...where the High Weald begins...
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
29 October 2007 at 8
pm in the Village Hall
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Prior to the business of the meeting Cllr Wheeler reported the sad news of the death at the weekend of Denis Gayler, a local resident and farmer. Mr Gayler had also served on the Parish Council and had made a tremendous contribution to village life; he would be missed by all that knew him.
1.
PRESENT:
Cllrs D Wheeler (Chairman), P Eames, D Moore, H Hayward, S Hebditch, Mrs A Parsons
2. APOLOGIES:
Cllrs Mrs D Reynolds
3. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THE 17 September having been
circulated, were approved and signed by the Chairman.
Declarations of Interest in Agenda Items:
Cllr Eames registered a personal interest under Item 5 Planning: Item 9
Special Agenda Item - Village Post Office: Notification of closure of Bidborough Post Office.
The chairman reported on the recent well attended public meeting held in support of the local post office. Representatives of the Post Office, KCC, TWBC and the local MP had attended to discuss the situation with the parishioners. A submission in opposition to the closure had been drafted by Clive Grenyer with a comprehensive set of photographs supporting the case having been provided by Bill Long. It was noted that permission had now been given for the PO to remain open between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm, this extension had been applied for by the previous owner but refused on both occasions. Members wished mention made in the submission that had this been approved eight years ago when originally requested an increased trade would have built up over this time to aid the case against its closure. Members recorded their thanks to Mr Grenyer and Mr Long for the work they had done in preparing such a strong case, clerk to forward submission against closure to relevant parties.
4. MATTERS ARISING:
a. Verge Cutting: The lack of verge cutting had been reported to Kent Highways, clerk had been advised that the area in Lower Haysden would be cut during the week commencing 28 October, this had not been carried out, clerk to contact KHS again. (Reported again under same reference number, area will be checked and actioned as necessary)
b. Commuter Bus: Email forwarded to Tony Avenell on 18 September registering the parish interest in a commuter bus service, no response received at the date of the preparation of this tender. Clerk had received a number of responses to the newsletter articles and would pass a note of this interest on to the KCC.
c. Litter Bin - Birch Wood: Clerk reported that as the area was on a thirty day litter pick, TWBC could not justify installation of a litter bin, neither would they be prepared to empty a bin if the PC purchased and installed it themselves.
PARISHIONERS’
QUESTION TIME:
No items were raised
5. TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING:
07/02330: Lot 6 Fosters Farm, Gate Farm Road
Lawful Development Certificate - Erection of umbrella shed
Parish Council: No Objections TWBC: GRANTED
07/02738: 28 St. Lawrence Avenue
Demolition of existing store and erection of conservatory
Parish Council: No Objections TWBC: GRANTED
07/02781: Isaacs Cottage, Franks Hollow Road
Two storey extension to rear and internal alterations
Parish Council: The PC have no objections in principal to an extension for this purpose but would question the size as it appears to
be greater than the 50% development rule.
TWBC: GRANTED
07/02920: 33 Bidborough Ridge
Erection of single storey rear extension
Parish Council: No Objections TWBC: GRANTED
07/02868: Swaylands, Penshurst Road
Western Apartment Block - Construction of 10 new apartments as part of enabling development
Parish Council: The PC would support Penshurst PC’s response to SDC regarding this application in that the
original design which was complementary to the main house has been changed to one that is now subordinate
by its plainness. TWBC: No Objections
07/03179: Greenacres, Barden Road
Proposed dormer window and rooflights to loft conversion
Parish Council: No Objections TWBC: Decision Awaited
07/03040: The Granary, Lower Haysden Lane
Rear extension to kitchen
Parish Council: No Objections TWBC: REFUSED
07/03065: Printstile Cottage, Penshurst Road
Two storey extension to side and rear
Parish Council: No Objections TWBC: Decision Awaited
07/03242: 67 Bidborough Ridge
Two storey and single storey side extension
Parish Council: No Objections TWBC: Decision Awaited
07/03412: 10 Bidborough Ridge
Demolition of existing house and garage and erection of new two storey resident with detached garage
Parish Council: No Objections TWBC: Decision Awaited
07/03563: 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
07/03631: Hillside Farm, Franks Hollow Road
Fenestration/cladding alterations and replacement buildings to form extensions comprising: garage, utility, games room and entrance porch.
