THE MINUTES OF FRANT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT BELLS YEW GREEN VILLAGE HALL ON WEDNESDAY 20 JULY 2005 AT 19:30

Present: Councillors Crookshank (Vice-Chairman), Burgess, Freestone, Mrs Howell and Miles.

Also in attendance: There were no members of the public in attendance.

1. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASON FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllrs Jeal (Chairman), Hall, Mrs Harris, Mrs Myers and Rowland; reason noted and accepted.

2. TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AS A TRUE RECORD
The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a true record and signed.

3. TO DETERMINE MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES FOR UPDATING AND NOTING
Play equipment – Cllrs. Crookshank and Miles to attend to protruding bolts on base of roundabout.

4. OPEN FORUM
None.

5. POLICE REPORT
Parish crime report received from PCSO Angela Chapman; during the last month there have been two stolen vehicles, damage to a vehicle, a stereo stolen from a car, machinery stolen from a timber yard and the theft of fishing equipment. Report of a delay in responding to a 999 call due to problems with boundary issues and call centre being unable to locate Frant.

Dave Smith, Crime Prevention Officer is to arrange for regular updates of reported crimes in the parish as part of the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

6. TO RECEIVE THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
None.

7. TO RECEIVE THE DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
None.

8. ACTION POINTS
TO REVIEW TRAFFIC SPEED PROBLEMS IN FRANT
The speed of traffic in the centre of the villages continues to be a problem; there are no visible deterrents to discourage motorists from speeding. An illuminated warning sign has recently been installed at Mark Cross as part of a rural community safety initiative. Comment that the Mark Cross sign is close to a junction; the proximity to junctions and the start of the speed restriction were given as reasons why a Speed Indicator Device (SID) could not be used in Frant and Bells Yew Green. Agreed to make further enquiries about possibility of using a SID in the parish.

9. PLANNING
TO RATIFY RECOMMENDATION FOR PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Resolved to ratify the following recommendations:
WD/2005/1619/F 3 Tangier Lane, Frant – two-storey extension.
No objection.
WD/2005/1640/LB Mastingate, Frant – recovering of existing felt roof of the covered area on the South elevation.
No objection.
WD/2005/1639/LB Tollgate, Frant – recovering the existing felt roof of porch.
No objection.
WD/2005/1222/F Court Lodge Barn, Bells Yew Green – conversion of disused barn to form single holiday unit.
This Council does not object to this application and supports the conversion of a disused barn for commercial use in this rural and sensitive area. This Council does recommend that planning conditions, by mutual agreement are attached to the dwelling in the event of planning permission being granted
• limiting the use of the holiday let to specific periods of the year, and
• applying a Section 106 Agreement tieing dwelling to the main property i.e. Court Lodge

TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING.
Resolved to respond to the planning applications received since the last meeting as follows:
WD/2005/1672/F Montacute Cottage, Frant Road – two storey side extension and alteration to roof.
No objection providing all materials used match existing.
WD/2005/1697/LB Greenwood, Frant – replacement porch door and frame.
No objection.
WD/2005/1732/F Cornhill, Manor Farm – alteration and extension to provide new kitchen/dining area on ground floor with new side entrance porch and one new bedroom on first floor. Alteration to existing bedroom and bathroom.
This Council supports the changes proposed in this Grade ll Listed Building planning application because the building alterations will neither be intrusive in the landscape nor detrimental to the rural setting. Thus meeting the conditions of DC19 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998.
WD/2005/1735/F & 1736/LB Cornhill, Manor Farm – replacement garage.
This Council supports the changes proposed in this Grade ll Listed Building planning application because the building alterations will neither be intrusive in the landscape nor detrimental to the rural setting. Thus meeting the conditions of DC19 of the Wealden Local Plan 1998.
WD/2005/1804/F Crestala Fencing, South Farm, Langton Green – portakabin for use as office.
No objection.
WD/2005/1754/OH Pounds Rough, Bells Yew Green – overhead line.
No objection.

The application for Tyburn Buildings has been approved.

TO CONSIDER LICENCE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
Under the Licensing Act 2003, all premises serving alcohol or late night food and entertainment must apply for a licence.
The licence for the Brecknock Arms has already been approved. The terms of the applications for The George and The Abergavenny Arms were discussed and noted. A licence can be reviewed if a nuisance is being caused.

