Parish Council Minutes for 2nd November 2009Minutes of the monthly Parish Council meeting held in the Small Hall, High Street, Leigh, Monday 2nd November 2009 commencing at 8pm under the chairmanship of Cllr. Stratton-Brown. The Chairman proposed changing the order of the agenda to accommodate a presentation from Playplace, which was agreed by Councillors. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllr. Marchant. PRESENT: Cllrs. C. Stratton-Brown (Chairman), R. Sykes, A. Johnston, R. Dyton, D. Bennie, P. Croft, J. Knock, H. Powell and Mrs. J. Butler (Clerk). 2. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTEREST None 5. REPORTS v.) Presentation by Play Place, providers of activities for young people. Mr Chris Hennis explained that PlayPlace was made up of two separate companies: pre-school nurseries and Play Place Innov8. Play Place - Innov8 CIC (Community Interest Company) delivers a broad range of not-for- profit services in the community via fun activities for children, young people and parents and includes regular youth clubs, holiday and summer programmes, community events, and consultation events. They aim to complement other local services but are often asked by sponsors and funders to work in areas where there are no other services for children and young people. Mr Hennis said that there was often a particular need in rural villages where there was often not much to do for the youth. There are currently 14 clubs across the region, including Edenbridge, Westerham, Seal, Hawkhurst and Kemsing (in January). It works like a traditional youth club but with a curriculum that can include creativity and ICT eg. photography and computing. The clubs are funded by an initial amount and then young people fund themselves eg. Housing Associations, Youth Opportunities Fund, or a Parish Council grant matched by Community Interest Fund. For one club per week for 38 weeks, the cost would be around £7,500. Mr. Hennis believed that there were a couple of groups of 14/15 year olds in Leigh who could benefit from experienced youth workers. They work closely with a large number of local and Parish Councils, Local Authority Teams, housing associations, members of the public, youth organisations and various funders. Cllr. Powell asked how the youth were engaged initially to which the reply was via existing groups, PCSOs, well publicised roadshows and other publicity or perhaps a Kent Detached Team. Response from members of the public included the statement that Leigh is good at offering sporting opportunities but not so much otherwise. Play Place claims to be good at reaching hard to reach youth. Mr Hennis stated that the minimum number was about 10, with a staff ratio of 1:8 ideally; the smallest, in Otford, has 15 members. Cllr. Johnston said that he thought the scheme sounded very positive. The Chairman thanked Mr Hennis for his informative presentation and asked how it could be progressed further and Mr. Hennis replied that they could look into funding opportunities but would need a financial commitment. Realistically nothing would happen until early next year, although it would possibly be worthwhile to talk with youth now, especially as consultation is needed for fund bidding. Mr Hennis observed that Kent County Council (Theresa Seal, Area Youth) were very supportive although not financially. iii.) Kent County Councillor Peter Lake reported that around £200m in savings had to be made by KCC over the next few years and it was going to be very hard. He said that he had signed off the applications for the Membership Highway Fund for a footway at Lower Green, interactive speed sign on High Street/Penshurst Road and a new cycleway from Green Avenue to Ensfield Road, and would keep us informed. Cllr. Lake had also put in an application to repaint the white lines, clean road signs and speed repeater signs. Cllr. Dyton asked about the progress of the interactive sign at Gibbs Field, and Cllr. Lake was not aware that he was meant to chase this, but was happy to do so. The Clerk said that she had reminded Kent Highway Services (KHS) who had passed her enquiry to Andrew Burton, the Highway Schemes Manager, who had yet to reply. 3. MINUTES of the monthly Parish Council meeting held on 5th October were approved. Proposed and seconded by Cllrs. Dyton and Johnston. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 5th October. None other than those items dealt with later in the agenda. 5. REPORTS (continued) i.) Police. The Clerk read out a report from PCSO Anne Kingscott which included nuisance door knocking. There was also report of a robbery with threat of violence, but no details are yet known. PCSO Kingscott will give Neighbourhood Watch (NW) posters to the Clerk for noticeboards. The Clerk updated Councillors about her visit to Sevenoaks District Council's Community Safety Unit (CSU), a new initiative jointly run by SDC and West Kent Police based the Council's Argyle Road Offices. Residents can report various community safety issues such as anti-social behaviour, graffiti, fly-tipping, drug problems, noise and environmental nuisance, issues about licensed premises and abandoned vehicles by calling 01732 227000 or www.communitysafety@sevenoaks.gov.uk. Information and advice can also be obtained about NW and other community safety issues. The aim is to bring the Police, Council and other agencies together to give a more coordinated response to community safety concerns. Emergency calls should still be made to 999. ii.) District Councillor Alison Cook sent her apologies but via the Clerk reported that she has been in touch with two different authorities in an attempt to have the tipping along the Hildenborough Road removed. Apparently not all has been removed due to asbestos. Cllr. Peter Lake said that he would contact the member for Hildenborough to try and get it removed. iv.) Open Session. A petition, entitled "The Possible Playground", was handed to the Clerk signed by 94% (63) of the individuals residing in approx. 