LIMPSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 3 May 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 J Jensen (JJ), Mr D Marnham (DM),

                                                Mr J Pannett (JP), Mr C Walker (CW), Mrs L Wingate (LW)

 

In attendance: Clerk                 Mrs G Cannon

 

1.  ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN for the Council year 2005/06

 

Mrs A Williams was nominated by Mr B Alexander, seconded by Mrs L Wingate, and elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

 

2.  ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN for the Council year 2005/06

 

Mr B Alexander was nominated by Mr C Walker, seconded by Mr D Marnham, and elected Vice Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

 

3.  ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN

 

Mrs A Williams accepted the office of Chairman.  Mr B Alexander accepted the office of Vice-Chairman.  Both Members signed Declarations of Acceptance of Office.

 

4.0  APOLOGIES

 

There were no apologies.

5.0  CO-OPTION OF PARISH COUNCILLOR

 

The Chairman welcomed Mrs Stella Bryant to the meeting.  Mrs Bryant was nominated by
Mr J Pannett and seconded by Mr D Marnham to the post of Parish Councillor.  Mrs Bryant was duly co-opted to the office of Member of the Parish Council and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. 

 

6.0  APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES & REPRESENTATIVE ON OUTSIDE BODIES: 

 

The Chairman recommended the dissolution of the Allotment Committee which had completed its work.  The Chairman made the following appointments:

 

Office:

First Member

Second/third Member

Rights of Way

David Marnham

 

Planning

Charlotte Heijmer

Brian Alexander

Highways

Rosalyn Harris

Lucy Wingate

Publicity

Brian Alexander

 

Trees & Parish Property

Colin Walker

Stella Bryant

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance Committee:

John Pannett (Chair)

David Marnham / Angela Williams

Parish Plan Committee:

Colin Walker

John Pannett / Angela Williams

 

 

 

Outside Bodies:

 

 

Limpsfield Common

Angela Williams

 

Limpsfield School

Stella Bryant

 

PCPG

Angela Williams

 

Limpsfield in Bloom

Lucy Wingate

Angela Williams

 

 

 

 

7.0  MINUTES 

 

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved and signed as a true record.



8.0  MATTERS ARISING

 

LW expressed concern about the motorbikes that were using West Heath for scrambling.  AW confirmed that the Police and the Limpsfield Common Committee were aware of the problems.

 

 

9.0  PUBLIC SESSION

 

The Chairman welcomed the public to the meeting and invited Mark Richards to give his report on Limpsfield Common (see minute 13.1).  Mark also mentioned that motorbikes were causing a nuisance in Happy Valley.

 

Mr Ron Bristow reported back on Councillor’s concerns about the frequent sounding of train horns on the railway line south of Oxted.  Network Rail has advised that the new trains have louder horns and these are gradually being taken back to the depot to have horn volumes reduced.  LW mentioned that similar problems were being experienced near Lingfield and agreed to try and get copies of any relevant correspondence that had been entered into.                   Action:  LW

 

The Chairman invited a member of the Limpsfield Chart Playground Association to address the floor:

 

Amanda Masters introduced Clare Calderwood, Angela Howells and Jocelyn Critchett and explained that they were now a formally constituted Association that had recently applied for charitable status.  A major sticking point had been encountered in the advanced stages of the negotiations with the National Trust in relation to the lease of land.  The Trust had expressed a preference to have as a tenant a formally constituted body that could take on the long term responsibility of the playground rather than individually named members of a committee who would of necessity change from time to time.  Angela Howells explained that the Association would be willing to fund the playground equipment, to establish a ‘sinking fund’ in the event that the playground should become dilapidated, and to hold annual fund raising events to cover the cost of annual inspection, maintenance and repairs.  Amanda formally asked the Parish Council to consider the possibility of the playground coming under the umbrella of the Parish Council.

 

The Clerk confirmed that public liability insurance for the playground could be covered by the Parish Council’s existing insurance policy (without further premium) provided the following criteria were complied with:

 

1.  The minutes of the meetings of a sub-committee [Playground Association] form part of and are incorporated into the minutes of the Parish Council;

2.  Meetings of a sub-committee are open to the public in the same way as the Parish Council meetings are;

3.  Any accounts of a sub-committee form part of the accounts of the Parish Council and are subject to the Council’s audit.

