LIMPSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of
the Meeting held on
in the school hall, Limpsfield CE Infant
School, Limpsfield at
PRESENT: Chairman Mrs A Williams (AW)
Councillors Mr B Alexander (BA), Mrs S Bryant (SB),
Mrs R Harris (RH),
Mrs C Heijmer (CH), Mr D Marnham
(DM), Mr C Walker (CW),
Mrs L Wingate
In attendance: Clerk Mrs G Cannon
1.0 APOLOGIES
Apologies were received
from Mr John Pannett.
2.0 MINUTES
The minutes
of the previous meeting were approved and signed as a true record.
3.0 MATTERS ARISING
Minute
6.0 Correspondence:
· Consultation into BT’s proposals to
re-align payphone provision: The Clerk has confirmed that it is BT’s
intention to convert the payphone in High Street, Limpsfield, (near the Church)
to a cashless facility. All other
payphones remain unchanged. The ability
to dial the emergency services will not be affected by this conversion.
· TDC letter re Licensing Act
2003: the
Clerk received confirmation from TDC’s Licensing Unit that licence conversions
had already been granted for The Carpenters Arms. Limpsfield Lawn Tennis Club,
Limpsfield Chart Golf Club and Limpsfield Cricket Club. The deadline for representations on the
application by the Limpsfield British Legion had also been missed. The Clerk was authorised by AW and BA to
object to an application by the Bull PH to extend its licensing hours, the
deadline for comment being
4.0 PUBLIC SESSION
Mark Richards notified the Clerk
that he was unable to attend the meeting but had nothing to report regarding
Limpsfield Common.
The Chairman welcomed 10 members
of the public to the meeting.
Mr and Mrs Walden expressed their concern about the
speed of vehicles travelling along
Seven residents attended the meeting to express
concern about commercial activities at Honeypot Farm.
Mrs Charmian Gilbert addressed the meeting on behalf of a
number of residents living in the vicinity of Honeypot Farm. Mrs Gilbert raised seven issues of serious
concern to residents and produced photographic evidence of a large screening
machine, high earth mounds, and three large pieces of
4.0 Public Session (cont’d)
plant operating at the farm.
Mrs Gilbert explained that residents were at a loss to understand how
the District Planning Authority could allow the escalation of this business in
an Area of Local Landscape Significance and expressed a fear that if action is
not taken immediately, the operation will become entrenched and more difficult
to manage as has been proven in the past.
District Cllr Eric Morgan confirmed that this matter was
drawn to his attention four weeks ago and he agreed with the concerns
raised. He has pursued the matter that
Mr R Evans, Director of Environmental Protection, who has asked Mr J Lawrence,
Director for Planning Enforcement, to carry out a thorough investigation.
There was some discussion about the outcome of a Public
Inquiry held in October 1999 and in May 2000 into associated appeals and a
planning application made by Mr D A Withers in connection with proposals at
Honeypot Farm. The Chairman understood
from the correspondence that the planning appeal granted was an exception to
Green Belt policy and was for the retention of a building (for screening,
drying, mixing, bagging and storage of topsoil and loam) only.
Mr J Gilbert pointed out that as far as he was aware every
planning permission on the site was granted retrospectively, including the
original permission back in 1985, which was believed to be for Mr Withers
personally for a quasi-agricultural use only.
This was meant to be very carefully monitored by Tandridge District
Council. The appeal for the retention
of a building was granted in order that the screening machine would be located
inside the building to protect neighbours from noise and dust. More vehicles appear to be in use than are
allowed, and the site is dealing with muck away and site clearance resulting in
a far greater number of lorry movements than ever before.
Mr J Barratt stated that the environmental impact of these
activities also affects residents living in the neighbouring authority and
suggested informing Edenbridge Town Council.
Mr Hawkins who lives at the back of the site stated that there
was no protection between his property and the site and that the noise
disturbance from the concrete going through the screening machine was
appalling.
The Chairman assured residents that they had the full
support of the Parish Council who would be writing to Mr Evans to draw his
attention to the issues raised. Action:
Clerk
5.0
COUNTY
& DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
The Chairman welcomed District
Councillor Eric Morgan to the meeting.
Cllr Morgan reported on the new refuse contract that had just been
signed off and will commence on 3 October. The District Council has recently agreed in
principle with Surrey Highways that it will manage and run the decriminalised
parking enforcement system. Scheduled
start date is October 2006, once the scheme has been approved by the Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister and then Parliament.
