Author: Parish Clerk

Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting of Fulking Parish Council held Thursday 14th April 2025 at 7.30pm at Fulking Village Hall.

Present

Chair: Cllr Mark Hind

Fulking Parish Council (FPC) Cllr Linda Comber, Cllr Lucy Mehta, 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 was one member of the public present. MoP raised a concern regarding vandalised 40mph signs and ongoing planning issues.

The meeting started at 7.30pm.

25/015/OM. Apologies for Absence.

None – all councillors present

25/016/OM. Declaration of Members’ Interests.

Reference agenda item 25/022/OM Cllr Hind is a trustee of Fulking Village Hall CIO and would not partake in any decision-making.

25/017/OM. Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 10th January 2025

The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting.

The minutes of the January meeting were unanimously approved by Councillors

25/018/OM. Reports from District and County Councillors.

Cllr Dennis (WSCC) reported:

That West Sussex County Council and Mid Sussex District Council would disappear under devolution plans and a new unitary authority would be created which would cover Fulking. Should plans proceed an election for the mayor of the new authority would be held in May 2026. This would be followed by shadow unitary elections in 2027 with the authority to start formally in May 2028.

Fulking Parish Council would like to thank Cllr Dennis for her support which enabled the 40 mph speed limits along Poynings and Edburton Roads to be implemented.

There have been 14 road closures in Clappers Lane for repairs since 2023, 5 of which were emergency closures.

School places – intake to secondary schools has started, pupil number continue to decrease.

Speed reduction measures have been approved on A281 around the Ginger Fox junction.

Riperian Team are still active where Operation Watershed grant monies are still available.

ACTION: Clerk to investigate grant funding for repairs to blocked piping to the stream by Shepherd & Dog.

Cllr Zeidler’s monthly report has been distributed to Councillors, he also understands that Project Crackdown for the removal of abandoned vehicles has been withdrawn

25/019/OM. Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting

Ram Pump Roof – On receipt of confirmation from SDNPA that planning permission was not required for the repairs to the Ram Pump house roof, the repairs were satisfactorily completed with reclaimed tiles.

Notice Board – The new noticeboard was purchased and is installed in front of the village hall.

Campsite at Spring – Lawful development is yet to be determined with changes being made to the application.

25/020/OM. Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure.

To ratify the following payments made since the last council meeting.

15th January £28.45 Sigma Accountants Payroll Services

22nd January £375.00 Owl Structural Ltd Report on Ram Pump Roof

22nd January £2,017.41 Greenbarnes New Noticeboard

27th January £162.31 N Power Streetlights

7th February £100 D Lindfield To clear sediment from out of the Ram Pump House

10th February £918 P W Beard Village sign posts

19th February £463.68 M365 Microsoft

19th February £8.52 Action Rural Sussex Fee for March

17th March £1,597.44 Clerk Q4 salary Q4 Salary

17th March £240 FPC Village Hall Hire Hall Hire

17th March £923.52 MSDC 2 x Dog bin collection (12 months)

31st March £1,020 R A Walker Repair of Ram Pump Roof

The clerk reported that the balances at Barclays Bank were current account £1774.32 and £12,000 in the deposit account.

25/021/OM. Year-end review of Income & Expenditure 2024 – 2025

Cllr Hind confirmed to councillors that FPC income for the year to March 2025 was £13,417, being the precept of £12,000 plus interest, VAT refund and CIL grant. Outgoings for the same period totalled £17,492 which included capital items including the new village signs and noticeboard, together with the repair of the Ram Pump House roof. The deficit of £4,075 was caused by the unplanned capital expenditure required to replace items damaged in the winter storms and was met from reserves.

A balanced budget has been prepared for the financial year to March 2026 which includes provision for a new laptop for the clerk (last replaced in 2015), some new grit bins and some playground repairs.

25/022/OM. Fulking Village Hall Funding Request.

The Fulking Village Hall CIO are raising funds to purchase the Village Hall from the Church. The Village Hall & Chapel 2025 – 2028 Business Plan has been produced by the CIO following community engagement, community survey and the Open Day in January 2025.

