LIMPSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Wednesday, 19 March 2003, at St Peter's Church Hall, High Street, Limpsfield at 8.15 pm

PRESENT:

Chairman Mr C Walker

Parish Councillors Mr B Alexander, Mrs R Harris, Mrs C Heijmer, Mr J Pannett, Mrs A Williams, Mrs L Wingate

Guests Mr D C Weightman, Chairman, Tandridge Council

Mr P J D Thomas, Chief Executive, Tandridge District Council

Mr R Evans, Director, Environmental Protection, Tandridge District Council

Mrs A Osborn, Director, Tandridge Local Committee

Mr C Hall, District Councillor, Limpsfield Ward

Mrs C Lemon, Chair of Governors, Limpsfield CE Infant School

Mrs M Moore, Head teacher, Limpsfield CE Infant School

Mr D Bell, Internal Auditor for the Parish Council

Mr J Lawrance

Revd N Thompson (Rector, St Peter's Church)

Guest Speaker Mr P Richbell

Approximately 70 parishioners attended the meeting.

The meeting was opened with a prayer by The Revd Neil Thompson

1.0 WELCOME

The Chairman welcomed the parishioners, guests and the guest speaker.

2.0 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Mr R Hollywood, Mr J Jensen, Mr N Skellett (Leader, Surrey County Council), Mrs C L Fry (Vice Chairman TDC), Mr E J R Morgan (District Councillor, Limpsfield Ward), Mr C Marsh (Local Transport Manager, Surrey County Council), Mr P Keymer, the Chairmen and Clerks of Oxted, Godstone, Lingfield, Westerham and Woldingham Parish Councils.

The Chairman read out a report from Mr N Skellett, Leader of Surrey County Council. The report highlighted how the County Council has been badly affected by alterations to the Government's funding formula which has moved funds away from the South East to the Midlands and the North. The result has been an uncomfortably high Council Tax rise that is not of the Council's own making. New Local Committees were introduced last year consisting of the County Councillors in each district and borough area together with the appointment of Local Directors. Highways offices have also been reorganised to deal with local queries. It is hoped that these new ways of accessing County services have been of assistance to the Parish Council.

3.0 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The Chairman reported that the past year had been a turbulent one, with parish councils having to comply with new government regulations in a number of areas. Limpsfield Parish Council was very sorry to lose two valuable members, Mr Peter Keymer and Mr John Lawrance, who did not wish to sign up to the Model Code of Conduct for Parish Councils. Mr John Lawrance has continued to be very helpful to Mr Roger Hollywood in the renovation of the Parish Office in Wolfs Row.

The Chairman commended Mr Roger Hollywood for the tremendous amount of work he had done for the parish council, mainly from home owing to ill health. He also commented on the good fortune of the council to have two very experienced Councillors in Mrs Angela Williams and Mrs Rosalyn Harris, whose knowledge of Limpsfield gathered during a combined total of 50 years service on the council was extremely helpful to the council.

The Chairman was pleased to introduce the two new Councillors, Mr John Pannett and Mrs Lucy Wingate, who were co-opted onto the Council during the year. The Chairman thanked all members of the council for their efforts in the past year and in particular Mr Brian Alexander for producing an excellent Limpsfield Report.

The Chairman outlined the government directives with which parish councils have had to comply in the past year, namely the Code of Conduct, the Accounts and Audit Regulations, the Freedom of Information Act and the Crime and Disorder Act. He was pleased to confirm that Mr David Bell had kindly agreed to act as the Council's Internal Auditor, which was a requirement of the new Accounts and Audit Regulations.

The Chairman concluded his report by thanking the Clerk, Mrs Gill Cannon, for her support and hard work.

4.0 COUNCILLORS' REPORTS

4.1 Rights of Way

Mrs Lucy Wingate explained her role as Rights of Way officer. Any problems reported to the parish council would be passed on to Surrey County Council's Rights of Way Officer, Philippa Gates, who deals very efficiently with matters brought to her attention. Mrs Wingate urged horse riders to use marked bridleways and not footpaths, which had deteriorated badly during the very wet autumn and winter months.

