MINUTES OF THE CHIDDINGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
WEDNESDAY 20TH MARCH 2013 AT 7.30PM IN CHIDDINGSTONE CAUSEWAY VILLAGE HALL
Present: Cllr I. Durrant (Chairman), Cllr P. Benton, Mrs D. James, Cllr R. Streatfeild, Cllr P. Vicary and Cllr H. Williams
Apologies: Cllr/District Cllr P. Cooke, Cllr M. Cottrell, Cllr Mrs M. Quirk and District Cllr A. Cook
In attendance: Mrs L. Kleinschmidt (Clerk) and public
Open Session
None.
Closed Session
132. Apologies for Absence were received from Cllr Cooke, Cllr Cottrell and Cllr Mrs Quirk and their reasons for absence were accepted by members. Apologies were also received from District Cllr Mrs Cook.
133. Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect of matters to be discussed – none.
134. The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 20th February, 2013 were approved and duly signed. Proposed by Cllr Streatfeild and all were in favour.
135. To report on Matters Arising from the Parish Council Meeting held on 20th February, 2013 – none.
136. Planning - to consider planning applications received
i. SE/13/00598/FUL: Land east of Leavers Estate Units, 2-4 Tonbridge Road, Chiddingstone Causeway TN11 8JU - additional estate car parking. Members agreed to support this application, subject to the following provisions:
· There is no floodlighting, and only low-level lighting is allowed which is only in use after 7am and before 10pm.
· The Leylandii on the boundary with Post Office Cottage is retained as a valuable screen.
· The carpark must fall slightly away from the houses to ensure that any surface water drains away from their gardens.
ii. SE/13/00561/FUL: Mill Farm, Mill Lane, Chiddingstone TN9 7AA - erection of grain store. Members agreed that they wish to fully support the farmer, but felt that the building in the proposed position is intrusive. Cllr Williams to speak to the applicant to discuss positioning, and members to consider comments thereafter.
The Clerk reported that during the month, the Planning Committee submitted the following comments:
iii. SE/13/00413/FUL: Pheasant Pluckers Cottage, Lockskinners Lane, Chiddingstone TN8 7NB - conversion of outbuilding to one-bedroom dwelling, including new vehicular access. Members submitted a no objection comment to this application.
iv. SE/13/00358/CONVAR: The Walled Garden, Threshersfield, Hever TN8 7NE - amendment to show slate roof tiles instead of clay. Members submitted a no objection comment to this application.
The Clerk reported that the following notification of planning decisions has been received:
SE/12/03438/CONVAR: Keepers Cottage, Ide Hill Road, Bough Beech TN8 7PN – variation of conditions regarding roof pitch. Application granted.
137. To consider whether to undertake a Neighbourhood Plan
The Clerk reported that if a community has a Neighbourhood Plan, it can be in more control and choose where new development is built, with the chance to specify what the design of the new buildings should be, and what infrastructure should be provided. However, all policies contained within the community’s Neighbourhood Plan must be in line with local SDC and national planning policies, and also be in line with other laws.
A Neighbourhood Plan cannot stop development in the area, but it can influence the type, design, location and mix of new development, and it must contribute towards sustainable development. The Parish Council should be involved, but not exclusively, and the local group involved in working on the Neighbourhood Plan must include members of the public. Firstly, the community must define the Neighbourhood Area, in conjunction with SDC, and if the group meet the right standards, they become a Neighbourhood Forum. The forum will then draw up a plan and consult with the public. Then an independent examiner will check that the plan meets the right basic standards and the plan must then go to referendum. If more than 50% of people voting in the referendum support the plan, then the local planning authority must bring it into force.
The Clerk reported that The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced that Parish/Town Councils that have a Neighbourhood Plan will receive 25% of the revenues from the Community Infrastructure Levy arising from new development in the parish. Those Parish/Town Councils without a Neighbourhood Plan will receive 15%, capped at £100 per existing council tax dwelling. DCLG are providing more funding to local planning authorities to help Parish/Town Councils get their neighbourhood plans going and for the costs of the independent examination and referendum. Local planning authorities can claim grants of up to £50,000 to help up to 10 communities (Parish/Town Councils or Neighbourhood Forums) to get their neighbourhood plans going. From April this will be extended further by making £100,000 available. Authorities then get a further £25,000 for every Neighbourhood Plan that gets through a successful examination.
The Clerk reported that she has spoken to Alan Dyer and Steve Craddock at SDC, who has given the following advice:
i. It will take an average of two years to prepare and take through referendum. There will be a lot of time and money required, costs could be in the region of £15,000+ if a planning and legal consultant are employed.
ii. The funding that government has made available to district councils is to cover any administrative costs and officer time that is spent helping the parishes with the process of plan making, inclusive of approving the neighbourhood area and qualifying body. Funds will not be passed onto the parishes directly, but can be utilised by meetings/seeking advice from planning officers.
iii. CIL will be paid to SDC within 60 days of commencement of the development, unless an instalments policy has been adopted by the Council. According to draft regulations, SDC can also agree a schedule for the payment of CIL to town and parish councils.
iv. In order to receive the higher CIL proportion, a Neighbourhood Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order must be adopted and in force at the time planning permission is granted for the development.
v. The draft regulations state that the £100 cap for those communities without a Neighbourhood Plan is per existing Council Tax Dwelling. The cap will be applied on an annual basis and will be subject to adjustment for inflation.
Members considered the benefits of undertaking a Neighbourhood Plan and weighed this up against the likely cost and time involved in preparing the plan. At vote, members unanimously voted against the proposal and decided not to undertake a Neighbourhood Plan.
