Parish Council Minutes for 5th January 2009Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 5th January 2009 commencing at 8.00pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. Roger Sykes. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs. C. Stratton-Brown, P. Croft, H. Powell, A. Johnston and J. Knock. PRESENT: Cllrs. R. Sykes, R. Dyton, G. Marchant, D. Bennie and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. None. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 1st December were approved by Cllrs. Marchant and Bennie and signed subject to the following two amendments: Under 17.i.) the changes to the Clerk's remuneration will take effect from 1st January, and 8.iii) the GlaxoSmithKline offer of volunteers specifies the new part of St. Mary's churchyard and the old free church burial ground (adjacent to the village halls). 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 1st December. 5. REPORTS i.) Sevenoaks District Cllr. Cook sent her apologies. ii.) Kent County Cllr. Peter Lake reported that the indication from Kent County Council (KCC) was that the council tax would be increased to just under 3% for 2009/10. There are financial pressures particularly with staffing for the elderly and young, and also from Highways, schools, and apprenticeship schemes for the young. Cllr. Lake observed that KCC were responsible for additional health and education costs for around 900 children who were asylum seekers in Kent. Efficiency savings will be made and if the council tax has to be increase it will be minimal. In response to discussions at previous meetings, Kent Highway Services (KHS) have created mud ramparts on the lay-by on Hildenborough Road. iii.) Open Session: Further to the accidental damage in September to the telecommunication cables lying under The Green, Mrs Joyce Field again asked whether there were any other service media that may pose a problem in the future. The Clerk reported that she had contacted the relevant services and will report back as soon as she receives a reply. Mrs Field also noted that there was quite a lot of litter especially by Well Close. Mr Rowley reported that the bench near the war memorial and oak tree had been damaged, and the edge of the Green opposite the Cricket Pavilion had been driven over and the grass badly damaged. This was largely caused by bad driving in an attempt to avoid parked cars; the installation of the verge/kerbs had effectively narrowed the road. The Clerk will contact Cllr. Croft with regard to the bench. Mr Rowley also informed the meeting that of the nearest 30 villages, there were no examples of playground areas on their greens. In response to calls for more information about the playground, the Clerk replied that it was the Parish Council's aim to be completely transparent in its discussions, and she will continue to respond to requests for information, as well as continuing to publish in the parish magazine and noticeboard. It was noted that it was sometimes difficult to read the minutes on the noticeboard as the type size was small; the Clerk will try to redress this. iv.) Police: PCSO Kingscott reported that there had been a couple of shed break-ins, and she was aware that the goal posts had been damaged. The Clerk thanked her for attending. 6. PLANNING i.) Planning applications: SE/08/03236/FUL Old Wood Cottage, The Green, Leigh TN11 8QL. The Parish Council registered no objection. ii.) Planning decisions by Sevenoaks District Council: SE/08/02812/FUL Land to Rear of Garden Cottages, Powder Mill Lane, Leigh. Erection of a 2 storey building providing a 56 care home, access from Hollow Trees Drive. SE/08/02941/FUL 3 Coppings Brook Cottages, Coppings Road, Leigh TN11 8PP. Erection of a two storey front extension. Both were refused planning permission. SE/08/03051/LBCALT & 03050/FUL Gales, Powder Mill Lane, Leigh TN11 8QE. Single storey rear extension, and rearrangement of internal accommodation to ground floor. SE/08/02946/FUL Bat & Ball High Street, Leigh TN11 8RL Change of use from public house (A4) to residential (C3) and conversion to form one 4 bedroom house including new door and flank window. Both were granted permission. iii.) Notification of a Tree Preservation Order: no. 35, 2008, on two yew trees located to the south of the Large Village Hall, Leigh. Cllr. Sykes declared his interest because he has already responded to Sevenoaks District Council on behalf of the Royal British Legion. The Clerk read out her communication with the Tree Officer at Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) which stated that he believes that the trees, which can be seen from the road, soften