 

Playground equipment could be insured at a cost of £13.00 per £1,000 of equipment.

 

Mark Richards suggested contacting Holmwood Parish Council who had a playground on National Trust land.  RH mentioned that the playground on Master Park was managed by a sub-committee and suggested contacting the Treasurer, Tony Batchelor, for more information.

 

Resolved: that AW /BA and DM would form a Playground Committee tasked with looking into the request by the Playground Association in greater detail.

 

 

10.0  COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS

 

There were no reports received.

 

 

 

 

11.0  CHAIRMAN’S REPORT (including correspondence)


Corrrespondence:

·         Westerham Parish Council – invitation to the Annual Parish Meeting to be held in Crockham Village Hall on Monday, 25 April 2005 at 7.30 pm.  Decline.

·         Tatsfield Parish Council – invitation to the Annual Parish Meeting to be held at Village Hall, Westmore Green, Tatsfield on Wednesday, 25 May 2005 at 8.00 pm.  AW/LW to attend.

                                                                                                                  Action:  AW/LW                                    

·         Woldingham Parish Council – invitation to attend the Annual Meeting to be held at Woldingham Village Hall on Thursday, 12 May 2005 at 7.30 pm.  AW/BA to attend.                                            Action:  AW/BA

·         South East Surrey Care Assocition – invitation to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held on Monday, 16 May at the Church Hall, St Stephen’s Church, South Godstone at 2.30 pm.  Decline.

·         TDC – Tandridge LDF Revised Statement of Community Involvement.  Comments by 19/05/05.  AW passed to CH for comments.                                                                                            Action:  AW / CH.

·         GACC – request to Parish Councils to respond to the consultation on the new BAA master plan by 30/06/05, together with a draft response.  AW to study.                                                                 Action:  AW

·         Surrey Policy Authority – publicity material to increase awareness of new legislation in relation to Stop and Search.

·         Limpsfield Schoolminutes of the Governors’ meeting held on 22/02/05.

·         Tandridge Access Group – invitation to AGM to be held in the Council Offices on Tuesday,
7 June 2005
at 2.00 pm.

·         The Standards Board – Consultation paper on the review of the Code of Conduct for Members.  AW has now received comments from all but one Councillor and will send off a collective response to the consultation.            Action:  AW

 

 

12.0  PARISH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS

12.1  Allotments Committee

 

There was no further business to report.

 

12.2    Parish Plan Committee

There was nothing to report.  A further meeting is to be arranged shortly.

 

12.3  Rights of Way

Footpath 210:  SCC Rights of Way has confirmed that the diverted footpath would be sited on the other side of the hedge and have a width of 2.0 metres.

 

Upgrading of footpaths 52 & 53:  a response has now been sent to David Kennington’s letter.  Clerk to follow up before next meeting.                                                                                                      Action:  Clerk

 

DM reported that a couple of other issues had arisen concerning the footpath across the Glebe Field and these had been dealt with.  DM suggested that the co-option of Stella Bryant to the Council would present a good opportunity to reorganise footpath responsibilities.  It was agreed that DM would issue a revised schedule at the next meeting.  AW reminded members to try to walk their footpaths now that the growing season was well underway.


12.4  Planning

The Hay Barn, Dwelly Lane:  It was agreed at the meeting on 1 March 2005, to write to the Planning Department to express concern about the approval of planning application TA/2004/1801 to demolish an existing store building and erect a single storey garage and store.  Having looked into this more fully, the officer’s appraisal prior to determination takes full account of criteria 4 of Policy RE10 to resist the erection of new garages to serve dwellings where an existing garage has been converted into residential accommodation, but finds that whilst the proposal does not comply with the letter of the policy, it does reflects its intention by enhancing openness.  CH would, therefore, prefer not to pursue the decision to write to the Planning Department.  Agreed.

