Leigh in Kent - Parish Council Main

Parish Council Minutes for 5th October 2009

Minutes of the monthly Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 5^th October 2009 commencing at 8pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. Stratton-Brown.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllr. Croft, and for lateness from Cllrs. Sykes and Dyton. Cllr. Powell and Knock were absent.

PRESENT: Cllrs. C. Stratton-Brown (Chairman), R. Sykes, A. Johnston, G. Marchant, R. Dyton, D. Bennie and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk).

2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST. Cllr. Stratton declared a personal interest under item 6.ii., 'work to trees in a conservation area'.

3. MINUTES of the monthly Parish Council meeting held on 14^th September were approved. Proposed and seconded by Cllrs. Marchant and Johnston.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 14^th September.

The Clerk was reminded to write in favour of improved transport option to Pembury Hospital.

Cllr. Croft was not present to update the meeting on discussions with Les Jones of Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) with regard to the cherry trees in front of the village halls.

5. REPORTS

i.) Police. PCSO Kingscott and PC Ingram sent their apologies - Mondays are almost always their days off.

ii.) District Councillor Alison Cook advised that planning for next year's budget was underway, and that it would be even more difficult to save money as costs had already been cut. Although it was known that the increase from Central Government would be about 0.5%, other possible increases were unknown, eg. salaries, and what interests will be in the future. Cllr. Cook referred to the Draft Core Strategy on Affordable Houses, and the importance of identifying which category of village we fall under as the size of future development depends upon this. Cllr. Cook reported the hut that has been constructed on Hall Place land adjacent to the church, and noted that weeds are in abundance along the Home Farm footway. She also mentioned the abscence for some time of the sign at the junction of Coppings/Scabharbour Lane, and the Clerk replied that she had been advised by Kent Highway Services (KHS) that the order and designs for new signage have been passed to Ringway for manufacture, supply and installation and that it would be in place hopefully by December.

The Chairman said that he had produced figures that showed the village centre has a population below 1,000, which is one of the key levels of criteria determining the category of village, and the Clerk confirmed that she will post a letter detailing this to Alan Dyer of SDC tomorrow.

iii.) Kent County Councillor Peter Lake advised that the tender process for subsidised bus services in the district has started as existing services will expire in March 2010. He declared that as these provided a life line for those who do not live near train stations and he would fight to save these services if any fall under threat, and would hope to have the Parish Council's support. Over the next 3 years Kent County Council (KCC) needs to save £200m, a staggering but essential amount that would require cutting costs. Cllr. Lake reported that he had received a letter from parishioner Sue Smith regarding the possible suitability of a playground at Lealands Avenue rather than the Green, and that he was keen to see this develop and to source funding if this was thought viable. He stated that the issue had been pondered over for many years and it was sensible to reach a conclusion one way or another. Cllr. Lake reminded Councillors for their application to the Members Highways Fund of £25k for six parishes, and outlined the provisional suggestions he had received from the Clerk which included a new cycle route linking Greenview Avenue to the Penshurst/Tonbridge route, a continued footway linking Knotley Hall to Chiddingstone Causeway, resurfacing of Green View Avenue and an interactive sign to the west of Leigh. Finally Cllr. Lake stated that he had asked KHS to clear the weeds on Home Farm footway.

A discussion then took place ahead of the agenda regarding the Highways Member Fund. The Clerk reported on the initial response from David Smith, Senior Projects Officer KCC's Countryside Access Service, Environment & Waste in response to her enquiry regarding the cycle route, which had been proposed for discussion by the Chairman before the meeting. David Smith promised to visit the site soon to see how any current constraints - gates, bridges, steps etc - could be improved or modified to allow access for cyclists, as well as to assess available width and surface condition. An approach would also need to be made to landowners and other interested parties (esp. the Environment Agency). If landowners are agreeable and the route can be improved to accommodate cyclists, funds would have to be sourced to be able to implement this project. Cllr. Lake said that the Clerk should pursue this project and it may later be taken up within the Members Highways Fund. Cllr. Sykes had evaluated the Fund's terms and believed that the interactive sign was also worth pursuing. The cycle route, interactive sign and suggestion to continue a footway at the top of Lower Green by the Fleur de Lis were supported by Councillors, and the Clerk will submit these three proposals by 31^st October.

iv.) Open Session. Sue Smith asked whether a playground questionnaire would contain a full description of the equipment eg. flooring, fencing, as it would be difficult for respondents to answer without this information and the age group was also important. Chris Rowley requested that the playground item be moved higher up the agenda so that interested members of the public did not have to wait so long. This was eventually agreed to.

