HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the ANNUAL MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 2 May 2005 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 and B Valentine
P McGarvey, District Councillor
1 member of the public
In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk
Apologies for absence: Cllr I Wescombe (holiday)
Declarations of Interest: None
3 POLICE MATTERS
PCSO Peter Hylands hoped to attend to talk about the Youth Council for which he would like the support of the parish council and also the Top Paddock project. Unfortunately he was not able to attend.
4 MINUTES
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 April 2005 be approved and signed as a correct record.
5 MATTERS ARISING
Fly Tipping
Cllr McGarvey reported on an initiative by KCC and the District Councils to minimise the impact of fly tipping and to try and prosecute those who do it. He gave out a phone number - 0845 345 0210 - which the public are urged to call if they see rubbish dumped in the lanes. He said that the public should expect to see positive action in May and hoped it would lead to prosecutions.
Heathside Land
The clerk confirmed that the land had been offered for £25,000.
6 WESTMINSTER FIELD ADVISORY COMMITTEE
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Westminster Field Advisory Committee held on 14 April be approved and adopted.
RESOLVED that members be appointed to committees and other bodies as shown below.
Chairman and Vice Chairman
Cllrs Burchmore, Payne, Tripp and Valentine
Hazel Barrett, Carol Blendell, Anita Cockrill, Marie Meggitt and Sharon Ross
Chairman and Vice Chairman
Cllrs Piller, Powsey, Snape and Valentine
The Westminster Field Advisory Committee will be wound up and replaced by the above committee.
Chairman and Vice Chairman
Cllr Payne
Malcolm Dunn
Cllrs Burchmore and Powsey with deputies Cllrs Valentine and Wescombe
Cllr Tripp
Cllr Tripp
Cllr Piller
RESOLVED that the calendar of meetings for 2005/6 be approved as follows:
Parish Council meetings be held on the first Monday at 7.30 pm. January and May meetings which fall on a bank holiday will be re-scheduled. 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 though extra meetings can be called from time to time.
To receive the annual report on this charity and to appoint trustees.
This small charity has funds of £227 and is for the “poor of Horton Kirby” which includes South Darenth. Nothing has been spent in the past year. Present trustees are Cllrs Bradley and Powsey. It was noted that it would be good to spend all the money so that the charity could be wound up and enquiries would be made of the Scouts and the School to see if it could be used to support children from poorer families on trips.
RESOLVED that Cllrs Bradley and Powsey be re-appointed as trustees to the Thomas Terry Charity for a further year.
To be informed of the financial commitment for this work, already approved.
Last May it was agreed that the tree clearance and wall rebuilding work would be included in an application for a local board community grant from KCC. It was known at that time that the grant would have to be match-funded by the parish council. South Darenth Village Society committee members have spent a lot of time getting this grant application organised and submitted and they have recently heard that this has been successful. A grant of approximately £1500 has been allocated and the Village Society is ready to make a start on the project.
RESOLVED that £1514 be allocated from contingency funds to help pay for this work.
To receive the notes of the latest meeting of the Works Organising Group held on 20 April 2005 and to consider specific requests as follows:
Top Paddock
The Works Committee has recently visited the Top Paddock and has suggested that the paddock should be unfenced at each side (Coopers Close and East Hill sides). Residents living nearby have expressed their objections to this verbally. In addition 2 letters have been received, one asking for the access to be restored and another asking for the entrance from Coopers Close to be closed.
There was much discussion on what should happen in the Top Paddock. A petition was awaited as this would allow public opinion to be assessed and quotes for fencing were also still to be received.
RESOLVED that further discussion be held when more information is known.
Grass Verge, The Street
To consider whether money should be allocated to pay for more posts to continue at each end of the ones recently erected.
It was generally agreed that the grass at the Bull Hill end of the verge was badly eroded and needed protection in order to improve the appearance. The Works Organising Group would count up how many would be needed and report back. The opposite end of the verge with the higher kerb would be left as it is at the moment.
Picnic Area
To consider whether funding should be made available for a mobility gate (cost £210 plus installation costs).
As installation costs were not yet known it was agreed to wait until the next meeting.
Wheelchair Access to School Play Area
RESOLVED that the Works Organising Group’s decision that it is unreasonable to provide this be confirmed.
To receive the draft housing needs survey and decide whether any further analysis is needed. To consider whether a meeting with SDC’s Housing Policy Officer would be useful.
RESOLVED that
1. the draft report be made available to Sevenoaks District Council;
2. the Chairman meet with the district housing officer; and
3. investigations into the possible development of the Top Paddock for housing be initiated.
14 HEATHSIDE LAND
1 Purchase
To report that the land has been offered at a price of £25,000, that this has been accepted and that further negotiations are in hand.
The original offer, in accordance with Brian Smith’s wishes, is shown on the attached plan. However, it is suggested that the Parish Council also offers to accept ownership of the strip of land shown as a right of way for both parties in order to ensure that it is maintained.
As can be seen from the plan, most of the car parking is to be offered to the bowls club. There will be just a narrow strip at the eastern end of the current car park that can be used if necessary. However, as has already been suggested, this land will be for local people who should be able to walk there. Vehicular access can still be possible when needed for special events like the Lions Fete and the Village Society Concerts.
