Bidborough Parish Council

Contact the Parish Clerk, Evelyn Divall, telephone: 01732 457541
e- mail: clerk@bidborough-pc.gov.uk

Minutes of the Meeting of Bidborough Parish Council held on 25 June 2007 at

8 pm in the Village Hall

1.   PRESENT: Cllrs D Wheeler (Chairman), P Eames, D Moore, B Hebditch, H Hayward, and Mrs D Reynolds

APOLOGIES: Cllr Mrs A Parsons

2. SIGNING OF Declarations of Acceptance of Office and Code of Conduct & Register of Interests: Cllr Mrs Reynolds signed all documentation as required to confirm her appointment as Parish Councillor.

Declarations of Interest in Agenda Items - None

3. MATTERS ARISING: Covered in the agenda

4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THE 21 May 2007, to be approved. Cllr D Moore to be included on Recreation Ground/Village Care/Village Grounds Maintenance area of responsibility.

PARISHIONERS' QUESTION TIME:

A caravan sited in a field adjacent to the road in Lower Hayesden was being vandalised, clerk to make TWBC aware. (Landowner advised to remove caravan and lorry container, possible application being made for retention of other building under Lawful Development Certificate)

Notification of closure of Gate House Farm Road concerned residents as previously this had led to an extended closure past the original anticipated dates, matter to be monitored.

5. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING:

07/01176:   Friars Oak House, Barden Road

Single storey side extension

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: GRANTED

07/01016:   10 Bidborough Ridge

Demolition of existing two-storey dwelling and associated detached garage and outbuildings and erection of new two-storey dwelling and detached single storey garage

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: WITHDRAWN

07/01261:   4 Glebelands

Side extension to form utility and garden room

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: REFUSED

(Application refused due to proximity of oak tree with TPO and affect on visual amenity and character of locality.)

07/01279:   15 St. Lawrence Avenue

Demolition of existing dwelling, erection of replacement two storey dwelling including integral garage

Parish Council: The Parish Council have no objection to the application but have concerns at the number of trees that will be lost on the site, can provision be made for replacement of these if the application is approved.       TWBC: GRANTED

07/01157:   OS Plot 4200, Penshurst Road

Construction of Farm Building and Temporary Agricultural Dwelling

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

Confirmation received from TWBC that Environmental Impact Assessment not required due to the fact that the development is not likely to have a significant effect on the environment by virtue of its size, nature or location.

07/01368:   29 St. Lawrence Avenue

Single and two-storey extensions and loft conversion to include front and rear dormers

Parish Council: No Objections       TWBC: Decision Awaited

07/01510:   61 Bidborough Ridge

Demolition of existing single storey rear extension and erection of conservatory

Parish Council: Decision Awaited       TWBC: Decision Awaited

07/01521:   Great Hayesden Farm, Lower Hayesden Lane

Addition of two small dormers to front elevation

Parish Council: Decision Awaited       TWBC: Decision Awaited

07/01946:   69 Bidborough Ridge

Two storey side extension with roof space

Parish Council: Decision Awaited       TWBC: Decision Awaited

07/01992:   Chestnut Cottage, Upper Hayesden Lane

Two storey side extension and reposition the existing garage forward to front

Parish Council: Decision Awaited       TWBC: Decision Awaited

6. FINANCE:

a.   Bank Mandate: Members signed all forms for bank mandate, clerk confirmed no proof of identity would be required by the bank due to the procedures complied with at the time of election. Clerk to complete bank forms for final signature and submission to bank.

b.   PC Website : Members agreed to fund provision of website, Cllr Hayward and clerk to liase with Mr Clive Stanley to provide all necessary information and ideas for design.

7. REPORTS:

a. VILLAGE CARE/RECREATION GROUND/GROUNDS MAINTENANCE:

i.   Cricket Surface : Cllr Moore advised that plans were in hand for this to be installed during the middle of July.

ii.   Dead Trees : There had been a number of trees requiring prompt surgery in the parish including a chestnut tree in the High Street, a large sycamore on the Glebe Bank, laurel and sycamore saplings on the church wall and overgrown hedging and debris around the pavilion and sports court areas.

iii.   Vandalism : Clerk confirmed that recent acts of vandalism had been reported to the police together with the names of those involved. Councillors agreed that zero tolerance would be adopted on this issue and every act of vandalism would be reported to the police together with the names of the culprits. Clerk confirmed she was happy for parishioners who did not wish to report these occurrences directly themselves to contact her in order that she could pass on the details to the police. Philip Codd to be asked to include this issue in his column and encourage parishioners to continue to be proactive in the issue.

