30/07

FELBRIDGE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month (except January and August)

at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

 

Minutes of the ANNUAL PARISH MEETING held on Thursday, 7th June 2007

at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

 

 

Present:            Mrs Bridget Huntington (Chairman)

                        Mr Jeremy Clarke

                        Mr Ian McBryde

                        Mr Ken Harwood

                        Mrs Marian Winn

                        Mrs Rosalind White (in attendance)

 

The Chairman welcomed 17 people to the meeting including Parish Councillors.

 

1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Mr Ken Rimington, County Councillor, Mr Brian Apps, Mrs Linda Hainge, Mrs R. Bingham, Mr B. Webber, Mrs V. Capon, Mrs A. Tucker, Mrs L. Robinson

 

2.         MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

            The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Thursday, 25th May 2006 were noted, having been signed previously.

 

3.         MATTERS ARISING

 

            There were no matters arising.

 

4.         PC KEVIN SMITH

 

            The Chairman welcomed PC Kevin Smith and invited him to speak.

 

            PC Smith introduced himself, PCSO Julie Watson and Ros Brown, Divisional Customer Services Manager.  PC Smith spoke about the Neighbourhood Panel meetings which will be held every 3 months, to which residents are invited to inform Surrey Police of local problems.  Surrey Police will report back on progress after 3 months.  PC Smith asked for any current issues.  Residents can also contact PC Smith by email on smith987@surrey.pnn.police.uk.  PC Smith reported that there have been 4 house burglaries in Felbridge over the past 2 months.  The police have DNA and finger prints.  A resident suggested vehicle activated signs on Copthorne Road.  A resident pointed out that people are reticent to volunteer for the Speedwatch Scheme, although training is given on how to deal with the occasional abusive driver.  Councillor Ken Harwood suggested that more police presence is needed in Felbridge.

 

            Ros Brown spoke about her role in customer services.  Her remit is to improve the quality of service of the police to the public.  She will look at issues/processes and suggest training/changes etc.  Councillor Jeremy Clarke reported on the confusion at Surrey Police, when residents are often told to contact Sussex Police.  Ken Harwood pointed out that annual survey forms seem biased toward the police.

 

            The Chairman thanked both speakers.

31/07

 

5.         MR BOB CROMPTON, SURREY WILDLIFE TRUST RANGER

 

            Bob Crompton explained Surrey Wildlife Trust had taken over responsibility for SCC country-side open spaces from 2002 and had undergone a major re-organisation of staff in February 2007.  He had only recently become responsible for Hedgecourt Lake.  He is now part of the Eastern Area Management Team of 5 people, who look after SCC country-side sites and SWT sites in a large area, mostly within Tandridge District.  Volunteer wardens look after specific sites.  Hedgecourt Lake is the only site in Felbridge.  Some sites are in private ownership but managed by SWT and some have been covenanted.  All sites offered to date have been accepted by SWT.  SWT are funded by SCC for their sites but funding from SCC is reducing and in future SWT will rely on income from their wood mill at Norbury Park and revenue from films, donations, legacies etc.  Finances currently look healthy.  SWT are interested in but not responsible for streams connecting sites.  Ken Harwood spoke about the proposed berm at Hedgecourt Lake and Bob Crompton agreed to provide the name of the contact at SWT.

 

            The Chairman thanked the speaker.

 

6.         REPORT FROM CHAIRMAN OF PARISH COUNCIL

 

The Chairman thanked Stephonie Clarke and Ros White for preparing the food and drink for the meeting.  The Chairman reported that planning continues to feature highly and another year has seen yet more multiple housing applications for Felbridge.  Whilst the Parish Council acknowledges the need for new housing, they are concerned about the continued push for expensive family size homes and the impact this has on things like school places and the local environment.  House builders it seems are attempting to cram more and more housing into restricted spaces.  It is an emotive subject and can cause considerable stress to existing householders who will be affected, yet feel their concerns will not be heard.

 

Traffic volumes and speeding also feature highly on FPC’s agenda.  FPC have done a number of things including arranging for a speed watch programme.  Unfortunately they have yet to find enough volunteers but are hopeful that this will change.

 

This year has seen a number of projects and work get underway and in some cases be completed.  Despite tight budgets Tandridge District Council carried out a number of works last spring and summer to improve the look and feel of the village.  On Crawley Down road these included re-enforcing the verges damaged by parked school traffic, re-seeding and adding posts to protect common land, tidying the wood behind the village hall, planting new trees on the village green to replace removed trees and finally adding a new safety rail on the Copthorne road.  They will also be carrying out some work on the village hall field between the car park and new children’s play ground.  The long awaited CCTV camera is in operation and covers the village hall car park, the school perimeter and children’s playground.  After many years of waiting the Puffin Crossing has finally been installed, and thanks to Ken Harwood’s persistence this should be operational in the next week or two.  Work has also commenced on road and foot path re-surfacing in Copthorne Road and already the village is looking tidier.

 

After 3 years of planning and fundraising the new children’s play park is completed.  This has proved very popular.  It is a huge achievement for a village of our size and a facility to be envied.


32/07

 

The Chairman finished by thanking:-

Ken Harwood, who in his dual roles as Parish and District Councillor ensures that Felbridge is never forgotten at Tandridge.  Ken is not afraid of speaking up when he feels something needs to be done or said and works tirelessly on behalf of Felbridge.  Jeremy Clarke who takes responsibility for planning, and guides people who lack planning knowledge through the process at our planning meetings.  Jeremy spends much extra time when required reading and responding to planning documents.  He is also very happy to assist people from the village who are affected by planning applications to respond effectively. 

Brian Apps who was not at the meeting but who handles FPC finances, preparing and submitting accounts for audit and keeping the rest of the council informed on finance matters.

Linda and Derek Hainge - Linda for her council work and Linda and Derek who carry out small maintenance work around the village such as painting the bus stop on Crawley Down road and last year repairing and painting the village notice boards.  Their time is always given freely.

Marion Winn and Ian Mc Bryde who give their time to the Parish Council.  Ian is the newest member.

Ros White, FPC Parish Clerk for all her work and help in the last year.

 

Lastly the Chairman thanked all the other people around the village, who volunteer their time for Felbridge.

 

7.         ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

The Chairman invited questions or comments from the floor.  A resident complained about overgrown hedges obstructing the footpath along Copthorne Road.  The Chairman asked for specific house numbers.  Ken Harwood thanked Bridget Huntington, Marian Winn and the other members of the Playground Association for their vision of seeing the playground revitalized and for achieving the project. 

 

Mr Spencer Attwell thanked the Parish Councillors for their support over the past year.

 

The Annual Parish Meeting closed at 8.30pm.

 

 

 

25 June 2007

RW