Benenden

The Vicar's Letter

Minutes for July 2003
Click for minutes for June 2003

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 meeting held on Monday 21st July 2003 in the Memorial Hall, Benenden

PRESENT Mr. G. Reynolds Mr. J. Hemsley Mr. P. Conway Mr. R. Lake
Mr. R. Manning Mr. J. Clarke Mrs. E. North

APOLOGIES Mr. P. Message Mrs. D. Bailey

MINUTES The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Monday 16th June 2003 were confirmed and signed.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Lake declared an interest, in accordance with the Code of Conduct, in the planning application at The Poplars, The Street, Benenden.

MATTERS ARISING Village Appraisal Meeting Approximately 70 parishioners attended and Cllr Hemsley said he was pleased with the response to the meeting and also to the stall run by Cllr Peter Davies at the Church Fete. Many local topics and ideas were discussed and these will be brought forward to a future meeting when Cllr Davies returns from holiday.

Housing Association matters An e mail has been received from Jo Passmore of the Rural Housing Trust saying that Southern Water are continuing with tests on the drains at Hortons Close. The Chairman was pleased that at last positive action was being taken to try and resolve the drainage problems.

HIGHWAY MATTERS Concern was expressed that inadequate notice had been given for the closure of Cranbrook Road for surface dressing at Fridays, and the kerbing work at The Green. Questions were asked as to why the road at Fridays needed to be resurfaced when it was already in a good state of repair, but sections of poor road at The Beacon had been left. This to be taken up with James Whitehorne at Tunbridge Wells. The proposed work at Iden Green had been well publicised and Cllr Manning assured the meeting that the road closure would be for two weeks and not three
The Clerk reported that there was now a ‘lengthsman initiative’ in place. This is a pilot scheme whereby all repairs and maintenance needed are to be reported in writing to Tunbridge Wells Highway Unit and the parishes informed of progress of the work. The trial will use general purpose Response Units, supplied by Ringway Highway Services with the aim of providing a more flexible approach to day to day maintenance and increasing public satisfaction. A questionnaire will be sent at the end of November to give feed back to measure the success of this pilot scheme.

KAPC MEETINGS Cllr Conway reported on the recent KAPC meeting. He said this was a useful forum and should be attended regularly. The Code of Conduct , the new Licensing Bill and Indemnity Insurance were discussed, and it was suggested that the parish have a Complaints Committee of 3 – 5 members so that a complaints procedure can be put in place. Details from David Coleman of T. Wells KAPC

It is also recommended that there is a Parish Council representative on the Primary School board of governors. KAPC are to organise a meeting with Archie Norman, MP for Tunbridge Wells on rural policing

VILLAGE NEWS LETTER Following on the Village Appraisal meeting, it was noted that many parishioners are not well informed about the work of the parish council. It was decided that a newsletter, published quarterly and distributed with the Parish Magazine would an excellent method of communication. An editor is needed and individual councillors can contribute articles. Ideas to be brought to the September meeting.

PLANNING MATTERS Cllr Conway read the planning report which is appended. This is also now circulated with the Agenda to enable councillors to express an interest if necessary.
The revised application by Orange was discussed. The location is still Hemstead Forest but will be 15 metres further back from the road. The parish council have no objection to this subject to Orange sharing the site.
AWA have withdrawn their application for a mast a Beacon Hall Farm and are in discussion with Orange.
The application at The Poplars will be discussed at the end of the meeting.

FINANCIAL MATTERS. Payments made on the Council’s behalf since the June meeting were agreed.
The Clerk reported that there was £500 in the Current Account and £4,971.46 in the Deposit Account.

CORRESPONDENCE KRCC Saturday 13th September “ Working with young people in rural areas” Downswood Community Centre, Maidstone. Cllr Lake to attend.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS. Cllr Reynolds said that for the parish to achieve Quality Status, the clerk needs to be qualified. Training can be organised through the KAPC and the Clerk will send back the questionnaire for more information.

