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MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN THE FLYING HORSE ON MONDAY 5TH JANUARY 04 STARTING AT 7.30P.M.
THOSE PRESENT: Mr P LeClercq (Chairman), Mr R Oliver, Mr P O’Sullivan, Mrs S Elsy, Ms A LeClercq, Mr K Miller, Mr R Honey, Mr A Coles and Mrs R Hawes, Ward Member.
1.1.1. APOLOGIES: Mr Howard Preston, Chairman of Sandyhurst Lane Residents Association was unable to attend.
1.2.2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: There were none. Mr Honey handed in a letter about a change of interests, this will be copied and the original sent to Ashford Borough Council.
1.3. 3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING: Were agreed and signed as a true record.
1.4.4. MATTERS ARISING:
a) Community Speedwatch. Mr Dene Richardson was present and gave an update as to the current situation, it is hoped training will be on Saturday 17th January.
b) Highway Issues. 1. There are potholes in Pilgrims Way and the edges are breaking up. 2. Ms LeClercq reported that she had been in touch with ABC concerning the gardener who works at the property at the top of Sandyhurst Lane, she has observed him on a number of occasions putting garden debris out into the road, the latest was with a garden blower, blowing the leaves across the road from under the hedge. The Clerk was asked to contact highways department and ask for a count in Wye Road now there are humps in The Street at Kennington and for White lines in Wye Road and at the Junction with Wye Road and the A251.
c) Co-option. The Clerk was asked to find out if having interviewed three people and only co-opted two last time there was a vacancy, would the PC now need to interview again. The letter from ABC electoral services department stated that once the time has elapsed that the public is allowed to ask for an election and there has been no such request, how the PC fill their vacancy is up to them.
d) Sandy Acres & 106 Agreement. The Clerk reported she had received a reply to her letter of November 03 about the 106 agreement. A subsequent phone call was made a further details will arrive later.
1.5.5. WARD MEMBERS REPORT:
Mrs Hawes gave an interesting report on the following items.
1. There has been a lot of behind the scenes work in relation to Ashford’s Future.
2. There has been a group set up in Charter House already, who is working closely with developers and ABC on Ashford’s Future.
3. Speed Limits, it is hoped there will be a report soon about the counts and speed investigations; this is something going on in the borough not just this parish. It is understood once the signs have been erected for A251 there will be another count in Wye Road.
4. It is hoped the manhole covers in Guernsey Way will be dealt with once the road is adopted. 5. The litter problems, being created by MacDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Burger King have been investigated by Mrs Hawes, she reported that those shops involved are collecting the litter in their immediate area but will not come as far as the village. It was noted there is no MacDonald’s in the Eureka Science Park, the worst offender is Burger King, a news article was handed to Mrs Hawes by Mr Miller, he also asked if other outlets could be requested to clear up after them, Mrs Hawes said she would follow this up, however they could not be made to come as far as the village probably.
6. The issue of dog mess is still causing a problem in Goat Lees, after a varied discussion it was agreed that 3 more dog bins should be ordered their positions agreed at a later date.
The problem of dog mess on the green was also discussed and it was agreed that a polite letter should be sent to all properties around the green; Mr Oliver would deliver the letters after the Clerk has written them.
The meeting was briefly adjourned to allow members of the public the chance to speak on items on the agenda.
1.6.6. PARISH WISH LIST:
Mr R Honey reported the final draft had been submitted, there is a need to keep it under review. It was felt that the PC should go ahead with the Parish Plan and a wide consultation was required, this would be through open meetings and questionnaires. A need to formulate headings for detailed work was required, as was a steering group. This, it is hoped, will be up and running in April and the three members who will set up the steering group will be Mr Honey, Mr O’Sullivan and Mrs Elsy.
