Parish Council Minutes for 10th April 2006Minutes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday 10 April 06 in Jessica's Hall under the chairmanship of Cllr C.Stratton-Brown. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllrs R Sykes, A McCarthy, District Cllr Mrs A Cook and County Cllr P Lake. PRESENT Cllrs P Croft, A.Johnston, J.Knock, G.Marchant, M.Pollard, Mrs H Powell. IN ATTENDANCE Special Parish PC G Eade, Ms L Longhurst, and the clerk Mrs Phillips. MINUTES The minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 6 March 06, which had been previously circulated were with the addition of the following explanatory sentence under Finance .." It was agreed that if received the 2nd V.H account could be paid before the 31st March".. agreed and signed as a true record by the Chairman. MATTERS ARISING
REPORTS Youth Forum Lizzie Longhurst gave the report, although there are very few young people involved the forum has opened a bank a/c and has received a £500 grant from County Cllr Lake. The Action Plan is to be discussed at the next meeting on Saturday 15 April. There are plans to design a web-site. The request for a projector from Mr Bennie for the youth organisations of the village was still under discussion, the church and possibly the Tonbridge Lions were prepared to fund this project and the Council had agreed in principle when the Youth Council was more representative of village youth. Lizzie was thanked for her report. The Chairman closed the formal council meeting for the OPEN SESSION Historical Society Mr Rowley had come to seek the support of the council for the exploration by the Historical Society of the archaeological site at the Powder Mills. English Heritage has visited the site and recently agreed that the site should be listed as a site of national archaeological importance. The Historical Society are in discussion with GlaxoSmithKline and if all goes well then application will be made to the Lottery Fund for a grant. The deadline is short as the Lottery Funding for this project will be wound up in May and any application has to be deposited by then. Mr Rowley was seeking a letter of support and an indication of agreement for minimal funding within the budgetary constraints of the Council. There being no further matters the chairman closed the Open Session and the Council went back into formal session. Having heard what Mr Rowley had said it was agreed that a letter would be written and in due course the question of funding, which was supported in principle, would be confirmed. Mr Rowley was asked to speak at the Annual Parish Assembly as this appeared to be something of which the Parish as a whole could be very proud. REPORTS cont'd Sp PC G Eade Reported that there was little other than the usual vandalism to report. PC Eade informed members that Kent was to be a stand alone force, with the local force boundaries following the District and Borough boundaries. RURAL HOUSING -update Members were in receipt of the House of Lords decision that confirmed that the previous government proposal of allowing 100% staircasing on shared ownership housing would not be allowed. This was really good news for the scheme in Leigh because it means that the houses to be built on the Hildenborough road will remain the property of the Housing Association and when the occupants of the shared ownership wish to move on the houses will not be put onto the open market and nominees of the Parish Council will be offered occupancy as originally intended. VILLAGE HALLS - update Cllr Johnston reported that the recent AGM had been well attended, all committee members had agreed to continue. The current building work was ahead of schedule although there was still 3-4 weeks to go to completion. It was agreed that the APA on 24 April and the AGM on 8 May should be held in Jessica's Hall. Phase 2 of the scheme is being discussed. It may well be that the work is further divided, depending on available funding. Congratulations were offered to the management committee. KAPC Sevenoaks Area Committee Cllr Pollard had attended the meeting at which an interesting presentation on recycling had been given. Sevenoaks recycles 30% of their rubbish as opposed to 20% nationally. It was agreed that Mr Nouhan be asked to write a short piece on recycling for the magazine. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS There were two applications for work to trees in the Village which would be covered under planning. Cllr Croft asked about a road sign for the Green Lane indicating that it lead to Wyndham Avenue & Close and Meadowbank. Whilst there was sympathy for the idea it was felt that the sign would be very obtrusive due to its necessary size. The kissing gate on Bird Cage Walk has still not been repaired. There is another water leak outside the Old Post Office, Clerk to report. Cllrs Knock and Sykes had met Mr Kidd of Landscape Services there was no need for additional work to that listed in the quote of November, however the rolling was being brought forward to April and a non-toxic spray would be applied to kill the moss. Cllr Knock reported on the recent KRCC meeting which he had attended. The lottery funding grants alter in June. This would be a good thing for the VH as there would be less restriction on funding availability although things like the Landfill Credit Grants will alter. CORRESPONDENCE All relevant correspondence had been circulated. Noted. TRANSPORT Cllr Knock reported on concessionary fares. There is free off peak travel either bus or train for the over 60's. It is necessary for people to apply to the District Council if not already in receipt of the previous concessions. In the new bus contracts some routes had been renumbered. K5 had been renumbered as 235 and minor adjustments had been made to fit with train timetables. PLANNING The following applications had been received for discussion and comment: SE/06/00710/FUL & SE/06/00711/LBCALT Elizabeth Cottage, The Green, Leigh. Erection of single storey conservatory. There were NO OBJECTIONS to this application but a recommendation that the brick used should be old stock to match the existing. SE/06/0586/FUL The Coach house the Green, demolition of existing twin dormer windows. Construction of new enlarged dormer window, first floor bathroom extension and new canopy to front door. Plain tile hanging to part existing NE extension. There were NO OBJECTIONS to the proposals but it was requested that the bathroom window be obscure glazed. Notice of tree works in a Conservation Area Two applications had been received: Oak Lodge Powder Mill Lane. To remove lowest branch of Oak tree overhanging the footpath NO OBJECTIONS White House, High Street To fell one Beech Tree. The Council had NO OBJECTION to the application, indeed given the safety implications recommended it be felled as soon as practicable. It would be nice given the position of the old tree in the village street scene if the applicant were to consider replacing with a new tree. The following decision had been received: SE/05/03229/FUL Yew Tree Bungalow Egg Pie Lane, Weald Demolition of existing dwelling, erection of new dwelling WITHDRAWN FINANCIAL MATTERS The following accounts were received for payment
It was resolved "that the bills be paid". TENANCY OF NO 2 THE BUNGALOWAfter discussion of the various applications, Members resolved that Mrs Fagg be offered the tenancy of No 2 The Bungalows. There being no further matters for discussion the meeting closed at 9.25pm. Signed....................................... Chairman Date...........................................
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