HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 27 November 2003 in the Parish Room, Village Hall, South Darenth at 7 pm.

Present: Cllr P Bradley (Chairman),

Cllrs, D Payne, G Piller, M Powsey, D Snape, G Tripp,

R Valentine and I Wescombe

P McGarvey, District Councillor

D Brazier, County Councillor,

In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk

Apologies for absence: Cllr A Burchmore, T Searles, District Councillor,

Declarations of Interest: None

114 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2003 be approved and signed as a correct record.

115 MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE HALL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Chairman remarked that the discussion which had taken place on whether or not the Valley Players should be charged for the Saturday before a performance had not been recorded. The set that was on the stage caused considerable inconvenience to some potential users which meant that bookings could be lost. It was agreed by those present at the village hall committee meeting that a second recommendation: “that there be no extra charge to the Valley Players or any other drama group for Saturdays when the stage was occupied by their set” should be added to the Minutes of the meeting. This recommendation was then discussed and, on being put to the vote, it was resolved that a charge be made for any Saturdays when the stage was occupied.

RESOLVED that, subject to the addition of the above resolution, the Minutes of the Village Hall Advisory Committee held on 13 November be approved and adopted.

116 CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS

Report

Some parishes print information that should not be made public on a brightly coloured sheet so that Members know it is confidential. The clerk said she intended to adopt this practice and will use bright yellow.

It was suggested also that the word confidential be typed at the top of the sheet to avoid any confusion.

117 RAIL LINK ACTION GROUP FUNDS

Report

There is still some £10,000 in a bank account for an Action Group that doesn’t really exist anymore. As the Eurostar trains are coming through, now is the time for residents to decide if they need that money for any reason connected with the Rail Link or whether it should be diverted to other community schemes. The clerk suggested that an item should be put in the next newsletter asking residents whether there is sufficient feeling for the need for a new Action Group committee to be formed. If not, it could be suggested that the money be given to the parish councils so that they can decide how the money should be spent.

RESOLVED that this suggestion be approved and that a date in March be set by which comments should be returned.

118 ST MARY’S CAROL SERVICE

Report

The Church usually asks if a Member of the Parish Council would do one of the readings at the Nine Lessons and Carols service. This year it is on Sunday 14 December at 4 pm. Would anyone like to do it?

Cllr Tripp agreed that she would do this.

119 CHRISTMAS FLOODLIGHTING

Report

The Parish Council usually makes a donation to the cost of floodlighting St Mary’s at Christmas. Last year it was £60. Do you want to continue with this?

RESOLVED that £60 be donated to St Mary’s Church to help towards the floodlighting of the church.

120 CPRE

Report

The Council is a member of CPRE. Subscriptions (£25 for organisations) are due for 2004. Is this something the Parish Council wishes to continue paying?

RESOLVED that membership of the CPRE continue.

121 SALT BIN

Report

In February we requested a further salt bin in School Lane, higher up than the one at the Churchill Road junction. The Highways department has one to install but cannot find a suitable location. The Field Study Centre driveway was suggested but is not possible. The pavement by the layby outside number 48 is not felt to be sufficiently far away from the existing bin. Do we have any other suggestions?

Discussion

Cllr Powsey who is also caretaker of the Field Study Centre told the Council that a space had now been found at the Centre for a salt bin.

122 NHS TRUST

1 CHRISTMAS CONCERT

An invitation has been extended to councillors to attend this concert on Tuesday 16 December in the foyer of Darent Valley Hospital from 7 pm. Please let me know if you wish to attend.

2 QUARTERLY BRIEFING

Latest briefing meeting covers Patient Choice Letters and Child Protection Policy on 9 December at 1 pm.

No Members were able to attend either event.

123 LOWER PADDOCK – BRICK WALL AT HOLMESDALE ROAD

Report

Part of this wall was knocked over at the beginning of the month. Does the wall need to be replaced or is there a better solution at this entrance to the Paddock?

Discussion

There was some discussion on how this entrance to the Lower Paddock should be dealt with. A suggestion of a 2 ft high rail and post fence might be adequate and an estimate of the cost was requested.

124 VILLAGES DESIGN STATEMENT

Comments were made on various paragraphs in the draft design statement which would be passed on to the team and the planning department.

