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WESTFIELD PARISH COUNCIL
2015-16 ANNUAL REPORT 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016
Contents
• Chairman’s report page 2,3 • Annual Volunteer Awards page 4, 5 • Election Results page 6 • Annual Report: Chairman, Trustees of the Parish Field
page 7 • Council summary of accounts page 8 • Facts about the Council page 9 • Your Councillors in 2015-16 page 10 • Your Clerk and local service providers page 11, 12
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Chairman’s Report
Parish meetings The Council continues to meet every month in the Community Hall, usually on the first Wednesday of the month, at 6:30pm Planning and 7:00pm main Council meetings. Do check the parish notice boards as these dates and times may change. This year’s Parish Council election details are on page 5. Contact details for all Parish Councillors and the Parish Clerk are given in this annual report and are also available on the parish website: www.westfieldvillage.co.uk. This information is also included in each edition of the WCA newsletter, along with a summary of the Council’s work during the three months prior to publication. The Westfield Parish Field is managed as a registered charity no. 305325 and, under the conditions of the charity, all Parish Councillors are its Trustees. Planning Matters The Parish Council is only one of many consultees on planning matters in Rother District and it has no statutory powers to approve or refuse planning permission. The Council takes a considered view of all planning applications and makes its recommendations to Rother in the interests of the whole Parish. The Window on Westfield section of the WCA newsletter includes a brief summary of planning decisions for the preceding three months; full details ofall planning applications can be found on Rother’s website: www.rother.gov.uk. Repairs, maintenance, new acquisitions, projects from 1.4.15 to 31.3.16:
Acquisitions/purchases • Replacement dog bin• Mobile phone; cordless keyboard and mouseDonations and grants awarded this year -• St John the Baptist Parish Church• Royal British Legion• Victim Support
Projects started, completed or in progress
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• Siding to widen footpath along the A28 from Moor Lane to Mill Lane • Footway in Cottage Lane from the garage to turn off to Barracks footpath
- on going • Fingerposts; refurbish 5 and replace 2. Two new ones installed so far. • Village website up-graded • Westfield Down – waiting for developer to exchange contract. Repairs and maintenance • Recreation Ground climbing equipment removed following fire damage:
replacement equipment researched, costed and ordered • War memorial: care of by volunteer - Andy Saunders, with materials &
plants costs met by PC. In January Toby Walsh took over from Andy. Personnel Issues: • Joan Downing awarded the British Empire Medal • Barbara Balkham (began 1st March 2007) retired in 31 October 2015 • Sharon Bushell appointed clerk 1st September; resigned 26 October 2015 • Ron Burton appointed Clerk 1st January 2016 • Catherine Collingwood resigned, effective 4th January 2016 • Sarah Green co-opted to the Council 6th April 2016 General: Police report: our PCSO (Demi Georgiou) in February apologised for no longer being able to attend our meetings. Authorities made all PCSOs redundant and re-apply for their “revised” jobs. Demi will not know his position until later this year.
Clearance of litter from bus shelters and recreation areas, monthly inspections of playground equipment, emptying dog-waste bins.
Various reports and representations made to Rother DC and East Sussex CC about fly-tipping, potholes, overgrown trees impeding footways, flooding of Moor Lane/A28 junction.
James Woodhead – Chairman
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Annual Volunteer Awards
The annual Rose Bowl award has been made each year since 2005, and is presented to someone who has made a significant difference to the community over a long period of time.
In 2016 the Rose Bowl was awarded to Barbara Balkham. This is to recognise her dedication to and passion for Westfield over many years. In particular, her involvement with the Scouts, various fund raising initiatives, the playgroup and revival of the village fete, as well as overseeing the establishment of the village website in 2009 and its upgrade this year. Westfield Parish Council also wish to recognise through this award her loyalty, integrity and diplomacy as a Parish Councillor and subsequently, as its clerk, when she always had the best interests of the whole community in mind, went above and beyond to achieve it.
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Certificates of thanks have also been awarded by public nomination to volunteers in the community: -
Norma and Geoff Bendle
In recognition of their involvement with the Westfield Hub. From the initial meeting through the project development period to the opening and ongoing committee work to date, Norma and Geoff have only missed an odd hub session over the years since the Hub opened its doors. They are both great assets to the running of the Hub sessions being involved in meeting and greeting, setting and clearing up and managing the books for the book exchange. They have been of tremendous support to the committee and turn their hands to anything whenever required.
Frances Richardson
In recognition of her ongoing voluntary work with the 1st Westfield Scout Group as Scout Leader, Cub Leader and as Group Scout Leader.
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Election Results 2015
The following councillors were elected to serve a four-year term of office from May 2015 until May 2019: Westfield Lane Ward (uncontested) Michael Edwards & James Woodhead Kent Street Ward (uncontested) John Anderson & Peter Stapley Westfield Ward (Election held 7.5.15) The ballots cast in this election were affected by administrative errors at the polling station. Ballot papers were given to residents of Westfield Lane Ward and Westfield Ward. At the time this was thought to invalidate the vote. It has subsequently been agreed that the count will go ahead. Rother District Council has apologised for these errors and confirmed that no additional cost will be charged to the Parish Council. Westfield Ward elected candidates were declared on 18.5.15: Roger Bowe Catherine Collingwood Joan Downing Michael Horley Hamish Monro Jackie Smith Min Stratford In January, Catherine Collingwood resigned and on 6th of April Sarah Green was co-opted to bring the council back to full strength.
