Annual Meeting of Hever Parish Council on Wednesday 28^th May 2008 in Hever Village Hall at 8pm.

Present: Councillors Rutman, Boyle, Hodson, Miller, Scott, Southworth, District Councillor Ryan, 22 members of the public and the Clerk.

1.     Apologies were received from County Councillor Peter Lake, Councillor Roberts and Councillor Houlton.

2.     Minutes of the Annual Meeting on 24^th May 2007 were approved and signed.

3.     Chairman's Report

As always the year has seen a mix of larger issues and the everyday routine... these are the more significant matters which your council has dealt with over the year.

We continue to be bombarded by dubious consultations. These arrive from either bodies up the local authority chain or worse still from quangos -high weald, countryside, police, footpaths, buses, housing, minority group, young people facilities and on and on. Many of these are worthy bodies. Invariably they cover ground already covered elsewhere or are wholly irrelevant to our community. In any event the asking body has probably already made up its mind, takes no notice of the consultation exercise but employs staff to set up and review the process-all at taxpayers' expense.This is called listening and learning. This may sound cynical but having spent some time this year in the Hospital saga when every effort was made to persuade the community that what the PCT wanted was what the community wanted when it patently did not tells you everything. One of the usual comments about the workings of a body such as a Parish council particularly one as small as ours-is that we have no power and can achieve nothing. In fact that is simply not the case. What it does require however is consistent pressure on those tiers of decision makers to get them to a stage where they seriously take account of what they are being told. This past year has seen two examples of this where the council has been involved-albeit indirectly.

The first is, of course, Edenbridge Hospital where a number of councillors were on the steering group advising on strategy. At the outset it was entirely plain that irrespective of the merits of the case against closure of the hospital and the MIU, that authority in the form of the PCT had concluded that the hospital was to be closed. However as we all know a result of pressure at all levels led most ably by Andrew Russell plus support from everyone concerned all obstacles were overcome. We now look forward to improvements being put in place

The second example is that of the aircraft impact over Hever. This has been a one man campaign to get aircraft to fly at a higher altitude or to spread the flights around a wider area. You may feel that one person cannot achieve anything against the vast organisations and resources pitted against him .Indeed you may not even agree with the campaign. However it is the fact that the matter has now reached, as a result of pressure from David Baron, the council and particularly our MP the desk of two Ministers at Transport and Environment.

 A case has been made -it may not get any further but it does demonstrate that consistent pressure can bring results if sufficient commitment is shown. Now to routine matters.

The Web Site

 The web site was inactive for some of the year whilst one of our councillors was ill but our new Parish clerk has assumed responsibility for the site. I urge you to have a look at it. It tells you what is going on at Council level as well information about local groups and activities, www.thelocalchannel/hever.

Community support officer.

We have for many years been concerned because of the absence of a police presence as well as the centre of police activity being removed to far off Tonbridge and Maidstone. For some years one of our councillors, Nick Bashford took on the thankless role of dealing with vandalism in Four Elms, particularly at the Recreation ground so we are very pleased that a community support officer has been appointed for our villages in the person of Ann Kingscott who is with us tonight-please stand up Ann. Details of her hours and means of communication are on our web site .Please talk to her later if there is anything on which you have a concern

Finance The Council has for the third year running been able to maintain our precept at the same level as last year that is £7,500.

Planning

In 2007 the planning committee dealt with more than 42 applications r nearly one a week. The applications were equally divided more or less between Hever and Four Elms, it is the council`s policy to be  as sympathetic as possible to all applications although we are bound by the planning laws and the ultimate decisions are made by SDC.

 The two areas in which contention arises tend to be regarding the Green belt and the so-called 50% rule by which extensions to houses cannot exceed more than 50%of the area of the building in 1948,the year of the town and country building act. This year there has been only one serious difficult issue, namely a proposal to build a house in the green belt between FE and Edenbridge. The council is wholly opposed to any buildings which would close the gap of open countryside between FE and Edenbridge. We could not support this application which is now the subject of an appeal

The Four Elms Pond

The pond is now being managed by a subcommittee of 2 councillors with support from residents. An annual fixed grant is provided by the council towards maintenance. Any balance has to be found from residents either in the form of money or labour-or both. This must be working as the subject has not come up before the council this year since the new arrangements have been put in place.

