQUESTS The balance in Barclays bank as at 19th March 2015 was current account £729.98, this includes the refund of vat, Deposit account -£9050. There were 2 cheques to pay. 100669 V. Bennett - Salary - £1175.00 100670 V. Bennett Administration costs including £58.06 for new padlock and keys - £111.46 Both were agreed with cheques drawn and signed Councillor White declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following and took no part in the meeting GRANTS After discussion it was resolved to make the following grants- Under Section 137 K. Jones -Village Newsletter – To help with costs - 100673 - £100.00 Whatlington Parochial Church Council – Removal of hedge and replacement 100672 - £375.00 Good Companions - to help with groups costs . 100674 - £50.00 Under Section 133 Whatlington Village Hall – Help towards costs of repairs to the hall- 100671 - £375.00 13) DATE OF NEXT MEETING This will be the Annual Meeting of the council -Thursday 21st May 2015 at 7.30pm The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.40pm Minutes remain in draft format until approved at the next Meeting of the Council .