DRAFT MINUTES OF THE DALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING HELD ON 19th MAY 2026
Present: Councillors N. Harding (Chair), J. Gray (Vice-Chair), M. Gray-Smith, P. Ridley
Mrs. I. Marchant (Parish Clerk/RFO)
Members of the public
10th June 2026
Dallington Parish Council would like to sincerely thank Eleanor Kirby-Green for her time as East Sussex County Councillor for Dallington. Her advice and many efforts on behalf of the Parish were greatly appreciated and we send our best wishes.
1. Election of Chair for 2026-27
RESOLVED: to elect Councillor Hardy as Dallington Parish Council Chair for 2026-27. Councillor Ridley proposed and Councillor Gray seconded, the voting was unanimous. The Chair signed the Declaration of Office.
2. Election of Vice-Chair for 2026-27
RESOLVED: to elect Councillor Gray as Vice-Chair of Dallington Parish Council for 2026-27. Councillor Ridley proposed and Councillor Gray-Smith seconded, the voting was unanimous.
3. Disclosures of interest
None declared.
4. Dispensations
None requested.
5. Apologies for absence
None required.
6. Accuracy of the minutes of the previous meeting
RESOLVED: that the draft minutes of the meeting held on 17th March 2026 be confirmed as being an accurate record of the proceedings. Councillor Gray-Smith proposed and Councillor Gray seconded, the voting was unanimous.
AGREED: to move item 12. Dark Skies Project and discuss this next.
12. Dark Skies Project
- 6 parishes so far have put in pre-applications for Dark Skies status, for review by Dark Skies International (DSI), confirmed as being eligible are Brightling, Burwash, Crowhurst, Mayfield, Ticehurst and Wadhurst.
- The cost is £250 for application fee. Maintenance is £150/year approximately (after certification) and application fees likely to rise to £1K in the future.
- Dallington will need a Dark Skies team and a lighting management plan.
- There will be a Dark Skies meeting on 24.09.26 at 2.30pm.
- A Dark Skies policy for Dallington will be discussed at the July meeting.
- DPC will hold a Dark Skies event in October 2026.
- Between now and October, DPC will ask for residents to join in and take light readings.
7. Open Forum
7.1 County Council report (ESCC) – no report.
7.2 District Council report (RDC) – Councillor McLaren sent apologies.
7.3 Public Question Time – nothing raised by members of the public.
8. Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2025-26 (AGAR)
RESOLVED: to approve the following AGAR documents. The Chair proposed and Councillor Gray seconded, the voting was unanimous
8.1 The Certificate of Exemption 2025-26
8.2 The Annual Governance Statement 2025-26
8.3 The Accounting Statements 2025-26
8.4 The Explanation of Variances 2025-26
8.5 The Bank Reconciliation at 31.03.26
8.6 Compliance with item O (compliance with laws, regulations and proper practices relating to digital and data compliance) on the Internal Audit Report, this will be discussed and actioned at the DPC July meeting.
8.7 To thank Mr. Whines for the positive and constructive manner in which he carried out the DPC Internal Audit 2025-26 and to appoint him as DPC’s internal auditor for 2026-27. We would like to thank him for his generosity in asking that his internal audit fee (£50) be donated to Cancer Research. (CLERK)
9. DPC appointments to outside bodies
- Rother Association of Local Councils (RALC) – Chair, 2 members may attend and Clerks are also welcome.
- Dallington Village Hall Committee – Councillor Ridley.
10. Grant request from Dallington PCC
This item has been deferred until the July meeting.
11. Parish Priorities project
Due to work on Dark Skies and other matters, this project has been deferred for 6 months.
13. Planning
13.1 Planning application for consideration
RR/2026/0436/HOU – Four Winds, South Lane, Woods Corner
Demolition of rear extension, two-storey front and rear extension.
https://online.rother.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=262647
AGREED: to make a general comment only, inclined to support in principle but have the following concerns – there a severe lack of information, no mention of materials and the amount of glazing proposed for the west elevation would mean a considerable amount of light pollution.
13.2 No other planning matters for discussion.
14. Enforcement
14.1 No Dallington items on RDC’s most recent enforcement list.
14.2 No other enforcement matters for discussion.
15. Highways/Rights of Way
Councillor Gray is finalising a draft to East Sussex Highways regarding the various issues discussed at the meeting between himself and the East Sussex Highways Steward. The main issues are speeding through the Village (B2096) and a 30mph speed limit, safety at the Woods Corner junction, a 20mph through The Street (primary school) and virtually no sightline when exiting Bakers Lane. (COUNCILLOR GRAY)
16. Finance
16.1 Bank balances at 30.04.26
- DPC deposit account – £19,350.14
- DPC current account – £2,220.02
- DRG current account – £262.91
16.2 RESOLVED: to approve the following payments. Councillor Gray proposed and Councillor Gray-Smith seconded, the voting was unanimous.
- Clerk, salary/home office, expenses Apr/May 2026 – £1,396.55
- Top-up DRG funds – £500.00
- * SLCC subscription 2026-27 – £200.00
- * ESALC subscription 2026-27 – £124.22
- * JAAK Signs Rookery Lane fingerpost – £1,854.96
- * Clear Councils DPC insurance 2026-27 – £524.94
- * MailPoet premium subscription – £112.58
* already paid
16.3 RESOLVED: to approve the fourth quarter accounts at 31.03.26 as presented by the Clerk. The Chair proposed and Councillor Gray-Smith seconded, the voting was unanimous.
17. Dates of next meetings
- 16.06.26 – Full Council Meeting (provisional only)
- 21.07.26 – Full Council Meeting