Good evening everyone, and let me welcome all of you to our annual meeting. The format, as those of you who have been here before will know, is that first on the agenda is my report on the Parish Council's activities over the past year. I will then invite questions, comments and all else from residents. Together with fellow Councillors, I will be happy to try and deal with them. We will then hear from our guest speaker. This year, we welcome from BAA Rick Norman who is the Flight Evaluation Manager at BAA Gatwick and he has brought with him a formidable team. Increasing aircraft noise has been a major concern for many in this community, especially in Hever. The issue has been largely spearheaded over the past year by one local resident who has spent a great deal of effort and time campaigning on the issue. I hope that, after we have heard from the BAA team, they will be able to respond to individual questions from residents and provide us with some satisfaction. Then a glass of wine and canapes to revive us.

Before I come to the year`s activities, I'd like to say a word about the role of Parish Councils in the community. We are all confused, and I suspect we are not alone in this, as to what Government policy is towards Parish Councils. Certainly, there was a thinly disguised attack on Parish Councils by Government a few years ago. There seems to have been something of a change of heart in some areas, but the entire subject of Local Government, and who does what, is clearly under seemingly endless review, and with nothing to show for it. It is a mess. Initiatives which peter out, more and more meaningless surveys, and so on. However, without making any political points, it is still something of a relief that Prescott who sat at the top of the local Government and Planning tree is no longer there. For our part, we simply carry on doing what we have always done. That is, belng a voice for the local community at grass roots level on issues of concern  and acting as a sounding board and a pressure group. We have excellent links with our MP, SDC and KCC, and they tend to be our first port of call. We can point to some successes over the past few years.

The question to be asked is - what more can be done to meet the Community's needs and at the same time to minimize the cost? To give you a few examples of what could be done in the future. We could link up with other Parish Councils, so as to have a stronger voice and exert greater pressure. We could establish local committees to which residents are invited to play an active part and deal with such matters as the environment, vandalism, crime control. The Council has now additional powers available to handle a number of environmental problems. We could encourage stronger links with the Residents Association in Hever, and, were they  to be formed, in Markbeech and Four Elms. It is up to you, the residents, as to what sort of Parish Council you want. Councillors will shortly will be reviewing the Council's functions and establishing a strategy for the future. We intend consulting residents on their views before reaching a decision on these issues.

Now to the year's activities. We have seen progress in a number of areas.

I will start with communication. Last summer, for instance, we took a stand at the Four Elms fete to improve resident awareness of what the Council does.

It now some years since at a Council meeting a Councillor said "what's e-mail?" or more recently "what`s broadband?" I am glad to say that all Councillors now have e-mail and it is inevitable that circulating Councillors with paperwork between meetings will shortly be replaced by e-mail alone.

Peter Harrison has done a splendid job setting up and developing the Council`s web site. Breaking news, as they say, is likely to first appear on the website. You can now find on the site details of a number of local groups promoting their activities. We would welcome more. It costs nothing, so do talk to Peter about adding information about your particular activity. As I have said, the cost is nil. We hope that residents will come to take advantage of the facility as a form of local advertising and communication. The more people that can become involved the better - the schools and younger members of the community could play their part by promoting local activities.  We hope also that local businesses will wish to take space on the site. They will be asked to pay a modest amount to advertise and a proportion of the cost comes back to the Council. These are some of the ideas that could be worked up.

In addition, the Council intends producing a regular newsletter keeping you up to date. We will, to keep down cost, put it on-line in the first instance. To those who would like to receive it direct, please write your e-mail address on the paper by the door before you leave.

To other day-to-day matters.

The Four Elms pond. Last year I reported on an accident at the Four Elms crossroads and a claim made by the Council for reinstating the seat and fencing by the pond. Fortunately the claim was met by the car drivers' insurers and the work has now been completed. We have also had discussions with the garage owner who has been concerned over the water level in the pond being either at too high or too low a level. However the problem is compounded by the numerous authorities concerned, from the Environmental Agency to the Water Authorities, from the Highway Authority to the other owners, all of whom apparently have an interest. We are currently awaiting a report from the Environmental Agency with their recommendations for managing the water level.

