THE MINUTES OF FRANT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT ERIDGE PARISH HALL ON WEDNESDAY 18TH AUGUST 2004 AT 7.30 PM

Present: Councillors Jeal (Chairman), Crookshank, Mrs Farebrother, Freestone, Hewes, Miles and Mrs Myers.
Also in attendance: County Cllr. Tidy and four members of the public.

1. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies received from Cllrs Hall, Mrs Howell and Rowland.

2. TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING The minutes of the last meeting were approved and signed.

3. TO DETERMINE MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
Website - site to be maintained by Mr Harte; there will be strict controls on advertisements. Promotional leaflet to be reviewed prior to launch of site: article to be placed in Parish Plus. Quarterly reviews to assess usage and consider comments.
Play equipment/Burma Bridge - bricks removed.

4. OPEN FORUM A representative from the Bells Yew Green Society expressed concern that WDC is not supporting a proposal for residential units at the Rawsons site. Residents consider housing is needed in the centre of the village to address the predominance of industrial sites. Agents gave a presentation at the April meeting of their proposal for the 43 dwellings, B1 offices and a retail unit. Cllrs. are supportive of the principle of new dwellings; a recommendation cannot be considered until a planning application has been submitted and considered in detail. WDC is aware of the strong local opinion of the need for housing. There are a number of processes to follow including the need to prove site is no longer viable for commercial use.

5. POLICE REPORT Reflex Printed Plastics reported three break-ins over the last three months. Clerk to contact Inspector Richard Allum to request recent Police statistics for the parish.

6. TO RECEIVE THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT
Final recommendations of ESCC divisions have now been published; changes to take effect from the May 2005 elections. There will be an increase in County Cllrs. to 49 from the present 44; some wards will have two members. Wadhurst Division will comprise Mayfield, Rotherfield, Wadhurst and Bells Yew Green/Frant of Frant/Withyham.
Broadband is now enabled; users wishing to sign up need to contact their service provider.
ESCC are supporting a good trader scheme aimed at providing a database of reputable small companies suitable for carrying out work in private homes. Scheme is in response to complaints of poor workmanship and excessive costs. Scheme to be launched in September.

7. TO RECEIVE THE DISTRICT COUNCILLOR'S REPORT Members have attended a Standards and Ethics Seminar. Recommendation not to conduct site visits for planning applications was overruled; members consider site visits to be an important part of the planning process. The Standards Board has received over 800 complaints about Parish Cllrs; care is needed to ensure interests are disclosed and comments are made with caution.

8. HIGHWAYS
TO REVIEW REQUEST FOR SPEED MANAGEMENT AT LITTLE BAYHAM Request for a review of speed management at Little Bayham due to excessive traffic speed between Bells Yew Green and Win Bridge and poor visibility exiting the Bayham Abbey estate and Forge garage. ESCC conducted a review; location does not meet criteria for imposing a speed restriction. White lines introduced to prohibit overtaking; 'Little Bayham' signs erected to indicate a small hamlet and encourage motorists to proceed with caution. There are no warning signs on this straight stretch of road; 'slow' road markings can only be used to accompany an area covered by warning signs.

9. PLANNING
TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING.
Cllr. Mrs Myers declared a personal interest in view of her duties as a District Cllr. and did not take part in any discussion or vote.
A list of planning recommendations had been forwarded to councillors for consideration.

The following recommendations were unanimously agreed unless otherwise stated.
WD/04/1674/F Reflex Printed Plastics, Bells Yew Green Road - change of use from office to residential on top floor only - No objection.
WD/04/1827/F 2 Bayham Abbey Farm Buildings, Little Bayham - oak framed extension to house swimming pool.
The Council supports this planning application and considers that the structure and materials used will not be intrusive in this sensitive area.
WD/04/2023/F 31 High Street - conversion of roof space into bedroom. Alteration of internal partitions to provide larger bathroom.
Cllr. Hewes declared a personal interest.
Whilst the Council supports the need to improve the internal layout of this dwelling, it is concerned about the installation of a conservation standard roof light in the north elevation. It appears to conflict with EN19 of the Wealden Local Plan Dec 98 in that the roof light neither enhances the property's existing character nor improves the visual amenity. The roof light will be visible from several locations in the High Street.
The property is one of four terraced cottages which form an important part of the street scene in Frant High Street. It is also Listed and located in the Frant Conservation Area. Therefore any changes to the clay tile roof must reflect the sensitivity of the location.

