HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the ANNUAL MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 4 May 2006 in the Village Hall, South Darenth at 7.40 pm.

Present: Cllr P Bradley (Chairman)

Cllrs A Burchmore, D Payne, G Piller, M Powsey, D Snape,

G Tripp, R Valentine and I Wescombe

P McGarvey, District Councillor

R Gough, County Councillor

4 members of the public

In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk

Apologies for absence: Cllr Searles (another meeting)

Declarations of Interest: Cllr D Payne (Minute 17)

1 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN FOR 2006/7

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Cllr P Bradley be appointed Chairman for 2006/7

Declaration of acceptance of office was signed.

2 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR 2006/7

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Cllr I Wescombe be appointed Vice-Chairman for 2006/7

3 POLICE MATTERS

PCSO Peter Hylands was on holiday and therefore unable to attend. Cllr Burchmore submitted his report for information. Cllr Burchmore reported progress on the 4 letters he had sent to parents of those known to have caused criminal damage seeking compensation. Two parents had paid, one had disputed and had been advised to contact the Police about the facts of the matter and nothing more had been heard whilst the fourth had not yet been delivered by the Post Office. Cllr Burchmore had been advised to re-send this letter and follow up the other asking for an immediate answer.

4 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

Cllr McGarvey gave a brief annual report of District Council matters including the free bus pass scheme which was still have teething troubles.

5 REPORT OF COUNTY COUNCILLOR

Roger Gough reported on recent matters including the primary school strategy and the 414 bus. He also said that forms were available for applications to his £10,000 grant fund.

6 MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings held on 3 and 12 April 2006 be approved and signed as correct records.

7 MATTERS ARISING

Parish Council for Hextable

Cllr McGarvey informed members that the decision had been overturned by full council in the light of more information and that the request for a new parish was going ahead.

Fence in St Mary’s Churchyard

Cllr Tripp reported that a site meeting had been held and estimates for fencing had been requested but only one quotation had been received. The matter would be considered at the next meeting.

Parish Councils Consortium

This meeting had been postponed.

8 RECREATION & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the last meeting of the committee were received for information.

9 MEMBERSHIP OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND OTHER BODIES

RESOLVED that membership to committees and other bodies be as shown below:

Village Hall Committee

Chairman and Vice Chairman

Cllrs Burchmore, Tripp and Valentine

Carol Blendell, Anita Cockrill, Marie Meggitt and Sharon Ross

Recreation and Open Spaces Committee

Chairman and Vice Chairman

Cllrs Payne, Piller, Powsey, Snape and Valentine

Welfare Working Group

Chairman and Vice Chairman

Cllr Payne

DRIPS

Malcolm Dunn

Planning Inspectors

Cllrs Burchmore and Powsey with deputies Cllrs Valentine and Wescombe

Footpaths

Cllr Bradley

Darent Valley Rural Age Concern

Cllr Tripp

Swanley Volunteer Bureau

Cllr Piller

Police Liaison

Cllr Burchmore

10 CALENDAR OF MEETINGS

RESOLVED that the calendar of meetings for 2006/7 be as follows:

Parish Council meetings to be held on the first Monday at 7.30 pm except where this falls on bank holidays. In August there will normally be no meeting.

The Village Hall Committee to meet bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September and November) on the second Thursday at 7.30 pm.

The Recreation and Open Spaces Committee to meet bi-monthly (February, April, June, August, October and December) on the second Thursday at 7.30 pm. The 2006 December meeting has been changed to Wed 13^th December.

11 THOMAS TERRY CHARITY

The annual report on this charity was received and trustees appointed.

This small charity has funds of £231 and is for the “poor of Horton Kirby” which includes South Darenth. Nothing has been spent in the past year.

RESOLVED that Cllrs Bradley and Powsey be re-appointed as trustees to the Thomas Terry Charity for a further year.

13 NEW FOOTWAY ON GRASS VERGE, THE STREET

Details of a new footway being installed by KCC Highways this month were received. Members were amazed to hear this as they felt that the money could be spent on better things. The clerk was asked to find out more and express this Parish Council’s objections to the proposal.

14 CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AND ENVIRONMENT ACT 2005

A letter from Ben Bradshaw of defra was circulated. It was agreed to look at this at the next meeting.

15 NHS OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

Members received an invitation to the next meeting of this committee on Friday 12 May at 10 am. Received for information.

16 PLANNING

SE/05/02000/FUL, 02001/LBCALT & 02002/CAC amended

Horton Kirby Paper Mills, Horton Road, South Darenth

Mixed development of 210 1, 2, 3 & 4 bed residential units including 44 affordable housing units.

There was considerable discussion following the letter dated 27 April 2006 from SDC’s Gilian Macinnes to Fairview New Homes making further comments about the proposals for the site. The items discussed included the continued inclusion of bollards plus planters which were not wanted, the percentage (25%) of affordable housing being pushed for by Sevenoaks, the profitability of the site and the need to get the site developed as quickly as possible, traffic requirements, and the amount of contribution to the village hall extension being asked.

Cllr Wescombe agreed to write a response to Ms Macinnes.

SE/06/00627/FUL

Fairhavens, Mussenden Lane

Retention of replacement building to be used as amenity block and tack room/feed store

The Parish Council objects on Green Belt grounds. It is also concerned about the proliferation of mobile homes and other structures on the whole site which should be investigated.

SE/06/00825/FUL

Two Rivers, Mallys Place

Front porch and conversion of garage to study

The Parish Council has no comments on this application.

SE/06/00919/REM

Land adj 11 Coopers Close

Detached 3 bed house with integral garage and parking space

The Parish Council objects to this application on the grounds that it is overdevelopment of the plot and will lead to an increase in parking problems in the area. Parking problems are already acute and additional cars in the road plus the loss of parking in front of the garage and parking space will make things worse. We note that the parking for 3 cars specified in the outline application (SE/02/02455) has not been complied with.

Tree in Conservation Area

Wingetts, The Street

Pollard large poplar tree to 5 metres

The Parish Council has no comments on this application.

The following decision notices were received:

SE/06/00095/FUL

Four Winds, Dartford Road

Convert existing double garage into part annexe to main house to form bedroom/ lounge, dining kitchen/bathroom.

GRANTED

SE/06/00137/FUL

Land adj 11 Coopers Close

Detached 3 bedroom house with integral garage and parking space

REFUSED

SE/06/00194/LDCEX

The Old Vicarage, Horton Road, Horton Kirby

Conservatory

GRANTED

SE/06/00349/FUL

Tregea, Dartford Road

First floor side extension

REFUSED

The following enforcement notices have been received:

310/96/088

Fairhavens, Mussenden Lane

Demolition of amenity block building

310/05/199

6 East Hill

Removal of external rear staircase, first floor door and window and roof terrace

310/88/198

Plot 5 Horton Road

Untidy condition of plot and removal of various items

17 SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS

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

18 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Newsletter

Cllr Burchmore asked if Members would like him to write something for the newsletter on the subject of compensation for criminal damage. This was agreed.

The meeting ended at 9.20 pm.

Chairman

Date