138. To report on correspondence received
The Clerk reported that lists of correspondence received have been circulated and drew members’ attention to the following:
i. Item 23: Email from Ros Daniels, Operations Manager for National Trust: “I have recently taken over looking after the National Trust’s responsibilities in North Kent, of which Chiddingstone village is one, and I have already been approached by a couple of members of the village to see how we might improve and develop the relationship between the village and the National Trust. I was therefore wondering as a starting point if the Parish Council would like me to come along to one of their meetings and introduce myself. This would also enable me to hear more about the village and the main issues and concerns. The National Trust’s new ranger, Simon Vining, has also just started and would be a good introduction to make.” Clerk to invite Ros and Simon to a future Parish Council meeting.
ii. Item 27: SDC News Releases: (i) New voting venue for Bough Beech residents: Bough Beech residents, who would normally vote in Wheatsheaf pub, will be voting in a new polling station for the County Council election on Thursday 2 May. Following the closure of the pub, residents will instead vote in nearby Chiddingstone Primary School along with Chiddingstone village residents.
(ii) Residents are encouraged to apply for free trees to brighten up living and working spaces in the Sevenoaks District with the 'Trees to Treasure' project. Applications are invited for trees to be planted wherever they would bring about positive benefits and should demonstrate how the trees will positively benefit the community and enhance the area. The project not only supplies free trees, but will also assist residents with support and training regarding planting and maintaining their trees. With no limit on number of applications interested groups are encouraged to think about all areas that would benefit from free trees. There are fourteen species of trees available or five different packs: hedge, wildlife, woodland, forager or school packs for communities or organisations wanting to encourage a particular habitat. The deadline for applications is 31 October 2013.
iii. Item 28: Email from Anna David regarding the River Eden Catchment River workshop, with copies of slides, feedback and contact numbers. The workshop has arisen from The Water Framework Directive, which is a European directive requiring all member states to make plans to protect and improve the water environment.
139. To hear update on the rural broadband project
The Clerk reported that the bid for funding has been favourably received and a formal response will be received by the end of March. If successful, the project will commence in 2013 and it will take 18 months to 2 years to roll out. Where there are currently green junction boxes in the parish, new larger boxes will also be installed, subject to planning. Fibre optics will be installed to the new green boxes, and then cabling to the households. Those dwellings where there is currently no broadband provision will receive WiFi. KCC has now just announced that they have successfully signed a contract to take forward the Kent and Medway BDUK Broadband project. The partnership is backed by £10m of council funding, £9.87m from central government and £19.6m from BT. The bid to the Defra £20 million fund is in addition to this funding, and SDC hope to hear whether the bid has been successful in the next three weeks.
140. To consider quotes and details regarding the verge cutting contract commencing 1st April 2013
The Clerk reported that she has now received quotes from all the six contractors, and that she met with Robin Hadley from KCC yesterday. Alan Riley, the KCC officer that the Clerk was dealing with, has left and Robin is now the contact for the discussions regarding the verges. Robin is keen to help and he undertook to read the draft contract and will let the Clerk know if there are any changes required. He will also discuss the matter with the KCC procurement department and will let the Clerk know if there are any hold-ups which might stop the parishes taking on this function from April this year. John Burr, the head of KCC highways, is keen to see the Localism bill enacted, and is therefore encouraging parishes to undertake this type of function. If the cluster decide that they no longer wish continue, KCC will take it back as the duty remains with them. The cluster will require a method statement and a risk assessment from the successful contractor, and also evidence that the operators are qualified to operate a flail mower. The Clerk circulated copies of the Chiddingstone map to all members and also details of the tenders. The Clerk suggested that once she hears further from Robin Hadley regarding the process, she arranges a meeting with all the parishes involved in order to agree which contractor should be successful, and what agreement needs to be set in place between the parishes. Members agreed and thanked the Clerk for the large amount of work involved in this project.
141. To consider whether any additional work is required in the Closed Churchyard, Chiddingstone
The Clerk reported that Nigel Lucas has asked whether there is a member of the Parish Council who would be willing to be the go-between between the Parish Council and the Parochial Church Council?
In particular, Nigel asked what the Parish Council is doing about:
a) The gate in the South-West corner opposite the Inn. The Clerk reported that Don Shepherd was asked to repair this gate.
b) The repairs to the cobbles in the highway. The Clerk advised that she will discuss this with KCC Highways.
c) The request for some sort of protection from traffic damage to the extremities of the tiling on the lych-gate. The Clerk advised that she will discuss this with KCC Highways.
d) Has the Parish Council taken any advice from tree surgeons on the overall condition, and maintenance of, trees within the limits of the closed churchyard that might be damaging the fabric of the building. Cllr Durrant reported that the Parish Council did ask tree experts in 2009 and some work to the trees was carried out. Clerk to obtain further advice on trees and quotes for any necessary work.
e) Does the Parish Council agree that a Quinquennial inspection of the closed churchyard should be carried-out by an independent expert as is the case with the church building. Members agreed that the Clerk should obtain some information and a price from IMI. This was previously discussed in January 2009.
142. To consider the Parish Council’s role as Custodian Trustee
Cllr Streatfeild reported that the Parish Council is the Custodian Trustee of Chiddingstone Village Hall, and he has read the lease between the National Trust and the Parish Council. The lease states that the Village Hall Management Committee cannot sub-let the village hall. Cllr Streatfeild declared a NPI in this matter as his wife is the headteacher of Chiddingstone Primary School. The Village Hall Management Committee has asked the School to take on a lease for their use of the hall. Cllr Streatfeild suggested that a meeting is held with the Parish Council, the School and the Village Hall Management Committee to discuss the leases and also the hire agreement used by the Village Hall Management Committee, which needs to be transparent and include a proportion of all the relevant charges. Members agreed and Clerk to arrange the meeting.