Parish Council Minutes for 1st September 2008Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 1st September 2008 commencing at 8.00pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. C. Stratton-Brown. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs. D. Bennie, H. Powell. PRESENT: Cllrs. C. Stratton-Brown, J. Knock, A. Johnston, P. Croft, G. Marchant, R. Sykes, R. Dyton and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. None. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 4th August were approved and signed. The Clerk was asked to find out where the decision for the planning application for The Old Vicarage had been minuted. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 4th August. West Kent Housing Association (WKHA) Annual Report 2007/8 -The clerk was asked to find out who has ownership of the houses at Gibbs Field. Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) Open Spaces Study - Cllr. Knock reminded the Clerk that he had requested a hard copy of this report. Clerk to post direct. Donation of a bench in memory of Harry Lucas, on The Green - a picture of a hardwood bench was shown to Council suggesting the proposed style. Cllr. Croft has evaluated the site and suggested in front of the school or between this and the Gordon Whitehead seat, near the spreading oak tree. The latter was decided, and Cllr. Knock suggested that Mrs Lucas's name be added to the wooden inscription. 5. REPORTS i.) Sevenoaks District Cllr. Cook was grateful for the Parish Council's response to the SDC Open Spaces Study which regrettably has a few omissions. Cllr. Cook reported that the West Kent Cold Store site in Dunton Green has been granted permission for 500 houses, 200 more than recommended by SDC, which will double the size of Dunton Green, and the infrastructure is not there to support it. Powdermill Lane pavement is being repaired at last. There is no news on the Stag Theatre closure other than it is hoped that it will be a community facility. It is possible that Kent County Council (KCC) will be involved, although this would entail closing one of the two cinemas in order to include their 'Gateways' facility. Cllr. Cook highlighted that the chestnut tree on The Green and by the Lych gate looks unhealthy. The Clerk will obtain an estimate from Bartletts to survey these trees. Cllr. Cook informed the Parish Council that she was told by Andrea Kerry of SDC Planning that Kent Highway Services have disallowed the interactive sign at Gibbs Field. The Clerk will investigate. The Chairman reported that he had received a letter from the COE of Sevenoaks Town Council (STC) asking for support with regard to the future of the Stag. He suggested that the Parish Council respond that it is sympathetic to the idea and would like to be kept informed. Cllrs. Knock, Sykes suggested that more details were needed before support was expressed, as the STC may not be any better qualified to make a success of the Theatre if SDC cannot. Cllr. Knock reported a complaint that he has received about the difficulties of reaching the Cottage Hospital by public transport. Cllr. Cook said this was a KCC issue, although she could raise it with SDC also. The Clerk was asked to write to KCC, copying Cllrs. Lake and Cook. ii.) Kent County Cllr. Peter Lake reported that with regard to Home Farm/Leigh Village footpath, the terms have been agreed verbally with the landowner but the decision stills needs to be put in writing. Cllr. Lake did not know of any problem with the interactive sign, and raised the question of who is responsible for the already substantial weeds growing on the unfinished footpath - KHS or SDC. Cllr. Dyton highlighted the issue of the lay-by on Hildenborough Road where the footpath machinery was, and expressed concern that this could be a future problem for tipping or parking. Cllr. Lake replied that it was linked with the indecision with the footway and would not permanently appear as a lay-by. 6. PLANNING The Chairman signed a copy of the planning minutes dated 17th June, and requested that District Councillor Cook receives a copy in future. i.) Planning applications: SE/08 02170/FUL 1 Oak Cottage, High Street, Leigh. Erection of single storey rear extension. The Parish Council has no objection to this application. SE/08/02009/FUL Wheelwrights Cottage, High Street, Leigh Single storey side extension, demolition of existing garage & replacement with larger garage. The Parish Council supported this application. Cllr. Reported that with regard to the recent planning application for 2 Engineers Cottage, the applicant has decided not to proceed with alterations to the front porch. Cllr. Cook has asked that the fence be placed behind the hedge to avoid urbanisation. ii.) Planning decisions by Sevenoaks District Council: SE/08/01853/LDCPR Manderville, Egg Pie Lane, Hildenborough, TN11 8PE. Erection of 3 velux roof lights to convert loft to habitable rooms. SE/08/01817/DETAIL & 01893/DETAIL. South View, The Green, Leigh TN11 8QR. Details pursuant to condition 4 (landscaping) and condition 3 of SE/07/00184/FUL. SE/08/01413/FUL. Brampton House, Scabharbour Road, Hildenborough, TN11 8PJ. Partial demolition and alterations to existing outbuilding. Construction of a two storey corner infill extension to the existing dwelling. SE/08/01808/FUL Forge house, Charcott, TN11 8LG. Erection of timber shed. SE/08/01666/FUL & 1667/LBCALT The Woods Cottage, Hildenborough Road, Leigh, TN11 8NA. 2 storey side extension including removal of attached single storey accommodation. Amended by plans received 12/8/08. All were approved or granted permission. Application withdrawn: SE/08/01303/FUL. Laundry Cottage, Hildenborough Road, Leigh. Proposed ground and first floor extension and alterations. Appeal: AA/G2245/A/08/2081904/WF. Cedar Court, Leigh, TN11 8HP. Detached garage/store underneath existing tennis court, SDC ref. SE/08/00994/FUL. Any additional comments to be submitted by 12th September. 