The village of Benenden in Kent

PARISH COUNCIL OF BENENDEN

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Monday 18^th October 2004 in the Memorial Hall, Benenden.

PRESENT: Mr.G. Reynolds Mr. P. Conway Mrs. D. Bailey Mr. S. Hockney

Mr. R. Lake Mr. P. Message Mrs. C. Pitt

APOLOGIES: Mr. J. Clarke Mr. R. Manning

MINUTES The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 20^th September 2004 were confirmed and signed.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. There were no declarations of interest.

MATTERS ARISING

Parish Warden Letter from KCC saying after recruitment interviews they have been unable to fill the post and are undertaking more interviews

Public Convenience Lease The Clerk reported that TWBC were happy with the increase of rent to £50p/a. and a new 25year lease would be drawn up It was agreed that a local solicitor. Whitehead and Monkton of Tenterden be used.

Village Clean-up Day This has been arranged for Saturday 6^th November to meet at 9 a.m. at the Village Hall. Posters will be put up in the village.

Availability of Electoral Roll. This is no longer available for viewing in local post offices, but can be seen at the TWBC Council offices in Cranbrook and Tunbridge Wells or Cranbrook Library. It can be purchased for £25.00

Highway Matters The Iden Green Road has been patched prior to the grip fibre dressing and work on this should start end of October/November Cllr Message reported that a sign and posts had been destroyed after a road accident on the approach road to Iden Green. The Clerk to verify with Highways that their replacement was in hand

The hedge bordering the footpath to Iden Green was overgrown and the Clerk to contact the landowner. Also to ask Highways to cut the grass at the base of the hedge.

A request for interactive speed signs on the approach roads to Benenden was discussed. None of the roads meet the criteria for such signs to be installed by the Borough but a speed count on the Cranbrook Road will be organised. The cost of each sign if privately funded is £6,000 and this is beyond the Parish Council budget for the present.

A sign indicating where ‘The Street’ begins and ends was discussed but it was decided this was not necessary

A request to the Borough Highways for a footpath from Feoffee Cottages to the entrance of Rothermere Close has been sent but as yet no reply has been received.

DRAINS – HORTONS CLOSE Following the meeting with Martin Banks in March a request was made to Southern Water for the promised report on the drainage problems of Hortons Close Earlier in the year the sewer system was inspected downstream of the location and a small amount of siltation was removed. A blockage was reported in September between 12 Hortons Close and 3 St. George’sPlace and this area is programmed for CCTV inspection Previous blockages had been cleared down stream of No 12. Further investigations have to be carried out in wetter weather to locate points of groundwater ingress.

Residents have reported to the Parish Council that numbers 1, 5 and 12 Hortons Close have been blocked after heavy rain and there is a smell of sewage. All these incidents will be reported to Southern Water.

A planning application has been received from Benenden School about extending the swimming pool and sports facilities, As there have been problems in the past with the discharge of water from he pool, Cllr Conway suggested a meeting with Southern Water at the school to discus this point.

PRIMARY SCHOOL QUESTIONAIRRE Cllr Reynolds said these were in the process of being co-ordinated. It was agreed that it was a poorly produced document which would have benefited from consultation with the Parish Council . The Governors are still investigating possible sites and verifying their availability.

KCC money will be available 2006/7 There are two planning routes One is to select a site and apply for permission, the other is to select a site and get it included into the TWBC Planning Document for 2007.

If a site is agreed by the parish it would be better to apply for planning permission rather than wait two further years for inclusion by TWBC

It was clarified that The Glebe plus Tom Scott’s Field = 1 site.

A letter had been received from the residents of New Pond Road re-stating the points

made at the last P C meeting

The Chairman opened the meeting to the public. The main question was how consultative was the decision process. Cllr Reynolds said all views will be made known before any decision is made. Cllr Conway said the Governors had rejected the Glebe Field as too small, but when included with Tom Scott’s it can be considered.

More discussions with the landowners are scheduled and there will be further public meetings before any final decision is made

PLANNING MATTERS Cllr Conway read the planning report which was circulated with the Agenda. Holly Villas, Iden Green. This had been called in for further discussion by the Borough. No 4 New Buildings, Dingleden – the right of way issue is not a planning matter

FINANCIAL MATTERS Payments made on the Council’s behalf since the September meeting were agreed:

BTCV Tree Warden Scheme 877 100.00

Steve Bryant Mowing – The Green 878 76.43

Harmsworth Trust VAT refund 879 699.95

Benenden Memorial Hall Hire 880 8.00

Printing at Cranbrook Stationery 881 47.24

One Tel Internet fee 882 10.46

M. Kellett October salary 883 290.46

The Post Office Tax 884 44.52

A.P.Field Football pitch marking 885 35.00

Harmsworth Trust Grant re Village Hall Sect. 19 886 5,000.00

P. Conway mileage exps 887 41.24

The Clerk reported there was £500 in the Current Account and £15.494 in the Deposit Account. The final Precept payment had been received and £5,000 would be transferred to the HMT No2 Account.

