Chairman s Message. Rustington Neighbourhood Plan. Annual Report Edition

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1 Annual Report Edition Chairman s Message As this Newsletter is published and delivered we will have a new Parish Council and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Councillors that have represented you during the past 4 years. I am sure you will agree that all of them have done a sterling job during their Term of Office. I have been privileged to be Chairman for the past 12 months, and over this period have seen a lot of changes in Rustington, but it will still remain a fantastic place to live and work, and I know that whatever the new Council looks like, we all will have one aim, and that is to do the best that we possibly can for our lovely Village. Councillor Graham Tyler Rustington Street Fayre Things are moving forward well now and, provided the weather is kind to the Village on Saturday 20 June, everyone will have a really exciting day. Invitations for stall holders are going out this month from David Bishop, of the Littlehampton District Lions Club. The stalls will be set up in the Churchill Parade service road from 9.00 am. The main entertainment area will be on the lawn at the Methodist Church, where a stage will be erected. Events will start at am and include the following: TLA Steel Band, School Choirs from each of the three Primary Schools, a Punch & Judy Show, a Samba Band and Silhouettes. A Programme of times will be issued through the Chamber of Trade and Commerce, so that no one will miss their favorite Act. There will be various spots in The Street and Sea Lane where individual entertainers will perform including Balloon Sculpture, a Magician, a Storyteller, Sillhouettes and a brilliant Guitarist. Invitations to be this year s Street Fayre Princess and Attendants have been sent out and the Lions Club is eagerly awaiting a flood of entries from the young ladies attending the three Primary Schools. Other Acts are being sought including Shore Shanty Singers, Ukulele Man and Rustington Neighbourhood Plan The Neighbourhood Plan has now been adopted by the Arun District Council as a Statutory Document, forming a part of the Local Plan, and will have to be considered in respect of any Planning Applications in the Village for the next 15 years. The Plan will be reviewed at five yearly intervals. Copies of the Plan are available from the Council Offices, Village Information Centre and can also be downloaded from the Council s Website. The Rustington Players, although some of these acts have still to be approached. The Lions Club and the Chamber of Trade and Commerce is indebted to Rustington Parish Council and Store Property Investments Limited for their financial support. So, if the sun shines, everyone should have a great day, with all profits going to the Chestnut Tree House Hospice. For further information, please see the Littlehampton District Lions Club s Website or Facebook Page, the Parish Council Website or ring Austen on Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3HB Offices Open Monday-Friday am to 4.30 pm Telephone: Emergency Mobile: Fax: enquiry@rustingtonpc.org Website:

2 Rustington-In-Bloom Rustington, this Easter looked beautiful, especially on Bank Holiday Monday when we had glorious weather, with the pastel colours of flowers almost glowing in the bright, clear Spring sunshine. For some weeks we have been treated to lovely floral displays throughout the Village, always a welcome sight on dreary days for Residents and Visitors alike. Sadly, all too soon the Spring days will be over and the ground cleared to give way to Summer planting. We shall wait with anticipation for this year s floral displays, once again designed by Ferring Nurseries, the Parish Council s Contractor for the Village. With the support of the Parish Council, the In-Bloom Committee has, once Fundraising plays an important part in the Committee s activities. In February, funds were raised from the Talentless Night. It was a very successful evening organised and managed by Michael Harwood. The ever popular Horse Race Night and Plant Sale events were held on 24 April and 23 May respectively and, again, were overwhelming successes. On 5 June, we have invited Jean Griffin, well known for the Sunday Morning Radio Programme Dig It, to give a talk, which she is calling Tales from the Potting Shed. This will be held in the evening in the John de Bohun Room at The Woodlands Centre in Woodlands Avenue and tickets, priced at 5.00 (to include a glass of wine), are available from the Council Offices and Village Information Centre. Other events are planned and details of these will appear on the Noticeboards throughout the Village and on the Council s Website. For the past few years, the Committee has run an Art Competition for the local Primary Schools. The quality of the work and the creativity of the children has been quite exceptional The Schools have been invited to participate again this year, and the title is Sand, Sea and Sky. Apart from the main Village Competition, there are groups of Residents who enter a Competition operated by South and South East in Bloom, called It s Your Neighbourhood. The rationale for this