Author: Parish Clerk

FULKING PARISH COUNCIL 

Extraordinary meeting of Fulking Parish Council held on Tuesday 23rd April 2019 at 7.00pm,  at The Village Hall, Fulking   

 Minutes of Planning Meeting – 2 Paythorne Farm Cottages

Present: Councillor Miles Firth (Chairman), Councillors Karen Healy, Mark Hind and Linda Dyos. 

There were no members of the public present. Prior to the meeting, no members of the public had requested to speak. 

The meeting opened at 7 pm. 

1 Apologies: Councillor Michael Trist. 

2 Declarations of interest: all councillors present confirmed that they had no interests to declare in the matters to be discussed at the meeting. 

3 Approve the Minutes of the January Ordinary Meeting of 4th April 2019.   The minutes were approved by the meeting and signed by the Chairman as a true record of the meetings. 

4 Planning Matters:  To comment on planning applications received from South Downs National Park being SDNP/19/01691/HOUS | 2 storey side extension, single storey rear/side extension, front porch of 2 Paythorne Farm Cottages, Fulking BN5 9LP 

It was noted that: 

(1) Councillors are aware these cottages are very small and agreed that the extension is in keeping with the local area and does not appear to block any views for its neighbours of the South Downs 

(2) However, with reference to the emerging Development Management Policy SD31: Extensions to existing dwellings, and provision of annexes and outbuildings, it is unclear from the documents whether the proposal does or does not increase the floorspace of the existing dwelling by more than 30%. 

Based on (2) above, councillors were obliged to reject this application. 

The meeting closed at 7.30 pm. 

Present:
Chairman: Cllr Firth
Fulking Parish Council (FPC): Cllrs Hind, Dyos and Healy
Mid Sussex district Council (MSDC): Cllrs Trumble and Wilkinson
Parish Clerk: Trevor Parsons
Members of the Public: There were four members of the public present
Members of the public were invited to ask questions and make comments prior to the meeting but none were raised.

1. Apologies for Absence.
Cllr Trist (FPC), Cllr Watts-Williams (MSDC) and Cllr Dennis (WSCC)

The meeting welcomed Samantha Leader who has submitted her nomination to become a Parish Councillor in Fulking, she will replace Michael Trist who, after many years of fine service to the Council, has decided not to stand at the forthcoming election.

2. Declaration of Members’ Interests.
There were no declarations of interest

3. Approve the Minutes of the Extraordinary Council Planning Meeting of 18th March 2019
Approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

4. Planning Applications Update.
For the period 13th December 2018 to 18th March 2019, the following planning applications were reviewed

Market Gardens SDNP/18/04735/HOUS
Material change of use of land for stationing of caravans for residential occupation with facilitating development (hard standing)
FPC: 13/12/18 Unanimous Objection
SDNP: 14/02/19 Refused at Planning Committee
Appeal in Progress SDNP/19/00021/REF

Seasons Farm SDNP/18/06182/APNB
Agricultural barn to store hay and farm equipment
FPC: 03/01/19 Unanimous Support
SDNP: 07/01/19 Raise No Objection

Knole House SDNP/19/00006/HOUS
Demolition and replacement of an existing two-storey house and ancillary garage
FPC: 12/02/19 Unanimous Support
SDNP:22/03/2019 Case withdrawn

Downside SDNP/19/00908/HOUS
Single storey pool house with games room and shower/change facilities. Timber framed carport structure
FPC: 18/03/19 1 Object, 3 Neutral
SDNP: Application in progress

5. Reports from District and County Councillors.

Cllr Firth began with a word of thanks to all the MSDC and WSCC councillors who have attended Fulking Parish Council meetings over the last four years and for the tireless work undertaken to support the council particularly regarding the Market Gardens planning application held at South Downs National Park Authority.

Cllrs Trumble and Wilkinson report that:
MSDC will be reviewing the district’s car parking policies in the next sessions, including right number of spaces, right location and appropriate charging in all locations
MSDC will be looking to improve Sport & Leisure facilities across the district in the next four years.
Notice that Cllr Gary Wall will be retiring as Leader of MSDC.
Mayfield Development may be fully within Horsham district however MSDC are opposed to the project due to the huge negative impact on the utilities and services provided by MSDC
MSDC are very pleased with the improvements in Broadband speeds across rural Mid Sussex
ACTION: Cllr Firth to find out whether properties in Perching Sands have improved broadband speeds, now that Clappers lane speeds have improved

6. Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions:

Dark Night Skies: Cllr Firth to follow up, taking into account the SDNPA Emerging Plan.