The new licensing responsibilities are likely to be a huge burden on the
District Council which is determining licence conversions on an almost daily
basis at the moment. BA expressed
concern that TDC had not come up with an “across the board” licensing hours’
policy for the District in the same way that some other councils seem to have
done. Cllr Morgan was unable to comment.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Morgan
for his report.
6.0 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT (including
correspondence)
Corrrespondence:
·
TDC
– Notice of Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing to hear the
application to vary the premises licence of The Bull Inn, Limpsfield, at
·
Local
Works – campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill
(AW)
6.0 Chairman’s report (cont’d)
·
TDC
– Planning Enforcement Guidelines – public
consultation. Invitation for two
delegates to attend a seminar for all parish councils in the Council Chamber on
Monday, 19 September, at
·
TDC
– invitation to a Telecoms workshop in the Council
Chamber on
·
TDC
– invitation to the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on
·
SCA
– invitation to a Rural Community Information Workshop
to be held at Bletchingley Village Hall on
·
English
Rural Housing Association – invitation to attend the
opening of a new scheme at Westonfields, Albury,
·
·
LCAS
– newsletter no
·
·
TDC
Local Development Framework – final consultation into the
revised Statement of Community Involvement that has been submitted to the
Secretary of State for an examination into its “soundness”. Representations by 6 October. No further comments considered necessary.
7.0 PARISH COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
7.1 Parish Plan Committee
CW agreed to work with Philip
Thomas on the lottery funding application.
If the bid is made in the Parish Council’s name, consideration will need
to be given to the correct accounting procedures to adopt should the bid be
successful.
7.2 Playground Committee
A reply has been received from
the National Trust in respect of the alternative playground site. The Trust can see no reason why the
playground should not proceed in the revised location, but suggests that the
actual location is agreed with Andy Wright and Mark Richards. DM to set up a meeting with Mark Richards,
Andy Wright and the Playground Association.
7.3 Rights of Way
SCC has served notice with regard
to the diversion of Public Footpath No 210.
A copy of both the Notice and the Order have been received.
Bridleway
54: letter from Mr
Grantham highlighting that the bridleway is again overgrown and unattended. Having inspected the site, DM did not agree
that clearance work was needed at present.
FP 78a
kissing gate: Phillipa Gates has agreed to inspect the gate and will arrange repair as
necessary.
FP
BA declared an interest in the following discussion:
FP 56
Tenchleys Park: DM reported that he had been advised that a section of FP 56 leading from
the Kent Hatch Road towards Tenchleys Park had been cleared to form a wide
track without the permission of The National Trust who owns the land. The National Trust immediately put a stop to
the work. DM has given concerned
residents an undertaking that he will monitor the situation closely in
7.3 Rights of Way (cont’d)
order to prevent other sections
of the footpath not owned by the National Trust from being similarly cut back.
Footpath
numbering: CH was advised by Surrey Highways that it was not cost effective to
include footpath numbers on footpath signs. Replacement signs would have to be
pre-ordered if they were individually numbered.
7.4 Planning
Honeypot
Farm: Residents’
concerns about the level of activity by United Grab Hire Ltd at Honeypot Farm
and the application for a Goods Vehicle Licence were minuted at the August
meeting. The application for a vehicle
licence was refused at the hearing on 16 August at the Eastbourne Traffic Area
Office on the grounds that the applicant had only inserted a Public Notice in
the County Border News free paper which is not delivered to households in the
vicinity of the operating centre. The
applicant has been advised to re-apply and to insert a notice in the Public
Notices section of the Surrey Mirror.
Statutory consultees and other affected parties will have 21 days from
the publication date of the advertisement to make representations to the
Traffic Commissioner, but must copy the applicant at the same time.
The Clerk has written to Mr Evans
expressing the Council’s concerns about operations taking place at Honeypot
Farm and asking for the District Council to support Surrey County Council’s objections
to the granting of a Goods Vehicle Licence for the operator to run 4 vehicles
of up to 32 tonnes out of this site.
John Lawrence has advised that a site meeting is being arranged in the
next 7 to 10 days (from the date of this meeting).
District Cllr Morgan expressed a
view that this was not an issue on which the District Council had competence to
comment but after it was pointed out that the District Council was a statutory
consultee and that residents had written to the District Council expressing
their concerns, Cllr Morgan agreed to look into the matter.
