HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

25 MARCH 2004

 

MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 25 March 2004 in the Village Hall, South Darenth at 7 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 (arrived later)

20+ members of the public

 

In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk

 

Apologies for absence: T Searles, District Councillor, D Brazier, County Councillor,

 

Declarations of Interest: None

 

 

186        POLICE MATTERS

 

PC Geordie Laidlow was present at the meeting and took questions.  Speeding traffic was a serious issue with several residents of South Darenth who wanted to know what could be done to slow it down.  A parish-wide 20 mph limit was suggested and a request made for the Police to operate a mobile speed gun in Devon Road on a Sunday afternoon when the problem was very bad. 

 

School parking was raised as a problem but PC Laidlow said he had to strike a balance between slowing the traffic down and allowing pavement parking.

 

The anti-social behaviour of youths outside the Jolly Millers was also raised.  PC Laidlow said that Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) had worked very well in Temple Hill and Gravesend and that they would be looked at when the situation at the Jolly Millers got to the top of the priority list.

 

Asked his opinion of Police Community Support Officers, Geordie welcomed any help he could get.  He said they do a fantastic job elsewhere helping to fight the fear of crime by working with the elderly and the youth.

 

 

187         MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2004 be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

 

188        MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE HALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Village Hall Advisory Committee held on

11 March 2004 be approved and adopted.

 

 

189        RIVERSIDE KINDERGARTEN PRE-SCHOOL – FEES INCREASE

 

A statement was read by the Chairman and a press statement would be release soon (copy attached as an appendix to these Minutes).

 

 

190        FENCE ERECTED BY FISHING CLUB AT WESTMINSTER FIELD

 

Report

Members will probably be aware of the fence that the Fishing Club is erecting around most of its land.  This is very intrusive and the club will be mitigating the effect by planting and painting.  However, the main concern of this Parish Council is along the boundary with Westminster Field where the fence seems to have been erected on parish council land.

 

A report from Cllr Bradley explained the situation as at 7 March. The Angling Society’s hon. secretary has been told to stop work and legal advice has been taken.  The latest letter from the Society dated 16 March states that the position of the boundary has been checked by them by consulting Land Registry Title Plans and that the work will be completed by 19 March.  The Society has been advised not to continue with the work until agreement on the boundary has been reached.

 

Discussion

The clerk reported that she had a copy of the Title Plan from which it is clearly impossible to measure accurately the exact line of the boundary.

 

RESOLVED that a meeting be sought with the Dartford and District Angling and Preservation Society before deciding what further action to take.

 

 

191        SPEEDING VEHICLES THROUGH SOUTH DARENTH

 

Report

South Darenth Village Society has asked for this subject to be put on the agenda.

 

“The issue of speeding traffic is often raised at our meetings and the discussions inevitably turn to calming methods. We understand this has been discussed previously but would like to raise the matter again. It is also disconcerting that the view seems to be that "South Darenth doesn't have a problem" and that "parked traffic acts as a natural speed deterrent" - apparently comments made by PC Laidlow?

“So really we would like to know what the Parish Councils' thoughts are and what would need to be done in order for them to act”

 

Discussion

Representatives of South Darenth were not particularly happy with the Police’s response to the earlier discussion.  They wanted him to start a campaign with the simple aim of reducing the overall speed of all vehicles in the village.

 

The Speed Indicator Display (SID) through the Sevenoaks District Council and the Police is available if a number of volunteers offer themselves for training.  Several people offered to do this and it was agreed to progress this as soon as possible.  A fixed SID was also something to be considered.



192       PROBLEMS IN COOPERS CLOSE – REQUEST TO CLOSE TOP PADDOCK

 

Report

Cllr Payne raised this matter last meeting and copies of 2 letters to the Police from Coopers Close residents have been received.  A telephone request has also been made that the Top Paddock is locked at night to prevent those youngsters causing the nuisance having an easy escape route.  This would probably require new fencing and gate as the existing section is quite dilapidated and could be broken down.

 

After some discussion, it was agreed to find out how much new fencing would cost.

 

 

193        HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY

 

A copy of a letter received from Jennifer Shaw of Kent Rural Community Council following the decision on this item last meeting was circulated.  She gave additional information and offered to come back if the Parish Council changed its mind.

 

RESOLVED that Ms Shaw be informed that, in accordance with Standing Orders, the Parish Council is not able to change its decision for 6 months.

 

 

194        BUS SERVICES

 

Report

The clerk reported that she had attended a useful meeting organised by West Kingsdown Parish Council to which Eynsford, Farningham and Fawkham PCs were also invited as well as KCC and SDC officers.  She had learned that one of the two weekly shoppers buses to Gravesend has been taken over by KCC although the one to Sevenoaks has not been.  One aim of the meeting was for parishes to see what provision was needed and whether grant applications could be made.  The requirement for a grant application is that a transport survey is undertaken so that the need can be assessed. 

