Parish Council Minutes for 14th September 2009Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 14th September 2009 commencing at 8pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. Stratton-Brown. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllrs R. Dyton, D. Bennie. Cllr. Powell and Knock were absent. PRESENT: Cllrs. C. Stratton-Brown (Chairman), R. Sykes, A. Johnston, P. Croft, G. Marchant and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. None. 3. MINUTES of the Parish Council meeting held on 3rd August were approved. Proposed and seconded by Cllrs. Marchant and Johnston. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 3rd August. i.) The Clerk was reminded to write in favour of improved transport option to Pembury Hospital. ii.) Cllr. Marchant enquired about the replacement sign at the junction of Philpots/Scabharbour Lane that the Parish Council had been consulted on. The Clerk replied that she had been told by Kent Highways (KHS) that the matter was being dealt with by the contractors but that no time frame was available. iii.) Councillors were urged to think of projects that could benefit from County Councillor Peter Lake's fund for small Highways projects. Cllr. Sykes took some literature on the subject from the Clerk and will report back. iv.) Councillors were asked for ideas concerning the free trees offer and it was noted that the dead tree by the Church at Porcupine House could be replaced. There was discussion about the cherry trees in front of the village halls, one of which is dying. It was agreed that they should be replaced as a pair, and Cllr. Croft will speak with Les Jones at Sevenoaks District Council (SDC), and Cllr. Johnston will bring this to the attention of the Village Halls Committee. Questions were also asked as to the ownership/management of the small green by Well Close. 5. REPORTS District Councillor Alison Cook sent her apologies. i.) Kent County Councillor Peter Lake advised that he would arrive later. ii.) Police. PCSO Kingscott and PC Ingram sent their apologies; the Clerk forgot to bring the report by PCSO Kingscott but noted that she had detailed the trouble encountered at the Produce Show marquee on Friday 4th September, plus various incidents around the Green. iii.) Open Session. Mr Rowley thanked the Parish Council for delaying its meeting by one week so that it did not clash with the Bishop's visit. He regretted the continuing problem of dog fouling in the village but didn't know who was responsible. Mr Rowley had spoken with the landowner about cutting back the hedges between Great Barnetts and Little Barnetts Farm, and complained that the contractor cutting The Green was cutting too close. Mr Rowley asked the Clerk if there was any more information about the idea of a playground, to which the Clerk replied only that she was attending a meeting on 18th September with representatives of the School and Kent County Council (KCC) to discuss whether the school playing fields at Lealands Avenue could also be considered as a viable location for a childrens' playground for the wider community. The outcome of these discussions will be incorporated into a questionnaire sent to parishioners to seek their views on whether there is still a desire for a playground, and if so, which location would be thought most suitable. Mrs Joyce Field added that there were fireworks on The Green on the night of the 5th September, without permission, which was attributed to a wedding party from the Village Hall. Also she noted that the unfinished footway from Home Farm is now full of weeds. 6. PLANNING i.) Planning applications: SE//09/01790/FUL Moat Farm Barn, Powder Mill Lane, Leigh TN11 8PY. Installation of wood burner requiring external black flue. Councillors felt that the flue appears too high and therefore would be domineering. SE/09/01698/LBCALT 2, Fleur De Lis Cottages, High Street, Leigh TN11 8RL. Removal of load bearing wall and relocation of door opening. Councillors had no objection. SE/09/02011/FUL 4,The Square, High Street, Leigh TN11 8RJ Single storey extension to the rear of the existing property and internal alterations to ground floor kitchen. Councillors had no objection, subject to any concerns expressed by the neighbours. The Parish Council also wishes to note that the eastern boundary appears to be overlapping with No.5. The Chairman informed Councillors that the Clerk had briefed the Planning Committee that there would be no more extensions