Latest News of Local Interest

Parish Council Meeting agenda Thursday 11th April 2024

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You are cordially invited to the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council on Thursday 11th April 2024 at 7.30pm to be held at Fulking Village Hall. The meeting will consider the items set out below. 

Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk  

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

24/014/OM.         Apologies for Absence. 

24/015/OM.         Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

24/016/OM.         Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 11th January 2024 

The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting. 

24/017/OM.         Reports from District and County Councillors.   

24/018/OM.         Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting.  

          TRO Poynings Road / Edburton Road 

          WSCC drain unblocking 

          Small Acres 

24/019/OM.      Parish Plan 

24/020/OM.        Reports from Outside Bodies. 

24/021/OM.       Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

24/022/OM.       Correspondence.  To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received. 

24/023/OM.        Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

Date of the Annual Meeting is Wednesday 15th May 2024.  

Next Ordinary Meeting scheduled for Thursday 11th July 2024. 

Bobservation No. 115: Legislation and Quotations

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Anticipated Legislation
The recent failure of most, if not all, of the water companies to prevent unacceptable amounts of sewage being regularly discharged into rivers, lakes and the beaches of Britain have caused the Government, so I am given to understand, to bring about imposing legislation to force these companies to drastically improve their performance in these areas. I am told that funding will fall 50% on the companies and 50% on their customers. Accordingly water companies will be restricted to declaring dividends of 0.01% maximum and water rate charges will have to increase substantially. To achieve this increase there will be three main areas that will bear the brunt. These will be private houses with swimming pools, saunas and garden hoses. The proposed charges will be £10,000 p.a. for swimming polls, £9,000 for saunas and £2,000 for garden hoses. As well as this the proposed legislation will enable HMRC to increase these amounts by however much is necessary to achieve cleanliness in our rivers, lakes and beaches. It is thought unlikely that anyone will object to such socially acceptable legislation. 1/4/24

Quotations Group
Meeting on Monday mornings at 11am in Fulking village hall, the Quotations group is a chance for discussion for adult villagers and ex-villagers in friendly surroundings. Very ably lead by Samantha Leader a subject is chosen by mutual agreement and discussed the following week. A voluntary donation of £1 each week covers tea and Samantha’s marvellous shortbread. Quotations relevant to the chosen subject are invited and are collated and printed out each Monday to be read out at the meeting. This is an informal get together and a very good way to meet other local residents.

Bobservation No. 114: Henfield vs. Fulking

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Henfield
Having departed Fulking some year and a half ago it seems worthwhile reminding you of the many advantages accruing to Fulking as a result of being only 3 miles away from the mother ship.
It would be easy to record what Henfield does not have, banks being the major omission. However It is quite amazing what a variety of shopping is available, in many cases of a very high standard. Much of the absence of banks is supplemented by the very excellent service provided by the Post Office. To preserve continuity of friendships etc. Henfield is a very logical step to move to when the relative remoteness of Fulking becomes difficult due to age or infirmity. This major village is probably one of the kindest and socially active places in the UK with a multitude of clubs and societies open to anyone interested, even a link to the Horsham food bank! A very good source of what is on offer is BN5 magazine so ably driven by local villager Emma Cole. As well as a very interesting history the layout of ‘twittens’ that encompass practically the whole village and provide very helpful pedestrian short cuts everywhere. Further information is always available from the museum located in the entrance to Henfield Hall. It is well worth a look next time you are in Henfield.

Fulking Fun Day
The Social committee are considering having a ’fun day’ possibly on Sunday 16 June instead of a fair. This will be part of an exercise to have more, but smaller events during the year to raise money principally for expenses connected with the village hall. Villagers from the other Downland villages will be encouraged to get involved. Please contact Sally if you would like to join in.

Bobservation No. 113: Badgering the Post Office

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Badger Cull
You may be unaware that the badger cull in England is proceeding without any proof that it is effective in reducing TB in cattle, whereas vaccination is successful. I do exhort you in any way to protest this wicked and cruel way of eliminating our largest native wild mammal. I am currently protesting via AVAAZ but you will have your own method.

Post Office Scandal
It should come as a salutary lesson to all of us that, in spite of living in a democracy, if a government or government agency wishes it can inflict grossly unfair treatment on any individual or group of individuals it cares to. Such is what has happened to the 900 or so Sub-postmasters over the last twenty odd years and is still not resolved in a fair and appropriate fashion. Whilst remaining apolitical, I would encourage you, when given the chance to cast your vote in a General Election, to consider yourself in the position of a post office sub-postmaster, and decide who you would want representing you in Parliament.

Not only this scandal has been with us but some immigrants involved with the Windrush situation are still waiting for a just and financially sensible solution to the appalling way in which they have been treated. I like to think that the racial inequalities of the past are long gone but Windrush smells of prejudice. All of the three main political parties have, over the course of time, been in a position of power during both of these miscarriages of justice and all three need to get them sorted quickly before we put our ballot in the box later this year.

Fulking Parish Council Meeting – Thursday 11th January 2024

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You are cordially invited to an Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council on Thursday 11th January 2024 at 7.30pm to be held at Fulking Village Hall. The meeting will consider the items set out below. 

Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk  

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

24/001/OM.            Apologies for Absence. 

24/002/OM.            Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

24/003/OM.            Approve the Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting of 12th October 2023 

The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting. 

24/004/OM.            Reports from District and County Councillors.   

24/005/OM.            Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting. 

24/006/OM.            Small Acre Update 

24/007/OM.            Parish Plan Update 

24/008/OM.        2024 – 2025 Precept 

24/009/OM.         Proposed TRO – New speed limit.       

24/010/OM.             Information Items.  To receive information and items for the agenda at future meetings. 

24/011/OM.              Correspondence.  To discuss correspondence and respond to correspondence received. 

