HORTON KIRBY AND
MINUTES of the
MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on
Present: Cllr P Bradley
(Chairman),
I Wescombe
T Searles, District Councillor,
P McGarvey,
District Councillor
D Brazier,
4 members of the public
In attendance: C Allart,
Parish Clerk
Apologies for absence: Cllrs G Piller and D Snape
Declarations of Interest:
Cllr Burchmore declared a prejudicial interest in
Minute 85 (10/04)
RESOLVED
that the Minutes of the meeting held on
RESOLVED
that the Minutes of the Westminster Field Advisory Committee held on
Report
Sgt Peter Smith met with
parish councillors on 23 October to explain how everything would work. He would be the managing officer and will
direct PCSO Peter Hylands’ shifts.
Discussion
Members considered whether
an extra phone line was needed as it was suggested that the existing village
hall phone line could be used if the hall did not need the facility. The use of the parish room where the public
could call in at certain agreed times was considered
and suggestions were made about possible structural alterations.
It was considered important
that PCSO Hylands should have a bicycle though there
was dismay at the high cost of this provision.
The £1000 total cost was necessary, according to the Police, for
insurance purposes.
It was noted that there
would be funds available since a full year’s salary provision had been made in the
budget but only 6 months of it would be needed this financial year.
RESOLVED that
1. the village hall advisory
committee would consider the detailed office arrangements for the PCSO; and
2. £500 be allocated towards
the provision of a bicycle for the PCSO.
Shrubbery Road
Report
Members found the fencing, seat and spring animal in
the playground to be badly damaged and the site was strewn with litter and
broken glass in the grass. The only
items that were OK were the two sets of swings.
There was considerable discussion about the fence
along the roadway which was not sturdy enough and there were differences of
opinion about what should take its place.
It was decided to tell SDC that this Council does not
want to manage the land and requests a meeting with officers to find a way
forward with the area as a whole. The
vandalised bench and spring animal should be taken out and the damaged fencing
round the play area should go except for the section along the road side which
was still good.
Lower Paddock
Report
Members looked at the overgrown area by Holmesdale Road.
It was decided to take down the wall and replace
with a new retaining wall just up to the level of the earth behind it.
The clerk reported that
agents Strutt and Parker will be trying to sell the
house and land as one lot but that if the eventual owners do not want to buy
any of the plots of land, they had taken note of this Council’s interest
The clerk reported that
there is currently a waiting list of 6 names so she had written to Sarah Ward
to ask if she could make any more land available for rent. Reported for
information.
Maroons have been purchased
for 11 November. The ceremony will take
place at 11 am at the village hall and all are invited to attend. Reported for information.
Report
Cllr Burchmore
has submitted his report which requests £2000 towards printing costs. The clerk reported that the latest version is
far from in its final form as it has at least 5 different type faces and page
layouts as well as many typing errors.
Many of the comments put forward by the Parish Council last time have
been incorporated but the results of the questionnaire have still been
included. Another aspect that Members
were concerned about was the presentation which obviously still has to be
addressed.
Cllr Burchmore
said that the Team would be happy to leave out the questionnaire results. He also said that a printer would be able to
put the draft into a professional looking format but other members did not
consider this to be a good idea.
RESOLVED that before any
money for printing is released the Parish Council would want to see the final
version.
The clerk reported that the
building had been covered in graffiti overnight Sat 16 October. This has been reported as a crime and PC Laidlow has taken photographs and passed it to the graffiti
team at Gravesend to add to the database there.
SDC have asked the Probation team to remove it but this will probably not be done until end
of November. Reported for information.
101 TOP PADDOCK – GATE
Report
Members will be aware that
residents of Coopers Close asked for the gate into the Paddock to be
locked. They thought that this would
help reduce the problems of youngsters running through from East Hill, throwing
things at their houses and running back through. PC laidlow
was aware of this action and thought the gate locking might help. The resident who managed the gate locking who
thinks it might have helped. He did have
an objection from one lady and he gave her a key to the gate but she
subsequently returned it to him as she didn’t really need it. Reported for information and any instructions
the Council wishes to give.
Members were happy to keep
the gate locked for the time being but continue to monitor the situation.
