Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Brightling Parish Council held on Monday 6th November 2017 at 7.30 p.m. at Brightling Village Hall

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1 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Brightling Parish Council held on Monday 6th November 2017 at 7.30 p.m. at Brightling Village Hall Parish Councillors present: Parish Councillors absent: Cllrs Caroline Croft, Chris French, David Gasson, Daniel Lambert-Gorwyn, and Andrew Wedmore (Chair) and Rodderick Wrenn Cllr Jane Oxenford District / County Councillors present: RDC Cllr Eleanor Kirby-Green, ESCC Cllr John Barnes In attendance: Brian Holdstock, (No members of the public) 1. Apologies for absence Cllr Jane Oxenford 2. Disclosures of interest None 3. Additional agenda items The Chairman approved the addition of the following agenda items due notice of which has been given to the Clerk on the day before the meeting by 12 noon: Adopt revised Standing Orders 7.7 Drones threat to security 11.2 Village Hall request for funding. 4. Minutes 4.1 The Chairman was authorised to sign the minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 4th September 2017 as a correct record of the proceedings. 5. Open Forum 5.1 RDC Cllr Eleanor Kirby-Green reported as follows: The planning application for a development of 42 dwellings at Shrub Lane, Burwash was refused. However, arguments aired called into question the robustness of existing development boundaries which are now being challenged by developers. Even the AONB may not have the protection we all assume Civil Parking Enforcement is the subject of consultation at present. Although of primary interest to Battle and Rye, both of whom are lobbying for it to be adopted by RDC, a suggestion that parking charges be imposed in Burwash and Etchingham has been made. It will be strongly opposed by residents and their representatives Public Space Protection Orders are shortly to be the subject of consultation among the parishes. 5.2 ESCC Cllr John Barnes reported as follows: He shared Cllr Kirby-Green s concerns over development boundaries but suggested that it was not appropriate for Brightling or other similar sized parishes to undertake a Development Plan. The Core Strategy, adopted in September 2014 with a suggested life span of up to 15 years, is the primary defence against unwanted development. This contains a table of District Site Allocations showing how many dwellings each parish is allocated to take and Brightling is shown as zero. Cllr Kirby-Green cited a case study in Suffolk where a successful defence of the existing development boundary hinged on asserting the precedence of local need over district need. However, both she and Cllr Barnes warned that existing development boundaries are being questioned and it will be necessary for the rural parishes to be on their guard A new Chief Fire Officer has just been appointed and she takes up her post imminently. MINUTES Page 1 of 5 Initials

2 5.2.3 Consultation on the closure of the mobile library continues with some of the adverse consequences being ameliorated by enhancements to the e-library, a home delivery service and a possible block village borrowing facility Reductions in funding by central government for the County Council are becoming critical and, despite the ever closer liaison between health and social care, reserves are almost depleted with adult social care consuming nearly half of the total budget. Stand-up-for-eastsussex is an online petition to central government which he urges people to sign There is still no clarification of the way the new business rates regime will work for counties, like East Sussex, which are a net importer having insufficient business rates tax base to produce the necessary income. The mechanism for redistribution from other counties remains unknown after Finance and Governance 6.1 RFO Report Members noted that The National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC) has reached agreement on new pay scales for clerks for to be implemented immediately and backdated to 1 April 2016 and on new pay scales for to be implemented from 1 April Members resolved to adopt the new pay scales in accordance with the clerk s contract of employment which defines the salary as point 18 within the range in scale LC1 as set out in the National Agreement The bank reconciliation was tabled and the Chairman confirmed that he has logged in to the online bank account and verified the balances to be as stated Members received a statement of income and expenditure against budget for the first 7 months of the year and noted that there are no significant variances A draft budget for 2018/19 was tabled and discussed. The Chairman proposed that the allocation of reserves be amended with an additional 400 being added to the Community reserve with a consequential reduction of the same amount in the General reserve. 6.2 Receipts and Payments Members received a schedule of receipts and payments in September and October On the motion of the Chairman seconded by Cllr Gasson, members approved the following payments: Clerk expenses 6 months to end September (previously examined and approved by the Chairman) Clerk back pay in accordance with above Section 137 Support grants Village Hall Sussex Air Ambulance CAB Victim Support RNLI St. Michael s Hospice Governance The clerk advised members that he has completed the online self assessment on the Information Commissioner s website which concludes that the parish council has no need to be registered with the ICO. Accordingly, when it next comes up for annual renewal, the registration will be discontinued saving 36 annually Boundary commission members noted that the proposals are that Etchingham and Ticehurst will leave our parliamentary constituency. As Cllr Barnes pointed MINUTES Page 2 of 5 Initials

