3. District Cllr Donald Spence – no report.

   4. District Cllr Alison Cook – no report.

5. County Cllr Peter Lake apologised for his non-attendance at recent Parish Council meetings as he is on the Board of the new Mental Health Trust, who also meet on the third Wednesday of the month. (a) County Cllr Lake reported that the re-building of Pembury Hospital will go ahead, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, and it is hoped that it will be completed by 2010. The Mental Health Trust is determined to ensure that the new hospital includes a mental health unit with 42 beds (currently 56) plus the provision of home help to allow patients to be cared for in their homes. (b) The squeeze is on to remove Edenbridge, Hawkshurst and Tonbridge cottage hospitals as the Primary Care Trusts have run out of money and it is felt that, if these hospitals close, funding could be transferred to other areas. KCC is determined to keep Edenbridge Hospital open and the League of Friends under Dr Andrew Russell has put forward a very strong case. KCC propose to build a new nursing home behind the current hospital, which will support the hospital itself, and will cost in the region of £5 million. The Edenbridge GPs are in favour. County Cllr Lake added that it is crazy that the PCT has just spent £750,000 on refurbishment of the Edenbridge wards that have now closed, as the number of beds were reduced from 18 to 10. The PCTs have a £35 million deficit in this part of Kent. (c) Towards 2010 is a KCC document that sets out what KCC wants to do over the next four years. It is hoped that free school transport will be provided to all children aged 11 to 16, regardless of where they go to school. Pilot schemes will be started in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells and it is hoped that incentives will be given to the bus companies so that a better service is provided. (d) County Cllr Lake has heard from Government Services that Edenbridge will get a children’s centre, which will provide care and nursery services, including a clinic, for families. (e) Plans are being finalised for the new community centre on the old Eden Valley school site, but this was held up by the SDC Planning Department.

It was hoped that a new primary school could be built on the old Eden Valley School site and the old primary school site sold to a supermarket chain, but this was not taken further as the site was too small. Cllr Durrant asked whether this stops the future provision of another secondary school in Edenbridge. County Cllr Lake advised that, although the community is growing, the new houses are small units which do not encourage families. KCC hope to enhance the Tonbridge schools instead. (f) County Cllr Lake advised that he has a meeting with KCC Highways and will press for the roads to be improved and the signs repaired as set out on the spreadsheet. He suggested that the dates that problems are reported to KCC are added to the spreadsheet. (g) Bus shelter in Bough Beech – Cllr Barratt asked if the £500 earmarked for this project could be carried forward from last year and whether a new request could be made this year. County Cllr Lake suggested that the Clerk contact Tom Phillips for a form.

63.  To Report on Correspondence Received

The Clerk reported that lists of correspondence received have been circulated and brought members’ attention to the following items:

i. Item 4: SDC: Local Development Framework: Consultation on Preferred Options Core Strategy Report – deadline for comments 10^th November. Cllr Williams reported that the document sets out the objectives of the Local Development Framework, and issues have been identified and consulted on.

ii. Item 19: Sue Ireland (Parish Liaison officer at KCC): updated spreadsheet of Highway repairs with KCC comments. Cllr Mrs James advised that there is a pot-hole on Hampkins Hill, near Chested, and the sign pointing to Tunbridge Wells and Penshurst outside St. Luke’s church is missing. Cllr Barratt advised that he has heard that KCC propose to install traffic lights on the bridge over the railway by the Wheatsheaf pub in Bough Beech. Members were not in favour of this proposal. Clerk to add both items to spreadsheet.

iii. Item 27: SDC – the interim Housing Policy Supplementary Planning Document was approved by Cabinet on 28^th September for consultation purposes. Invitation to attend a briefing session on this document which will cover planning policy background, content of document, why it was prepared and how it will be applied. Briefing session will take place on 24^th October in SDC Council Chamber at 7pm.

iv. Item 29: KCC (Paul Carter, Leader) re: Towards 2010 – how does it affect you? KCC would welcome the opportunity of presenting Towards 2010 to the Parish Council and respond to questions on areas of specific interest.

v. Item30: Email from our KCC ROW Officer, Nicky Biddall, who has checked the following paths:

a. SR518 (Chiddingstone High Street to the sports field): the job has been out to tender and should be completed by 28th February 2007. It is not to be tarmaced but will have ragstone laid down. The old metal kissing gate is to be removed and a wooden staggered barrier installed which will allow access for pushchairs.

b. SR498 (Chiddingstone High Street to Somerden): is not on the next round of rural paths. Parts are already tarmaced and the only large stretch of natural ground is on a crossfield section and, although it doesn’t look as if the farmer has ploughed it for years, he does have the right to do so, so it is unlikely that this section would be surfaced. The bridge is on the bridge repair programme for Jacobs to repair/replace the handrail in November.

c. SR550 (running over the railway from the sports field in Chiddingstone Causeway): Network Rail has closed the path as the steps were unsafe. However, the new steps have to be specially made and have been ordered but will take 4-5 weeks to deliver.

d. SR514 (running over the railway in Bough Beech): KCC will close the path while the whistle boards are replaced, and will be writing to residents to advise them of the proposed works shortly.

e. Nicky Biddall mentioned the manhole on the Chiddingstone Causeway sports field from which water was pouring across the grass. This is on the Highways spreadsheet, but given low priority by KCC with comment that it needs jetting. Clerk to chase Alan Gibbons.

65.  To consider provision of dog bins and litter bins for Chiddingstone and Chiddingstone Causeway. Cost per dog bin: £240 for purchase and installation, plus £182 + VAT per annum for emptying. Cost per litter bin: £90 + VAT for installation. Purchase cost and emptying free of charge.