LIMPSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 1 March 2005,

in the school hall, Limpsfield CE Infant School, Limpsfield at 7.30 pm

 

 

PRESENT:        Chairman          Mrs A Williams (AW)

                        Councillors        Mr B Alexander (BA), Mrs R Harris (RH), Mrs C Heijmer (CH),
Mr D Marnham (DM), Mr J Pannett (JP), Mrs L Wingate (LW),
Mr C Walker (CW)

In attendance:    Clerk                 Mrs G Cannon

1.0  APOLOGIES

 

There were no apologies.

2.0  MINUTES 

 

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved and signed subject to the following amendment.

 

Minute 7.4 Highways:  Amend the sentence in the second paragraph which reads “He has also agreed to include Pollards Wood Hill and Road and Red Lane on the list of roads to be assessed under the Speed Management Strategy for the area” to read “He has also agreed to include Pollards Wood Hill and Road and Red Lane on the list of roads to be considered for assessment under the Speed Management Strategy for the area”.

 

3.0  MATTERS ARISING

 

There were no matters arising.

 

4.0  PUBLIC SESSION

 

4.1  The Chairman welcomed Stella Bryant to the meeting.  Mrs Bryant explained that she had agreed to consider taking up the office of Parish Councillor and was attending the meeting to gain an insight into the workings of the Parish Council.  The Chairman clarified that the co-option of a new parish councillor would be included on the agenda of the April meeting, with the post commencing in May.

                                                                                                                  Action:  Clerk

 

4.2  The Chairman welcomed Roger Todd to the meeting.  Mr Stephen Jones introduced himself as a member of the Park Road Residents’ Association Committee.  Mr Todd and Mr Jones were attending on behalf of  the Park Road Residents’ Association.  CW declared an interest.

 

Roger Todd raised the subject of the impending fourth lane on the local stretch of the M25 and the matter of noise pollution.  The residents of Park Road want to increase the chances of a satisfactory outcome to the requests that noise reduction measures are included in the widening scheme before the consultation exercise begins.  JP confirmed that the question of noise pollution was being considered as part of the ongoing Parish Plan project and that it was advisable to push for as many measures as possible to reduce noise levels, not just to seek the minimum requirement of low noise resurfacing.  Colin Hall mentioned that the low noise surface used on the Sevenoaks stretch of the motorway had proved effective and that in his opinion cutting the noise at source is a key issue.  Mr Hall agreed to put the matter on the District Council agenda.

 

Resolved:  that the Parish Council should write again to the Highways Agency seeking confirmation that all four lanes of the motorway will be surfaced in low noise surfacing and that other remedial measures will also be taken.          Action:  Clerk

 

 

4.3  Mrs M Wicks and Mr J Cove introduced themselves. Mrs Wicks expressed concern that a new street name sign for Hookwood Park had been installed in the middle of the Limpsfield Village Conservation Area.

 

Resolved:  that the Clerk should make enquiries for further discussion at the next meeting.

                                                                                                                  Action:  Clerk

 

4.4  The Chairman welcomed Mark Richards.  Mark gave a report on Limpsfield Common – see minute 8.1.

 

 

5.0  COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS 

The Chairman welcomed Colin Hall to the meeting.  Mr Hall reported on the following issues:

1.  The District Council has issued a statement of objection to an increase in air traffic at Biggin Hill.

2.  District Councillors are supportive of the Parish Council’s concerns regarding local planning applications at Padbrook and 10 Park Road.  These will be considered by the Development Control Committee.  He was pleased to report that TDC had achieved a good success rate with planning appeals last year.
3.  SCC Highways community gang will be coming to Limpsfield and Limpsfield Chart in early April.  Please report any minor highway defects requiring attention.                                                               Action:  All members                        

                                                                                                                  via RH

 

Colin agreed to look into the litter problem along Featherbed Lane reported by RH.

6.0  CHAIRMAN’S REPORT (including correspondence)

Corrrespondence:

 

DM/RH declared an interest in the CPRE discussion

·         CPRE – request for monthly contribution to assist campaign against further housing development in the South East.  Members agreed to send the Council’s written support but not to increase its contribution.         Action:  Clerk

·         The Standards Board – review of the Code of Conduct.  Consultation deadline 17 June 2005.

·         ESPLG – Minutes of the meeting held on 30/11/05 and associated correspondence.

·         Oxted Parish Council – invitation to Annual Parish Assembly on 16/03/05.  Decline.

·         ODPM – discussion documents: Why Neighbourhoods Matter and Vibrant Local Leadership.  Circulate to members.                                                                                                            Action:  Clerk

·         DEFRA – outline of measures included in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill formally introduced on 7 December 2004.  The Bill gives parish councils the power to issue fixed penalties for litter, graffiti, fly posting and dog offences.  It also replaces dog byelaws with a new, simplified system which will enable local authorities and parish councils to deal with fouling by dogs, ban dogs from designated areas, require dogs to be kept on a lead and restrict the number of dogs that can be walked by one person.

·         LCAS – Newsletter No 24 March 2005

·         TDC – letter confirming that there has been no request for a by-election to fill the parish councillor vacancy.  The Parish Council may now co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.