10. TO REVIEW PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOMES
The shared ownership property in Eridge is available; there was a delay in notifying the Parish Council due to a lack of communication. There have been problems in transferring the property in the past as the applicant must obtain a mortgage in addition to paying rent. The Housing Association has been asked to consider buying back the remaining share of the ownership; the property would then be for rent only.
The definition of affordable housing from the Supplementary Planning Guidance is as follows:
Affordable Housing is defined as housing that is provided with private or public subsidy, for local people who are unable to meet their housing needs in the local housing market because of the relationship between housing costs and incomes.
In Wealden, affordable housing is usually for rent through assured tenancies and managed by a Registered Social Landlord. There are 71 entries on the Housing Register for people who want to live in Frant parish as their first or second choice. 14 of the applicants have completed a local connection criteria form; these forms were only introduced last summer and many of the existing applicants will comply with local connection requirements.
Concern that there could be an excess of affordable properties in the parish in future with Government requirements dictating a percentage of affordable homes within new large residential developments.

11. ACTION POINTS
TO NOTE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEATHER ON FRANT GREEN
The warden for TW Common suggested introducing seed from similar heather and to take advice from the Weald Heathland Initiative. Advice received that any cutting should be done in the winter when the plant is semi dormant and to wait until next year to see if the stock has recovered.

12. FINANCE
TO CONSIDER GRANT REQUEST FROM SUSSEX AIR AMBULANCE
Resolved to pay £100 to the Sussex Air Ambulance Appeal under LGA 1972 s137 for the benefit of residents.

TO REVIEW REPORT FROM INTERNAL AUDITOR
Report not yet received.

TO REVIEW SPEND AGAINST BUDGET
Spend of £5083 is on track against a budget of £25700.

TO CONSIDER ALTERATION TO TERMS OF GRANT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BELLS YEW GREEN VILLAGE HALL
A grant of £2000 was agreed 15.09.04 for improvements to the disabled facilities. Request received from the management committee to utilise the funds for general improvements to the hall; the plan is to start work on roof insulation in the next few weeks to minimise disruption to users. Resolved to amend terms of grant of £2000 to general improvements.

TO APPROVE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

It was resolved to pay the following accounts:		£
Auto	Nat West – voucher charge	3.25
DD	EDF Energy - maintenance charge	119.46
754	Frant Memorial Hall – hire 20.07.05	14.00
755	Seeboard Energy – 1.04 – 30.06	261.20
756	Wadhurst Parish Council – VAT on chq 753 re computer	3.72
757	Citizens Advice Bureau – grant	200.00
758	Salary and expenses	495.73
759	Post Office Ltd – tax/NICs	162.12
760	Sussex Air Ambulance Appeal – grant	100.00
761	Bells Yew Green Village Hall – grant	2000.00

Payments authorised:
Grant to Citizens Advice Bureau agreed 15.06.05 item 12 under LGA 1972 s142.
Grant to Bells Yew Green Village Hall agreed 15.09.04 item 13 under LG(MP)A 1976 s19 and amendment approved 20.07.05 item 12.
Grant to Sussex Air Ambulance agreed 20.07.05 item 12 under LGA 1972 s137.

13. CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING
The following items of correspondence were discussed:
- Appeal for Baker Construction site has been dismissed.
- ODPM has issued guidance on dealing with problems with High Hedges and complaining to the council.
- WDC/Parish conference 23.11.05 – Cllrs. Crookshank and Mrs Howell to attend.
- CPRE conference on Local Planning – The New System to be held 18.10.05 in Heathfield – Cllrs. Crookshank and Freestone to attend. The cost of £5 per attendee to be ratified at the meeting.
- ESCC inviting bids for projects to address crime and the fear of crime under a Community Fund – Cllrs. to consider possible projects.

All other correspondence was dealt with during the course of the meeting and detailed on a separate list circulated to councillors.

14. URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON FUTURE AGENDA
Request for kerbing to installed on green between entrance to Conifers and Firs. The edge of the green is being eroded by traffic; repairs had previously been undertaken by a nearby resident who is no longer able to help. A quote of £600 has been received from Graham Thorpe for installing rural sets. Cllrs. to view site before next meeting.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:40.