Parish Council Minutes 12 April 2016

Cllrs. Blandford (Chairman), Cox, Hall, Harding, McQuarrie, Milner, Mulvagh, Roberts, Rose, Sheard, Skinner and Warner.

Also present: ESCC Cllr Galley, WDC Cllr Lunn and Clerks Beccy Macklen and Claudine Feltham.

6. Jacky Downing secretary of the URLPC (made up of representatives from parishes along the rail line), advised that the group liaises with all rail bodies/authorities along the line and has short, medium and long term aims to improve the rail service. One long term aim is to relink Uckfield to Lewes, which was closed in 1969 due to a new road system in Lewes. Various investigations over the years have established the required engineering works are still viable, but the business case has not yet been proven. The Brighton line is full to capacity, with the Tunbridge Wells line nearly full. The Buxted line was never meant as a branch line, but a main line and BML2 gives the best possible chance to relink to Lewes – creating a new route into Brighton. URLPC strongly support BML2. The Government is currently carrying out an assessment of BML2 with the results due in October. It is hoped that Buxted PC are able to show support for BML2.

A member of the Wealden Line campaign, Nigel Field, supported everything said by Jacky Downing and the URLPC. Works to BML2 shouldn’t damage heritage. He walks the line every two years and notes the track bed has been conserved.

Eliza Richardson hopes that the parish council consider the short term disruption BML2 would have on residents and those who use the line. The logistics of reopening the Uckfield to Lewes line needs a lot more investigation. She commented that she is not necessarily against the idea, but details of how it would be achieved are not yet available so it is difficult to gauge the disruption it would cause.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies received and accepted from WDC Cllr. Illingworth

DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS

Cllr. Blandford declared personal interests in any matters relating to the community hall by virtue of being members of the Hall or Ionides Trusts appointed by the Council.

Cllrs. McQuarrie and Skinner declared a personal interest in matters relating to the Ionides land (including the surgery/land/hall) by virtue of being a member of the Ionides Trust.

Cllr. Rose declared a prejudicial interest in any matters relating to the land west of Church Road (Taylor Wimpey site) due to having owned part of the application site and a personal interest in the Ionides Surgery/Hall site due to having a business opposite the land.

Cllr. Cox declared a personal interested in any matters relating to allotments due to being an allotment holder.

Cllr. Milner declared a personal interest in any matters relating to the parish council website due to being a personal friend of the parish council’s website consultant.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th March 2016 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record of the meeting.

ESCC/WDC REPORT

Cllr. Galley reported that much of the focus at ESCC has been on boundary changes and devolution. He also wanted to ensure that there was no confusion regarding the £55,000 developer contributions for traffic calming in or around Five Ash Down and that money is still allocated. The clerk advised that ESCC Highways have been asked if the definition of ‘in or around’ could stretch to the area outside Buxted School – an answer is awaited. It was suggested that this question also be directed towards WDC Planning as the relevant planning authority. Clerk to make this request.

Cllr Lunn address the members referring to a document received from WDC which highlights a number of planning judgements against district councils which do not have a current 5 year housing supply. WDC is also in this position and is therefore could be susceptible to developers obtaining planning permission in locations not allocated or due to be allocated for development through the emerging local Plan. WDC are still able to object to any planning application based on relevant other policies, but it leaves WDC in a vulnerable position. The portfolio holder for planning has requested a meeting with the Government minister for planning regarding this situation.

Litter – WDC have full responsibility for litter within the District. It is a key issue and is particularly bad in some areas. Wealden is currently working to raise this on the agenda and to ensure litter is cleared as soon as possible as verges are rapidly growing.

Gatwick – representatives from Gatwick visited WDC in order for councillors to scrutinise the airports plans for a second runway. WDC has maintained its positon that Gatwick is not the ideal location for a central hub airport although it is aware that issues around Heathrow are still unanswered. Details of the debate are available on the WDC website:

The chairman asked Cllr. Lunn if the current planning situation could make any difference on the possible redevelopment of the Buxted Reading Room. It was advised that it could, but we would have to legally challenge the section 106 planning agreement to release the land for development.

In answer to a question, Cllr. Lunn agreed that key performance indicators would exist for the contractors, Kier, in relation to litter picking.

Cllr. Lunn was asked if Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money would ever be re-allocated towards BML2. He advised that at the present time, BML2 is purely a concept, but should the project be formally approved, it would need funding and CIL could hypothetically be allocated toward this.

BML2 LINE – IN FAVOUR OR NOT?

Prior to the meeting, the clerk asked parishioners the simple question – BML2 for or Against? on

the parish council website, Buxted E-Community, the parish council Facebook Page and the Buxted Talk Facebook Page.

In total 34 responses were received either directly or through the Facebook pages with 30 being in favour of BML2 and 4 being against.

Whilst acknowledging that there was a clear majority in favour of the BML2 scheme, the four responses against raised some very valid and relevant points.

The chairman introduced the item advising that no one on the parish council is an expert on this subject and are only as informed/knowledgeable on the basis of information currently available.

