LAUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
WEDNESDAY 16TH JULY 2014
AT LAUGHTON PARISH HALL
Present: Chairman Cllr Julie Gill, (JG) Cllr Jacqueline Breeds (JB), Cllr Alex Carey (AC), Cllr
Mike Cook (MC), Cllr Miranda Dart (MD) and Cllr Nick Williams (NW)
Also present Clerk Mrs. Karen Crowhurst (KC)
Also in attendance:
Cllr Barby Dashwood-Morris - Wealden District Council
Cllr Nick Bennett – East Sussex County Council
1 Member of the public
Item
Subject
LP/14/88
Apologies for absence
Cllr Ben Burbridge.
To accept the minutes from the Parish Council meeting held on 18th
June 2014
Resolved - to accept the minutes from the Parish Council meeting held
on 18th June 2014, as a true and accurate record of the meeting. This was
proposed by Cllr Williams and seconded by Cllr Dart. The minutes were
then signed by Cllr Gill.
LP/14/89
LP/14/90
Declarations of interest
None received.
LP/14/91
Questions from Members of the public
At 7.34pm the Chair suspended Standing Orders and invite questions or
comments from Members of the public in relation to items on the
agenda.
Richard Maesfield who was in attendance on behalf of the Village Green
spoke about the report distributed to Members of the Parish Council, he
drew attention to some actions which may arise from the report that the
Parish Council will need to consider in the future. In particular
maintenance once the work has completed. Mr Maesfield informed
Members of the current position of the Working Group as well as future
actions and ideas and concepts it is currently considering. One of the
main emphases being to obtain further funding through various sources
and to try and get a speed reduction on the B1214 after receiving advice
from an East Sussex County Council Officer. Mr Maesfield informed that
he was advised that speeding loops could be used to establish speed of
vehicles using the road.
7.40pm Orders were reinstated
Members agreed to place actions contained within the report as an item
on the next Parish Council meeting agenda.
Page 1 of 4
Action
by
LP/14/92
East Sussex County Council and Wealden District Council reports
Cllr Bennett in response to what he heard from Mr Masefield informed
Members that they could make an application for 30mph speed
restriction for part of the B1214. Cllr Bennett informed Members that
use of speeding loops is an effective method of monitoring the speed of
vehicles. He advised that it would be best to gage the reaction of the
community to establish if they would want a reduction of speed near the
village Green. Cllr Bennett then reported on:
- The waste and minerals consultation
- Bus services consultation
- Education portfolio and its priorities and the rationale
Cllr Dashwood – Morris reported on:
- Planning changes to the Government Infrastructure Bill
- Statistics and statistic comparisons for other wards regarding
Laughton, obtained from 2011 census (Cllr Dashwood-Morris
agreed to send a copy to the Clerk for distribution to Members.)
- Her role in Friends of Crowbourough Hospital and informed that
the birthing unit there has been retained
- The Community Dividend Fund
- Full Council agenda items
- Her attendance at local markets
- Her attendance Laughton flower and produce show
LP/14/93
Planning
a) Plans
There were no plans to consider.
b) To consider any planning applications that have been received
after the agenda has been published
There were no plans to consider.
c) Planning applications refused, approved, referred or appeals
Members noted that the application for Harben Farm has been
withdrawn.
LP/14/94
LP/14/95
Play equipment – update and any further actions
This matter is still on-going. The Clerk advised that she is currently
sourcing someone to undertake ad-hoc maintenance for another parish
and suggested that they could carry out the work needed at Laughton.
Members agreed that this would be a good step forward.
School Car Park
Members considered concerns raised about the current state of the
school car park any plans to extend the car park in the future. It was
agreed to seek clarification about any 106 agreement for the area, as
well as seek clarification from the school any intentions to extend the car
park, land ownership and request to know of any progress of the wildlife
garden.
Page 2 of 4
Clerk
LP/14/96
ESCC – Draft East Sussex, South Downs and Brighton & Hove Waste and
Minerals sites Plan – Consultation 4th July 2014 – 5th September 2014
Members requested further advice regarding this from Cllr Bennett.
Therefore, Standing Orders were suspended at 8.09pm to seek guidance.
Cllr Bennett advised Members about the purpose and content of the
consultation document. Orders were then reinstated at 8.11pm.
After a short discussion it was agreed that Cllr Dart prepare a response
on behalf of the Parish Council for Members to agree by email to meet
the deadline.
Cllr
Dart
It was agreed to include how to take part in the consultation be included
as an item in The Buckle Newsletter.
Clerk
LP/14/97
ESCC - Consultation on proposed bus changes
Members expressed their deep concerns regarding the changes to bus
number 143 which could be drastically reduced. It was then agreed for
Cllr Williams and Cllr Gill to draft a response on behalf of Laughton
Parish Council for submission. It was further agreed that the
consultation regarding the changes to bus services be an item in the
Buckle Newsletter in order to raise awareness and encourage
Parishioners to respond.
LP/14/98
WDC - Questionnaire regarding conservation areas in Laughton
Cllr Dart informed Members that she has been in consultation with
Officers at Wealden District Council regarding some areas of Laughton
becoming a Conservation Area and informed Members of the pros and
cons if they should agree to proceed. Cllr Dart read from a document she
had prepared and circulated to all Members and the Clerk. Cllr Dart
proposed the areas outlined on the list be submitted as Conservation
areas to Wealden District Council. After careful consideration it was
agreed to add a couple of further areas to the list for inclusion and
Cllr
accept the proposal made by Cllr Dart. It was also agreed that Cllr Dart
Dart
send a draft response to Members for approval and if in agreement
submit the questionnaire to Wealden District Council on behalf of
Laughton Parish Council.
LP/14/99
WDC - Review of Polling Stations and places within the District of
Wealden
Members noted the review of Polling Stations as received by the Clerk
and WDC Officer.
LP/14/100
Road Matters
Members agreed to request from ESCC speeding loops to be placed near
the village green. Members also discussed that particular stretch of road
which they all considered is dangerous for all residents from the very
Page 3 of 4
young to the very old. Members made reference to the report
submitted by the Village Green Working Group and agreed they have
made remarkable progress with an improved sight line and agreed to
support them with any actions to reduce the speed restrictions.
LP/14/101
Financial Matters
a) Payments and receipts
Resolved to accept the Payments and receipts submitted. This was
proposed by Cllr Dart and seconded by Cllr Williams.
(Payments and receipts are recorded on separate pages attached)
b) Bank reconciliation
Resolved to accept the Bank reconciliation, which was then signed by Cllr
Gill.
LP/14/99
Report from the Clerk – Verbal if required
The Clerk had nothing to report as items for action were covered on the
agenda.
LP/14/100
Staffing matters
Matters were discussed regarding the Clerks Annual leave and
arrangements in the event of an emergency for ensuring Parish Council
payments are met.
LP/14/101
Reports from Councillors by leave
Cllr Breeds reported that some recently repaired road has collapsed and
requested that this be reported to ESCC.
Cllr Carey reported about issues arising from recent bike racing events,
Cllr Carey advised that an ESCC Officer is looking into the legalities
regarding the stopping of traffic.
Cllr Williams reported on his attendance at the last Wealden District
Association of Local Councils meeting and advised of funding available
through the Joint Action Group. He also informed Members about East
Sussex Fire and Rescue free smoke alarm testing.
LP/14/87
No further reports were received
Urgent items and items for referral to next agenda at the Chairman’s
discretion
1) Action points from Village Green Working Group report.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20pm
Date of next meeting Wednesday 17th September 7.30pm at the Parish
Hall.
Page 4 of 4