4.2 Planning

Mrs Angela Williams explained that the parish council has a right to be consulted on all planning applications that come before the planning authority. A member of the parish council monitors the applications each week and Mrs Williams thanked Mr Peter Keymer for all his hard work in carrying out this role up until his resignation last May. As the current member for planning, Mrs Williams outlined the care taken by the council to protect the Conservation Area, Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty when determining applications. The case officer at Tandridge District Council is usually consulted and the parish council endeavours to base its decision on valid planning grounds. It is hoped that the parish council comments are taken into account by the District Planning Department when applications are determined. The parish council rarely exercises its right to speak at meetings of the Planning Committee, the three minutes allowed proving somewhat unsatisfactory.

Mrs Williams suggested that parishioners should forward copies of correspondence supporting or objecting to planning applications to the parish council for information.

Mrs Williams concluded by commending the efficiency of the Tandridge District Planning Department.

4.3 Highways

Mrs Rosalyn Harris reported that, as in previous years, general maintenance of the highways appears to take a lower priority than major projects which seem to account for the bulk of the Highways budget. The parish council continues to vigorously pursue local issues and there have been some successful outcomes such as the new pedestrian crossing outside Limpsfield school. A new post and rail fence has finally been erected in Grants Lane but the inferior materials used make its durability questionable. The council continues to monitor the cleanliness of Limpsfield High Street, the reinstatement of the pavement outside Limpsfield Lithographic and the parking problems in Water Lane and Pastens Road. Highways have decided against painting road markings in Wolfs Row and any traffic congestion caused by poor parking habits has to be a matter for the police.

Mrs Harris has attended meetings at Limpsfield School about 'safe routes to school'. The aim is to reduce the number of cars and to encourage parents to find alternative ways to take their children to school such as car sharing or a 'walking bus'. It is hoped that a local survey will identify danger spots on the route to school where improvements may be made to encourage walkers.

Long term concerns about safety in Bluehouse Lane have been raised in the context of 'safe routes to school' and plans are underway for a survey of residents' views to be undertaken by Surrey County Council Highways. Residents have drawn the parish council's attention to the difficulties faced when walking along Bluehouse Lane caused by overhanging foliage and brambles. The parish council has sought to improve this situation by pressing Highways to maintain verges on a regular basis. The Bluehouse Lane safety project will be a long process but the consultation should include the possibility of continuing a proposed footpath from Park Road to Water Lane right around to Granville Road.

Many parishioners have asked for reduced speed limits on the B269 Kent Hatch Road and new speed limits should be in place on this and other roads in the parish by the end of March.

4.4 Parish Office & Village Green

The Chairman reported on behalf of Mr Roger Hollywood. The Parish Office was originally the parish 'cage', which then became the local fire station prior to being adapted into an office at which parish meetings once were held. The office now houses parish council records. The Chairman thanked Mr Philip Thomas of Tandridge District Council for kindly granting £3,000 towards the cost of the renovation work that has had to be undertaken on this building of historic interest.

The Chairman confirmed that the maintenance of the village green was also undertaken by the parish council.

4.5 Finance

The Chairman announced that the parish council had reluctantly increased its precept owing to rising running costs, the expense of renovating the parish office and the purchase of a new parish council notice board to be erected next to the memorial stores in the High Street. The precept remains the second lowest of the Tandridge parishes.

5.0 REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES

5.1 Limpsfield CE Infant School

The Chairman introduced Mrs C Lemon, Chair of Governors. Mrs Lemon thanked the Chairman for inviting her to the meeting to talk about the successes of the school over the past year. The three day Ofsted inspection last year was a stressful time for the staff and governors but the school was upgraded to a "very good" school, the teachers were highly praised for their teaching, the head teacher for her management and the governors for their leadership. Great importance is attached to keeping class sizes below 25 pupils and having recently reviewed its budget the school will once again be operating six classes in the next school year.

