Parish Council Minutes for 3rd October 2005Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday,3 October 05, in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, under the chairmanship of Cllr. C. Stratton-Brown. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllrs P Croft and District Cllr Mrs A Cook. PRESENT Cllrs A Johnston, J.Knock, G.Marchant, Mrs H Powell, M Pollard, R Sykes. IN ATTENDANCE County Cllr Lake, Special PC G Eade, Mr A Hemming and the Clerk Mrs Phillips. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 5 September 05, which had been previously circulated, were agreed and signed by the chairman as a correct record. MATTERS ARISING THEREFROMChestnut outside "The Chestnuts" - The Clerk agreed to check and follow up the recommendations, by obtaining a quote and getting consent from SDC. Barnetts Road - The Council has still to receive a response to their ongoing concerns over the planning irregularities, Clerk to write to Mrs Kirsten Paterson in an attempt to complete this episode. Yew Trees adjacent to The Pump House High Street -still to be trimmed. WKHA Wyndham Avenue site - Cllr Knock expressed his grave concerns over the position of the housing on this site, they are very low-lying and must be liable to flash flooding. The Clerk to write to WKHA expressing ongoing concerns of the Council. Pavement around Fleur-de-Lis-wall - Cllr Stratton-Brown to measure. Land Registry - to date the Clerk had been unable to get to Tunbridge Wells, but the matter was in hand. Leaking Fire Hydrant - The SE Water company having firstly said they had fixed the leak finally admitted that they have to involve the Fire Service, members and clerk to monitor and report. REPORTSCounty Cllr Lake reported on his ongoing battles with Highways relating to gullies and drains not cleared, insufficient resurfacing, particularly with regard to the road around the Green that has been patched for too long. This has been put on the future works list. There have been two successful transport appeals for children who were unable to get into schools in Tonbridge, their fares to Bradbourne and Wilderness schools in Sevenoaks will now be paid by the education services. With the start of the new school year, overcrowding has again become an issue, Cllr Lake has spoken to the transport inspector so that problems for children travelling to Leigh can be nipped in the bud. Potholes are growing in Penshurst Road on the Parish boundary, Clerk has reported. Cllr Marchant raised the matter of the verge cutting, one cut was done very late, and questioned whether the Parish would get the second before the winter. Cllr Lake agreed to address this matter. Cllr Knock reported on a very near accident on the Bid bridge corner, it appears that the bridge alignment and carriageway camber still needs to be addressed. Cllr Lake was thanked for attending. Special PC G Eade Thanked members for their good wishes during his recent period off work, however he reassured Members that the area had been covered by colleagues in his absence. The various vehicles have been dealt with, and the problem with diesel theft is 'live', the problem being that the perpetrators have planned escape routes through the fields. PC Eade was thanked for his attendance. Youth Forum Cllr Mrs Powell reported that the next meeting would be on 22 October in the Scout Hut. She would normally attend but due to it being half-term would be unable to on this occasion. Mrs Powell asked for adults to attend if they were able to show support. Cllr Knock will attend. LISN Mr Hemming had prepared a paper which Councillors had received, he outlined the future action which he intended to take and which would be notified to the Clerk in plenty of time for the next meeting. The police appear to be very worried about possible claims under Health and Safety if the Parish organised any sort of search and rescue for missing persons. The Clerk would speak to the Council's insurance company to see whether the Public Liability insurance would cover such searches. Affordable Housing The Council had received further documentation which included moving the footpath access again, nearer to the Bramleys property. Both the Mr & Mrs Kaye and Mr & Mrs Bramley are included in the correspondence loop with RHT. There was some concern about this and the Clerk was asked to ring Mr Warder Smith as Mr Kaye had indicated that if they were given a 2m strip along the footpath, they would undertake to plant a hedge in this space and, in return, they would not object to the access being in the south east corner of the site. Village Halls update - A committee meeting was to be held in the next week, currently 2 estimates are awaited. KAPC Sevenoaks Area Committee - No report from recent meeting as representatives had been unable to attend. