HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 2 July 2007 in the Village Hall, South Darenth at 7.30 pm

 

Present: Cllr P Bradley (Chairman)

               M Oram, C Page, J Stevenson, G Tripp, R Valentine and E Wilson

 

S Arnold, District Councillor

P McGarvey, District Councillor

3 members of the public

PCSO Peter Hylands

In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk

 

 

Apologies for Absence were given for Cllr D Mitchell and R Gough, County Councillor.

Cllrs R Eagles had also previously submitted her apologies.

 

Declarations of Interests: Cllr Bradley declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Minute * on the grounds that an organisation he is involved with has received grant monies from Fairview New Homes. He left the meeting during discussion of the item.

Cllr Oram declared a personal interest in Minute * on the grounds that he lives near this alley.

Cllrs Valentine and Wilson declared personal interests in Minute *  (re: 60 East Hill) on the grounds that they are friends with the applicant. ADD TO FOLDER WHEN COMPLETED

 

 

40          MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 June be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

 

41          MATTERS ARISING

 

County Councillor’s Grant Fund

A member asked at the last meeting to be told the scheme’s objectives which are as follows:

  • To promote and support the development of young people in the community
  • To help Kent’s most vulnerable adults and older people to live independently
  • To promote activities that encourage and celebrate cultural diversity and participation in civic life
  • To encourage active participation in local community life
  • To make Kent a safer county
  • To enhance Kent’s physical environment

 

The Chairman reported that he had received a request from some elderly residents who could not walk some of the parish’s footpaths because of styles and he gave notice that consideration of this matter in connection with the county councillor’s grant fund would be put on a future agenda.

Saxon Place Greens

Cllr Wilson and others reported that they had visited the site. Cllr Wilson felt that it could cost £20 per sq metre to reinstate the parking areas which would be a big liaibility to take on. Cllr McGarvey reported that he was pursuing the matter with Mr Latheron of SDC and was waiting to hear further.

 

School Parking

Cllr Oram reported that he had visited the site and he felt the situation outside the school, particularly in connection with emergency vehicle access, was frightening. He gave notice of his intention to raise the matter again when the new beat officer is in office. PCSO Peter Hylands reported that he had sent out a letter to all parents at the school and would be speaking to the headteacher next week.

 

Farningham Road Station Ticket Office Reduction in Opening Hours

A joint letter from Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley and this Parish’s chairmen opposing this reduction was approved for sending to Mr Charles Horton, Managing Director of SE Trains.

 

Highways Seminar

It was noted that this had been cancelled.

 

42          POLICE MATTERS

 

PCSO Peter Hylands was present and took questions from councillors as well as reporting on recent action. He mentioned that 2 further arrests for graffiti were imminent. He also said that PC Leggett had been successful at the interview stage and it was hoped that he would be in post for the summer holidays. Mr Burchmore, Police liaison representative was also present and presented his report. He commented that he was keeping an eye on the graffiti situation and will take photos of any that appear on parish council property. He said that SelectaDNA kits are selling well in School Lane and continuing information about them would be included in the next Parish Council newsletter.

 

43          REPORTS OF DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

 

Paper Mill Development Site – Problems re Dust in Millstone Mews

Both District Councillors reported that they have been taking up the case with district officers. Cllr Valentine also said that the Fairview screen is up and is effectively working. The Chairman asked both district councillors to ask now that the access does not become a permanent feature after the approved temporary approval.

Councillor McGarvey reported on roadworks in the vicinity.

 

 

44          RECREATION AND OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

 

The Minutes of the last meeting were received for information.

 

45          PLANNING

 

SE/07/00097/FUL

Four Winds, Dartford Road

Convert existing double garage into a separate dwelling including raised terrace

 

The Parish Council objects to this application on Green Belt grounds. A new dwelling would be contrary to Green Belt policy and rural protection policies as supported by GB2 of the Sevenoaks District Local Plan. The Parish Council also objects to the applicant developing the garage/annex in advance of any permission and requests that the applicant be made to remove all features that are different from the plan already approved as an annex to the main house some of which have a detrimental effect on the neighbouring property from overlooking and loss of privacy.

 

SE/07/01039/FUL

7 Kingfisher Place

Conservatory

The Parish Council has no comments on this application

 

SE/07/01373/FUL

Boyneswood, Mussenden Lane

Demolish existing bungalow and build new single storey cottage

The Parish Council has no comments on this application

 

SE/07/01695/FUL

60 East Hill

Side and rear roof extensions at first floor, creation of new bedrooms and bathroom

The Parish Council has no comments on this application

 

SE/07/01728/LBCALT

Horton Kirby Paper Mills

Reduction in height of the chimney by 12m

A copy of an email from 2 local residents objecting to this proposal was circulated to members.

 

The Parish Council would like to see the full height of the existing chimney remain unless it is structurally unsafe or not economically viable to keep. If the round part of the chimney has to come down, councillors would ask for a new, shorter section of circular brickwork to be built.

Cllr Wilson requested that it be recorded that in his professional opinion the round part of the chimney should come down as proposed.

 

 

SE/07/01761/FUL

Meadow View, The Street

Single storey rear/side extension

 

The planning inspectors had not had time to visit this property so consideration on it was deferred to a future meeting (30 July).

 

SE/07/01852/FUL

6 Rashleigh Way

Single storey side extension and porch

The Parish Council has no comments on this application

 

SE/07/01944 & 1945/FUL & LBCALT

Little Franks, Franks Lane

Provision of gates and railings to front boundary

The planning inspectors had not had time to visit this property so consideration on it was deferred to a future meeting (30 July).