10. PLAYGROUND

Clerk updated Council on the meeting she had attended on 18^th September with Cllr. Stratton-Brown and 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. Whilst the response was extremely positive, an idea of the size of land required would be needed at the very least for the Governors to consider this request at their next meeting on 22^nd November (this was subsequently advised for the 18^th November). A discussion took place about the difficulty of deciding upon the age range and therefore equipment and size required without knowing which age range was most in need as expressed by parishioners. Cllr. Marchant also wondered if there was still a demand, as there had been no positive opinion expressed by parishioners on the subject, and felt that no-one was driving the playground project and that it appeared directionless, which reflected badly on the Parish Council. It was eventually decided that a carefully worded questionnaire would at least give a definitive answer, and an approximate age and size could be ascertained from research already produced in the Playground Report produced by the Playground Committee earlier this year. The Clerk suggested she would draw from this in her reply to the School Governors, to which Councillors agreed.

6. PLANNING

i.) Planning applications: None received

ii.)Notice of work to trees in a Conservation Area: 09/02178/WTCA Bombers Cottage Lower Green Leigh Tonbridge Kent TN11 8RU. Cllr. Stratton-Brown withdrew . Members had no objection..

iii.) Planning decisions by Sevenoaks District Council:

Grant of Planning Permission: SE/09/01685/FUL AND SE/09/01688/LBCALT White House, High Street, Leigh TN11 8RH. Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of single story extension.

SE/09/01812/LBCALT White Post Oast, Chiddingstone Causeway, TN11 8JH. Insertion of 2 conservation rooflights in southern roof slope of converted barn and 2 conservation roof lights in western roof slope at of cartilage outshoot. SE/09/01698/LBCALT2 Fleur De Lis Cottages, High Street, Leigh TN11 8RL. Removal of load bearing wall and relocation of door opening.

Appeal: APP/G2245/A09/2103763/NWF & SE/08/02812/FUL Land to the Rear of Garden Cottages, Powder Mill Lane, Leigh Tonbridge Kent. Erection of 2 storey, 56 bed care home. To be heard at The Hollybush Indoor Bowls Centre, Hollybush Close, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3UX on 13/10/09at 10am.

7. CURRENT ISSUES

i.) Speedwatch The Clerk has not heard of any recent activity from the volunteers and has assumed that they are waiting for a response from her request to KHS for alternative ways to cut the speeding traffic in the village. The Clerk asked the police for their opinion regarding traffic calming in Leigh and was advised that KCC (meaning KHS) would be the appropriate contact.

ii.) Neighbourhood Watch. The Clerk has had no response yet to her recent request for volunteers via the Parish Magazine.

8. ENVIRONMENT

i.) Kent Highways funding opportunities in Leigh ranging from bus shelters to illuminated signs. This item was discussed under item 5.iii. Cllr. Marchant complained that with regard to grass cutting, there still hadn't been a second cut and many triangles had not been cut once. Cllr. Lake requested that the Clerk write a letter to KHS expressing their total dissatisfaction with verge cutting. Cllr. Dyton noted the fly-tipping near the Old Laundry, Hildenborough Road, to which Cllr. Cook replied that she had reported it to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council. The Clerk updated Council on her discussions with KHS regarding the lack of a dropped curb along the Hall Place side of the High Street, and asked Councillors where they would like curbs introduced. It was agreed that near to the entrance to Hall Place and Church Hill was preferable. Cllr. Sykes met with Simon Kidd of KCC Landscape Services who agreed not to cut the grass as it was too hard and dry. Cllr. Sykes raised Mr Rowley's comments about 'scalping' which was acknowledged.