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERSKent Village of the Year - Cllrs Knock and Johnston had attended the presentations, which had been very interesting as they learnt about how other Parishes work. Leigh had been commended in both the Young People and Business categories and Highly Commended in the Older Peoples category. Members thanked Cllr Knock for all his hard work. In reply Cllr Knock indicated that he wished to stand down as organiser for next year, but would be happy to help his successor. Noted. Rugby on the Green - no reply had been received in response to the Clerk's letter detailing need for agreement over repairs to the Green, since agreement was conditional for consent for future matches, Clerk to chase. PARISH PLANThe Clerk reported that the Shoe bin was now in situ in The Crandalls. Cllr Pollard asked that further email be sent to the contractors working at Woodend, Green View Avenue, as they were still blocking the turning circle. The paper written by Mr Rowley regarding parking in Leigh to be circulated for next meeting. CORRESPONDENCEThe District Council had refused to consider the Council's request for the application for varied hours at The Greyhound in Charcott since it was out of time. The Clerk was asked to write seeking confirmation that the advertising had been undertaken in line with legislation. Members were reminded about the SE Plan meeting at SDC offices on 5 October at 7pm. The Clerk to write to GlaxoSmithKline regarding their new signage on the emergency access, reinforcing the fact that only oversize vehicles had consent to use the access not visitors or staff, who appear to be abusing the use of the emergency access. RAILWAYS domestic matters/Bus 210/commuter bus K5 Cllr Knock reported that to date the transfer of the line to South Central had not occurred, and the changes from January onward will be in the next directory. Concerns were voiced about the possible reduction of trains to Gatwick, with the increase in size more road traffic can be expected and rail traffic should be encouraged. It was agreed that the Clerk should write to Network Rail cc South Central, GACC, Gatwick Airport and Sir John Stanley MP making reference to a note in the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport's meetings programme for October that BAA Gatwick has put in place challenging targets of increasing public transport usage. Cllr Knock reported that it was rumoured that the current ½ hourly Sunday service to Gatwick would be removed with the hourly service retained, but that the hourly service would remain 7 days a week. It was considered that a half hourly service from Leigh in both directions was necessary to encourage the use of rail. PLANNINGThe Planning Committee minutes which had been previously circulated were agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. The following applications had been received for consultation: SE/05/12308/FUL Hollow Trees, Hollow Trees Drive. Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of replacement dwelling. This was a re-application, and members felt that it was a more acceptable proposal, and there were NO OBJECTIONS SE/05/02313/FUL Hale Oak Cottage, Hale Oak Road, Weald. Demolish existing building and erect new outbuilding. Another re-application, subject to Weald Parish Council not having objection Members agreed that there were NO OBJECTIONS to the new plan. SE/05/02315/CONVAR Moat Farm Barn, Powder Mill Lane, removal of condition 6 of planning consent SE/04/02673. Members felt that this was merely to legalise the current occupancy situation and in these circumstances did not wish to object to removing a condition that had originally been designed to prevent such sub-division. NO OBJECTION. The following decision notices had been received: SE/05/01786/FUL Burstock, Penshurst Road. Replacement single storey rear extension and new pitch roof on garage. GRANTED SE/05/01842/LBCALT & SE/0501989/FUL Old Kennards, Hildenborough Road. Demolition of larder and outbuilding and construction of new entrance porch. GRANTED A copy of an enforcement letter concerning development on the land west of 6 Wyndham Avenue relating to the construction of a retaining wall had not been complied with. NOTED.
FINANCIAL MATTERSA S137 request for funding for a laptop for use for Youth Group work had been received and it was agreed that subject to match funding a grant in the sum of £150 would be forthcoming from the Council. A request from the Produce Association for help with annual marquee cost fell outside the Council's criteria for S137 grants but the Clerk would investigate other possible avenues. Cllr Knock reported on his meeting with Mr Kidd Landscape Services to discuss the ongoing green maintenance. The usual mowing, spiking, contravating, rolling and quad planing were included with addition of the bare patches on the green from the pavilion to the cricket square and onto Powder Mill Lane down to the Almshouses being treated and reseeded and the football pitch being sprayed for plantain. Cllrs Knock and Sykes would meet with Mr Kidd in the Spring. Currently there was no inclusion of extra work if Rugby matches were played on a regular basis as this would be externally funded. The following accounts were presented for payment:
It was resolved that the bills be paid. There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.40pm Signed................................... Chairman Date......................................
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