Notes of the meeting with
the Fishing Club held on 28 October 2004 were circulated. It had been suggested that the Club should
paint the fence dark green, plant on the Westminster Field side of the fence a
combination of hawthorn and blackthorn bushes and give a contribution towards
the planting of the wood extension as a gesture of goodwill. This would be discussed by the Club on 2
November. The club also undertook to
remove all the remaining barbed wire fencing from parish council land and pay
for any tree surgery on the large tree that is now in Westminster Field.
RESOLVED that subject to the
above conditions being agreed, the line of the boundary be accepted as the line
of the new fence.
It was reported for
information that the District Auditor has completed the audit of accounts for
the year 2003/4 and had no comments to make.
The first Monday is 3
January which is very soon after Xmas / New Year break. It also does not give a lot of time to
finalise estimates in order to set the budget.
Do you want to change the date of the January meeting or have 2 in the
month (one ordinary and one special for Budget consideration)?
RESOLVED that
1. the normal monthly meeting
for January 2005 be held on the first Monday as usual; and
2. a special meeting be held
later in the month to consider estimates and set the precept for 2005/6.
The clerk reported that the
loan has now been repaid and the Local History Society extends its thanks to
the Parish Council for its support which enabled the Schools book to be
published.
A copy of the budget
comparison for the period April – September 2004 was circulated to all Members
for information.
107 CODE OF CONDUCT FOR,
AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF, COUNCIL EMPLOYEES
Consultation papers received
from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister were noted.
The 8 parishes that
contribute towards the local CAB have been asked to put forward 2 trustees to
the new management board. No one was
interested.
SE/04/TEMP/0030
Horton Kirby Primary School,
Horton Road
Proposed External Canopy to
Rear of School (to form covered play area)
The Parish Council has no
observations.
SE/04/02592/FUL
2 Churchill Road
Single storey side extension
with rooms in loft space plus detached garage and shed
The Parish Council has no
observations.
SE/04/02593/FUL
Royal Oak Cottage, The
Street
Single storey side extension
replacing existing garage and conservatory.
The Parish Council has no
observations.
63 East Hill
Two storey side extension
The Parish Council has no
observations.
SE/04/02629/FUL
6 New Road
Two storey side extension
The Parish Council has no
observations.
Treetops, Holmesdale Hill
Two ash trees in back garden
The Parish Council will
leave the decision to the tree officer.
The following decision
notices have been received:
SE/04/01926/FUL
Erection of new 2 storey 3
bed house
REFUSED
SE/04/01930/FUL
The Hutch, Rabbits Road
Attached garage/games room
APPROVED
SE/04/01417/FUL
Riseley Hall, Eglantine Lane
Reduction of front entrance
walls and gates
REFUSED
SE/04/1813/FUL
6 New Road
Two storey side extension
REFUSED
SE/04/02069/FUL
62 School Lane
Proposed boarding cattery
REFUSED
Paper Mill site
Cllr Searles
told the meeting that the developers had had 2 informal meetings with officers
and it had been hinted that the developers wanted to level the whole site. He said that he had told officers that
affordable housing and light commercial was wanted on site. There was then discussion on what local
opinion really was and how to get a consensus.
Cllr Wescombe
informed the meeting of conversations he had had with the developers. They had said they would consult locally on
their ideas before putting plans in for planning approval.
Thames Gateway
Cllr McGarvey
reported on proposals to extend the Thames Gateway to the A20. There was going to be a meeting before the
end of the year at SDC and Cllr McGarvey would keep
the parish informed. Cllr Wescombe agreed that there was likely to be a blurring of
the edges of the Gateway, of which SDC approved, as that would mean money for
development might spill over into the northern parishes.
Budget Cuts
Cllr McGarvey
said that SDC Cabinet is having a hard ride with its plans to cut costs.
Highways Reorganisation
County councillor David
Brazier said that 35% of the Highways budget was spent on administration and
that the new system being put in place hoped to reduce this to 15%
Land Sales
Legal advisers had warned
KCC that vendors could be responsible for paying out damages if covenants and
other restrictions had not been made abundantly clear at the time of sale if
land was sold at auction was bought and developed by travellers.
112 SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS
RESOLVED that the schedule
of accounts, as submitted, be approved and payments made accordingly.
The meeting ended at 9.18
pm.
Chairman
Date