 

 

Planning (cont’d)

 

Boulthurst Farm:  the developments at Boulthurst Farm were discussed in detail, several Members having visited the site prior to the meeting to see the changes that had occurred.  It was agreed to send a letter drafted by the Clerk, subject to a few amendments, to the Planning Department highlighting the Parish Council’s concerns

 

Correspondence:

·         Copies of correspondence from objectors to planning application at 24 Westerham Road (application now withdrawn, see below).

 

Planning Application List No 14

Objections to

 

TA/2005/443/TCA  GALLETS, HIGH STREET, LIMPSFIELD

FELL 1 APPLE, 1 PLUM AND 1 LIME TREE.  REDUCE 1 FALSE ACACIA  BY 10%.  Object to the felling of trees without a valid reason.

 

TA/2005/449  10 JOHN BURNS COTTAGES, RIDLANDS LANE, LIMPSFIELD ERECTION OF SINGLE STOREY SIDE EXTENSION.  Object to the size and appearance of the extension which is out of keeping with the surrounding properties in the village and inappropriate in a rural village and Conservation area.

 

TA/2005/464  6 STONELEIGH ROAD, LIMPSFIELD

DEMOLITION OF CARPORT AND ERECTION OF DETACHED DOUBLE GARAGE. ERECTION OF REAR CONSERVATORY.  Object to the disproportionate size of a double garage at the end of this terraced house.  A single garage would fit in better.

 

TA/2005/471/TCA  REDFERN, HIGH STREET, LIMPSFIELD

REMOVE 3 HAWTHORN AND 1 MAPLE. REDUCE 2 CONIFERS BY UP TO 50 %. REDUCE 1 MAPLE AND 1 AMELANCHIER BY 30%.  Object to removing 3 hawthorns without a valid reason.

 

CW declared a prejudicial interest in the following application and withdrew from the meeting.

TA/2005/532 10 PARK ROAD, LIMPSFIELD

DEMOLITION OF STABLE BLOCK, CHIMNEY AND CONSERVATORY. ERECTION OF 2 X 5 BED HOUSES EACH WITH DETACHED DOUBLE GARAGE.  Reiterate previous objections to a back land development of this nature.

 

No objections to

 

TA/2005/516  ESSINGTON CORNER, PAINS HILL, LIMPSFIELD

ERECTION OF SINGLE STOREY REAR EXTENSION

 

TA/2005/522/TPO  BEECHDENE, 20 GRANVILLE ROAD, LIMPSFIELD

TPO 45 (T)  -  CROWN THIN CEDAR BY 5-10%, CROWN LIFT CANOPY TO THE LEVEL OF LOWEST ROADSIDE LIMB AND REMOVE ONE LIMB OVER GARAGE

 

TA/2005/523/TPO BEECHDENE, 20 GRANVILLE ROAD, LIMPSFIELD

TPO 45 (T) - CROWN THIN CEDAR BY 5 - 10%, CROWN LIFT CANOPY TO THE LEVEL OF LOWEST ROADSIDE LIMB AND REDUCE LIMB OVER GARAGE BY UP TO 50%

 

TA/2005/542 85, BLUEHOUSE LANE, LIMPSFIELD
DEMOLITION OF EXISTING GARAGE/CAR PORT. ERECTION OF 2 STOREY SIDE EXTENSION & SINGLE STOREY INFILL SIDE EXTENSION WITH FIRST FLOOR OVER EXISTING REAR ADDITION.

 

TA/2005/551 ROSE COTTAGE, HIGH STREET, LIMPSFIELD

MOVE KITCHEN DOOR, CREATE EXTENDED CUPBOARDS UNDER THE STAIRS, REMOVE LOWER STAIR HALL WALL AND REPLACE WITH OAK RETAINING RAILS/STAIR POSTS. (APPLICATION FOR LISTED BUILDING CONSENT)

 

TA/2005/572  MARIE CURIE RESEARCH INSTITUTE,TREVEREUX  HILL, LIMPSFIELD CHART

ERECTION OF TWO GRP ENCLOSURES  FOR ELECTRICITY TRANSFORMERS, MAIN SWTICH AND METERS

No objections (cont’d)

 

TA/2005/613/TCA CORNER COTTAGE, 10 STANHOPES, LIMPSFIELD

FELL 5 X CYPRESS TREES & FELL 1 X SYCAMORE REDUCE 1 X MIXED SPECIES HEDGE BY 30% TO 40%

 

Planning Applications Withdrawn

 

TA/2004/1759  24 Westerham Road, Limpsfield

Demolition of existing garage.  Erection of two storey side/rear extension, first floor extension and single storey front extension.  Amended plans to show revised fenestration details and site plan.

