i. District Cllr Donald Spence reported that the SDC budget meeting was postponed for a week. It is anticipated that the increase will be 4.9% or 4.95%, as the Government would cap any increases over 5%. Only 12% of the council tax is taken by the District Council, the remainder goes to the County Council, the Police, the Fire Brigade and Town and Parish Councils.

2. District Cllr Alison Cook had reported to the Clerk that she has been in contact with Sir John Stanley MP, who has made strong representations in the House of Commons on the cutting of finance for PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) and that he is also keen to support a petition against the closure of community hospitals. Also, District Cllr Mrs Cook has made a visit to Sevenoaks Fire Station and there is a strong message that people must be educated on the importance of smoke detectors and sprinklers in the home. Lastly, a report had been made to District Cllr Mrs Cook regarding the overflowing sewage on the playing fields in Chiddingstone Causeway last weekend. Mrs Cook reported the matter to SDC Environmental Health officers and the area was cordoned off. The blocked drain was cleared over the weekend, but SDC is not sure who did the work. The Clerk advised that she has spoken to Cllr Bill Coulstock who says that it is definitely a public sewer which runs from The Little Brown Jug to the pumping station, but that SDC had been advised by Southern Water that it is a private sewer. SDC need to make a decision as to whether to investigate it further in case the problem reoccurs. Cllr Mrs James advised that it was Mrs Steer who reported the matter to District Cllr Mrs Cook and it was Southern Water who cleared the blockage.
3. County Cllr Peter Lake reported that a budget increase of 4.95% will be set by KCC tomorrow. This is too high for many but is due to the cut in grant from the Government. There will be no cuts to essential services or grants to the voluntary sector, but it will be a very tight budget and some jobs will be lost at County Hall. County Cllr Lake reported that all children at schools in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge (including private schools) will be entitled to get free bus travel for an annual administrative charge of £50. The bus pass will be valid for all journeys, both peak and off-peak, to any destination in Kent. The pass is not extended to rail travel. Twelve additional buses will run across Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells to cover demand. It will be a two–year pilot scheme, and it is anticipated that it will come into force from the May bank holiday 2007. Unfortunately, children who live in Edenbridge and go to the Sevenoaks schools will not be entitled to benefit from the scheme at the present time. County Cllr Lake reported that Nigel Lucas has raised the matter of the fingerpost at the end of Mill Lane with him, and the new sign has been ordered.
4. Questions from members of the public – none.

1. To consider planning applications received
   SE/07/00319/FUL - Little Brown Jug, Chiddingstone Causeway – change three windows to form new doorways. Form two doorways to external walls. Relocation of kitchen extract system. Members had no objection to this application.

   SE/07/00074/FUL – 4 Lakeside Close, Bough Beech – amended application. Members had no objection to this application.
    

2. A list of planning decisions was circulated by the Clerk.

98. To Report on Correspondence Received

    The Clerk reported that lists of correspondence have been circulated, and drew members’ attention to the following:

    i. Item 3: CPRE Sevenoaks District – newsletter, and invitation to their spring meeting in Crockham Hill Village Hall on Saturday 19^th May 10am to 2pm plus optional circular walk. Talks and forum by Mike Phillips, Conservation Volunteers and Dave Hudson, Kent Wildlife Trust. Cost £5 per person.

    ii. Item 9: KAPC – details of a Planning Information Day at Teynham (near Faversham) Village Hall on Saturday 17^th March 10am to 4pm. Cost £50 + VAT per delegate.

    iii. Item 16: Action with Communities in Rural Kent – invitation to attend the Community Halls Conference on 14^th April in Ditton Community Centre.

    iv. Item 18: Action with Communities in Rural Kent – request for membership. Cost £35 per annum. This runs from 1^st April 2007, so the Clerk suggested that it is considered at the April meeting so that the payment is made in the correct financial year.

    v. Item 28: The Audit Commission – appointment of external auditor. In 2002, following a competitive tendering process, an officer of the Audit Commission was appointed as auditor to all local councils and joint committees within Kent for the financial years 2001/02 to 2005/06 inclusive. The Commission now proposes to extend the appointment to cover 2006/07, pending a further competition in which tenders will be invited for appointment as auditors on a county-wide basis.
     