 

RESOLVED that a traffic survey be carried out.

 

195        STRATEGIC RAIL AUTHORITY – INTEGRATED KENT FRANCHISE RAIL SERVICE SPECIFICATION

 

Report

This consultation document has been out since the end of January and had been sent to District Councils with the instruction to inform parish councils.  Unfortunately Sevenoaks District Council had consulted with Sevenoaks and Edenbridge Rail User Groups and Swanley Town Council but had not told this Parish Council.  Local people had heard about it and had immediately alerted local parish councils as the implications for Farningham Road station are severe and far-reaching.

 

Morning peak period trains to London are to be reduced from 7 trains to just 2 and there will be no trains in the Medway direction.  For returning home in the evening, the current 8 trains from London would be reduced to 2 and during the evening peak period there would be no stopping trains London-bound.  Off-peak service would be cut in half.  Weekend services are not mentioned.

 

The SRA expects use of Ebbsfleet station which will give a 15 minute journey into St Pancras.  It is not sure what they expect workers and schoolchildren who want to go to Longfield and Medway to do.

 

RESOLVED that a response be made to the SRA objecting strongly to these unacceptable cuts in service.

 

 

196        ALLOTMENTS – RAT INFESTATION

 

Reprt

John Wood, an allotment holder has written to ask the Parish Council to provide money for rat poison.  He says:

 

“I have spent quite a sum of money on rat poison but as I am the only one to do so, I clear my holding only to have the problem come back.

 

“I feel a blitz over a 2 week period would solve the problem.”

 

Discussion

There was brief discussion that putting rat poison down would be a waste of money as it would only solve the problem for a very short time as more rats would soon come from other areas of open country nearby.

 

RESOLVED that no action be taken on this request.

 

 

 

 

 

 

197        LITTER AND RUBBISH

 

A letter from a Montgomery Road resident was circulated for information  Mr Frewer felt that South Darenth is a disgrace to the people who live there as they do nothing to keep it clean and tidy.

 

A South Darenth Village Society member stated that the Society does have occasional litter picks by volunteers and offered to tell Mr Frewer when the next one was.

 

It was pointed out that the litter behind the railway fence along Station Road is disgraceful.

 

 

198        KENWARD TRUST

 

A letter from this charity, which helps those with drugs and alcohol abuse problems,  asking for a donation was considered.

 

RESOLVED that no donation be given to this Sevenoaks-based charity.

 

 

199        MISCONDUCT BY MEMBERS

 

The Standards Board and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are consulting on new rules regulating investigations of alleged misconduct.  The information was received.

 

 

200        PLANNING

 

SE/04/00623/FUL

The Hutch, Rabbits Road

Attached Garage and Games Room

 

It was reported that there was insufficient information on the plans showing existing elevations to be able to compare.

 

 

SE/04/00627/FUL

1 Holmesdale Cottages, Holmesdale Hill

Two Storey Side Extension

 

The Parish Council has no comments.

 

The following decision notices have been received:

 

SE/03/02114/FUL

2 Beeches Farm Cottages, Canada Farm Road

Steel Framed Building for Storage of Farm Machinery

GRANTED

SE/03/02753/TELNOT

Farmland Between Skinney Lane and Horton Road

Telecommunications Equipment (6 antennae and 2 dishes) on Existing Pylon.

GRANTED

 

 

SE/03/02759/FUL

The Stores, The Street

Retrospective Change of Use from B1 Office to Single Dwelling and Alterations to Front Elevation

GRANTED

 

 

SE/03/02966/FUL

12 Russell Terrace, Lombard Street

Single Storey Rear Extension and Rear Dormer

GRANTED

 

 

201                REPORTS OF COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

 

Kent Association of Parish Councils

 

Cllrs Bradley and Piller reported on a recent attendance at a meeting of the Sevenoaks Area Committee of KAPC.  The invitation had been extended with the view to this Council becoming a member of the Association.

 

RESOLVED that no action be taken to join this Association.

 

 

202                REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

 

Cllr McGarvey talked briefly about the Community Plan and the Countryside Plan.  He referred to Real Nappy Week which Sevenoaks was promoting and offered places on a trip to the Rainham recycling plant if anyone was interested in going.

 

 

203        SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

203                ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

Horton Kirby Paper Mill

 

Cllr Wescombe was asked for an update on the Paper Mill site.   He briefly mentioned his meeting with the planning officers and said that Sevenoaks will be very firm in applying the rules.

 

 

The meeting ended at 9.05 pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman

 

 

 

 

Date