Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council held on Thursday 7th July 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 

Mid Sussex District Council: Cllrs Colin Trumble, Alison Bennett and Rodney Jackson 

Parish Clerk: Trevor Parsons 

There was one member of the public present. 

The meeting started at 7.30pm. 

22/047/OM.            Apologies for Absence.

Received from Cllr Mehta and Gary Marsh who both have Covid. 

22/048/OM.            Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

No declarations received. 

22/049/OM.            Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 7th April 2022.  

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

22/050/OM.            Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting.  

1) Speed Indicator Device 

The Clerk advised the meeting that he had received a quotation from Stocksigns for £173.39 plus VAT for two single track road warning signs for Clappers Lane. Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC) confirmed that these signs could be installed as they are information signs only. 

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of purchasing the signs which will hopefully result in users of Clappers Lane to drive more carefully. 

ACTION: Clerk to order new signage. 

2) Market Gardens & Conifers 

The noise of dogs barking and the possibility of unlicenced dog breeding continues. Cllr Trumble (MSDC) said he understood the problem however advised the meeting that without specific evidence MSDC cannot take any further action.    

Concerns were raised by councillors regarding the increasing levels of unsocial behaviour in the village. Cllr Trumble advised the meeting that MSDC has a liaison officer called Mandy Cunningham who may be able to offer general advice and support.  

Cllr Dennis advised the meeting that WSCC also have a Liaison Officer who might be able to give us some guidance. 

ACTION: Clerk to arrange a meeting with Parish Councillors and District & County Liaison Officers 

22/051/OM.            Village Hall Update 

Cllr Hind reported at that we are still waiting for the church to formally confirm their agreement to the sale of the village hall for £75,000.  Cllr Hind advised the meeting that the Fulking Village Hall CIO had been formally created, that a bank account was in the process of being opened and that the Expression of Interest in relation to the Community grant scheme had been submitted. We have also been informed that Nigel Kennedy has offered to put on a fund-raising charity concert. 

Action: Cllr Hind to look at ways to regularise the incomes from VHAG, Social Committee and Village Hall revenues. 

22/052/OM.             Asset Inventory and Maintenance 

The Clerk presented councillors with the latest inventory of assets. Presently there is no formal maintenance schedule in place. A reactive stance to repairs is the present policy which seems to work for the most part.  

The annual RoSPA audit of the playground is due later this month. 

22/053/OM.              SDNPA Planning – Gary Marsh 

Sadly Gary could not attend however WSCC and MSDC provided the following reports. 

Cllr Joy Dennis (WSCC) reported 

• Census information for 2021 confirmed that the population in West Sussex had grown by 9.4% in the last 10 years, whereas East Sussex grew by 3.4%. Horsham District saw a 35% increase in over 65’s. 
• The South East Transport and Bus consultations are still ongoing  

Cllr Trumble (MSDC) reported: 

• After four years of deliberations, as part of the District Plan, MSDC has passed its sites allocation for new housing (1093 per year) and has land until 2031.  
• MSDC is reviewing its Ukraine Family Housing Plans following the central government lead refugee housing for 6 –12 months. 

Cllr Hind thanked the County and District Councillors for their reports and requested that Cllr Gary Marsh send the Parish Council a written report regarding MSDC’s position on traveller site provision.  

22/054/OM.             Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

None 

22/055/OM.              Correspondence.  To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received. 

None 

22/056/OM.              Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

The Clerk reported to the meeting the latest financial position which is in line with expectations. We are still waiting for Landbuild to make a start on the Operation Watershed funded repairs in Clappers Lane and Edburton Road hence the larger than normal balance in the deposit account. 

22/057/OM.               To set a date for the next Ordinary Meeting in October 2022. 

Provisionally set for Thursday 13th October 2022. 

Meeting closed at 9.30 pm.