HORTON KIRBY AND SOUTH
DARENTH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on 18 December 2002 in the Parish Room, Village Hall, South Darenth at 7 pm.
Present: Clr P Bradley
(Chairman),
Clrs A Burchmore, M Busfield, E Hughes, D Payne, D Snape and G Tripp
T Searles, District Councillor,
D Brazier, County
Councillor,
3 members of the public
In attendance: C Allart,
Parish Clerk
Apologies for absence: Clr M
Cockrill (in hospital), H Goody (work)
Declarations of Interest:
Clr G Tripp declared an interest in the application for works to trees at Old
Coach House in Minute 106. Clr P
Bradley declared an interest in the grant to the Scout Group in Minute 103.
RESOLVED that, subject to
the deletion of Clr Payne’s name from the list of those present and its
addition to the apologies for absence list, the Minutes of the meeting held on
20 November 2002 be approved and signed as a correct record.
CCTV and Fencing work at
Horton Kirby School
Brian Greenaway reported
further that KCC officers had visited the school but had been unable to offer
any financial assistance.
Franks Lane – Use by Large
Vehicles
It was reported that a reply
had been received stating that there had been no injury related crashes in the
lane during the past 10 years, that the bridge was strong enough and the fact
that recent upgrading works (chevron signs) had been carried out to prevent
structural damage meant that a width restriction on structural grounds could
not be justified.
New Permissive Footpath from
A225 to Westminster Field
The Chairman reported that
he had signed the Lottery Board grant application form and this had been sent
off. A decision would need to be made
about whether this work would be carried out if the grant of nearly £800 was
not received.
Play Equipment – Shrubbery
Road
Members who attended the
site meeting reported back. The charity
Groundwork will not be operating in the Sevenoaks District area until September
so this is the earliest that any work could start. Groundwork begin by involving local people and asking them their
views. Clr Payne stated that there
would be a lot of objections from locals.
Community Warden
David Brazier stated that he
had made it known at County Hall that this parish wants a Community Warden.
RESOLVED that the Minutes of
the Westminster Field Advisory Committee held on 11 December be approved and
adopted.
Report
A sub-committee of 3 Members
met last month to consider the grant applications made for 2002. A list of recommendations was circulated at
the last meeting and needs to be ratified.
RESOLVED that Grants be made
in accordance with the list as shown in Appendix A.
Report
A risk assessment schedule
“borrowed” from another Kent Parish Council is attached for consideration.
Discussion
It was suggested that 2 or 3
councillors should look at the document in detail and Clrs Bradley, Busfield
and Tripp agreed to do this.
Report
Last meeting it was decided
to consider putting posts along the edge of the verge to prevent damage from
parked vehicles.
I have been told verbally
that KCC would have no objections and been given an estimate of 12 posts being
needed. Wooden posts would cost about
£40 each (supply and installation). I
have also heard from a neighbouring parish council which has been investigating
different types of bollards, that the best ones (ie least likely to be damaged)
are metal ones filled with concrete or ballast. These can be painted green to blend in and cost £54 each
(supplied and installed).
RESOLVED that an amount be
included in next year’s budget to install 12 ballast-filled metal posts in this
location.
SE/02/02869/AGRNOT
Hill Farm, Franks Lane
Erection of Feed and
Machinery Store
The Parish Council objects
to this proposal on the grounds that it would have an excessive visual impact
within this sensitive rural location resulting in an intrusive form harmful to
the character and appearance of the countryside within a Special Landscape
Area.
The following TPO
application has been received:
TPO 3.71
Mulcroft, Holmesdale Hill
Works to Black Mulberry and
Narrow Leaf Ash
No comments.
The following application
for works to trees in a Conservation Area has been received:
Ref:LJ/324.110/02.86
The Old Coach House, Forge
Lane
Pruning Ash and felling
Hawthorn
No comments.
Villages Design Statement
Clr Burchmore reported that
the Statement was now on CD, it had been sent to Sevenoaks District Council and
the official consultation was now starting.
He asked that it be put on the villages website.
David Brazier told Members
that KCC was one of the few county councils declared “excellent” by the Audit
Commission.
RESOLVED that the schedule
of accounts and budget update, as submitted, be approved and payments made
accordingly.
Westminster Mill
Redevelopment Site
The Parish Council’s views
on the fence and planting on the verges were requested. It was agreed that the plants were not in
keeping with the rural location and should be removed. The Parish Council was not interested in
maintaining them.
Village Signs
The clerk reported that the
Sunley workers had eventually put up the posts but they had not been done well
and were much too high. It was agreed
that the poles would have to come out and the whole job done properly. Wally Fitness Engineering would be asked to
do the work and payment would have to be made accordingly. (His original quote
to do the work had seemed high but having heard how much other parishes have
paid for similar work it is not unreasonable).
The meeting ended at 8.29
pm.
Chairman
Date