Please click on the link below to see details of a Casual Vacancy for a Mountfield Parish Councillor.
Please contact the Parish Clerk if you wish any further information
Agenda for MPC Annual Meeting 12.05.26 (amended)
AGENDA FOR THE MOUNTFIELD PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 12th MAY 2026
Parish Council Members are summoned to the Annual Meeting of Mountfield Parish Council, to be held on 12th May 2026 at 7.30pm in Mountfield Village Hall
Members of the press and public are welcome and encouraged to attend
Irene Marchant (Parish Clerk/RFO)
St. Giles, Woods Corner, Dallington, East Sussex TN21 9LA
01424 838414 – clerk@mountfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk
7th May 2026
1. Election of MPC Chair 2026-27
2. Election of MPC Vice-Chair 2026-27
3. Disclosure of interests
To receive any disclosures by Members of personal interests on this agenda, the nature of any such interest and whether the Member regards the interest as a disclosable pecuniary interest under the terms of the Code of Conduct.
4. Dispensations
5. Apologies for absence
6. Accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting
7. Open Forum
7.1 County Council report (ESCC) – Councillor K. Field
7.2 District Council report (RDC) – Councillor E. Kirby-Green
7.3 Public Question Time – to receive any questions from members of the public on matters on this agenda.
8. Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2025-26
To approve by resolution the following:
8.1 The Annual Governance Statement (Section 1).
8.2 The Accounting Statements (Section 2).
8.3 The Explanation of Variances and Bank Reconciliation at 31.03.26.
8.4 Compliance with item O (compliance with laws, regulations and proper practices relating to digital and data compliance) on the Internal Audit Report will be discussed and resolved at the MPC July meeting.
8.5 To thank Mr. Harding for the constructive and positive manner in which he conducted the Internal Audit for MPC, and to appoint him as MPC’s internal auditor for 2026-27.
9. MPC appointments to outside bodies
- Rother Association of Local Councils (RALC) – the Chair and any other Members who wish to attend (2 Members may attend).
- Mountfield Village Hall Committee – Councillors Whines and Hardy.
10. King George’s Field
- Installation of new cesspit – planning/building control permission for this work is needed from ESCC; we are currently awaiting validation from them.
- The annual Jubilee Cricket Match will be held on Sunday 05.07.26.
11. Mountfield Parish Assembly 2026
The Assembly held on 14.04.26 and was well attended and there were two interesting talks.
- The first by Dark Skies representatives and much interest was shown by the public. Mountfield becoming a Dark Skies area will be discussed fully at the MPC July meeting. This is a major project and will need the support of residents.
- The second talk was by a British Gypsum representative, particularly about their Leachate Treatment Plant installation, which will be completed by the end of 2026.
- The reports from organisations are available on the MPC website.
12. Parish Profile
This item to be deferred until the MPC July meeting.
13. Full transition to .gov.uk
The Clerk to brief Members on MPC’s full transition to .gov.uk. This includes the domain name, hosting of Managed WordPress and website security. The new registrar will be EasySpace who will also host the website. Uniserve will manage the transition.
14. Southern Water Solar Array
For Councillor O’Sullivan to brief Members on the latest situation.
15. Village Waste Collection
This item will be deferred until the July meeting.
16. Refurbishment of Telephone Box
The Clerk continues to seek quotations for this work.
17. Grit bin replacement and refill
This item will be deferred until the July meeting.
18. Insulated Defibrillator Boxes
For Members to discuss the defibrillators at Solomon’s Lane and the Village Hall being enclosed in insulated defibrillator boxes, as the one at Eatenden Lane.
19. Planning
19.1 No planning applications for consideration.
19.2 MPC comments made under delegated authority:
- RR/2026/0261/FULL – Old Stable Yard, Vines Cross Road.
Support.
- RR/2026/0321/HOU – Park Pale House
Support.
19.3 MPC were unable to submit a comment for application RR/2026/O275/FULL – Baldwins Farm, as they were unable to reach a quorate decision.
19.4 Any other planning matters for discussion.
20. Enforcement
20.1 No Mountfield items on RDC’s most recent enforcement list.
20.2 Any other enforcement matters for discussion.
21. Highways/Rights of Way
For Members to consider any urgent items, particularly the A2100.