99. To consider provision of Play Area on Chiddingstone Causeway sports field

    Cllr Cooke undertook to contact Mr Patrick Hills.
     

100. Village Car Parking

     Cllr Cooke undertook to contact Mr Mike Holmes, planning officer with SDC.
      

101. Affordable Housing – site for four additional units in the parish

     Cllr Cooke undertook to speak again to Janet Ranson at West Kent Housing. The tenders for the building work have been received by West Kent and it is anticipated that work should commence in 4-6 weeks.
      

102. To discuss the refurbishment of the Chiddingstone sign

     Cllr Williams advised that he is in the process of refurbishing the sign, and that he will give consideration to where the sign could be located, speaking to KCC Highways as well.
      

103. To discuss the provision of a lantern-style street light in Chiddingstone village

     The Clerk advised that she has spoken to KCC and, as Chiddingstone is in the Conservation Area, any change will need planning approval. If the Parish Council wish to proceed with an application, it will have to be made to the West Kent Divisional Office and a lighting engineer will visit and make a full appraisal. If he recommends that the area is suitable for a light, he will advise the types of light available for that classification of road, but it is highly unlikely to be of lantern-style. The implementation cost will most likely fall to the Parish Council, if not the complete cost. The officer advised that members of the public should be aware of what is required to live in a rural environment, in other words they should carry a torch! County Cllr Lake advised that he would be able to contribute towards the cost as part of his Member Community Grant scheme. The Clerk undertook to obtain some costings and matter to be considered again next month.
      

104. To adopt Standing Orders

     Members agreed that, as there were so few members present, this item will be postponed until the March Parish Council meeting.
      

105. Finance

1. 2005/06 Annual Audit Return – the Clerk reported that the Annual Return as prepared by Dorothy was sent back by the Audit Commission as the bank reconciliation did not agree with the Total Cash and Investments figure on the Return. A request was also made for an explanation as to the Internal Auditor’s ‘None’ response regarding asset and investment registers.

   The Clerk advised that, upon investigation, she found that Dorothy had not included one of the bank accounts in the return and many of the figures were incorrect. The Clerk prepared a new Statement of Account and a Fixed Asset Register and returned these to the Audit Commission, who then wrote back, returning the Annual Return and asking the Parish Council to make the amendments and for the Chairman and Clerk to initial the changes and sign the return. The Parish Council is asked to re-approve Section 1. They have also asked for copies of all the yearend bank statements and details of the account that was not included in the original figures. Cllr Mrs James proposed that the accounts be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Williams and all were in favour. Cllr Cooke and the Clerk initialled the changes and signed the return.

2. Members approved the list of cheques for signature.

1. Cllr Williams reported that the footpath from Somerden to Chiddingstone village is very muddy, particularly in the field section. Clerk undertook to ask ROW to lay an improved surface.
2. The Clerk reported that the surface of the footpath from Chiddingstone village to the sports field has been re-laid and KCC has installed a new wooden, pushchair-friendly barrier in place of the old metal kissing gate. The metal kissing gate, which was made by Chris Pounds, has been delivered to Cllr Cooke’s house for erection at the end of the footpath across his land.
3. The Clerk reported that the key has broken in the lock of the Chiddingstone noticeboard. Cllr Williams undertook to take a look.
4. The Clerk advised that she will contact all the village organisations and invite them to the Annual Parish Meeting to be held on Wednesday 25^th April. It is hoped that representatives will attend and give a brief report. Therefore, it was agreed not to invite a speaker this year.
5. Cllr Mrs James suggested that, in an effort to raise the profile of the Parish Council and its members, an A4 folded sheet should be prepared with photographs of each member and the Clerk, contact details, and a short paragraph on each member’s interests and responsibilities. Members agreed that this is an excellent idea and agreed to prepare the leaflet, which could be delivered to every household. Decision to be ratified at the March Parish Council meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm.

Louise Kleinschmidt – January expenses & mileage £13.12

Louise Kleinschmidt – February salary £634.91

Post Office Ltd – PAYE contributions £110.52

Louise Kleinschmidt – February petty cash £7.68

Chiddingstone Causeway Village Hall – hall hire 17.01.07 £12.00

Konica Minolta – hire of photocopier 15.08.06 – 14.02.07 £72.79

Bough Beech Village Hall – hall hire 19.10.05 – 21.02.07 £35.00