Parish Council Minutes for 3rd December 2007Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 3rd December 2007 commencing at 8.00 pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. C. Stratton-Brown. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs. D. Bennie, H. Powell. PRESENT: Cllrs. R. Sykes (V.Chairman), P. Croft, A. Johnston, R. Dyton, J. Knock, C. Stratton-Brown, (Chairman) G. Marchant, and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). IN ATTENDANCE: County Cllr. P. Lake, District Cllr. A. Cook, SC. Graham Eade. 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. None. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 5th November were approved after amendments were made correcting details about the life of Eric Batchelor, the additions of the invitation for Brian Ball to become a trustee of Leigh United Charities, and the meeting between councillors and representatives of the Doctors' surgery. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 5th November. Complaint to SDC re. planning issue. The Clerk has received a reply from Jim Sperryn from Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) explaining that the proposals were acceptable as the fencing will be set back form the road with existing hedging remaining in front, and the gates will also be set back from the road frontage. Mr Sperryn noted as a result of Parish concerns SDC introduced conditions ensuring that the hedging be retained and strengthened/reinforced as necessary, and should be replaced if it is removed, dies or is diseased within 3 years. Millennium seat. Cllr. Croft will contact Cllr. Sykes in the absence of the Chairman. Yew Tree Bungalow: appeal over refusal of planning permission. Cllr. Marchant reported on his meeting with the Adairs of Yew Tree Cottage, neighbours to Yew Tree Bungalow where he learnt that Mr Adair has written to the Appeals Inspectorate. Cllr. Marchant also met with the Chairman and Clerk to discuss the Parish Council's appeal response supporting the refusal of permission. Verge repairs near Cricket Pavilion on The Green. The Clerk will contact Kent Highways Services (KHS) in January to find out when these repairs are likely to take place. Alternative surgery in Leigh. Cllrs. Sykes, Knock, and Stratton-Brown met with Drs. Nicholas and Bench of Hildenborough Medical Group. It's clear that the existing site does not meet the regulations of space and disabled access. With a little rearrangement the Small Hall could be suitable. Dr. Nicholas will contact the Primary Care Trust with regard to assessing the site. 5. REPORTS i.) Sevenoaks District Cllr. Mrs Alison Cook informed the meeting that she has no further information from Bryan Fitzgerald regarding the footpath from Home Farm. The road sign at Garden Cottages still has not been replaced, and Cllr. Cook has requested that Kent County Council (KCC) look at the crumbling pavement on the south side of Powdermill Lane towards the Beeches, between Hollows Trees Drive and Barnetts Mead. Updating the meeting on SDC news, Cllr. Cook informed the meeting that police and some council officers have been trained to issues fines for the dropping of litter (eg. £80) and for dog fouling. Under the Clean Kent initiative Cllr. Cook visited Leigh School. SDC won the National Green Apple Award with the Gardening for Wildlife Scheme. The District has also been named the safest in Kent for 14th month running, though drug offences increased due partly to better detection. Planning applications are possible online by April 2008. Refuse collection will be collected on Fridays after Christmas and New Year. Sacks must be put out before 7am. Cllr. Knock raised the problem of dog fouling on the Green which has been in turn been raised by the School Headmistress. He requested the possibility of another dog bin. Cllr. Cook responded by saying that usage of the existing bin needs to increase rather than adding to the number of bins, and it may be possible for the dog warden to make a visit. Cllr. Knock also suggested that the Parish Council should write about the recent vandalism to the public conveniences resulting in their closure in the Parish Magazine asking for cooperation from the youngsters and their parents in the village. The Clerk will include this in her next article for the magazine. ii.) Kent County Cllr. Peter Lake informed the meeting that KCC is offering money to all schools to encourage the picking up of litter, and Leigh is taking part. He provided an update on the refuse incinerator at Allington, the turbine of which has had to be sent back to the manufacture to be rebuilt. Once it returns in about 6 months there will be big differences in waste management in Kent. The Chairman read out Sir John Stanley's letter dated 28th November, previously circulated to Cllrs., to the head of Kent Highways Services (KHS) urging for further consideration to the Parish Council's views over the positioning of the interactive speed sign at Gibbs Field. A holding letter has subsequently been received from Alan Pottinger of KHS. Cllr. Lake also highlighted the confusion caused by the Powdermill Lane repeater sign before Gibbs Field, and Council agreed that this was no longer necessary. The Clerk will contact KHS to request removal. Cllr. Lake has contacted David Aspinall of KHS regarding the appalling repairs by Laundry Cottages, and also noting that the slow signs and white lines have yet to be replaced. Cllr. Lake informed the meeting that there is a KCC meeting on 12th December which lists the footpath to Gibbs Field as an agenda item. Cllr. Stratton-Brown raised the issue of the no cycling signs on the footpath from Powdermills to Tonbridge, which he has been trying to get removed. He drew Cllr. Lake's attention to a newspaper article stating that the cycling club used this footpath from 1920. Cllr. Lake requested that the Clerk fax him a copy of the article. There was a discussion about whether the top of Green Lane is a public right of way, and the Clerk will check this, perhaps with Chris