ACHIEVEMENTS

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN SEDLESCOMBE BY THE PARISH COUNCIL OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS?

At the end of this four-year term of office, it is interesting to look back on the Council’s achievements. The Parish Council has been guided by the Sedlescombe Parish Plan 2002. This report is, therefore, presented under the head ings detailed in the Plan.

1. The Parish Council has achieved an Informed and Participating Sedlescombe Community

HOW?

By maintaining an open Parish Council

All meetings open to the public
Open Forum at the start of every main Council meeting
Agendas and Minutes of Meetings deposited in Village Library
Agendas posted on notice board
All papers posted on Sedlescombe Parish Council website (www.sedlescombe.org.uk)
Council papers available for inspection/copying under the Freedom of Information Act
Clerk is available to answer residents’ questions

By keeping residents informed

Improved delivery of the quarterly Sedlescombe Parish Council Bulletin to every household
New and improved Annual Report/Parish Assembly papers/Directory of Businesses & Clubs
New and improved Sedlescombe Parish Council website
Table displays by Businesses and Clubs etc. at the Annual Assembly of the Parish Meeting
Improved distribution of Welcome Packs to people moving into the parish
Continued display of notices on Parish Council notice board
Clerk has given Powerpoint presentations in the Village including one to the Sedlescombe WI on “What does a Parish Councillor do?”, another to the public on traffic problems in the parish and a third to the Annual Parish Assembly
Chairman and Clerk ran a “Citizenship Event” at the local primary school to inform the children about parish councils

By linking with other bodies

Linked with other parishes regarding the proposed devolvement of the management of public conveniences from Rother District Council
Worked with Orbit Housing Association, Anti-social Behaviour Officers, East Sussex Fire Authority, Sussex Police and Police Community Support Officers, Pestalozzi International Village , Sedlescombe C E Primary School , St Michael’s Hospice, Safer Rother Partnership, East Sussex County Council Road Safety Department and Engineers, many departments of Rother District Council
Worked with the Sedlescombe Riverside Playground Regeneration Group
Members have served as Trustee of the Village Hall and as a member of the Sports Association Committee
Members have served on the Rother Association of Local Councils
Worked with the Action in rural Sussex Buzz Project and other Youth groups in Sedlescombe
Working groups have been formed made up of councillors and other residents for Emergency Planning, Footpaths, Environment and Sports Pavilion
The Chairman has served on, and been the Vice-Chairman of, the East Sussex Association of Local Councils. She has also been Chairman of the Rother Association of Local Councils
The Clerk meets regularly with other local clerks
The Clerk and councillors have attended various training events
Councillor worked with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to obtain local advice
Quality Status obtained – first in Rother District and 63^rd in England and Wales

By encouraging participation

Councillor encouraged a group of local residents to participate in a new Sedlescombe Lift Scheme to help people needing lifts to attend medical appointments.
Councillor encouraged a group of thirty local residents to undergo training and participate in two road safety campaigns in Sedlescombe with a Speed Indicator Device.
Businesses and local clubs and organisations invited to advertise in the Directory section of the Annual Report; 34 businesses responded
Members of the public have been included on the Footpaths, Environment and Emergency Working Groups and serve on the Crime & Safety Committee
Did various parish surveys including a pre-budget survey in 2006.
Councillors, working with other local residents, have built new stiles and gates, have built and repaired fences and have made and erected bird and bat boxes
Advertised need for volunteers in Sedlescombe at Annual Parish Assemblies

2. The Parish Council has helped towards a Safe & Health Sedlescombe Community

HOW?