·         Oxted & District Link Association – invitation to AGM on Thursday, 17 March 2005, at the Red Cross Centre at 8 pm.  CW to attend.                                                                                                  Action:  CW

·         SCC – East Area Passenger Transport Forum – action points from the meeting held on 15/11/04.

 

7.0  PARISH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

7.1  Parish Plan Committee

The next meeting is on Wednesday, 9 March 2005.  Vicky Stevenson has suggested that someone from Harry’s Youth Group might like to attend the meeting. 

 

 

7.2  Rights of Way

Philippa Gates notified the Clerk that maintenance work to level the gullied sections of the byway from Pitchfont Farm to Titsey Hill was about to be carried out using monies from the North Downs Way budget.

 

Public Footpath 210 – proposed diversion:  SCC has advised that the owner of the driveway is not agreeable to the diversion.  The proposal is to now divert the path onto the verge which is in the applicant’s ownership.  Post meeting note:  DM re-inspected the site and noted that the verge is not wide enough for a footpath but that a path is apparently being cleared on the other side of the hedge.  If this is the case and the work is done properly the Parish Council would have no objections.  The Clerk has written to seek clarification from SCC ROW.

 

Upgrading of part of Footpaths 52 & 53:  a letter has been received from David Kennington of the National Trust confirming that he is pursuing investigations into this matter and getting some legal opinion.  Mark Richards reported that a recent meeting had been held between SCC ROW and the National Trust and that his understanding of the discussion was that the NT Byelaws over-ride the revocable deed declared by Granville Charles Gresham Leveson Gower.  Resolved:  that the Clerk should write again to Mr Kennington to reiterate that the Parish Council has received complaints from residents about horse riders using footpaths 52 and 53 instead of Bridleway 54. Post meeting note:  DM requested the Clerk to delay writing to Mr Kennington to allow time for him to respond to the Parish Council’s earlier letter.

 

Footpath 75:  CW reported that a hawthorn tree along this footpath was leaning precariously against Oxted School’s fence.                                                                                                                  Action:  DM

 

 

7.3  Planning

CH attended the Development Control Committee meeting held on 22 February 2005, to voice the Parish Council’s objection to permission being granted for outline planning permission for a detached house at Padbrook Close, Limpsfield, TA/2004/1464.  The Committee agreed to arrange site visit prior to reaching a decision.  BA agreed to attend the site visit on Saturday, 5 March at 9.30 am.

 

Correspondence:

·         Pre-application consultation by Stappard Howes regarding proposed base station for T mobile to provide communications to the Woodhurst Bridge area.  This is in the parish of Oxted.

 

Planning Application List No 5, 6, 7 & 8

 

No objections

 

TA/2005/97  OXTED HEALTH CENTRE, 10 GRESHAM ROAD

INSTALLATION OF EXTERNAL AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT TO ROOF.

 

TA/2004/2017  BROOMLANDS FARM, BROOMLANDS LANE (re-issued)

ERECTION OF EQUIPMENT STORE, FORMATION OF HARDSTANDING FOR PARKING & NEW ACCESS ONTO A25 (WESTERHAM ROAD) IN ASSOCIATION WITH USE OF LAND FOR ALLOTMENTS (USE OF LAND FOR ALLOTMENTS DOES NOT REQUIRE PLANNING PERMISSION).  Comments as previous submission.

 

TA/2005/189  WATERFALL, UVEDALE ROAD, OXTED

FORMATION OF NEW VEHICULAR ACCESS.  ERECTION OF PART SINGLE STOREY AND PART TWO STOREY SIDE EXTENSION.

 

 

 

 

Objections

 

TA/2005/228  88 BLUEHOUSE LANE, OXTED

DEMOLITION OF EXISTING NURSING HOME. ERECTION OF 8 X 2-BED FLATS WITH CAR PARKING (10 SPACES).  Reiterate previous objections.

 

TA/2005/216  CHARTLANDS, ITCHINGWOOD COMMON ROAD, LIMPSFIELD ERECTION OF BUNGALOW WITH ATTACHED GARAGE (OUTLINE).  Contravenes Local Plan Policy RE2.

 

Planning Application withdrawn

 

TA/2004/1974  88 Bluehouse Lane, Oxted

Demolition of existing nursing home.  Erection of 8 x 2 bed flats with car parking (10 spaces).

 

Planning Appeal

 

TA/2004/1270  Land rear of 10 Park Road, Limpsfield

Demolition of existing outbuilding. Erection of 3 x 5-bed dwellings with attached garages.  Clerk to write objecting to the appeal.

 

Planning Approvals

 

TA/2004/1825  The Bull Inn, High Street, Limpsfield

Display of 1 externally illuminated fascia sign to south elevation & 1 externally illuminated double sided free standing sign.

 

TA/2004/1830  Long Meadows, Pastens Road, Limpsfield

Demolition of existing garage.  Erection of double garage.

 

TA/2004/1847  Staffhurst Lodge, Grants Lane, Limpsfield

Retention of double car port with log store.

 

TA/2004/1874  4 Forge Cottages, High Street, Limpsfield

LB consent for internal works.