 Highways

The council has been working hard with some success to date in tackling the traffic problems at FE crossroads plus residents concern over speeding along five fields Lane

 KCC have finally agreed to install equipment along Five Fields Lane to measure traffic speed and volume. This was done. We await feedback.

On the Crossroads where we have been pressing for several years for a flashing sign, KCC have at long last agreed to submit a proposal for the installation of such a sign. This is subject to the proposal meeting the council`s technical requirements. Again good progress on both fronts but it does take time and application on the part of councillors in the form of attending some dreadful meetings with KCC and SDC. Gerry, how do you stand it?

 On roads generally you will have noticed work has been carried out on some of those roads that have been the subject of complaint over the years. A better performance generally from the highway authority

Grants

Modest grants are made towards local projects and in this past year grants were made towards the renovation of the FE kitchen and the Hospital transport scheme

The council also became a corporate member of the Edenbridge Museum.

 I mentioned last year the availability of a small charitable fund that the PC manages for educational and other purposes for residents. We still await applications notwithstanding efforts to advertise the fund.

Local Survey

Having begun this report by telling you about phoney consultations we are about to embark on one of our own. Ours is not phoney. We intend to carry out a survey asking residents to tell us what specific things they would like to the council to undertake or provide .It will be in a very simple form  and we genuinely want to know what the council can do. All residents will receive a copy

It is your Council; you pay for it- so please complete the form

Council changes

A number of changes have taken place on the council this year. Ann Bellamy has been Clerk for 15 years and retired in December. We are very grateful for her many years of hard work and commitment. The council is also very grateful to have found Sarah Prall who has started the job with great energy and enthusiasm. I am sure she will do very well.

Peter Harrison and Nick Bashford both retired from the council at the end of the year. Both have put in a great deal of work on behalf of the community over the years and will be much missed. Many thanks also to all Cllrs and to Gerry Ryan and Peter Lake for all their help

 I am also stepping down as Chairman -8 years is quite long enough to be a chairman and it is time for new ideas from new people. Ann Roberts has been appointed Chairman and I am sure she will be excellent.

There are vacancies which need to be filled. If you are interested in local affairs and have some time available please have a word with any of the councillors who can tell you more about what is involved.

4.     Questions from the floor

There were no questions.

David Baron thanked those who had recognised his efforts to reduce aircraft noise over Hever but pointed out to the assembly that Easterly winds had been prevailing which was the main reason for the current respite in noise. Mr. Baron agreed with the Chairman that the meeting with BAA on March 28^th 2008 had been very useful.

District Councillor Gerry Ryan thanked Councillor Rutman for his excellent Chairmanship of the Hever Parish Council over the last eight years, during which the Council had seen off some serious issues, not least the Dear's Leap problem. The Council must now support the campaign to ensure that Southern Railways review current policy on Hever Train Station. The last train from London does not stop at Hever Station and the stopping service is erratic leading to an infrequent service. The neighbouring Parish of Cowden has put together a submission urging Southern Railways to review the service between Ashford, Cowden and Hever. Coiuncillor Ryan strongly encouraged Hever Parish Council to do the same.

5.       Guest Speaker - Richard Ashworth, MEP.

The Chairman introduced Richard Ashworth who is the Conservative spokesman on Budgets in Europe.