Competition is for groups of residents to adopt a small area close to where they live, and improve it by keeping it clean and tidy, planting shrubs and flowers, and by encouraging everyone to take a pride in their own neighbourhoods. The judging date for the Village Centre, Woodlands Recreation Ground and most of the It s Your Neighbourhood entries has now been set for Monday 13 July Working in close liaison with the Parish Council, the Committee will do its best to ensure the various areas are looking their best, not only for the Competition but at all times. Valerie Narayanaswamy Chairman - In-Bloom Committee Village Gardens Competition again, entered the Village Centre into the South and South East in Bloom Competition. The Woodlands Recreation Ground has also been entered into the Competition. In a corner of the Recreation Ground is the Wildlife Garden which the Committee began creating four years ago. The Garden has been well used by different groups, but the Committee has decided that the area needs to be further enhanced with gates at either end, to define the area from the rest of the Recreation Ground. Also more fruit trees, bird boxes and a seat will be purchased. It will be the Committee s major project for this year. The judging of this annual event will take place during the week commencing 29 June. There are six categories with cash prizes, and/ or trophies and shields awarded to the winner and runner-up in each category. Nomination Forms are available from:- The Council Offices, Rustington Museum and The Garden Café, the Village Information Centre, Country Life Pet Supplies, Flowers of Rustington, Burtenshaw Family Butcher, R & I Stacey and Owen Electrical. So please nominate either yourselves, your friends or neighbours gardens, to ensure a record number of entries this year. The closing date for the receipt of Nomination Forms is 24 June. The Awards will be presented at the Reception following the Council s Annual Civic Thanksgiving Service in September. 2

3 Schools Bulb Planting The Chairman of the Parish Council recently joined pupils at Georgian Gardens Community Primary School, Rustington Community Primary School and Summerlea Community Primary School to assist with the Schools Annual Bulb Planting. As has been the case in previous years, a quantity of bulbs were donated to each of the three Primary Schools by the Parish Council. All of the donated bulbs were butterfly and bee eco-friendly. The pupils undertaking the planting of the bulbs in the Schools Gardens were:- Georgian Gardens CPS - Year 5 Eco Team Rustington CPS - Key Stage 2 Gardening Enrichment Club Summerlea CPS - Years 3 & 4 Councillor Graham Tyler was most impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the pupils at the Schools. Rustington Youth Centre Rustington Museum Emerging from the depths of Winter, our footfall has remained buoyant, with a changing schedule of exhibitions and displays celebrating local heroes and events in days gone by in Rustington. Our Cabinet of Curiosity is proving to be a talking point and focus of interest for visitors. One popular object is a Pith Helmet made in Dar es Salaam, Africa in the 1940s. These hats are more familiar as headwear worn by the British in the tropics or desert. I would like to take this opportunity to ask our community if anyone has a Pith Helmet or similar headwear they would like to display at the Museum? Perhaps you have someone in your ancestry who fought in the Boer War or served overseas during the days of the British Empire? Please do call in, you are guaranteed a warm welcome and either one of our knowledgeable historians or myself will always be happy to answer any questions you might have. Jessica Petit - Curator The Garden Café With lighter evenings and better weather, Rustington Youth Club is getting into the Summer spirit with a variety of outdoor sports each week. In addition to all the regular activities including Pool, Table Tennis, Video Games and lots of food, it s now the season for Football, Cricket and wide games! Also, after three years of hard work and lots of fun, Worker-In-Charge, Pippa Harsant has stepped down from her role at the Youth Club. We d like to thank Pippa for all of her efforts in developing the sessions and activities for young people, and for making it such a friendly and welcoming place. One of the regular experienced staff members, Ben Young is stepping into Pippa s role and will be leading the team each week. For more details on the Youth Clubs, contact ACCelerate on As we look forward to longer and warmer days, our thoughts turn to lazy afternoons, sitting in the sunshine, sipping tea with homemade cakes and cream teas. Well, look no further, the Jewel in Rustington s Crown, The Garden Café, can offer you all this in beautiful surroundings, coupled with a personal and hospitable service from our friendly staff and volunteers. In conjunction with the Rustington Street Fayre on Saturday 20 June, The Garden Café will be holding a Table Top Sale in aid of Cancerwise, a local based Charity. There will also be a free Craft Workshop for all ages, where you can try your hand at Peg Loom Weaving or make some Recycling Bunting! Do come and join us from am pm. Cancerwise will also be holding a Raffle, which will be drawn at 4.00 pm. So much to look forward to - we hope you will come and enjoy our wonderful facilities. If you would like to join our Volunteer Team please ring Diane or Jeannie on Diane Tyler - Café Manager 3