33 households living around The Green, opposing a playground on The Green. Cllr. Powell objected strongly that she had been included in the petition without consultation, to which Mr Rowley and Mrs Field apologised for the mistake. Mrs Smith asked about the procedure for the questionnaire, and the Clerk replied that depending on the response from the School regarding an alternative location, the Parish Council had decided (July minutes) in to get a more recent opinion from villagers via a questionnaire. 6. PLAYGROUND The Clerk updated Council on her letter to Beverley Doherty, Chair of Governors of Leigh School regarding whether the Lealands Avenue playing fields could also be considered as a viable location for a childrens' playground. The letter outlined two options of 100m2 and 400m2 activity zones, with age ranges up to 8 years, and detailed items such as litter bins, seating, signage, gates and height of fencing. The details of this letter will be presented at the Governors meeting on 18th November. 7. PLANNING i.) Planning applications: SE//09/01840/FUL Hollows End, Lealands Avenue, Leigh TN11 8QU. Loft conversion with front and rear dormer windows. Members had no objection. ii.) Planning decisions by Sevenoaks District Council: Grant of permission: SE/09/01778/FUL Leigh Park Farm Oast, Coppings Rd., Leigh TN11 8PN Change of use of existing Oast to two holiday lets. Refusal of planning permission: Moat Farm Barn, Powder Mill Lane, Leigh, TN11 8PY. Installation of a wood burner in lounge requiring external matt black flue. The Chairman reported that he had attended the planning appeal by Barchester Homes for the land rear to Garden Cottages, and wasn't able to predict the outcome other than that the inspector was extremely thorough. The Chairman proposed that the Clerk write to SDC to request that the TPO rules that govern the pruning of fruit trees be dropped. Councillors agreed. 8. CURRENT ISSUES i.) Speedwatch The Clerk has requested that KHS look into other ways of calming the traffic along the Penshurst Road/High Street to complement the work of the Speedwatch volunteers. The Transportation Engineer, Steven Noad, will be performing random speed checks and analysing the latest personal injury related crashes; once this is done we will be told how a bid for an interactive sign scores alongside other requests throughout the county. ii.) Neighbourhood Watch. No response yet to requests for volunteers via the Parish Magazine. 9. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS Peter Croft will mend the bench by the Oak tree on The Green. A brief discussion took place as to whose responsibility it was to apply for the removal and replacement of cherry trees in front of the village halls. Cllr. Johnston will report back after speaking with the Village Halls Committee. The Clerk was asked to write to the owners of 1 Forge Square with regard to the size of their hedge making the footway difficult to pass along. A KHS drainage team are currently working in the Crandalls repairing broken pipework. The Clerk had previously forwarded the grass cutting timetable to Councillors and asked to be informed if it was thought that the cuts had not been completed according to the timetable. 10. FOOTPATH WORKING PARTY. The Chairman reported that the footpaths are being walked, and there will hopefully be a meeting in two weeks. 11. VILLAGE HALLS No report 12. AGED PERSONS DWELLING The Clerk advised that the British Gas service contract be revived as a recent incident involving No.1 which albeit was easily dealt with by her husband has illustrated that the bungalows need to benefit from 24 hour emergency care. Councillors agreed. 13. TRANSPORT No report. 14. CORRESPONDENCE for information only had already been circulated.
15. FINANCIAL MATTERS The Clerk reported that she had received the contribution from St. Marys PCC towards the church clock, and was asked to send a letter of thanks. Cllr. Croft and Knock proposed and seconded the signing of the cheques.
16. ANY FURTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION The Clerk requested if Peter Croft could prune the boundary of the old burial ground and Councillors agreed. Cllr. Johnston stated that the Village Halls will be in a position to fund their own insurance next year and will not be asking for a contribution from the Parish Council. The meeting closed at 9.55pm. Signed................................................. Chairman................................................... Date.....................................................
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