Mr. Ashworth explained that he represents the County of Kent. Whilst he has no Constituency as such the UK has 74 seats in the European Parliament to represent the 60million people in the UK. In comparison to Sir John Stanley our local MP whose electorate totals 65,000.  If Mr. Ashworth had a Constituency it would represent over 700,000 people. Europe works on a Regional basis and Mr. Ashworth represents Kent. Seats are voted for on a Party basis not by candidate. Four out of the ten seats in the South East are Conservative. Mr. Ashworth is "a man of Kent" as he was born and bred here on Romney Marsh and pursued a life in Agriculture. After 30 years milking cows he developed his own business, finally in 2004 he stood for the Conservatives and was elected.

Mr. Ashworth is a member of the Budget Committee and as part of this remit has been working on a committee reviewing the Environment and Climate change. Global Warming is a fact; the committee asked what we should be doing about it and is mankind responsible. The answer is yes, mankind is responsible for the most part. If we carry on as we are within 10 years the world will have increased in temperature by 2 degrees. Mr. Ashworth expressed his concern that this generation will not leave the planet in a fit state for our Grandchildren.

If the temperature does increase by 2 degrees then water becomes a big issue. Agriculture will be hard hit, 2 degrees becomes a life or death balance. Sea levels will change, Political balance will shift, mass migration will, occur. Those who will bear the brunt will be the poorer developing nations.

So what to do and how to act? You can't look mat Climate Change in isolation. In our lifetime:

·         The world population will increase by half again, there are currently 6 billion people, in 30 years there will be 9 billion.

·         Education and technology will spread more wealth than at any other time in our history.

·         Climate Change will continue.

It is likely that energy and food prices will continue to be driven up, the poorer nation will suffer as a result. The balance of power will shift to the North and to the Pacific, Political power will follow. Some of these new powerful nations do not play by the same rules that we have followed. Since the Second World War the logic was "my army is bigger than yours" this no longer applies, we need to adapt to that change. It is not acceptable to say that "it's not my problem". Kofi Annan and Mikhail Gorbachov both spoke on this issue to the European Committee and impressed Mr. Ashworth with their approach to this problem. Mr. Gorbachov said that 5% of the world's population cannot go on using 25% of the world's energy as is the case in the USA. We must be prepared to change ourselves if we wish to lead the way on this issue.

Mr. Ashworth concluded his talk by stating what an enormous pleasure it is to represent this County in Brussels and congratulated all present on what a beautiful Parish Hever is.

6.     Question s from the floor.

John Hodson asked how the European government works, particularly with regard to transparency in the expenses of MEP's and general European Parliament Accounts. Why aren't accounts audited and published as they would be in a company? Given that this is the case how do you raise the level of esteem by which the European Government is held?

Mr. Ashworth replied first by explaining the set up in Brussels:

This is comprised of 3 bodies

The European Council - Sets direction or agenda for the Parliament. Could be likened to a Board in a business context. The agenda is then passed to the Commission.

The European Commission Is the executive teams if you like, the Civil service. They pass the Council's directives to the European Parliament to approve.

The European Parliament is comprised of the 750 elected MP's from the 27 member states, effectively the shareholders. The business of the Government is ratified by them and then passed back to the European Commission who then in turn passes it back to the sovereign Governments.

The treaty of Lisbon/Constitution aims to devolve powers away from the European Council and give them to the European Parliament. The concern in doing this is that you cut out the stage where the 27 heads of Government set the agenda or create the vision for Europe if you like. Mr. Ashworth's concern is that more powers will rest with the European Parliament than with our own Parliament.

Every year the Accounts are audited at the European Parliament. Within the Auditor's report is a critical statement, this is the -"unqualified statement of assurance" this indicates that all transaction were decent, honest and true.

For 13 years the auditors refused to sign off the European Union's accounts. What they have said is that they can only give a "qualified statement of accounts" the reason for this is that they are unable to comment on what they can't see.

The reason for this statement is that 80% of the European Governments funds are handled directly by the 27 member states that are not required to submit their accounts back to the European Government.

For example DEFRA handles EU monies on behalf of UK agriculture. DEFRA is not required to submit accounts to demonstrate where money has been spent.

This situation has now been addressed, in 2006 all member states agreed to supply audited accounts, and this will begin in the next 18 months.

