Parish Council Minutes for 6th September 2004Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday 6th September 04, in the Small Village Hall, High Street, Leigh under the chairmanship of Cllr John Knock, commencing at 8.00pm. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllr A McCarthy and Special PC G Eade. Apologies for lateness were received from Cllr R Sykes. PRESENT Cllrs. P Croft, L Featherstone, A Johnston, J Knock (Chairman), G Marchant, M Pollard, C Stratton-Brown. IN ATTENDANCE Cllr Mrs A Cook, Cllr P Lake, Mr A Bramley, Mr N Ford and Mr J Kaye. It was agreed that Cllr Pollard should take the minutes in the absence of the Clerk, Mrs C Phillips. MINUTES The Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday, 2nd August 04 which had previously been circulated were, with the correction to 18th October of the date of the special Parish Meeting to discuss the Parish Plan, agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. MATTERS ARISING THEREFROM all matters were covered by the agenda.
REPORTSCllr Mrs A Cook reported that she had complained to the Highways Department about the continuing state of the roadworks on Penshurst Road. Cllr Pollard added that he had had a meeting that morning with Mr K Warner from South East Water and that the remaining debris should be cleared within the next few days and the site reinstated to its original condition. He was still awaiting confirmation of a date when this work would be completed. Cllr Cook continued that the rubbish adjacent to Mr P Hills land had been cleared. She had also received a letter of concern about the proposed development to the west of 6 Wyndham Avenue. She agreed to see whether it was possible to have street cleaning in Leigh carried out after the refuse collection rather than the day before. The District Council were starting their budget process early as there was a need to make substantial savings in the coming year. They needed to know from Parish Councils which services were important and whether they had any ideas where savings could be made. The District Council had been congratulated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) over their recycling scheme. It was her intention to invite the Chief Executive of SDC to Leigh, as he had now been in post for eighteen months, and would agree a date with the Parish Council. Cllr P Lake reported that there needed to be further repair work to the surface of Penshurst Road as there appeared to be a leak at one point. It was apparent that there was no overall planning applied by KCC to contractors in general to stop works being carried out in without regard for future work required. Barnetts Road it was reported that work was proceeding. The Fostall A JCB had appeared and dug four holes at the corners of the empty plot at the eastern side of the Forstall. It was subsequently determined that these were trial boreholes being made by West Kent Housing (WKH), though no plans for the site had yet been submitted. In carrying out the work, WKH had damaged the root system of the oak tree on the site and SDC had written to WKH informing them that, if the tree dies, they will have to replace it with a mature specimen. This work had nothing to do with the proposed development of affordable housing behind the Forstall. Rural Housing Trust (RHT) The Clerk had made contact with Capel PC and it was ascertained that they had had problems with the Tunbridge Wells Housing Association and not the RHT. They had subsequently started working with the RHT with no problems to date. A meeting had been arranged with the RHT on 9th September to discuss a revision to the proposed development behind the Forstall. This would use an access directly from Hildenborough Road and would have the units built above the Forstall utilising the upper field. No planning application had yet been made but provisional sketches of the site would be available at that meeting. OPEN SESSION Queries were raised by parishioners on the proposed RHT development at the rear of the Forstall. It was made clear that the Council did not yet have any information on this development and therefore could not comment on it. The development would be carried out under Section 106 which allows building of affordable housing for local use on Green Belt land. The land would be purchased at well below the market rate and all applications for tenancies or part purchase would be vetted by the Parish Council to ensure the applicant met the requirements for local connections. The Parish Council would comment on any planning application from the RHT, taking into consideration the views of the parish. It had already been agreed, in principle, that the Parish Council was in favour of affordable housing development as there was a definite need for it in the parish, but there were a number of sites that could be used. Cllr Cook pointed out that the ODPM laid down criteria for Section 106 sites and these included the distance from the centre of the village. SDC were aware of mature trees on the proposed site at the rear of the Forstall and the effect that the development could have on the visual aspect of the entrance to Leigh. Village Halls A planning application for Phase 1 (new toilet block and storeroom) had been submitted to SDC. Funding applications for this phase had also been submitted to SDC and KCC and they would indicate soon whether funding (around £78K) would be available. In order to obtain funding for Phase 2 (floor, heating, electrics and kitchen refurbishment) from the Lottery and Landfill Tax, it would be necessary to obtain three detailed tenders. The work to provide these would cost £15K. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS Pointing on the wall adjacent to the noticeboard needed to be done before a new board was erected. It was agreed this would be brought to the attention of the School Governors by the Chairman. There was no further progress over the registration of the land at the Triangle. It was noted that there was a need to restore the surface here. A report on the visit from the Men of Trees was provided by the Tree Warden, Mr P Penn. The chestnut beside Jessica's Hall needed attention and this was the responsibility of the School. The Chairman would raise the matter with the Governors. Further specialist advice should be sought on the bracing applied to the Old Oak outside Oak Cottage. Work suggested to the cherry trees outside the Village Hall should be referred to the Village Hall Management Committee. Copies of the report should also be sent to the Vicarage, Old Vicarage and the Well Close Residents Association as there were trees mentioned on all these properties. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to SDC regarding the overgrown state of the hedge at the top of Green Lane and the nettles outside the police house. It was reported that the Village Sign was with Mr King for remounting. Parish Plan Cllr Pollard reminded members that there was a joint meeting with the Steering Committee on 9th September to develop the Action Plan. It was noted that the special meeting to be held on 18th October to discuss and agree the Action Plan should be a Parish Meeting, not a Parish Council Meeting. CORRESPONDENCE Leigh Immediate Search Network (LISN) Correspondence had been received from Kent Police saying that the initiative was under examination. Folkrite A donation of £50 had been received from the Folkrite Congregational Church Fellowship towards the upkeep of the Old Graveyard. They would also make a future annual donation of £50. Reports for Comment The following documents were distributed to members for comment: ODPM Consultation Paper on Local Government Employees - Cllr Stratton-Brown Local Air Quality Management - Cllr Featherstone Tonbridge & Malling DC, Future Housing & New Development - Cllr Stratton-Brown Kent County Playing Fields - Cllr Knock SDC Draft Statement of Licencing Policy - Cllr Johnston TRANSPORT British Rail It was reported that a new shelter had been constructed on the "up" platform. PLANNING The following applications had been received for comment: SE/04/02025/FUL 3 Lightfoots Cottages, Penshurst Road. Construction of new driveway entrance to existing parking area and relace existing five bar gate with double six foot solid gate. There were no objections SE/04/02053/FUL Pump Cottage, High Street. Demolition of garage, construction of two storey side and rear extension and loft conversion. No objection to revised plans; however it should be emphasised that there is no vehicular access via the roadway to the west of the property as the roadway is in the ownership of the Parish Council. SE/04/01672/FUL Land to the west of 6 Wyndham Close (Chloe - please insert description from application). No objections were raised to the development but regard should be taken of the level of the water table and the effect of traffic movements on residents of Meadowbank. Tree Works: Sandelwood House, High Street. Work to trees at rear. There were no objections. 9/12 Saxby Wood. Pruning of Silver birches. There were no objections. FINANCIAL MATTERS It was noted that a Completion of Audit notice had been received for 2003/04. The following accounts were presented for payment:
It was resolved that the "bills be paid". There being no further matters for discussion the meeting closed at 10.20pm Signed................................................... Chairman Date...................................................
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