3 out, this will have no direct impact on Brightling but it makes no sense in the bigger picture as it ignores district council boundaries Mapping licensing A Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) is already in place and a new RALC group license has been added for Parish Online. This comes at no charge for the first year but a fee may be payable in future. Cllr Croft requested access to Parish Online which the clerk will arrange Members resolved to adopt an amendment to Standing Orders incorporating a standing agenda item 3 ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS - To consider such other items as the Chairman decides are urgent and due notice of which has been given to the Clerk on the day before the meeting by 12 noon. 7. Community and Business Development 7.1 Local Action Plan no further discussion 7.2 Rural Broadband the Chairman reported as follows: The good news is that, on present plans, substantial parts of Brightling that don't currently get superfast are to get it by June The new areas to be covered appear to be all along the Brightling Road (which currently gets very poor service indeed) and around Hollingrove The contract under which this work is being done does allow BT to decide where to do it, so it is BT that has made this decision, and in theory they could change their minds. There are parts of Brightling that are not included in this. A specific example known to me is Little Worge Farm and I suspect that the same will apply to other nearby properties. I also believe that Dallington School will get superfast broadband by the end of June 2018, again subject to the same caveats. The Brightling and Dallington upgrades are being done under an extended "contract 2", which will run until December Contract 2 was allocated a budget of 6m and a completion date of December 2017 but it turned out that by the completion date, only 4m out of the 6m budget had actually been used. A new agreement was therefore made, in around March 2017, to spend the remaining 2m on further extending superfast broadband to around 2400 more properties in East Sussex, with a new completion date of December There will be another contract: contract 3. This will utilize approximately 3m of "gainshare" money - basically money that BT has to repay because they have made more profit out of contract 2 than they claimed they were going to make. Contract 3 has been out to tender, responses have been received and are being evaluated with a view to awarding a contract or contracts in the near future. Contract 3 was not bound to be BT-exclusive but I have not been able to find out what companies were asked to tender, nor which ones responded, despite the fact that the contract was supposed to be awarded under "open procurement". Contract 3 will be used to extend broadband further and, unlike contract 2, it will be targeted at the "worst first" and is committed to be transparent about the properties to be served. None of the information that I have dug up is actually secret or confidential. However almost none of it is properly publicized by the council, and it has taken a huge amount of effort to dig it out. Not only are members of the public not being informed, even councillors are receiving very little information, and in some cases seriously misleading information. I have now resorted to Freedom of information requests to extract information. For example the fact that 1 Poplar Cottages is forecast to get FTTP service in June 2018, and that Little Worge Farm is excluded because it would cost 14,865, are not secrets. The full set of information at this level is known to ESCC who could release it now if they chose to. In my opinion the ESCC broadband project has been adequately though not brilliantly run. Where it has failed, and continues to fail, is on the issue of communicating with members of the public. The project has clearly adopted a policy of issuing as little information as they possibly can, even when there are no legal constraints on them releasing more, and they have actively resisted suggestions of working with local communities to improve the communication. This is something that they could change if they were minded to, and I call upon our councillors to make this happen. MINUTES Page 3 of 5 Initials