4 Annual Report from the Chairman of the Council - Councillor Graham Tyler - (September May 2015) For almost 12 months, I have again had the honour of wearing the hat of Chairman of the Parish Council and, as always, it has been most enjoyable, albeit sometimes challenging! For your information, a new Council will be elected on 7 May this year, and the first Chairman of that Council will be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 18 May I don t want to break with tradition, so at this point I would like to thank all of our Parishioners for their continued support. I would also like to thank Councillor Mrs Alison Cooper, the Vice- Chairman, for her support and, all of my fellow Councillors, for their hard work and efforts to assist with the Council s effective delivery of the services it provides for the local community. Thank you also, to the Rustington District Councillors, and especially Mike Clayden, for his monthly Reports on all District Council matters concerning Rustington. And now to the Council s formal business:- The main Projects that the Council has progressed during the past 12 months have included the production of the Neighbourhood Development Plan which, following a Yes Vote at the Referendum in January, has now been made by the District Council and will form part of its Statutory Development Plan. There have been improvements to the Woodlands Recreation Ground and the rolling programme of enhancements to The Woodlands Centre Complex has also continued, and indeed, will be continuing during the current year. The major refurbishments of both the War Memorial and the Public Toilets outside of The Woodlands Centre were also undertaken during the year. In September 2014, a Gold Award was achieved in the South and South East in Bloom Competition, together with the Category s Overall Winner Award, for Rustington s first ever entry into the Village/Town Centre Category, in which it competed against a number of very large Towns, including Haywards Heath, Aldershot, Guildford, Horley, Sevenoaks, Farnham and Gravesend. Rustingtonin-Bloom also received the Sussex Life County Discretionary Award for the highest marks across Sussex. The Village Primary Schools again excelled in the Blooming Schools Competition, with Georgian Gardens being declared the Overall Winner of the Competition, with a Gold Award, and Summerlea winning a Silver Gilt Award. There were also high level Awards for a number of community projects in the Its your Neighbourhood Category, with The Chaucery Memorial being declared as Runner- Up in the Category. The Parish Church received a Silver Award in the Churchyard Category and the Judges Discretionary Commendation Award was presented to Mrs Valerie Narayanaswamy, the Chairman of the Rustington-in-Bloom Committee. The Council has also entered into a new Lease with the County Council for the Woodland Park Sportsfield in Station Road. This means that the use of the land for Children s Football has been secured for a further 14 years. And, now, moving on to the Council s Committees.. Finance and General Purposes Committee I would like to thank Councillor Don Rogers, for the excellent job he has done in his first year as Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Don s own Report in respect of the Council s finances for the years ending 31 March 2015 and 31 March 2016, follows my Report in this Newsletter. My thanks also to the Members of the Committee. Leisure and Amenities Committee Thank you to Councillor Mrs Sue Lines who has, for a number of years, Chaired this very important Committee that is responsible for the majority of services provided by the Council, including the Public Toilets, Public Seats, Noticeboards, Street Maps, Beach and Bus Shelters, some Street Lighting, Grass Cutting in the centre of the Village, the Planting, Design and Maintenance of the Floral/Planted Displays plus any other associated functions. The Youth Centre and The Woodlands Centre are also managed by this Committee, as are the Woodlands Recreation Ground and Woodland Park Sportsfield. And, finally, the Committee is responsible for the Museum and the Village Information Centre. Planning Committee The Planning Committee is ably chaired by Councillor Bob Grevett. The Committee is consulted on all Planning Applications within the Parish by both the Arun District Council, as the Local Planning Authority and, in certain cases, the West Sussex County Council. Thank you Bob and the Members of the Committee, of course. Allotments Committee I would also like to thank Councillor Mrs Christine Broomfield, who has continued to be Chairman of the Allotments Committee, and the Committee Members, for managing the three Allotment Sites in the Parish. Emergency Planning Committee This Committee, Chaired by Councillor Steve Perry, monitors the Council s Emergency Plan, and ensures that procedures are in place 4 Designed by Print Plus, Arun District Council, printed by Onedigital, Brighton.

