Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting of Fulking Parish Council held Thursday 16th January 2025 at 7.30pm at Fulking Village Hall.
Present Chair:
Cllr Mark Hind
Fulking Parish Council (FPC) Cllr Linda Comber, Cllr Lucy Metha, Cllr Tom Kardos & Cllr Karen Healy
Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) Cllr Geoff Zeidler
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Cllr Joy Dennis
Clerk Trevor Parsons
There were 20 members of the public present. One member of the public raised a concern regarding current building work at a property in the village and Councillors empathised but reiterated that the works were currently within the approval of SDNPA.
The meeting started at 7.30pm.
Agenda
25/001/OM. Apologies for Absence.
All councillors were present
25/002/OM. Declaration of Members’ Interests.
No interests declared.
25/003/OM. Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 17th October 2024 and Planning Meeting 18th November 2024
The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting.
Councillors unanimously approved the minutes of both meetings as a true and accurate record.
25/004/OM. Reports from District and County Councillors.
Cllr Geoff Zeidler (MSDC) provided his monthly report to all Councillors in his Ward. Item’s relating directly to Fulking were that Clappers Lane TRO has been implemented. Concerns about the Campsite at Springs required a response by 3rd January however SDNPA have agreed to receive our comments by 17th January 2025. Still awaiting the Inspector’s decision in relation to permission at Small Acres which was submitted on 11th December.
Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC) reported that a balanced budget at WSCC had been approved meaning that all services will be maintained. West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Unitary Authorities have all put themselves forward to be in the next tranche of the Local government re-organisation which will see District Councils disappear by 2028 and replaced by three new larger unitary authorities. This action will not affect town and parish councils although some services provided by District Councils may be passed to larger town councils after 2028.
25/005/OM. Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting.
Ram Pump House Roof
The independent surveyors report has been received by the clerk which confirms the structure of the building and roof timbers are sound. Additional remedial works are recommended in the report whilst the Ram Pump House Roof is repaired.
Action – Clerk to arrange for three roof repair quotes in line with the surveyor’s recommendations.
Notice board – the new notice board has been delivered, and the Clerk and Cllr Hind will find time to install the new board in the next couple of weeks.
25/006/OM. Operation Crackdown
This is a Sussex Police initiative to removed abandoned cars from our streets. The vehicle abandoned by the Ram Pump has been reported to Sussex Police however little action has been taken so far. Cllr Zeidler confirmed that other parishes are having similar issues and will chase this up.
25/007/OM. Proposed Campsite at The Springs SDNP/24/05059/LDP
This application within the Upper Beeding Parish Council boundary prompted an unusually large attendance that this meeting. Poynings Parish Council have already submitted their comments against application and all speakers were similarly unhappy with the proposal. Councillors discussed the application and agreed to submit comments to SDNPA as follows:
Fulking Parish Council meet on 16th January to discuss SDNP/24/05059/LDP. The meeting was attended by more than 20 members of the public, two District Councillors and our County Councillor. Following a discussion on the application the Council voted unanimously to oppose this application for the following:
- There is no public transport which serves this proposed camp site so all visitors will need to drive. The majority of access to the site is likely to be via Fulking which already has a 20 mph limit and Heavy Goods access only restrictions in place due to the narrow width through the village. The potential increase in traffic through the village will be detrimental both environmentally and safety of Fulking.
- Works appear to have commenced on site in advance of this application being approved, including the removal of an ancient hedge. Other works on the site would appear to also need planning permission separately however at this time there is no application in place.
- The application appears to be changing the use of the private field from agricultural to general Class E / Sui Generis which should not be approved under Permitted Development. If this change of use is approved this could open the door to further development on the site more readily than it remaining agricultural.
It is the view of Fulking PC that this development will harm the local amenities and request that SDNP trigger an Article 4 direction on the site to remove the permitted development rights and therefore requiring a formal planning application to consider the impact of this proposed site.
25/008/OM. 2025 – 2026 Precept
In Ordinary Meeting Item 24/060/OM in October 2024 councillors approved a 22% increase in precept to £13,800 for the purpose to cover increased costs and build a separate fund to replace the playground equipment. Cllr Hind asked Councillors to reflect on this decision in light of the continuing economic crisis.
Cllr Healy has met with several playground companies at a recent event and all councillors agreed that further work needs to undertaken to better understand the real cost of a replacement playground together with grant funding opportunities available, before agreeing a monetary provision.
Councillors then unanimously agreed to a 7% increase the precept to £12,000 to cover increased costs are running the Council for 2025/2026.
25/009/OM. Village Hall
An Open Day was held on Saturday 11th January 2025 to raise awareness of the planned purchase of the Hall from the local PCC. Villagers were also encouraged to complete the online survey on what services are utilised and what other services could be provided.
Additional Trustees and a new joint chair have been appointed to drive the fundraising forward. The Fulking Village Hall CIO charity has until 31st December 2025 to complete the purchase.
Councillors agreed that the Asset of Community Value category of the Village Hall at MSDC which expires in August 2025 should be renewed.
25/010/OM. Small Acres Update
An appeal to the Planning Inspector is underway following the rejection of the planning application for one gypsy plot by the SDNPA in September 2024.
25/011/OM. Information Items. To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings.
None
25/012/OM. Correspondence. To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received.
An email was received from a resident in Clappers Lane advising that the grit bin was empty. The clerk contacted the local farmer, where our spare grit is stored, and he very kindly refilled the grit bin himself for the Council. We are very grateful to him for doing this.
He reported at the bin was in poor condition and it was agreed to look at all seven bins owned by the council as other bins are also becoming beyond economic repair.
25/013/OM. Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure
15th October 2024 Sigma Payroll £28.45
24th October 2024 NPower Streetlights £126.74
19th November 2024 Ram Rump Lock £150.00
27th November 2024 Fulking NTF Trust £20.00
4th December 2024 Mark Stepney Grass £895.00
7th January 2025 Clerk Salary £1692.60
Receipts – MSDC Precept £5,625 and SDNPA CIL £375.00
Councillors reviewed the income and expenditure for the period and unanimously agreed to ratify all the payments made.
The balance in the current account is £495.71 and the balance in the deposit account is £20,000
25/014/OM. To set a date of Annual General Meeting of the Council and Annual Parish Meeting:
Dates 2025 Ordinary Parish Council Meetings: Thursday 10th April 2025
Thursday 10th July 2025
Thursday 9th October 2025
Provisional Annual Parish Meeting Thursday 22nd May 2025.
The meeting closed at 9.15pm.
The Devil’s Dyke