Rowley. Some Cllr. members remember this gate to be locked. Cllr. Knock enquired as to the progress over the closure of the bridge at Penshurst. Cllr. Lake said that its repair has been delayed until around 8th April during the school holidays. Penshurst Parish Council (PPC) is still not happy for the 4 week closure; Cllr. Stratton-Brown proposed that Clerk should email support to PPC. iii.) SC Graham Eade retires from duty on 8th January. He thanked everybody for the pleasure in working with councillors past and present, and hoped he had contributed something to the village. The Chairman requested if District Cllr. Cook and Graham Eade could establish whether SDC know of those responsible for the vandalism to the public conveniences and whether it has been reported, and to report back to the Clerk. There was a mobile police office on The Green last Thursday but no one knew anything about it perhaps due to lack of publicity. Cllr. Knock proposed a sincere vote of thanks from the Parish Council to Graham Eade which was agreed by all. iv.) Open Session. No members of the public were present. 6. PLANNING i.) Planning applications: SE/07/03356/FUL Oak Cottage, High St., Leigh - 2 storey rear extension. No objection subject to neighbourliness. SE/07/03156/FUL 1 Old Orchard, Charcott - change of use to part residential/cattery, erection of 8 pen UPVC with wooden surround. Objection based on proximity of to residential properties. SE/07/03199/FUL & 98LBCALT 8 The Square, High Street, Leigh - erection of single storey rear extension. Cllr. Marchant declares an interest and withdraws from discussion. Support. SE/07/03440/FUL 6 Knotley Hall Cottages, Chiddingstone Causeway - demolition single storey & rebuild 2 storey side extension & entrance porch. Support. SE/07/03490/FUL Priory Oast, Scabharbour Rd., Hildenborough - demolish extension, construct new extension and alterations to doors and windows. No objection. SE/07/03377/FUL Moat Farm Cottage, Powdermill Lane, Leigh - conversion of room to 2 bedrooms. No objection. SE/07/03372/FUL Old Kennards, Hildenborough Rd, Leigh - conversion of granary to annexe & new garage. No objection, but bathroom window should be obscured glass to provide privacy for neighbours. ii) Planning decisions: SE/07/02535/LBCALT - White House, High St. Leigh - to underpin porch - granted; SE/07/02195/FUL - Cedar Court, Leigh - details pursuant to condition 3 (boundary hedging & planting) - approval of details. 7. CURRENT ISSUES i.) Speedwatch - Clerk updated the meeting with the responses to date from other parish councils she has contacted regarding the sharing of equipment. Bidborough are happy for us to borrow, and Westerham may possibly consider sharing in the purchase of a device in the future. The Clerk will accept Bidborough's offer, update David Hutchins and check that he is happy to be the contact for volunteers. She will include a request for volunteers in the Parish magazine. ii.) Interactive speed sign at Gibbs Field. This was covered within Cllr. Lake's report. 8. ENVIRONMENT i.) Trees on the Green: The Clerk outlined the estimates from Down to Earth and Bartlett, and it was agreed to accept the cheaper estimated from Down to Earth. The Clerk will arrange the necessary SDC permission. It was also suggested that the trees in the burial ground should be assessed by Down to Earth in the next few months. ii.) SDC Open Spaces Study Consultation: Cllr. Knock asked why SDC have not contacted the Parish Council following the workshop as promised, and asked the Clerk to contact SDC, copying Cllr. Alison Cook. The Chairman requested that the Footpath Working Party be added to next month's agenda, and the Clerk to contact Chris Rowley and the Parish magazine to establish volunteers. 9. PLAYGROUND No report. 10. VILLAGE HALLS Cllr. Johnston reported that the kitchen floor has been repaired by Graham Fuller of Penshurst. The next objective is to re-fit the kitchen early next year. Cllr. Marchant proposed thanks to Cllr. Johnston and the whole Village Hall Committee for their dedication. 11. AGED PERSONS DWELLING Peter Fullbrook was due to be fitting the fires last week, but this has yet to be confirmed. 12. TRANSPORT No report. 13. YOUTH FORUM No report. 14. CORRESPONDENCE for information received up to 3rd December was previously circulated.
15. FINANCIAL MATTERS Leigh Tennis Club request for contribution: All Cllrs. agreed that they are supportive of sport in the Parish, and in particular to encourage the funding of sports coaching. The Clerk will reply and grant £200 under S137. i.) Consideration of quotes for tree work on The Green were considered under Environment. ii.) Councillors agreed to award the Clerk an increase of 2.47%, backdated to 1st April. This has been recommended by the NALC & SLCC in agreement with the National Joint Council for Local Government Services as the 2007/8 salary review for Local Council Clerks. This increases her hourly rate to £8.04. The Chairman asked the Clerk if she had been recording the number of hours she worked, and whether this exceeded the 8 hours per week specified by contract. The Clerk replied that although she believed 12 hours was a more accurate estimate for the role of Clerk, she currently averaged 8-10 hours per week, which was the maximum she could currently manage due to personal circumstances. iii.) Cllr. Sykes distributed a draft budget proposal for 2008/9, of which the main points were outlined. These included keeping the precept at the same level as last year, with an increased spend on trees. A more detailed discussion will take place at the next meeting in time for submission to SDC. The following cheques were approved for payment.
16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. The Clerk suggested a new notice board at Powdermills to enable notices to be posted without interference and to be weatherproof. Meeting closed at 10.45pm. Signed..................................... Chairman Date........................................
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