DRAFT MINUTES OF THE DALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING, HELD ON 28th JANUARY 2025
Present: Councillors N. Holyoake (Chair), J. Gray, N. Harding, P. Ridley
Mrs. I. Marchant (Parish Clerk/RFO)
County Councillor E. Kirby Green
District Councillor C. Pearce
1. Disclosure of interests
Councillor Harding declared a personal interest in item 10.1 (RR/2024/1970/P) as he is a near neighbour and will not take part in the voting.
Councillor Ridley declared a personal interest in item 10.1 (RR/2024/2212/P) as she is a relative of the applicant and will not take part in the voting.
2. Dispensations
None requested.
3. Apologies for absence
None.
4. Accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting(s)
RESOLVED: that the draft minutes of the DPC meeting held on 26.11.24 be confirmed as being an accurate record of the proceedings. Councillor Ridley proposed and Councillor Harding seconded, the voting was unanimous. The minutes were signed by the Chair.
5. Open Forum
5.1 County Council report (ESCC) – Councillor E. Kirby Green
- Devolution – possible increased involvement for parish councils and a basic neighbourhood plan may be important.
5.2 District Council report (RDC) – Councillor C. Pearce
- Things are fairly quiet at the moment.
- The final budget is in progress and will fall short by £1.2M for 2025-26.
5.3 Public question time – no members of the public present.
6. Approval of the DPC Draft Revenue Budget 2025-26 and setting the DPC precept for 2025-26
6.1 RESOLVED – to approve the Draft Revenue Budget for 2025-26. Councillor Gray proposed and Councillor Harding seconded, the voting was unanimous.
6.2 RESOLVED – to set the DPC precept for 2025-26 at £11,500.00. The Chair proposed and Councillor Ridley seconded, the voting was unanimous.
7. Dallington Recreation Ground
7.1 The works at the DRG have been completed, these were a new pedestrian gate, repair of the post and rail fencing and infill of hole outside the car park.
7.2 There has been no contact from an Astronomy Society for use of the DRG to date.
8. Booking system at household waste recycling sites.
The consultation has now closed and RDC will make their decision in February 2025.
9. Devolution/Local Government Reorganisation
ESCC/RDC have been accepted on to the accelerated programme. Details and information will be posted on our website, including from Central Government.
10. Planning
10.1 Planning applications for consideration
- RR/2024/1970/P – Larches Cottage, Carricks Hill
AGREED: to support this application.
- RR/2024/2212/P – Hill View, The Street
AGREED: to support this application.
10.2 No other planning matters for discussion.
11. Enforcement
11.1 No Dallington items on RDC’s most recent enforcement list.
11.2 No other enforcement matters for discussion
12. Highways/Right of Way
Local residents, particularly parents of school children, are very concerned about vehicle speeds at the junction of the B2096/South Lane/Brightling Road. Parents have to cross these roads with their schoolchildren and are finding the vehicle speeds untenable.
Some parents wait with their children for the school bus in the lay-by in the Brightling Road and vehicles turn into and pass this lay-by at speed. There has been a potentially very serious incident when a car nearly hit a child.
DPC carried out a speed check for this area a few years ago, unfortunately ESCC/Police decided that most traffic speeds were “more or less” within the 40mpc limit and there was no reason to reduce the speed to 30mph.
The Clerk will contact ESCC Highways urgently.
Post meeting note: ESCC Highways have contacted their Traffic Safety department on this matter.
13. Finance
13.1 Bank balances at 31.12.24
- DPC deposit account – £9,516.73
- DPC current account – £2,784.15
- DRG current account – £727.77
13.2 RESOLVED: to approve the following payments. Councillor Gray proposed and the Chair seconded, the voting was unanimous.
- Clerk, salary/HO (Dec24/Jan25), backpay, expenses – £1,320.19
- *Wel Medical, defibb pads x 2 – £152.22
- *Wel Medical, defibb battery x1 – £279.54
- *Mastercard fee – £3.00
- *UT service charge – £6.00
* already paid
13.3 RESOLVED: to approve the third quarter accounts at 31.12.24 as presented by the Clerk. Councillor Gray proposed and the Chair seconded, the voting was unanimous.
14. Dates of next meetings
- 18.03.25 – DRG meeting (starts 7.00pm)
- 18.03.25 – Full council meeting (starts 7.30pm)