CORRESPONDENCE Letter received from Mrs. Quinton who lives next door to the Village Shop about the location of the Notice Board. The Clerk reported that Highways had no objection to the posts being put in the footway do enable the board to be moved to a new location provided they did the work. After discussion it was agreed to ask the owners of ground opposite the Village Shop – if the Notice Board could be moved there. The Clerk and Chairman to enquire.

A request from the Mayor for a donation to his Christmas toy fund. It was agreed not to contribute.

ANY OTHER BUISINESS.

Cllr Conway has written to the Borough regarding the Parish Charter. The content and intention are good, but it must be administered properly by all staff at the Town Hall for it to have any impact.

Cllr Pitt has been asked by the Iden Green Pavilion Committee for the Dog Ban sign to be replaced at the Playground. The Clerk said this was in hand.

The Casino Night planned for 23^rd October has been cancelled due to lack of support.

The Clerk reported that 5 May trees along Iden Green Recreation Ground had been felled and all were agreed that it now looked much better

Cllr Lake asked if Robin Beeslee had been thanked formally for all his help in putting up the goal posts. The Clerk said this would be done.

Car parking at the top of Walkhurst Road was bad again and along the Street. This was partially due to customers at The Bull public house.

Mrs. Thompson has been unable to organise a Netball team as a reply is awaited from Benenden School for use of their courts

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m

Chairman 18^th October 2004

HARMSWORTH MEMORIAL TRUST MATTERS

MOWING CONTRACTS. The Clerk had received quotations for mowing the Recreation Grounds and The Green from KCC and Bridgelands. After discussion is was agreed to award the contract to KCC Their charges would be a total of £2,289 + VAT. for 16 cuts of each area between March and September. The quotation from Bridgelands, £7,000 + VAT was in excess of the amount budgeted for the mowing. The quote from Mr. Kenward for mowing round the Pavilion at Iden Green and cutting the hedge and keeping tidy the area around the Pump, has remained the same for the last two years - £780 – and it was agreed to accept this quotation. No quotation had been received from the current contractor

VILLAGE HALL EXTENSION UPDATE. Cllr Conway reported that work was progressing well and was ahead of schedule. He has produced a Cash Flow which is included with these minutes. There is enough money overall to pay for the work, but it may be necessary to apply for a loan to cover the VAT payments as these will be repaid in stages. A facility needs to be put in place to apply for a loan if it is required and the Council gave permission for this to be set up

A further £6.500 is due from KCC in’ 05 and as all the grant has to be taken up by April 05 it is hoped there will be money to spend on either the kitchen or the car park.

BENENDEN VILLAGE HALL In the absence of Cllr Clarke Cllr Conway reported that £l,000 was now in hand. There is a need to increase the charges as these are below those of other halls in the area. All current hirers will be advised of the improved facilities now in hand. Advetisements in theWealden Advertiser, Posters and flyers will be distributed throughout the area to attract new hirers. There is a need to rationalise the charges for large gatherings – NADFAS, Luncheon Clubs etc but Benenden hirers will still have a reduced rate. There is a meeting of the Hall Committee on 1^st November when these and other matters will be discussed.

Cllr Reynolds asked Cllr Lake to join the Village Hall Committee to co-ordinate the sports facilities.

FINANCIAL MATTERS. Payments made on the Trust’s behalf since the September meeting were agreed:

Steve Bryant Mowing Recreation grounds 667 145.72

GaleDunn Partnership Architects fees BVH 668 1226.44

TWBC Building control fee BVH 669 568.70

Gary Glover Assoc Planning supervisor BVH 670 240.00

M. Kellett Salary contribution 671 45.00

TWBC Deposit Assembly Hall BVH 672 500.00

Re Jo Brand performance

Granwax Cleaning supplies – Village Hall 673 261.65

Shift-it Waste disposal

674 140.53

D. Dalrymple September salary 675 350.03

The Post Office Tax/NI 676 351.28

Hurstway Replacement window –

St. George’s Hall 677 366.60

Zurich Insurance Building in progress ins 678 362.25

J.M.Loades Assoc. Structural engineers BVH 679 411.25

The Clerk reported that there was £500 in the Current Account, £2,455 in the Deposit Account, £25,921 in the No 2 Account. A COIF dividend of £2,350 is due at the end of November.