iv.   Road Closure : Notification received from Kent Highways that Gate Farm Road will be closed from Monday 25 June for a duration of up to four weeks due to telecoms cable installation work being carried out by Suir Lee Construction Ltd on behalf of GEO.

b. NEWSLETTER: Next issue was due out in October, Cllr Mrs Reynolds to provide a short article on the problems of vandalism in the parish.

c. COMMUNITY COUNCIL: The management were at present looking at ways of soundproofing the party wall between the large and small halls, in view of the increase in bookings.

d. BIRCH WOOD: Cllr Eames confirmed a successful guided walk had been held.   

e.   ALLOTMENTS: Cllr Moore confirmed all were taken.

f. SPORTS ASSOCIATION: Cllr Moore advised the AGM had been held the previous week, it was noted that the '100' Club had raised £50K funding for the pavilions since its inception.

g. PRIMARY SCHOOL: Clerk was asked to contact the school and ask them to liase with Cllr Moore with regard to their events on the recreation ground in order to avoid double bookings and problems with the maintenance schedule.

h. CEMETERY:

i.   Church Wall: Clerk had received an updated report from the PC advisers regarding the current condition of the wall:   

“The writers considered that it would be advantageous to revisit the wall to better judge the ongoing situation in regard to its condition, particularly in the light of the very heavy rainfall in the early part of this year.

No. 1 The wall is entirely as before.

No. 2 The condition of the wall is unchanged, however, the vegetation mentioned before, being mainly laurel bushes, are naturally larger.

Baker's Cottage The condition of the main wall itself is unchanged, however, a lower wall approximately 1.5 m high, close to the rear extension to baker's cottage needs some attention in the near future. This wall is surcharged by an amount of rocks and earth fill, It is probably only necessary to relieve the surcharge, but it is considered advisable to do this fairly soon. An appraisal of the main wall, which will then be revealed, can then be carried out.

No. 5 Again the condition of the wall is unchanged and the owner of the house reports there have been no falls in the last five years, The sycamores on top of this wall and one growing lower down have grown considerably and should be killed off in the near future.

No. 8 Again no change to the wall but the same comment regarding sycamores also applies here.

Lych Gate Cottage No change in the condition of the wall was noted.

No. 11 No change here either, but again the sycamores are growing fast.

Summary

The general condition of the wall is unchanged, even after a very wet early spring.

There are two particular areas which require monitoring. These are both where the wall changes direction; on the boundary between No. 2 and Bakers cottage and on the boundary between No. 8 and Lych Gate Cottage.

To maintain the existing wall in the best condition possible it is necessary that attention should be given to dealing with the sycamores and birch growing immediately above and through the wall as soon as possible. The laurels and other bushes along the top of the wall should be similarly dealt with. As part of ongoing maintenance the strip at top of the wall should be kept free of saplings and shrubs.”

Ken Watson B.Sc. A.R.S.M. (retired)

Roy Moon MICE MIStuctE (retired)

Clerk had forwarded the information to Nigel Bolton at TWBC and awaited a response from the contractors.

ii.    Approval of Memorial in Garden of Remembrance: Agreed by members.

iii.   Church Wall Spraying : Chairman and clerk to liase with regard to spraying vegetation.

i. BROOKHURST FIELD: 

i.   Footpath: Public Rights of Way officer advised that an area of boardwalk could be introduced to cover the boggy area to improve pedestrian access, work should be completed during next two months.

j. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: 

i.   KAPC Meeting : 27 June 2007 at Cranbrook - Cllr Hayward was attending. 

ii.   TWBC Parish Seminar : Cllrs Hayward and Hebditch favoured the meeting on the 19 September a 2pm, clerk to advise TWBC accordingly.

iii.   Speeding : Cllr Mrs Reynolds had investigated current guidelines on speeding in villages and obtained information that a 30 MP speed limit should be the ‘norm' in village areas. It was felt that the stretch of road which included the junctions with Gate House Farm Road and the High Street, the public house, shop, garage, public conveniences and the village hall would meet current guidelines for a 30MPH limit. Members felt it important that the SID unit be used for data collection in these areas in order to support a case being put once again. Volunteers to use the unit would be welcomed in this project. 

iv.   Dog Fouling Signs: Clerk to ask for further metal signs for placing round the village together with litter notices when available. (TWBC have trained employees to cover the parishes who will issue fixed penalty notices for £75 for those seen dropping litter)