Category: Parish Council

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

The Mountfield Parish Assembly will be held on 14th April 2026, starting at 7.30pm in Mountfield Village Hall

As many of you know, this is not a formal Council Meeting, but a gathering of Mountfield residents, Mountfield clubs and organisations, Mountfield Parish Council and your County and District Councillors.

It is friendly and relaxed affair and the perfect opportunity for you to ask Mountfield Parish Council and your County and District Councillors questions and to raise any concerns face to face.

Reports from East Sussex County Council, Rother District Council, clubs and organisations will be available for you to read at your leisure and later published on our website.

We do hope you can join us, ask your questions and mix and mingle with old friends.

Wine, soft drinks and nibbles will be available – hope to see you there.

Irene – Parish Clerk

AGENDA FOR THE MOUNTFIELD PARISH COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 10th MARCH 2026, AT 7.30pm IN MOUNTFIELD VILLAGE HALL

Parish Council Members are summoned to a meeting of Mountfield Parish Council to be held on 10th March 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

5th March 2026

1. Disclosure of interests

To receive any disclosures by Members of personal interests in matters 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.

2. Dispensations

3. Apologies for absence

4. Accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting

5. Open Forum

5.1 County Council report (ESCC) – Councillor K. Field

5.2 District Council report (RDC) – Councillor E. Kirby-Green

5.3 Public Question Time – to receive any questions from members of the public on matters on this agenda.

6. King George’s Field installation of new cesspit

To discuss the installation of a new cesspit at the KGF (now critical) and consider the quotation from H&T Building Services to be match-funded by the KGF Trust and MPC.

7. Parish Profile

To consider MPC initiating a parish profile project for Mountfield.

8. Southern Water Solar Array

Southern Water have been asked for details of their latest design document and further works are expected shortly.

9. Village Waste Collection

To consider the cost and legal implications of such waste collections and any alternative methods that could be used.

10. Mountfield Parish Assembly 2026

This will take place on 14.04.26 in the Village Hall. The Clerk will request invitations from county and district councillors and organisations in Mountfield. (CLERK)

11. Refurbishment of Telephone Box

The Clerk will continue to seek quotations for this work.

12. Grit Bins replacement and refill

To discuss the current state of the Mountfield grit bins (a full survey to be completed) and then replacement/refill can be requested from ESCC later in the year, e.g. September 2026.

13. Planning

13.1 Planning application for consideration

• RR/2026/0233/PIP – Woodland Cottage, Mountfield Lane

Permission in Principle for proposed conversion of existing ancillary living unit into 1no. dwelling.

13.2 Any other planning matters for discussion.

14. Enforcement

14.1 One Mountfield item on RDC’s most recent enforcement list at Walters Wood on A21. RDC Enforcement will visit.

14.2 Any other enforcement matters for discussion. There has been a complaint regarding the glamping site on the A2100 (Fox Earth). To agree on any action from MPC.

15. Highways/Rights of Way

The issues on the A2100 continue with flooding and a landslip (Network Rail involved). To consider any further action from MPC (please see item 14.2 above).

16. Finance

16.1 Bank balances at 28.02.26

• MPC deposit account – £8,382.69
• MPC current account – £3,193.41
• KGF current account – £4,520.05

16.2 To approve the following payments:

• Clerk salary/HO Feb/Mar2026, expenses – £1,160.25
• * Parish Online domain name – £120.00
• * RALC subscription – £32.00

*already paid

16.3 To update the Unity Trust mandate.

17. Dates of next meetings

• 14.04.26 – Full Council Meeting/Planning Meeting (provisional only, starts 7.00pm)
• 14.04.26 – Mountfield Parish Assembly
• 12.05.26 – Annual Parish Meeting

MOUNTFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

MEETING DATES 2026-27

Meetings start at 7.30pm in Mountfield Village Hall

14.04.26 – Mountfield Parish Assembly 2026

12.05.26 – Annual Parish Meeting

14.07.26 – Full Council Meeting

08.09.26 – KGF Meeting (starts 7.00pm)

08.09.26 – Full Council Meeting

10.11.26 – Full Council Meeting

19.01.27 – Full Council Meeting

09.03.27 – KGF Meeting (starts 7.00pm)

09.03.27 – Full Council Meeting

Dates for meetings to be held when necessary, e.g. planning comment deadlines, urgent items etc., these are provisional only

14.04.26 – Full Council Meeting (starts 7.00pm)

09.06.26 – Full Council Meeting

11.08.26 – Full Council Meeting

13.10.26 – Full Council Meeting

08.12.26 – Full Council Meeting

09.02.27 – Full Council Meeting