MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 4^TH JUNE.

Poor repairs to southern side of the road around the Green - the Chairman and Mr C Rowley will pursue this.

BBC Radio Kent's programme on the Gibbs Field< development - The Chairman reported that he had received a letter of abject apology from the BBC, previously circulated to members. He asked Council whether it was worthwhile to pursue the complaint further with the regulator for Broadcasting, with particular reference to the accuracy of quotes from Leigh residents. The programme makers should have come back to Council for an opinion or rebuttal of the alleged comments made, but it was agreed by Council not to take this any further.

Fun Fair on the Green - Only one complaint was received, and many positive comments have been received. The organisers delayed erecting the equipment in deference to the school's Offsted inspection, and were courteous and tidy with clearing away. There were reports of poor use of safety harnesses on one of the rides, and mention of shortchanging on another, but more details are sought in order to report this to the Fair organisers. The Clerk will send a letter of thanks to Mr Shayler, mentioning the safety harness.

Trees in the Village competition - the Clerk updated the Council with news that the judging of the competition this year has been delayed due to bereavement suffered by the Chairman of the competition. She has been told that it should still be going ahead, and details will be sent in the next few weeks.

British Rail timetable in front of Village Hall - the Clerk has received a letter in response to her query, but unfortunately they have misunderstood the request for an up to date timetable, and said that it is not their responsibility. The Clerk will contact the Duty Station Manager and ask for a timetable to be posted to her.

5. REPORTS

i.) District Councillor Mrs Alison Cook told Council of the pilot scheme for a free bus pass for 11-16 year olds, with the plan to extend later to 17 and 18 year olds. The railways were invited to take part but declined.

Cllr. Cook reported that of 3 letters sent to Kent Highways with regard to the traffic issues on Hildenborough Road, white lines around the Green and the extension of the speed limit along Penshurst Road, only for the latter has a reply from Bryan Fitzgerald of Kent Highway Services (KHS) been received. This acknowledges that there may be scope to reduce the 40mph limit in the future as part of a review by KHS on all A and B roads by 2011, but new speed limit applications will not be progressed while it is investigating the best way forward. Mr Fitzgerald does not agree that the speed llimit should be extended to include Fairlawns as it is rural in environment, and believes that physical speed reducing features would represent a hazard rather than an aid.

Cllr. Cook informed Council of a SDC survey revealing that residents' satisfaction with services as a whole was only 1% short of being in the top 25% nationally, although there was confusion over which department does what. There is to be a review of the Community Grant Scheme as it was felt that it would be better for organisations to have a longer period in which to achieve their aims.

SDC will be lobbying the South East England Regional Assembly to ensure that the provision of new gypsy and traveller sites is spread equitably across the region and Kent as a whole. There is a feeling that it has been penalised for doing what they should have, whereas other Councils have not. There was a misleading article in the Chronicle regarding an additional 3 sites at Edenbridge, which is actually 3 additional pitches.

Finally Cllr. Cook advised that when the Local Development Framework comes in, Village Design Statements will be included in a different way. Cllr. Cook advised making contact with Maggie Williams at SDC.

ii.) County Cllr. Peter Lake was not present.

iii.) SPC Eade has not had a reply with regard to a Police Road Safety Officer, but will let the Clerk know when he does. The Clerk has not had any reply yet from Kent Highways concerning the interactive speed sign at Gibbs Field.

Clerk informed Council that Mr David Hutchins had made no comment with regard to her suggestion of helping us with the Speedwatch, but had emailed a contact in Tunbridge Wells. Cllr. Johnson suggested inviting Mr Hutchins to the next meeting to discuss training, which takes approximately 20 minutes. The speedgun needs 3 people to operate, and the Chairman will endeavour to find the original list of previous volunteers. SPC Eade announced that the new PCSO Ann King-Scott is in place, and can be contacted at Edenbridge Police Station. Cllr Knock and Mr Rowley reported of 3 motorcyclists riding too fast and irresponsibly around and over parts of the Green. SPC Eade said he would make some notes for PC Ingram and the new PCSO, but we need names or number plates. He believes that one has had his motorbike recently confiscated.

iv. OPEN SESSION

Mr Rowley stated that last month's minutes gave the impression that the report on the playground has been approved. The Chairman and Council strongly denied this and promised that there would be a public meeting before any decisions are made, which has also been specified by KCC. Cllr. Powell will hopefully be updating Council on expert advice at the next meeting. Mr Rowley asked Council if there was a footpath Committee, and a copy of his letter last week to the Clerk concerning footpaths was circulated to Council. The Clerk will send Councillors a copy of Mr Rowley's report of a few years ago which will be supplementary information for discussion at the next meeting.

