HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 7 February 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

P McGarvey, District Councillor

D Brazier, County Councillor,

6 members of the public

In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk

Apologies for absence: T Searles, District Councillor,

Declarations of Interest: None

144 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2005 be approved and signed as a correct record.

145 MATTERS ARISING

Villages Design Statement

Philip McGarvey said that the project of putting the text into a consistent and more professional format was taking longer than anticipated because of the many text boxes within the document.

146 MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE HALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Village Hall Advisory Committee held on 13 January 2005 be approved and adopted.

147 TRIANGLE OF LAND

Residents from Dartford Road reported that the owner had stopped using the land for huge bonfires following the issue of a statutory nuisance order by the environmental health department of SDC. There were still concerns about the untidy state of fencing along the roadside which was made up of old doors.

148 KENT MINERALS AND WASTE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

Members were informed that Parish Councils had been asked for their comments on a scoping document for the creation of a Statement of Community Involvement in connection with this Development Framework. Members were informed that they could read the document which is available in the parish office. The information was received.

149 THE SOUTH EAST PLAN

Members were informed that a copy of this document has been received for public consultation and that it is available for them to read in the parish office.

150 BURIAL GROUND LAND – GREEN BURIALS

Members were asked to consider if the provision of an area for green burials where a tree is planted but otherwise no mark is made and the land is left to wildlife would be something to consider for the future in addition to the more traditional burial ground. It was agreed that more information on the subject might be useful.

151 PCSO

Members discussed how the PCSO was working after his first 2 months and personal experiences were related.

RESOLVED that

1. PCSO Peter Hylands’ immediate superior, Sgt Smith be asked to supply the PCSO’s working patterns as promised; and

2. Sgt Smith be requested to attend the next parish council meeting to explain how and where he is being deployed.

152 SRA PROPOSALS

Cllr Wescombe explained how the recently published proposals showed a reduced service to 1 per hour in both directions throughout the day with an additional 2 trains in the peak period to London in the morning and 2 from London in the evening. The contra peak had no additional service. The Ebbsfleet service would not be an attractive alternative because of the additional travel needed by car plus the 35% increase in cost and the lack of a combined rail and tube ticket from there. Longfield is not losing any of its service, whilst Swanley is.

Cllr Wescombe stated that FRAG committee had met and wanted to do more work on the travel survey and this would be undertaken via the parish website.

Philip McGarvey suggested that action should be taken to try and get the Longfield trains to stop at Farningham Road.

RESOLVED that a letter be written to the SRA expressing this Parish Council’s continued strong opposition to the loss of so many trains particularly in the contra peak directions.

153 ALLOTMENT - NOTICE TO QUIT

The clerk reported that she had given written notice to quit to an allotment holder in accordance with the agreement which requires the plot to be kept in good cultivation and weed free. The holder does not want to give up but there is still a waiting list of 4 people wanting a plot. Members were asked to look at the plot in advance of the meeting.

The plot holder tabled a document in which she asked to be allowed to keep half of the plot. Photos taken recently were shown to Members

The plot did not appear to have been worked for several months and was very overgrown which was a nuisance to other gardeners as well as a contravention of the allotment agreement.

RESOLVED that the notice to quit should stand.

154 CHRISTMAS REFUSE COLLECTIONS

There was considerable discussion on the subject of Richard Wilson’s reply to a complaint that residents in this parish had had to wait 15 days for a collection of their rubbish and a request that this should not happen again at Christmas 2005.

A response from the Community Services Director to Cllr Wescombe’s personal response was also considered. It was pointed out that every time Christmas occurred on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday those with a Monday collection would suffer unless the system was altered to allow for this.

Those who have bought green refuse collection bins in this parish also missed a collection because of the Monday service and SDC had offered no promise that this would not happen again to the same people in 2005.

RESOLVED that

1. a strong letter of censure be sent to Richard Wilson for his reply to a simple request; and

2. assurances continue to be sought from those responsible for the delivery of refuse in the District that those households with a collection day on Monday and Tuesday should not suffer again in 2005 and 2006.

155 REGIONAL ONE DAY CONFERENCE

The clerk invited Members to a Society of Local Council Clerks on Wednesday 6 April in Crawley. Subjects covered included reducing anti-social behaviour, partnerships to tackle vandalism, conduct of meetings and risk. Cost per delegate is £30.

Cllr Valentine said he would like to go if he is available that day.

156 SALT BIN(S) FOR SOUTHDOWNS

Members gave further consideration to this request which was first discussed in July 2004. Members were still of the view that as Southdowns is a private estate it is up to the estate management to provide such facilities.

RESOLVED that no action be taken to help financially with the provision of salt bins on the Southdowns estate.

157 PLANNING

TPO No 3.71

93 Shrubbery Road, South Darenth

Reduce horse chestnut by 30 – 40 %

The Parish Council has no objections to this work.

SE/05/00167/FUL

2 The Bungalows, School Lane

Incorporation of land into domestic curtilage and erection of brick and flint wall

The Parish Council has no objections to this wall nor the incorporation of the land into domestic use provided it is not used as a builders’ yard.

The following decision notices have been received:

SE/04/02296/FUL

Point Pleasant Dartford Road

Double Storey Side Extension and New Crossover to Provide Second Access Point

GRANTED

SE/04/02726/ful

Telecomms Equipment North of Pylon ZZT23 Skinney Lane

New 15 metre high lattice tower, antennas and dish

REFUSED

SE/04/02829/FUL

7 East Hill

Conservatory

GRANTED

SE/04/02847/FUL

64 East Hill

Excavation to Create Parking Space

GRANTED

158 REPORTS OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

Eglantine Villa Open Day

No one had been able to attend this but the chairman had heard that it had been in connection with the location of an intensive care unit in the nursing home and the incorporation of the nursing home into the residential part.

159 REPORT OF COUNTY COUNCILLOR

David Brazier reminded the parish council that the deadline for community grants under his control was 29 March 2005.

160 SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS

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

161 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Works at 56 School Lane

Cllr Powsey was concerned that an asbestos garage had been demolished without due care and that a new building was being built in the garden. The clerk was asked to find out if permission was required.

Lullingstone Visitor Centre Closure

Cllr Tripp was concerned about the loss of the popular centre and asked that everyone write to object to its loss.

Philip McGarvey explained that the closure was for financial reasons but that another body was being looked for to run it.

David Brazier informed the meeting that KCC did not want it to close and would be making a statement about the future of the centre in 2 weeks

The meeting ended at 9.30 pm

Chairman

Date