The survey produced 88% support for a more active community hub, 99% concerned by the loss of the hall and 55% support to increase the council precept.

Within revenue funding item 14.0 the CIO states that a grant will be sought from Fulking Parish Council from 2026 amounting to £2,500 pa.

Councillors would need to approval the grant funding before November 2025 to request additional district council precept for financial year April 2026 – March 2027.

Councillors raise concern that only a small amount for funds were available for capital improvements and maintenance.

25/023/OM. Reports from Outside Bodies.

Non

25/024/OM. Information Items. To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings.

None discussed

25/025/OM. Correspondence. To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received.

None discussed

Meeting closed at 9.15pm

 

Dateof the Annual Meeting is Wednesday 14th May 2025.

Next Ordinary Meeting scheduled for Thursday 3rd July 2025.

You are cordially invited to the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council on Thursday 10th April 2025 at 7.30pm to be held at Fulking Village Hall. The meeting will consider the items set out below. 

Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk  

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

25/015/OM.         Apologies for Absence. 

25/016/OM.         Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

25/017/OM.         Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 10th January 2025 

The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting. 

25/018/OM.         Reports from District and County Councillors.   

25/019/OM.         Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting 

• Ram Pump Roof 

• Notice Board 

• Campsite at Spring. 

25/020/OM.        Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

25/021/OM.         Year-end review of Income & Expenditure 2024 – 2025 

25/022/OM.         Fulking Village Hall Funding Request. 

25/023/OM.        Reports from Outside Bodies. 

25/024/OM.       Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

• Inter parish meeting report. 

25/025/OM.       Correspondence.  To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received. 

Date of the Annual Meeting of the Parish is Thursday 15th May 2025.  

Next Ordinary Meeting scheduled for Thursday 17th July 2025.   

D Blackhall	999.98
Direct Credit HMRC VAT Refund
HMRC	169.8
200 l Forest Green Grit Bin	118.79
PJP Carpentry – NTF	1240.8
Cane & Co Insurance	381.42
Jen Green gift to Tony	120.00
Mark Stepney – Grass	360
PJP Carpentry – NTF	390
D Blackhall	743.35
HMRC	157
Play Safety Inspection	100.8
Clerk’s SLCC Membership	149
Mark Stepney – Grass	360
PJP Carpentry – NTF	326.4
D Blackhall	831.34
HMRC	169.6
Edburton Contractors	18886.64
SJ Lights	115.5
D Blackhall	681.5
HMRC	165.4
D Blackhall	251.21
Miles gift to Kate Watson	145
Microsoft 365	328.32

SSALC Recruitment Assistance	420.00
Locum Parish Clerk	212.60
Mark Stepney – Grass	360.00
Came & co Insurance	389.05
MSDC – Dog Bin Mgt	330.84
Satswana	180.00
Mark Stepney – Grass	360.00
Playsafety Limited	100.80
Clerk Pay (Chq to Royal London)	1039.44
Mark Stepney – Grass	390.00
Clerk Pay (to Royal London)	967.51
Moore Stephens	296.88
Surrey Hills Solicitors	309.60
Surrey Hills Solicitors	165.60
Clerk Pay (to Royal London)	967.51
McAfee	125.98
Mark Stepney – Grass	560.00
CilCA NVQ3 Support to Clerk	320.00
CiLCA NVQ3 fee to SLCC to Clerk	350.00
Clerk Pay (to Royal London)	967.51
SSALC Election Training	48.00
Surrey Hills Solicitors	193.20
Microsoft fee and Gongle	415.51

Barriers Direct NTF Parking Post	239.33
MSDC Dog Bin Mgt	330.84
PJP Carpentry – Noticeboard Repair	438.00
Surrey Hills Solicitors	115.20
Satswana	180.00
Came & Company Insurance	400.72
ROSPA Annual Inspection	103.20
Clerk Pay Q1	1005.42
Streetlights	175.50
Mark Stepney	390.00
Surrey Hills Solicitors	150.00
Clerk Pay Q2	1005.42
Mark Stepney	390.00
Landbuild (Watershed)	16234.84
Clerk Pay Q3	1005.42
Microsoft 365	383.04