Now, Traffic Issues.

Staying with Four Elms for the moment,  there remains a major problem at the crossroads - there are too many accidents. We have endeavoured to pressurize the Police and the Highway Authority for years. At last we have been successful in persuading KCC to recognise the problem and as a first step £14,000 has been allocated by KCC for highway improvements at the crossroads.

On the subject of traffic, progress has also been made with the problem at Four Elms School. As many of you will know, the School uses the Parish Rooms opposite the School for various purposes. This involves crossing the road close to a bend. Flashing lights have now been installed which is very good news, but this should, in the Council's view, be seen as a short term solution. The situation remains a dangerous one for staff and children alike and the right course has to be to keep the entire site on the same side of the road and to expand the School. The Councill has been approached by the School Governors to consider a scheme to expand the School site and possibly build out on a part of the Council's recreation area. We have indicated our support in principle for the proposal and are awaiting an outline of the proposed scheme.

As regards Planning.

This has again been a busy year with numerous applications all of which have been reviewed by the Planning Committee, ably chaired by Tim Boyle. When appropriate, members of the Committee both talk to the applicants as well as take soundings from neighbours before responding to the Planning Authority at Sevenoaks District Council. We do encourage you, the residents, to talk to Tim or other members of the Committee if you are concerned about applications which you consider may affect you.

Turning to Roads and Footpaths.

Footpaths are regularly checked to ensure that they are not being obstructed or the signage needs repair. Roads, and in particular the repair of potholes, are a continuing issue. Where we need to, we talk to the Highway Authority to get work done. There are signs of improvement here, but we need to keep on the case. In addition, the Council is supporting a scheme in Four Elms, in the first instance, to encourage residents to take part in a village clean-up to remove litter from public places.

Now, Money.

First, the precept. This year the Council recognised that proper budgeting must take full account of those areas where we have an ongoing financial responsibility. That principally means the Four Elms pond and the Four Elms recreation ground. The consequence is an increase of £1500 over the past year. But this is very small in terms of the actual sums involved.

Grants

Modest grants have been made by the Council towards the restoration of the clock at Hever church and the Parish Rooms. We are seeking with the assistance of our County Councillor, Peter Lake, a grant of £500 from KCC to be applied towards the Four Elms pond maintenance and a fingerpost sign at Horseshoe Green. We also have funds available from the Haxted charity, which the Council administers, for modest charitable grants for educational purposes. Any applications should be addressed to our Clerk. Needless to say, all applications will be dealt with in confidence. 

And now, to bring you up to date on the saga of Deers Leap.

SDC has reinstated the land and obtained only last week after endless delays a court order permitting them to sell the land to enable some of the expenditure they have laid out to be recovered. That we have got this far is down to the Council`s efforts together with our District Councillor, Gerry Ryan, pressurizing SDC. We are nearly there, I hope.

As to our three villages, I hope that the coming year will see greater involvement from the local community.  Each of our three villages has its own distinct identity which they are anxious to preserve. Nonetheless it would make sense if the Council were to bring them closer together on particular projects. We cannot be entirely inward looking, however, and ignore what goes on beyond the parish boundaries. Our nearest town is of course Edenbridge which has its own share of problems. To improve the town, a steering group of those with particular interests has been assembled called the Edenbridge Partnership. The general idea is to develop a series of projects to improve the quality of life in the town. Funds have been obtained to get the scheme going. The Parish Council has accepted an invitation to join the steering group as a representative of the surrounding parishes.  We all use the town`s facilities and will have a say in what they do.

To Council matters. Following a recent vacancy we are delighted to welcome Paul Houlton to the Council. I am sure he will be able to make a substantial contribution . There is also a vacancy in Four Elms following the resignation of Judi Young due to other commitments.

Thanks finally to Gerry Ryan for all his help this year in sorting out SDC as far as that is possible as well as to John Green for his assistance on our audit.

My thanks go to all the Councillors for their hard work this year and in particular as always to Ann Bellamy, our Clerk.

Remember the Parish Council exists to improve the quality of life in our villages. It is for you to tell us what you want doing.

That concludes my report.