MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, TROTTISCLIFFE ON THURSDAY 7 TH FEBRUARY 2013 PRESENT: Mrs Ann Kemp, Chairman (AK) Mr Richard Wallis, Vice Chairman(RW) Mr Peter Laite (PL) Mr Mike Merryfield Day (MD) Mr John Wickham (JW) Mrs Frances Merryfield Day (Clerk) Distribution: Those present MB, SH & File 01/13 Apologies for absence Apologies for absence were received from Mr Martin Collins, Mr Trevor Ledamun, Mr Matthew Balfour and Mrs Sarah Hohler. 02/13 Minutes of the meeting held on 10 th December 2012 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 10 th December 2012 were signed as a true record. 03/13 Declarations of interest AK declared an interest in the planning application for April Cottage. 04/13 Report from Inspector Allen and PCSO Laura Bullen Mr Allen introduced himself as the Neighbourhood Inspector and said that he reviewed the crimes on his patch on a daily basis. PCSO Laura Bullen reported on the crimes involving catapults causing damage to vehicles and windows, mainly in Taylors Lane, which had occurred before Christmas. There had also been a theft of a vehicle from Pinesfield Lane in early January and a burglary at The Quarry. Laura would like to set up a police surgery in the village giving everyone a chance to speak to her and air any concerns. It was suggested that it might be a good idea to hold this in the village hall at the same time as the monthly afternoon teas. Vehicles had been driving over the grass verge opposite the school and Laura agreed to speak to anyone causing this damage if she witnessed it. 05/13 Matters arising No-one was able to attend the Lord Lieutenant s Civic Service. 06/13 County Councillor s Report. AK read a report from Sarah Hohler as follows: As always at this time of year, KCC is setting its budget. The settlement from government this year arrived shortly before Christmas and included unanticipated savings due to a different way of allocating some of the funding. We have therefore had to find extra savings. Our priorities remain to not cut front line service delivery, to try to (for the third year running) have no increase in council tax, and keep member grants. The budget will be determined by members on 14th February. We are finding savings by cutting overheads and smarter procurement. For example, we have taken over responsibility for issuing bus passes and hope to save 200,000 by cleansing the data base to remove those not eligible and automatically renewing bus 1
passes to those who are eligible and who have not moved within Kent. Most passes are due for renewal in the first half of this year: these passes should be automatically renewed and sent out three weeks before existing passes run out. This saves people having to re-apply and saves postage, time and admin. There is a phone number and a website for new applicants and this will be well advertised. Happy 2013 to you all and please let me know if I can help. Member and highway grants are now fully allocated and will not be available again until after the KCC election in early May. However, do keep your schemes until then and let me know if I am re-elected so I can get them in the system early. I already have one we are looking into for Ryarsh. And highway schemes for Addington and Offham. 07/13 Borough Councillor s Report AK reported that David Hughes, Chief Executive of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council had now taken up his post at Gravesham. Mr Mark Worrall was posthumously made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough. AK said that the Borough Council was attempting to set a budget under difficult circumstances. 08/13 Members of public No members of public. 09/13 Delegates Reports The Clerk gave Mr Collins report as follows:- The village hall had been booked for a wedding reception in August and asked if children at the function could use the playground facilities. The Parish Council had no objections. The village hall committee had asked whether Highways or the village hall committee would be responsible for the repairs to the car park entrances which were crumbling away. The Parish Council said as it was not on the highway itself then the village hall committee would be responsible. The village hall windows would be painted in the Spring. 10/13 Highways, Footways and Footpaths 10.1 Addington Parish had expressed concerns about the introduction of traffic lights at the junction of Seven Mile Lane and the A20. Trottiscliffe Parish Council also had concerns of which the Borough Councillors were aware and understood that detailed plans would be put to the Joint Transportation Board shortly. 10.2 KCC Highways had replied to concerns expressed by Trottiscliffe Parish Council regarding the use of Pilgrims Way by HGV s and did not agree that a sign saying the road was not suitable for HGV s was necessary. The Clerk was asked to contact them again and ask for a sign indicating that it was a single track road. 10.3 A letter from the PROW Officer had been circulated and there were no comments. 10.4 Concern was expressed about the number of potholes in Trottiscliffe and the Clerk to check with TL that these had been reported. 10.5 The Clerk was asked to report the sign in Church Lane coming from the church towards the school which was overgrown with ivy, also the post marking the hidden ditch approaching the sign. 11/13 Recreation Ground and Allotments 11.1 MC had reported that two people were waiting for an allotment. 11.2 Serious concerns were expressed that the site of the bonfire in the recreation ground had not been cleared and made it dangerous for children playing in the area. A large quantity of nails were still there in February and the Clerk was asked to write to the 2