7. CURRENT ISSUES i.) Speedwatch - no report other than the Clerk believed that there would be another session later this month. ii.) Surgery The partitions have been erected and plastered in the Large Village Hall. The painter and joiner need to visit next. The sink and the window installation will be the next phase. The surgery has asked about the progress, and Cllr. Johnston thinks that it could be ready as from next week. The telephone and computer lines are in. 8. ENVIRONMENT i.) Footpath Working Party: The Clerk has arranged a meeting for volunteers on 20th October, 8pm in the Small Hall. ii.) Crandalls footpath - Cllr. Croft reported that this has not been repaired. Clerk to investigate. iii.) Kent Highway Services (KHS) - KHS have requested a meeting with local parishes to introduce their new structure and for a general catch up. It was agreed that the Clerk would aim to arrange a meeting for Wednesday 24th September. iv.) Footpath between Hildenborough Road and Powdermill Lane - the Clerk reported that she has received several complaints about the poor state of this footpath. KCC Rights of Way have responded by saying that it needs further investigation to take into account the drainage issue, and it is on their list. v.) SDC investigation into parking/safety issues at the junction of Hildenborough Road/Powdermill Lane - Cllrs. agreed that there should not be parking on the corner, but they were not in favour of double yellow lines in a conservation area village. Cllr. Cook said that white lines are advisory and not compulsory. The police can only prosecute if the car is causing an obstruction, or if it is within 50 metres of a bend. The Clerk was asked to refer to the Parish Council's response from last year and state that we would like conservation type narrower than standard yellow lines for the minimum distance consistent with safety sight lines round the bend. Also the Parish Council would like to see the proposals before they go ahead. vi.) Kerbs on The Green - these have been procured by the Parish Council and delivered to the KHS depot in readiness for their imminent installation. vii.) The Clerk informed the meeting that the second cut to the Aerodrome footpath linking Chiddingstone Causeway to Charcott would be completed later this week. The Clerk was asked by KC Cllr. Lake and other Cllrs. to insert a polite notice in the parish magazine to remind landowners of their responsibility to cut their hedges. 9. PLAYGROUND The Clerk previously circulated her collated responses received from other parishes with regard to their experiences concerning childrens' playgrounds. Cllrs. expressed surprise that there were not more complaints about vandalism. 10. VILLAGE HALLS Cllr. Johnston reported that the cupboards have been built in the Small Hall, and work has been carried out in the toilets with pressure sensitive taps and a controlled water heater. The floor tiling will be completed tomorrow. The floor in the Large Hall needs to be sealed and stained when all of the building work has been finished in another two weeks. The drive is in need of patching and resurfacing right back to the burial ground and is the responsibility of the Parish Council. Cllr. Marchant will provide a full specification so that the Clerk can obtain other quotes. The Church drive by Porcupine House will also need to be resurfaced in the next couple of years. 11. AGED PERSONS DWELLING The painting of the outside of the bungalows is in progress. The Clerk has arranged for British Gas to quote for new boilers following on from their service. 12. TRANSPORT Cllr. Knock will update Council on the new train timetable at the next meeting. 13. YOUTH FORUM No report. 14. CORRESPONDENCE for information only has already been circulated
15. FINANCIAL MATTERS The Chairman requested that a copy of the 2007/8 Accounts be circulated to the Councillors. The Clerk reported that the Audit Commission has queried a couple of points on the recent audit, which Cllr. Sykes will investigate along with forecasting spend compared to budget for this year. The following cheques were approved for payment. The payment for work carried out in the Large Village Hall for the Surgery renovations by John Jarvis Ltd was agreed in principle, to be signed on later submission of invoice.
16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. The fence by the Pump needs repairing. Cllr. Johnston will contact John Broad. Meeting closed at 10.10pm. Signed..................................... Chairman Date........................................
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