Minutes of the annual Meeting of the Council and Annual Parish Meeting of the Council held Thursday 18th May 2023 at 7.30 pm at Fulking Village Hall. 

Present 

Chairman:                                       Cllr Tom Kardos
Fulking Parish Council (FPC):       Cllrs Karen Healy, Linda Comber and Lucy Mehta 

Parish Clerk:                                    Trevor Parsons 

There were seven members of the public present who were offered an opportunity to speak.  

The meeting opened at 7.37pm. 

Agenda: Annual Meeting of Council 

24/025/AMC Chairman’s Welcome followed by Election of Chairman & Vice Chairman 

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

Cllr Healy proposed that Cllr Mark Hind be elected as Chairman for a further 12 months, seconded by Cllr Mehta. Councillors unanimously in favour. 

There was no election for a vice chairman. 

Meeting closed at 7.50pm 

Agenda: Annual Parish Meeting 

24/026/APM Apologies for Absence 

Apologies received from Cllr Hind (FPC) who is on holiday, Cllr Zeidler (MSDC) who as attending MSDC business and Cllr Dennis (WSCC) who was attending WSCC business.  

24/027/APM Approval of previous years’ minutes Annual Parish Meeting 18th May 2023 

The minutes of the 18th May 2023 Annual Parish Meeting were proposed by Cllr Healy, seconded by Cllr Mehta and unanimously accepted as a true record of the meeting. The Chairman signed the minutes accordingly. 

24/028/APM   Chairman’s report 

This is a summary of some of the achievements this year: 

Full Fibre Broadband Scheme 

The Council worked with Poynings Parish Council on a joint scheme to make superfast broadband available to the village. Most properties can now have access subject to payment of the appropriate tariff. 

Playground 

Repairs were undertaken to the playground including some welding on the slide, new swings seats and replacement and removal of some of the wooden equipment. Unfortunately, these repairs show that increasing amounts of maintenance are required to keep the playground safe. 

Speed limits 

In response to resident complaints, the Council have been investigating for some time what it could do to help reduce the inappropriate speed of some traffic travelling along Clappers Lane and Edburton Road. 

A new speed limit of 30 mph was agreed by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) for Clappers Lane and new signage installed. The Parish Council took the view that going for the lowest limit of 30 mph which could be approved by WSCC was better than leaving the lane derestricted. 

A joint application with Poynings and Upper Beeding Parish Council’s has been made to WSCC to reduce the derestricted sections of Poynings and Edburton Road’s to 40 mph. The Parish Councils felt a 40 mph limit in place of 60 mph was a reasonable request and are hopeful that this request will be approved by WSCC. 

Planning 

All planning applications for our village are decided by the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). The Parish Council however is a consultee on any planning applications received and has commented on four applications during the past year. An Appeal Hearing regarding an Enforcement Notice issued to Small Acres by the SDNPA was held by the Planning Inspector at the SDNPA head office in Midhurst in February. The Parish Council was represented at the hearing and subsequently the Planning Inspector upheld the enforcement notice. 

Village Signs 

The three village signs have been gradually deteriorating over the last few years and two of them were blown down in the winter storms. The Council has arranged for the signs to be refurbished by local resident James Lightfoot and they will be reinstalled over the next few weeks 

Parish Priorities Statement 

The Council has decided to proceed with producing a Parish Plan as encouraged by the South Downs National Park Parish Priorities Statement initiative. It is essential for us to gather the views of residents so we are currently preparing a questionnaire which will be circulated to all as part of our consultation process. We expect to circulate this in the next few weeks and further details will be shared once it has been finalised. 

24/029/APM    Guest Speaker – Kayla Ente MBE  –  Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-operative (BHESCO) 

BHESCO is a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to affordable renewable energy. Kayla addressed the meeting offering assistance to apply for grants to fund a survey of housing in Fulking to establish viable renewable energy options available to the village. This would include wind, solar, ground and air sourced power generation. Parishioners and Councillors asked challenging questions and answers were provided. The Chairman thanked Kayla for her presentation which was most enlightening. 

24/030/APM    Reports from District & County Councillors 

As neither MSDC or WSCC Councillor was present no reports were submitted. 

24/031/APM.   To consider and agree the Internal Audit Report Letter dated 20/04/2024. 

The Internal Auditor Report was reviewed by Councillors. Acceptance proposed by Cllr Mehta, seconded by Cllr Comber and approved unanimously. 

24/032/APM.   To consider and agree the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for the year ending 31 March 2024 ensuring it accurately presents the financial management of the Council as required by the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015. 

The Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for the year ending 31 March 2024 was reviewed by Councillors. Acceptance proposed by Cllr Comber, seconded by Cllr Mehta and unanimously approved as a true record of the accounts. 

24/033/PM    Planning Application – SDNP/24/01765/LIS. 

Proposal: Extension and remodelling of the existing dwelling including the incorporation of renewable energy sources and a wildflower roof in addition to the rationalisation of existing outbuildings. Location: Furzefield , Clappers Lane, Fulking, West Sussex, BN5 9NJ 

The application was discussed by Councillors. 

It was noted: 

Represents a significant redevelopment, a green roof will require a lot of maintenance, short term building traffic along Clappers Lane.  

Councillors raised no objection to the application and recommended a condition that the roof is maintained as a green roof and not for recreation. 

24/034/PM   Planning Application – SDNP/24/01563/HOUS 

Proposal: Retrospective application for amendments to previous approval, to resite the driveway and garage Location: The Dales , Poynings Road, Fulking, West Sussex, BN5 9NB 

Councillors discussed the application and all agreed a neutral stance 

The meeting closed at 8:58pm 

Date of next Ordinary Meeting Thursday 11th July 2024. 

Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting of Fulking Parish Council held Thursday 11th April 2024 at 7.30pm at Fulking Village Hall.  

Present 

Chair: Cllr Karen Healy 

Fulking Parish Council (FPC) Cllr Linda Comber, Cllr Lucy Metha & Cllr Tom Kardos 

Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) Cllr Geoff Zeidler 

There was one member of the public present. 

The meeting started at 7.38pm. 

24/014/OM.         Apologies for Absence. 

Apologies were received from Cllr Hind who was away on holiday. 

24/015/OM.         Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

No Interests declared. 

24/016/OM.         Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 11th January 2024 

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

The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting were approved unanimously by Councillors and duly signed by the Chair. 

24/017/OM.         Reports from District and County Councillors.   

Cllr Zeidler (MSDC) reported: 

• Discontent amongst some Councilors with the new Sunday and late parking charges to be introduced in Mid Sussex. In addition, increases to usual parking charges were also approved.   

• Concern over potential changes to General & Business Rates could result in Mid Sussex receiving less income due to the likely changes. 

• MSDC are looking closer at carbon reduction and how district, town and parish councils can reduce their footprint. Various apps are now available to measure one’s own footprint. 

24/018/OM.         Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting.  

TRO Poynings Road / Edburton Road – The Clerk reported that WSCC have acknowledged the application, Sussex Police have indicated no objection and the necessary forms are now with the TRO Team at WSCC. 

WSCC drain unblocking – WSCC acknowledged the online requested and have confirmed the drain has been unblocked. 

Small Acres – The Planning Inspectorate upheld the SDNPA enforcement notice with corrections and variations and refuse to grant planning permission on the application deemed to have been made under section 177(5) of the 1990 Act as amended. 

Village signs – Cllr Comber showed the meeting a photograph of the first village sign which has been repaired by local artist, James Lightfoot. Councillors were delighted with the results and unanimously agreed to commission Mr Lightfoot to repair the other two village signs. The £500 invoice has been present and will be paid for the work done.  

24/019/OM.     Parish Plan 

Progress is being made with the ongoing project, assisted by Action in rural Sussex (AirS)  to create a Community Survey which will help structure the next Fulking Parish Plan. 

Action: Cllrs Comber and Metha have agreed to combine their ideas into a questionnaire format to be submitted to AirS for their consideration.  

24/020/OM.        Reports from Outside Bodies. 

None received 

24/021/OM.       Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

None received 

24/022/OM.       Correspondence.  To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received. 

None received  

24/023/OM.        Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

The following amounts have been paid from 11th January 2024 to 11th April 2024  

Sigma Payroll                          £28.45 

Dylan Group (Swings)          £150.18 

Streetlight Repairs               £115.50 

Electricity                               £157.41 

Dog Bin Clearance                £876.10 

Rural Sussex Membership   £144.00 

SLCC                                         £144.00 

Microsoft Office                    £493.92 

Clerk Salary                         £1,838.37 

Village Hall Hire                  £     90.00 

Streetlight Repairs             £   117.30 

The Clerk reported to Councillors that the current account balance in Barclays Bank was £1,849.49 with £16,000 held in the deposit account. 

Date of the Annual Meeting is Wednesday 15th May 2024.  

Next Ordinary Meeting scheduled for Thursday 11th July 2024.   

Minutes of the Planning Meeting, Annual Meeting of the Council and Annual Parish Meeting held Thursday 12th May 2022 at 6.15 pm at Fulking Village Hall. 

