Parish Council Minutes for 2nd March 2009Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 2nd March 2009 commencing at 8.00pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. Colin Stratton-Brown.1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllrs. J Knock PRESENT: Cllrs. C Stratton-Brown, P Croft, A Johnston, R Dyton, G Marchant, D Bennie, H. Powell, R. Sykes and Mrs J Butler (Clerk). 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. Cllr. Croft declared a personal interest under Finance regarding mowing charges. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council held on 2nd March 2009 were approved by Cllrs. Powell and Sykes and signed by the Chairman, with the addition that the attendance of Cllr. Powell was added. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 2nd March 2009. i.) Sevenoaks District Local Development Core Strategy - when responding on behalf of the Parish Council by 5th March to Sevenoaks District Council (SDC), the Clerk will ensure that she adds that this study should have included a separate category for smaller villages. ii.) Green View Avenue - the Clerk has reported the re-occurring potholes which will be filled soon. She has been advised that resurfacing this road is unlikely to be a priority for Kent Highway Services (KHS). The Chairman requested that the Clerk inform KHS that this road leads to the playing fields and tennis courts and so has more traffic than would first appear. iii.) Subscription to Action with Communities in Rural Kent - the Clerk confirmed that this was a useful membership as they had gave valuable advice and were a source of funding eg. they contributed towards the new notice board at Powdermills. iv.) Transition Town Sevenoaks - considering whether Sevenoaks becomes a transition town, which would be initiated, led and managed by the community, tackling issues such as rising energy costs and climate change. Cllr. Dyton was given a copy of this letter for consideration. v.) A handrail is to be considered by KCC for the west side of Church Hill although there are problems with the access to The Bungalow, Church Hill. 5. REPORTS i.) Sevenoaks District Cllr. Cook sent her apologies for her absence. ii.) Kent County Cllr. Peter Lake. No report. iii.) Police. Anne Kingscott sent her apologies for absence. iv.) 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 from all of them. 6. PLANNING i.) Planning applications: SE/09/00251 Cheriton, Penshurst Road, Leigh TN11 8HL. 2 Storey rear extension and 2nd storey rear extension and single storey rear. Although the Parish Council did not object, subject to neighbour considerations, they commented that it seemed rather large and an overdevelopment of the site. SE/09//FUL . South View, The Green, Leigh. Insertion of two conservation-style roof windows in rear roof slope. No objection. ii.) Works to trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order: SE/09/00239/WTCA Engineers Cottage, High St., Leigh TN11 8RN. SE/09/00237/WTCA South View, The Green, Leigh TN11 8QR. Various work to trees. No objection to both applications. Tree Preservation Order 35 2008, Yews by Large Village Hall. Despite four objections SDC have decided to confirm the order. iii.) Planning decisions by Sevenoaks District Council: Refusal of Planning Permission: SE/08/03274/FUL Hale Oak Cottage, Hale Oak Road, Weald, TN14 6NQ. Erection of stable block. Grant of Planning permission: SE/08/03118/FUL Rivermede (formerly Kiltairn), Penshurst Road, Leigh, TN11 8HL. Proposed single-storey extension to front, side and rear of existing house. SE/08/03236/FUL Old Wood Cottage, The Green, Leigh, TN11 8QL. Loft conversion including 2 dormers. Planning application withdrawn: SE/09/03150/FUL Podium House, The Green, Leigh. Replacement dwelling.
7. CURRENT ISSUES. i.) Speedwatch. Nothing to report other than Hever and Chiddingstone Parishes are considering Speedwatch, and if approved would like to share ownership with Leigh Parish. ii.) Cricket on The Green/Fair June 2009. The Parish Council discussed whether it was acceptable to have the two events simultaneously. Cllr. Dyton asked whether there could be a barrier, and Cllr. Sykes suggested vehicles may help. Cllrs. Stratton-Brown and Marchant said that the Cricket Club should ask their insurers whether there is adequate cover, giving them all of the facts. Councillors agreed that they would prefer the Cricket Club not to play on that date. The Clerk will respond to the Cricket Club and also check the Parish Council insurance. iii.) Annual Parish Meeting. The Clerk was asked to invite representatives of the Police, Leigh United and Crandalls Charities, School, Village Hall Committee and the District Councillor Cook and County Councillor Lake. In addition the Clerk will include the date in an article for the Parish Magazine. 8. ENVIRONMENT Cllr. Croft requested if the benches at Saxby Wood could be cleaned. These are the responsibility of West Kent Housing; the Clerk will ask if they will action. There have been more complaints regarding dog fouling. The Clerk will note this in the Parish magazine, especially when the directory is next published in June. 9. FOOTPATH WORKING COMMITTEE This Committee still continues to meet and is updating the path information. 10. PLAYGROUND The Clerk has spoken with Peter Bullock, a consultant recommended by Sevenoaks District Council, and will brief him fully tomorrow. Councillors agreed to give the Clerk authority to agree a fee of a maximum of £500. Clerk gave Cllr. Croft a copy of the information sent to other Councillors by email by Cllr. Powell on recommendations for playground. This contained official guidelines such as those for area and fencing. 11. VILLAGE HALLS. Nothing to report. 12. AGED PERSONS DWELLING. Nothing to report. 13. TRANSPORT Southern Trains took over from South Eastern on 14th December 2008. Clerk was asked to write to Southern to object on the loss of services between Gatwick and Tunbridge Wells, and to enquire about the timetable in front of the Village Halls. 14. YOUTH FORUM Cllr. Bennie has a meeting on 4th March which will hopefully confirm a start date of 11th March in Hildenborough. This will be a different type of group and will not be suitable for the youth of Leigh, plus there may be transport issues. Cllr. Bennie passed the insurance renewal documents to the Clerk for filing which is not needed for the time being. It was noted that there the playing of loud music from cars by Jessica's Hall is causing a nuisance. The Clerk will report this to the police. 15. CORRESPONDENCE for information only had already been circulated.
16. FINANCIAL MATTERS To consider an application from St.Mary's Church PCC for a grant of £300 for the production and distribution to the village of the twice yearly Leigh Directory. The Parish Council are receptive to this request but asked the Clerk to confirm when the PCC last received a grant from the Parish Council. Cllr. Croft informed the Parish Council that his charges for mowing would be increasing by 20% for the first time in at least 4 years. Cllr. Croft left the room while Council fully discussed this. The actual increase equates to £32 for mowing Charcott, Well Close, Old Vicarage, Jessica Hall, Chestnut Green, and the Burial Ground. Cllrs. Marchant and Sykes thought this a reasonable increase and the issue of collecting the grass was discussed. It was conceded that this would substantially increase the cost from whoever would carry this out. All councillors agreed to the increase in prices and asked Cllr. Croft for ideas about grass collection once he returned to the room. Cllr. Croft said it was an issue of cost but agreed to Cllr. Marchant's suggestion that extra cuts would perhaps help matters. The Clerk will speak with the chosen supplier of the bench in memory of Harry Lucas, past Chairman of the Parish Council, and Harry's daughter Sandra Nicholls. Councillors preferred the more concise 'In memory of Estelle and Harry Lucas' rather than anything longer, as it would be more legible.
17. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION Cllr. Dyton registered his disappointment that Kent County Council (KCC) did not better publicise and forward the initiative 'War on Waste' earlier so that he could apply. The Clerk will register this with KCC. Cllr. Marchant stated that there will be a huge problem with the state of roads due to the harsh winter and KHS's lack of adequate budget. Meeting closed at 10.00pm. Signed............................................................... Chairman................................................................. Date..................................................................
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