to consultation deadlines granted to Parish Councils by SDC. ii.)Notice of work to trees in a Conservation Area: 09/01930/WTCA West Cottage, High Street, Leigh TN11 8RL. Removal of 1 laburnum tree. Councillors had no objection. iii.) Planning decisions by Sevenoaks District Council: Grant of permission: SE/09/01391/FUL& 01402/LBCALT Little Moorden, Cinder Hill Lane, Leigh TN11 8HU. Erection of single storey side extension and roof extension over. SE/09/01334/FUL Wickhurst Brook, Coppings Road, Leigh, TN11 8PR. Erection of 2 storey side extension and new window to downstairs dining room. Demolition of 2 garages and outbuildings and erection of new single garage. SE/09/00733/FUL 3 Coppings Brook Cottages, Coppings Road, Leigh TN11 8PP. Erection of single storey porch with toilet. SE/09/01765/AGRNOT Moorden Farm, Station Hill, Chiddigstone Causeway. Proposed utilitarian multi purpose farm building. Amended site plan received 1.9.09. Approval of details: SE/09/01555/DETAIL Pauls Farm Cottage, Ensfield Road, Leigh TN11 8RX. Details pursuant to condition 3 (joinery) of SE/06/02091/FUL. Refusal of planning permission: SE/09/01237/FUL The Cottage, Southwood, Scabharbour Road, Hildenborough. 2 storey side extension Appeal dismissed: APP/G2245/E/09/2104637/WF & SE/09/00320/LBCALT South View The Green Leigh Tonbridge Kent TN11 8QR. Insertion of two conservation style roof windows in rear roof slope. Refusal of Listed Building Consent. 7. CURRENT ISSUES i.) Speedwatch The Clerk asked for Councillors suggestions on creative ways to reduce the speed of traffic into the village, particularly from the western (Chiddingstone) direction. She would like to forward these to KHS instead of waiting for them to respond to a general request for traffic calming. It was suggested that there should be interactive signs at both ends of the village, and that the Gibbs Field sign should be erected without further delay as the footway at Home Farm was going to remain unfinished indefinitely. The Clerk was also asked to refer to the police for their opinion. ii.) Neighbourhood Watch. The Clerk suggested reviving this initiative that originally resulted from the Parish Plan and was recently suggested by PC KingScott. The first stage in setting up a scheme is to gather a few volunteers, and then arrange a meeting with a Police N.W. Liaison Officer to decide what area the scheme should cover. Councillors agreed and was asked to request for volunteers via the Parish Magazine. 8. ENVIRONMENT i.)To consider current policy of SDC regarding works to trees in a Conservation Area. Councillors agreed that SDC's policy of accepting one report (instead of two) was not a matter appropriate for the Parish Council to debate, and that any issues relating to works to trees should be ultimately dealt with by the experts at SDC. The Clerk asked for exact instructions for her application for work to trees on the yews by the Pump. The Chairman and Cllr. Croft advised that reducing the height by 50% would suffice. ii.)Kent Highways funding opportunities in Leigh ranging from bus shelters to illuminated signs. See Matters Arising 4iii. 9. FOOTPATH WORKING PARTY. The Chairman reported that a meeting in October would be proposed. 10. PLAYGROUND Refer to open session 5.iii.
11. VILLAGE HALLS No report. 12. AGED PERSONS DWELLING The Clerk advised Councillors that she would be asking Peter Fullbrook to provide a quote to take over the boiler service. Although the boilers are new this year, the Clerk has booked appointments with British Gas for servicing this month as the annual contract with them expires at the end of the month. 13. TRANSPORT No report. 14. CORRESPONDENCE for information only had already been circulated.
15. FINANCIAL MATTERS The additional costs incurred by works to the church clock pulleys amounts to £2,440+VAT, and the Church would welcome if the Parish Council could fund half. Cllr. Sykes requested time to assess the spend to date, with particular reference to S137 payments. The decision can then be taken at the next meeting. The following cheques were approved for payment, proposed by Cllr Marchant and seconded by Cllr. Sykes.
16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. The meeting closed at 9.25pm. Signed................................................. Chairman................................................... Date.....................................................
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