 

TA/2005/260  27 Granville Road, Limpsfield

Erection of detached garage with room over.

 

Planning Approvals

 

TA/2005/331/TPO  Wistful, Brassey Road, Limpsfield

TPO192 (T) Fell 4 beeches (subject to heavy headed standard replanting of 5 trees); crown reduce/shape one beech and one maple by approx 25%.

 

TA/2005/189  Waterfall, Uvedale Road, Limpsfield

Formation of new vehicular access.  Erection of part single storey and part two storey side extension.

 

TA/2005/257  68 Granville Road, Limpsfield

Demolition of existing garage.  Erection of two storey side extension.

 

TA/2005/279  29 Granville Road, Limpsfield

Erection of rear conservatory.

 

TA/2005/267  Limpsfield CE Infant School, Limpsfield Common, Limpsfield

Erection of single storey extension and access ramp. Members were concerned to note that this application had been approved in spite of their objections.  Clerk to write to Bob Evans.

                                                                                                                  Action:  Clerk

 

TA/2005/443/TCA  Gallets, High Street, Limpsfield

Fell 1 apple, 1 plum and 1 lime tree.  Feduce 1 false acacia  by 10%.

 

TA/2005/471/TCA  Redfern, High Street, Limpsfield

Remove 3 hawthorn and 1 maple. reduce 2 conifers by up to 50 %.  Reduce 1 maple and 1 amelanchier by 30%. 

 

Planning Appeals

 

TA/2004/2005 The Ridge,Brassey Road, Limpsfield

Demolition of existing shed and erection of detached 5 bed dwelling with detached garage.

 

TA/2005/216  Chartlands, Itchingwood Common Road, Limpsfield

Erection of bungalow with attached garage.

 

 

12.5  Highways

 

Correspondence:

 

·         Highways Agency – a comprehensive reply to the PC’s letter about the widening scheme.  It is possible that the public information exhibition for Section 2 of the Scheme (junctions 5 to 7) will take place in 2007.  Construction would be unlikely to start before 2010.

 

Contact Centre sign:  Highways has been in contact with the Parish Council to review the positioning of the new sign. 

 

Highways (cont’d)

 

Wolf’s Row parking:  Highways has issued a works order to install advisory road markings to restrict parking on the corner of Wolf’s Row as you exit the A25.

 

B269 Kent Hatch Road crossing:  Carillion are waiting for the warmer weather before laying the coloured surfacing on this crossing point.

 

Speed interactive warning sign on the Westerham Road:  this should be triggered at nearly 43mph (37mph + 10% + 2mph).  Highways will check the calibration for this.

 

Flooding:  there is a shallow side entry gully at the point where flooding occurs on the B269 which was probably installed because other solutions were not practical.  Highways will check the pipe work in due course.  At Wolf’s Hill the carriageway has sunk allowing water to collect and not reach the gully.  These may be added to the list of works when funds are available.

 

Wolf’s Row to Red Lane speeding:  the criteria for establishing which roads to tackle as a priority for speed management is to be agreed at a meeting between Highways, the Police and Road Safety Group later his month.  AW reported that a resident had made a request at the last PCPG meeting for speed limit roundels to be painted the length of the road to help reduce vehicle speeds.

 

Wolf’s Hill parking:  an on site meeting has been set up between Nigel Russell, the Bursar at Hazelwood School, Peter Agent and Stuart Eastmond of Surrey Highways, PC Moira Cocks of the Surrey Police and Rosalyn Harris on Wednesday, 11 May 2005 at 3 pm.  The Clerk will notify the school that Mark Richards will also be in attendance.  Post meeting note:  Peter Agent was unable to attend the meeting.

 

High Street footway works:  the Clerk had a discussion with Lawrence Littlehales about the vehicular access to the Chiropracter premises in the High Street.  He confirmed that planning permission had already been obtained but that the quote from the Highways’ contractor to do the work was excessive.  He agreed to speak to the owner of Rosewell Cottage to see if they could come to an agreement to share the cost of a joint driveway access.