With regard to the publishing of member's expenses, the Budgetary Committee has asked the Auditors to shine a light on 10% of members to look in detail at their expenses with the express objective of scrutinizing process and procedures in order to ascertain if they are robust enough to prevent any fraudulent use of monies. This was undertaken 2 months ago and indicated that there are some issues with some member's expenditure. Steps are being taken to correct this position. Things do need to be tightened up; Mr. Ashworth is in full support of tightening up procedures to ensure that any risk is minimized. It is fundamental to democracy that we have trust.

Alan Miller asked about Global Warming - there is still some doubt as to whether Global Warming is a man-made issue. How does the ordinary man on the street make a difference? One feels helpless and questions how effective recycling or reducing car usage is, are there any more tangible suggestion?

Mr. Ashworth replied:

We must do more to kick the carbon habit. We have an oil based economy; we were all up in arms when oil hit $50 per barrel now it is at $150 per barrel and rising. With the global population increasing as it is if all 9 billion people want petrol, the same lifestyle as we enjoy there will be nothing more inflationary, it is easy to imagine oil at $200 per barrel. In order to cut down on carbon emissions we have closed down coal and oil fired refineries. As a result we are now dependent on Russia for 70% of our oil.

We must persuade emerging economies to reduce carbon emissions and in order to do this we must speak with moral authority and lead the way on reducing our own emissions.

We have a great deal of technological expertise and many bright people developing solutions. We need to sell our bright ideas around the world to create a win/win situation for everybody. The most obvious thing we can all do? 60% of energy produced is wasted. Household waste is unbelievable- insulate houses, in doing so we can save huge amounts of energy. We must speak with one voice; Europe must speak with one voice. We must talk to and influence the US, China and India.

We must hit our 20/20/20 targets, a 20% carbon emission reduction and 20% of our energy to be renewable by 2020.

Laurie Rutman commented on the poor press that the media in this country generates about the European Parliament and asked how this could be improved.

Mr. Ashworth replied:

On his first day in the European Parliament he sat next to another new MEP who was previously the Priminister of Poland. On asking him why he wanted to become an MEP he replied that he wished his son to have a better life than he had.

Mr. Ashworth went on to say that we have enjoyed the longest period of uninterrupted peace in this country we have known for over a century. 10 years ago countries like Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Armenia Were all countries undergoing huge turmoil now they want to join the EU. A single market between 27 countries, freedom of movement for people and goods is a fantastic achievement and as a result many more countries wish to join.

 Real democracy is what local people do, Parish Councils are at the "Coal Face" representing parishioner's views and doing very important work.

27 different nations working together is something to celebrate, whilst we are diverse and we celebrate our differences we are a union of values- Law, Human Rights and Democracy.

John Southworth asked about when the Lisbon Treaty is ratified the power that the Balkan states will have if they all join the EU.

Mr. Ashworth replied:

The Irish will hold a referendum on June 12^th it must pass this hurdle and then it will go on to The House Of Lords where they will vote on it. In the event that it does get passed yes we have equal powers co-decision. There will be no new President unless he is elected and powers will be passed to the 750 MEP's.

John Green asked about the expansion of the EU, in 2014 Turkey will be part of it, how much more expansion does Mr. Ashworth foresee?

Mr. Ashworth replied:

EU is not like a map it is a union of values any Country wishing to join must pass the Copenhagen Criteria:

·         Do you have a democracy?

·         Do you have an established rule of law and good record on Human Rights?

·         Do you have fiscal responsibility and a proven track record in this?

The government in Turkey is Western facing is we in the EU push them away we would destabilize and push Turkey back towards Islamic unstable Countries and regimes this would be very dangerous for us in the West. The EU must become an outward looking organisation.

The Chairman then thanked Mr. Ashworth for a very interesting evening, Mr. Ashworth was one of the most interesting speakers we have ever had.

The meeting ended at 9.30pm after which light refreshments were served.