chairman of the PTA requesting that it be cleared and made safe within the next ten days. If this was not done then the Parish Council would arrange for it to be done and ask the PTA to pay. 11.3 Repairs had been carried out to the fence at the far end of the recreation ground. 11.4 It was agreed to ask MG to lower the height of the hedge between the tennis courts and the recreation ground the whole length of the field. 12/13 Planning Application PAG/KCC/SCO/TM/0087/2012 KCC proposed extension to Wrotham Quarry. Comments sent. Application TM/12/03164/LB - Trosley Court, Church Lane, Trottiscliffe - listed building application. No objections. Granted. Application TM/12/03519/TNCA Conifers, Addington Lane, Trottiscliffe fell Lawson Cypress (T1). No objections. Granted. Application TM/12/03443/FL Rose Cottage, Pinesfield Lane, Trottiscliffe proposed front extension. No objections. Granted. Application TM/12/03588/TPOC The Haven, Green Lane, Trottiscliffe reduce bough overhanging roof. No objections. Granted. Appeal APP/H2265/A/12/2179342/NWF re TM/12/00379/FL The Nursery, Taylors Lane, Trottiscliffe. Appeal against refusal of retrospective application for retention of a static mobile home and 2 dog kennels and pen. Object. Await decision. Application TM/12/03600/FL - Long Gore Cottage, Green Lane, Trottiscliffe single storey extension. No objections. Await decision. Application TM/12/03665/FL Cutting Cottage, Green Lane, Trottiscliffe proposed rear extension. No objections. Await decision. Application TM/13/00047/FL April Cottage, School Lane, Trottiscliffe rear extension. No objections. Await decision. 12.1 The banner had been removed from The Plough. 12.2 Several members had inspected the plans for the proposed extension of Hanson Quarry and were in favour of an underground tunnel in Addington Lane for the heavy vehicles crossing from one side of the road to the other. 13/13 Finance The December 2012 and January 2013 statement of receipts and monies outstanding was accepted as below:- Payments received Nationwide interest...0.46 Payments made F A Kemp reimbursement Christmas cards...3.50 Wallis the Florist Christmas tree...150.00 Kent Wildlife Trust annual subscription...46.00 Victim Support donation...25.00 M Gough mowing and hedge cutting...201.00 Clerk s salary & expenses...710.28 HMRC...138.40 M Gough mowing and hedge cutting...201.00 Walnut Tree Farm web hosting...165.00 M Gough repairs to fence in recreation ground...110.34 Payments outstanding S E Water allotments...45.50 14/13 Correspondence The following correspondence had been circulated:- KALC Annual Report 2011/12 CPRE Fieldwork Area 2 Planning Committee Kent Voice 3
English Rural Housing Assoc. AR 2012 KCC Changes to Definitive Map Joint Transportation Board Area Planning No. 2 31 Oct. & 12 Dec. Clerks & Councils Direct Journal of Local Planning Trading Standards alerts e-watch updates KCC Highways Road closure Pilgrims Way TMBC PPP minutes 29 Nov. KALC letter to PM KALC Broadband update KALC DCLG consultation on HGC speed limits T&M Are Committee meeting dates 2013 TMBC Licensing Activity updates TMBC Weekly list of decisions TMBC List B planning applications Rural Services Network weekly KALC Parish News MAP Meeting re Kings Hill Fields in Trust looking back 2012 KALC Legal and Finance Conference 2013 KALC Capping rules 2012-3 PPP 29 Nov. Subsequent points Dave Worsell KCC Highways Lane Rental Scheme Fields in Trust 2013 T&M Area committee KALC agenda Supporting documents for above T&M Area committee KALC re item 4 KALC- Legal Conference 2 nd February Agenda Are 2 Planning Com. 23 January T&M KALC meeting extra agenda item 13 David Campbell-Lenaghan Operation Cubit KALC Anne Barnes first Police & Crime Plan Dave Norminton Hanson Quarry KALC Fire Hydrants KALC Community Infrastructure Levy David Campbell-Lenaghan poss. Disruption to refuse collections KALC Consultation on speed limits for HGV s KALC T Draft minutes 15 January KALC Neighbourhood Planning KALC Parish Newsletter KALC Nominations for Kent Community Safety Awards S Huseyin JPCTCG Dave Worsell weather alert kit Trosley Liaison Group agenda Gravesham BC proposed submission Core Strategy KALC Jan. Parish News Kent Fire & Rescue Service Fire Hydrant inspections TMBC Standards & Training Committee 11 March 2013 TMBC Community Payback Scheme 14.1 Addington Parish Council was considering starting an historical archive on the history in the area and asked if Trottiscliffe would be interested. At present no-one was able to take it on but it was pointed out that the Trosley Society might well have some archive material. 15/13 Any other business 15.1 The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Alan Selfe and thank him for erecting the Christmas tree and lights on the village green. 15.2 AK had met the new head teacher of Trottiscliffe School who was going to hold a Community Open Day and AK hoped that the Council would support it. It was agreed that the school should take over the notice board by the main entrance. 4
15.3 The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on the second Thursday in May, the 9th, as the KCC elections take place on 2 nd May. There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.10 pm. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Thursday 7 th March 2013 7.45 pm in the Village Hall. Chairman. Date 5