the appearance of the Hall and should only be removed as a last resort. Cllr. Marchant suggested that the Parish Council support the users of the Halls by objecting to the protection of these trees. It has previously been discussed by those who use the halls and now the new surgery that it would be best if the trees were removed. Yew trees are a danger to the pre-school children because of their poisonous berries and almost completely block the window and therefore natural light to the surgery. It was agreed that pruning would not greatly help. The Clerk will report Council's objection to SDC. 7. CURRENT ISSUES i.) Speedwatch - no report other than the Clerk is waiting for a response from Hever and Chiddingstone parishes as to whether they wish to share in the purchase of a Speed Indicator Device. 8. ENVIRONMENT i.) Surface in front of Cricket Pavilion. This issue was first raised a few years ago, and subsequently the Parish Council and KHS have installed new kerbs. It was agreed that this might have improved the area by preventing cars driving over the surface, and that the Parish Council should wait and see and review the area in the spring when the weather improves. 9. FOOTPATH WORKING COMMITTEE The Clerk reported that having launched the Committee, she had now taken a back seat although will still be the point of contact for communication with Rights of Way. The next meeting will be on 17th January, and Mr Stratton-Brown and Martin Avison had worked hard on compiling the footpaths so they can be displayed on the parish website. Cllr. Dyton may attend the next meeting. 10. PLAYGROUND Cllrs. Bennie and Powell are due to meet with the Headmistress of Leigh School to discuss opportunities that may arise as a result of the School's new 'trim trail' on the sports field, Lealands Avenue. It was felt that the bottle bank area near Jessica's Hall was too small a site to be considered. 11. VILLAGE HALLS No report. 12. AGED PERSONS DWELLING Subsequent to the fitting of the new boilers, the Clerk reported that a couple of copper pipes should be painted to completely finish the job. 13. TRANSPORT No report. 14. YOUTH FORUM Cllr. Bennie reported that although he is still keen to get a scheme in operation on The Green, he has been seconded to Hildenborough on Wednesday evenings in the spring which uses up his available time.. 15. CORRESPONDENCE for information only has already been circulated
16. TO ADOPT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT NEW MODEL PUBLICATION SCHEME This had been adopted at the previous Parish Council meeting in December. 17. FINANCIAL MATTERS i.) The Parish Council evaluated the recommendations made by Bartlett Tree Experts based on their survey of the chestnut trees on The Green. Almost all are suffering from phytophthora root rot which is a progressive disease that gradually weakens the tree leaving it prone to other infection. Bartlett recommend removing dropped leaves that host leaf mining (moth) caterpillars that is causing vascular damage, killing the grass immediately around each tree, putting down a woodchip mulch, and treating with chemicals in February and August/Setpember. In addition they recommend applying fertiliser to aid the suppression of phytophthora and an insecticide to kill the caterpillars. The estimated cost is £710 exc. VAT. It was agreed to proceed but for the Clerk to check that the chemicals are safe to use with special reference to the use of the Green by the School. ii.) 2009/10 Budget and precept requirements - Cllr. Sykes as Finance Chairman outlined spend to date and future expenses and expected income. Expenditure on the Aged Persons Dwellings had been a little more this year, bank interest will be reduced to almost nothing, and costs to the Parish Council will certainly be increased. Therefore it was proposed by Cllr. Marchant that the precept for 2009/10 be increased by £1,000 to £18,500, the first increase in two years. Cllr. Sykes agreed and also recommended that the APD rent be increased by 3% from April 2009, which is the first increase for four years. Seconded by Cllr. Dyton and Bennie. iii.) Acceptance of the KCC Landscape Services quotation of £1,540.5 for care and maintenance of The Green for 2009 was proposed by Cllr. Marchant and seconded by Cllr. Dyton. 18. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION None. Meeting closed at 9.25pm. Signed............................................................... Chairman................................................................. Date..................................................................
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