Yellow lines: Still waiting on Richard Speller to advise, in the meantime Cllr Hind proposed purchasing new cones at a cost of £70 to dissuade cars from parking on the dangerous corner, seconded by Cllr Firth and carried unanimously.

HGV Sign has now been delivered and Cllr Firth will arrange for its installation.

The Clerk has chased SDNPA for help in providing a suitable Ram Pump information board.
ACTION: Clerk to ring Richard Speller to establish whether FPC would be able to seek further Operation Watershed grant funding following Richard’s visit in February 2019.

7. Approval of Procedures Review

The procedures are still being reviewed by Councillors which will carry to the next Ordinary Meeting in July, however Cllr Hind proposed that the £250 spending limit without obtaining three quotes be raised to £500 in line with national guidelines, seconded by Cllr firth and carried unanimously.

8. Elections Update

Completed nominations forms have been delivered to the Returning Officer and a Notice of Uncontested Election for Fulking has been received.

9. Reports from Outside Bodies.

Fulking Fair – the meeting was told that the marquee will not be sponsored by Shepherd & Dog as the lease is currently up for sale.
Village Hall Lease: Negotiations had stalled, however a new solicitor for PCC has been sourced and hopefully work will continue towards a new lease from PCC to FPC.

10. Information Items. To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings.

The Parish Noticeboard has broken and Cllr Firth has asked a contractor to repair / refurbish the board for us, the cost will be within the new £500 limit.

11. Correspondence. To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received.

There was no correspondence to report to the meeting

12. Financial Matters: To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure.

Payments debited from the Parish Council Account at Barclays Bank are as follows:

Date	Description	Method	Amount
15th Jan 2019	Payroll Services	Direct Debit	£26.70
23rd Jan 2019	E.on	Direct Debit	£54.58
31st Jan 2019	Clerk VAT Training	OLB (MF/MH)	£78.00
4th Mar 2019	McAfee Anti-Virus	OLB (MF/MH)	£125.98
18th Mar 2019	Surrey Hills Solicitors	OLB (MF/MH)	£193.20
15th Mar 2019	Clerk Election Briefing	OLB (MF/MH)	£48.00

 

On 6th March 2019, Fulking Parish Council received the Operation Watershed funding totalling £13,529.03 for the ditch clearing. This work is still to be completed by LandBuild once the ground is dry enough for its vehicles.

The latest Bank Statement was examined and signed by Cllrs Dyos and Healy as a true reflection of the Council’s current financial position.

The meeting closed at 8:37pm

Date of Annual General Meeting of the Council and Annual Parish Meeting: Wednesday 15th May 2019
Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 11th July 2019
Both to be held at Fulking Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Extraordinary meeting of Fulking Parish Council held on Monday 18th March 2019 at 8.00pm, at The Village Hall, Fulking

Present: Councillor Miles Firth (Chairman), Councillors Karen Healey, Mark Hind and Linda Dyos.

There were no members of the public present. Prior to the meeting, no members of the public had requested to speak.

The meeting opened at 8.05 pm.

1 Apologies: Councillor Michael Trist.

2 Declarations of interest: all councillors present confirmed that they had no interests to declare in the matters to be discussed at the meeting.

3 Approve the Minutes of the January Ordinary Meeting and the Knole House Planning Meeting. The minutes were approved by the meeting and signed by the Chairman as a true record of the meetings.

4 Planning Matters: To comment on planning applications received from South Downs National Park being SDNP/19/00908/HOUS Single storey pool house with games room and shower/changing facilities. Timber framed carport structure at Downside Poynings Road Fulking BN5 9NB

It was noted that:

1 With reference to the emerging Development Management Policy SD31: Extensions to existing dwellings, and provision of annexes and outbuildings, it is unclear from the documents whether the proposal does or does not increase the floorspace of the existing dwelling by more than 30%.

