Lancing Parish Council Website
Meetings
Dates for council meetings in municipal year 2008/2009 - please click on the relevant meeting below for list of dates.
All Meetings commence at 7:30pm (other than the Planning Advisory Committee which commences at 7:00pm) and are open to members of the public.
- Full Council
- Amenities & Environment Committee
- Finance & General Purposes Committee
- Planning Advisory Committee
DRAFT & UNCONFIRMED
LANCING PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Lancing Parish people held on Thursday, 29th May 2008 at 7.30pm,
Chairman Councillor Tony Nicklen
Clerks Colin Hunt, Clerk to the Lancing Parish Council and John Roberts Acting Clerk to the Lancing Parish Council.
Councillors Present – Councillors Andrew Barns, Melvyn Blackband, Ann Bridges, Simon Bridges, Richard Burt, Brenda Collard, Mary Hamblin, Stephen Martin, Morgan Nahid, Ann Terry and Norman Wright.
There were about 60 members of the public present.
1. The meeting was opened by the Chairman at 7.30 with an explanation of the purpose of the meeting and the reasons for the change of date.
2. Apologies for absence – Councillors Lorna Reed, Pat Beresford, Fred Lewis and Kim Bonnett.
3. The Chairman read the retiring Chairman’s annual report for 2007/8. Copies were circulated at the meeting together with minutes of last years meeting.
4. Questions and statements by the Public
(a) Mr Joyner 103 Penhill Road stated that there was no mention of the blocks on last years meeting
The Chairman explained that this was a different meeting and the issue of the blocks were discussed at Council meetings.
(b) Mrs Matten, 237 Brighton Road enquired when the outstanding questions she had raised in various correspondence and meetings would be dealt with.
The Chairman referred to the recent vacant clerks post and explained that answers would be forthcoming where possible in due course.
(c) Mrs Quick, 67 Cecil Road enquired why only 15minutes were allotted for members of the public to raise questions at Council meetings.
The Chairman explained that this was a standard time to invite questions. To allow more time could lead to meetings becoming lengthy and might fail to discuss issues before the Council
Mr Hutton, 22 Marlin Court, stated that when elected Councillors undertook to work on the peoples behalf and should listen to the people.
Mrs Matten reminded the Council of the code of conduct.
The Chairman stated that the Council collectively will decide the issues to be discussed and this was not a personal decision. If elected Members wish to discus certain issues they would be given the opportunity.
(d) Mrs Matten, 237 Brighton Road informed the meeting that she was under the impression that only residents of Lancing were eligible to attend the meeting.
The Acting Clerk advised the meeting that those not living in the Parish could add to the debate but could not vote in any poll.
(e) Mr Booker, complained about the emergency gas works on the A259. He suggested that 70% of time there was no work and no control and although the road works were completed on Friday at 12 noon the road was not open until 6 hours later. He asked that WSCC be contacted for an explanation.
(f) Mr Eden 17 The Tynings, asked how much under-spend does the Council expect this year as there was a £35k under-spend last year and why has the precept risen to 7.5 %. Mr Eden enquired the reason for the traffic wardens (£500) and the testing of electrical equipment (£2400)
The Chairman stated that traffic control was provided by PCSO’s on Bank Holiday Mondays but that the police had not always charged the Parish for the service. The testing of electrical equipment was a statutory duty for all Councils.
Mr Eden enquired why the Parish had such a large reserve fund.
The Chairman explained that the reserve was to cater for emergencies or any contingencies that may happen during the year.
(g) Mrs Quick asked if new Councillors could make themselves k known
All Councillors present stood and introduced themselves
(h) Mr Graham Brown, 147 Brighton Road enquired what scrutiny does this Council play in other council finances
The Chairman responded by assuring the meeting that as a number of Parish Councillors were District Councillors also there was always a concern about all levels of government expenditure. The Chairman pointed out the recent merger between Adur and Worthing and the savings of £500k and that all were looking for savings continually.
(j) Mr Eggington brought up the question that there may be evidence of asbestos in the blocks at Beach Green and that if so the blocks would be better left in place and covered.
Mrs Matten enquired why if asbestos was put in concrete why has one been uncovered and left on public view. A member of the public who had worked for many years in the construction industry said that there may be some confusion as only fly-ash from power stations was used which helped with the viscosity of the mixture.
Mr Eggington qualified his statement and referred to asbestos being present as infill material and if this was the case then the area should be left undisturbed.