Chairman 18^th October 2004

		Minutes for October 2004 Click for minutes for September 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 18^th October 2004 in the Memorial Hall, Benenden. PRESENT: Mr.G. Reynolds Mr. P. Conway Mrs. D. Bailey Mr. S. Hockney Mr. R. Lake Mr. P. Message Mrs. C. Pitt APOLOGIES: Mr. J. Clarke Mr. R. Manning MINUTES The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 20^th September 2004 were confirmed and signed. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST. There were no declarations of interest. MATTERS ARISING Parish Warden Letter from KCC saying after recruitment interviews they have been unable to fill the post and are undertaking more interviews Public Convenience Lease The Clerk reported that TWBC were happy with the increase of rent to £50p/a. and a new 25year lease would be drawn up It was agreed that a local solicitor. Whitehead and Monkton of Tenterden be used. Village Clean-up Day This has been arranged for Saturday 6^th November to meet at 9 a.m. at the Village Hall. Posters will be put up in the village. Availability of Electoral Roll. This is no longer available for viewing in local post offices, but can be seen at the TWBC Council offices in Cranbrook and Tunbridge Wells or Cranbrook Library. It can be purchased for £25.00 Highway Matters The Iden Green Road has been patched prior to the grip fibre dressing and work on this should start end of October/November Cllr Message reported that a sign and posts had been destroyed after a road accident on the approach road to Iden Green. The Clerk to verify with Highways that their replacement was in hand The hedge bordering the footpath to Iden Green was overgrown and the Clerk to contact the landowner. Also to ask Highways to cut the grass at the base of the hedge. A request for interactive speed signs on the approach roads to Benenden was discussed. None of the roads meet the criteria for such signs to be installed by the Borough but a speed count on the Cranbrook Road will be organised. The cost of each sign if privately funded is £6,000 and this is beyond the Parish Council budget for the present. A sign indicating where ‘The Street’ begins and ends was discussed but it was decided this was not necessary A request to the Borough Highways for a footpath from Feoffee Cottages to the entrance of Rothermere Close has been sent but as yet no reply has been received. DRAINS – HORTONS CLOSE Following the meeting with Martin Banks in March a request was made to Southern Water for the promised report on the drainage problems of Hortons Close Earlier in the year the sewer system was inspected downstream of the location and a small amount of siltation was removed. A blockage was reported in September between 12 Hortons Close and 3 St. George’sPlace and this area is programmed for CCTV inspection Previous blockages had been cleared down stream of No 12. Further investigations have to be carried out in wetter weather to locate points of groundwater ingress. Residents have reported to the Parish Council that numbers 1, 5 and 12 Hortons Close have been blocked after heavy rain and there is a smell of sewage. All these incidents will be reported to Southern Water. A planning application has been received from Benenden School about extending the swimming pool and sports facilities, As there have been problems in the past with the discharge of water from he pool, Cllr Conway suggested a meeting with Southern Water at the school to discus this point. PRIMARY SCHOOL QUESTIONAIRRE Cllr Reynolds said these were in the process of being co-ordinated. It was agreed that it was a poorly produced document which would have benefited from consultation with the Parish Council . The Governors are still investigating possible sites and verifying their availability. KCC money will be available 2006/7 There are two planning routes One is to select a site and apply for permission, the other is to select a site and get it included into the TWBC Planning Document for 2007. If a site is agreed by the parish it would be better to apply for planning permission rather than wait two further years for inclusion by TWBC It was clarified that The Glebe plus Tom Scott’s Field = 1 site. A letter had been received from the residents of New Pond Road re-stating the points made at the last P C meeting The Chairman opened the meeting to the public. The main question was how consultative was the decision process. Cllr Reynolds said all views will be made known before any decision is made. Cllr Conway said the Governors had rejected the Glebe Field as too small, but when included with Tom Scott’s it can be considered. More discussions with the landowners are scheduled and there will be further public meetings before any final decision is made PLANNING MATTERS Cllr Conway read the planning report which was circulated with the Agenda. Holly Villas, Iden Green. This had been called in for further discussion by the Borough. No 4 New Buildings, Dingleden – the right of way issue is not a planning matter FINANCIAL MATTERS Payments made on the Council’s behalf since the September meeting were agreed: BTCV Tree Warden Scheme 877 100.00 Steve Bryant Mowing – The Green 878 76.43 