WDC permission granted for the following applications:
WD/04/0941/F - conservatory at Bohemia Lodge, Eridge.
WD/04/1399/F - demolition and rebuild at Comptons, Down Lane.
WD/04/1472/F - outbuilding conversion at Bartley Mill Farmhouse.

10. TO REVIEW WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL/TOWN AND PARISH COUNCIL 'CODE OF PRACTICE'
WDC Town and Parish Council Code of Practice distributed to Cllrs. for review before the meeting. Comment that the paper copy of the weekly planning list may not be required in future with the increased use of internet.

11. FINANCE TO APPROVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

It was resolved to pay the following accounts:
   
£
Auto Nat West - voucher charge
3.25
DD Seeboard - maintenance charge
113.01
663 J Streets - cleaning duties
54.16
664 Eridge Parish Hall - meeting 18.08.04
15.00
665 salary and expenses
399.74
666 Post Office Ltd - tax/NICs
137.50
667 Playground Management Services - annual inspection
78.14
Playground Management annual inspection paid under LG(MP)A 1976 s.19.
Bank reconciliation at 3.08.04
Balance B/F
15930.98
Receipts
11847.06
Payments
(6097.76)
21680.28
Current account
400.00
Business Reserve
21334.28
22846.87
Less unpresented items
655
14.00
661
40.00
21680.28

12. ACTION PLAN UPDATE
TO CONSIDER REPLACEMENT/REFURBISHMENT OF NOTICE BOARDS To be considered at September meeting.

UPDATE ON VICTORIA WELL REFURBISHMENT Refurbishment has commenced; comments received on the high standard of workmanship. Cllr. Mrs Harris to take photographic record of repairs (agreed 21.07.04).

13. FRANT GREEN
TO CONSIDER REQUEST FOR A MEMORIAL TREE
Request for a memorial tree for the late Mr & Mrs Beck. In accordance with tree policy, a new tree may be planted to replace the dead Cherry tree which was recently removed. Resolved to allow a Sorbus Aria Lutescens to be planted in a location to be agreed with the Council; label/plaque not considered suitable. Tree should be protected with a stake and strim guard. Clerk to ask Mrs Hindley to liaise with Cllr. Freestone, Trustee of Frant Green, on location of new tree.

TO CONSIDER SUITABILITY OF FIR TREES OPPOSITE FRANT COURT
Complaint received that fir trees opposite Frant Court are not suitable and have grown very large. These trees were not included in the recent tree audit and are believed to be self seeded. Pend to next meeting for discussion with Cllr. Mrs Howell, tree warden.

TO CONSIDER REPAIR TO STEPS OPPOSITE FRANT SHOP Arrangements in hand for a replacement railway sleeper to be installed at steps opposite the shop.

14. REVIEW OF CONSULTATION ON AFFORDABLE HOMES PROPOSAL HELD 5.08.04 Successful consultation held 5.08.04; many enquiries received on how to apply for one of the units.

15. CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTNG
The following items of correspondence were discussed:
- Letter of thanks received for Parish Council's help in an alteration to the name sign of Shernfold Park.
- RoSPA report received on inspection of play equipment - to be reviewed at September meeting.
All other correspondence was dealt with during the course of the meeting and detailed on a separate list circulated to councillors.

16. URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN
Report of a traffic accident involving a deer near Sunninglye.
One handle of the seesaw has come off, another is loose - Cllrs. Hewes and Miles to attend.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20 pm.