POYNINGS PARISH COUNCIL  

Clerk to the Council
Mrs Nicki Cutress 
West End Cottage

The Street
Poynings.  BN45 7AQ

Tel: 01273 857221 

UNCONFIRMED

Minutes of the meeting of Poynings Parish Council held in the Village Hall on  

Tuesday 1^st July 2008 

Present:  Mr Mark Lee                                Chair
                Ms Sheila Marshall                       Vice Chair

                Mr Malcolm Johnson

                 Mrs Astri Souch

                 Mr Colin Warburton

                 Mrs Nicki Cutress                        Clerk to the Council

                 Mrs Margaret Hersey                  Chair MSDC

                 Mr Christopher Hersey               Member of MSDC
                Mrs Gina Field                                District Councillor

                 Mr Peter Griffiths                         County Councillor

No apologies were received. 

Five members of the public attended 

The Chairman welcomed Mr and Mrs Hersey to the Parish Council meeting. 

1.    Minutes 

The Minutes of the previous meeting, as circulated, were approved and duly signed by the Chairman. 

2.    Matters Arising 

(a)  Transition Group 

Mike Airey gave a further update regarding the transition town movement and said that Poynings does not have much resilience as a self-contained settlement.  He has various ideas about the sustainability of the village and proposes to hold a village meeting in the future.  ML suggested that more information be included in the next newsletter and details of the forthcoming meeting be advertised. 

3.    Planning Applications 

(a)  Rushfield Farm Shop – this has been passed by MSDC 

(b)  Rushfield Paddock – ground floor extension – passed by MSDC 

4.    Expenditure 

The following amounts were authorised for the period May and June 2008. 

Date                Payee                                                       Amount

13.5.08           MSDC – Dog Bin Maintenance              £157.26

13.5.08         SALC – Subs                                             £89.44

13.5.08          Allianz Cornhill                                        £451.24

                                                                   TOTAL     £697.94 

Amounts received for the period May and June 2008 

13.6.08            VAT Repaid                                              £95.18

24.6.08           Bowley – Burial Fee – M Franks           £15.00

24.6.08          Memorial Fee – A Short                          £5.00

                                                                    TOTAL      £115.18 

The Clerk advised that the bank account was looking very depleted and that once all outstanding cheques were paid there would be little over £50 in the current account.  It was proposed by ML and seconded by CW that we withdraw £1000 from the National Savings account and pay this into the current account to cover expenses for the rest of the year. 

5.    Any Other Business 

(a)  Cemetery charges 

In light of the state of cash flow the Clerk had reviewed the current cemetery charges and circulated them to the Council.  Up to date charges from Hurstpierpoint and Henfield Parish Councils had been sought and were also circulated.  As a consensus could not be reached it was agreed that this would be discussed further at the next meeting when all had a chance to study the figures in more detail. 

(b)  Peter Griffiths 

PG said that we should continue to use the Highway Rangers to undertake tasks around the village.  They are an underused facility.  The Clerk confirmed that she regularly gave them lists of jobs to do!  And would continue to do so! 

PG confirmed that the final decision as to what was happening to local hospitals was due in July.  It was thought that the Secretary of State would then be called in to look into the impact the decision would have on residents of West Sussex. 

(c)  Gina Field 

GF updated us on the state of play regarding the Beachdown Festival and advised all present to keep the police informed if and when the need arises over the Bank Holiday weekend.  An informal observance group is being formed to record sound, take pictures etc.   

GF advised of the by-election following the resignation of Christopher Maidment.  A vote of thanks was given to Christopher for all his hard work in the locality. 

GF brought up again the question of Poynings undertaking a Housing Needs Survey.  It was agreed that we would not undertake a survey.  The Clerk is to inform Suzanna Kemp of the decision.

(d)  Mill Lane 

MJ advised that the Public Footpath sign at the top of Mill Lane / Causeway was missing.  The Clerk will follow this up. 

6.    Date of Next Meeting 

The next meeting of The Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 2^nd September at 7pm.  All welcome. 

The Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 9pm.