Harmsworth Trust VAT refund 879 699.95 Benenden Memorial Hall Hire 880 8.00 Printing at Cranbrook Stationery 881 47.24 One Tel Internet fee 882 10.46 M. Kellett October salary 883 290.46 The Post Office Tax 884 44.52 A.P.Field Football pitch marking 885 35.00 Harmsworth Trust Grant re Village Hall Sect. 19 886 5,000.00 P. Conway mileage exps 887 41.24 The Clerk reported there was £500 in the Current Account and £15.494 in the Deposit Account. The final Precept payment had been received and £5,000 would be transferred to the HMT No2 Account. CORRESPONDENCE Letter received from Mrs. Quinton who lives next door to the Village Shop about the location of the Notice Board. The Clerk reported that Highways had no objection to the posts being put in the footway do enable the board to be moved to a new location provided they did the work. After discussion it was agreed to ask the owners of ground opposite the Village Shop – if the Notice Board could be moved there. The Clerk and Chairman to enquire. A request from the Mayor for a donation to his Christmas toy fund. It was agreed not to contribute. ANY OTHER BUISINESS. Cllr Conway has written to the Borough regarding the Parish Charter. The content and intention are good, but it must be administered properly by all staff at the Town Hall for it to have any impact. Cllr Pitt has been asked by the Iden Green Pavilion Committee for the Dog Ban sign to be replaced at the Playground. The Clerk said this was in hand. The Casino Night planned for 23^rd October has been cancelled due to lack of support. The Clerk reported that 5 May trees along Iden Green Recreation Ground had been felled and all were agreed that it now looked much better Cllr Lake asked if Robin Beeslee had been thanked formally for all his help in putting up the goal posts. The Clerk said this would be done. Car parking at the top of Walkhurst Road was bad again and along the Street. This was partially due to customers at The Bull public house. Mrs. Thompson has been unable to organise a Netball team as a reply is awaited from Benenden School for use of their courts There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m Chairman 18^th October 2004 HARMSWORTH MEMORIAL TRUST MATTERS MOWING CONTRACTS. The Clerk had received quotations for mowing the Recreation Grounds and The Green from KCC and Bridgelands. After discussion is was agreed to award the contract to KCC Their charges would be a total of £2,289 + VAT. for 16 cuts of each area between March and September. The quotation from Bridgelands, £7,000 + VAT was in excess of the amount budgeted for the mowing. The quote from Mr. Kenward for mowing round the Pavilion at Iden Green and cutting the hedge and keeping tidy the area around the Pump, has remained the same for the last two years - £780 – and it was agreed to accept this quotation. No quotation had been received from the current contractor VILLAGE HALL EXTENSION UPDATE. Cllr Conway reported that work was progressing well and was ahead of schedule. He has produced a Cash Flow which is included with these minutes. There is enough money overall to pay for the work, but it may be necessary to apply for a loan to cover the VAT payments as these will be repaid in stages. A facility needs to be put in place to apply for a loan if it is required and the Council gave permission for this to be set up A further £6.500 is due from KCC in’ 05 and as all the grant has to be taken up by April 05 it is hoped there will be money to spend on either the kitchen or the car park. BENENDEN VILLAGE HALL In the absence of Cllr Clarke Cllr Conway reported that £l,000 was now in hand. There is a need to increase the charges as these are below those of other halls in the area. All current hirers will be advised of the improved facilities now in hand. Advetisements in theWealden Advertiser, Posters and flyers will be distributed throughout the area to attract new hirers. There is a need to rationalise the charges for large gatherings – NADFAS, Luncheon Clubs etc but Benenden hirers will still have a reduced rate. There is a meeting of the Hall Committee on 1^st November when these and other matters will be discussed. Cllr Reynolds asked Cllr Lake to join the Village Hall Committee to co-ordinate the sports facilities. FINANCIAL MATTERS. Payments made on the Trust’s behalf since the September meeting were agreed: Steve Bryant Mowing Recreation grounds 667 145.72 GaleDunn Partnership Architects fees BVH 668 1226.44 TWBC Building control fee BVH 669 568.70 Gary Glover Assoc Planning supervisor BVH 670 240.00 M. Kellett Salary contribution 671 45.00 TWBC Deposit Assembly Hall BVH 672 500.00 Re Jo Brand performance Granwax Cleaning supplies – Village Hall 673 261.65 Shift-it Waste disposal 674 140.53 D. Dalrymple September salary 675 350.03 The Post Office Tax/NI 676 351.28 Hurstway Replacement window – St. George’s Hall 677 366.60 Zurich Insurance Building in progress ins 678 362.25 J.M.Loades Assoc. Structural engineers BVH 679 411.25 The Clerk reported that there was £500 in the Current Account, £2,455 in the Deposit Account, £25,921 in the No 2 Account. A COIF dividend of £2,350 is due at the end of November. Chairman 18^th October 2004