There are a number of matters to be addressed at an early stage including fencing along the boundary with the bowls club and clearance of the entrance route onto the land. Other matters can be decided in due course.
2 Play Equipment / Youth Shelter on Heathside land
To consider whether the Heathside Open space will be an appropriate place to site play equipment which would otherwise have been required on the Paper Mill site and, if so, to give consideration to finding out what equipment will be needed and to apply for grants.
This item is connected with the Shrubbery Road play area and the Paper Mill redevelopment since it could be a more suitable site to accommodate play equipment or a youth shelter or both. It is also a matter to get the Youth Council involved with.
RESOLVED that a decision be deferred until further information is known.
15 SHRUBBERY ROAD GREEN / PLAY AREA
To report that the area has been cleared by SDC except the swings and to consider whether to support a bid by West Kent Housing to build on the land.
A draft plan showing 9 houses and a small area of play equipment has been received from West Kent. Housing officers are meeting with planning officers on 10 May and would like to know whether the parish generally supports this proposal. West Kent intends to consult with those living nearby. They would also propose to pass the equipment to the parish council to maintain once it has been installed.
RESOLVED that
1. support be given to the scheme provided that the dwellings are made available to parish residents; and
2. no commitment be given to maintaining any play equipment that may be provided as part of the scheme.
At the request of Cllr Payne votingwas as follows: Cllrs Payne, Snape, Tripp and Valentine voted against the motion and Cllrs Bradley, Burchmore, Piller and Powsey voted for the motion. The Chairman’s casting vote carried the motion.
16 VILLAGES DESIGN STATEMENT
To receive a final draft for approval in order for the grant to be released to the VDS team for printing.
There was some discussion on what action should be taken and by whom. It was necessary for the final version to be submitted to Sevenoaks District Council for adoption and Cllr Burchmore was advised that the Villages Design Team should do this (and be re-constituted if necessary, if it has been disbanded). The Team would also need to arrange publication.
RESOLVED that the Parish Council will make a financial contribution to the VDS when it hears from the Team that publication has been carried out.
17 FARNINGHAM ROAD STATION PROPOSED REDUCTION IN TICKET OFFICE SERVICE
To consider the news that Network Rail intend to reduce the service from full time to part time.
It was suggested that this was part of a cost-cutting exercise in conjunction with the forthcoming new franchises. The Sevenoaks Passenger Users Group was involved with reductions at other stations in the area and it was suggested that they be contacted for help.
18 BOARDWALK – WESTMINSTER FIELD / 100 YEAR WOOD
To consider the best way to deal with the problems caused by the boards breaking.
As Members will be aware, the boards were all replaced with thicker ones. However, despite this, two boards have broken. These have been replaced. The two had knots in them and this may be the reason they have broken so quickly or the span of about a metre is too wide (normal decking has a span of about 450 mm).
RESOLVED that if there are recurring problems with boards breaking, the whole structure be removed.
20 THE BULL PUB
1 Disruption to the Village from Customers
To consider whether any action should be taken to prevent disruption similar to that which occurred on Sunday 24 April.
Members discussed the activities, disruption to village life and damage to property caused by users of the pub, their children and their horses and carts throughout the day (18 pony and traps were counted at midday). The Police were called at least 5 times but did not come out.
The information (below) that the Bull has new licensees was welcomed but it was agreed that a letter should be sent to the Police giving details of offences and asking why no action was taken by them.
2 Transfer of Licence Application
To receive an application, which will be heard in June, for the transfer of the licence of the Bull from Jennifer Byard to Lynne Prentice and Garrett Phipps.
SE/05/00729/FUL
2 Beeches Farm Cottages, Canada Farm Road, South Darenth
Internal kennels to be built for the housing of sick/lame racing greyhounds
The Parish Council objects on Green Belt grounds
SE/05/00936/FUL
11 Churchill Road
Single storey conservatory to rear
The Parish Council has no comments on this application.
The following decision notices have been received:
SE/05/00076/FUL
Marlborough House, Dartford Road, Horton Kirby
Single storey side and rear extensions
GRANTED
SE/05/00082/TELNOT
Telecomms Site, Rabbits Farm, Rabbits Road, South Darenth
Timber Clad Monopole and associated equipment
APPROVED
SE/05/00167/FUL
Land North of 2 The Bungalows, School Lane
Change of use of land to incorporate it into curtilage of house and erection of 1.4 m high brick and flint wall
APPROVED
Avenue House, Holmesdale Road
Two houses to be built in the grounds of the listed building
REFUSED
SE/05/00423/FUL
Fairhavens, Mussenden Lane
Retention of a building to be used as an amenity block
REFUSED
The following Appeal Decision has been received:
SE/04/01417/FUL
Riseley Hall, Eglantine Lane
Reduction of Front Walls and Gates to heights varying from 1.3 m to 2 m.
APPEAL DISMISSED
Cllr McGarvey reported that Brian Rose, one of SDC’s planning enforcement officers had retired and would not be replaced. The result of this would be that enforcement would not be carried out unless the parish council made a fuss.
22 SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS
RESOLVED that the schedule of accounts, as submitted, be approved and payments made accordingly.
The Chairman asked that this item be put on the agenda of the next meeting to discuss whether the parish council wishes to take any action about this sale of farmland to householders as extensions to their gardens.
The meeting ended at 9.51 pm.
Chairman
Date