125 PAVILION PIPE WORK

This matter is still outstanding and needs sorting out urgently before the freezing weather.

RESOLVED that the revised estimate submitted by Chris Elliott in the sum of £2753 be accepted and the work carried out as soon as possible.

126 PAPER MILL DEVELOPMENT LAND

1 To confirm that the Economic Steering Group is an official ad hoc Working Group of this Parish Council.

RESOLVED that this be confirmed.

2 To receive notes of the most recent meeting (attached on pink)

Cllr Wescombe gave a brief summary of future action to be taken by the Group including maintaining communication with the site owners and senior District Council officers.

127 VODAFONE PHONE ANTENNA – USE OF EXISITNG PYLON – PRE-APPLICATION CONSULTATION

Views on the use of the pylon on farmland next to the allotments for locating a Vodafone antenna have been requested. A cabin enclosed within a close-boarded timber fence will also be sited next to the pylon.

A photograph supplied by the applicant was shown to Members. The antenna was very tiny in comparison with the pylon.

It was noted that the application, which had been recently received by District Councillor McGarvey, was actually for 6 antennae and 2 dishes.

The Parish Council had no comments.

128 PLANNING

SE/03/02114/FUL 2 Beeches Farm Cottages, Canada Farm Road

30.4 x 10.4 metre steel framed dark green box profile sides and roof for storage of farm machinery.

The Parish Council has no comments on this application as it considers there is not enough information on the plans submitted. There is no location plan and it is difficult to tell from the plan submitted where and what the proposals are in relation to the area. It suggests that the application is refused until a proper plan is received.

SE/03/02721/FUL

40 Churchill Road

Single Storey Extension and Conservatory

The Parish Council has no comments.

The following decision notices have been received:

SE/03/02026/FUL

Spinneys, The Street

Demolition of Existing Conservatory and Erection of Replacement Single Storey Rear Extension

GRANTED

SE/03/02100

Meadow View, The Street

Erection of New 2 Storey 3 Bedroom House

REFUSED

SE/03/02115/FUL

2 Beeches Farm Cottages, Canada Farm Road

Relocation of Track

REFUSED

SE/03/02168/FUL

Traffic Island North of The Lodge, Franks Lane

Change of Use to Residential and Stationing of One Caravan/Mobile Home for a Gypsy Family

REFUSED

The following notice of Appeal has been received:

SE/03/02168/FUL

Traffic Island North of The Lodge, Franks Lane

Change of Use to Residential and Stationing of One Caravan/Mobile Home for a Gypsy Family

The Appeal will be considered at a Hearing on a date yet to be notified.

RESOLVED that

· a copy of all the comments made by this parish council be sent under covering letter to the Planning Inspectorate; and

· Cllr Wescombe be appointed to represent this Council at the Hearing if necessary.

The following Enforcement Notice has been received:

Riseley Hall, Eglantine Lane

Stables Building

Unless an Appeal is lodged, the owner is required to remove the stables and restore the land within 1 month of 29 October 2003.

129 REPORT OF DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

Cllr McGarvey reported on the Cabinet decision to withdraw bus passes from next year. He had various figures for the costs involved should this parish council wish to take on the burden. At over 200 issued annually, this parish has the fourth highest take up of bus passes and the cost would be in the region of £13,000 pa if the most popular (and most expensive) pass; the 20p flat fare pass was subsidised. It was decided that this should be considered at the next meeting.

130 REPORT OF COUNTY COUNCILLOR

David Brazier told the Parish Council more about the KCC’s Local Boards that would be meeting 4 – 6 times a year. The public would be invited to ask questions as well as hear topic-based information. The first meeting was likely to be on the subject of travellers.

131 SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS

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

132 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Hole on South Darenth Village Green

Cllr Payne reported that she had not been able to find out who was responsible for digging this hole. It was thought to be Thames Water but they denied it was theirs. The Paper Mill company which owns the land should know something about it.

Buses

Cllr Powsey had received various complaints about the Arriva buses and this would be discussed at the next meeting.

Dumped Rubbish in Eglantine Lane

Cllr Tripp wanted to put on record the excellent service from the Police and Sevenoaks DC for removing a large amount of dumped rubbish within 3 hours on the afternoon of Sunday 9 November.

The meeting ended at 9.45 pm

Chairman

Date