Present: Councillors Crookshank (Chairman), Burgess, Gray, Harris, Hewes, Rowland and Scarborough.
Also in attendance: District Cllr. Padfield  and one member of the press.

1.             TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASON FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllrs. Hall, Mrs Howell and Mrs Myers; reasons noted and accepted.
Apologies received County Cllr. Tidy and PC Etherington due to attendance at a public Police meeting in Crowborough.

2.             DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
Cllr. Harris declared a personal interest in item 10, planning application WD/2008/2096/F Bayham Manor as a neighbour.
Cllr. Hewes declared a prejudicial interest in item 16 Personnel as spouse of the Clerk; Cllr. Hewes left the meeting during discussion of this item.

3.             TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 20.08.08 AND PLANNING MEETING 1.09.08 AS A TRUE RECORD
Resolved to approve the Minutes of the meetings held 20.08.08 and 1.09.08 as a true record.

4.             TO DETERMINE MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES FOR UPDATING AND NOTING
None.

5.             OPEN FORUM    
None.

6.             POLICE REPORT
None.

7.             TO RECEIVE THE COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
None.

8.             TO RECEIVE THE DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Cllr. Padfield reported on the following items:
The Appeal for Benhall Mill Road has been withdrawn.
Proposal to participate in a scheme offering free swimming sessions for older people.
WDC has contributed £25K towards a feasibility study on re-opening the Uckfield/Lewes railway line.
100 complaints were recorded last year at WDC; the main issues being planning, refuse collections and housing.
WDC has written to Central Government as there is no provision for key infrastructure to support the housing development in the South East Plan.

9.             HIGHWAYS AND LIGHTING ISSUES
To consider problem of parking in Frant
Discussion on the growing problem of parking in the centre of Frant. Suggestions included school staff parking behind The Stables, providing a car park, creating more ‘one-way’ areas to allow parking on one side of the road and creating parking restrictions. It was generally considered that all people parking had business within the village and need to park somewhere; it is important for the survival of local businesses that their customers can park near to the outlets.

Other highways issues
Speed monitoring is to be undertaken at Bells Yew Green to ascertain the current average speed; proposals for traffic calming will then be drawn up for consideration. The work is to be covered by funds secured under Agreement for development of the Broomfield site.

10            PLANNING
To make recommendations about Planning Applications received.
It was resolved to respond to the planning applications as follows:
WD/2008/2096/F Bayham Manor, Bayham Estate – demolition of garage and construction of replacement garage with self-contained accommodation above; construction of stables.

It is difficult to give this application full consideration as there are no plans of the existing buildings that are being replaced to be used for comparison.

Frant Parish Council objects to the proposed garage and first floor accommodation for the following reasons:
The dimensions of the building are excessive, particularly the ridge height which may present a visual intrusion into the landscape and affect the amenity of the residents of Bayham Barn.
The rear wall of the building and the rearward facing roof slope present a large featureless expanse which is considered visually unattractive and may affect the amenity of the residents of Bayham Barn. Screening may take a considerable number of years to be established and grow to the proposed roof height.
The new building is placed at some distance to the main dwelling and is not well-associated with it.
The proposal conflicts with Policy BE10 of the Non-Statutory Local Plan which seeks to protect areas included in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, as it will affect the character, appearance and features of the site.

If the application is approved then conditions must be included tying the garage accommodation to the main dwelling and restricting external lighting.

The proposal for the stables complex is supported as this is considered to be of a reasonable size for the site, subject to conditions stipulating no commercial use or floodlighting.

WD/2008/2082/F Silver Shield, Estate Yard, Eridge Green – change of use to personal training studio and to create a new entrance.

No objection.

11.           TO CONSIDER REPLACEMENT/REINSTATEMENT OF DAMAGED POSTS ON FRANT GREEN
Resolved to accept quotation of £360 + VAT from Richard Carter for 2 new posts and the reinstatement of 10 others – payment under Open Spaces Act 1906 s10.

12.           REPORT ON REVIEW OF WEBSITE
Information on the website has been reviewed; there is a proposal to update the site.

13.           PLAY EQUIPMENT
To review RoSPA inspection report
Play equipment inspection report reviewed; no items were identified as high risk. Cllrs. Hewes and Mrs Scarborough asked for equipment marked as medium risk to be taken out of commission, starting with the roundabout. Much of the equipment is very old and spare parts are not available. Cllrs. to review play equipment before the next meeting. A decision on the grant application to WDC is awaited.

To review plans for new equipment
Following the inspection report, the Burma bridge should be programmed for replacement. Playdale has supplied information/costs on new toddler equipment for consideration. A quote is being obtained for disposal of the old equipment locally to see if savings can be achieved.

14.           TO RECEIVE UPDATE ON PARISH PLAN
Next meeting of the steering group is scheduled for 22.09.08.

15.           FINANCE
To note receipt of signed Annual Return 2007/08
Annual Return has been signed by the External Auditor; a copy of the Return has been displayed on the noticeboard at Frant.

To approve accounts payable

16.           PERSONNEL – report on Year One of study and approval of salary increment
Report on first year of Local Policy course at the University of Gloucestershire.

Resolved to exclude the public and press under Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s1, in view of the confidential nature of the discussion.

Resolved to approve an increase in Clerk’s salary by 1 spinal point following the satisfactory completion of Year One of Local Policy; this is in addition to the existing approval of 1 spinal point for AQA Certificate in Local Council Administration.

17.           CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING
The following items of correspondence were reviewed:
District/Parish conference to be held 11.11.08.
Appeal for the Walled Garden has been dismissed.

Remaining correspondence was dealt with during the course of the meeting and detailed on a separate list circulated to councillors.

18.           URGENT ISSUES AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOTING OR INCLUSION ON FUTURE AGENDA
Cllr. Jeal has resigned for personal reasons. Chairman wished to record his thanks for the contribution by Cllr. Jeal for many years.
A replacement WDC emergency radio operator is required; Cllr. Mrs Myers is the emergency co-ordinator.
Request for the issue of painted gateways used to identify entry to a village settlement, to be placed on next agenda.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:43