Minutes of Annual Meeting held 22nd May 2022 (draft)

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 

Agenda: Annual Meeting of Council       Meeting opened at 6.50pm 

22/039/AMC Chairman’s Welcome followed by Election of 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 Dyos. Councillors unanimously in favour. 

Meeting closed at 7.00pm 

Agenda: Annual Parish Meeting 

22/040/APM Apologies for Absence        None 

22/041/APM Approval of minutes APM 05/05/2021 

The minutes of the 5th May 2021 Annual Parish Meeting were unanimously accepted as a true record of the meeting. The Chairman signed the minutes accordingly. 

22/042/APM   Chairman’s report 

The Chairman advised that a number of initiatives were undertaken in the last year and included: 

Village Hall: Discussions were underway to buy Fulking Village Hall from the Church. Following advice received from “Action in Rural Sussex and England” a Charitable Incorporated Organisation has been set up to act as a vehicle to raise funds and eventually to own the hall once negotiations have been concluded with the Church. This continues to be a lengthy process with many legal and fund raising issues to be resolved. 

Information board: With joint funding from South Downs National Park an information board explaining the design and implementation of the Fulking RAM pump and water system by John Ruskin and others has been installed adjacent to the stream. 

Maintenance and repairs: A number of repairs were undertaken in the children’s playground to keep it up to the required safety standards. The finger post and lamppost in Clappers Lane which were damaged by vehicles have been replaced. 

Operation Watershed: Funds have been received from West Sussex County Council for drainage improvements in the village and we are awaiting a start date from the contractors. 

22/043/APM    Reports from District & County Councillors 

Cllr Alison Bennett (MSDC) reported: 

There is a children’s bench design competition in progress for the Platinum Jubilee with the winning design being created and installed in Haywards Heath. 

The Sustainable Economy document is being drafted looking more at the need of nature rather than just carbon reductions. Natural capital mapping for the whole district is being undertaken to assist with the report.   

The District Plan has been paused temporarily but it will need to be completed at some point. 

School places is still a live issue to ensure Downland Villages continue to allocations at Downlands School in Hassocks. 

Cllr Rodney Jackson (MSDC) reported: 

The Council Tax refund of £150 is underway for housed rated A – D. for those who pay by direct debit, this will be refunded automatically, anyone paying by other methods will need to apply for the refund. 

The long term vision for Clair Hall is still under review. 

A Centre for Outdoor Sports will be established within the Northern Arc development. MSDC will need to apply for additional grants as the CIL monies being received will not cover the cost of the project. 

Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC) reported: 

Dementia Week – there is a high proportion of the older generation with dementia in the County and this percentage is likely to increase. Because of Covid-19, less people have visited the doctor and therefore been diagnosed. WSCC urged everyone to support the elderly and receive the support they need.  

Refugees – There are a large number of refugees in Sussex due to the previous Afghan crisis, having Gatwick in the County and now Ukraine friends & family initiative. At Gatwick, WSCC have staff there 24 hours a day to help and support Ukraine host families. 

Death on Saddlescombe Road – Cllr Dennis reminded the meeting of safely courses available to the public. WSCC are reviewing road signage and safety on all the county’s A & B roads 

Velocity Patches – Pot holes remain a big issue, WSCC have established velocity Patches for fixing multiple pot holes in the same area. Cllr Hind thanked Cllr Dennis for the patch repairs at Ladybrook Spring prior to the major road repairs there later in the year. 

Climate Change – WSCC are on track to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

22/044/APM.   To consider and agree the Internal Audit Report Letter dated 20/04/2022. 

The Internal Auditor Report was reviewed by Councillors who approved the report unanimously.  

22/045/APM.   To consider and agree the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for the year ending 31 March 2022 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 2022 was reviewed by Councillors who unanimously accepted the report as a true record of the accounts. 

22/046/APM.   Date of next meeting 

The Annual Meeting date will be provisionally set as Thursday 4th May 2023. 

Meeting closed at 8.00pm 

Refreshments.   The public and press are cordially invited to attend.