A further spate of vandalism has been repoted – the Bowls Club was broken into and the green flooded. The police have been informed and Derek Beck and a colleague will talk to the youths in question and Cllr Conway to arrange a meeting with the
police.

Cllr Hemsley said the water leak outside the entrance to Turk’s yard had not been repaired although it had been reported many times. The Clerk to enquire.
He had received complaints about the fly problem in the parish. Environmental Health to be contacted.
He had also received a large number of TWBC reports and minutes of Cabinet meetings. The Clerk to contact Sam Timms at TWBC

Cllr Lake reported favourably on the Councillors training day, organised by KAPC, that he recently attended. He also reported that a horse had been ridden up the side of the Green. The Clerk has spoken to horse riders about this.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.35 p.m.

Signed Chairman 21st July, 2003


Mr. Ken Potter said the path from Iden Green to Benenden was badly overgrown. The Clerk to ask TWBC Highways to mow both sides of it when the verges are cut.

Mr. Peter Blockley said there was a parish council representative on the Primary School board of governors – Mrs. Caroline Pitt from The Bull Inn, Benenden. She replaced Rob Darracott. The school is looking for a new site in the village and it would be an idea to invite Mrs. Pitt to a meeting to keep the parish council informed.

He also said that although the response to the Village Appraisal meeting was good as only short notice of it had been given, but the presentation was poor and the purpose of the meeting was unclear.

A complaint has been received about the posters advertising the circus in Tenterden not being taken down. The Clerk to contact the clerk at Tenterden Town Council.

The footpath across Cysters’ field from Turks yard to Summerhill was badly overgrown. Cllr Message has been informed.


The unregistered amended plans for The Polars, The Street were reviewed but no decision was made.




HARMSWORTH MEMORIAL TRUST MATTERS.

MATTERS ARISING
Decoration of Playgroup Rooms An estimate of £500 for decorating the playgroup rooms at St. George’s Hall as been received and it was agreed that the Trust would pay half this cost. It had already been agreed previously that the Trust would contribute 50% of the cost of the new flooring - £l,600 -and this makes a total contribution of £l,050.
Cllr Conway said that the finances regarding St. George’s Hall should be looked at with regard to future expenditure on the fabric. Cllr Reynolds said that at present there was no further deterioration in the walls. The Clerk said the income from rents from The Club and Playgroup just covered the day to day expenditure. It was decided the sub committee should meet to discuss the financial position.
. The Clerk will obtain an estimate for removing a limb from the beech tree beside the Hall that is overhanging the roof.
Playgrounds The Clerk reported that Lapsett had agreed to replace the rope ladder at Iden Green and an new platform for Benenden Playground had been ordered.

VILLAGE HALL EXTENSION Cllr Conway reported that the application for grant aid had been rejected by TWBC as it needs to be in the name of the Harmsworth Memorial Trust and not the Parish Council. This does not present a problem and it will be resubmitted. It will go before TWBC in September and KCC in December. The budget has been increased to £180,000 Cllr Conway and Peter Blockley will go over it again and report back to Cllr Reynolds. Cllr Reynolds said help would be needed with fundraising and he had a candidate in mind.

BOTTLE BANK – ST GEORGE’S HALL CAR PARK On the advice of the Borough’s Environmental Officer this has been rejected as a possible site as it would take up too many parking spaces which would increase the number of cars parked on the main road near the cross roads. It is also in the middle of a quiet residential area. Cllr Clarke and the Clerk met with him to see if there was any where else in the parish that would be suitable, and although the Village Hall car park was a possibility, this too was rejected as unsuitable because of the closeness of residential properties. A possible site on the outskirts of the village was discussed and Cllr Reynolds will talk to the owner.

FINANCIAL MATTERS Payments made on the Trust’s behalf since the June meeting were agreed:
The Clerk reported that there was £500in the Current Account and £3076.64 in the Deposit Account

Signed Chairman 21st July 2003

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