5 for the provision of The Woodlands Centre as a Rest Centre in the event of an emergency within the Parish. Thank you Steve and your Committee Members. The Council is also represented on a number of external Bodies. In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Council Personnel, for without their tireless hard work and dedication, Rustington s reputation would not be what it is today. But special thanks must go to Elaine and Caroline for their support and smooth running of the day to day tasks that most of us think just happen naturally. And, of course, Carole Ward, the Clerk of the Council, who ensures that the operation ticks over at an extremely high standard, envied by other Councils in West Sussex. Councillors Surgeries The Council holds its Quarterly Surgeries to give members of the local community the opportunity to meet with a Councillor to air their views in respect of the way in which the Parish is managed, maintained and enhanced, and to raise any other issues of interest or concern. Details regarding dates of future Surgeries will be advertised on the Parish Notice Boards around the Village and on the Council s Website. Allotment Plots The Council has three Allotment Sites in the Village. For further information, rental prices and availability, please contact the Council Offices. Village Information Centre The now well established Village Information Centre in Churchill Car Park (located adjacent to the Public Toilets) is open Monday to Saturday from am to 4.00 pm. There is a wide range of information available for everyone. So please feel free to pop in to the Centre where Angie, Emma and Jules will be happy to assist you in any way that they can. Council Members Attendance Record - April March 2015 Member Council Allotments Finance & General Purposes Leisure & Amenities Planning Emergency Planning Possible Actual Possible Actual Possible Actual Possible Actual Possible Actual Possible Actual Bennett * Broomfield (Mrs) *2 1 1 Collins Cooper Cooper (Mrs) Field Grevett Jones * Lines (Mrs) *3 1 1 Partridge (Mrs) *1 1 1 Perry * Rogers *2 - - Tyler Warren *Non-Committee Member - In attendance only 5

6 Annual Report from the Chairman of the Finance and General - Councillor Don Rogers - (May May 2015) The past year has been my first year as the Chairman of the Council s Finance and General Purposes Committee and therefore I have particular pleasure in presenting my first Annual Report in respect of the Council s finances for the past financial year and looking forward to the year ending 31 March During the past financial year, significant items of expenditure have included:- The management and maintenance of The Woodlands Centre, the Youth Centre, the Recreation Ground, the Woodland Park Sportsfield and the various Allotment Sites The funding of the Intermediate and Senior Youth Clubs Street Lighting in private roads New and Replacement Public Seats New Bus Shelter in Station Road Major Refurbishment of the War Memorial and surrounding area Christmas Lighting Security Costs Loan Servicing Costs Design and Maintenance of all Floral/Planting Displays Removal of asbestos at the Conbar Avenue Allotment Site, followed by construction of a new retaining wall and sections of fencing Council Offices Operational Costs Maintenance of Public Toilet Units, including refurbishment of The Woodlands Centre external toilets Grants to Local Groups and Organisations Computer Software and associated Contracts Annual Community Carol Concert and Civic Service Insurance Provision Councillors Allowances totalling approximately 7, ( increased to per annum with effect from January 2015) The production and distribution of the Quarterly Newsletters to residents Management and Maintenance of the Museum, Garden Café and Village Information Centre Turning now to the forthcoming year I am pleased to tell you that the Council has, for the third year running, set its 2015/16 Precept at 519,000.00, which means that the annual Parish Council charge on a Band D property in Rustington will be 87.77, a small reduction of 60 pence on the 2014/15 charge. The Council, like everyone else, is beset by inflationary