Parish Council Minutes for 9th May 2005Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held in the Small Hall, High Street Leigh on Monday 9 May 05, commencing at 8pm.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from County Cllr P Lake, Cllr Mrs A Cook, Cllr A McCarthy, Mrs H Powell (prospective co-optee). PRESENT Cllrs P. Croft, A Johnston, J Knock, G Marchant, M. Pollard, C Stratton-Brown, and R.Sykes. IN ATTENDANCE Mr Bramley, Mr & Mrs Kaye, Mr Smith, Special PC G Eade and the Clerk Mrs C Phillips. Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Chairman announced the recent death of Mr Ben Fagg who had served on the Council from 1983 -1995 and invited everyone to stand for a minutes silence. CO-OPTION. Cllr Knock informed members that there had been two interested parishioners, but that Mr Brooker had decided to stand down in favour of Mrs Heather Powell, members were in receipt of her CV, and after a brief discussion it was proposed by Cllr Pollard, seconded by Cllr Johnston that Mrs Powell be co-opted as Parish Councillor. This was unanimously agreed. Regrettably, Mrs Powell had sent apologies she had torn some ligaments. The Clerk would inform the SDC, a welcome pack had been prepared which included all the Declarations necessary and she would deliver these to Mrs Powell. ELECTION OF OFFICERSCHAIRMAN Cllr Knock thanked all members for their unfailing support during his 7 years as Chairman, a time which had been interesting, enjoyable, difficult, and a pleasure. Cllr Knock especially thanked Cllr Johnston for his backup and sound advice, Cllr Pollard for all his work on the Parish Plan and the new website, lastly the Clerk for her help and support. Cllr Knock called for nominations for Chairman, Cllr Stratton-Brown was proposed by Cllr Johnston seconded by Cllr Croft, there were no other nominations and Cllr Stratton-Brown was elected nem con. Before leaving the Chair, Cllr Knock was presented with an engraved tankard to commemorate his years as Chairman. Cllr Stratton-Brown signed his acceptance of Office and called for nominations for ... VICE CHAIRMAN Cllr Johnston was proposed but declined, saying he felt that perhaps a new "team" was in order. Cllr Pollard was proposed by Cllr Johnston and seconded by Cllr Sykes, there being no further nominations Cllr Pollard was elected nem con.
ELECTION OF COMMITTEESFinance: G.Marchant, J.Knock, R.Sykes (Chairman), C Stratton-Brown. Internal Auditor E.C Batchelor. Environment: P.Croft (Chairman), A Johnston, J Knock,M Pollard. Planning: A Johnston G.Marchant, M Pollard, C Stratton-Brown (Chairman), R Sykes.
APPOINTMENT TO OUTSIDE BODIESKAPC Sevenoaks Area Committee: R Sykes and M Pollard CPRE: Patrick Wood (if agreeable) Public Transport: J.Knock, C Stratton-Brown. Leigh United Charities: (1st year of 4 year term) Cllr Knock and EC Batchelor. Village Halls Management Committee Alan Johnstone Mrs Powell to be asked what committees, if any she wished to serve on at June meeting. MINUTES The minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday April 7th 2005 were agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. MATTERS ARISING There were no matters not covered within the agenda. DATES FOR 2005 - 06. with the amendment of the August meetings to Council 1st August; Planning 15th August, these were agreed. ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY there were no outstanding matters for action, the Minutes would be available at the June meeting. REPORTSSpecial PC EADE reported on the recent disappearance of an elderly lady, who in spite of searches with helicopter, dogs and police personnel was not found until the early hours of Saturday morning, however, fortunately after a 4 hour stay in hospital she was allowed home, none the worse for her adventure. Cllr Knock felt that this was precisely what Mr Hemmings LISN scheme was designed for, PC Eade agreed to pursue with the relevant Inspector. Cllr Knock agreed to liase with Mr Hemming. Cllr Pollard informed the meeting that he had written to Inspector Price at Tonbridge regarding a higher police presence in Leigh but had heard nothing except from an acknowledgement from Sgt Terry. Regarding the Speedwatch initiative, Cllr Pollard was hassling PC Peter Vaughan at Paddock Wood and he was given to understand that there was a meeting on 17 August about the initiative of speed cameras in villages about which we would be updated. It was understood that an invitation would be forthcoming. VILLAGE HALLS UPDATE A grant from awards for all of £4,000 had been received, this would pay for railings, lighting and signage at the front of the halls. Formal confirmation of SDC grant had been received, and it had been announced at the APA that KCC had also given the amount promised. Plans for the external works were with the committee and those for the toilets were pending. It was hoped that all these works would be completed this year after which further grants would be made for phase two. Cllr Sykes asked whether the Parish Council would be making its contribution payments, pro rata, the committee would determine this and a request would be forthcoming. KAPC AREA COMMITTEE Next meeting 3 June. PARISH PLAN UPDATE It was reported that Chevening had not actually paid for their speed gun and had therefore just returned it. Cllr Pollard's request for a Community Warden was 'in the queue', 100 had already been appointed for the current year. Cllr Pollard felt that a cluster of Parishes, for example Penshurst and Fordcombe and Chiddingstone with Leigh might stand a better chance, he would co-ordinate application for community warden. An Annual Report was to be produced and sent to houses with the June Parish Magazine. This would be based largely around the Chairman's report and would cost about £100. Cllr Knock reported that he had arranged for Arriva timetables to be delivered to the Village Shop, the Youth Forum was to be held on 21 May. Cllr Sykes reported that the Hildenborough Practice had a commitment to remaining in Leigh, however, they don't own the property but hold it on an informal basis, which means, improving facilities such as toilet and disabled access would be costly although there might be funds available from NHS. It was agreed to acknowledge and suggest a meeting should the practice manager wish to discuss the matter further. The medication collection at the Post Office was much appreciated, there were apologies that the surgery was not always open but manning 4 centres meant that with holidays and sickness cover was not always available. WKH, Barnetts Road and the Forstall. 