The following
is a summary of the main points discussed at the Council meeting on 1st
August.
Items for decision
Business in
Progress (Report 4)
a)
ESCC
require £3000 to begin design of Friston kerb buildout. Cllrs. asked for more
info. before approving.
b)
Concerns
raised about tourists in Birling Gap Road due to lack of buses.
c)
Two
offers to build replacement for damaged squeeze gate received.
d)
Frequency
of Cricket outfield mowing & footpath strimming to be checked.
e)
Manager
of The Tiger has confirmed that picnic tables on Village Green are for general
use & not reserved.
Admin.
Assistant
Following
interviews, Cllrs. approved the appointment of Ms Nicola Osborne.
Annual Village
Meeting: Follow up
Due to muted
support at the AVM for an NHS pop-up clinic, Cllrs. decided not to pursue.
Local GP surgery can offer this.
Quarterly
Finance Report (Q1)
Overall budget
underspent by £2000. Future capital projects list to be revised.
Replacement PC
noticeboards
Following the
improvements to Downlands Way shops, it was agreed to replace the PC
noticeboards with new metal framed ones.
Events programme
2019/20
a)
Cricket
Club are holding a fund raising event on 28th Sept. featuring
players from Sussex CCC. Cllrs. raised concerns about evening event. To be
discussed with club representatives.
b)
PC
will support Remembrance Sunday now that local British Legion Branch has been
wound up.
c)
Possibility
for fireworks at Christmas lights event to be pursued.
d)
Possibility
of VE Day event next May to be considered at Oct. meeting.
Dutch Elm
Disease
ESCC have now
withdrawn subsidy for felling diseased trees completely. PC will compensate by
increasing subsidy from 25% to 50%. Householders affected should contact Tree
Warden in the first place.
Councillor Reports
a)
County Councillor
Test work at Exceat
Bridge to be complete before Airbourne. No truth in rumours of boreholes at
Birling Gap.
b)
District Councillor
Wealden Council now committed to reducing carbon
emmissions. Problems with Planning enforcement raised with SDNPA. Community
Infrastructure Levy fund has over £1 million which should be spent.
c)
Chair of Council
Cycle race on 28th
July had caused great disruption. PC unable to influence race as allowed by
Home Office licence.
d)
Bank
Account
–
the end of month balance was £67,797.14.
e)
Fund
Raising
Decision on CIL funding for moving the cricket square
should be known by Sept.
f)
Rights of Way
Footpaths to be
surveyed for bark chip spreading this winter.
g)
Recreation
Ground
Remedial work carried out to play area equipment.
Maintenance contract to be considered for the future.
Next
Meetings
Parish Council
meeting; 3rd October
(No Council
meeting in September)
Planning
Committee: 17th September
The following is a summary of the main points discussed at the Council
meeting on 4th July.
Items for decision
Business
in Progress (Report 4)
a)
Replies awaited from ESCC re. warning signs on Birling Gap Road blind bend
and moving Downsview Lane bus stop.
b)
Offers received to contribute to replacing vandalised squeeze gate.
c)
Entrance to Recreation Ground has now been re-levelled by housing developer.
d)
Redundant and damaged litter bin at Friston Pond to be removed.
e)
Council grants for 2019 have now been paid to applicants.
Digital
land mapping The following is a summary of the main points discussed at the
Council meeting on 4th July
f)
to be referred to Neghbourhood Plan Steering Group.
g)
Fallen tree on Greensward to be referred to Residents’ Association.
Standing
Orders
Modification
to allow appointed lay advisors to participate in closed sessions approved.
Accessibility
Regulations for Website
Accessibility
statement for PC website to be prepared by Cllr. D’Urso before Sept. 2020.
Decommissioning
East Dean Phone Box
PC to
object to this on safety grounds due to poor mobile phone coverage. Should
appeal fail, PC may consider adopting box.
Councillor Reports
a)
County Councillor
Cllr. Shing
reported proposed transfer of Seven Sisters Park from ESCC to SDNPA to which he
was opposed.
