Category: Parish Council

AGENDA FOR THE MOUNTFIELD PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 14th MAY 2024

Parish Council Members are summoned to the Annual Council Meeting of Mountfield Parish Council, to be held on 14th May 2024, at 7.30pm in Mountfield Village Hall.
Members of the press and public are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Irene Marchant – Parish Clerk/RFO

8th May 2024

St. Giles, Woods Corner, Dallington, East Sussex TN21 9LA

01424 838414/07711 224150

[email protected]

1. Election of Chair for 2024-25

2. Election of Vice-Chair for 2024-25

3. Co-option of new Councillor

4. Disclosure of Interests

5. Dispensations

6. Apologies for absence

7. Accuracy of the minutes of previous meeting(s)

8. Open Forum

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

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

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

9. Approval of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2023-24 (AGAR)

For Members to approve by resolution the following:

9.1 The Annual Governance Statement (Section 1)

9.2 The Accounting Statements (Section 2)

9.3 The Explanation of Variances and Bank Reconciliation at 31.03.24.

9.4 To thank Mr. Harding for the constructive and positive manner in which he conducted the internal auditor role for the MPC AGAR 2023-24 and to appoint as MPC’s internal auditor for 2024-25.

10. Re-adoption/amendments to MPC’s council documents

11. MPC appointments to outside organisations

12. Highways England/John’s Cross speed limit

Councillor Purdie to brief on the current situation and, if necessary, to agree a course of action. (ACTION COUNCILLOR PURDIE)

13. Mountfield Village Hall Rest Centre/Resilience Plan

This item will be discussed at the MPC July meeting as Councill Whines has sent apologies.

14. MPC change of domain name and email suffixes

The Clerk to brief on the current situation. (ACTION CLERK)

15. Defibrillators

A post and backboard are needed for the defibrillator to benefit the residents of Eatenden Lane. The Chair is to arrange this. (ACTION CHAIR)

16. MPC Environmental Policy

To consider the draft MPC Environment Policy and make amendments/finalise for publishing.

17. Matters Outstanding

17.1 Welcome Packs: still a work in progress.

17.2 Telephone Box: the Chair to brief on the cleaning and re-painting progress

(ACTION CHAIR)

18. Consultation on the Draft Rother Local Plan 2020-2040 and the RDC Draft Housing and Economic Land Availability (HELAA)

For Members to consider MPC’s response to this consultation. For information, all sites identified in Mountfield have been rejected for development.

19. Playground

For Members to consider a regular maintenance contract, weekly inspections and new play equipment. For information, the PlaySafety ROSPA inspection is due in June 2024.

20. Planning

20.1 Planning application for consideration

RR/2024/556/P – Crowhurst Farm, Storage Barn, Eatenden Lane

Proposed kiln drying facility.

Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website

20.2 Any other planning matters for discussion.

21. Enforcement

21.1 No Mountfield items on RDC’s latest enforcement list.

21.2 Any other enforcement matters for discussion.

22. Highways/Rights of Way

To discuss the current situation and poor response from ESCC Highways to some complaints.

23. Finance

23.1 Bank balances at 30.04.24:

• MPC deposit account – £22,894.59
• MPC current account – £3,381.09
• KGF current account – £4,174,77

23.2 To approve the following payments:

• Clerk, salary/home office (Apr/May 2024) – £1,080.20
• MVHC room hire 2024-25 – £170.
• ESALC subscription 2024-25 – £165.08
• * UserWay subscription 2024-25 – £346.51
• * Mastercard fee – £3.00
• * Trish Jones – £16.79
• * Littlewood Fencing – £9,541.01

23.3 To approve the fourth quarter accounts at 31.03.24 as presented by the Clerk.

23.4 To ensure all Members are logged into UT online banking to authorise new beneficiaries and payments.

24. Dates of next meetings

• 11.06.24 – Planning Meeting (provisional)
• 09.07.24 – Full Council Meeting

As you know, the Mountfield Parish Assembly 2024 was held at Mountfield Heath School this year. It was well attended and a real treat for everyone to visit the school, meet Lindsey Jeffries (Executive Headteacher) and Sam Duggan (Assistant Head). They made us extremely welcome and the refreshments were first class.
It was an extremely enjoyable evening for all, the tour of the school was probably the highlight.
Residents had an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns with their County, District and Parish Councillors, the points raised were:
* There were concerns about the amount of rubbish being dumped on the highways, most probably from passing and parked cars. MPC are looking to install a rubbish bin at the entrance the the Southern Water site at New Cross.
* There was serious concern about the proposed changes to the speed limits at John’s Cross, also the constant closures by Highways England. MPC, with others, are campaigning against the changes to speed limits.
* There is a mains leak opposite the property “Tunstall,” this will be reported to ESCC Highways.
* Richard Farhall (MPC) told the gathering that 2 more parish councillors are needed . Please contact Richard at – [email protected] or Irene at – [email protected] if you are interested.
* Details of the Rother Local Plan will be put up on this website.

Parish Assembly 2024 Reports

 

Just a reminder – this year the Mountfield Parish Assembly 2024 will be held at Mountfield Heath School on 9th April 2024, starting at 7.30pm.
All are welcome, it is not a parish council meeting, but you will be able to ask questions of your County and District Councillors.
It is a friendly and informal occasion, light refreshments will be available and there is good parking.
We look forward to meeting you there.
PROGRAMME:
* Welcome – Lindsey Jeffries (Headteacher Mountfield Heath School)
* Welcome – Richard Farhall (Chair Mountfield Parish Council)
* A chance to ask questions/raise concerns to your County and District Councillors)
* A tour of the school
* Mix and mingle, catch up with old friends and meet new ones

This year the Mountfield Parish Assembly will be held at MOUNTFIELD HEATH SCHOOL. The Headmistress, Lindsey Jeffries, kindly offered to do this a few years ago, but COVID and lockdowns got in the way.

Richard Farhall and I visited the school last week and were more than impressed by education and care for the children and the dedication of the staff. This will the perfect opportunity for the Mountfield Community to re-visit the school, some of you may have had your primary education there, and see the invaluable work being done.

The Assembly is not a Parish Council Meeting, but there will be the opportunity to meet and ask questions of your County, District and Parish Council Members and the clubs and organisations in our Village. It is a time for Mountfield to get together, meet new friends and catch up with old ones.

It is an informal, friendly gathering, so please come along and join us, there will be wine, soft drinks, tea, coffee and nibbles – also plenty of parking.

We hope to see you all there on the 9th April at 7.30pm.

Click on this link for information about the School