Minutes of the Meeting of Bidborough Parish Council held

on 30 January 2006 at 8 pm in the Village Hall

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. PRESENT: Cllrs P Eames (Chairman), D Moore, C Rea and Mrs A Parsons

2. APOLOGIES : Cllrs D Wheeler, Mrs D Reynolds, Rev. S Hills, TWBCllr M Howell

 

3. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THE 28 November 2005 having been circulated, were approved and signed by the Chairman.

 

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES: Covered in the agenda

 

5. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING:

05/00926:   Judd Wood Farm, Hayesden Lane

Retrospective Change of Use: From farming/rough woodland to paintball games centre

Parish Council: Clerk to write to TWBC confirming the PC's support for the objections submitted by parishioners.         TWBC: Decision Awaited

Court Hearing set for May to consider case at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court. TWBC Officer confirmed all avenues of action still being considered.

05/01146:   Swaylands School, Penshurst Road

Resubmission of part of previous application for alterations, extension and conversion to residential use of Swaylands main building into 28 units with erection of additional garage block, demolition of outbuildings and restoration of landscaping.

Parish Council: PC supports the application and the early commencement of refurbishment of the site.          TWBC: Decision Awaited

05/01294:   Land Adjacent Fosters Oast, Hayesden Lane.

Change of use of redundant agricultural buildings to use class B2 (General Industrial) use: Repair and refurbishment of horse drawn carriages.

Parish Council: The PC have concerns with regard to possible noise problems and the number of vehicular movements and the impact on surrounding properties. The PC asks that if the application is approved conditions are included that limit activities to those now applied for.              TWBC: Decision Awaited

05/02568:   OS Plot 4200, Penshurst Road

Construction of a farm workers cottage and farm building (revised proposal - TW/04/03067)

Parish Council: The PC still has concerns regarding development outside the village envelope but will be guided by the TWBC and the relevant experts dealing with the application.             TWBC: Decision Awaited

05/02645:   Windrush, 5 Bidborough Ridge

Rear, side and front extension and detached double garage

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: REFUSED

05/02747:   Woodside House, 56 Woodland Way

Conservatory

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: GRANTED

05/02890:   Swaylands School, Penshurst Road, Penshurst

Advertisement - Non illuminated site signboard on posts and flagpoles

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: GRANTED

05/02783:   Grange Cottage, Franks Hollow Road

Single storey utility room extension

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: GRANTED

05/03055:   The Granary, Lower Haysden Lane

Rear extension

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: GRANTED

05/03103:   55 Bidborough Ridge

Two storey rear extension, pitched roof to utility and workshop at side, internal alterations

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

05/03231/2:   Four Winds Windmill and Land, Penshurst Road, Bidborough

LBC - Addition during construction of 4 No. conservation rooflights to the approved extension to the windmill.

Parish Council: No Objections     TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00052:   2 St. Lawrence Avenue

Two storey extension, garage with bedroom/ensuite

Parish Council: No Objections     TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00054:   Portree, Rectory Drive

Brick boundary wall

Parish Council: The Parish Council would object to this application, having visited site and inspected the plans it was felt that the height and design of the proposed wall would have a detrimental affect on the site and its impact, by virtue of the style and height would dominate the area.          TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00107:   Four Winds Farm, Penshurst Road

Treatment plant and filtration trenches

Parish Council: Decision Awaited     TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00148:   2 Rectory Drive

Detached Garage

Parish Council: Decision Awaited     TWBC: Decision Awaited

06/00178:   11 St Lawrence Avenue

Two storey side and rear extension

Parish Council: Decision Awaited     TWBC: Decision Awaited

 

