113. Apologies for Absence were accepted from Cllr Barratt, Cllr Coulstock and Cllr Mrs Ward and their reasons for absence were accepted by the Parish Council. Apologies for absence were also received from District Cllr Spence.
      

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

115. The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 21^st February 2007 were approved and duly signed. Proposed by Cllr Mrs James and seconded by Cllr Williams.
      

116. To Report on Matters Arising from the Parish Council Meeting held on 21^st February 2007 – none.
      

117. Open Session

i. District Cllr Donald Spence – no report.

ii. District Cllr Alison Cook reported that she attended a Fair Trade exhibition in Sevenoaks and was amazed by the variety and quality of goods for sale. Cllr Mrs Cook also advised that she went out with one of the refuse crews last week and she was impressed by their job. Each crew visits 500-600 houses and they face some pretty nasty conditions from time to time, such as broken glass or crockery in bags with no warning labels. At the current time, SDC does not intend to move to fortnightly collections but hopes to do kerbside collections of glass and wax cartons, and also brown sacks for garden waste. SDC is waiting for its next CPA next week. The Audit Commission’s report has been received and SDC achieved a category 4, which is the highest category, and was the highest performing district council in Kent. SDC also achieved a Value for Money mark.

iii. County Cllr Peter Lake - no report.

iv. Questions from members of the public

Mr Brodie Hall asked whether the brown tourist sign in Chiddingstone Hoath with directional sign to Hever Castle could be moved so that tourists do not venture down Oakenden Lane, as it is unclear where vehicles should turn right. Clerk to add to KCC Highways spreadsheet.

113. Planning

1. To consider planning applications received

1. SE/07/00085/FUL – Five Wells, Chiddingstone: replacement single storey residential timber building. Members felt that this is a high profile location and agreed to object to the design of the timber building in the Conservation Area.
2. SE/07/00587/FUL – Keepers Cottage, Hill Hoath Road, Chiddingstone: replacement outbuildings – resubmission of planning application SE/06/01887/FUL. Members had no objection.
3. SE/07/00522/FUL – The Old Coach Road, Wellers Town Road, Chiddingstone: retrospective application for the erection of an agricultural barn. Members had no objection.
4. SE/07/00617/WTCA – The Old Rectory, Chiddingstone: remove one Holm Oak. Members had no objection.
5. SE/07/00717/FUL – Oakenden Farm Barn, Oakenden Lane, Chiddingstone Hoath: conversion of oak framed barn to residential use. Members wished to postpone consideration of this application pending a site visit on Saturday 24^th March at 2pm. The Planning Committee would meet on Wednesday 28^th March at 7pm in Chiddingstone Village Hall to discuss the application.

i. Mr Jasper Gerard, who lives in the neighbouring property to Oakenden Farm Barn, advised that he wanted to retain good relations with Mr Brodie Hall, the applicant, and hoped that some compromise could be agreed. Mr Gerard stated that he would like to see the barn converted as an annex to the farm house rather than as a separate dwelling, and also that the garden be preserved and not used as a parking area.

Mr Gerard objected to the current application as it would create much more traffic in Oakenden Lane, which although an historic and beautiful lane, is also very narrow and traffic has increased recently due to the conversion of the other barn on the site. Mr Gerard feels that to convert the barn to a separate dwelling would urbanise the land, which would be a great shame, and it would make six dwellings in the lane.

ii. Mr Brodie Hall, who is the applicant at Oakenden Farm Barn, advised that every house in the lane has been changed over the years. Oakenden Farm has not changed apart from the existing barn conversion. The present condition of the lane is its best ever and all residents contribute towards its upkeep. Mr Hall advised that he does not believe that the additional traffic will be great.

Cllr Cooke reported that he had a conversation with the planning officer at SDC, who advised that applications for conversion of agricultural buildings are considered favourably if it will enhance the employment in the area, but buildings which would require extreme structural work would not be considered favourably for conversion. Mr Hall advised that he has had a structural survey carried out and offered to give a copy of the report to the Parish Council.

1. The list of planning decisions had been circulated to all members.

113. To Report on Correspondence Received

i. Item 4: SEERA – Regional Housing Board – Regional Housing Strategy Review 2007 and consultation for return by 27^th April. Cllr Williams advised that he would try and attend a meeting arranged for voluntary bodies and complete the consultation.

ii. Item 9: Copy letters and information from David Baron regarding excessive aircraft noise in the area. Clerk to circulate to all members.

iii. Item 16: KAPC – subscription renewal from 1^st April. For the year ending 31^st March 2008, the subscription will be £329.50 + VAT and one copy of Local Council Review at £13.50 per annum (six issues). Four copies of Parish News are included in the subscription. To be considered at April Parish Council meeting.

iv. Item 21: Emails from PC Sean Chapman with reported incidents in the parish: theft from garage on Hill Hoath Road on 12^th/13^th March of Yamaha quadbike, 2 chainsaws and 75 shotgun cartridges. Also theft from motor vehicle at Knotley Hall Cottages.

v. Item 22: Letter from Local Crime Community Sentence – asking if they can address the Parish Council on crime and the sentences offenders receive. The presentation, with audience participation, takes 1¹/₄ hours. Members decided not to proceed with a presentation at the current time.

vi. Item 23: KCC – notification of grant of planning permission to demolish temporary classroom and construction of new staff room, library/music room, foundation group classroom, WCs, circulation space and new staircase to first floor – Chiddingstone Primary School. Before works commence to the car park and landscaped garden, a further detailed ecological survey assessing the potential of the site to host Great Crested Newts must be submitted.

vii. Item 26: SEERA – Partial Review of the South-East Plan – revised apportionment of primary land-won aggregates. Consultation with comments requested by 30^th March.