2 The Community Infrastructure Levy form is incomplete.

3 The original approval of 2nd May 2018 SDNP/18/01201/HOUS the existing garage has been demolished to ensure that development does not spread excessively across the site, which would be harmful to the appearance and character of the site and area. Concern was raised at our meeting that these additions may contravene the spirit of Item 4 of the approval 2nd May 2018.

The resulting vote was one negative and three neutral. The meeting closed at 8.41 pm.

FULKING PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF PLANNING MEETING – Knole House

Minutes of the Fulking Parish Council Planning Meeting held in the Village Hall, Fulking on Tuesday 12th February 2019 at 7pm

Present:
Chairman: Cllr Firth
Councillors: Cllrs Hind, Dyos and Healy
Clerk: Trevor Parsons

Apologies: Cllr Trist

The following matter was discussed:

Knole House Clappers Lane Fulking BN5 9NH SDNP/19/00006/HOUS

Demolition of an existing two-storey house and ancillary garage with store room above. Replaced with new two-storey house and an attached new double garage with store room above. New vehicular gate and street facing boundary wall. With detached pool house and swimming pool to the rear of the property.

The meeting opened at 7.03pm

There were four members of the public present at the meeting with two residents speaking in favour of the development, commenting that the current house built in the 1950’s was now in poor condition and that replacing the building with a more efficient property in keeping with the local area was an asset to the village.

The chairman ran through the application documents for the meeting so that everyone had a clear picture of what the new property would look like when finished. Councillors were advised that all development traffic approach the site from the north via the A281 rather than through the village and will endeavour when practical to do so, use smaller delivery vehicles to reduce damage to Clappers Lane.

It was noted that:

Councillors considered the application as an environmentally friendly development and in keeping with the landscape.

The resulting vote on this application was unanimously to SUPPORT it.

The meeting closed at 7:23pm

Minutes of Ordinary Parish Council held at 7:30pm on  

Thursday 17th January 2019 at The Village Hall, Fulking 

 

Present: 

Chairman:                                    Cllr Firth 

Fulking Parish Council (FPC)     Cllrs Hind, Dyos and Healy 

West Sussex County Council    Cllr Dennis 

Parish Clerk:                                Trevor Parsons 

Members of the Public              There were four members of the public present 

Members of the public were invited of ask questions and make comments prior to the meeting however none were raised. 

1.Apologies for Absence. 

Cllr Trist (FPC), Cllrs Wilkinson and Watts-Williams (MSDC) 

2. Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

There were no declarations of interest. 

3. Approve the Minutes of the Council Meeting of 11th October 2018 and the  

    Planning Meetings of 13th December 2018 and 3rd January 2019. 

Approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record. 

1. Planning Applications Update. 

For the period since October 12th 2018 until January 17th 2019 

 

Reference	Name/Description	FPC Date	FPC Decision	SDNP Decision
Decided
SDNP/18/04735/HOUS	Thatchly      Erection of a 2 storey rear extension.	10/09/18	Unanimous Support    11/10/18	Approved 19/11/18
SDNP/18/04676/HOUS	Elmside  Glazed link and extension of out-building	05/09/18	Unanimous Objection  03/10/18	Approved  12/10/18
SDNP/18/01642/FUL	Cannonberries  Erection of Dwelling	12/04/18	Unanimous Objection  12/04/18	Refused 17/05/18  Appeal Dismissed  30/11/18
SDNP/17/06019/FUL	Cannonberries  Erection of Dwelling	23/11/17	Unanimous Objection  04/01/18	Refused 07/02/18  Appeal Dismissed  30/11/18
SDNP/18/06182/APNB	Seasons Farm  Agricultural barn	30/11/18	Unanimous Approval  03/11/19	Raise No Objection  07/11/19
In Progress
SDNP/18/05963/FUL	Market Gardens  Material change of use of land for stationing of caravans	20/11/18	Unanimous Objection  21/12/18	Scheduled for SDNPA Planning Committee 14/02/19

 

 4. Reports from District and County Councillors. 

Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC) addressed the meeting with following updates: 

Mayfield Proposed New Town Site between Henfield and Albourne – WSCC, MDSC and Horsham DC are aware of this application and remain opposed to the development. Cllr Dennis advised this was one of three proposed sites in West Sussex the others being near Pulborough and near Ifield. She understands other sites have be proposed near Oxford and Cambridge. 

