Benenden

The Vicar's Letter

Minutes for March 2004
Click for minutes for January 2004

These notes are abstracted from the original minutes-for the full and proper copy please contact the Parish Clerk

PARISH COUNCIL OF BENENDEN

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Monday 15th March 2004 in the Memorial Hall, Benenden.

PRESENT: Mr. G. Reynolds Mr. J. Clarke Mr. P. Message Mr. P. Conway
Mr. R. Lake

APOLOGIES: Mrs. D. Bailey Mr. R. Manning

MINUTES: Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 16th February 2004 were confirmed and signed.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Conway declared an interest in the MMO2 mast application at Beacon Farm.
MATTERS ARISING:
Village Appraisal The forms are ready for distribution and there are two new recruits to help get the appraisal off the ground.

Parish Newsletter Cllr Conway asked for copy before 22nd March for the April issue which will be distributed in the Parish Magazine

Ash Tre at Holly Cottage, Benenden Cllr Clarke has seen the householder and told him that the Parish Council has no objection to the ash tree being cut down.

Benenden Hospital A letter has been received from the Chairman of the Management Committee saying that there has been no change in the actual facilities provided at the hospital, simply the way in which they are provided and they are treating more day case surgery. All Councillors were dissatisfied with this reply and the clerk will write again asking what is going tohappen to the hospital buildings, the stock of houses, the farm, the land and to request a meeting with the Management Committee

Annual Assembly The Annual Assembly will be held on Monday 10th May in the Village Hall, with the Annual Meeting on Monday 17th May in the Memorial Hall. There will be an Ordinary Parish Council Meeting on Monday 19th April in the Memorial Hall. Wine and coffee will be served at the Annual Assembly.

HIGHWAY MATTERS. Cllr Reynolds has had a reply from James Whitehorne regarding the work on the Iden Green Road. He does not accept that the repairs have failed and the patching work was done to improve the shape of the road before a new surface is overlaid in 2004/5. It is the Highway Unit’s responsibility to determine whether the standard of work is satisfactory and the Highway Authority who are accountable. Grip Fibre is being laid in Leybourne Dell and Pullington, and Standen Street, Dingleden Lane and Goddards Green Road are scheduled for surface dressing in 2004. Cllr Manning is trying to get more money allocated for Iden Green Road and the meeting agreed ,if it was possible, for funds to be diverted from other projects in the parish to improve the Iden Green Road.
Transco have been written to about the work along Cranbrook Road but no reply as yet.
192
VACANCY FOR PARISH COUNCILLOR There are now two vacancies to fill. Cllr Hemsley has resigned owing to work commitments. There are two candidates – Richard Garnier from Iden Green and Steven Hockney from Benenden. The Chairman said there is a need for balance and suggested asking Anne Massey and Caroline Pitt who is Parish Council’s representative on the Primary School Board of Governors. All were in agreement. A decision will be made at the April meeting.

Future Plans for Primary School The Chairman reported that the governors were appointing a consultant from the KCC to do a feasibility study on the future site for the primary school. This is in the very early stages and no publicity will be given until the governors are ready to inform the village of the report as there are many other issues to be considered A public meeting will possibly take place in June if the plans are ready to be revealed.

PLANNING MATTERS Cllr Conway asked if councillors comments on planning reports could be returned quicker. Regarding Briar Barn, the report from the Enforcement Officer has not yet been received.

Regarding the application by MMO2 for a mast at Beacon Farm, Cllr Reynolds said meetings had been held with the developers which were poorly presented and badly prepared. Hemstead Forrest, Benenden Hospital and the O2 site at Windmill Farm do not appear to have been considered and the new application is across the field from an existing mast at Beacon Farm. Three applications have been made by MMO2 in the same area, one was withdrawn and two refused. An appeal has been lodged, but work on a trench to the site has been started. No technical data has been produced to say why Hemstead is an unsuitable location. The Parish Council is adamant that the Hemstead Forest site be used, or an extension of the mast at Windmill Farm. The latter is in Ashford Borough District but it was felt that the Borough Planning departments should liaise over such important applications. This application was unanimously rejected.