Cllrs. raised the
traffic problems caused by traffic lights at Exceat Bridge to which he had not
been informed.
b)
District Councillor
Cllr. Lunn
reported problems with residents being unable to pay the new garden waste fee. He
was also pursuing the possibility of lights in the village car park. He has
been appointed Wealden’s rep on both the SDNPA and the Cuckmere Water
Management Board. He was raising the PC’s concerns on non-enforcement of
planning conditions and continuing to press MP on Post Office closure.
c)
“East Dean in Bloom”
Cllrs. and
volunteers have cleaned up Downlands Way shopping area and installed flower
tubs. This work jointly funded by the shops, the RA and the PC.
New notice boards
and signage to be considered around the village.
d)
Planning Committee
FOI request sent to SDNPA regarding enforcement
resources. Vanessa Rowlands from Cuckmere Valley PC elected as local rep to
SDNPA. She will be coming to next Planning Committee.
e)
Neighbourhood Plan
Consultations in the community and presentations to
local groups had begun.
f)
Bank Account
The end of month
balance was £70,418.73.
g)
Rights of Way
Some strimming has
been done in Downsview Lane but not hedge cutting. PC to organize. Other
footpaths with long grass to be followed up.
h)
Recreation Ground
ROSPA report has raised some safety concerns with play
equipment. Most serious to be taped off pending repairs. Further quote for
fencing to be obtained.
Next Meetings
Parish
Council meeting; 1st August
Planning
Committee: 20th August
The
following is a summary of the main points discussed at the Council meeting on 6th
June.
Public Session
Resident
complained about Estate Agents’ adverts promoting unrealistic house extension
possibilities. Cllrs. agreed to send copies of the VDS to agents.
Items for decision
Co-option
of Councillors
Councillors
approved the co-option of Mrs Joyce Walker. She joins Ms Beatrice Wheatley, who
was co-opted at the May meeting.
Business
in Progress (Report 4)
a)
Cllrs have queried final cost of the Friston kerb build out after
receiving an estimate of £3074 for the design stage.
b)
Cllrs. repeated request to ESCC for warning signs of pedestrians in road
along Birling Gap road.
c)
Contractor has been found to clear undergrowth from Downsview Lane.
d)
“No Parking on Pavement” signs to be installed opposite Downlands Way
shops.
Annual
Audit 2019
Internal
auditor has passed the accounts with no concerns. Recommended to keep formal
records of play area inspections. Accounts now go to external auditor.
Admin
Assistant
a)
Post to be re-advertised following resignation. Closing date of 15th
July.
b)
Temporary contract for service of NPSG admin. work agreed.
Downlands
Way Improvements
Cllrs.
approved outline plans to tidy up and improve the shopping precinct parking
area.
Cost to be
shared with shops and RA.
Council
Grant Scheme
Grants
were awarded to the Bowls Club, Community Watch and Hedgehog Street. Also, donations
would be made to the PCC for the churchyards, to the Parish Magazine and to the
charity of the year (JPK Project).
Tree
Warden Report
Proposal
for digital mapping of local land resources passed to NPSG for consideration.
Other
points raised were Micheldene Road tree safety, ash dieback and Greensward trees
damage by grass strimming.
Urgent Business
Vandalism
on footpath 24 has severely damaged sign and squeeze gate. Offers received to
pay towards repair of latter.
Councillor Reports
a)
County Councillor
Cllr. Shing
reported ESCC cuts to meals on wheels subsidy, and targeting of disabled adults
support. Also delay to Exceat bridge rebuild and opposition to Seven Sisters
park transfer.
b)
Chair of Council
Organizers of a
cycle race on 27/28th July have advised that parking in Gilberts
Drive may be restricted.
c)
Bank Account –
the end of month balance was £76298.10.
d)
Fund Raising
Application made to Big Lottery Fund for grant towards
moving cricket pitch.
e)
Rights of Way
Letters sent to properties next to Footpath 8 asking
them to cut hedges.
f)
Recreation Ground
Quotes for replacing play area fence being obtained.
Warning signs now being deployed during cricket matches.
Next Meetings
Parish
Council meeting; 4th July
Planning
Committee: 16th July