Parish Council Minutes for 3rd September 2007Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 3rd September '07 commencing at 8.00 pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. C Stratton-Brown. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs. Mr. P.Croft, Mr. R. Sykes and District Cllr Alison Cook. PRESENT: Cllrs. A. Johnson, R. Dyton, J. Knock, C. Stratton-Brown, R. Sykes, D. Bennie, H. Powell and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). IN ATTENDANCE: County Councillor Peter Lake, SPC Graham Eade, PC Neil Ingram, Ann Kingscott, Mr. Chris Rowley. 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. None. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 6th August were approved after the request from Leigh School for cricket coaching was amended from a Section 106 to Section 137 grant, and £35 for Action for Rural Communities in Kent was added to the total cheques. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 6th August. None 5. REPORTS i.) District Cllr. Mrs Alison Cook was not present but her report was read out by the Clerk. Cllr. Cook has had several conversations with Bryan Fitzgerald of KCC and Andy Bracey of SDC about the problems associated with parking around The Green. The intention is to replace the current white lines at the junction with the High Street with double yellow lines and to look at imposing restrictions regarding parking on the blind bend further round The Green on Powdermill Lane. (After letters from Bryan Fitzgerald and Andy Bracey were read out by the Chairman, Council agreed that drawings were required for evaluation). The uneven surface on the Hildenborough Road near Laundry Cottage remains a problem as does the dangerous state of the pavement in Powdermill Lane between 'Hawthorns' and 'The Beeches', which Cllr. Lake could possibly push to be repaired. SDC has contacted West Kent Housing on several occasions regarding the state of the hedge adjoining the Forstal, including a possible wasp's nest. Various surveys have been carried out in preparation for the Local Development Framework, namely a Housing Needs assessment and a Retail Evaluation. The former suggests that there is an under provision of 1 & 2 bedroom properties and that 40% of all new build homes should be socially affordable for rent or shared ownership. The Retail Report highlights the need to retain the viability of rural facilities. Members stressed the need to include a strong recommendation to safeguard local Post Offices. The process of preparing the 2008/9 budget is being scrutinised before going out for public consultation. Again the Council is likely to receive a smaller Central Government Grant which could ultimately be particularly damaging to the work of the Community Safety Partnership which has been successful in reducing crime and the fear of crime. The Council's Playscheme 'In the Zone' has been a huge success with over 1.300 children taking part. ii.) County Cllr. Mr. Peter Lake - Cllr. Lake read out a letter just received from Alan Pottinger of Kent Highways regarding the recent site meeting about the proposed interactive speed sign at Gibbs Field. The Parish Council's request to move the proposed sign further towards Home Farm has been rejected. Cllr Lake's response expresses regret that a compromise should have been reached, and asks whether it is KCC who own the land where the sign will be placed. The verges have not been registered to the land owner. The road surface by Home Farm is being addressed by the Kent Highways Coordination team. Cllr. Lake also noted that generally the verges remain uncut, and the general state of white lines and road signs are poor. Cllr. Marchant noted that the hole in the road by Laundry Cottage has needed repair for so long that the white lines encircling it in preparation for repair have now nearly faded. Also he expressed regret that progress has not been made over the Interactive sign at Gibbs Field. Cllr. Knock also added that he was also appalled by this. The Chairman enquired as to the legal basis with regard to KCC Highway's decision regarding the sign, and asked for help from PC Neil Ingram if possible. If necessary Councillors agreed that Council should pursue this matter with Sir John Stanley MP, and copy Cllr Lake in all correspondence. Initially, the Clerk will write to Alan Pottinger expressing Council's views and asking for a brief as to why he had been unable to agree to the re-siting of the 30 mph limit, which could be forwarded to MP Sir John Stanley. Cllr. Lake gave Cllr. Knock a Member Community Grant Pack, for which he was thanked. iii.) SPC Eade - SPC Eade introduced the new PCSO Ann Kingscott who can be contacted at Edenbridge Police Station. She will be on regular patrol in Leigh and other nearby parishes. iv.) Open Session The Clerk read out a letter from Chris Rowley and David Sellicks on behalf of the Historical Society and Church regarding the New Churchyard. The letter requests a donation from the Parish Council to enable the kerbstones around graves in the New Churchyard to be cleared so that the inscriptions could be recorded by the Historical Society. The Historical Society would need to make a more detailed application submitting a copy of accounts and more information of what exactly is proposed with estimate of work carried out. A decision will be deferred depending on further information from the PCC. The Clerk will inform Chris Rowley of the information needed by Council. The Chairman thanked Chris Rowley for his valuable and active involvement in village life. 6. PLANNING
i.) Planning applications - SE/07/02408/ADJ - Redevelopment of Pembury Hospital, with 984 car parking spaces, improvements to the public highway, new site access, servicing, landscaping and associated works/plant equipment. - members had no objections subject to the provision of adequate public transport links. SE/07/02517/FUL Moat Farm Cottage, Powder Mill Lane, Leigh - Barn store conversion. Members had no objections, subject to the approval of neighbours, but were disappointed with the standard of drawings submitted, particularly concerning the roof, and were worried that the glazing may not be in keeping with its surroundings. SE/07/02195/FUL - Shoe House, Leigh - Erection of new walls, piers and gates to front driveway, erection of close-boarded fencing to the perimeter grounds. The Council felt this was an inappropriate and suburban development for land lying in the Green Belt and abutting the High Weald AONB, spoiling the green character of the entrance to the village where neighbouring properties generally have hedges. Unless new fencing is set well back from the hedge it will cause die-back in the inside face, and suggested it would be preferable if the existing hedges to be cut back, laid and in-filled with mixed hedges. The wall on the west side of the Edenbridge road entrance appears to extend too far towards the road and the gate on Penshurst Road should be set back into the property so vehicles can exit road before having to open the gate. Notice to works to Trees in a Conservation area: SE/07/02471/WTCA The Old Vicarage - tree works - further information supplied in support of previous notice with no objections.
