Benenden

The Vicar's Letter

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Monday 19th March 2012
In The Memorial Hall
(including Harmsworth Trust minutes)
Click for minutes for ordinary meeting February 2012

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

133 Apologies
JB, PB

134 Declarations of Interest
None

135 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 20th February 2012
PC resolved to accept the minutes. Chairman DB signed the confirmed minutes. PC Resolved

136 Matters Arising
[i] KALC Community Resilience & Emergency Planning & Staplehurst Emergency Help Team
Chairman DB and BS attended the launch event. SEHT is made up of various voluntary bodies and has produced a village action plan in the event of an emergency. Although the event was informative there is no duty on BPC to produce an emergency plan.
[ii] KALC / ACRK / CPRE Event - Supporting Communities & Neighbourhood Planning Attended by DB, JHgn, MK, RL. RL reported the event set out key issues: How to influence the local plan, with right development in the right place at the right time; Neighbourhood Planning, prepared by local people with professional planning input which has to be passed by LA and the examining body before it can be adopted as part of the LA Core Strategy; Localism, working in partnerships with key players in the community to ensure local needs are heard. BPC agreed the event was worthwhile attending.
[iii] TWBC Neighbourhood Planning Workshop
Clerk attended TWBC session on the activities of Kent High Weald Partnership and NP. TWBC has no dedicated officer to assist PC at this time. PC advised to look closely at the adopted core strategy which sets out volume of development outlined and feed into site specific allocations which will be finalised in 2013. Conservation boundary areas can not be amended to safeguard land. TWBC cannot provide a NP template as CLG have yet to produce one.

Chairman DB advised BPC will continue to keep informed with developments on NP.

137 TW Area Parish Chairman Meeting
Chairman DB advised a presentation was given by CAB following the decision to close Paddock Wood offices; KCC Youth Bus – provision is to be devolved to TWBC; Youth Hub – funding which PC maybe able to bid for; Kent Highways reported a Parish lengthsman trial was being carried out in the Ashford area.

138 Benenden Primary School
GR advised progress had now been made as landowners are in agreement. A planning application is expected shortly. PC Noted

139 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Chairman DB advised the Benenden Book would be re-printed and mugs would be purchased to present to every pupil at BCEP. Barry Cheeseman is keen to produce the beacon and we await pricing. Discussion on location – possibly Hilly Fields or school site field. DB to contact KCC to request permission. The Oak Tree to be sited at top end of recreation ground. PC Action
Funding – BPC resolved to apply for the funding offered by TWBC. Books, Mugs, Beacon & Oak to be paid initially by BPC [S145 cultural / arts/ celebration event]. PC Resolved

140 PC Annual Insurance Renewal
Clerk advised 12/13 was the final year of a 3yr agreement with Came & Co Insurance. All risks cover is provided by Aviva. PC resolved to accept the annual insurance renewal 12/13 PC Resolved

141 Training & Development
KALC Planning Conference 2012 Lenham 31st March
BPC agreed no delegate would attend this forthcoming meeting.

142 Planning Report
[i] Planning Meeting Minutes 1 Mar12
PC resolved to accept the minutes. Chairman DB signed the minutes of Planning Meeting
1 Mar 2012 as a true record. PC Resolved
[ii] TWBC Applications – PC Recommendations
RL advised no planning applications since the Planning Meeting of 1 March 2012 had been received. PC Noted
[iii] TWBC Decisions Report RL outlined the previously circulated decisions received from TWBC. PC Noted
[iv] TW/11/00954/FUL SSFFA – TWBC failure to "call-in"
RL advised BPC had expressed their concern over the failure to "call in" this application to
EAPC after TWBC SH sent in a request. TWBC SH & Standen Street residents are both dissatisfied with TWBC Planning Departments action. BPC will take no further action. TWBC SH outlined that the process had failed BPC and its residents’ democratic rights. He is seeking to take the matter to TWBC Scrutiny Committee to highlight a failure of governance. No appeal against a granted decision. Chairman DB thanked TWBC SH for his actions on BPC behalf.

TWBC SH advised EAPC upheld the TPO 022/2011 restrictions on felling 2 Lime Trees at The Vicarage, The Green. BPC supported removal of the trees. TW EAPC felt the trees were an important visual aspect of The Green. TPO confirmed without modification. Applicant can appeal with consideration given to alternative replacement planting.

143 Financial Matters
[i] Monthly Finance Report
Payments made on Parish Council’s behalf since 14 Feb 2012
Income
KCC SSCG – BVHMC 5000.00
TWBC Community Toilet Scheme 11/12 600.00
Harmsworth Trust – Clerk Jan 12 salary 100.00
TOTAL 5700.00
Outgoings
Chq No Supplier
605 B Sullivan – Cllr inks JHgn, GR, RL, JHem 173.59
606 BVHMC – SSCG 5000.00
607 M English – Public Toilets Clean Feb 2012 174.00
608 B Sullivan – Feb 12 717.49; post, plant ML, stny, 736.73
609 Stationery Express – copies; A4 paper; stny; copies 32.12
610 Arnold Cole Trust – Gybbon & Ginder 11/12 donation 402.50
611 EDF Energy – public toilets 1/12/11 – 7/3/12 72.37
D/D Waitrose.com – Broadband Mar 2012 18.99
TOTAL 6610.30
After all cheques cleared
Clerk confirmed D/A £500 and C/A held £19,266.59