 

TA/2004/1973  Chardleigh Cottage, Pains Hill, Limpsfield

Demolition of existing garage/workshop.  Erection of outbuilding.

 

TA/2004/1801  The Hay Barn, Dwelly Lane, Limpsfield

Demolition of existing store building and erection of single storey garage and store.  Members expressed concern that this application had been approved in spite of apparently contravening Policy RE10.4 of the Local Plan.  Clerk to write to the Planning Department.            Action:  Clerk

 

TA/2004/1921  Hulver Cottage, Ridlands Lane, Limpsfield

Erection of 2 storey side and 2 storey/single storey rear extensions.  Erection of bay window to front elevation and extension of garage.

 

Members are becoming increasingly concerned about the urbanisation of the Green Belt in Limpsfield generally.  Boulthurst Farm is an example where numerous changes have been made that have changed the site beyond recognition.  The recent opening of the craft barn, Creative Pastimes, has resulted in cars being parked both in the adjacent field and along Pains Hill, spoiling the countryside views from the south and creating passing difficulties on the highway.  Colin Hall suggested that the Clerk should request the Officers Appraisals of recent planning applications on this site.

                                                                                                                  Action:  Clerk

 

 

7.4  Highways

 

Correspondence:  SCC papers relating to the decriminalised parking enforcement consultation meeting held on 18/02/05.

 

Horse trough at junction of Detillens Lane:  the horse trough has now been put back in place by Tandridge District Council.

 

Wolf’s Row to Red Lane speeding:  members discussed a number of incidents that have occurred along this stretch of road that may have gone unreported.  It was agreed to continue to put pressure on SCC Highways to select this road for assessment under the Speed Management Strategy for the area.                                                         Action:  RH / Clerk

 

Flooding:  several cases of flooding were reported by members.  Of particular concern is flooding along the B269 between Caxton Lane and Tally Road and at the New Road junction with Wolf’’s Hill.

Clerk to notify Highways.                                                                              Action:  Clerk

 

Speed interactive warning sign on the Westerham Road approaching Snatts Hill:  members agreed that the warning sign flashed at speeds below the 40 mph speed limit which was counter productive.  Clerk to notify Highways.     Action:  Clerk

 

 

7.5  Publicity

 

JP expressed concern that the article he had written on Grants and Finance had not appeared in the 2005 Parish Report.  BA and the Clerk apologised for this having been unintentionally overlooked when they proof read the report.  JP also pointed out that the item on Grants that had appeared in the report was inaccurate, because it stated that grant applications should be accompanied by ‘audited accounts’.  This statement, in fact, reflects requirement 12.3.1 of the Parish Council’s Standing Orders. JP requested an agenda item at the next meeting to amend the Standing Orders to remove the word ‘audited’ from this requirement.                                        Action:  Clerk

 

AW asked Members to forward their reports for the Annual Parish Meeting to her by 10 March.

 

 

7.6  Trees & Parish Property

 

Litter bin near Limpsfield School:  Tandridge District Council Amenity Services has installed a new free standing litter bin near the school. 

 

Drinking Fountain:  CW agreed to carry out repairs to the seats.                   Action:  CW

 

Dehumidifier:  CW reported that the dehumidifier does not appear to be working.

 

The telephone box outside St Peter’s Hall has been damaged by vandals.  Clerk to report.

                                                                                                                  Action:  Clerk

 

8.0  REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

 

8.1  Limpsfield Common

 

Mark Richards reported that more diseased elm trees have to be cut down on Pebble Hill.  The beech tree by Moorhouse car park is also diseased and must be felled.  A children’s play camp amongst the trees on the Common near the top end of Stoneleigh Road was causing some concern among residents.  Mark is currently considering the appropriate course of action.

 

A Notice and map advertising the proposed new playground on Limpsfield Chart has been posted on the Parish Council notice board adjacent to the Memorial Stores for a period of 3 weeks.

8.2    Police Community Partnership Group

 

Members agreed to distribute by hand a Burglary Prevention Advice leaflet on behalf of the Surrey Police to all households in the parish thus endorsing the Parish Council’s commitment to s17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

 

AW reported that the Limpsfield and Oxted North Action Group held on 16 February, was not well attended because the police had failed to advertise it to the public.  The next PCPG meeting is being held on 20 April 2005, at the Master Park Pavilion, Oxted at 8 pm.

 

 

9.0     Finance

9.1  Approve 3^rd quarter internal audit

The third quarter internal audit was approved and signed by David Marnham and the Responsible Financial Officer prior to the meeting.  

 

9.2  Accounts for payment

 

·         Clerk’s salary (so 26 February 2005)                                                      £393.75

·         G Cannon expenses & broadband (chq 281)                                             £20.68

 

 

Part II   Owing to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, the public will be requested to leave the meeting during consideration of agenda item 10.0.

 

10.0  ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE

 

There was nothing to report.  It was agreed that it was no longer necessary to discuss matters concerning the allotments under Part II of the meeting. 

 

 

11.0  ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

 

12.0  DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 5 April 2005.

 

 

The meeting closed at 10 pm.