Questions from members of the public and report by District Cllr Cooke were held prior to the commencement of the Parish Council meeting (see separate report).

114. Apologies for Absence were received from Cllr Durrant and his reason for absence was accepted by members. Apologies were also received from County Cllr Lake and District Cllr Mrs Cook.
      

115. Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest in respect of matters to be discussed – none.
      

116. The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 20^th February 2008 were approved and duly signed. Proposed by Cllr Mrs James, seconded by Cllr Glendinning and all were in favour.
      

117. To report on Matters Arising from Parish Council Meeting held on 20^th February 2008

1. Item 102 - the request by Chiddingstone Causeway Stoolball Club for regular mowing of the sports field in Chiddingstone Causeway: the Clerk reported that Cllr Barratt obtained a verbal quote from Mr Tim Kemp for the cutting of the sports field of £50 per cut. The Clerk has forwarded this onto County Cllr Peter Lake with the request that he raises the matter with KCC. County Cllr Lake has replied that he has not had any response to his own requests to KCC other than to be told that any arrangement negotiated regarding privately owned land will bear a cost. As a result, he is prepared to give up to £500 from his annual grant as long as the Parish Council is prepared to complete the application form. This gives a breathing space hopefully to tie up a long term arrangement with the landowner. The Clerk also reported that she attempted to discuss the high business rates on the sports pavilion that the Stoolball Club are paying, but SDC, quite rightly, said that they couldn’t discuss the account with a third party.
    
2. Item 104 - the collapsed railing on one of the culverts on the footpath crossing the ‘old football pitch’ from Somerden bridge to the village. Cllr Williams advised that the collapsed railing is on SR 515 not SR 498. Clerk to contact KCC ROW again.

iii. Item 106 – affordable housing. The Clerk advised that she requested an update from West Kent. Jo Playle, who is in charge of allocating the rental properties, has reported that they are still in the process of short-listing the social housing properties. Also the Housing Register has not as yet been given the formal handover date for these properties so West Kent are not as yet in a position to contact applicants who have been short-listed until both the former have been achieved.

iv. Item 27: Email from Janet Ranson with update: Last week the builder informed West Kent that they are running late and will not complete on the date previously agreed (18^th April). West Kent are currently trying to determine what the realistic completion date will be and consequently the surveyor has not served the 4 week notice which is the trigger for making the offers to tenants. Janet may have to postpone the opening date again but will confirm when the builders’ programme has been received. At this point in time neither of the one bedroom units is under offer. West Kent urgently need to find buyers and would be grateful if the Parish Council could advertise again in the parish magazine. If necessary, West Kent will need to look to residents of the adjoining parishes named in the S106 as a fall back. Update on Charcott Green: This scheme for 4 rented 2 bedroom houses is still with the planners. A survey for great crested newts and slow worms is to be carried out during the first two weeks in April and Janet is reasonably confident that planning consent will be secured once this has been done. Because of the delays West Kent has now lost their funding and they will have to re-bid to the Housing Corporation in June if they do get the planning permission. This site actually falls outside the Chiddingstone parish boundary and is within Leigh. Leigh Parish Council will support the scheme in return for a share of the allocations so that the houses will be offered to residents of both parishes. There are a number of Chiddingstone applicants wanting smaller rented units.

5. Item 28: Email from Janet Ranson - although West Kent aim to sell a minimum of 35% with every New Build Homebuy scheme, if a higher percentage is achieved on some of the properties they can be more flexible with the share they sell on others. Therefore, they may be able to offer a 30% or 25% share, making the properties more affordable, and people who did not meet the minimum income requirements previously may now qualify.

Item received after lists completed:

vi. Email from Christine Roberts, 2 The Village, Chiddingstone. (i) Parking in the village: Ms Roberts understands that the car park in the Castle grounds is going ahead, which will alleviate some of the problem, but not all. Ms Roberts asks that there is residential parking which is pretty common in any village of this kind. (ii) The school has use of the village hall for many classes but Ms Roberts asks that they close the door. The noise level on the ever growing amount of children is getting higher and higher as they walk from school, to hall, to church, to computer room, to Castle and back again. Members were not in favour of residents only parking, but suggested that Ms Roberts contacts Kent Highways Services. Regarding the noise from the school, members suggested that Ms Roberts contacts the Headteacher. Neither matter is in the remit of the Parish Council.