Reconciled with Bank Statement 29 Feb 2012 Balance: £20,719.80
Uncleared cheques Total: -£1453.21
Balance in C/A £19,266.59

[ii] TW CAB – LGA 1972 S142 Donation Request
Chairman DB advised TW CAB had written to PC requesting consideration of a long term commitment to funding. Contributions in the past few years were from only 5 of 16 councils.
Chairman DB outlined that with reducing budgets more organisations may approach BPC to secure funding. PC Resolved to carry on as normal with S137 donations in 12/13
2 PC Resolved
[iii] NALC Local Government Pay 2012/13
Clerk advised NALC had recently announced there would be no increase in salary scale for the year 2012/13. Salary scales remain at 2009/10 rates but NALC are seeking an increase for 2013/14. PC Noted
144 Local Consultations
[i] KCC Gypsy & Traveller Allocation Policy Review Online
Clerk advised this consultation is open for comment between 5 March – 25 May 2012. The review seeks to introduce a system that is clearer, fairer and less open to challenge, more in line with policy used to allocate social housing. PC Noted

145 Correspondence Report
[i] Clerk spoke on the previously circulated 02/03 Monthly Report
[ii] Clerk advised a publication from CLG on Temporary Event Signs is now available [No 36] [iii] Kent Man of Trees Competition [No 50] PC Noted Clerk reminded all present that Benenden Crossroads would be closed from 7pm on 1 May 2012 for resurfacing works. Clerk would contact Nick Eastwood Benenden Parish Magazine.

Chairman DB advised JB had raised a couple of questions on the Annual Assembly.
Firstly presenting accounts of the immediate year end to the public who are not an elected body for adoption. Clerk confirmed the action aided transparency and the accounts are
always presented to full council for adoption following the annual assembly. BPC agreed to
no change.

Clerk reads out the minutes. As all parishioners and members of the public are presented
with a copy of the minutes this seems an unnecessary task. Clerk to confirm with KALC Clive
Powell.

Chairman’s Report. Clerk could insert full report into the minutes instead of an attachment. Clerk agreed this would save on printing costs. PC Noted

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20pm

Chairman DB opened the meeting to the public.

TWBC SH advised BPC should consider a Neighbourhood Plan in the future, it will offer
protection.

No further comments.

DB thanked everybody for attending. The meeting closed at 9.23pm
Note: These minutes are not intended to provide a verbatim record of the meeting and contain only a summary of those matters discussed.

Date of Next Meeting: Annual Assembly Tuesday 1st May at 7.30pm
Benenden Village Hall
Guest Speaker: Jane Abbott Benenden Hospital Director

 

HARMSWORTH MEMORIAL TRUST

Ordinary Meeting Trust held on Monday 19th March 2012

239 Apologies
JB, PB

240 Minutes
The minutes of the ordinary meeting of Harmsworth Memorial Trust held on 20th February 2012 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman DB. HMT resolved to accept the minutes as a true record. HMT Resolved

241 Matters Arising
[233 11/12] St Georges Hall – Pillar Repairs
Clerk advised a quotation of £120 to insert a chemically anchored pin diagonally
through the oak posts had been received from T Otway. HMT resolved to accept the
quote for works. Clerk to contact T Otway. HMT Resolved

[233 11/12] Benenden Recreation Ground – Tree works
JHgn had met with Guy Vinson, who made a brief inspection of the tree which requires attention. Permission granted under TPO/11/03005. GV has written to TWBC Dan Docker asking him to inspect the tree in the spring for a new assessment in the hope of retaining the oak. HMT Noted

242 Benenden Village Hall
BVHMC Chairman JC had nothing to report this month.

243 HMT & BVH Annual Insurance Renewal
Clerk advised 12/13 was the final year of a 3yr agreement with Came & Co Insurance. All risks cover is provided by Aviva. HMT & BVH resolved to accept the annual insurance renewal 12/13. HMT Resolved

244 Financial Matters
Payments made on Harmsworth Trust’s behalf since 14 Feb 2012
Income
St Georges Feb 12 rent 158.33
BVH Jan 12 wages 537.80
COIF Inv Dividend 4/4 11/12 4524.76
TOTAL 5220.89
Outgoings
Chq No Supplier
D/D Aviva – Insurance Feb 12 390.34
174 D Dalrymple – Sal Feb 12 460.80
175 P Punchard – Ben Rec Grd Hedge & post + fix trees BVH 110.00
176 P Punchard – I/G Pavilion lay-by hedge reduction 50.00
SO Rate Account – BS clerk Feb 12 100.00
TOTAL 1111.14
After all cheques cleared
Clerk confirmed D/A held £500 and C/A held £11,456.10

Reconciled with Bank Statement 29 Feb 2012 Balance: £12,076.90
Uncleared cheques Total: -£620.80
Balance in D/A £11,456.10

HT A/C NO 2 Bank Statement 30 Sept 2011
Balance in No 2 A/C 1038.80

245 Correspondence
None

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.35pm

Note: These minutes are not intended to provide a verbatim record of the meeting and contain only a summary of those matters discussed.

Date of Next Meeting: Annual Assembly Tuesday 1st May
Benenden Village Hall Guest Speaker: Jane Abbott Benenden Hospital Director

Date of Next HMT Meeting: Monday 21st May 2012
Iden Green Pavilion
Immediately after the Parish Council meeting

 

Copyright Tim Dwyer 2012 - timdwyer@benenden.org.uk