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Annual Report by the Chairman of the Trustees of the Parish Field
Report for the year 2015/16
The upkeep and maintenance of the Parish Field is the duty of all the councillors of the Westfield Parish as we are all Trustees. There is a committee of three who undertake the day to day issues and who then report back to the main body of Trustees.
Hedge trimming and tree surgery will always be on the agenda and this past year is no exception and some expenditure was encountered for such work.
The Westfield Football Club continues to use the Field and keep the pitch in good repair, the same with the posts and netting both ends of the Field. Westfield Community Association has again held the village fete and hopefully will continue to do so as it is considered to be a great success. Pass+Move have also used the Field for youth football coaching.
Remember that the Parish Field belongs to you, the Parishioners, and so please feel free to use it.
Michael Horley, Chairman.
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Annual accounts summary The Parish Council’s accounts are prepared in accordance with the Accounts & Audit Regulations and are subject to both internal and external audit. Once the full audit is completed a copy of audited accounts summary for the year 2015-16 is available on request. Any interested person may also inspect and make copies of the Annual Return and all books, deeds, contracts, invoices, etc. These documents will be available on reasonable notice, on application to the Clerk. Under our freedom of information scheme, a charge may be levied for copies. The following draft figures are provided in advance of this year’s audit together with a comparison with the previous year’s agreed figures.
2014-15 2015-16
INCOME £32,588.20 £57,260.00
EXPENDITURE £37,980.45 £34,227.00
Excess of income/ expenditure (£5,392.25) £23,033.00
YEAR END BALANCE AT 31ST March
Current Account £14,731.38 £36,004.58
Saving Account £53,585.31 £53,939.74
Total £68,316.69 £89,944.32
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Some facts about Westfield Parish Council
Did you know that your council:
• Has 11 members who are elected every four years • Councillors give their time for free, and do not claim any allowances • Westfield has three electoral wards, Westfield with 2202 electors • The Council holds from 20 to 30 meetings each year, for planning, finance, recreation and full council. • Looks after recreation spaces including tennis courts, and arranges maintenance and litter collection to keep them safe and tidy.
Community assets managed by the Council
Over the years the Parish Council has added to the stock of community property to enhance the quality of life for residents in Westfield. A register of these assets is up-dated each year as part of the year's annual account summary.
Westfield community assets include
• 11 dog waste bins • 10 litter bins • Bus shelters in Main Road (2), Church Lane, Westfield Lane, Kent Street and on the A21 near Moat Lane • Benches on the Cricket Field, at the Community Hall, on the A28 junction with Cottage Lane, on the Recreation Ground and Churchfield play area, by the village centre and Westfield Lane bus stops. • Play equipment at the Recreation Ground, Parish Field and Churchfield • Public notice boards at Kent Street, Moat Lane, Westfield Lane and Main Road • The Interpretation Board showing a village map and local places of interest near to the surgery on the A28. • A laptop computer and projector
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Your Councillors:
Chairman: James Woodhead 3 Baldslow Down, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7NH 01424 754509
Vice-chairman: Jackie Smith Dulce Domum, Workhouse Lane, Westfield, TN35 4QJ 01424 755210
Councillor: John Anderson 5 Moat Lane, Sedlescombe, TN33 ORZ 01424 751220
Councillor: Joan Downing BEM Bilbrough, Cottage Lane, Westfield, TN35 4QG 01424 752463
Councillor: Michael Horley Southings, Main Street, Westfield, TN35 4SL 01424 751217 Councillor: Hamish Monro Wheel Park Fm, Wheel Lane, Westfield, TN35 4SE 01424 754992
Councillor: Michael Edwards 8 Baldslow Down, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 7NH 01424 752272
Councillor: Peter Stapley Rosebank, Kent Street, Sedlescombe, TN33 0SF 01424 751499 Councillor: Min Stratford Selwood, Church Lane, Westfield, TN35 4QB 07952995743
Councillor: Roger Bowe Jagreta Cottage Lane, Westfield, TN35 4QG 01424 751217
Councillor until 4 Jan: Catherine Collingwood, Westfield, TN35 Councillor from 6 Apr: Sarah Green 12 Churchfield, Westfield, TN35 4SN 0772 5718115
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Councillors' additional responsibilities (2015-16)
Tree Warden: John Anderson
Emergency Planning Group: Jackie Smith, Michael Horley, Hamish Monro
Tennis Club rep: Roger Bowe
Police Liaison: Joan Downing
WCA Hall management committee: Jackie Smith
Parish Hall committee: Joan Downing
Rother Association of Local Councils: Joan Downing
Personnel Group: J Woodhead, J Smith, Hamish Monro
Other Service Providers:
Bus stop and recreation area clearance: Brian Firman
Playground inspections & general parish maintenance: Paul Masters
Community Website Team: Barbara Balkham, Phil Tomlinson, Roger Bowe, Janice Bolton, Pauline Filsell-Page
Grass and hedge cutting: Kemp and Catt Ltd
Dog-waste bins and litter bins emptied by arrangement with Rother DC
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Contact telephone numbers:
Rother District Council 01424 787000
East Sussex County Council 0345 60 80 190
Sussex Police, non emergencies 101
Animal Wardens Ltd (to report lost or stray dogs) 01424 490034
Rother District Council (to report persistent dog fouling) 01424 787000
Rother District Council (to report fly-tipping) 01424 787000
Your District and County Councillors
Carl Maynard 01424 756586 [email protected]
Jonathan Johnson 07850360177 [email protected]
Parish Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer:
Ronald Burton 1 Orchard Flats, George Hill, Robertsbridge, TN32 5AX 01580 880416
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.westfieldvillage.co.uk/council-papers
Westfield Parish Council May 2016