After some discussion about the
lack of support from the District Council, it was unanimously resolved that the Clerk should write to The Chairman of the Development Control
Committee to request that this matter be discussed with the Officers.
Hillview
Farm: an
application for a Goods Vehicle Licence has been made by D M Godfrey trading as
Bywood Pet Supplies at Hillview Farm. BA
and CW authorised the Clerk to make representations to the Traffic Commissioner
on the grounds that the narrow lanes leading to the farm are totally unsuited
to HGV traffic. A copy of the objection
was sent to the applicant. Mr Godfrey
has since contacted the Clerk to explain that his application is for a box van
of up to seven and a half tonnes for his personal use only and he is willing to
ask for a restriction on the application to reflect this. In spite of these assurances, Members unanimously resolved that their objection still stood.
Boulthurst Farm: the drawing and planning conditions requested have now been received from
Tandridge District Council. Members
could see nothing in the permission that would allow the premises to operate as
a retail sales outlet. It was agreed
that the Clerk should write to Mr Evans to seek clarification as to why such a
significant part of the business appears to be based on retail sales. Action: Clerk
Correspondence:
·
TDC – Invitation to a seminar to introduce
innovative new e-planning service on Monday,
17 October at
·
TDC
– Draft Planning Enforcement Guidelines for Public Consultation. Comments by
·
Letter
from Mr P Wilcox,
Objections to
TA/2003/938/A2 UNIT 1 & 2, BOULTHURST FARM, PAINS HILL,
LIMPSFIELD VARIATION OF CONDITION 4 OF PERMISSION 2003/938 DATED 14
AUGUST 2003 TO ALLOW USE OF EDUCATIONAL ART STUDIO FOR THREE SUNDAYS ANUALLY
BETWEEN MAY & SEPTEMBER FOR OPEN DAYS. Object to
variations to existing conditions until the situation regarding activities
taking place has been clarifield.
BA telephoned the Clerk to declare an interest in the following
application which was determined by CH prior to the September meeting
TA/2005/1135 LANGSHAW, PASTENS ROAD, LIMPSFIELD
DEMOLITION OF EXISTING GARAGE,STORES
AND SHED. ERECTION OF DETACHED TRIPLE GARAGE AND WOOD STORE. Object on the grounds that it is too large
and out of keeping in the Green Belt, also un-neighbourly and taking light away
from the adjoining neighbour. It would
exceed the 25% extension allowed. Policy
RE10.2.
TA/2005/1205 HARE HILL
COTTAGE, HOOKWOOD PARK, LIMPSFIELD ERECTION OF SINGLE STOREY SIDE
EXTENSION & PORCH TO FRONT ELEVATION.
Object that together with a previous extension it would exceed the 25%
allowed. The extension is out of keeing
with the Green Belt and changes what was originally a small house into a large
one. Policy RE8.1 and RE8.3.
TA/2005/1206 HARE HILL
COTTAGE, HOOKWOOD PARK, LIMPSFIELD ERECTION OF 1.8M HIGH FENCE AND
1.1M HIGH GATES TO FRONTAGE. Object that
the fence and gates would be out of keeping with the rural nature of the area
and contrary to BE14.1 and 14.2.
TA/2004/1464/D LAND AT, PADBROOK CLOSE, LIMPSFIELD
ERECTION OF DETACHED HOUSE WITH
ASSOCIATED ACCESS. (DETAILS PURSUANT TO OUTLINE PERMISSION APPROVED UNDER
REFERENCE TA/2004/1464 DATED
No objections to
TA/2005/1132 BROADWAY COTTAGE,
RESTORATION OF 'GREEN' TABLE TOMB
(APPLICATION FOR LISTED BUILDING CONSENT).
TA/2005/1267 CHURCH
ERECTION OF A PAIR OF 1.07M HIGH
VEHICULAR ACCESS GATES WITH 1.07M HIGH PEDESTRIAN GATE.
TA/2005/1270 7 SNATTS HILL, OXTED
WIDEN VEHICULAR ACCESS BY 2.74M.
TA/2005/1282/TPO 14
BRASSEY HILL, LIMPSFIELD
TPO 2, 1993 (T) - REDUCE 1 OAK BY
30%. REDUCE ANOTHER BY 25-30% AND THIN
CROWN BY 15%. REDUCE LINE OF CONIFERS
BY 0.9 - 1.2M.
TA/2005/1205 HARE HILL
COTTAGE, HOOKWOOD PARK, LIMPSFIELD ERECTION OF SINGLE STOREY SIDE
EXTENSION & PORCH TO FRONT ELEVATION (AMENDED PLANS).