Parish Council: Decision Awaited TWBC: Decision Awaited
6.
FINANCE:
| October Expenditure | ||
| RIP Cleaning Services | Dog Waste Removal | 67.21 |
| TWBC | Newsletter Printing | 428.50 |
| Tunbridge Wells & District | CAB Donation S. 137 | 50.00 |
| Ashdown Garden Services | Village Mowing | 616.74 |
| EDF Energy | Street Lighting Energy | 59.01 |
| EDF Energy | Street Lighting Maintenance/Repairs | 325.28 |
| British Trust for Conservation Volunteers | Tree Warden subscription | 100.00 |
| Derek Baker Hedge Cutting | Recreation ground | 65.00 |
| LF Thompson Ltd | Lengthsman | 388.00 |
| P Richards Hedge Cutting | Church | 270.00 |
| Mr G Parsons | Bidborough in Bloom Tub | 74.18 |
| October Income | ||
| TWBC | Precept | 17699.00 |
| Newsletter Advertising | 45.00 |
a. Stewardship Scheme Claim: Claim forms were completed by Cllrs Wheeler and Eames and the clerk for submission.
b. Quarterly Accounts: Circulated to councillors for information.
c. Website: Members discussed the website provided by Mr Clive Stanley and agreed it was professional. Concerns were raised over the complexity of adding or removing items on the site and it was agreed this matter would be further discussed at the November meeting.
d. Precept: Preliminary figures had been circulated to councillors for discussion at the meeting. It was agreed that the PC would continue to maintain a depreciation fund for the play equipment of £1K per annum. An allowance of £500 was to be included for current website costs and Cllr Moore would advise the clerk of estimated costs of repairs to the Lych Gate. Clerk to revise figures and circulate to members for further discussion and approval at December meeting.
e. RoSPA: Inspection report had been circulated to councillors for information.
7.
REPORTS:
a. VILLAGE CARE/RECREATION GROUND/GROUNDS MAINTENANCE:
i. Cricket Surface: Cllr Moore advised that this was due to be installed on Friday, it would be sited near the pond area.
ii. Vandalism: Cllr Moore reported that further uprights had been kicked out of the small play area, these would be replaced but stocks were running low.
b. NEWSLETTER: This had been printed and distributed.
c. COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Annual tests for electrical equipment, etc had been carried out. The Drama Group had carried out work to the stage area, at their own cost.
d. BIRCH WOOD:
i. Footpath: PROW Officer had met with Cllr Moore on site to inspect damage caused by Southern Water machinery, he would be contacting them regarding this issue.
e. ALLOTMENTS: Cllr Moore advised there was one area vacant, Cllr Wheeler provided the name of a parishioner who had expressed a wish to take on an allotment.
f. SPORTS ASSOCIATION: Cllr Moore advised that new lights were to be fitted in the main room and the toilets.
g. PRIMARY SCHOOL: No report
h. CEMETERY:
i. Burial Plot: Clerk had received a request for the purchase of a burial plot from a parishioner who had moved away in the 1960s, members regretted having to refuse a plot but were unable to help in this instance due to the limited space available.
i. BROOKHURST FIELD:
i. Gate: Chairman advised that there might be a gate available to suit as a replacement, he would be checking to see if it was a suitable fit.
j. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
i. Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon - 24 February 2008: Notification of road closure - A26 LondonRoad, Birchwood Avenue, Bounds Oak Way, Darnley Drive, Bidborough Ridge, Penshurst Road, Rogues Hill,High Street, Fordcombe Road, Ashurst Road, Langton Road, Newlands, Dornden Drive, Bishops Down, MountEphraim and St. John’s Road.
ii. Manhole Cover: Clerk to report further broken manhole cover opposite 67 Bidbrough Ridge, damage had been caused by vehicles working at the site. (Reported to KHS Ref: 188192)
iii. Village Photographs: Cllr Eames reported that a show of the village photographs had provokedinterest and asked if it was possible to attach information on the pictures being shown from the computer disc in order that those watching were able to know the details of the sites. A member of the audience suggested that a computer programme would be available to assist with this.
iv. Lych Gate Puddle: Cllr Moore advised he would be meeting with a representative of the contractors regarding the re-surfacing by the Lych Gate where water was continually puddling in order to get the right action taken to alleviate the problem.