Parish Council Minutes for 4th October 2004Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday 4 October 04 in the Small Hall, High Street Leigh, commencing at 8pm under the chairmanship of Cllr J Knock. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE had been received from Cllrs P Croft, L.Featherstone, M Pollard, A McCarthy, R Sykes and G Marchant. District Cllr Mrs A Cook, Parish Constable SPC G Eade and A Hemming. PRESENT Cllrs J Knock (Chairman) A Johnston and C Stratton-Brown. IN ATTENDANCE County Cllr P Lake and 12 parishioners - B & J Fagg, Mr & Mrs R Thompsett, J Cook, C Rowley, Mrs Ottaway, M Cardon, Mr & Mrs Ford, Mr & Mrs Kay, and the Clerk Mrs C Phillips. THE MINUTES of the ordinary meeting held on Monday 6 September 04, which had been previously circulates were with the following small amendments: Cllr Mrs Cook's report replace It was her intention with Cllr Mrs Cook asked whether the Council would like her to... County Cllr Lake's report: insert the word ROAD between STOP WORKS delete in and insert after work by contractors deleting required at the end of that sentence; approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. PARISH PLAN In the absence of the Chairman Cllr Pollard, Mr Rowley , a steering committee member, introduced two papers, one on footpaths and one on parking, both were originally prepared during the work on the Design Statement for the Village but have been updated and amended as relevance required. Particular attention was drawn to the possible creation of circular walks, and the updating of or initial signing of FP nos. This matter to be carried forward for further discussion and action after the Parish Plan meeting on 18 October. KENT VILLAGE OF THE YEAR Leigh had been awarded the Larger Villages Winner in the Community Life, runner up in the Older People category and Highly Commended in the Business category. Congratulations were offered to all involved with particular thanks to Cllrs Knock and Johnston, for their tireless efforts on behalf of the local community. The Council has been awarded a tree as part of the prize and discussions will be held to determine the site. It was agreed that the commemorative plaque would be fixed to the Village sign. COUNTY CLLR. P. LAKE Further to Cllr Lake's request for the extension of the 40mph limit to Home Farm, he had had a response which noting that the accident record for the last 5 years was "minimal" with 11 injury crashes, and the lack of residential curtilages, meant that the priority was very low. Cllr Lake had included a copy of the letter previously received from Sir John Stanley MP about the removal of rural phone boxes by BT and reinforcing the need for these to be retained. For the last few years Kent highways had been managed by the District and Unitary Councils in Kent, this agreement falls due for renewal in April 05, and although it had been hoped to extend this for a further year so that the contractors contract and the agreement could be dealt with in one fell swoop, there had not been universal agreement, so the KCC will be taking back responsibilities for all highways matters with effect from April 05. Depots will be retained and discussion held with regard to reinstating local lengthsmen. The next meeting of the joint board will be in November/December notification of which will be received in due course. WK HOUSING UPDATE A pre-submission plan of the proposed housing at the entrance to The Forstall had been received and would be circulated during the Open Session. Since the majority of the Parishioners present had come to discuss the RHT Affordable Housing the Chairman closed the Council Meeting and went into OPEN SESSION The Chairman informed the meeting that the RHT had provided a sketch plan of the revised siting for the houses in the 'top field' with a vehicular access onto the B2027 adjacent to the Kennards driveway. There was considerable heated discussion about the site, the size and the refusal of the Council to disclose the sketch to residents at the request of the RHT at this stage. Concerns that further building would take place on other parts of the field were voiced and dismissed. Likewise concerns over commercial development, which is currently disallowed under planning legislation. The point was made again that exceptions planning policy applied for the building of these houses and the S106 Agreement was legally binding, houses could not be sold on the Open Market and tenancies would only be offered to those who were approved as bona fide applicants, having the necessary Parish connections, by the Parish Council. Further sites were unlikely to be developed for Affordable Housing for the foreseeable future. Concerns were expressed about the vehicular access and the lack of a pavement for pedestrian safety although FP 430/431 would provide safe passage down to Powder Mill Lane and the Green. The RHT would stage an Open Day in about December/January, at which plans would be shown although formal submission would be at a later date. Parishioners were shown the plans for the two semi-detached houses on the southern side of the Forstall estate and asked for any pre-submission comments which could possibly allow for changes. There were no comments and the formal application would be awaited for Parish Council comment. There being no further issues for discussion the Open Session was closed and the formal Council Meeting resumed with VILLAGE HALLS UPDATE The plans had been submitted and would be discussed later in the meeting. Fund Raising was progressing well recent events such as the golf day and table tennis had raised £400 and £137 respectively. