Present: Stuart, Jo, Roy, Christopher, David, William, Mike, Giny, Carmel, Alan
Also: Sarah, Andrew Thompson, Jo Tucker (Planning Policy Team), Jake, Sarah Roberts, PC Jen Black,
1 member of public
Apologies
Bob Standley, Downing Street
Interests
None.
Minutes
Signed.
Matters arising
On agenda
Public forum
Jake. Certificate for personal training. Interested in using Frant Green by play equipment for a boot
camp. Would like permission. Will still be outside in all weather. Will have 4-14 people per session.
Strength and cardiovascular fitness. Not much distance running, more high impact activity. During
the day – morning or midday.
Any damage to the grass? If too muddy will cancel it. Have public liability and indemnity insurance.
Provides pre-exercise screening tests to suit people.
Councillors approved, subject to monitoring and full details. Will put details on the website.
Jo – someone on the Green with a metal detector, making divits.
Police report
Jen – rural PC.
Had a burglary over Christmas on BYG road.
Break in at Buckhurst Works.
Latest survey put out – speeding on Bayham Road, A267 and Hawkenbury Road. Dog fouling. (dog
enforcement act passed. However, environmental, not police). Carmel – problem along Church
Lane. Jo – need to catch the perpetrator before anything can be done. Clerk to contact
environmental officer saying there is a problem and for more information re enforcing. Litter on
BYG road and Hawkenbury Road.
Panel meeting – 7pm, 16 January, The Stables, Frant.
County & District
District
ESCC health authority launching consultation re maternity and paediatric care – issues at
Crowborough which is part of the review. 6 options in consultation. Hopefully coming to council to
comment.
Withyham – there was 2 dogs shot by a farmer for savaging sheep. Might need to remind people on
website to keep dogs under control during lambing season. PC Jen to email information to clerk.
Also forward information to Carmel for Parish News.
Planning Policy.
Andrew to email presentation.
Jo – we have a neighbourhood plan drawn up by a committee. Is this still relevant? Will we have to
draw up a new one. Andrew – Yes, partially. The parish plans never went through formal adoption
process by WDC so are there as a guide but have no material weight regarding the planning process.
Can help to inform this process to see what you want to bring out of the parish plan into the site
allocation.
Talk about helping more retail. Recent development in BYG – put in a lot of ‘live/work’ units which
have mainly been converted into bedrooms. Feel that it did not work in the past so should not need
to revisit it. Andrew – are policies in the document for more flexible work/live space across district.
May be case more appropriate in urban rather than rural areas. Listed vaguely in core strategy
document and the ‘nitty gritty’ to be teased out. May need to review issues and options document.
Holiday lets – people put into holiday lets and turn into permanent lets. How do you intend to ‘beef
up’ that people are not using as holiday let? Andrew – not at that stage yet. Looking at policies to
protect existing tourism.
Cross border – Tunbridge Wells have been looking into Frant to mitigate their numbers. WDC have
said no so far. How are you going to ensure Frant not suburb of Frant. Andrew – have to co-operate
with other councils under duty to co-operate. TW have to prove cannot satisfy allocation on their
land/within their boundary. WDC looking to draw up memorandum in Council as will receive more
approaches from other authorities. Having to look seriously how to deal with that. If agreed, land
would have to be allocated by WDC.
District Councillors felt there is a grading system for agricultural land which is unknown to them.
Need to ensure agricultural land is not built on. Want to know the grading for agricultural land. JT –
there is a grading system by DEFRA for agricultural land. Grade 1 – best you can get – have none in
Wealden. Possibly have Grade 3 or ungraded. Agricultural land doesn’t have an enormous amount
of impact on policy. Something the NPPF recognises.
Is the AONB to be relaxed? Andrew – unaware. Working from NPPF. Major development under
exceptional circumstances. Major development – under discussion. Heathfield had 150 houses
listed as major whereas other developments of 50 have been classified as major.
Infrastructure. Had significant problems over Christmas period – BYG out with electricity. Frant had
water cut off. Utilities will tell you they can cope but obviously can’t. if getting influx of housing,
how can we ensure that there is an infrastructure to cope? WDC – can only steer infrastructure for
new development. Have an infrastructure delivery policy. Have the core strategy saying housing can
only be released if infrastructure to support. WDC need to ensure deliver the policies in place.
Next step………
Looking to work on some policy areas. Dependant on level of interest as to who wants to get
involved. Stuart to do gypsies!
Get people involved to state local issues. To contact Clerk to get community/council involved.
Chairman’s Announcements & Correspondence
Highways
SLR meeting next week. – detail issues on agenda.
Add pot holes, esp for Eridge.
Outstanding issues
Slowing down of traffic
SLR
Planning
Minutes
Signed.
Forward response from ESCC re Wadhurst Recycling
Sign at Shernfold park fallen down. Ask Highways to look at it.
Planning Apps
See agenda.
Finance
Accounts payable
Approved.
Precept for 2014/15
In favour of increase – 3
In favour of not increasing – 7
No abstentions.
Approved no increase. Therefore, precept is 32,314
Bus shelter
Sign attached to bus shelter – at Abergavenny – advertising the Tunbridge wells panto. Clerk to
investigate it’s removal.
Christopher left 8.55pm
Co-opting Councillor
Spoken to Sue Hutchins, runs Knowle Grange. Agreed to be co-opted. No other candidates know of.
Stuart – Jan Stocker now lives in Frant. However, not interested.
Clerk to advise date for co-opting. Jo to provide contact details.
Tree Warden
David.
All in favour.
Grass cutting contract
Need Cllr from each ward. BYG – Carmel. Frant – Jo. Eridge – Christopher.
Clerk to liaise.
Police House, Frant
Mike – speaking to David Addy. He is looking into his diaries to throw some light on.
To remain on agenda.
Correspondence
Stuart – email received.
Playground – almost on £18k, need £27k. Planning another push for funds. May apply for more
funds in February meeting. Stuart to reply. William to lead debate in February.
Urgent issues
Alan – asked by a lot of people re RSPB tree clearance to offer some explanation. People asking
where all the trees have gone. Steve has offered to give a talk at the parish meeting. May publish in
parish news. RSPB to be on next month’s agenda.
Note plans
Ende 9.05