FINANCIAL MATTERS Payments made on the Council’s behalf since the February meeting were agreed:
Chq No Amount
Printing at Cranbrook Stationery/photocopying 819 68.93
One Tel Internet charge 820 2.79
M.Kellett March salary 256.71
Stamps 5.70 821 262.31
M. Kellett Gybbon & Ginder distribution 822 22.50
P. Message Posts for footpaths 823 35.00
The Clerk reported that there was £500 in the Current Account and £6179.50 in the Deposit Account

CORRESPONDENCE A letter from Cranbrook CAB saying that they are becoming part of a larger unit with Tunbridge Wells CAB which will give them a greater pool of resource. The Cranbrook office will be in the same location.

The insurance premium from Zurich was due for 2004/5. It has increased by 6.25% to £4079.58 including tax. This was agreed.
193
KAPC Subscription for 2004/5. This has increased by £21 to £397.65. It is based on the number of Band D equivalent houses in the Parish. This was agreed.

Letter from the Chairman of the Iden Green Pavilion asking for the removal of three of the May trees and replacing them with flowering cherries. Advice will be sought from the tree surgeon Also if the car park could be extended to accommodate 7 – 8 more cars. This was agreed and the clerk to obtain three quotes.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cllr Message asked if there was any money left in the Footpath fund as he needed to get some oak marker posts. The Clerk to check.

Cllr Clarke said the Recreation Ground and The Green looked very good after the first mowing by the new contractor.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.





Chairman 15th March, 2004

Borough Councillor Peter Davies said the Borough Corporate and Community Plans were in circulation. The Local Plan is subject to public enquiry until October 2004 and the Inspectors report is expected by Easter 2005. This could impact on large projects such as the primary school and social housing.. Regarding the school he did not want to raise expectations but it is at a complicated stage with a feasibility study expected. There will be full consultation with parishioners to ensure the project meets all requirements. A public meeting is scheduled for 14th June and he does not want a large public discussion until then.

Regarding the MMO2 mast, planning officers can refuse the application but it has to come to committee. All possible sites will be considered and technical problems to be confirmed. TWBC has not had any technical information.

Tim Duncan said the Parish Appraisal had been submitted to TWBC for approval and it should be returned to him by May for any adjustments and then it can be distributed hopefully before the Annual Assembly.

It was reported that the New Pond Road sign by the Jubilee Well had been vandalised. TWBC to be informed.


HARMSWORTH MEMORIAL TRUST MATTERS

IDEN GREEN TENNIS CLUB The Club has applied for permission to extend the proposed club house to include a toilet and put a path down to the building. The tenancy will have to be changed to include the new building and the car park area. All were agreed to this as the Tennis Club has a large membership and holds very successful training days.

VILLAGE HALL EXTENSION Cllr Conway said the costs were being re-confirmed and tenders were being sought. KCC is meeting on 17th March to discuss their grant for the project which may be spread over two years. The result will probably be known in four weeks time.
The next committee meeting is on 25th March

Cllr Clarke said several fund raising events had been planned – a Barn Dance, a casino night, race nights, Pympne Manor open garden, a raffle, quiz and bingo evenings. The Clerk reported that several Gift Aid donations had been received.

ST GEORGE’S HALL The sub-committee met with the Club committee to discuss the fabric of the building which has caused concern over the years. Cllr Clarke has received the Fire Officers report on the Club, the Playgroup rooms and the caretaker’s flat. He recommended a fire blanket for the flat and illuminated exit signs for the Club. These to be installed.

TWBC LEASE OF PUBLIC TOILET This has lapsed and the Clerk is meeting with Pat Spensley of TWBC to discuss a new lease. There is the possibility that a disabled facility will be built to be in line with legislation.

FINANCIAL MATTERS Payments made on the Trust’s behalf since the March meeting were agreed:
Chq No Amount
Nisbets Water boiler for Village Hall 626 469.99
M. Kellett Salary contribution 42.30
Raffle price (Quiz BVH) 15.42 627 57.72
D, Dalrymple February salary 628 342.12
TWBC Building Regs fee (BVH) 629 189.59

The Clerk reported that there was £500 in the Current Account and £8412.90 in the Deposit Account.




Chairman 15th March 2004

Copyright Tim Dwyer 2004 - timdwyer@benenden.org.uk