Parish Council Minutes for 5th November 2007Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 5th November 2007 commencing at 8.00 pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. C. Stratton-Brown. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr. District Cllr A. Cook. PRESENT: Cllrs. R. Sykes, P. Croft, A. Johnson, R. Dyton, J. Knock, C. Stratton-Brown, D. Bennie, G. Marchant, H. Powell and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). IN ATTENDANCE: County Cllr. P. Lake, SC. Graham Eade, PCSO A.KingScott. 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. None. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 1st October were approved. The Council were informed of the death of Eric Batchelor, who contributed so much to the community in many different ways. Cllr. John Knock listed some of Mr Batchelor's many roles; Chairman of Leigh United Charities 1959-2007, Trustee of Crandalls Trust, President and Treasurer of the Royal British Legion, Parish Councillor during the 1950s/60s, and again as Chairman of the Finance Committee between 1983-1998. Mr Batchelor was also the Cricket Club Treasurer until 1984, and played until 1976, continuing to umpire until 1997. He raised the funds and helped with the planning for the Cricket Pavilion, and was also a leading player of the table tennis club, and a keen football player earlier on. Mr Batchelor audited the accounts of many local groups, as well as those of the Parish Council, and we are extremely grateful for his dedication to the community, which will be very much missed. A minute silence was observed in his memory. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 3rd September. Road by Laundry Cottages. This has now been repaired, although the standard of repair seems poor. Complaint to SDC re. planning issue. No reply has been received in response to Clerk's letter about the granting of permission for fencing at Shoe House. The Clerk to contact Sevenoaks District Council (SDC). Community Speedwatch. The Clerk is awaiting responses from nearby parishes as to whether we could share the investment and use of the new equipment. To be put on next month's agenda. Millenium seat Cllr. Croft asked for clarification as to where this should be moved to. The consensus was that between the Vicarage Drive and Powdermill Lane behind the war memorial would be ideal. The Chairman suggested that Cllr. Croft telephoned him just prior to moving the seat. 5. REPORTS i.) District Cllr. Mrs Alison Cook was not present but her report was read out by the Clerk. With regard to the proposed footway to Home Farm Close, Cllr. Cook has received acknowledgement to her letter of 22nd October to Mr Fitzgerald at KCC Highways, and will keep us informed. A new road sign has been ordered for Garden Cottages which disappeared prior to its repair. SDC continues to review its budget strategy for 2008/9. It needs to save a further £1m of its 2008 spending budget in addition to the £3.5m already achieved over the past 3 years, as well as absorbing the cost of the Local Development Framework consultations and free bus passes funding shortfall. This will affect the level of services currently being provided. SDC signed the Nottingham Declaration on 8th October which helps to tackle climate change together with partners and the wider community. This builds on work already undertaken by SDC's Energy Conservation Officer. The Parking Group has had its first meeting to set out its terms of reference to include enforcement and other related issues in rural areas. Two recent workshops have examined the wider implication of sustainable development looking at all aspects of design relating to building materials, reducing the demand of precious resources such as water and exploring renewable energy, waste reduction and innovative forms of transport. Following the transport conference the Environment Select Committee sought clarification that inaccuracies in the consultant's report would be rectified before being presented as supporting evidence with the Local Strategic Plan. Finally Cllr. Cook drew attention to the Kent Peoples Trust newsletter, which can make funds available for modest community schemes to help reduce anti-social behaviour. A reminder: grant application forms need to be returned to SDC by 16th November. ii.) County Cllr. Peter Lake has written to Norman Bateman, MD West Kent Highways, asking for help in resolving the Gibbs Field interactive sign issue, and the help of MP Sir John Stanley should be sought. With regard to the application for the school extension (see under 'Planning') Cllr Lake will press for funding as he feels that the people of Leigh have contributed a lot in the past. Cllr Knock noted that this extension would be welcome. Cllr Lake reported that the bridge at Penshurst on the B122 is due to be closed for 4 weeks, resulting in a diversion of 11 miles. He felt this was not acceptable and would be pressing for an alternative arrangement. iii.) SC Graham Eade had no report other than mentioning that Halloween was very quiet, with 2 officers on patrol between 6.30-11.45. PCSO Anne KingScott informed Council that she had arranged for a police surgery at 12.30-1.20 on 15th November in the Village Hall. Council requested that this be re-arranged if possible due to Eric Batchelor's funeral on the same day. Cllr. Powell complained that again she has suffered damage to her car whilst parked on the road, and requested a more proactive approach from the police, such as an increase in the number of hours that Leigh has a police presence. iv.) Open Session. The Clerk read out a letter from a resident objecting to the pre-application by Barchester Healthcare for development to the rear of Garden Cottages, Hollow Trees Drive. Council asked the Clerk to reply that although its members attended the presentation on 3rd November, we would only consider a planning application and not a pre-application. When a formal application is made, Council will then consider and discuss. 