 

The following decision notices were received for information:

 

SE/07/00167/FUL

Land east of Horton Kirby cricket club, Franks Lane

Change of use from agricultural to leisure

GRANTED

 

SE/07/00212/FUL

Ash Tree House, The Street

Small single storey extensions to side and rear, removal of part of the existing flat roof at the rear and replacement with a pitched roof in tiles to match existing.

GRANTED

 

SE/07/01317/FUL

36 Holmesdale Hill

Front single storey porch

GRANTED

 

SE/07/01356/FUL

18 Churchill Road

Two storey side extension and single storey porch

GRANTED

 

Villages Design Statement

 

Members were informed that Seal Parish Council had alerted other parishes to the fact that SDC does not intend to include any of the VDSs in its Local Development Framework even though some, like ours, have been adopted as supplementary planning guidance. Seal is suggesting that parishes join forces to ask for them to be included.

 

RESOLVED that Sevenoaks District Council be informed that this Parish Council strongly objects to the fact that the Horton Kirby and South Darenth Villages Design Statement is not proposed to be part of the Local Development Framework and a copy of this response be sent to Seal Parish Council..

 

 

 

Planning Training Event

 

Members were informed of an invitation from Gilian Macinnes, Head of Development Services, SDC for councillors to attend a training forum for parishes and towns on Wednesday 18 July at 7 pm but no discussion was held on the matter.

 

 

46        PUBLIC CONVENIENCES

 

A petition from the WI urging the Parish Council to keep the public conveniences open all year was submitted. The matter was deferred until a future meeting.

 

 

47          BURIAL GROUND

 

Fees

RESOLVED that the fees for the parish council burial ground be increased by 3% rounded up to the nearest £5 to take immediate effect.

 

 

48          STREET NAMING

 

Members gave suggestions for names of the new street(s) in the Paper Mill Site which the clerk noted for the file. It was agreed to give more thought to this and consult as widely as possible with local people.

 

 

49          RIVERSIDE KINDERGARTEN PRE-SCHOOL – FORTY YEARS

 

RESOLVED that, to commemorate the fact that Mrs Reynolds has been running Riverside Kindergarten for 40 years this year, the following entry be made by the Parish Council in the 100 Year Wood book:

 “In recognition of the devoted work by Cecelia Rose Reynolds for 40 years at Riverside Kindergarten Pre-School which has been much appreciated by so many in the community (July 2007)”

 

 

50          TRAFFIC CALMING NEAR GIFFORDS COTTAGES HOLMESDALE ROAD

 

Cllr Stevenson raised this matter at the request of the resident whose house has been hit by traffic 3 times in the past month. There was discussion on how the new road layout at the bottom of East Hill, which is part of the Paper Mill re-development works, would affect traffic movements outside Giffords Cottages. It was decided to ask Highways officers to come out and give their advice on what could be done to improve the situation.

 

 

51          FIGHTING COCKS LICENCE

 

Members were greatly concerned to receive letters from neighbours of the Fighting Cocks regarding excessive noise from late night activities and to hear that the public house was not abiding by the terms of its licence.

 

RESOLVED that the Sevenoaks District Council licensing officers be asked to investigate the matter in conjunction with the environmental health department and that copies of correspondence be given to both district councillors.

 

 

52          SHRUBBERY ROAD – SURVEY

 

Members agreed that the matter should be taken forward and a meeting to discuss play equipment possibilities was being held in the near future. It was suggested that it was most important that ideas from this meeting should be passed on to residents for comments so that any equipment installed would be public driven.

 

53          COMPLAINTS POLICY

 

RESOLVED that the complaints policy as attached be adopted.

 

 

54          FIREMAN’S RUN

 

Members talked about the old chainlink fence behind which a lot of unsightly litter collects. It was decided to get a price for removing this fence and then consider whether to approach Leeraj once more about getting it taken down.

 

RESOLVED that no action be taken to accept responsibility for litter collection along this path.

 

 

55          SIDE ALLEYWAY BY VIADUCT ADJACENT TO 8 HORTON ROAD

 

Members considered if any action should be taken on the question of litter in this area.

Those who had walked the path felt that no action was needed.

 

 

56          BUS SHELTER ROOF

 

RESOLVED that a sum of up to £150 be approved for repairs to the bus shelter roof.

 

 

57          ADDITIONAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

 

It was agreed to hold a Parish Council meeting on Monday 30 July to consider those planning applications deferred from earlier this meeting. On the same evening, following the closure of the Parish Council meeting, meetings will be held to discuss the proposed village hall extension and parish councillor training.

 

 

 

58          REPORTS OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

 

Code of Conduct

Members reported from their recent meetings held at Sevenoaks and Gravesend. Those who attended the Gravesham Borough’s presentation found it most useful but it “scared the living daylights out of them”. As a result Cllrs Valentine and Oram had resigned immediately from the South Darenth Village Society and had taken advice from the Standards Board which was still awaited. It was agreed that this response would be awaited with great interest.

 

 

59          SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS

 

RESOLVED that the schedule of accounts, as submitted, be approved and payments made accordingly.

 

 

60                      BUDGET COMPARISON

 

A budget comparison document covering the 3 months from Apr to June was considered and accepted.

 

 

 

 

The meeting ended at 9.51pm

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman

 

Date