Mr Dalby complained about the roadworks being carried out by GEO which has created havoc in several places around the village. The Parish Council were notified about this but the residents should have been personally informed as well. When High Street residents were informed of work commencing on a Monday and advised to move their cars, the contractors did not arrive. It has caused serious disruption and compromised safety, with an ambulance in an emergency getting stuck due to poorly positioned equipment. The advertised call centre have been unhelpful and it would seem that KCC has lost control of the contractors. They have been through electricity supplies, drainage and gas pipes. The various traffic lights have either been badly operated or placed. The Clerk will contact KCC Highways (cc County Cllr. Lake) to complain about the issues of poor traffic lights, working standards and the future closure of Elnsfield Road Bridge for 3 weeks.

6. PLANNING

Cllr. Dyton declared personal interest over the following application received for discussion and comment:

SE/07/01526/LBCALT - 3, The Square, High Street, Leigh - To partition off and install lavatory & sink in upstairs rear bedroom. Members had no objections.
Planning application decisions: SE/07/01121/FUL 38 Well Close, Leigh TN11 8RQ - ground floor extension; SE/07/00900/FUL Old Powder Mills, Powder Mills, Leigh TN11 9AN - erection of 2 LED lighting columns at the site's western access point; SE/07/01023/FUL Hoath Cottage, Leigh TN11 8HS Storage shed extension to existing garage; All were granted.

Planning application withdrawn: SE/07/01103/FUL Upper Kennards, Hildenborough Road, Leigh - proposed alterations and addition, reconstruction of garage/out building.

General Development Procedure Order - approval of details: SE/07/01209/DETAIL Little Keepers, Charcott, Tonbridge TN11 8LG - details pursuant to condition 2 (materials) of application SE/06/03242/LBCALT.

Notice of work to trees in a Conservation Area

07/01886/WTCA - Leigh Primary School , The Green - fell 1 horse chestnut tree.
The Council agreed that whilst it is very disappointed to learn of the loss of the chestnut tree, it has known for some considerable time that the tree is potentially dangerous and beyond saving and should therefore be removed, preferably during the school holidays but avoiding 30^th July-3^rd August due to activity on the Green. The Clerk will write to County Cllr. Peter Lake to state that the KCC Tree Officer was wrong to try and save the tree when Jessica Hall was being built, when it was clearly beyond preserving.

07/01974/WTCA - Chestnuts, The Green, Leigh - reduce ash tree by 30% Members had no objections.
07/01899/WTCA - Old Kennard, Hildenborough Road, Leigh - remove trees. Members had no objections.

7. CURRENT ISSUES

i.) West Kent Housing/Rural Housing Trust. The RHT debriefing has now been moved to the 19^th July, with Cllrs. Knock and Stratton-Brown attending.

ii.) The Clerk and Cllr. Bennie will be absent for the next Parish Council meeting on 6^th August, but Council agreed that although some other Parishes do not have meetings in August, it will still meet as usual. The Clerk will prepare for the meeting as usual but a week earlier and hand over to the Chairman.

iii.) Proposal to Adopt the Local Authorities new code of conduct 2007

Cllr. Knock proposed and Cllr. Sykes seconded the motion and it was approved with all members in favour.

8. ENVIRONMENT

Grass cutting. There was a discussion about the Old Churchyard and the general untidiness. Although it has been strimmed, it would benefit from a more thorough cut and the grass needs to be removed to avoid looking a mess. In addition the Triangle at the bottom of Church Hill needs cutting/tidying and the north side of the Green needs the grass not just to be cut, but removed. The Clerk will contact Peter Croft to see if this is within his capability.