 

High Street speeding:  Surrey Police have agreed to locate a speed detection recorder in the High Street for one week (date to be advised), which will record the speed and length of vehicles travelling in both directions, together with the time of day.  The Police will also check the road signs to see if there is anything that can be done to highlight the issues.      

 

12.6  Publicity

12.6.1  Parish Council website

AW reported that on further investigation the website design and hosting service previously mentioned appeared to be too costly.  CH suggested using a local website designer and agreed to pass on details to the Clerk.                 Action:  CH / Clerk

 

12.7  Trees  & Parish Property

 

CW agreed to plant up the horse trough with some new bedding plants such as trailing geranium.

 

It was agreed that the Clerk should look further into the planning requirements for driveway access to the parking space next to the Memorial Stores.         Action:  Clerk

 

Members arranged to meet at on Saturday, 7 May at 2 pm, to prepare the ground adjacent to the Memorial Stores for planting.  Resolved: to spend a further £200 on shrubs, compost and surface mulch under the heading of “special projects”.

 

 

13.0  REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

13.1  Limpsfield Common

Mark reported that the National Trust had just purchased a new mower which will be a great asset for the coming growing season.  The next guided walk will start at the High Chart car park on 19 June 2005 at 2 pm.

 

13.2  Police Community Partnership Group

 

The next Police Action Forum is being held in St Peter’s Church Hall on Wednesday, 4 May at
8.00 pm.

 

14.0  FINANCE

 

A local council briefing has been received from HLB AV Audit containing recommendations for the effective completion of the audit for 2004/05.  This stipulates that all councils should have a set of financial regulations which incorporate the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003. A draft set of regulations has been drawn up by the Clerk based on a model issued by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).  These regulations will be approved by the Finance Committee prior to adoption at the next meeting of the Council.

 

The audit date has been set for 15 July 2005.

 

14.1    To approve last quarter internal audit

 

The last quarter internal audit was approved and signed by David Marnham and the RFO prior to the meeting. 

 

The RFO presented the Receipts & Payments Account and Account Summary for the year ending

31 March 2005.  The accumulated fund as at 31 March 2005 is £8187.  An election reserve of £1,000 and a minute binding reserve of £100 have been made, leaving a general fund for the coming year of £7,087.  The RFO explained the reasons for the general fund being some £2,000 more than projected.

The Chairman signed the Account Summary subject to audit.  The RFO will complete the Statement of Accounts to be presented at the next meeting.

 

14.2  Clerk’s annual salary review

 

NALC has issued a National Agreement on Salaries and Conditions of Service of Local Council Clerks in England and Wales 2004, to come into effect from 1 April 2005.  This agreement will be considered at a meeting of the Finance Committee.  The clerk’s salary review was therefore deferred to the June meeting.

 

14.3  Accounts for Payment

 

The Allianz Cornhill insurance premium for 2005/06 has increased by 13%, owing to a 33% increase in the public liability premium and a 7% increase in the property damage premium.

 

Resolved:  to make the following payments

·         Clerk’s salary                                                                                      £393.75

·         Clerk’s expenses & broadband (chq 290)                                                 £19.92

·         GACC annual subscription (chq 291)                                                       £10.00

·         Chairman’s allowance (chq 292)                                                              £70.00

·         Allianz Cornhill insurance premium renewal (chq 293)                              £672.94

·         Open Spaces Society (Our Common Land publication) (chq 294)               £14.00

·         Old Oxted Landscapers (2 x grass cutting) (chq 295)                              £112.00

 

15.0  ANY OTHER BUSINESS

It was agreed to defer the meetings in August 2005 and January 2006 to the second Tuesday in the month.  The August meeting will be held on 9 August 2005 and the January meeting on the 10 January 2006.  Both meetings will be held in the Glebe Room, St Peter’s Village Hall.

16.0  DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 7 June 2005.  AW requested CW to chair the June meeting owing to both herself and the Vice Chairman being unable to attend.

 

The meeting closed at 10.10 pm.

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