Refusal of planning permission: SE/07/01703/FUL 3 Coppings Brook Cottages, Coppings Road, Leigh, TN11 8PP - front 2 storey extension; SE/07/01698/FUL 2 Engineers Cottages, High Street, Leigh, TN11 8RN - construction of new wall and gate, on-site parking for 3 cars and new access. Planning application withdrawn: SE/07/01985/LBCALT Fleur De Lis Public House, High Street, Leigh - 9 sq. metre umbrella on external patio. 7. CURRENT ISSUES i.) West Kent Housing/Rural Housing Trust - Gibbs Field - nothing to report ii.) Gibbs Field Traffic Calming features - nothing to report 8. ENVIRONMENT i.) Bartlett Tree Report recommendations. The Clerk is waiting for quotes from Bartlett's and Down to Earth. ii.) Charcot Aerodrome footpath. KCC state that it is due 2 cuts per year, and will soon have its autumn cut. Cllr. Knock stated due to 'enhanced status' it should have more if necessary. The Clerk will speak again with KCC. iii.) Grass in front of the Pavillion - Cllr. Marchant will investigate. iv.) Verge to left of Pavillion - Clerk to add to the Highways spreadsheet. v.) Broken Seat on Green a memorial seat's slats are broken; Clerk to contact Cllr. Croft to assess repair. vi.) Movement of the Millennium Seat. The Clerk will reply to the School that the Council is sympathetic to the request and will report back once we have decided to where it should be moved . vii) SpeedWatch - The Clerk has made contact with PC James Ball. It was proposed that the Clerk would circulate the information and proposals in time for the next meeting, when Councillors have had time to evaluate. Mr Hutchins, a parishioner with special interest, will again be invited to attend. viii) Parking on The Green: a complaint has been received about parking on The Green. The Council understands this has been due to temporary renovation work nearby and so will soon disappear. Clerk to reply. 9. PLAYGROUND Cllr. Powell met with David Boorman of SDC, who advised on the best location of any future play area. Two companies - RSS and Wickstead - have been asked to put forward preliminary proposals including surfacing, fencing, and anti-vandal devices, which hopefully will be received in time for the next Council meeting. 10. VILLAGE HALLS The heating and lighting has been installed. The Hall has also been re-wired incidentally as part of the works which is very positive. There will be no V.A.T. on the electrics as the supplier is not rateable; the heating works will be billed to the Parish Council. 11. AGED PERSONS DWELLING The Clerk reported on a number of maintenance issues for no. 2 Bungalows and will brief Peter Fullbrook who will hopefully attend to them when he fits the fires. Cllr. Johnson said that it would be Mr Fullbrooks next job. 12. TRANSPORT. British Rail timetable in front of Village Hall -The Clerk has written to Southeastern Railway twice for an update, and in July made contact with Jane Bridle, Station Manager responsible for Leigh, who promised to supply an up to date timetable. After two reminders by the Clerk, there has been no reply. Clerk to visit Tonbridge Station in person. ii) Redhill/Tonbridge line: Cllr Knock informed Council that this line will transfer to Southern Franchise in 2009. iii) Cllr. Knock noted that brambles and nettles need to be cut back at the station entrance path. 13. YOUTH FORUM Cllr. Bennie will hopefully meet with the School PTA, Governors and Headteacher with regard to the Lealands Ave. recreation ground, particularly to discuss funding. SDC have agreed to the loan of the Play Bus, probably on Wednesdays. This would be parked on the Green and be available for children aged from 8 to early teens. Cllr Bennie would not be able to operate this on his own, and would need a rota of volunteers. In the winter it may be necessary to use it in conjunction with inside premises - Edenbridge use it with a hall. The Clerk will include news of the Play Bus and need for volunteers in the Parish Magazine. 14. CORRESPONDENCE for information received up to 27th August was circulated. Correspondence for Action:
15. FINANCIAL MATTERS Payment of cheques listed below were approved.
16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. Cllr Dyton wished to add Cycling paths, for example to Hildenborough Station, onto next month's Agenda. Meeting closed at 10.45pm. Signed..................................... Chairman Date........................................
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