AGENDA FOR THE MOUNTFIELD PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 13th MAY 2025
Parish Council Members are summoned to the Annual Council Meeting of Mountfield Parish Council, to be held on 13th May 2025, at 7.30pm in Mountfield Village Hall
Members of the press and public are welcome and encouraged to attend
Irene Marchant – Parish Clerk/RFO
9th May 2025
St. Giles, Woods Corner, Dallington, East Sussex TN21 9LA
01424 838424 – clerk@mountfield.org.uk
1. Election of Chair for 2025-26
2. Election of Vice-Chair for 2025-26
3. 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 Members considers the interest as a disclosable pecuniary interest under the terms of the Code of Conduct.
4. Dispensations requested
5. Apologies for absence
6. Accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting(s)
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 items on this agenda.
8. Approval of the Annual Governance and Accountability Relturn 2024-25 (AGAR)
For Members 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 31.03.25
8.4 Restated Asset Register
To thank Mr. Harding for the construction and positive manner in which he conducted the internal audit for the MPC AGAR and to appoint him as MPC’s internal auditor for 2025-26.
9. MPC appointments to outside organisations
10. Playground – new play equipment and picnic tables
10.1 To approve the purchase of 2 items of play equipment (COUNCILLOR WHINES)
10.2 To approve the purchase of 2 new picnic tables made of recycled material.
10.3 To consider a maintenance contract for playground equipment.
11. Mountfield Village Hall Rest Centre/Resilience Plan
For Councillor Whines to brief on the latest situation. (COUNCILLOR WHINES)
12. Highways England/John’s Cross speed limits
Councillor Purdie is to brief on the latest situation and his email to Highways England asking for the latest data on speed limits. (COUNCILLOR PURDIE)
13. SW Solar Array
Councillor O’Sullivan to brief on the latest situation. (COUNCILLOR O’SULLIVAN)
14. Change of MPC suffixes to .gov.uk
The Clerk to brief on this change which is now urgent as MPC’s email subscription with Godaddy ends in July 2025.
- The Clerk recommends using Uniserve as our email service provider and not Zoho as our Registrar (Geoxphere) suggests.
- Also taking out a service contract with Uniserve for IT support (Clerk only).
- The domain name – mountfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk – must remain with the Registrar.
(CLERK)
15. Matters outstanding
15.1 Defibrillator for Eatenden Lane – this will shortly be installed. The contractor is sourcing materials and once installed, the defibrillator will be ordered and fitted. (CLERK)
15.2 Telephone Box – the Chair to inform on the latest situation. (CHAIR)
16. Planning
16.1 Planning applications to be discussed:
- RR/898/CM (ESCC) – British Gypsum, Mountfield
Variation of condition 2 (approved plans and drawings) of planning consent RR/853/CM to regularise discrepancies in drawings including changes to the height of the approved earth embankments. The application also seeks to vary the wording of condition 2 to include “unless these are superseded by later drawings and documents approved through the discharge of conditions attached to this planning permission” tailpiece.
Click on this link to see full details on the ESCC planning website
- RR/2025/S497/A – Vinehall School, Vinehall Road
Erection of 1200mm x 2900mm x 70mm entrance sign, illuminated from the base upwards during low light.
Click on this link to see full details on the RDC planning website
16.2 Any other planning matters for discussion.
17. Enforcement
17.1 No Mountfield items on RDC’s most recent enforcement list.
17.2 Any other enforcement matters for discussion.
18. Highways/Right of Way
18.1 The Clerk has arranged an SLR meeting with ESCC Highways on 13.06.25 at 3.00pm. This is to discuss and hopefully resolved the ongoing issues with the A2100.
18.2 Any other highways/RoW matters for discussion.
19. Finance
19.1 Bank balances at 30.04.25
- MPC deposit account – £23,466.94
- MPC current account – £3,455.91
- KGF current account – £4,322.18
19.2 To approve the following payments:
- Clerk salary/HO (Apr/May 2025), expenses – £1,156.28
- ESALC/NALC subscription 2025-26 – £167.99
- Clear Councils, MPC insurance 2025-26 – £679.06
- MVH room hire 2025-26 – £220.00
- * Amazon, PA refreshments – £101.78
- * SLCC subscription 2025-26 – £202.00
- * Uniserve, IT support – £133.20
- * Glasdon, litter bin for the KGF – £307.66
- * Amazon, litter sign for the KGF – £26.45
- * UserWay subscription 2025-25 – £341.65
19.2 To approve the fourth quarter accounts at 31.03.25 as presented by the Clerk.
20. Dates of next meetings
10.06.25 – Full council/planning meeting (provisional)
08.07.25 – Full council meeting