Village Voices: Pett - November 26, 2010

Councillor Roger Bird told the Council that as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review, Rother District Council would have to reduce its spending from £28.5bn to £22.9bn over the next four years and further details would be available during the first week of December.

Local councils which had 0% increases in Council Tax would receive a 2.5% increase in their grants from central government. Both East Sussex County Council and Rother District Council intended to have 0% increases in Council Tax.

With regard to the Pett Village allotments, the Parish Council agreed to authorise the necessary expenditure for the new path, subject to the cost being less than £1000.

The Parish Council also heard that the Royal Oak had been sold at auction to a village consortium and the Queens Head, Icklesham.

There was also an update on the ‘Exception Site’ policy for affordable housing. A sub group of the Council had met to consider possible sites outside the village envelope (Exception Sites). 14 potential sites had been assessed against 10 criteria and a shortlist had been drawn up.

These will now be visited and considered but before any decision is made, the matter will be brought before the Council and the public. It is a condition of such schemes that they must have the support of the community.

About half the funding for the proposed bmx/skate area has been realised and as a result a revised proposal with cheaper equipment is to be put forward.

The Stir Crazy Club, based in Pett, joined the residents of Five Villages for their coffee morning on 17th November and held a craft sale. £60 was raised, which will be given to The Friends of Five Villages. During the past year the Stir Crazy Club has raised over £700 for good causes including the Stroke Association and the Lymphoedema Society.

Church Services on Sunday 28th November – Parish Communion, St Mary & St Peter, Pett; Sunday Service at the Methodist Chapel at 11:00am.

On Wednesday 1st December Pett Village Hall will once again be the place for anyone to come along and meet new friends or catch up with old ones, try some yummy home – made cakes and enjoy a hot drink.

This month’s coffee morning will have a Christmas theme and there will be mince pies to go with the coffee as well as the usual scrummy cakes. In addition there will be a Christmas cake raffle which will be called at 11.pm on the day. It is the same time 10am till 12noon.

On Thursday 2nd December Flicks in the Village will be showing something light-hearted for the start of the festive season.

It’s Complicated (15) stars Meryl Streep who has very much come into her own as a romantic comedian in recent years. Streep plays Jane, a contented, affluent divorcée with excellent taste in furnishings; happily about to preside over an empty nest and feeling just fine about it, especially as she also has a new romance (Steve Martin).

Then who should bump into her and ruin this perfect solitude but her ex, Jake, played by Alec Baldwin, who decides he’ll stop at nothing to win her back.

This is a hilarious look at marriage, divorce and everything in between. The beauty of It’s Complicated is that it really isn’t all that complicated--its chemistry depends on the wonderful actors (including the supporting cast) and the oft-forgotten reality that people over 25 can have great sex, and fall head over heels.

As it is December there will be mulled wine and mince pies for members so come along and get into the festive spirit!

The film starts at 7:30pm with refreshments served from 7pm. Membership forms are available on the night or you can always pop into the Butchers shop in Pett and grab an application form.

Mary Saint

Pett Road