HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

 

MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 4 July 2005 in the Village Hall, South Darenth at 7.30 pm.

 

Present: Cllr P Bradley (Chairman),

            Cllrs A Burchmore,  D Payne, G Piller, M Powsey, D Snape, G Tripp, R            Valentine and I Wescombe

 

T Searles, District Councillor,

P McGarvey, District Councillor

R Gough, County Councillor,

3 members of the public

 

In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk

 

Apologies for absence: None

 

Declarations of Interest: None

 

 

39        MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2005 be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

 

40        MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

 

The Minutes of the Recreation and Open Spaces Committee held on 9 June 2005 were received for information.

 

 

41        HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY

 

Jennifer Shaw of ACRK and Gavin Missons of SDC attended the meeting to discuss matters arising from the Housing Needs Survey.  Ms Shaw went through the findings of the survey which had a 24% response rate which was thought to be good.  58% of respondents would not object to a scheme if it met local housing needs and 39 households (of which 34 were in the parish) were in need of affordable housing.  She explained that the normal practice was to build 2 to 3 times less than the shown need which would mean that between 13 and 20 could be built.  Jennifer Shaw explained that she understood from Janine Allen former housing officer of SDC that the Mill site allocation could not be reserved for local people this was done by providing “exception” sites.

 

Cllr Wescombe stated his objection to further sites being provided in view of the huge development at the Paper Mill site and queried whether the rules could be amended by the District Council.  He asked that Gavin Missons take back the request that SDC’s policy be changed to allow local people to be allocated the affordable housing at the Mill.  It was suggested that the Shrubbery Road housing should be changed from shared ownership to rented if the rules can be changed, to meet the demand.

 

Cllr Wescombe agreed to email the salient points to Gavin Missons with copies to our District Councillors.

 

 

42        ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN

 

1                    Internal Audit

 

A letter from Internal Auditor, Nick Watkins expressing concerns was circulated

 

There was a great deal of discussion on the contents of the letter and the Chairman produced a sheet showing how the budget figures had been achieved.

 

It was decided that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman would meet with Mr Watkins to explain the matter fully.

 

2                    Accounts for 2004/5

 

RESOLVED that

1.      the accounts as attached be approved; and

2.      the Statement of Assurance on the annual return form be completed.

 

 

43        HEATHSIDE

 

To consider how to deal with allocating expenditure for Heathside development.

 

The Chairman has suggested that £40,000 be taken from reserves and put in to the budget for the purchase costs and other costs associated with the acquisition, maintenance and development of the land.

 

In view of the previous item, in which the auditor makes the point that money should only be allocated on known expenditure, perhaps the better way round would be to ask the R & OS Cttee to consider its budget, obtain prices and then divert what is necessary from reserves.  The clerk pointed out that it is important to appreciate that the additional work associated with the development of Heathside will need extra manpower in the office to carry it out.

 

RESOLVED that

1.      Heathside land be purchased at a cost of £25,000;

2.      funds be released from reserves to meet the cost of items agreed by the Recreation and Open Spaces Committee in its budget; and

3.      the subject of fencing, which is to be part of the legal document for the land purchase, be agreed at a special August parish council meeting.

 

 

 
44        CLEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS AND ENVIRONMENT ACT 2005

 

Members noted the contents of a letter from defra which detailed the powers offered to parish councils in this new legislation.

 

 

45        PAPER MILL REDEVELOPMENT

 

A letter written to Fairview New Homes and copied to SDC Planning based on comments made by the Economic Steering Group was received.

 

Cllr Wescombe informed Members of the public exhibition to be held in the village hall on 23 and 24 July.  He explained that he had requested an undertaking from Fairview to make sure that the comments from the public would be taken into account notwithstanding the fact that the Company intended to make formal planning application at the end of July. 

 

 
46        PLANNING

 

SE/05/01416/FUL

143 New Road

Conversion of integral garage to bedroom with ensuite bathroom.  Convert front lawn to extend driveway to accommodate 2 vehicles

 

The Parish Council has no comments on this application.

 

Cllr Wescombe expressed concern in general about the proliferation of dropped kerbs in New Road which was reducing the ability of people to park in the road.  County councillor Roger Gough agreed to take up the problem with highways officers.

 

 

SE/05/01524/FUL

Footway opposite The Bridges, Horton Road

Installation of a temporary vehicle crossover in order to gain access to Network Rail property.

 

The Parish Council has no comments on this application.

 

 

 

SE/05/1529/TELNOT

Telecomms Site Rabbits Farm, Rabbits Road

Change in type of  tower from approved monopole structure to a lightweight lattice mast

 

The Parish Council objects to this change as the lattice mast is unsightly.

 

SE/05/01624/FUL

Fairhavens, Mussenden Lane

Retention of replacement building to be used as amenity block

This is a resubmission with additional information of a recent refusal

 

The Parish Council objects to this application on Green Belt grounds.

 

The following decision notices have been received:

 

SE/05/00710/FUL

13 Forge Lane

Single storey side extension, loft conversion and alterations to rear parking area.

GRANTED

 

SE/05/00729.FUL

2 Beeches Farm Cottages, Canada Farm Road

Internal kennels to be built for sick/lame greyhounds

REFUSED

 

 

SE/05/00936/FUL

11 Churchill Road

Single storey conservatory to rear

GRANTED

 

SE/05/01027/DETAIL

Royal Oak Cottage

Details pursuant to SE/04/02593/FUL

GRANTED

 

 

SE/05/01072/FUL

2 The Bungalows, School Lane

Single storey side extension with new roof to form rooms in roof space

GRANTED

 

SE/05/00604/FUL

50 East Hill

Loft conversion

GRANTED

 

SE/05/01624/FUL

Fairhavens, Mussenden Lane

Retention of replacement building to be used as amenity block

REFUSED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

47        REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

 

Road Works on A20

Cllr McGarvey reported that works would start on 25 July from King’s Garage to Scratchers Lane and he warned drivers that a 30 mph speed limit would be in operation.

 

Villages Design Statement

Mike Higgins needed to hear from the Parish Council that it approved the Villages Design Statement and Cllr McGarvey asked that the matter be considered at the next council meeting.

 

 

48                REPORT OF COUNTY COUNCILLOR

 

Local Boards

Cllr Gough, who had been welcomed to his first meeting as new County Councillor, reported that local boards were continuing and were intended to be even more local than before.  Subjects for inclusion would be decided in September.

 

Community Grants

These grants which each county councillor had to allocate to local projects would continue.  He had £10,000 to split between 7 parishes.  The deadline was not until the end of February 2006 but he suggested that ideas should be considered now.

 

 

49        SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS

 

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

 

 

 

The meeting ended at 9.10 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman

 

 

Date