By participating in reducing crime and disorder

Undertook crime surveys
Distributed Neighbourhood Watch advice and stickers
Worked with Police and Community Support officers
Held regular meetings of a dedicated Parish Council Crime & Safety Committee; these meetings have been attended by a wide range of people who wish to inform the Committee or discuss with members matters connected with crime and disorder
For 20 months, contributed towards the employment of a Police Community Support Officer dedicated to Sedlescombe
Donated funds to the Police for extra PCSO employment/overtime
Liaised with the Police regarding the possible appointment of a Sedlescombe Special – no resolution of this matter to date
Members attended various meetings with the Police and other parishes
Successfully liaised with a local car supplier to provide a vehicle for the PCSO
Engraving of property carried out by volunteers initially and now the engraving tool is made available by the Neighbourhood Watch Group
Liaised with Rother District Council regarding designating various areas in Sedlescombe so that it is an offence for any person to drink alcohol after being required by a police officer not to do so – no resolution of this matter to date
Locks etc. fitted by volunteers in about 170 houses in the parish free of charge after the Parish Council obtained funding for the locks
Members involved in multi-agency talks to try to solve the problem of anti-social behaviour at the East View Kickabout Area which adversely affects neighbours – no resolution of this matter to date
Lobbied Chief Constable and obtained an improvement in the response times to non-emergency calls
Arranged visits of Police CCTV vehicle to Sedlescombe
Clerk attended a graffiti removing course; graffiti removing kit obtained and used as necessary
Advice on door-step sellers provided. Memo minders provided on request
Advice on the Telephone Preference Scheme, Check the Trader etc. provided

By encouraging road safety and traffic calming schemes

Sedlescombe Volunteers trained and Speed Indicator Device events held in Sedlescombe
Follow up Traffic Safety public meeting
Worked with the County Council Parish Maintenance Team to improve Stream Lane footway and other footways in the Village
Residents encouraged to cut hedges for road and pedestrian safety
Parish Council to pay for installation of a pedestrian footway outside the Queen’s Head
Liaised with the Sedlescombe Traffic Action Group
Encouraged School to start Walking Bus and to complete a Travel Plan
Liaised with East Sussex County Council regarding installation of road hazard markers
Dropped kerb onto Village Green paid for by the Parish Council
Liaised with East Sussex Fire Authority who visited the School, Pub and Shop with flyers regarding speeding

By helping to inform residents of health and safety issues

Smoke alarms fitted and advice given
Lifeline promoted and funding obtained to provide assistance
Arranged, and contributed financially towards, an electric blanket testing morning
Residents encouraged to phone “999” when any crime is thought to be in progress

By encouraging responsible dog ownership

Provided dog bins and arranged and paid for their emptying
Supported Rother District Council in its implementation of new dog walking arrangements
New “dogs on leads” signs installed at the sportsfield to safeguard the pitches

By supporting easy access to healthcare for all residents

Lift Scheme arranged for patients
Liaised with Doctors’ Surgery and Primary Care Trust re new appointment system
Doctors’ details included in the Directory section of the Parish Council Annual Report
Advertised “The Expert Patient Programme”

By ensuring that playgrounds are maintained in a safe condition

Regular inspections including annual professional inspection
Regular maintenance
Litter collection
Worked with a committee of residents to refurbish the Riverside Playground

3. The Parish Council has helped provide Amenities and Services in Sedlescombe

HOW?

By maintaining and improving Sedlescombe’s public amenities

Sportsfield car park extended
New lease negotiated with Sports Association
Approved storage container at the Sportsfield
Pumphouse pillars and seats refurbished
Pumphouse paths resurfaced

By encouraging local organisations, societies and other bodies that promote social, leisure, cultural and service activities in the community

Helped the Playgroup apply for planning permission for a shed at the village hall
Helped the Bowls Club to apply for funding for additional mat
Advised Village Hall Committee on obtaining funding
Purchased a new mower for maintenance of the Churchyard

By maintaining, improving and promoting footpaths and bridleways within Sedlescombe’s boundaries

Set up a footpath volunteer group who carried out much work in the parish
Advertised new permissive path created at the Pestalozzi International Village
Footpath Walks led
Footpath leaflets sold

By promoting activities and services for all residents

Liaised with East Sussex County Council re bus timetables in the shelter
Contacted Seeboard re electricity power cuts
Supported introduction of Broadband in the parish
Supported children’s tennis coaching arranged by the Tennis Club
Family Tennis Season Tickets sold
Latterly, tennis courts opened for free sports use
Application made to Rother regarding lottery funding to turn the tennis courts into a multi-play area
Fete DVDs sold
Arranged for NOMAD youth bus to visit Sedlescombe

By supporting Sedlescombe School

Parish Council made grant to school’s new ICT suite
Advertised computer courses for the community

By supporting the mobile and village libraries

Advertised local libraries
Presented Jeanne Fellowes, who ran the village library for 50 years, with the first Sedlescombe Citizenship Award

4. The Parish Council has supported Business and Rural Employment in Sedlescombe

HOW?