114. Planning

1. To consider planning applications received, including

• SE/08/00419/FUL – Hoath House, Chiddingstone Hoath – permanent change of use of two rooms for wedding ceremonies and the temporary creation of a marquee as required. Cllr Williams stated that the Parish Council’s comments to the application in 2006 were fair. Even if the number of outdoor events be limited to a maximum of ten with a limit on volume, it is still a large number of functions in a country setting. Cllr Williams stated that he has real concerns, and the nuisance of noise and traffic movements would be greater with the proposed increase in numbers to 200 people. Cllr Williams thought that a maximum of one outdoor event per month could be allowed. Cllr Cooke advised that Mr and Mrs Streatfeild will still need to apply for a premises licence if the planning application is approved. He added that the planning officer, Gerry Harle, attended a site meeting at the property yesterday and considered whether the position of the marquee could be changed in order to minimise the noise and whether the music could be held within the house. Environmental Health and Highways officers attended the site meeting as well. Members agreed that they should reiterate the points made in their comments to the 2006 application, and agreed to recommend that no more than one outdoor function with music per month should be allowed, with a maximum of five per year. There would also be a requirement for a sound limiter and request that the permission be on a temporary basis for a year to see the validity of the comments made.
• SE/08/00710/FUL and LBCALT – The Castle Inn, Chiddingstone – retrospective application for a single storey garden store. Members had no objection to this application.
• SE/08/00552/FUL – Brook House, Baileys Hill Road, Bough Beech – demolition of existing garage, erection of double garage including accommodation at first floor and attached cycle store. Members had no objection to this application but suggested that a Section 106 is put on the garage to link it to the house.

1. List of planning decisions – the Clerk advised that planning permission has been granted at Woods Tackle Shed, Camp Hill, Chiddingstone Causeway for change of use/conversion of existing shed to residential for letting.

114. To report on correspondence received

     Lists of correspondence received had been circulated, and the Clerk drew members’ attention to the following:

     i. Item 14: Email from Susan Wellerd, Clerk to Cowden Parish Council. Christine Nuttall, the Monitoring Officer at SDC, has offered to come out to the parishes and do a Code of Conduct training session for members and clerks in light of the important changes in legislation. Cowden Parish Council is happy to host. Members were happy to attend and Clerk to contact Cowden Parish Council.

     ii. Item 20: Email from Lindsey Eaton, Edenbridge Tourism Forum, with minutes of the successful Forum held last November at Hever Castle. The next Forum which will be held on 22 April at the newly reopened Chiddingstone Castle, and will be followed by a celebration for the end of the Hidden Britain project. This will take the form of a reception and finger buffet, followed by a tour of the Castle’s collection. More details and a formal invitation will be sent soon.

     iii. Item 26: Email from Brian Adcock re: children’s playground in Bough Beech: Brian has conducted some research and believes there are some 25 families (out of an estimated 100 dwellings) with children under the age of 10 who would make use of this facility. He has not done any accurate costings on a playground but believes £10,000 + VAT would be a sensible budget to allocate. Clerk to thank Mr Adcock for his email and advise him that, as the Parish Council is in the process of trying to establish a play area in Chiddingstone Causeway, they would not pursue the possibility of a play area in Bough Beech as well at this time.
      

115. To consider location of dog bins in the parish, and to approve associated costs

     The Clerk reported that the cost of emptying dog bins from 1^st April will be £25.96 per bin per quarter inclusive of VAT, as SDC are increasing their charges. The Parish Council currently pays for just one bin, but will need to arrange for the second bin to be emptied. Members agreed to erect the second bin on land belonging to the Parish Council near the WI Millennium seat in Chiddingstone, and agreed to retain the other bin until it is needed. Members agreed to ask SDC to put the second bin on the emptying rota and pay associated costs.
      

116. To consider the possible provision of a car park in Chiddingstone

     Cllr Cooke reported that he has spoken to Sue Lee, who has put him in touch with Adam Single, a development control officer in Maidstone, regarding permission to lay the car park over the old High Street foundations. John Donald has some photographs of the foundations of the old houses, and Cllr Cooke undertook to obtain a copy of these photos. When the position and depth of the foundations is known, a topographical survey can be carried out.

     (Cllr Cooke left the meeting at 9.20pm)
      

117. To discuss the provision of a play area and additional car parking in Chiddingstone Causeway

     Cllr Mrs James reported that she has written to Mr Patrick Hills, who has responded that he would be pleased to meet with her and Cllr Mrs James to arrange the meeting.

