Parish Council Minutes for 3rd November 2008Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 3rd November 2008 commencing at 8.00pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. C. Stratton-Brown. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr. R.Sykes. PRESENT: Cllrs. C. Stratton-Brown, A. Johnston, P. Croft, R. Dyton, D. Bennie, J. Knock, R. Sykes, H. Powell, G. Marchant and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. None. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 6th October were approved by Cllrs. Croft and Bennie and signed with the amendment that the Surgery has moved to the Large Village Hall rather than the Small Hall. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 6th October. Gibbs Field - the Clerk was asked to write to West Kent Housing Association (WKHA) to confirm that they are signees to the S106 Agreement along with Sevenoaks District Council (SDC). Donation of a bench in memory of Harry Lucas, on The Green - it was confirmed that the size of the bench is to be decided and supplied by Sandra Nicholls. Faulty pavement at Crandalls - the Clerk confirmed that she has reported the fault outside of no. 16 to Kent Highway Services (KHS), and Cllr. Bennie asked that another fault outside of no. 4 also be reported. Layby on Hildenborough Road between Home Farm an Gibbs Field - Cllr. Croft confirmed that he has made the landowner aware of concerns with regard to overnight stays and possible tipping. 5. REPORTS i.) Sevenoaks District Cllr. Cook was absent. ii.) Kent County Cllr. Peter Lake reported that the financial situation was worrying, and warned of a difficult budget. Cllr. Lake attended the SDC Joint Transport Board meeting on 7th October and apart from the weeding of the Home Farm footway, has no news of progress with regard to the completion of the footway. Cllr. Lake requested that the Parish Council write to the landowner to try and help resolve any issues, but the Chairman replied that this would be difficult unless it knew what the issues were. Cllr. Lake resolved to send the Clerk contact details as she was recently told by KHS that the relevant personnel has been relocated to Double Day House but they weren't able to give her contact details. Cllr. Marchant stated that it was unfair that the landowner was expected to provide a solution for the layby when it was either KHS or the Utility Authority that had caused the problem. iii.) Open Session: Residents expressed their concern over the renewed application from Barchester Homes, and enquired whether the proposal for another substation could be objected to - Clerk will enquire whether this is a planning issue. iv.) Police: The Clerk read out a newsletter and reports from PCSO Kingscott and PC Ingram which summarised reported crime and observations in Leigh for the month, and also a letter from Chief Inspector Ellis promising extra patrolling. This was in response to the Clerk's letter of concern with regard to the increase in vandalism and criminal activity during recent months. The Clerk was asked to forward the newsletter to the Parish Magazine for publication. 6. PLANNING i.) Planning applications: SE/08/02812/FUL Land to Rear of Garden Cottage, Powder Mill Lane, Leigh. Erection of a 2 storey building providing a 56 bed care home to provide high quality 24 hour care. Access from Hollow Trees Drive, which will incorporate three passing bays and improvements to its junction with Powder Mill Lane. Provision of 22 car parking spaces (including 3 disabled bays) and associated landscaping. This application is virtually identical to that previously submitted, apart from a significant increase from 36 to 56 beds. The Chairman read out the amendments and Councillors agreed that the same objections be submitted to the District Council incorporating these amendments. Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment The Chairman asked the Parish Council for approval, which it gave, for his previously circulated report regarding this assessment. The report complains the releasing of information to the press prior to consulting with Parish Councils, and outlines why each of the 3 proposed sites for development are unsuitable, with reference to the Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Chairman will present this report at his meeting on 13th November with SDC Councillor Alison Cook, the Chief Exec. Robin Hales and the Community and Planning Services Director /Deputy Chief Exec. Kristen Paterson. ii.) Planning decisions by Sevenoaks District Council: SE/08/02184/FUL 2 Fleur De Lis Cottages, High Street, Leigh, TN11 8RL Change of use from D1 (doctors surgery) to C3 (residential). SE/08/02320/LBCALT The Woods, Hildenborough Road, Leigh TN11 8NA. Family bathroom partition removal. SE/08/02166/LBCALT To the rear of the large village hall, High Street, Leigh. Internal partition walls and new windows to east elevation. SE/08/02365/LBCALT Old Wood Cottage, The Green Leigh TN11 8QL To convert the existing attic into a bedroom with 2 no. Dormers to the rear. All were approved or granted permission. 7. CURRENT ISSUES i.) Speedwatch - Cllr. Croft reported that an operation took place last week. ii.) Surgery Cllr. Johnston reported that the surgery opened in its new location in the Large Hall today. 8. ENVIRONMENT i.) Footpath Working Party: The Clerk reported on the first meeting for volunteers on 20th October. Discussions centred around the Clerk obtaining copies of an appropriate definitive footpaths map from KCC Rights of Way, and designing a footpaths assessment form that can be completed by the volunteers. It was also decided on the preferred method of communication and contact details were collected. The Committee will next meet on 17th November to agree on the maps and form, and to decide on how to divide up the paths. ii.) Gibbs Field - Cllr. Croft reported that there is an issue with grass cutting. Cllrs. agreed that this was an issue between residents and WKHA. iii.) KCC Landscape Services Contract -Cllr. Knock confirmed that no further cuts to the Green were required. iv.) Green Lane flooding - The Clerk confirmed that she has reported the blocked gully to Kent Highway Services. v.) EDF Energy Networks Ltd. Service upgrade to Upper Kennards, Hildenborough Road, Leigh: proposed link box & cable. The Clerk advised that EDF propose to site the box on the footway opposite the Green near Forge Square. Councillors agreed that this was unsuitable due to obstruction of the footway. The Clerk will respond accordingly. vi.) Trees on the Green - The Clerk was asked to request Bartletts opinion on whether it was worthwhile surveying the trees on the Green again, with particular attention to the small chestnut near the horse trough. 9. PLAYGROUND Cllr. Powell requested clarity over what else was required in addition to her original report. Cllr. Knock replied that the Parish Council needed a conclusive report in order to be able to fully evaluate the issue. The Clerk will forward her findings from other parishes concerning the vandalism and maintenance costs issues. There was discussion as to whether it was necessary to specify exact location and structure at this stage, as this may effect response if the report becomes a proposal to the public. The Chairman proposed that the report should be evaluated at the next meeting in December, and hopefully decisions would be made in January or February whether it should be recommended. The Clerk was asked to try and organise a meeting again with David Boorman of SDC with as many Councillors as possible. 10. VILLAGE HALLS No report. Negotiations are underway with the Surgery with regard to rent and cleaning. 11. AGED PERSONS DWELLING Peter Fullbrook has been asked to complete the boiler changes to the bungalows. 12. TRANSPORT Cllr. Knock has asked Andy Stewart of the Parish Magazine to check the train timetables via the internet and include them in directory. 13. YOUTH FORUM No report. 14. CORRESPONDENCE for information only has already been circulated
15. FINANCIAL MATTERS The National Association of Local Councils has recommended an interim Clerks' pay rise of 2.45% for 2008/9 backdated to April 2008, while they enter into arbitration. This was proposed by Cllrs. Knock and Marchant, and agreed by all Councillors Leigh Scouts have requested a donation for improvements to the Scout Hut. The Clerk has requested copies of their accounts and estimates for proposed work before the Parish Council can decide. Cllr. Bennie declared an interest. An invoice from John Jarvis Ltd was approved in principle, although the Clerk needs to contact the administrators before despatch of the cheque. The following cheques were approved for payment.
16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. None. Meeting closed at 9.50pm. Signed..................................... Chairman Date........................................
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