Parish Council Minutes for 7th August 2006

Minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on Monday 7 August, held in the Small Village Hall, High Street Leigh under the Chairmanship of Cllr J Knock, commencing at 8pm.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllrs C Stratton-Brown and M Pollard and District Cllr Mrs A Cook.

PRESENT Cllrs P Croft, A Johnston, G Marchant, Mrs H Powell, R Sykes.

IN ATTENDANCE Lizzie Longhurst, Sp. PC Eade, County Cllr Lake and the Clerk Mrs Phillips.

THE MINUTES of the meeting held on Monday 3 July 06 (which had been previously circulated) were, with a few omissions which had been previously notified to the Clerk for insertion, agreed and signed by the acting chairman as a correct record.

MATTER ARISING THEREFROM

  • Bench outside the school The bench has been repaired, with thanks to Cllr Croft.
  • Meadowbank/The Crandalls Cllr Knock expressed his continuing dissatisfaction with the problems over the state of the 'link path', which the Clerk informed him she was still trying to resolve, currently WK Housing and SDC are denying any responsibility. Likewise the pond in the Crandalls. Both items to be put on the Agenda for October.
  • Cllr Marchant spoke about the lack of verge cutting and the fact that ditching was being done and the resulting spoil was being put on top of the uncut vegetation. The Clerk had emailed both Cllr Lake and the KCC and hopefully Cllr Lake would be in attendance during the meeting. The Clerk reported that the verges should be cut the following week.

REPORTS

Youth Forum Lizzie Longhurst reported that the Youth forum had a meeting on 7 August and planned to hold their Barbeque on the Green on 9 September. Invitations had been sent out and it was hoped that about 50 people would attend. It was to be self-funded and David Bennie was arranging the insurance. A future event was to be organised for November. Although a presentation had been given to the Cricket Club youth, no response or feedback had been received. Lizzie was thanked for her attendance.

County Cllr Lake reported that he had taken up Cllr Knock's complaint about the complexity of application forms for grants for youth sports organisations and understood that Cllr Knock had been contacted directly. Cllr Knock had not been very satisfied with the contact as it appeared that single sports do not enjoy a high priority for funding. Cllr Lake said that he understood that grants were being offered for this year and would always assist if grants were not forthcoming.

Cllr Marchant raised the matter of verge cutting about which the Clerk had emailed Cllr Lake, he pointed out the ROSPA report on safety on rural roads and felt that it was intolerable that yet again the first cut had not been done and it was now August, he also pointed out the drainage work that had been done. Cllr Lake said that he would speak to his cabinet colleague with responsibility for grass cutting and supplied the Clerk with contact details for a formal complaint. Graham Eade reported that there were two areas on the Parish boundary where water was running down the road. Clerk to pursue.

Sp .PC G Eade reported that the graffiti had been removed from the bench outside Jessica's Hall and one of the likely offenders spoken to. The informal skateboarding ramp which had been set up in the Crandalls, had been moved and the youngsters involved. It had been pointed out to them that no one objected to them skateboarding here but any ramps should be removed when they had finished. Cllr Knock informed PC Eade that the neighbours at No 13 and the Fire Brigade had dealt with a fire in the shed at No 16 Lealands Avenue.

W.K.HOUSING Dissatisfaction was expressed over the tenants who had recently been given houses in Leigh, it would appear that external applicants can get housing without being on the Housing List. Clerk to investigate.

RURAL HOUSING TRUST -update The District Council had written informing the Council that GIBBS FIELD had been chosen for the new development, which was a combination of two of the Council's suggestions. Noted.

VILLAGE HALLS - update The railings were to be installed during August. The final retention payment was due to be paid. Cllr Sykes reported that the noticeboard order had now been placed.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS The oak at the bottom of the Old Burial Ground had shed a branch Cllr Croft suspected that the tree would need to be felled and had a surgeon to inspect. The occupants of Chapel House were dumping their garden waste in the burial ground. Clerk to write asking that this stop.

The kissing gate on FP 432 at the top of Green View Avenue had been removed Clerk to contact Colin Finch KCC asking for a replacement.

