Minutes of the Meeting of Leybourne Parish Council Held On

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF LEYBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON

TUESDAY 8TH JANUARY 2008 AT 8.00 P.M. IN LEYBOURNE VILLAGE HALL

Present: Mr Ulph (chair), Mr Albert, Mr Burr, Mrs Martin, Mr Mearns, Mr Spratt, Mrs Valvassura, , Mrs Rimmer (clerk), PC Beresford, PCSO Sayer, 3 members of the public

REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

This is a concessionary short session and will be limited to half an hour. This is a for information session only and no action can be taken upon those items raised

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Mrs Chapple, Mr Warnes, TMB Cllr Luker, Mr Fillery (tree warden)

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None

3. POLICE REPORTS

PCSO

·  Crime Report – 9 since last meeting

1 x vehicle crime

3 x burglary

4 x damage

1 x graffiti

·  Two operations have been running – Safer Streets targeting lead theft and Op Undergo which is targeting shed break ins.

·  Working in conjunction with PCSO from East Malling regarding graffiti in the area.

·  Sat Nav’s being left in cars are easy targets for thefts. Parish Council asked to highlight matter on website and in newsletter.

·  Bridgewater Place – experiencing problems with youths. Residents asked to report any incident, however minor, to allow police to build up a full picture of events. This may be an area to introduce NHW scheme. Clerk advised that contact had been made with co-ordinator who was to attend future meeting.

4. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 4TH DECEMBER 2007. Were agreed and signed as a true and accurate record of proceedings

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES

7.1 Village Hall repairs have been completed. Deposit retained. Deposit rates to be discussed by Village Hall Committee

8b Bar Accounting – to be discussed at joint Finance and Village Hall committee

10a Streetlights Castle Way – chase

12 Initial contact made with NHW and Speedwatch co-ordinators. To be invited to future meetings.

6. REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS

a)  Dog fouling – Audit of bins required detailing number and location to enable further areas to be identified.

ACTION: CLLR BURR TO CARRY OUT AUDIT

b)  Village Hall Bar – need to determine rate charged for bar facility if used other than a Saturday. It was agreed that hire of the hall, including bar facility, should be set at £20 p.h. This rate along with all hire charges to be reviewed by Village Hall committee in due course.

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS

·  Environment/Transport Committee

• Initial meeting held to set out format of committee in order that all areas of the parish are covered.
• Cllr Valvassura elected as chair, Cllr Mearns vice chair.
• Minutes of meeting presented to full council and agreed.

• Next meeting to be held 15th January at 8.30 pm

·  Village Hall Committee

• Initial meeting looked at priorities for the refurbishment of the hall.
• Cllr Burr elected as chair with Mr Bispham (Old Rectory) as vice chair.
• Any members of the public with suggestions for the refurbishment are asked to contact the clerk.
• The hall is a major capital asset for the parish council and sees to be kept running and remain viable. Grants are being investigated for the refurbishment but immediate capital funding is required. As a result the finance committee have set a larger precept for 2008-2009 to accommodate this work.
• Minutes of meeting presented to full council and agreed

·  Finance Committee

• Minutes to be circulated in due course
• Budget – precept for 2008-2009 set at £70,000 to allow for £30,000 of expenditure on village hall. Reductions in other expenditure areas are to be made
• Proposals for full council approval

a)  Accept budget with precept of £70,000 – agreed

b)  Terminate monthly electrical testing schedule and tender for annual testing ( subject to approval by insurance company) - agreed

c)  Closure of two small capital reserve accounts amalgamating with Reserve Account - agreed

d)  Joint meeting to be arranged to discuss village hall fees and bar accounting - agreed

8. CLERK’S REPORT

1.  Village Hall

a)  Met with contractor on 21st December to discuss replacement of hall floor. Quote given to finance committee for consideration.

b)  Met with contractors on 3rd January to discuss CCTV provision. Report to go to Village Hall Committee in due course

2.  Bus Shelter - Still no comeback from contractors. Insurance claim with Zurich.

3.  CRB – All checks completed.

4.  KAPC – Following the AGM on 11th November the Kent Association of Parish Council has changed its name to the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) to show that it represents town councils as well as parish.

5.  Guide to papers produced by clerk – Amended list attached

6.  PCSO – duty rota for next three months attached. This could be subject to change

9. FINANCE

a)  Statement of Account – Appendix 1. Leybourne Parish Council confirms approval of the payments set out in the statement of account.