6. PLANNING The Chairman reminded Councillors of SDC's new system of responding to planning applications, particularly with reference to the standardised response of Support, No Objection and Objection and reasons. i.) Planning applications: SE/07/02535/LBCALT - White House, High Street, Leigh - To underpin porch. Support. SE/07/02832/FUL - 5 Moorden Cottages, Station Hill, Chiddingstone Causeway - Erection of new garden shed. Objection, based on neighbourliness and the size and nature of development, and noting existence of other structures. SE/07/100024/ - Leigh Primary School - single storey conservatory. Cllr Knock declared interest as a governor and left the room. Support, but Council registered the poor drawings submitted e.g. the block plan was orientated in the opposite way to the floor plan. ii) Planning decisions: SE/07/02517/FUL - 4 Newtown, Charcott - rear two storey extension and loft conversion. Granted. SE/07/02103/FUL - Moat Farm Cottage, Powdermill Lane - Barn Store conversion. Refusal of planning permission. Planning applications withdrawn: SE/07/02636/FUL - Land adjacent to Barnetts Mead, Powdermill Lane - proposed conversion of existing barn to residential use. Planning appeals: APP/G2245/A/07/2057519/WF(SE/06/02065/FUL) - Yew Tree Bungalow, Egg Pie Lane, Weald, Sevenoaks - demolition of existing dwelling and erection of replacement dwelling as amended by drawings received on 18/10/06. Cllr. Marchant will arrange a site visit and report back. APP/G2245/A/07/2055601/WF(SE/07/00184/FUL) - Southview, The Green, Leigh - extension of existing detached garage. Alteration of existing vehicular access. The Clerk will look at Council's original response of No Objection, and restate our position to the appeal office. 7. CURRENT ISSUES i.) West Kent Housing/Rural Housing Trust - nothing to report - remove as a routine agenda item. ii.) Proposed Footway between Home Farm Close and Village - Council to await news from KCC Highways. iii.) Interactive speed sign at Gibbs Field. The Chairman informed Council that he has received a large amount of information from Alan Pottinger of KCC Highways that he will work through this week in order to compose a suitable letter to Sir John Stanley. 8. ENVIRONMENT i. Verge repair on The Green: The Clerk informed Council that KCC Highways have agreed to us supplying our own materials of conservation kerbs, which could be obtained at less than half the cost to that quoted by KCC, and they would supply the labour. The costs of materials will be £343 exc Vat. KCC will contact the Clerk with a date for work to start. ii.) Report on SDC Open Spaces Study Consultation 9th October: Both the Clerk and Cllr. Knock attended the Open Spaces workshop and Tree preservation workshop held at Council Offices in Sevenoaks. Cllr. Knock reported that he and other Parish Councils complained that they had not been consulted before, and consequently a lot of the information compiled based on open spaces audits was inaccurate. However, Les Jones, the tree preservation officer, gave an interesting presentation and was applauded accordingly. 9. PLAYGROUND The Playground Working Party is awaiting proposals. 10. VILLAGE HALLS Cupboards in the kitchen will be the next job. There is a leak but Cllr. Johnston assures Council that the safe contents are not at risk. It was agreed that ideally the Clerk and Chairman should investigate the safe, and an inventory should be carried out as well as papers deposited at an office at Hall Place. 11. AGED PERSONS DWELLING Mrs Fagg has reported a problem with vermin. The Clerk will contact the Gas Board for them to check resulting damage as part of the service agreement. It was also agreed that the bungalows should have carbon monoxide detectors installed. The Clerk will contact Peter Fullbrook to supply. An estimate of £1,501.65 has been received from Peter Fullbrook to supply and install electric fires and make good and clear away. This was agreed by all, and it was agreed to not to seek alternative quotation as the fires were now needed urgently. 12. TRANSPORT Cllr. Knock reported that there were no alterations to the bus timetable, but from December 2008 there were a lot of changes to the railway timetable some of which we may need to negotiate. The Leigh railway route is expected to come under the Southern Area by this time. 13. YOUTH FORUM Cllr. Bennie reported that the Play Bus has now stopped due to the winter, but plans to use it in the spring. He is in talks with the Tennis club about using their facilities together with the school.
14. CORRESPONDENCE for information received up to 5th November was previously circulated. Correspondence for Action:
15. FINANCIAL MATTERS The Clerk will chase Bartletts & Down To Earth for the revised estimates for the tree work on The Green. Cllr. Sykes confirmed that he has sent off Chloe Phillips's P45 etc, and the following cheques were approved for payment, proposed by Cllr. Marchant, seconded by Cllr. Johnston.
16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. None. Meeting closed at 10.25pm. Signed..................................... Chairman Date........................................
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