22. Finance
22.1 Bank balances at 30.04.26
- MPC deposit account – £15,928.34
- MPC current account – £3,617.24
- KGF current account – £4,469.68
22.2 To approve the following payments:
- Clerk salary/HO Apr/May 2026 – £1,151.00
- * Mountfield Village Hall room hire 2026-27 – £190.00
- * ESALC subscription 2026-27 – £205.21
- * UserWay subscription 2026-27 – £333.71
* already paid
22.3 To approve the quarterly accounts at 31.03.26 as presented by the Clerk.
23. Dates of next meetings
- 09.06.26 – Full Council Meeting (provisional only)
- 14.07.26 – Full Council Meeting
Mountfield Parish Assembly 2026
The Mountfield Parish Assembly was held on 14th April 2026.
It was well attended and a most enjoyable evening.
There was a very interesting talk from two Dark Skies representatives which created a lot of interest from all those attending.
Eight Parishes in Rother and Wealden are intending to become Dark Skies Areas.
The main objective is to reduce ALAN (Artificial Light at Night), this causes “Sky Glow,” and reduces visibility. Every year at present becomes 10% lighter at night.
There was also an informative talk by a British Gypsum representative. He spoke about their major Leachate Treatment Plant Installation which is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
The reports from local authorities and organisations connected to Mountfield are listed below:
MPC Chair’s Report
ESCC Report
RDC Report
Footpath Wardens
Mountfield Tree Warden
Mountfield Village Hall
The Messenger Magazine
Mountfield United Football Club
Mountfield Cricket Club
Battle Area Community Transport (BACT)
Mountfield Heath School
Mountfield PCC All Saints Church
REMINDER!!! Rother Valley Railway Talk on Friday 10.04.26
Bob Evans of the Rother Valley Railway will be giving an illustrated talk on Friday 10th April at Mountfield Village Hall. Doors ope at 7.00pm for the talk starting at 7.30pm. The Club bar will be open. Entry by donation, with takings split equally between the Hall and RVR.
His talk, with PowerPoint display, quickly goes through the building of the railways in Britain, the history of the RVR and a run-down of where they are with progress on the rebuild – and then future developments and economic opportunities that will be provided by linking the RVR with the main line railway system at Robertsbridge.
Mountfield Parish Assembly 2026 – Dark Skies Presentation
The Dark Skies Presentation at the Parish Assembly on 14.04.26 will be by the High Weald Dark Skies Community Group.
Mountfield Parish Assembly 14.04.26
Mountfield Parish Assembly 2026
14th April 2026 – to start at 7.30pm
The Mountfield Parish Assembly 2026 will be held on 14th April 2026, starting at 7.30pm in Mountfield Village Hall
This is not a formal Mountfield Parish Council Meeting and resolutions cannot be taken, but questions and concerns from residents can be actioned for future meetings. Residents will have the opportunity to address any questions/concerns to Mountfield Parish Council Members and their County and District Councillors
It is a friendly and informal gathering (wine, soft drinks and nibbles available) and a great opportunity to meet up with old friends and make new ones.
There is not a formal agenda and the Assembly will be presented as follows:
1. Introduction (Chair Mountfield Parish Council)
2. A presentation on Dark Skies
3. The opportunity for residents to raise questions/concerns to Mountfield Parish Council, County and District Councillors
4. Mix and mingle, have a glass of wine with us.
5. Close of Assembly (Chair Mountfield Parish Council)
New planning application for Mountfield
RR/2026/0364/LDE – Trade Oak Building Kits, The Barn, Eatenden Lane
Certificate of Lawfulness for existing use as vehicle storage and detailing, with associated office space, in accordance with Use Class E of the Use Classes Order.
Deadline for comments is 28.04.26
Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website
REMINDER!!! Barn Dance at the Village Hall on Saturday 18.04.26
Bookings have been very slow for this event and we need the support of the community to ensure a successful event, which is raising funds for Mountfield Village Hall.
REMINDER!!! Rother Valley Railway Talk at the Village Hall on 10.04.26
Bob Evans of the Rother Valley Railway will be giving an illustrated talk on Friday 10th April at Mountfield Village Hall. Doors ope at 7.00pm for the talk starting at 7.30pm. The Club bar will be open. Entry by donation, with takings split equally between the Hall and RVR.
His talk, with PowerPoint display, quickly goes through the building of the railways in Britain, the history of the RVR and a run-down of where they are with progress on the rebuild – and then future developments and economic opportunities that will be provided by linking the RVR with the main line railway system at Robertsbridge and with the Kent & East Sussex Railway through to Tenderden.
Battle Ramblers – Sunday Walks Programme