8. Item 27: West Kent Neighbourhood Watch Association – agenda and invitation to AGM on 18^th April at 7.30pm plus minutes of last meeting.
9. Item 32: Email from Sue Ireland, Parish Liaison officer at KCC Highways. The sign at the end of Mill Lane is being made at this moment and Sue said that it should be erected during the week commencing 2^nd April. Apparently, Allan Gibbons has just dealt with three or four of the outstanding items on the spreadsheet. The Clerk reported that she complained about the amount of mud on the roads, but Sue advised that this is the responsibility of the farmer not Kent Highways. The diversion on the bridge at Bough Beech was set up by KCC’s Streetworks department for BT to lay some cable. This affected Hever parish therefore they would have been notified. Nigel Lucas complained that the Parish was not informed in advance of the works, and KCC advised that they forgot to put up the advance warning signs. Members felt that Chiddingstone Parish Council should have been made aware of the bridge closure as well as Hever Parish Council, and asked who is responsible for chasing the farmers to clear the roads of mud; the Police or KCC. Clerk to respond to Sue Ireland accordingly.

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

     It was agreed to postpone this item until the April Parish Council meeting.

      

114. Village Car Parking

     Cllr Cooke reported that he has agreed to meet Mike Holmes, and also hopefully Mrs Carey, from SDC Planning Department on site on Friday 30^th March to discuss the possibilities.
      

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

     Cllr Cooke reported that he has spoken to Janet Ranson at West Kent Housing and the building work for the ten units of Affordable Housing in Chiddingstone Causeway is due to commence towards the end of May. The contract is for 42 weeks and 8 weeks before completion of the contract, a notice will be sent to all applicants on the housing list asking them to confirm their interest. Preference will firstly be given to those people who live in the parish, and then to people who have family living in the parish. It is likely that each unit will have a shortlist of two applicants and then an interview will be given and the final decision taken. Regarding the site in Charcott Green, a planning application for four units has now been submitted. If successful, these units will be shared with Leigh parish.
      

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

     The Clerk reported that a letter has been sent to EDF Energy formally requesting a quote for the connection of electricity supply, and contact has been made with a supplier of the lantern, but she is awaiting to receive a response.
      

117. To ratify decision made at the February Parish Council meeting to prepare a Parish Council leaflet setting out contact details of members and Clerk for delivery to every household in the parish

     Members agreed to proceed with the leaflet, which will incorporate a newsletter, and it was agreed that it will be delivered to every household in the parish. Cllr Cooke undertook to deliver them on this occasion.
      

118. To adopt Standing Orders

     Cllr Durrant proposed that the Standing Orders be adopted. This was seconded by Cllr Williams and at vote all were in favour.
      

119. Finance

1. Proposal to close one Lloyds Bank account and the Bank of Ireland account – Members agreed and signed the closure form for Lloyds Bank accordingly.
2. Review of Earmarked Reserves – the Clerk reported that members previously approved a transfer of £15,000 to Earmarked Reserves. Cllr Cooke proposed that an additional £10,000 be transferred to Earmarked Reserves before year-end. This was seconded by Cllr Durrant and all were in favour. The Clerk added that, in the new financial year, £3,000 can be transferred to Earmarked Reserves from the ‘Projects’ budget for the year 2007/08.
3. Members approved the list of cheques, which were signed accordingly.

113. Items for Reporting or Inclusion in Future Agenda

The Clerk reported the following items:

1. A request has been received from Enid Foreman for an officer from SDC to come and address the Parish Council and parishioners on recycling, in particular specifying what items can be recycled. The Clerk undertook to try and arrange for an officer to attend at the Annual Parish Meeting on 25^th April.
2. The Clerk suggested that the Parish Council consider asking Rodney Williamson from KAPC to do a training session for new councillors. This could be held in conjunction with neighbouring parishes and any expenses could be split. Members agreed and Clerk to contact KAPC.
3. The maintenance contract for St. Mary’s closed churchyard is due to start on 1^st April, but the Parish Council will need to pass a resolution at the meeting on 18^th April. Members agreed to go to tender and discuss at the next meeting.
4. Elections – 3^rd May. The yellow nomination papers have been circulated, which need to be completed and submitted to SDC between 28^th March and noon on 4^th April. It is suggested by SDC that the forms are submitted as soon after 28^th March as possible in case there are errors on the form. Also suggested that the forms are delivered in person so that they can be checked. Forms must be submitted to the Returning Officer (Ian Bigwood), or his Deputy (Christian Everett) at SDC’s offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks between 8.30am and 4.30pm.

Election expenses must be declared to SDC whether or not the election is contested or whether any election expenses have been incurred. The limit of expenses incurred by candidates is £600 plus 5p for every entry in the register of electors.

v. Annual Parish Meeting to be held on Wednesday 25^th April – the Clerk undertook to write a letter to all the parish organisations asking them to attend and to prepare a short talk on their group.

vi. Cllr Cooke suggested that at the April Parish Council meeting, members consider taking on a handyman to help with local tasks, such as cleaning road signs, clearing brambles from footpaths, mending seats and noticeboards etc. Members agreed to consider next month.

vii. Cllr Mrs James advised that the bus shelter in Chiddingstone Causeway needs repairing, particularly the back of the shelter where the wooden slats are coming off. Members agreed that Cllr Mrs James should investigate who might be able to carry out a repair.

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