The head teacher, Mrs Marilyn Moore, is to retire in July having been with the school since 1987. Mrs Moore has moved the school forward tremendously during her time as head teacher and Mrs Lemon thanked her for all she had done. Two school governors will also be retiring in the summer, Mr David Bell and Mrs Charlottte Heijmer, and Mrs Lemon thanked them for all their hard work.

The Limpsfield School Association is currently fund raising for computer lap tops as the school does not have enough room for a computer suite.

Mrs Angela Williams added her thanks and best wishes to Mrs Moore whom she said had been a fantastic head teacher.

5.2 Police Community Partnership Group (PCPG)

Mrs Williams introduced herself as Chairman of the PCPG and explained that the quarterly meetings which were attended by the Neighbourhood Specialist Police Officers were a means to bring the police and public closer together in order to share experiences and concerns. Anyone is entitled to attend the meetings and will receive automatic membership. Mrs Williams encouraged parishioners to support Neighbourhood Watch and thanked Mr Gordon Woodjetts for acting as co-ordinator for the Oxted and Limpsfield area.

Mrs Williams announced that Inspector G Stephens was being promoted to Headquarters and would be greatly missed. His replacement will be Inspector C Schurr. From 10 March 2003, the opening hours for Oxted Police Station will be 9 am -5 pm weekdays only (closed 1 pm - 2 pm for lunch).

6. QUESTION TIME

The Chairman invited questions from the floor.

Q: Why was no explanation given in the recent council tax demands for the huge increase of over 20%, more than eight times the rate of inflation?

The Chairman accepted Mr P J D Thomas' offer to respond to the question which was clearly supported by many of the parishioners present.

A: Mr Thomas explained that there were two aspects to this question.

i) The amount of the increase: the District Council was very concerned that such a high council tax demand had to be passed on as a result of Government changes to the way in which councils are funded. A very complicated formula is applied which results in more funds going to areas north of London.

ii) No explanation in tax demands: political statements cannot be made in any of the supporting documents sent out with the council tax demand. Members of the District Council would complain if the Council were seen to be laying the blame for the increase on the Government. The Council therefore has to rely on the public being informed through press and media coverage. Mr Thomas confirmed that even with the large increase in tax there would be no improvements in services from the Council this year. Forward planning is extremely difficult when funding cuts are made suddenly without notice.

Q: Mr M Stone commented on the parish council's efforts to pursue the upkeep of the verges in Bluehouse Lane between the Limpsfield Grange School and Granville Road with Surrey County Council Highways. Mr Stone pointed out that he had attended the recent Local Committee meeting for Transportation and had written to the Chairman to highlight the relevance of this problem in relation to the Safe Routes to School initiative currently under discussion for Bluehouse Lane. He was concerned to have not yet received a response.

A: The Chairman explained to Mr Stone that the verges on the western side of this stretch of Bluehouse Lane were, in fact, privately owned by the properties adjacent to the highway. The parish council would, nonetheless, continue to monitor the situation.

Q: Could the parish council do anything about cars parking on the pavements between Granville Road and Limpsfield High Street which frequently make it necessary to walk in the road?

A: The Chairman agreed that this was an ongoing problem in a number of areas and one that was not easily addressed.

Q: Is there any progress with regard to the parking problems at the entrance to Water Lane?

A: The Chairman explained that the parish council had taken this up with Limpsfield Grange School, Surrey County Council Highways and the Director of Education, Dr Paul Gray. Unfortunately, there is no resource to further invest in parking on the school site at the present time.

7. GUEST SPEAKER

The Chairman introduced Mr Pat Richbell . Mr Richbell gave an interesting and informative talk about Titsey Place, its former occupants and its contents, supported by a slide show.

8. VOTE OF THANKS

Mr C Walker offered a vote of thanks to Mr Pat Richbell for his excellent talk. Finally, the Chairman thanked Mrs Olive Walker for supplying the refreshments for the evening.

The meeting closed at 9.45 pm.