Present 

Chairman:                                       Cllr Mark Hind
Fulking Parish Council (FPC):       Cllrs Linda Dyos, Karen Healy, Tom Kardos and Lucy Mehta 

Mid Sussex District Council: Cllrs Alison Bennett and Rodney Jackson 

West Sussex County Council: Cllr Joy Dennis
Parish Clerk:                                    Trevor Parsons 

There was one member of the public present who were offered an opportunity to speak.  

The meeting opened at 6.20pm. 

Agenda: Extraordinary Meeting – Planning 

22/036/OM.  Apologies for Absence.        None 

22/037/OM. Declaration of Members’ Interests.      None 

22/038/PM. Planning Application SDNP/22/01880/HOUS. 

Location: Four Acres Poynings Road Fulking West Sussex BN5 9NB  

Proposal: Extension to existing annexe to create pool and pool enclosure 

The views of all Councillors were heard, Cllr Kardos commented that the application proposed was a great improvement on the original pre-application. The new pool and pool enclosure will not be visible from the road. 

Councillors had no objection to the proposal and the Extraordinary Meeting closed at 6.50pm

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council held on Thursday 7th April 2022 at Fulking Village Hall. 

Present 

Chairman: Cllr Mark Hind 

Fulking Parish Council: Cllr Linda Dyos, Cllr Karen Healy and Cllr Tom Kardos.  

West Sussex County Council: Cllr Joy Dennis 

Parish Clerk: Trevor Parsons 

There were three members of the public present. 

The meeting opened at 7.30pm 

22/019/OM.            Apologies for Absence. 

Apologies were received from Cllr Lucy Mehta (FPC) and Cllrs Trumble, Bennett & Jackson (MSDC) 

22/020/OM.            Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

No declarations were received. 

22/021/OM.            Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 13th January 2022 

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

The minutes of the meeting were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman. All Councillors in Favour. 

22/022/OM.            Reports from District and County Councillors.   

Cllr Joy Dennis reported on WSCC climate change and net zero policies including: 

• Rampion 2 is ongoing to increase off-shore wind energy capability. The new cable will run underground from Clymping to Bolney substation.  
• Shoreham Port is now producing clean hydrogen for use on Crawley buses 
• WSCC have some solar panel farms in place 

• Most primary schools have solar or air source installed. 
• YES Solar still have grants available from WSCC for residential properties. 

Cllr Dennis advised that oil extraction on a small scale has been happening in the county for the last 50 years. 

Cllr Dennis report WSCC response to ash dieback. The Council is concentrating on trees near A Roads and B Roads and it is estimated that around 20,000 trees need to be felled. WSCC is working with landowners who have ash trees on their land next to a stretch of road where WSCC trees are being felled, to reduce landowners tree-felling costs wherever possible. 

22/023/OM.            Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting.  

1)                  Clappers Lane Speed Limit Request. 

Following on from item 22/009/OM in January 2022 meeting the Clerk applied for a TRO to reduce the speed limit on the whole of Clappers Lane to 30mph. In an email dated 16th March 2022 Nick De Sousa, Assistant Highway Manager at WSCC wrote to FPC to advise that as the Police have no record of communications from Fulking / Poynings residents regarding speeding issues the TRO request has been declined. 

Cllr Joy Dennis advised the meeting that a Speed Policy Consultation will be reporting to WSCC by September 2022 with a decision on “Quieter Ways”, which would include roads like Clappers Lane, will be made by December 2022. If the decision is positive, Fulking Parish Council will apply for a reduced speed limit for Clappers Lane thereafter.   

2) Ultrafast Broadband    

Following on from item 22/010/OM in January 2022, OpenReach extended the deadline for eligible houses to apply for Full Fibre Broadband. The DCMS verification process reduced uptake to under 100% of our target however Colin Warburton now advises that 106% has been reached. There appears to be an issue that not all homes who have pledged for Full Fibre have received an email from DCMS to validate their vouchers. We have asked Cllr Dennis if she can provide us with a list of homes which have pledged but not yet validated their application to ensure they have received the validation email from DCMS.  

3) Market Gardens / Conifers 

The Chairman received an update from Cllr Trumble prior to the meeting to advise that MSDC have not progressed the matter. Unfortunately for residents the dog barking issue remains as bad as ever. 

ACTION: Cllr Hind to contact Cllr Trumble to get a further update on progress.  

4) Queens Platinum Jubilee – Green Canopy 

Cllr Hind reported to the meeting that a Red Windsor tree (also known as “Sweet Lilibet” had been purchased by the Council and it has been planted in North Town Field.    