pressures and coupled with a second year s reduction in the Arun District Council s Localisation of Council Tax Support Grant, is now finding it very difficult to keep the Parish Precept at its current level. This pegging, for the third year running of the Parish Precept, has been achieved by a combination of a reduction in the Council s Reserves and certain efficiency savings. However, this procedure cannot continue indefinitely, particularly as the Council is expecting a further reduction in the Arun District Council s Localisation of Council Tax Support Grant for 2016/17. The Parish Council will need to carefully consider this issue when it prepares its 2016/17 Budget. However, the Council will continue to strive to achieve ever improved efficiency and value for money in its operation, while doing its best to maintain, and improve where possible, the range of local services that are so appreciated by residents and visitors alike. These services include The Woodlands Centre, Woodlands Recreation Ground, Youth Centre and the Woodland Park Sportsfield. The Council funds the Museum, Garden Café and the Village Information Centre. The latter service, the Information Centre, is currently subsidised by a financial contribution from Store Property Investments Limited. Further local services include over 150 Allotment Plots spread over three sites, some 75 Public Seats, Bus and Beach Shelters, four Public Toilet sites, a School Crossing Patrol and some 44 Street Lights situated in Private Roads. A further local service that is very successful and much appreciated is the continued enhancement of the numerous floral displays in the central shopping area and at other sites within the parish. As part of the Council s partnership with local Groups and Organisations, the Council, in this instance, acknowledges the valuable assistance and cooperation received from the Rustington-in-Bloom Committee. The Council contributes to the three way partnership with the Rustington Chamber of Trade and Commerce and Store Property Investments Limited which provides the Christmas Lighting Scheme that was again enhanced for As part of the Council s assistance to outside Groups and Organisations, Grants have been made to local Clubs and Charitable Organisations. A further year s financial contribution will be made to Compass Travel to assist with the continuation of the Number 12 Bus service. The Council intends to continue making a contribution towards the maintenance, general upkeep and operational costs associated with the CCTV camera situated at the junction 6

7 Purposes Committee of Woodlands Avenue with The Street. Other projects planned for this year include a new Bus Shelter in front of the Westcourt Medical Centre in The Street which will be much appreciated by patients using this Centre, new bespoke Signage at entry points to the Village, and further improvements, including the complete refurbishment of the Village Memorial Hall s floor and stage, at The Woodlands Centre. Plans for a major upgrading of the rear part of The Woodlands Centre have been put on hold, until sufficient funding has been accumulated for this purpose. To provide its many and varied local services, the Council has to provide a central organisation and significant items of expenditure in this regard, include central establishment costs such as necessary staffing, loan servicing costs, community events including Newsletter publicity, security and public protection including insurance cover. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Council, to express my thanks and appreciation for all the hard work undertaken by all of our Volunteers, who support the Council s Personnel at the Museum and Garden Café and at other Amenity Sites within the Parish. I believe that the Council provides excellent value for money for its residents and at the same time works in partnership with the local Community to ensure that Rustington continues to be a public spirited vibrant place to live. I would like to thank all of my fellow Councillors for their continued efforts to achieve and maintain the objectives of the Council. While the challenges facing the Council will continue and will in all eventuality increase, I can assure you that it will do everything in its power to address these with the benefit to the local community at the forefront of its objectives. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to thank all Members of the Council s Personnel for their continued hard work and loyalty and, in particular, Caroline Harris who manages so well the Council s Financial and Accounting Systems and Elaine Lamb for her most efficient organisation of the Council s Administrative operation. Estimated Net Expenditure Years Ending 31 March 2015 and 31 March / / /2016 Estimate Revised Estimate Estimate at 1 Jan 2015 Leisure & Amenities External Sports and Committee Leisure Facilities Expenditure 77, , , Income 17, , , , , , Youth Centre Expenditure 47, , , Income 25, , , , , , Internal Facilities Expenditure 94, , , Income 66, , , , , , General Amenities Expenditure 128, , , Income 17, , , , , , Rustington Museum Expenditure 56, , , Income , , , Village Information Centre Expenditure 28, , , Income 18, , , , , , Finance & General General Purposes Committee Expenditure 320, , , Income , , , , The Garden Café Expenditure 77, , , Income 59, , , , , , Allotments Expenditure 4, , , Committee Income 4, , , ( ) 1, Totals 625, , ,

8 Meetings Parish Council Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month (apart from August and December) commencing at 7.15 pm in the Roger Montgomeri Room, The Woodlands Centre, Woodlands Avenue. All members of the public are welcome to attend these Meetings and time is set aside before each Council and Committee Meeting commences (7.00 pm) to give members of the public an opportunity to pose questions. A copy of the Agenda for each Meeting is displayed at the Public Library and on Notice Boards around the Village and on the Council s Website. Council and Committee Meeting Dates June - September 2015 Mon 1 June Planning Mon 15 June Planning Mon 22 June Finance & General Purposes Mon 22 June COUNCIL Mon 22 June Planning Your New Council East Ward J F Bennett 18 Epsom Gardens, Rustington BN16 3SS J E Ceiriog-Hughes Migin, 49 Oakcroft Gardens, Littlehampton BN17 6LT Mrs A B Cooper 27 Bushby Avenue, Rustington BN16 2BY S Perry 31 Kingsmead, Thornlea Court, Littlehampton BN17 7QS G M Tyler Pebble Beach, 44 Broadmark Lane, Rustington BN16 2JA P D Warren 11 Cheam Road, Rustington BN16 2EH North Ward T G Field 5B Western Road, Littlehampton BN17 5NP M F Jones Manor Cottage, 5 Manor Road, Rustington BN16 3QT West Ward Mrs C P Broomfield 15 Harsfold Road, Rustington BN16 2QE A J Cooper 27 Bushby Avenue, Rustington BN16 2BY Mrs P A Gregory 18 Broadmark Lane, Rustington BN16 2HJ R S Grevett Mill House, 3 Overstrand Avenue, Rustington BN16 2JS A M Jones 12 Barnsite Gardens, Rustington BN16 3QG Mrs S A Partridge April Cottage, Burmill Mews, Angmering Way, Rustington BN16 3RD J W A Street 26 Woodlands Avenue, Rustington BN16 3HB West Preston Ward D E Rogers 6 Preston Avenue, Rustington BN16 2DB Clerk of the Council Mrs Carole Ward 34 Woodlands Avenue, Rustington BN16 3HB Mon 6 July Allotments Mon 6 July Planning Mon 27 July Finance & General Purposes Mon 27 July COUNCIL Mon 27 July Planning Thurs 6 Aug Leisure & Amenities Mon 10 Aug Planning Mon 17 Aug Emergency Planning Mon 17 Aug Finance & General Purposes Mon 17 Aug Planning Mon 7 Sept Planning Mon 28 Sept Finance & General Purposes Mon 28 Sept COUNCIL Mon 28 Sept Planning Meet Me In Person Come and meet your local Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for crime prevention advice or to discuss any matters affecting you in your community at Sainsbury¹s, Rustington Retail Park on:- Sunday 21 June from am to 12 noon Citizens Advice Bureau The Council provides a facility at the Village Information Centre in the Churchill Car Park for the Citizens Advice Bureau to visit on a Tuesday morning. Appointments must be made in advance through the Arun & Chichester Citizens Advice Bureau on Blood Donor Sessions Regular Donor Sessions are held at the Village Memorial Hall and posters are displayed on Parish Notice Boards. Please come along and support this worthwhile cause. 8