Members discussed in some detail the previous resolution made by the parish council in 2011 which supported the opening of the Lewes to Uckfield line and broadly supported BML2 on the proviso that sufficient infrastructure is also put in place to support the scheme.

Members also discussed the benefits that could be provided for the local economy, however Buxted is the only small village along the line and we constantly have complaints about parking. Would increasing the trains add further pressure on parking and potentially extra housing? It should also asked whether double tracking and electrifying the track would mean that fast track trains would no longer stop in Buxted with such regularity?

It was noted however that when the track originally ran in both directions, more tickets were sold southbound than northbound. A southbound line is much needed.

Therefore, whilst recognising that the devil of the project would be in the detail, it was resolved that in principle, the council supports the BML2 project.

It would consider the matter again if/when the project develops and more details are available.

OUTSTANDING MATTERS

Annual Assembly 2016: The Chairman updated that an advert has been included in the May editions of the Buxted Messenger and High Hurstwood Review, on the parish council website. Large notices are currently being made and will be erected in each village.

Gatwick: Nothing to report – see update in minute 04/04/16 above

Public Footpaths: Nothing to report

Trees: Nothing to report

Road Safety: Following a number of concerns raised by parishioners, it has been confirmed by the Police that parking is no longer a Police responsibility. Members feel that the loss of PCSO’s will have a huge detrimental impact on local policing, specifically parking in Buxted.

Cllr. Mulvagh commented that he had attend an event on the future of Policing in Sussex which advised that PCSO’s will be disbanded in their current position from July 2016 and reemployed at a higher level, but would only attend specific incidents and no longer prove a presence within the community.

The clerk and councillors were therefore advised that if they receive queries regarding parking issues, members of the public should report these to Operation Crackdown and the 101 police number. The chairman would also attend the Hustings event to highlight to the Police and Crime Commissioner candidates the detrimental effect that the loss of PCSO’s will have at a local level. The clerk was asked to add this to the parish council website and a poster be created to advise members of the public where to report inconsiderate or illegal parking.

Ionides New Play Equipment: An Ionides meeting to take place this week, update at the next meeting.

New Community Hall: BCHT meeting this week, update at the next meeting.

Potential New Car Park: The clerks updated that Network Rail have been asked what were the construction and running costs of the new station car park in Uckfield.

Cllr. Johnson asked why the empty piece of land to the rear of the platform at Buxted station could not be used to extend the car park. It was advised that this area is used as emergency access to the line.

Defibrillators: The clerk updated that the ‘just giving’ page has now been set up through the Community Heart Beat Trust; that collection boxes/tins are ready to be placed in various locations within the parish and a letter has been drafted to businesses within the parish requesting donations towards the defibrillators.

Wealden Local Development Framework: Nothing to report.

Property Issues: Confirmation of legal expenditure to register land owned by the parish council – Although the parish council has previously agreed to the clerk undertaking the registering of unregistered parish council owned land, an update was provided to advise that estimated costs to register four pieces of land would be approximately £3000. The parish council has sufficient ear marked reserves, but it was thought important to update members as the matte progresses. Proposed by Cllr. Rose and seconded by Cllr. Roberts.

Communication Matters: Nothing to report.

CORRESPONDENCE

P1 Boundary Commission: Draft recommendations for boundary review for Wealden – The parish council raises no objections to the draft recommendations

P2 Maresfield PC: Parishes working together – do we want to participate? – Members agreed that a representative (the clerk) could attend the meetings but the parish council could not commit to any joint services.

P3 Sussex Police: Hustings Events – to hear from proposed Police and Crime Commissioner candidates – Cllr. Blandford to attend.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

None

FINANCE

i) Payments: On the proposal of Cllr. Rose, seconded by Cllr. Roberts, payments totalling £5,649.85 covered by cheque numbers 750 and 763 were approved.

ii) Bank reconciliations: The clerk had circulated completed a reconciliation for March which were signed

OTHER MEETINGS

Cllr. Mulvagh attended an event regarding the future of Policing in Sussex advising that savings of £57m have been made to date with a further £35m required to be saved over the next four years. As a result of this, a central resolution centre is to be created in Hailsham which will essentially be an initial response team. Priorities for Policing have been refocused with resources now being directed towards cyber-crime and abuse. The PCSO role (as indicated above) is being re-designed, based solely in Hailsham and turned into a problem solving role and their skills will be enhanced in order to be as effective as possible in the communities they are deployed. Unfortunately, though, for parishes, this means we will no longer have a PCSO allocated to the parish to deal with day to day issues as they arise.

Cllrs. Roberts and Warner attended a SALC training session.

MEMBERS QUESTIONS

Cllr. Lunn highlighted the missing road sign at the Coopers Green traffic lights. Clerk to advise ESCC Highways.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cllr. Blandford read out a thank you letter from ex councillor Francis Harding.

The main meeting closed at 8.22p.m.

The parish council then went into closed session following a resolution by the council in accordance with Buxted Parish Council Standing Order 1c. Matters to be discussed were considered to be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business.

Meeting closed at 8.40pm