5) Tony Brooks Memorial 

Cllr Dyos presented the option of a small plaque to be put up in the village hall. Councillors thought this was a good idea and Cllr Dyos will find out sizes and prices for the next meeting.         

22/024/OM.            Downlands School Places.   

Cllr Dennis reported to the meeting that, following an appeal, that all applications from Fulking parents for their children to attend Downlands School in Hassocks had been accepted for September 2022. Cllr Dennis advised that Downlands is always over-subscribed and that she and the County Councillor for Hassocks are scheduling a meeting with the head teacher to discuss the matter further with a view to ensuring the Downland villagers continue to have access to the school. Cllr Hind requested that WSCC formally prioritises places for residents of Fulking and other downland villages due to the transport difficulties they face. 

The new secondary school in Northern Arch, Burgess Hill is due to be completed by end of 2024 which will ease pressure on Downlands.  

22/025/OM.         Ladybrook Spring Update. 

Cllr Hind reported that WSCC have just confirmed approval capital expenditure in this year’s budget to undertake permanent repairs and also that the drainage pipe had been cleared recently as a temporary measure. 

22/026/OM.            WSCC Road Closures 

Fulking, Edburton and Poynings villages are enduring a “Storm of Closures” partly due to a long term project with Balfour Beatty to install ducting in the road for a highway of superfast broadband. The issue is made far worst when the differing agencies close two roads at the same time. Cllr Dennis advised the meeting that she has spoken to the traffic management team to request that no two roads are closed at the same time in the future.   

22/027/OM.            Overnight Parking & Rubbish Dumping 

Cllr Hind outlined the concerns of camper vans parking overnight in laybys in the village. The issue is the rubbish which is then dumped when they leave. Cllr Dennis advised the meeting that rubbish is a MSDC matter and that if a “No Overnight Parking” sign was wanted then the Council would need to apply to WSCC Highways for a Traffic Regulation Order. Unfortunately the Council’s experience of the WSCC TRO process is very poor., Councillors decided to review this ongoing situation.  

22/028/OM.            Local By-laws – Parking & North Town Field. 

Cllr Hind raised the matter of dog fouling in the North Town Field field, despite there being a proper dog waste bin. Cllr Hind advised that Poynings recreation area has MSDC signs showing a £1,000 fine for fouling. The Councillors agreed to investigate further with MDSC. 

ACTION: Cllr Hind to investigate with MSDC. 

22/029/OM.            Village Hall 

Cllr Hind reported that five trustees have come forward and progress on establishing a FULKING VILLAGE HALL Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is underway with Charities Commission.  

22/030/OM.            Appointment of New Parish Councillor – Tom Kardos  

Tom Kardos has put himself forward to be co-opted onto Fulking Parish Council. Cllr Hind has already briefed Tom as to the challenges Fulking Parish Council faces. 

Cllr Hind proposed Tom Kardos be co-opted on to Fulking Parish Council, seconded by Cllr Healy. 

Unanimously IN FAVOUR. Cllr Hind welcomed Tom aboard.  

22/031/PM.            Planning Application SDNP/22/01214/LDE  

                                   Location: Perching Parva Farm Holmbush Lane Woodmancote     Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9TL  

                                   Proposal: Certificate of Lawfulness (Existing Use) for the use of an existing building for mixed commercial purposes  

The application has not made clear what the current class of use the building is going from / to. Ie is it agriculture? We understand from SDNPA that the building is empty. Fulking Parish councillors voted unanimously AGAINST the proposal.  

22/032/OM.              Reports from Outside Bodies. 

None 

22/033/OM.             Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

None. 

22/034/OM.              Correspondence.  To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received. 

A quote has been received from Tony Steer to replace the timber from the broken village sign on Edburton Road. To repair and replace the sign will cost £805. Councillors voted unanimously in favour. Clerk to contact Tony Steer to move the matter forward.  

22/035/OM.              Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

Cllr Hind raise a concern that Council Tax bills evidence an increase in Fulking Parish Council precept by 6.3% despite only applying for an increase of 5%. MDSC advised by email that the increase is calculated on the Band D charge and is higher than 5% because of the decrease in the tax base. Cllr Kardos advised the meeting that he has a clear explanation which he will share on email. 

Cllr Hind raise the matter of Clerk’s Pay Award and advised the meeting that the Clerks pay has increased by 1.8% in relation to 2021/2022 financial year meaning there is back pay to be paid. 

Cllr Hind advised the meeting that he will be speaking to Trevor Leggo CEO of WSALC to establish whether there are rules relating to the increasing of the pay band from the current level 20 band.  

Date of the Annual Meeting is Thursday 12th May 2022.  

Next Ordinary Meeting scheduled for Thursday 7th July 2022.