HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 4 June 2007 in the Village Hall, South Darenth at 7.30 pm

 

Present: Cllr P Bradley (Chairman)

              Cllrs R Eagles, D Mitchell, M Oram, C Page, J Stevenson,

              G Tripp, R Valentine and E Wilson

 

S Arnold, District Councillor

P McGarvey, District Councillor

2 members of the public

In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk

 

Apologies for Absence: R Gough, County Councillor

Declarations of Interests: None

 

 

24          MINUTES

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting and the Annual Parish Meeting both held on 8 May be approved and signed as correct records.

 

25          MATTERS ARISING

 

County Councillor’s Grant Fund

 

Members were asked to consider any projects which might be put forward to be grant-aided from this fund. They were informed that the closing date was not until next February but that as money from the fund was given out during the year, an early application could be advantageous.

Members asked to see a copy of the scheme’s parameters.

 

Membership of committees and other bodies

 

Further to Minute11 (5/07) new Members were informed that both the ROS and the Village Hall committees have the powers to appoint further members at any time. Cllr Page asked to be included in the membership of the ROS Cttee.

 

South Darenth Noticeboard

 

Cllrs Eagles, Oram, Page, Stevenson and Valentine asked to be part of a small group of Members wishing to be involved with the details of the new noticeboard for South Darenth.

 

26          POLICE MATTERS

 

The PCSO’s report was received via Cllr Valentine.

 

Parish Council Representatives

 

Police Liaison

Mr Alan Burchmore and Cllr Robert Valentine were appointed to carry out in this role jointly. It was agreed that Mr Burchmore be informed that he must liaise with the Parish Council before he takes any action on its behalf.

 

 

27          REPORTS OF DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

Stephen Arnold, newly-elected District Councillor introduced himself

 

Cllr McGarvey informed the meeting that he had been appointed to the Development Control Cttee and asked that all objections to planning applications that are sent to the officers also be sent to him.

 

 

28          VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE

 

The Minutes of the last meeting were received for information.

 

29          PLANNING

 

 

SE/07/01616/FUL

Mussenden Cottage, Mussenden Lane

Addition of dormer to create landing area and new bedroom at first floor level

 

The Parish Council has no comments on this application.

 

The following decision notices were received for information:

 

SE/07/00214/LBCALT

Ash Tree House, The Street

Small single storey extension 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 the existing.

GRANTED

 

SE/07/00544/FUL

2 The Bungalows, School Lane

Demolish existing garage and shed & construct new garage.

GRANTED

 

SE/07/00776/FUL

14 Russell Terrace, Lombard Street

Single storey rear extension

GRANTED

 

SE/07/00784/FUL

31 Churchill Road

Conversion of existing conservatory into habitable room

GRANTED

 

SE/07/00794/FUL

Bayhams Cottage, Rays Hill

Single storey front and rear extension

GRANTED

 

SE/07/01124/FUL

Oak View Stud Farm, Mussenden Lane

Field shelter and access way in Mussenden Field with associated landscaping

REFUSED

 

The following notice of Appeal was received for information:

 

SE/07/00391/FUL

Beeches Farm Cottages, Canada Farm Road

Installation of a 12m high small wind turbine

 

The following notice of enforcement action has been received for information:

 

Oak View Stud Farm, Mussenden Lane

Carrying out building and engineering works, namely the erection of a field shelter and laying of a bitumen trackway, without planning permission. 

 

 

30          ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

 

RESOLVED that the statement of accounts and the annual governance statements as shown on the extract from the annual return form (as shown at Appendix A to these Minutes) be approved and signed.

 

 

31          SAXON PLACE GREENS

 

Members discussed whether the Parish Council wished to take ownership and management of the 2 grassed areas in Saxon Place currently owned by Sevenoaks District Council in view of the poor state of the 2 strips used by residents for parking. 

 

Sevenoaks District Council has now formally offered these 2 areas of grass amenity area at nil cost but is not prepared to carry out any re-instatement works before transfer. Members were very concerned about legal liabilities if the land was left with large ruts and trip hazards.

 

It was agreed to take advice on what the Parish Council’s obligations would be before taking any action on this matter.

 

32          PARISH PLANS

 

The clerk informed members briefly about Parish Plans and Cllrs Bradley and Eagles would check to see if they were able to attend the information days on 30 June.

 

33          VILLAGE HALL EXTENSION

 

Members were informed that the next meeting with the consultants would be on Tuesday 12 June at 7pm in the parish room.

 

34          PLAY FACILITIES

 

RESOLVED that the Parish Council rather than the ROS committee deal with the provision of play facilities which are part of the section 106 agreement funding from the Paper Mill site redevelopment.

 

35          PARKING ENFORCEMENT IN RURAL AREAS

 

Members were asked to identify any known illegal parking “hotspots” in the parish. This had arisen because Sevenoaks District councillors had complained that the rural areas were not getting their fair share of patrols.

 

RESOLVED that Sevenoaks District Council be informed of the following hotspots:

  1. The yellow lines outside the Post Office;
  2. The yellow lines on the corner of Montgomery Road; and
  3. The yellow lines on the corner of Paddock Close.

 

At the request of the Chairman the voting on this decision was recorded and was as follows:

FOR:                   P Bradley, R Eagles, D Mitchell, M Oram, C Page, J Stevenson,

                            G Tripp, R Valentine and E Wilson

 

RESOLVED that Sevenoaks District Council be informed of the following hotspot:

4        The roads near both entrances of the school at the beginning and end of the school day.

 

At the request of the Chairman the voting on this decision was recorded and was as follows:

FOR:                    P Bradley, R Eagles, G Tripp, R Valentine and E Wilson

AGAINST:           D Mitchell, J Stevenson

ABSTAINED:     M Oram, C Page

 

 

36          REDUCTION IN STATION TICKET OFFICE HOURS

 

RESOLVED that this Parish Council give its wholehearted support to Sutton at Hone and Hawley Parish Council’s fighting to the closure of the ticket office at Farningham Road station at 10.30 am from 4 June.

 

 

37          NEWSLETTER

 

RESOLVED that the fee for the production of each parish newsletter reading for printing be increased to £125.

 

 

38        HIGHWAYS SEMINAR

 

 

Members were informed that 2 representatives were invited to a Highways seminar to keep Parishes and Town Councils up to date with the way that KHS are working on Tuesday, 26 June 2007.

 

Cllrs Oram and Valentine said they would like to attend.

 

 

 

39        SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS

 

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

 

The meeting ended at 9.14 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

Date