GREEN WORKING PARTY A report had been circulated and noted, a discussion on the contents would be held when Cllr Pollard was present. Cllr Marchant pointed out that the Green was just that and not a dedicated sports ground. In the interim it was agreed to consider the addition of another goal post, for use by the youngsters.

CORRESPONDENCE

All relevant correspondence had been circulated to members and was noted.

Cllr Knock had been approached by a long time cricket watcher for permission to donate a bench in memory of his late wife with her ashes interred in the base. A letter would be sent to the Clerk.

Cllr Knock had picked up on matters of interest in the recent copy of the Local Council Review. The first from the Standards Board on Personal and Prejudicial Interests which was of interest, and also an item on Pg 17 on Quality Parish Councils.

Cllr Mrs Powell excused herself as she had to attend another meeting and left at 9.15pm.

RAILWAYS - domestic matters /Bus 210/ Commuter bus nothing to report

EURORAIL FREIGHT in the absence of Cllr McCarthy there was nothing to report.

PLANNING

The following plans had been received for comment:

SE/06/02314/FUL 10 Moorden Cottages, Station Hill, Chiddingstone Causeway. Construction of vehicular lay-by. Members were OPPOSED to this application, it set a precedent on a narrow road, where the majority of parking was on the opposite side of the road, further there were doubts over the legality of the use of highway verge and also with the water from the proposed retaining water being discharged straight onto the highway.

SE/0601688/FUL Hale Oak Cottage, Hale Oak Road, Sevenoaks Weald. Replacement dwelling. Members wished to OBJECT to this proposal, the size and design were inappropriate development in the MGB.

The following decisions had been received:

SE/06/01370/FUL The Priory, Scabharbour Road Hildenborough. Extension, amendment to PA SE /05/00256 GRANTED

SE/06/01327/FUL Cornerways, Lealands Avenue demolition of existing property and erection of 2no detached properties with integral garages. REFUSED

SE/05/02896/OUT Land to rear of Garden Cottages, Powder Mill Lane. Erection of assisted living retirement scheme 18no apartments and cottages REFUSAL OF OUTLINE PLANNING PERMISSION

SE/06/01414/FUL 1 Knotley Hall Cottages Chiddingstone Causeway. Single storey rear extension GRANTED

SE/06/01241/FUL 9 Lealands Avenue, Leigh Part two storey, part single storey rear extension and loft conversion GRANTED

SE/060161/FUL 4 Powder Mills Leigh Construction of two storey extension REFUSED

FINANCIAL MATTERS

A cheque for £20 was received from Belmont International as a contribution for an evening match held recently.

The amended pages from the Annual Accounts had been circulated but the signature by the Chairman and Clerk was deferred until the next meeting.

The cancellation of the penalty notice from Inland Revenue had been received and the cheque cancelled.

The following accounts had been received for payment:

Cheque No Description Amount
721 Leigh Primary School s137 Kwik Cricket Derek Unwin 90.00
722 KAPC Local Council Administration revised Ed.(inc Postage 3.95) 51.95
723 KCC Clerk's Pension 63.36
724 KCC Landscape Services 1st ½ yr maintenance (inc VAT 59.70) 400.84
725 Emergency phone line (inc VAT 1.68 ) 11.28
726 Clerks phone line and calls (inc VAT 19.95) 133.96
727 Inland Revenue Clerks PAYE 34.31
728 Mrs C Phillips month salary 275.89
729 P Croft mowing and maintenance 258.00
730 B Brooker War Memorial mowing 40.00
731 Village Halls Management Committee retentions 1600.00
Total £2959.59

It was resolved that 'the bills be paid'. Carried

MATTERS FOR THE CLERK'S FURTHER ATTENTION

The chairman raised the APD surveyors report. The working party had done some of the items. To be pursued, Electrical survey and report. Replacement locks. Sanitary ware in No1 Gas stove in No2. External decoration in the Spring. Cllr Johnston agreed to look at the bathroom in No1. Agenda item October

There being no other matters for discussion the meeting closed at 9.42pm

Signed..................................... Chairman

Date........................................

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