Parish Council Minutes for 4th August 2008Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 4th August 2008 commencing at 8.00pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. C. Stratton-Brown. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs. D. Bennie, R. Dyton and H. Powell. PRESENT: Cllrs. C. Stratton-Brown, J. Knock, A. Johnston, P. Croft, G. Marchant, R. Sykes, and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). IN ATTENDANCE: PC Neil Ingram, PCSO Simon Humphries, Miriam Taylor from Kent & Sussex Courier. 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. None. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 7th July were approved and signed, proposed by Cllr. Marchant and seconded by Cllr. Croft. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 7th July. West Kent Housing Association (WKHA) Annual Report 2007/8 - Cllr. Knock commented that the report mentions Gibbs Field with regard to WKHA's management, but does not make clear who has ownership of the properties. The clerk will clarify this. Public Transport - Cllr. Knock returned the correspondence from Sir John Stanley MP to the Clerk. Donation of a bench in memory of Harry Lucas, on The Green - Cllr. Croft will look at the existing benches and evaluate the appropriate position for a new bench. The Clerk will send details of suitable benches to the benefactor. 5. REPORTS i.) Sevenoaks District Cllr. Cook sent apologies for her absence, with a message reminding the Parish Council about the 'In Zone' youth van coming to The Green at Leigh on 27th August. Cllr. Cook also noted that the pavement on Powdermill Lane had been marked in preparation for repair. ii.) Kent County Cllr. Peter Lake was not present and later sent his apologies. PC Ingram reported that the police provided a presence for the 3 nights where there was a Fun Fair on the Green, which went well without incident. There was one burglary during the past month, and an incident where the Cricket Club roller was rolled into the middle of the road, although no damage was caused. 6. PLANNING i.) Planning applications: SE/08/01666/FUL The Woods Cottage, Hildenborough Road, TN11 8NA. 2 storey side extension including removal of attached single storey accommodation. SE/08/01670/LBCALT Oak Cottage High Street Leigh TN11 8RW. Two storey rear extension, amendment to application SE/07/03357/LBCALT. SE/089/01701/DETAIL Land West of Upper Kennards, Hildenborough Road, Leigh TN11 8RE. Details pursuant to condition 25 (traffic calming) of SE/05/02614/FUL. The Parish Council has previously commented that it would have preferred the sign to be to the north of the Gibbs Field entrance. SE/08/01808/FUL Forge House, Charcott, TN11 8LG. Erection of timber garden shed. The positioning of the proposed shed is relatively close to the boundary and may affect the neighbouring property. The Parish Council records no objection to all applications listed above. SE/08/01745/LBCALT The Woods, Hildenborough Road Leigh TN11 8NA. Internal alterations and external alterations including restoring a part bricked up former door opening, bricking in of 2 modern window openings, replacement of northern elevation windows with double glazed units to match existing joinery proportions exactly. The Parish Council supports this application. 7. CURRENT ISSUES i.) Speedwatch - the Clerk updated the meeting with the successful inaugural operation carried out by the volunteers on 14th and 18th July. The Clerk later reports that on 14th July 18 cars were reported driving over the speed limit of 30mph at the observation point at Saxbys Wood. The next session will take place mid August or September - David Hutchins to advise. The Parish Council agreed that it would be interested in part investing in its own equipment with another parish as long as there were enough enthusiastic volunteers to continue in the future. The Clerk will investigate potential partners. Bidborough have requested a contribution towards a warning triangle that costs £50; The Chairman may be able to donate this from equipment left over from the operation of a few years ago. ii.) Surgery - Disable access to the Large Village Hall has been completed. Cllrs. Knock and Sykes proposed and supported this. Helen Everett has worked hard with Sevenoaks District Council planning department, along with District Cllr. Cook, to speed up the application process for the required building regulations, Planning and Listed Building Consent. A representative from the Conservation department visited this afternoon and seemed very positive with regard to the granting of permission. The Parish Council support the modifications to the Large Village Hall, and Helen will submit the applications tomorrow. Cllr. Knock enquired as to the responsibility for financing this venture. Cllr. Johnston replied that as it was a non capital expenditure, the disabled access would be paid for by the Primary Care Trust. Brian Ball (John Jarvis) would invoice the Parish Council for the disabled access, and other internal work may be ultimately funded by the Village Halls Management Committee, via the Parish Council. Ultimate costs are likely to be around £5k, which all Councillors were in favour of funding. Rent for the Surgery would be decided at a later date. 8. ENVIRONMENT Footpath Working Party: the Clerk reported that only half of volunteers can make the 15th September meeting. It was decided that it would be best to move the meeting to 20th October instead. Cllr. Knock will arrange a solution to the overgrown hedge belonging to a property on the corner of Green Lane, which is ultimately the responsibility of Leigh United Charities. The Clerk reported that she had been contacted by Charles Nouhan of Sevenoaks District Council with regard to the overgrown shrubs and trees overhanging the recycling site next to Jessica's Hall. She was advised to contact the landowner. 9. PLAYGROUND The Clerk will endeavour to collate responses received from other parishes with regard to their experiences concerning childrens' playgrounds, and circulate to Councillors. 10. VILLAGE HALLS Cllr. Johnston reported Graham Fuller has taken up the floorboards and is repairing the joists, many of which are in good condition. New timber is arriving tomorrow and the job should be finished by the end of next week. The pre-school equipment has had to be moved due to the surgery, so the replacement of cupboards in the Small Hall has been brought forward. The estimate is due to be discussed tomorrow. The Chairman stated that the Parish Council and village thanked Alan Johnston and the Village Halls Management Committee for all the hard work undertaken so far. 11. AGED PERSONS DWELLING The Clerk has obtained a report for No.1 on the recent service of the gas boiler, which indicated that although the boiler was not immediately dangerous or at risk, it did not conform to current standards. The Clerk will find out more specific information and obtain the report from No. 2. Cllr. Johnston reported that Martin Padgham will paint the outside of the properties in the autumn will speak with them as there has been no communication from them to the Parish Council. 12. TRANSPORT Cllr. Knock will put the details of the new train timetable into the December Directory of the Parish Magazine. 13. YOUTH FORUM No report. 14. CORRESPONDENCE for information only has already been circulated
15. FINANCIAL MATTERS The Parish Council considered a request from the Treasurer of St Mary's Church requesting financial support for the parish magazine. Councillors agreed that it wished to continue to give its financial support, especially as a copy of the Parish magazine and its directory is distributed biannually to every household in the village, which benefits a wider audience than just its subscribers. £300 was agreed by Council, proposed by Cllr. Knock and seconded by Cllr. Johnston. The Clerk had previously delivered the typed 2007-8 Accounts to Cllr. Sykes . The following cheques were approved for payment, proposed by Cllr. Marchant and seconded by Cllr. Croft.
16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. None. Meeting closed at 9.45pm. Signed..................................... Chairman Date........................................
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