2 letters had been received, 1 saying that there could be no alteration and 1 regarding the change of mind of the planners regarding the hipping of the roof gables on the new properties in the Forstall. Noted. No13 was Barnetts Road was likely to be demolished, and the completion of the road was in the hands of the KCC. No response had been forthcoming from Mrs Morgan regarding the difference in height of houses since the March letter relating to the snow. Since Parishioners had attended to discuss the possible rural housing scheme the Chairman suspended the formal business of the Council and commenced the OPEN SESSIONMr & Mrs Kaye wanted to thank the Clerk for the time she had spent discussing the proposed scheme on the land adjacent to the drive to their and Mr Bramley's properties. Their main concern was a global point, the RHT are working at the behest of the Parish Council the planning application will come initially to the Parish Council who will comment, their responses will be of interest to the silent part of the village. Mr Kaye felt that it had been unfortunate that the initial layout had not come to the Village prior to the Open Day, Cllr Knock explained the reasons for this and Cllr Pollard pointed out that they had been available on the web-page prior to the meeting. Both Mr Bramley and Mr Kaye had spoken to Alison Thompson RHT, and also had received a detailed response from Mr Russell which had indicated a large 20m visual splay between the driveways of Upper Kennards and Old Kennards. Clerk to contact Mr Russell. Members indicated that they were aware of and apprehensive about traffic. All Parishioners who have expressed concerns will be notified when plans are received and there will be opportunities for these to be seen as well as at the meeting at which Members will make recommendations to SDC. In answer to a question Cllr Stratton-Brown informed the meeting that further schemes would be unlikely in the Village since these are funded by the Housing Corporation and further funding would be unlikely. Mr Bramley asked whether the meeting to discuss the scheme would be a Public Meeting, the meeting would be a meeting of the full council which by its nature is open to the public, although to limit discussion to this sole topic it would not be a Parish Meeting such as the Annual Parish Assembly. Cllr Pollard pointed out that the Parish Plan supports Affordable Housing, but there are two factors which drive the scheme money and available 'free' land, neither are likely to be available for further schemes. There being no further matters for discussion the Council returned to formal session with:AFFORDABLE RURAL HOUSING The letters previously received from Mr & Mrs Kaye and Mr & Mrs Potter were read and it was agreed that the drafted responses from the Clerk should be sent. Cllr Knock just wished to clarify why he did not, as Chairman, have private meetings. The Clerk is the proper officer of the Council and therefore such meetings are outside his remit as Chairman, the only time he might act outside a meeting would be over issues of safety. CORRESPONDENCEAll relevant correspondence had been previously circulated, this included an email from Mr Linstead relating to the use of the green for home Rugby matches, all clubs had been contacted for their views and also householders in the vicinity. After discussion it was agreed to write to Mr Linstead asking for details of numbers of home matches, insurance cover and to Landscape Services asking for their professional opinion and likely annual costs for repairs to the Green and any additional maintenance required. ENVIRONMENT Bartletts had sent an estimate for ongoing care of the Ancient Oak in the sum of £250 it was agreed to get the work done. It had been requested that a tree with a plaque be placed on the green in memory of Daisy Batchelor, this was agreed in principle, Cllr Croft to find a suitable site. The hedges in The Green Lane need attention, as does FP 416 across the old aerodrome at Charcott. The water gully in the High street is blocked Clerk to write to Mr Hope Morley suggesting that he approach the KCC Highways to get it cleared as the water which collects there is damaging the wall. The possibility of the pavement being extended around the Fleur de Lys will be looked at by Cllr Marchant. The stile on Birdcage Walk is still in need of repair, Clerk to chase. BR domestic, Bus 210, K5. the Clerk still has to meet with Jane Bridle the station manager at Tonbridge, Cllr Stratton-Brown asked if card payment ticket dispensing machines could be placed at Hildenborough. CENTRAL RAILWAYS Cllr Knock informed the meeting that a meeting which Mr Rowley had had with an ex employee of Central Rail had confirmed everything which Cllr McCarthy had previously reported and that basically the new Chairman of Central rail had two options to wind the company up or wait for better times he had opted for option 2. Any new scheme will be routed away from Croydon and a new scheme will have to address the width of existing tunnels, since the height could be addressed by lowering the line. PLANNING The following plans had been received for comment: SE/05/01039/FUL Hollow Trees, Hollow Trees Drive demolition of existing property and erection of new dwelling. Whilst there were NO OBJECTIONS to the scheme it was noted that there was no garage, and that this might mean future applications. SE/05/00917/FUL Pippin Cottage, The Green. Single storey kitchen extension. There were NO OBJECTIONS to the application although there was a 50% criteria query. SE/05/00935/LBCALT 10 Home Farm Close, removal of 2 internal plasterboard walls. There were NO OBJECTIONS to this, provided that it conformed with Listed Building guidelines. FINANCIAL MATTERSCouncil was asked to ratify the payment of two phone accounts between meetings. So ratified. Cllrs Knock and Sykes had met with Landscape services and agreed the work for the next twelve months, likely cost £1265.approx. Agreed The following accounts were presented for payment:
There were no other matters for discussion and the meeting closed at 10.55pm. Signed............................... Chairman Date..................................
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