By supporting local business

Supported the village shop in its expansion plans
Advertised local business in Directories and on Website
Advertised Trading Standards “Buy with Confidence” scheme

By publicising appropriate employment
By supporting and encouraging training of local people

Supported careers events in the Scout Hut

By encouraging low-key tourism in support of local business

Supported Lower Marley Farm in its appeal against refusal of planning permission for 5 new self catering units – turned down
Liaised with Brewery re the situation at the Queen’s Head and supported installation of new landlords
Supported Whydown Caravan Park in their successful planning appeal for a warden’s caravan throughout the year

By supporting retention of a quality postal service for the benefit of local business

5. The Parish Council has protected and enhanced Sedlescombe’s Built and Natural Environment

HOW?

By protecting Sedlescombe’s built environment

Members and the Clerk attended Rother District Council Planning Seminars
Members continued to inspect planning application sites and to report to Planning Meetings
Liaised with Rother District Council re the Local Plan
Liaised with Rother District Council re a new Sedlescombe Conservation Area
Chairman sat on selection interview for Architect to design redevelopment of Pestalozzi International Village . Councillors and Clerk attended pre-application meeting with Pestalozzi and encouraged them to hold a public meeting

By protecting and enhancing Sedlescombe’s natural environment

Supported introduction of Tree Preservation Orders
Safeguarded local view by opposing telephone mast being sited in the valley where it would be very prominent in the landscape
Parish Council Environment Working Group set up
Helped with the production of a simple wildlife management plan for the churchyard
Various surveys undertaken at Red Barn Field Nature Park
Arranged with local farmer for her sheep to graze the Red Barn Field Nature Park
Arranged clearance of pond at Red Barn Field Nature Park
Buried “stag beetle” buckets in Red Barn Field Nature Park
Clerk involved with commenting on the Management Plan for the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and with a workshop on a sustainability study
Arranged for hedge in Red Barn Field Nature Park to be laid by Rye Bay Rangers
New information boards provided at Red Barn Field Nature Park
Obtained several swift nest boxes from the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and erected them in gardens in the parish
Supported Pestalozzi who ran composting workshops
Supported the design of a wildlife gardening leaflet
Had pre-application talks with 4 Delivery Ltd. Regarding the installation of a pipeline to the west of the A21. The Parish Council’s representations directly resulted in the pipeline being slightly re-routed to help safeguard mature trees at the junction of Marley Lane and the A21

By encouraging efficient handling of waste

Opposed construction of waste handling facility at Mountfield

By encouraging reduction of waste by reducing the use of materials, reusing materials and recycling more materials

Advertised recycling of plastic
Advertised cardboard recycling facility at Mountfield
Liaised with Rother District Council to produce a Sedlescombe Recycling Leaflet
Produced, printed and distributed throughout the parish a Parish Council “Waste Not” leaflet
Arranged a successful series of “small change” courses in residents’ homes
Arranged for the “Recycle Bus” to visit Sedlescombe

By supporting litter control

Through the Environment Working Group, set up a litter warden group with volunteers throughout the parish
Large new litter bin installed at Riverside

By encouraging traffic management to safeguard the environment

New path constructed by Crime Punishment Team through Red Barn Field Nature Park to encourage pedestrian access to the Hall rather than using vehicles

By protecting the wider environment including water and river quality

Parish Council agreed a three-year eradication of giant hogweed programme in Sedlescombe’s rivers

P Raymond

Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer

Sedlescombe Parish Council

April 2007