Poynings from the Downs
 

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 10th January 2006

 

Present:                        Mr Mark Lee                      Chairman

                                    Mr Les Lowin               Vice Chairman

                                    Ms Sheila Marshall

                                    Mr Malcolm Johnson

                                    Mrs Julia Lewis

 

                                     Mrs Nicki Cutress            Clerk to the Council

 

No apologies were received

 

Two members of the public attended.

 

1.     Minutes

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

 

2.     Matters Arising

(a)    Sewage Works

The work to rectify the odour problem has been started and is being monitored closely.  The Council has been advised that the work will be completed by March 2006.

 

(b)   Bus Stop

The Clerk has been advised that the works order has been submitted for the bus stop to be moved closer to the shelter.  She will chase the works.

 

(c)    Parish Plan

MJ and NC attended a meeting of the Parish Plan Steering group.  MJ questioned the practical usefulness regarding planning concerns that the Parish Council has with MSDC.  He did not feel that his concerns regarding existing planning laws, the conservation area and AONB planning rules were answered to his satisfaction and the Clerk is to arrange a meeting with Mr Ed Sheaf at MSDC to discuss his concerns further. 

The next stage of the Parish Plan process is to begin writing up the Action Plan and then the initial process of producing the Design Statement can commence.

 

(d)   Traffic Speeds

The Clerk has spoken to WSCC re the Rural Village Speed programme and she is awaiting written confirmation of their proposals for Poynings.  Once these are received, a public meeting will be arranged to discuss any options that might be available.

(e) Play Park

JL reported that on inspection the requested works to mow and clear brambles had been carried out by MSDC.

 

3.     Planning

(a)    Shepherds Hey – trim broad leafed trees – passed by MSDC

(b)   Park Wood – Caving Complex – passed by MSDC.  The Clerk was asked to write to MSDC expressing concern that the amount of traffic entering and exiting the site on a dangerous bend might increase as a direct result of this additional amenity.

 

4.     Precept for 2006/7

 

Expenditure for 2005/6:

 

Clerk salary                                    800.00

Cemetery / churchyard mowing       937.50

General maintenance                       700.00

Insurance                                       408.00

Subscriptions                                  165.00

Audit                                               60.00  

Dog Bin maintenance                        120.00

Clerk expenditure

(incl. AGM refreshments)                 100.00 

Contribution to Old Folks Party     200.00

                             TOTAL        3490.50

 

Income for 2005/6:

 

Precept                                          2060.00

+Concurrent

(towards churchyard maintenance) 465.00

VAT repaid                                      70.00

Burial fees                                      55.00

              TOTAL                 2650.00

 

It was agreed that proposed expenditure for 2006/7 should include an additional £100 for the Old Folks Christmas Dinner (as agreed December 2004) and also a provision of approx. £100 for the production of the Parish Plan.  As expenditure outweighs income by about £1000 it was agreed (proposed LL, seconded MJ) to request an increase to our precept of 10% (equivalent to £200). The Clerk is also to request an increase to the concurrent we receive towards the maintenance of the churchyard.  The precept has not been increased for the past four years.

 

5.     Expenditure

The following amounts were authorised for the period November and December 2005.

Date                 Payee                                      Amount

28.11.05            Simon Zec – village tidying     £60.00

                                              TOTAL             £60.00

 

Income for November and December 2005

9.11.05             

Frank Davey – memorial fee – Davies                £5.00

29.11.05

Bowley Funeral services – burial of ashes       £50.00

                                              TOTAL             £55.00

6.     Cemetery Maintenance

It was agreed to offer the contract of mowing the cemetery and churchyard to Simon Zec, who has been doing general maintenance around the village throughout the past year.  He has quoted £35 per cut for the cemetery, £30 per cut for the churchyard and he will remove the cuttings.  The Clerk is to advise the contractors who have undertaken the task last year that we are not renewing their contract.

 

7.     Any Other Business

(a)    Old Folks Dinner

Following another very successful evening at the Royal Oak, the organisers were praised and thanked for all their hard work to ensure that the ‘Old Folk’ of Poynings had a super evening.  After many years involvement, Astri Souch, Joanne Lockyear and Sheila Marshall are now retiring and handing over the mantel of organising to Julia Lewis and Tara Stenning.  Dawn Shaw was responsible for selling raffle tickets.

 

(b)   Footballers

The Clerk has contacted MSDC re rubbish left by footballers on the field after matches at weekends.  There have also been reports of the fence between the field and neighbouring fields being broken down by footballers climbing over to retrieve balls.  MSDC have suggested that stiles may be erected and they are to speak to the landowner re this.  They will also speak to the footballers regarding the dropping of rubbish.

 

(c) Finger Posts

The Clerk was asked to look into the possibility of having the Finger Posts at the top of the Channel and outside Manor Cottages mended or replaced.  She will speak to Highways and SDCB about this and it was agreed if neither office were forthcoming then the Council would arrange for new posts to be made and erected at our own cost.

 

(c)    Glebe Cottage

LL advised that he would be applying for planning permission to erect two small eco-friendly cottages in his garden in the future and that this might compromise his position on the Council.

 

(d)   Grange Farm

MJ expressed concern that work appeared to have re-started at the site.  The Clerk is to contact WSCC and MSDC re this to ascertain what is happening.  What criteria / time scale was applied to the plans – the Clerk is to reference the original plans.

 

(e)    Roundabout

MJ asked about the state of play with the redevelopment of the roundabout.  SM stated that she was in consultation with the Gardening Group and an update would be in the next newsletter.

 

(f)    Village Sign

Astri Souch asked about the possibility of the Parish Council organising a village sign, as numerous parishioners in the Parish Plan questionnaire had raised it.  It was unanimously agrees that this was a good idea and MJ is to create a design and quote for the project.  It was agreed that a good site might be on Cora’s Corner as a central focal point of the village.

 

(g)    Village Hall

The issue of priority attendance at the Good Start School for Poynings children was discussed.  The Parish Council agreed that they have no influence in this matter and that all correspondence should be passed onto the Trustees who are responsible for the management of the Hall and the policy regarding its use.

It was agreed to remind villagers that the hall is available for letting and that Matt Cutress is the person to contact on 857221.

 

8.     Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 7th March at 7pm.  All welcome.

 

Meeting closed at 8.30pm  

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

click here for flight deals