4 7.3 Police liaison members were advised that inspector Dan Russell has accepted an invitation to be present at the Annual Assembly. 7.4 Defibrillator Cllr French reported that the second defibrillator is now installed on a post on the verge opposite the entrance to the Forestry Commission car park in Cackle Street Cllr Croft reported that the pads on the defibrillator need replacing. The clerk will attend to it, 7.5 BT Payphone Box members noted that the surrounding brambles have been cleared but no work on the repainting has yet commenced. 7.6 Village web site the Chairman reported that a number of development activities are in progress behind the scenes. 7.7 Drones The clerk reported that in the neighbouring parish of Penhurst a number or residents of isolated properties have reported frequent repeated intrusions by drones, frequently the same one. Residents are worried about threats to their security Members are not aware of the same issues currently in Brightling but will remain vigilant. RDC Cllr Kirby-Green noted that there has been a recent increase in rural crime, that Insp. Dan Russell is taking an interest and suggested that he be invited to comment when he attends the Annual Assembly next April. 8. Planning Matters 8.1 Members noted the progress and outcomes of those tabled at a previous meeting RR/2017/1883/P - Furnace Cottage, Brightling Road, Salehurst/Robertsbridge TN32 5EY - Extensions and refurbishment of existing dwelling. Refused 9th Oct Cllr French advised that the council s response to the following needs to be determined: RR/2017/2178/P - The Old School House, Brightling Village, Brightling TN32 5HH - Construction of a double garage with garden store accessed via existing lane and gate RR/2017/2042/L - The Old School House, Brightling Village, Brightling TN32 5HH - Dry lining and waterproofing within the existing cellar area to create useable storage space including provision of small glazed openings within infilled openings. Removal of modern intermediate brick piers and replacement with steel beams. 8.3 Breaches and enforcement the following update was noted Telegraph point site allocations document shows the deadline of 17 Jul 18 as the end date for lawful occupation of the caravan. 8.4 Countryside 8.5 Members noted that the unlawful Eucalyptus planting in Brickyard Lane remains. The clerk will contact the Woodlands Officer once more. 9. Highways Matters 9.1 Finger posts members are content with the current state of repair and are not aware of the need to make provision in the 2018/19 budget. 9.2 Footpaths Members noted the poor drainage of the footpath from Hollingrove to Brightling village The clerk has contacted the Rights of Way officer who is familiar with the footpath and its problems but has offered to come and meet with members on site. MINUTES Page 4 of 5 Initials

5 9.2.3 Members resolved to take up the offer of a meeting but to defer it until February when it is more likely that the poor drainage will be more in evidence than it is now. 9.3 Strengthening Local Relationships (SLR) members noted that the date of the inaugural meeting is Tuesday 5th December 2017 at 2.15 pm in Brightling Village Hall. 9.4 Ditches, Brickyard Lane the clerk advised that in response to his report to highways of the blocked ditch he has been advised that the Highways Steward has visited. However, there appears to be no immediate safety issue and so, unless one emerges, they will leave the ditch clearing in its place in the four year schedule. It is in year four of the schedule and currently we are in year two. 9.5 Overgrown hedges The clerk advised that, in response to his letter, the hedge in front of The Croft, Brightling Road, has been cut There has been no response from British Gypsum regarding their hedge at the conveyor in Hollingrove so the clerk has referred the issue to County who have agreed to pursue the matter. 9.6 East Sussex Highways have circulate their forward programme for 2017 & 2018 which includes Brightling as follows: Ditches none in Brightling Road markings Brightling scheduled for 10th & 11th April Road sign cleaning March Training No current plans 11. Correspondence received 11.1 Mr Henry Fawcett re candidate wild life verges. The clerk has contacted Highways who confirm that the verge in front of Hollingrove Barn is not designated as a wild life verge and that the recent installation of an indicator post is a mistake Village Hall request for funding. This is included in the draft budget for 2018/ Parish Councillors Forum 12.1 Cllr Croft noted that a caravan appears to be in use as a residence in front of Giffords Farm Cottage. The clerk will take up the matter. 13. Circulation folder 13.1 Clerks and Councils Direct 14. Information for Councillors / Future Agenda Items None 15. Future meetings 15.1 The following are the remaining dates for council meetings in the current council year: 8 January 2018, 5 March 2018, 9 April 2018 Annual Assembly, 14 May 2018 AGM Date Signed (Chairman) MINUTES Page 5 of 5 Initials

CARDINHAM PARISH COUNCIL

CARDINHAM PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETING Held at Cardinham Parish Hall on Tuesday 16 th May 2017 Annual General Meeting Present: Councillors J Best, K Morris, S. Smart, G Rogers, P Claridge,