24/012/OM.              Financial Matters. To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

24/013/OM.               To set a date of Annual General Meeting of the Council and Annual Parish Meeting:  

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 11th April 2024. 

Bobservation No. 112: Involvement and Charity

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Parish Council Poster

Involvement
Listening from as far away as Henfield but with regular visits to and discussions about Fulking     I find that apathy seems to rule the day. I guess that very few Fulking villagers have any idea who all five members of the Parish council are and indeed care much anyway. Now this is a great pity because the whole democratic process begins at Parish Council level and given the opportunity to stand and be voted onto the council is a rare chance to be able to have an influence on all facets of village life. I do encourage you to consider standing for election to the Parish Council whenever the chance comes along.

Charitable giving
Because the majority of readers of this article have it in their power to donate to a charity I find it interesting that choosing a charity is not as easy as it might seem. The need by almost every walk of life is compelling, be it human or animal, children or adults, war torn or peaceful, religious or secular, physical or mental. Do your best, it can be very satisfying being able to help.

New Year
I sincerely wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2024 and please join me in sparing a thought for those of you with problems, be they medical, financial or otherwise.

Bobservation No. 111: Christmas Tombola Communication

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Bottles in speech bubble

 

Social communication advantages
It occurred to me how fortunate we are in the Downland Villages to have so many social communication advantages: BN5 magazine comes to mind immediately, so ably edited by Emma Cole with her wonderful team who provide a monthly guide to what has happened and will happen in Henfield and the surrounding area of BN5. As well as this the advertisements in BN5 provide a very handy way of finding a local tradesman. Next the great contact mobile phone texts, What’s App, such as Community Skills Swap and Quotations. These are such useful sites to offer, ask for, complain, suggest, and indeed all manner of places to facilitate life in the countryside. If you don’t already receive them on your mobile phone I am sure one of your neighbours can help you do this. Last but certainly not least Pigeon Post so well put together by our very own Jen Green.

Fulking Christmas party tombola prizes
Rosemary and Nick, who have very successfully taken on the mantle of Tombola organisers, are looking for bottles for the Christmas party which is on Friday 8 December. These can be left in their porch at 31 Clappers Lane or at Roger and Carolyns at Woodlands. I am sure lots of you have those unwanted bottles of wine or beer or cider or soft drinks (or even bubbly!) and could free up the cupboard/wine rack space by donating to the Tombola prizes. Don’t forget to bring plenty of £s to buy Tombola tickets. The income goes to the Fulking Social Committee principally for Village Hall maintenance.

Christmas
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Bobservation No: 110, Speeding

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Village Speed Limits
I understand that the speed limit in Clappers Lane is being reduced to 30mph. In view of the fact that the Street is already 20mph and that Clappers Lane is, in places, highly dangerous at 30mph and walkers, horse riders and cyclists have to take evading action to avoid disaster, it seems to me that 20mph would have been much more sensible. Of course, without any deterrent any speed limit is unenforceable and meaningless. Personally, I have found the psychological effect of electronic ‘thank-you’ signs in and around Henfield to act as a very good method of reminding drivers of the speed limit. I imagine that these signs do not come cheaply, and it is highly unlikely that Fulking could have them installed but I have an awful feeling that one day a serious accident, possibly fatal, is going to happen.

Christmas Party
The organisers, Carolyn and Jen, tell me the annual Christmas party will be held in the village hall on Friday 8 December from 6.30 pm till 8.30pm. Please bring a plate of suitable nibbles and lots of dosh for the Tombola. We have been holding this party for many years now and it is always a great get together. If you are new to Fulking then it is a wonderful way to meet the locals and the booze is free!
All villagers and their families are welcome.

Parish Council Meeting – Thursday 12th October 2023

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You are cordially invited to the Ordinary Meeting of Fulking Parish Council, on Thursday 12th October 2023 at 7.30pm to be held at Fulking Village Hall. The meeting will consider the items set out below. 

Trevor Parsons – Parish Clerk  

Following the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, and regarding regulations on Access to Local Government Meetings, members of the public are advised that they have a right to film/record the meetings of Fulking Parish Council. Members of the public are also advised that by attending a meeting of Fulking Parish Council, they give their consent to being filmed/recorded by other members of the public, if such activity is taking place. 

AGENDA 

Public Participation: There will be a period of 15 minutes set aside at the beginning of the meeting for the public to ask questions or make comments on items on the Agenda. Comments on items not appearing on the agenda can be made at the chairman’s discretion.  

23/65/OM. – Apologies for Absence. 

23/066/OM. – Declaration of Members’ Interests. 

23/067/OM. – Approve the Minutes* of the Ordinary Meeting of 6th July 2023 and Planning meeting 26th July 2023 The minutes, subject to any amendments, to be approved and signed as a true record of the meeting. 

23/068/OM. – Matters Arising & Outstanding Actions – To clarify and report on actions brought forward from the last meeting. 

Village sign 

Clappers Lane TRO 

23/069/OM – Small Acres Appeal. 

23/070/OM. – Reports from District and County Councillors. 

23/071/OM – Village hall and its running costs 

23/072/OM – RoSPA Playground Report and Maintenance 

23/073/OM. – Fulking Parish Council Budget 2024/2025.  

23/074/OM. – Speed Limits in Edburton Road 

23/075/OM. – Planning application – Conifer House SDNP/23/03790/TCA 

Proposal: Reduce to just below previous pruning points and thin canopy on 1 no. Maple tree in rear (eastern side) garden (T1) 

23/076/OM. – Reports from Outside Bodies, Information Items & Correspondence 

23/077/OM. – Financial Matters: To receive the report on the Council’s income and to approve future expenditure. 

Date of the next Ordinary Meeting: Thursday 11th January 2024