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERSRugby on the Green According to the Parish magazine the Club intended to play another home match on the Green. It was agreed that the Council should write again, pointing out that organised team games required discussion and agreement with the Council. Trees Further to the report from the Men of the Trees, the Clerk had contacted Bartletts about the Swamp Cypress/Dawn Redwood on the area of Green by the War Memorial, this tree is not prospering but the removal of a large branch from the overhanging Oak is not an option. Clerk to meet with Tree expert. Clerk to contact Ben Larkham over Chestnut at the entrance to the Crandalls, which had been omitted from the survey and three-year plan. Triangle at Church Hill Chairman and Clerk to obtain validating information from parish safe. RAILWAY, LOCAL BUS 210 AND COMMUTER BUS K5 It appears that there may be key changes to the service enjoyed by passengers using the local rail service, further information when received. PLANNINGCllr Stratton-Brown registered a personal interest in the first application and took no part in the discussion SE/04/02349/FUL Old Brickmakers, Lower Green, Leigh. Detached Double garage, with log store to side and storage room in attic space in rear garden, subject to neighbourliness. NO OBJECTIONS SE/04/02242/LBCALT Little Barn, Whitepost Farmhouse, Moorden Lane. To lengthen and paint matt black the existing flue from wood burning stove NO OBJECTIONS SE/04/02320/FUL Wansfell, Greenview Avenue Rear single storey kitchen extension and first floor bedroom/bathroom side extension over existing garage. The Council has problems with the end windows design in the kitchen, and the roof lights, which they consider obtrusive and out of keeping with the adopted Design Statement the side extension is very obtrusive and unneighbourly they therefore wish to register OBJECTION to this application. SE/04/02310/FUL 1 The Compasses, Leigh. Rear extension to extend dining room provide conservatory with matching low pitch roof to new and existing extension. The Council wishes to register strong OBJECTION to this plan. The application is out of keeping with the front and unneighbourly to the occupant of No2 The Compasses. SE/04/02369/FUL Yew Tree Bungalow, Egg Pie Lane, Weald. Single storey side extension. The Council has always had problems with this 'non-dwelling'. This is a very large extension, there could well be problems with neighbourliness, unless the properties are jointly owned, so the Council does not wish to offer any more than the observations above. SE/04/02326/FUL Rayak, Penshurst Road, Leigh. Construction of two storey side extension to existing dwelling. The council has slight concerns with the front of the extension from the plans but feel that on the ground these may not be relevant. Therefore there are NO OBJECTIONS subject to no adverse comment from the neighbouring property.
SE/04/01759/FUL South View, The Green Leigh. Replacement garage, external log store. Amended application. This amended application was received and originally commented upon under ref SE/04/00692/LBCALT and SE/04/00693/FUL in April 04. The Council considers this to be a vast improvement to the original application and has NO OBJECTIONS SE/04/02239/FUL & SE/04/02240/LBCALT Leigh Village Hall High Street Leigh Extension and refurbishment works. There are NO OBJECTIONS to these applications. (Subsequent discussion with the Planning Officer revealed a concern over the loss of a yew to the rear and the Clerk submitted the following addendum after consultations) The Council recognises that 1 of the 2 yews will probably have to be removed, but would happily replace with another yew or other species if required. The following Planning decisions had been received SE/04/02025/FUL 3 Lightfoots Cottages, Penshurst Road new driveway access and replacement gate GRANTED SE/04/01356/FUL Ensleigh Lower Green, Side extension, conservatory first floor extension and replacement garage GRANTED South Wing, Knotley Hall, Hardwood and glass orangery Notice of Appeal received, written representations, Council's objections will be submitted. Copies of letters to the owners of Great Barnetts regarding the erection of a fence without consent by the Ancient monument known as Medieval Moat which requires planning approval. Noted. FINANCIAL MATTERSThe discussion of the Clerk's salary was deferred until the November meeting due to the lack of Council Members. The cheque for the Clerk's expenses was paid, subject to the usual confirmation by the Finance Committee Chairman.
There being no further matters for discussion the meeting closed with thanks from the Chair at 10.45pm Signed................................... Chairman Date......................................
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