ACTION: CLERK REQUESTED TO BRING PAYING IN BOOK TO MEETINGS FOR RECONCILIATION

b)  Donation requests – received from:

·  Victim Support – further information to be obtained before donation agreed

·  Age Concern - Cllr Valvassura proposed donation of £200, seconded Cllr Burr – agreed unanimously

·  Kent Air Ambulance – Cllr Albert proposed donation of £200, seconded Cllr Martin – agreed unanimously.

In view of the 2007-2008 donation budget having been allocated these amounts would be paid in April.

ACTION: CLERK TO ADVISE CHARITIES ACCORDINGLY.

• CLERK TO PREPARE REPORT ON REQUESTS RECEIVED DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR, OF THOSE SUPPORTED AND AMOUNTS PAID.

10. PLANNING

a)  Applications being considered by Leybourne Parish Council

TM/07/04359 – 30 Old Orchard Lane – first floor side extension over existing garage

b)  Decisions by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

Permission Granted

TM/07/03677/FL – 5 Evergreen Close

TM/07/03879/FL – 89 Bridgewater Place

Permission Refused

None

c)  Enforcement Investigations

None

d)  For information – the clerk advised councillors of a planning application at Hoath Wood, West Malling for a new private hospital

11. HIGHWAY MATTERS

a)  Leybourne By Pass /Traffic Calming

Meeting with KCC, TMBC and police held on 19th December. Parish Council needs to keep up pressure on the appropriate departments and ensure that breaches are enforced. Main issue is that of speeding.

• KCC to consider improvements to signage. Local access signs would appear to only be temporary and there are no plans for the erection of parking restriction plans.
• Situation to be reviewed after a ‘reasonable time’
• Residents urged to notify clerk of any breaches of regulations they may witness.
• KCC have a responsibility to make sure the traffic calming does its intended job.
• Need for grass verge adjacent to cycle path from Lillieburn to Rectory Lane North. Proposed toddler play area and Lillieburn will increase the use of the cycle path. At present the path is too close to speeding traffic.

b)  Cycle way – Markings have yet to be completed. KCC chased for an update

c)  Oxley Shaw Lane parking – Situation improving although still some vehicles parking all day. Still investigating parking restrictions to cover commuter parking.

ACTION: CLERK TO INVESTIGATE WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE TO BE PUT IN PLACE AND WHEN

d)  Hydrant – Parish Council may be able to restrict the use of the hydrant on grounds of noise pollution and statutory nuisance. Log of usage to be kept to identify any infringements.

Lorries are flushing out directly into the stream but the Environment Agency do not appear to be following this up

ACTION: LOG OF USAGE TO BE KEPT GIVING DETAILS OF USERS TO IDENTIFY WHETHER THEY ARE LICENSED. WHAT IS CONSIDERED UNSOCIABLE HOURS?

e)  Bus routes – Letter received from Arriva regarding withdrawal of service. To be discussed further by Environment and Transport committee

f)  KCC Spreadsheet – representatives from KCC to attend February Parish Council meeting.

12. ENVIRONMENT

a) Tree Warden Report – Delivery of trees still awaited. Grant monies need to be spent by end of March.

b) Leybourne Pump - To be cleaned in due course.

ACTION : ADVICE TO BE SOUGHT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE RE CLEANING

c)  KCC INTENDED SALE OF LAND – Land between Birling Road and bypass to be sold by auction in February. Plans to be emailed to all councillors for comment. Need to identify what restrictions are on the land i.e. whether green belt

13. PARISH PLAN –

a)  Play Area – Big Lottery Funding has been agreed along with grant from HBOS.

b)  Parish Plan has now been superseded by the creation of committees. Remove from agenda

14. CORRESPONDENCE

a)  South East Coast Ambulance Service – Responder Network – request for operators to assist with network.

Details to be placed on website

b)  Lord Lieutenant of Kent Civic Service – 04.03.08 – details to be circulated for councillors to advise whether they wish to attend

c)  Kent Police – Freedom of Information Request

d)  Salt Bins – enquiry regarding supply of bins in the parish. KCC Highways no longer responsible to supplying only stocking bins. Parish Council to initially purchase 2 bins – one for village hall and one for Harvest Ridge/Lillieburn area. Other areas to be identified.

e)  Mark Worrall – Local Government Finance Settlement – to be circulated to all councillors for comment.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.25p.m. Date of next meeting Tuesday 5th February 2008 to be attended by Barbara Hucker and Andy Moreton KCC Highways.

08.01.08

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