1.7.7. PLANNING:
a) The following applications were granted by ABC, 1. 7 Muscovy Close and 2. Tree works at Manor House. Refused were 1.Pilgrims Cottage and 2. Bocton House.
b) A Notice of Appeal was received regarding 5 Brickfield Cottage.
c) A Notice of Consent for materials was received from ABC for The Barn Wye Road.
d) 03/02041/AS, Hillyfields Sandyhurst Lane. Application for bungalow and garage at rear of property. A letter of objection from the SHLRA was received and noted by the PC. The members of the planning committee looked at this application before the PC meeting. Other members looked at it during the meeting. After a full discussion it was agreed to object this application on the following grounds; position, lack of amenity to neighbours, poor design, adverse effect on quality of environment, unsustainable and would need to rely on private car use. The Clerk was asked to obtain the correct policy numbers referred to in the PDS and include these in the letter to ABC. (Pages 22, 9, 18.)
e) 03/02144/AS, New House, Wye Road. There were no objections to the application, which was fully supported.
f) The Clerk was asked to obtain a copy of the Local Plan of Ashford that is in force at the present time.
1.8.8 FINANCE:
a) There were no cheques signed last month due, as the Clerk did not have the chequebook to hand. All cheques as agreed last month were signed. No cheques were signed for January, as no chequebook available.
b) Budget. The alteration requested by members had been carried out. With the exception of changing the amount for notice boards from £250.00 to £500.00 and changing the Iron Room to community facilities the proposed budget as annexed to these minutes was agreed, therefore the Precept will be £9,544-00 plus £2,248-17p for concurrent functions. Also discussed was the refurbishment of the kitchen in the Iron Room, now the rebuilding is nearing completion. Due to financial restraints the Iron Room committee are unable to complete the kitchen and have asked the PC for some financial assistance, a detailed discussion took place and the following was proposed; ‘that the Iron Room committee give the PC a list of items required the PC will arrange purchase and fitting up to the value of £3,500.- exclusive of VAT, Added to the proposal was ‘the PC will look favourably at any application from the Goat Lees Community Hall, these monies to come from the reserves’. All Members were in favour, the invoice to be in the name of the Parish Council.
Concern was raised over the insurance for the play equipment and balancing pond and the separate pond in the Goat Lees development, the Clerk was asked to write to the borough council asking the question.
1.9.9. REPORTS:
a) KAPC. The Chairman and Mr Oliver Attended. As the Minutes are in the items for circulation no report was given.
b) ABC Open Evening. Mr O’Sullivan and the Chairman attended. Neither of them felt that the evening had been very useful and there appeared to be no framework to the event. The Clerk was asked to write a letter stating how disappointed they were.
c) Police Forum. The Chairman and Ms LeClercq attended. Sgt Colin Piddock and PC Mathew King were in attendance. The Chairman asked if he could be given the name of the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator at Guernsey Close. Due to the data protection act this was not possible, it was also reported that due to this act the police could not give details of criminal activities to the NHW co coordinators except in the generalist of terms. Time switches are available free of charge, contact Lorraine on Ashford 619148, for further details. The Handyman scheme is doing well and has visited 45 homes in the Charing area alone. The next forum meeting is on 10th March.
Mrs Elsy reported, that grants were available for parish councils.
1.10.10. CORRESPONDENCE:
a) Items for circulation were handed out
b) Items previously circulated required the following action, 1. Dog bins the Clerk was asked to find out if the new one could be green instead of red, there was an advertisement in the Clerk & Councils Direct, the Clerk was asked to enquire about costs. 3. It was agreed that there would be no benefit in joining FWAG and SERPA.
1.11.11. MATTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST:
1. With Mr Sander’s resignation there is now only two on the Appointments Committee, after a short discussion Mr Honey volunteered, this was ratified by all.
2. The Parish Forum will be on Wednesday 7th. The Chairman will attend.
3. Mr O’Sullivan reported the KAPC had sent him a list of Internal Auditors that he requested, the Clerk reported that she had requested a list before Christmas but had received nothing; once these are available he will report back with costs.
4. The Clerk was asked to contact the owner of the shop in Goat Lees, now that it is open, and request permission to put up Parish Council notices in the window.
The next meeting will be on Monday 2nd February.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.15pm.
Signed
Chairman
2nd February 04
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