Speed Indication Device (SID) – Is currently stored at Hurstpierpoint and is available to FPC. The Council requested use of SID around Easter time and traffic levels increase. 

Operation Watershed – Cllr Dennis advised that FPC application for £13,529.03 has been successful and that further funding is available and suggests FPC approach Richard Speller of WSCC to visit and make recommendations. 

Gatwick Consultation – WSCC & MSDC view of the expansion to two runways remains unchanged that they do not support the expansion, the primary reason being lack of infrastructure. 

Haywards Heath Sixth Form College – Chichester College has successfully tendered to run the facility with academic and apprenticeship courses starting in September 2021. 

Gigabyte – Business Rate retention scheme has release funding of £19m towards upgrading broadband in Mid Sussex, the plan being to install high-speed internet along the rail line and then spur out to the villages. 

Accounts – Both WSCC and MSDC accounts are in good shape, however whilst revenue remains at similar levels there is a rising number of complex needs and an aging population which demands further funding.

5. Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions:  

Yellow Lines, no correspondence received yet from Richard Speller. 

Request for car parking for Clappers Lane residents at PNCC has been declined. 

Dark Night Skies, Chairman to follow up. 

Elections. Clerk to attend an elections briefing on 24th January and will revert. 

Ram Pump sign, Chairman and Clerk to submit wording and pictures to SDNPA for draft design 

APM – Chairman to invite the new vicar of Holy Trinity Church Poynings to address the meeting 

HGV Sign – Clerk to contact Richard Speller regarding the replacement sign. 

 6. Winter Plan 

Has been updated by Cllr Hind and posted on fulking.net website. Formal adoption proposed by Chairman, seconded by Cllr Dyos and carried unanimously.   

 7. Operation Watershed Update 

Clerk has received an email advising that our application for £13,529 funding for new piped culverts and ditch work to drain floodwaters at Clappers Lane has been recommended for approval and awaits final confirmation. Clerk to then obtain the relevant access permissions from affected landowners.  

Clerk to contact Richard Speller to arrange meeting to review opportunities for further OW funding.  

 8. Village Hall Lease Update 

Dialogue between FPC, our solicitors Surrey Hills, the PCC and Diocese of Chichester are continuing. Still a long way to go. A budget of £1,500 towards FPC costs was agreed at the previous meeting. 

9. Reports from Outside Bodies. 

Village Hall AGM scheduled for Thursday 7th February. 

Annual Summer Fayre plans are taking shape  

 9. Information Items.   

No information items 

10. 2019 – 2020 Precept and Financial Matters 

Councillors reviewed the spending so far for 2018/2019 and the planning spending to end of the financial year which is in line with expectations. With all councillors having access to Barclays Online Banking, real time access can be obtained of current balances. 

Payments debited from Fulking Parish Council current account at Barclays Bank 50052760 issued from 11th October 2018 to 18th December 2018 agreed at Parish Council meeting 17th January 2019 were: 

  Date                                Description                                     Method             Amount  

  11th October 2018      Clerk’s Pay                              OLB (MF & MH)        £967.51 

  15th October 2018      Payroll Services                     Direct Debit               £ 26.70 

  23rd October 2018      E.On Electric                          Direct Debit               £ 54.58 

  16th November 2018   Moore Stephens AGAR       OLB (MF & MH)        £296.88 

  22nd November 2018  Surrey Hills Solicitors          OLB (MF & MH)        £309.60 

  18th December 2018   Surrey Hills Solicitors          OLB (MF & MH)          £165.60 

  18th December 2018   Clerks Pay                             OLB (MF & MH)         £967.51

 

As at 31st December 2018, the Current Account balance was £7,598.73, the Savings Account £10,415.  

No income was received in this period. 

 The clerk presented the budget for 2019 / 2020 and proposed a 2.5% increase in precept to £8,950   bearing in mind the additional expenditure of the village hall once the new lease is agreed, planned improvements to NTF and potential cost to the Council of white / yellow lines.  

 

Increase proposed by Chairman, seconded by Cllr Hind and carried unanimously.

11. Correspondence.   

No correspondence received. 

 

The meeting closed at 9:15pm 

 

Date of Annual General Meeting of the Council and Annual Parish Meeting: Thursday 9th May 2019 

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 11th April 2019. Both to be held at Fulking Village Hall at 7.30pm.