POYNINGS PARISH COUNCIL

Clerk to the Council

Mrs Nicki Cutress

West End Cottage

The Street

Poynings BN45 7AQ

01273 857221 

UNCONFIRMED

Minutes of the meeting of Poynings Parish Council held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 6^th March 2007

Present:                        Mr Mark Lee                 Chairman

                                    Mr Les Lowin,                Vice Chairman

Ms Sheila Marshall

                                    Mr Malcolm Johnson     

                                    Mrs Nicki Cutress          Clerk to the Council

                                    Mr Peter Griffiths         County Councillor

No apologies were received.

Three members of the public attended.

1.     Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting had been circulated.   It was agreed that we will maintain the fingerposts in the village once they have been upgraded by WSCC. Maintenance of posts in neighbouring Parishes, should be the responsibility of that Parish.

2.     Matters Arising

There were no further matters arising.

3.     Planning

(a)    2 Park Farm Cottages – extension to existing house and 2 bungalows – the Parish Council has objected to this application.

(b)   Devils Dyke Hotel – new entrance door and patio area – the Parish had no objections to this application.

(c)    Mill House – reinstate mill including 2 storey and single storey extensions – the Parish Council had no objections to this application.

4.     Expenditure

The following amounts were agreed for the period January and February 2007.  proposed by LL and seconded by SM.

Date      Payee                                          Amount

9.1.07    N Cutress – ¼ salary ( Oct-Dec)   £200.00

24.1.07  Royal Oak – Old Folks Party        £300.00

                                      TOTAL              £500.00

Receipts for January and February 2007

28.2.07  Bowley – Headstone for Howes    £30.00

                                        TOTAL              £30.00

5.     Any Other Business

(a)    Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee

Peter Griffiths now chairs this committee and gave an overview of some of the activity it undertakes. Primary Care Trust(explain) proposals are due in May re a strategy for providing acute care.  Princess Royal and RSCH have committed to improve in 6 specific areas and have under-performed in 2 of these: ambulance response times  (especially in rural areas) and car parking.  He outlined the plan to install local response units in rural areas to ease the problems of ambulance response times.  Volunteers run these local response units, one is currently based in Hurstpierpoint.

(b)   Handcross Hill

Work is due to start on the improvements to this stretch of the A23 in 2010.  The consultation process will begin in 2008.  The new road will be three lanes wide in both directions and this will involve removing the central reservation.  Various conservation initiatives will be integrated into the road works including: new ponds; dormice tunnels / bridges; bat wires and protection of the historic woods nearby.

(c) Waste

The newly refurbished waste site at Burgess Hill is due to re-open on Maundy Thursday.

(d)   Fingerposts at Saddlescombe

PG has contacted the Conservation Board about the replacement of the fingerposts at the junction of Sadlescombe and the road to Devils Dyke.  They have agreed to replace them.

(e)    Village Sign

The Parish Council has received a cheque for £1000 from WSCC Community Grant Scheme towards the cost of the Village Sign.  Many thanks to Peter Griffiths for his support of our application.  MJ gave an update of the progress:  MJ has had a site meeting with WSCC Highways and a final site within Cora’s Corner has been confirmed.  WSCC Highways are to check with the utility companies and once confirmation is received from them that there will be no problems with the installation, the Parish Council will apply to WSCC for a licence for the installation.  MJ is to lift some pavers in the locality to check the footings.  It is hoped that the sign will be erected in May.  An un-veiling ceremony will be arranged.

(f)    Village Cups

SM suggested that the horticulture cup that Bob Powell returned to the Parish Council should be awarded to the best allotment / garden.  SM will follow this up.

(g)    A281 – traffic calming

It was agreed that the traffic calming works that are happening along the A281 from Henfield to A23 have involved the erection of far too many new signs.

(h)    Causeway

Due to high winds and lots of rain a tree along the top half of the causeway has fallen dawn.  MJ is to monitor the situation once the site is cleared.

(i)     Cora’s Corner

The steps from Cora’s Walk to Cora’s Corner are very slippery in wet weather.  Chris and Mike Airey have agreed to clean them. – Many thanks!

(j)     Internal Auditor

Due to Nigel Lewis moving to Guernsey the Parish Council is without an internal auditor.  It was agreed that the Clerk should approach local accountants.

(k)    Gravel on road

The Clerk is to contact WSCC Highways regarding the excessive gravel on The Street opposite Forge Garage.

(l)     Cemetery

It was agreed that Simon Zec should continue with the maintenance of the cemetery and village.  It was noted that he had already undertaken a first cut of the cemetery.

(m)   Cemetery bin

It was agreed that the Clerk should approach MSDC regarding the possibility of a wheelie bin for the cemetery once the new refuse collection service starts in the summer.

6.     Date of next meeting

The Parish Council is due for re-election on Thursday 3^rd May.  Nomination papers must be at MSDC offices in Haywards Heath by noon on 4^th April.  Anyone wishing to stand for election should contact MSDC for a nomination form.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on TUESDAY 15^TH MAY.  This will incorporate the AGM, following the elections on 3^rd May. 

Meeting Closed at 8.45pm