9. FOOTPATH WORKING PARTY. No report.

11. VILLAGE HALLS

The cherry trees will be discussed on 13^th October. Cllr. Johnston announced that they have been awarded level 1 in the Action with Communities in Rural Kent Hallmark Scheme. Cllrs congratulated the V.Halls Committee.

12. AGED PERSONS DWELLING

The Clerk notified Cllrs. that Mrs Fagg had requested a shower and she would be asking Peter Fullbrook to provide a quote for both properties, and also she would make enquiries with SDC about reserved parking.

13. TRANSPORT The Clerk noted that despite a letter from Southern Rail confirming otherwise, the train timetable still has not been reinstated outside of the village halls.

14. CORRESPONDENCE for information only had already been circulated.

Correspondence for Action up to 6^th October Action/Copy

Commencement of consultation for the Sevenoaks District Strategy for Transport 2009-2026. Documents may be downloaded from www.kent.gov.uk/publications/transport-an-streets/sevenoaks-transport-strategy.htm. Comments in by 27^th November. Clerk to forward to Cllr. Stratton-Brown.

Letter from English Rural Housing Association (ER) explaining the impact that Choice Based Lettings (CBL) will have on the homes owned and managed by ER in Leigh. CBL is a way of advertising properties and inviting households on the housing register to apply for properties that they would most like to live in. Because of oversubscription the successful applicants are those who qualify and have the greatest need. ER will continue to liase with Parish Councils over local connection of applicants and ask for their assistance in marketing the homes and making sure local people apply for them. Applicants must be on the local authority housing register.

KHS Training session for 'My Kent Highways On Line', formally known as the parish portal on Wednesday 21^st October 11.30am - 12.30pm at Aylesford. Clerk to arrange an alternative date to attend.

15. FINANCIAL MATTERS

To consider the Clerk attending SLCC S.E. Regional Conference in Uckfield, 11^th November. Cllrs. agreed.
To consider payment towards further works to the Church clock, £2,440+VAT.

Cllr. Sykes had reviewed spending so far this year April-September, and noted that a large part of administration costs had been incurred by the annual insurance. £3,500 had been budgeted for S137, which legally could be increased to £8,400. There was a contingency of £1,000, and £2,000 allocated for the APDs had not yet been spent. The current balance was £8,600 to which could be added the second half precept of £8,750 and VAT refund. Therefore there would be approximately £25,000 to cover £11,000 of ordinary expenditure. The additional costs incurred by works to the church clock pulleys amounts to £2,440+VAT, of which half would be donated by the Parish Church Council (PCC). Cllr. Marchant and Dyton proposed and seconded acceptance and the Clerk will inform the PCC and request a full invoice from Smiths of Derby. The following cheques were approved for payment.

chq. no. List of Cheques Amount VAT

1025 Clerk's expenses £102.61 £0.00

1026 Clerk's salary £456.78 £0.00

1027 Clerk's pension £116.99 £0.00

1028 Clerk's NI £2.38 £0.00

1029 Emptying dog bins July-sept £442.52 £57.72

1030 Village Noticeboard £800.00 £0.00

1031 mowing £80.00 £0.00

Total: £2,001.28 £57.72

Clerks expenses (September)

mileage @ .40p pm £24.21

working from home allowance £35.00

stationery £3.40

Open Spaces Society £40.00

Total £102.61

16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.

Cllr. Bennie reported the shed on Hall Place land and all agreed that it was at matter for the landlord to deal with. Concern had been expressed by all about safety with particular reference to broken glass.

With regard to rubbish dumped in the free church burial ground, it was suggested that the Clerk could place a polite notice and that Peter Croft might be able to look at this area with a view to pruning the bushes/trees.

The meeting closed at 9.55pm .

Signed.................................................

Chairman...................................................

Date.....................................................

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