TA/2005/1277 CAWTE
LODGE, 3 BRASSEY CLOSE, LIMPSFIELD
ERECTION OF CONSERVATORY TO REAR
ELEVATION
7.4
Planning (cont’d)
TA/2005/723/TPO The Ridge,
Permission granted for the removal of 12 trees. Permission refused for the felling of 4 trees
(1 ash, 1 holly, 1 oak and 1 silver birch).
TA/2005/870 Wildwood,
Erection of 1.8M high timber fence linked to brick
wall with 2.6M high brick piers & gates.
TA/2005/902 Costcutters, 1 &
Erection of shutters to main entrance of store.
TA/2005/954 Spring Cottage,
Demolition of existing utility room & erection of
single storey rear extension.
TA/2005/967 Pastens Cottage, Pastens Road, Limpsfield
Demolition of existing conservatory & erection of
single storey side & rear extensions.
Planning Appeal
Allowed
TA/2004/2005 The Ridge,
Erection of a two-storey house with garage in a
garden plot to the rear of The Ridge.
Planning Appeals
Dismissed
The five planning appeals at
TA/2004/1270 10 Park Road, Limpsfield
Three new dwellings in existing residential garden
plot
TA/2004/1573 10 Park Road, Limpsfield
Six new dwellings in rear garden.
TA/2004/1575 10 Park Road, Limpsfield
Five new dwellings in rear garden.
TA/2004/2014 10 Park Road, Limpsfield
Six new dwellings in rear garden and replacement
dwelling following demolition existing dwelling.
TA/2005/532 10 Park Road, Limpsfield
Two new dwellings in rear garden and demolition of
chimney to existing dwelling.
7.5 Highways
Saplings in verge near
Fire Station on A25: James Lewis, SCC
Highways, will be inspecting the site.
Gateway
sign:
Speed detection recorder
for
7.5 Highways (cont’d)
Memorial Stores
crossover: SCC Highways has
agreed to contribute half the construction costs. Dependent on size of crossover, costs vary
from £650 to £5000, but probably no more than £1000. Each is individually measured and
quoted. Highways will forward planning
forms and crossover forms for completion.
Bluehouse
Lane speeding & verges: CW requested and
was given the Parish Council’s permission to deal with the issues raised by Mr
Stone in his capacity as District Councillor.
7.6 Publicity
There was nothing to report.
7.7 Trees & Parish Property
There was nothing to report.
8.0 REPORTS FROM
REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES
8.1 Limpsfield Common
There was nothing to report.
8.2
There was nothing to report.
8.3 Police Community
Partnership Group
The next meeting of the PCPG is
being held at St Peter’s Hall on
9.0 FINANCE
9.1 To approve last quarter internal audit
The first quarter internal audit was approved and signed by
David Marnham, Finance Committee Member and Gill Cannon, Responsible Financial
Officer, prior to the meeting.
9.2 Data Protection renewal request
Resolved: to renew the Parish Council’s Data
Protection register entry. Renewal fee £35.00.
9.3 Grants:
DM reported that grants requests
had so far been received from Master Park Management Committee, Age Concern,
Oxted CAB and Surrey Crimestoppers. Copies
of annual accounts were received from all applicants except Surrey
Crimestoppers. DM gave a thorough report
on the merits of each application and suggested that in determining the
allocation of grants, Members should consider the direct benefits that would be
gained by the inhabitants of the parish from those grants together with the
current financial position of the applicants.
After some discussion, it was unanimously resolved to grant
the following sums:
9.3 Accounts for Payment
·
Clerk’s salary £410.42
·
Clerk’s expenses & broadband (chq 308) £22.34
·
Seeboard DD (
·
St Peter’s Hall (hall hire 9 August)(chq309) £18.00
·
Old Oxted Landscapers (grass cuts x 2) (chq 310) £112.00
·
Data Protection entry fee (chq 311) £35.00
·
Master Park Management Committee grant under s137
LGA(chq 312) £200.00
·
Age Concern grant under s137 LGA (chq 313) £200.00
·
Oxted CAB grant under s142 LGA (chq 314) £100.00
·
Surrey Crimestoppers grant under s142 LGA (Chq 315) £40.00
*
Omitted from July minutes
10.0
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
It was
agreed to hold the Annual Parish Meeting on
11.0 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting
will be held on
The meeting closed at