6 FINANCE:

December/January Expenditure
Pierson Agriculture	Birchwood Brushcutting/Chainsaw Work	510.00
Society of Local Council Clerks	Annual Subscription	84.00
EDF Energy	Street Lighting Maintenance	145.98
EDF Energy	Street Lighting Energy	117.94
Kent County Council	Gangmowing	713.72
RIP Cleaning Services	Dog Waste Removal	103.40
Ibbett Mosely	Glebe Rent	5.00
L F Thompson Ltd	Lengthsman December/January	432.00
RoSPA	Play Equipment Inspection Sheets	10.00
Ashdown Garden Services	Hedge Cutting	565.40
Derek Baker	Spring Lane/St Lawrence Avenue mowing (August - October 2005)	130.00
Pallet Handling Penshurst Ltd	Childrens' Play Area Fencing	15.04
Mrs D Wheeler	Postage/Newsletter	10.08
Mrs E M Divall	Clerk's Salary/Expenses	1591.63
December/January Income
Newsletter	153.00
Bidborough in Bloom	15.00
Cemetery	20.00

a. Speed Indicator Device : Request submitted for proposed site to be approved and unit supplied for use. Peter Vaughan (Kent Constabulary) advises that surveys of proposed sites to commence during end February and when sites were approved units could be ordered and supplied. Article to be printed in newsletter to advise parishioners of project and request volunteers to help with work involved.

b. Childrens' Trail Equipment : Confirmation received that grants applied for from KCC and the Sport for All have been approved. A promise of a donation had also been received from the Lions Club. Decision on TWBC application expected during the following week, it was hoped this would be positive. Cllr Wheeler had been unable to contact Mr Peter Roberts but would continue to try to do so. Cllr Mrs Parsons had discussed the proposed project with residents of the neighbouring property who were very supportive of the venture.

c. Church Wall - Phase 2: Applications for grants to help with costs unsuccessful to date, further options being sought.

d. Quarterly Accounts: Clerk had circulated these to members, these were noted.

 

7. REPORTS:

a. VILLAGE CARE/RECREATION GROUND/GROUNDS MAINTENANCE:

 

i. Play Area: Cllr Moore confirmed the fencing had been repaired after the recent vandalism, fifteen slats being required.

ii. Mowing Contract: Clerk had advised Ashdown that their contract would be limited to the churchyard maintenance, village green and hedge cutting, all other work would now be undertaken by the lengthsman. Schedule of proposed work for lengthsman to be provided for councillors.

 

b. NEWSLETTER: Cllr Eames requested copy by 12 March 2006.

 

c. COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Mr Marsh reported that technical drawings for the alteration to the front of the building to facilitate access for the disabled were expected for the meeting on the 7 March, estimated costs were in excess of £10K. It was hoped funds would be available from TWBC towards the project.

 

d. BIRCH WOOD,

 

i. Scramble Bikes: Clerk to contact Public Rights of Way officer to check if installation of kissing gate, or similar, would be possible at the Birchwood Avenue/Dower House Crescent access point to prevent motor cycles gaining access to the wood.

ii. Woodland Grant : Clerk to check on situation with regard to grant payments. (No payments received since April 2005 ie costs of coppicing and tree thinning not yet received.)

iii. Floodlights : Clerk to check on situation with regard to use of high-powered lighting by residents adjacent to Birch Wood. (Lighting erected on freestanding equipment requires planning permission, if attached to the house this does not apply. No legislation until April covering the use of lighting and then it will only cover affect on residents. For information on impact of lighting on woodland: English Nature - 01233 812525)

 

e. ALLOTMENTS: Cllr Eames confirmed all were in use.

 

f. SPORTS ASSOCIATION: Meeting scheduled for two weeks.

 

g. PRIMARY SCHOOL: No meeting since previous Parish Council meeting.

 

h. CEMETERY: Clerk had attended a meeting to discuss problems faced by councils dealing with closed churchyards, information obtained at the meeting was circulating.

i. BROOKHURST FIELD: Hedges would in future be trimmed by the lengthsman, the sheep had finished grazing and had been removed and the land at the bottom of Spring Lane had been cleared by the new owner which had improved the area considerably.

 

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

i. Police Survey : Clerk completed survey and would forward to relevant office.

ii. Village Sign : Cllr Mrs Parsons to approach resident with regard to refurbishment.

iii. Reflective Road Signs : Clerk to report signs for cleaning by Highways Lengthsman

iv. Photographic Exhibition : Cllr Mrs Parsons produced a CD which could be used for a continue photo show, all the work undertaken by Adrian Franklin had been at no cost to the parish other than a small sum of materials used. The PC was very appreciative of the time and effort made by Mr Franklin.