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PARISH COUNCIL OF BENENDEN
Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Tuesday 21st October in the Village Hall, Benenden.
PRESENT: Mr. G. Reynolds Mrs. E. North Mr. P. Message Mr. R. Lake
Mr. J. Clarke Mr. P. Conway Mr. R. Manning
APOLOGIES Mr. J. Hemsley Mrs. D. Bailey
MINUTES; The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday 15th September 2003 were confirmed and signed.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. There were no declarations of interest.
MATTERS ARISING: Drains at Horton’s Close These problems are on-going and Cllr Manning will take it up with Southern Water.
Highway matters The bottom of the Green is due to be tidied up and re-seeded. The kerb at Cherryfields has been repaired. Cllr Manning is awaiting a reply from James Whitehorne of TWBC Highways on the ‘gaps’ in the section of resurfaced road outside Fridays and the unnecessary resurfacing work on sections that had been recently done..
A reply has been received from Kent Highways regarding a request for double white lines on the B2086 at Beacon Hill. No decision can yet be made as the traffic survey has not yet been completed.
The owner of Pullington House has complained about the speed of traffic outside his house. The Clerk to ask if a ‘concealed entrance’ sign could be put up
Indemnity Insurance No answer has yet been received from KAPC or Zurich Insurance as to the ruling or cost of such insurance.
Lime trees at Cherryfields. The Clerk has been in contact with TWMC Property Services, and their contractors have been instructed to trim the lime trees, and clear up the untidy piece of ground next to Laurel House. They have also been asked to trim the overhanging branch of the willow tree close to the pavement.
Village clean-up Cllr Lake reported that this had been well attended with approximately 14 helpers and everyone worked very hard to clear the verges and ditches. A very large amount of rubbish was collected and it was decided to have another clear-up in the Spring. New Pond Road is especially bad – over six bags of rubbish were collected, and it was suggested that the Benenden School girls be invited to help. The Headmistress will be written to.
Fly infestation. Cllr North reported that Fridays had settled out of court over problems that arose last year – 2002 They have agreed not to spread manure from April to October. Regarding the current problem, it has proved difficult to trace the source of the infestation Philip Cornish of NFU is advising the local committee. The Borough Council are putting together a code of practice and with the co-operation of farmers and egg producers this problem should not happen again
Street Lighting – Leybourne Dell Cll. Cllr. North said so far no further progress had been made. The cost per pole was £750 and the Borough Council would take these over, but the running costs must be borne by the parish council and as yet no figures have been obtained.
VILLAGE APPRAISAL. Due to the absence of Cllrs Hemsley and Bailey this item could not be discussed.
PARISH NEWSLETTER The Clerk reported that there had been a lack of information on the two matters to be included – the fly infestation and the request for a community warden – which is why nothing had yet been distributed.
SPEEDWATCH. Cllr Conway told the meeting of an initiative to curb speeding that has been tried out by Weald Division of Kent in Lydd and New Romney and it is hoped to extend the scheme throughout Kent. It is operated by civilian volunteers. Between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. during daylight house only. It requires a minimum of two people at a pre selected location checking a recording vehicle speeds. Signs, yellow jackets and a speed gun are all provided. Registration numbers of vehicles exceeding the speed limit will be recorded and passed to the police. The numbers are verified and the drivers advised of their error. If the driver offends again the police will start proceedings. With training and supervision the police are hoping to have between 6 and 10 residents to operate this initiative in Benenden and Iden Green. A notice requesting volunteers will be put in the Parish Magazine.
REQUEST FOR COMMUNITY WARDEN To qualify for a community warden a parish of at least 4,600 voters is required. and on its own Benenden does not qualify.
There was a possibility of Benenden and Sandhurst sharing a warden, but Cllr Peter Davies said that Sandhurst is covered by the Hawkhurst Warden and Benenden comes under Cranbrook and Sissinghurst..
FINANCIAL MATTERS Payments made on the Council’s behalf since the September meeting were agreed;
The Clerk reported that there was £500 in the Current Account and £9101 in the Deposit Account
PLANNING MATTERS Cllr Conway went through the planning report which had been circulated with the Agenda/ He distributed copies of the revised form for parish comments on planning applications. This is aimed to reduce the number of minor or
non controversial applications going to committee and allow time to focus on applications which merit public debate.
The application by Collingwood Grange was discussed and it was strongly recommended that a large Ash tree by the boundary with the Primary School be felled It was agreed that the existing trees be tidied up where necessary and a limb taken off the oak tree at the entrance on the Iden Green Road
The proposed campsite at Pookwell Wood, Sandhurst Lane, Rolvenden was discussed. Although this comes under Ashford Borough it is very close to the parish boundary with Benenden and Cllr Davies said that Tunbridge Wells should be brought in as a statutory consultee. The Clerk to contact Cranbrook office. There were serious highway implications and there had been much local opposition. No one at the meeting was in favour of the application. The Clerk to convey this to the Rolvenden parish clerk.
CORRESPONDENCE KAPC AGM on Saturday 8th November
ANY OTHER BUSINESS Cllr Message said that the seat in memory of Tom Scott had been seriously vandalised. The Clerk to ask Bournes for an estimate for the repair.
There have been complaints that cars are being parked over night in the Iden Gren Pavilion car park. Is this the respondibility of the Harmsworth Trust or the Pavilion Committee. The car park was provided for users of the Pavilion.
Cllr Conway said there were various ‘scams’ in operation. Dud £20 notes, a bogus pest controller and more thefts from Hemstead Forest car park. It was suggested that the Forestry Commission put up warning notices.
The notice board outside St. George’s Hall was in a poor state. The Clerk to get an estimate for a new one.
Chairman 2lst October 2003
HARMWORTH MEMORIAL TRUST MATTERS
VILLAGE HALL EXTENSION UPDATE Cllr Conway reported that the application should come before TWBC Cabinet meeting on 15th November. If this is approved it will then go before KCC. The information leaflet has been put on hold until approval has been given, This will be distributed in the Parish Magazine, and then fund raising can start
FINANCIAL MATTERS. Payments made on the Trusts’ behalf since the September meeting were agreed
The Clerk reported that there was £500 in the Current Account and £6239.50 in the Deposit Account.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS. The Clerk had received an estimate for removing a branch from the beech tree behind St. George’s Hall. This branch is hanging over the back roof This was £400 to include clearing away. As it is in a conservation area the tree surgeon will obtain the necessary permissions. This was agreed. An estimate of £500 had been given for the removal of the may trees at Iden Green Recreation Ground, but another two estimates will be sought. This is also in a conservation area and careful consideration will need to be given for local consultation and a replanting scheme.
Chairman 21st September 2003
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