Bartlett Tree Report. The 2 more urgent trees identified in this report, T4 and T6, should be put into action during the Autumn. The Clerk needs to obtain quotes from Down to Earth and compare with Bartletts. In addition the Clerk will contact Bartlett to obtain opinion on the necessity of the other work recommended.

Grass verges. The Clerk will contact KCC Highways with regard to verge cutting.

9. PLAYGROUND. Nothing to report.

10. VILLAGE HALLS

Cllr Knock suggested that as the Village Hall Committee cannot claim VAT for all of the work carried out (e.g. Electrics) on a listed building, it would be best for the Council as the owner of the Hall to place the order and be invoiced for work carried out. The Committee can then make a contribution to the Council towards the cost.

11. AGED PERSONS DWELLING

The residents have chosen electric fires and informed Cllr. Johnson. Cllr Johnson will contact Peter Fullbrook for fitting, but the suppliers may offer fitting more economically. In response to a question Cllr Knock advised that Leigh United Charity could contribute towards fuel costs for those in need and this could be for gas, electricity or coal. The contact was Sally Bresnahan, the Charity's Clerk.

12. TRANSPORT. Nothing to report.

13. YOUTH FORUM

Cllr. Bennie has talked to Wendy Wallis-Holman, the Head teacher at Leigh school, and the PTA about the use of the field at the top of Lealands Avenue. The issue is whether utilisation can be increased now it has been drained, maybe as an all weather pitch for multiple use/sports for the school and for the whole community. This would be a big project and Mrs. Wallis-Holman will discuss this with the School Governors. The funding would have to come from SDC or probably KCC.

14. CORRESPONDENCE FOR ACTION received up to 2^nd July

Item	Action
Email from Mr Penn proposing double yellow lines on both sides of the road from the war memorial to the corner of Powdermill Lane and the Green for a min. Of 50-100 yds either side of bend.	Clerk will investigate
Email from Zara Allsworth, wishing to make enquiries about purchasing a small piece of the old burial ground where a large, unsafe tree has recently been removed by the Parish Council. This tree formed part of the resident's boundary.	Clerk to reply that, being a graveyard, the land is not for sale
SDC Parish/Town Council Training Event Wednesday 7pm, 18th July, at SDC Council offices, concerning the role of planning policy and the Local Development Framework. Also concerns Development Control issues relating to planning applications, planning appeals and planning enforcement	The Chairman will attend

CORRESPONDENCE FOR INFORMATION received up to 2^nd July

Item	Copy/Action
Annual Scout BBQ/rounders match on the Green, 6 pm Friday 13th July	Agreed
KAPC Parish News 19th June 2007	All
KAPC Training Programme: Councillors Information Day Wed. 11th July, Code of Conduct Training Mornings Sat. 28th July & 4th August.	Noted
KCC Highways - A21 Tonbridge Bypass - works planned at Vauxhall Lane 29th June-2nd July, dependent on weather. Involves lane 1 closure London bound, so exit will have to be at Morley interchange, rejoining A21 coastbound to exit at Vauxhall Lane.	Noted
Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign - a study of the emissions caused by aircraft using Gatwick Airport.	Noted
Local Councils Update June 2007	C Stratton-Brown
'The Good Councillor's Guide' 2nd edition	All
Kent Police Authority Safer Kent Awards leaflet	Notice board
Kent Highways Spreadsheet May 07	Noted

FINANCIAL MATTERS

The payment of cheques listed below were proposed by Cllr. Sykes and seconded by Cllr. Marchant.

Cheque No.	Description	Amount
843	Clerk's salary	£ 291.68
838	Clerk's expenses (inc. Microsoft backup disc)	£ 67.23
839	Clerk's pension 13.2% of salary	£ 59.58
840	Youth Forum (David Bennie's expenses)	£ 30.66
841	Discspeed USB storage key & Internet Security CDRom	£ 70.32
842	Peter Croft mowing	£ 160.00
844	B. Brooker	£ 90.00
845	Youth Forum (David Bennie's expenses)	£ 30.40
	Total	£ 799.86

16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION

None.

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

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