The Chairman stated that the blocks had been tested for detrimental material and stated that the issue would be investigated.
Mrs Matten suggested that too much money had already been spent on this issue and that further testing and the idea of a Parish pole was a further waste of money
Mrs. Quick referred to the Conservative election leaflet mandate to hold a referendum if elected. Mrs Quick was of the opinion that that the previous contractor who had undertaken remedial works on the Green had not done a good job and that the professional survey had suppressed the true conclusions. Mrs Quick then called for a vote at the meeting to gauge public opinion on the Beach Green issue.
Mr. Eden seconded this motion.
Cllr Hamblin asked that if only a covering of soil was placed over the area could there be similar problems in the future. The Chairman confirmed that that could possibly be the case.
Mrs Matten suggested that if the Council had maintained the area better over the last 20/30 years then this would not have been a problem and that the Council will hopefully learn from the mistakes and put a sufficient maintenance budget in place in future.
The Chairman reassured Mrs Matten that the area has always been inspected regularly.
Mr. Matten suggested that we ensure that the movements of the market lorries are regulated to minimise any future damage to the surface.
At this point the Chairman put the motion to the vote. There was only one vote not in favour of the motion.
Mrs Matten sought assurance that the members of the Council who had voted for the motion would not vote otherwise at a future Council meeting.
(k) Mrs Pashley commented that the gardens in village look well and suggested that if there was any spare money perhaps consideration could be given to refurbishing Monks Recreation Ground changing rooms.
(l) Mrs Pashley also raised the question of dog wardens on the beach as not all dog owners clear up after their dog. Cllr Bridges explained that the Adur DC is looking into this matter and hopefully this will appear on a future Council agenda.
(m) Mr Hutton was concerned about building in green spaces, and in particular Beach Green, and asked if the Council would consider registering the open spaces and green areas to prevent this from happening.
The Chairman explained that Beach Green is already protected and only certain structures such as a shelter and band stand are permitted. The chairman also said that other sites would be considered.
(n) Mrs Matten raised three matters:-
(1) That the Village Regeneration Scheme had not been progressed and asked that a Councillor champion the project
(2) Could the Parish Council encourage the formation of Youth Council, perhaps with the local PCSO’s and
(3) Could a ‘Gorgeous garden’ competition be organised.
Cllr Bridges informed the meeting that ADC run such a youth Council and that she would support the ‘Gorgeous garden’ initiative.
Cllr Collard informed the meeting that ADC do run a garden competition and that Lancing only submitted five applications last year.
Mrs Matten suggested that perhaps the local schools could help with advertising the event and design posters etc.
(o) Mr Collington suggested that the Councillors should hire a coach and tour the area to see some of the problems and referred to flooding at Manor Parade and the Cemetery which in his opinion needed some form of over pumping and suggested that this issue be taken up by the Parish Council.
Cllr Bridges enquired if Mr Collington had taken this issue up with ADC and he confirmed that he had.
Clrr Terry said she was in the process of walking around the area to gain an understanding of the issues.
(p) Mrs Matten enquired if training would be available for Councillors
The Chairman and Cllr Terry confirmed that Councillor training was underway and that there would be more to follow.
(q) Mr Eden was concerned about the cycle lanes along the foreshore. Mrs Matten agreed and said that there had been several near accidents. Mr Eden asked the Chairman for his thoughts.
The Chairman informed that WSCC were responsible for the lanes and expressed a personal opinion that certain liberties appeared to have been taken by the County Council which will be taken up with them.
(r) Mr Matten raised the question of an apparent encroachment onto Parish land by the developers of the building on Beach Green and asked the chairman if this matter could be investigated.
The Chairman confirmed that this would be done.
(s) Mrs Quick asked what happens now concerning the discussion over Beach Green.
The Chairman advised the meeting that the Council will seek advice on the issue of asbestos and discuss the issue again at a future Council meeting.
(t) Mr Gordon Brown raised a question concerning the public question time at Council meetings. He asked if questions could be raised during and after Council meetings. Mrs Matten informed the meeting that there was one council which do allow public questions throughout the proceedings.
It was agreed that this matter would be discussed at a future council meeting.
(u) Mrs Matten raised the matter of Council ground staff using strimmers in preference to the recently acquired grass mowers.
The Chairman asked the Clerk to look into this matter and report his findings.
There being no further questions the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting a 21:05.
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