118. To discuss the Chiddingstone parish photo gallery on www.chiddingstone.org/gallery

     The Clerk advised that she went to see John Hubbard, who with John Gordon Reid has been developing the school website and whose server hosts the Chiddingstone.org website. He has developed a gallery page, which is free to use, and which can be used by anyone in the parish. People can register to use the gallery and then upload pictures. The Clerk reported that she is the administrator for the gallery and can remove any photos that are unsuitable and can blacklist the person. There can be different categories for each village and the school will have their own category. Clerk to advertise the gallery in the parish magazine.
      

119. Finance:

1. To consider the two requests received for grant funding:

• Chiddingstone School Cricket Club

Email from Brian Adcock: after discussion with Mark Streatfeild from Chiddingstone Cricket Club, they are in agreement that the purchase of a mobile cricket net would be of great value to both Chiddinstone Cricket Club and also Chiddingstone School Junior Cricket Club (the newly formed club that will be run as an after school club in Terms 5 and 6 for Chiddingstone Primary School). The approximate cost is £1,000 + VAT. The net would be maintained and managed by Geoff Medhurst the current groundsman for the Chiddingstone Cricket Club. Brian requests a grant from the Parish Council for this item. Cllr Glendinning stated that he felt that, as the mobile cricket net will also benefit Chiddingstone Cricket Club, they should in the first instance try fund raising as a means of paying for the net. If their fund raising falls short, the Parish Council could perhaps re-consider the application. The Clerk advised that there are other grant funding opportunities from, for example, the Kent County Playing Fields Association and the Lottery. Members were pleased that the Cricket Club is encouraging new younger membership.

• Edenbridge Voluntary Transport Service

Letter from Edenbridge Voluntary Transport Service, requesting grant towards their service. The Parish Council sent them a cheque for £200 in January 2007 and asked for details of the number of passengers from the Chiddingstone parish who used the service. During 2007, the service carried passengers on 48 journeys, which is just under 5% of the total journeys that year. Members agreed to continue to support the service, and Cllr Mrs Butler proposed that a grant of £200 be given, this was seconded by Cllr Benton and all were in favour. Clerk to advertise service in the Parish Magazine and next Newsletter.

1. Cllr Mrs Butler proposed that the list of cheques be approved, this was seconded by Cllr Mrs James and all were in favour.

125. Items for reporting or inclusion in future agenda

1. Cllr Cottrell reported that he has received a request from Mrs Molly Ward for allotments. The Clerk advised that the Parish Council is obliged to formally consider the written requests by six or more electors for the provision of allotments, and if there is a demand then the Parish Council is obliged to provide them, providing that land is available. The Parish Council has the power to purchase, lease or even compulsory purchase land for allotments. Cllr Mrs James to discuss the matter with Mrs Ward.
2. Cllr Williams asked whether the car park at Penshurst Station in Chiddingstone Causeway has been tidied. Members agreed that a polite letter to Pallet Handling, who own the land, should be sent by the Clerk.
3. Cllr Williams asked for an update on the Chiddingstone Causeway Village Hall refurbishments plans. Cllr Mrs James reported that she is going to meet with the SDC planning officers to discuss the amended plans and gain their verbal approval before submitting the plans.
4. Cllr Williams reported that a ROW to Little Sidcup (SR 508) is blocked. Cllr Cottrell declared a personal interest in this matter as he works for Bore Place. Cllr Cottrell reported that Bore Place is selling some land to the residents of Little Sidcup, who will then submit an application for the diversion of the footpath.
5. The Clerk reported that she has received a call from Robert Hale regarding Slaters. When his family sold the land for the housing, they allowed an area to be used by the children of the properties, which Robert has mown and kept tidy for many years. However, one of the residents has dumped lorry loads of rubbish there and Robert is concerned as he is the legal owner of the land and therefore is liable for clearing the fly-tipping. The Clerk advised that she has tried to contact Moat Housing several times to no avail, and members suggested that the Slaters Trust should be contacted who should be able to sort out the problem.
6. The Clerk reported that the Annual Parish Meeting, to be held on 30^th April, will now be held in Chiddingstone Village Hall. The Clerk asked that the following prepare reports: Cllr Barratt (Chairman’s report), Cllr Williams (Planning report), Clerk (Finance, ROW reports), and it would be useful to have a report on the affordable housing. Members agreed not to have reports by local organisations this year, but invitations to be sent out. It was agreed that refreshments will be served: wine, nibbles, coffee and biscuits.

The meeting closed at 10.00pm.

Chiddingstone Parish Council Meeting – 19^th March, 2008
List of Cheques (figures inclusive of VAT)

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