HARBLEDOWN AND PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held at Rough Common Village Hall on Monday 31 March 2008

All Planning Applications received since the last Parish Council meeting were on display from 7.15 p.m.

Meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m.

Present Councillors J. Larkinson, J. Amos, J. Conway, S. Denham, B. Golding, W. Gregory, K Jordan, R. Perham, B. Shire, G. Wright, Mrs G. Jones (Clerk), Mrs M. Seymour (replacement Clerk), City Councillor Michael Dixey, and 7 members of the public.

28/08 Confirmation of Summons All Councillors had received their summons to attend this meeting and the public notices had been served correctly.

29/08 Alterations to the Register of Councillors’ Interests and Declaration of Interest on Items on the Agenda There were no alterations or declarations of interest stated.

30/08 Apologies for Absence Councillor P. Williams (work commitments).

31/08 Approval of Minutes It was proposed by Councillor Golding and seconded by Councillor Gregory that the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2008 be signed as correct .

32/08 Matters Arising Action By The installation of double yellow lines had been passed by the Committee and would go forward to the CCC Executive.

Blean and Parish Councils had made their own arrangements with regard to Speed Watch equipment. Parish Council is willing to hire their equipment at a cost of £75 per week provided that it is insured by H&RC Parish Council, is suitably housed and is used by competently trained personnel. It was proposed by Councillor Denham and seconded by Councillor Shire that the matter be raised at the AGM of HARCA and at the Annual Parish GW Assembly where volunteers will be sought to put their names forward. SD If sufficient volunteers are forthcoming then the equipment will be hired for one week at a time for a trial period. This was agreed. The Clerk was asked to write to Chartham Parish Council and Clerk acknowledge their offer.

A reply had been received from Stage Coach concerning the timing of the first bus into from Rough Common which allows passengers to use their new bus passes. The timetable may be revised

315 and the bus time might be change to 9.30 a.m. City Councillor Dixey MD will contact Stage Coach to discuss this further.

The Highways Agency had responded to the request to clear rubbish on the A2, saying that it is done twice a year.

At this point the Chairman asked whether any resident of the Parish wished to address the Council or ask any question about any agenda item.

33/08 Committee Reports

Finance An up to date report will be presented to the Annual Parish Assembly. The increase to the Precept will be addressed and the suggestion of a further increase to help fund the opposition to the Park & Ride will be put to the meeting. Any additional increases must decided with careful consideration as this matter does not affect all parts of the Parish.

Open Spaces and Allotments Landscape Services’ contract has been renewed on the same basis as last year. The grass cutting will be starting within the next two weeks. The tree cutting in Cheyney Field will take place at the end of the week beginning 7 April and the fencing will be done on 12 April. Councillor Conway will attend a meeting with a representative of the JC National Trust to discuss Golden Hill. He will also ask for their renewed help in opposing the Park & Ride.

Allotments Nothing to report.

34/08 Reports of Councillors with Portfolios

Footpaths and Tree Work Footpaths: Nothing to report.

Tree Matters: Councillor Golding recommended that a request to thin a beech tree and spruce be approved.

Highways All work is still outstanding. The budget has not yet been approved for next year. A Pothole Campaign has been launched by KCC. Any potholes should be reported to Highways. Two residents have reported problems at the junction with London Road and Little Meadow in . One has requested a mirror, but Kent Highways do not install these. The other has suggested double yellow lines, but it is felt that this would only encourage vehicles to be parked in Little Meadow instead. Councillor Denham will visit the residents. SD It was proposed by Councillor Golding and seconded by Councillor

316 Shire that two signs to purchased, at a cost of £65 each, and erected at SD/Clerk the entrances to the footpath at Neals Place Road. This was agreed. There is no road sign for Wingate Hill near the junction with the A 2050. Councillor Denham will request one to be installed. SD

Park & Ride The outcome of the Consultation is awaited, later next month. Apparently there were approximately 400 responses. There has been a report in the local newspaper of a proposed lorry and P&R park at Brenley Corner. No-one had any information on this.

Newsletter Councillor Wright thanked everyone for their contributions and distribution of the newsletter which had been printed on recycled paper.

35/08 Planning Applications

Applications received: After discussion the following decisions were made: CA/08/00331/CAN - 3 Highfield Close Rough Common -RESOLVED No Objection be raised to this application CA/08/00384/HAR – 56 Oaks Park, Harbledown, CT2 9DP - RESOLVED No Objection be raised to this application CA/08/00387/HAR – 1 Highfield Close, Rough Common - RESOLVED No Objection be raised to this application CA/08/00277/HAR - Neals Place Farm. Councillor Jordan registered an interest in this application and withdrew from the Parish Council. After considerable discussion it was RESOLVED that No Objection be raised to this application. It was felt by the Parish Council that in these days of agricultural dilemma, diversification was the only way forward and that any land which proved to be non- viable might be developed to the detriment of the local community.

CCC Notified Decisions: Granted: Refused: CA/07/01804/HAR - Harbledown Heights Withdrawn: CA/08/00075/HAR – Upper Harbledown House

Councillor Golding mentioned that residents of Highfield Close have been erecting fences at the backs of their properties which seemed to be encroaching on the verges of the footpath. Councillor Larkinson JL will contact the CCC Planning Department regarding this.

A member of the public requested that the Parish Council alerts all parishioners to any planning issues that might come to it’s attention, that are not subject to a planning application. It was felt that this could best be achieved by including such items in the Village Section of the Kent Messenger.

317 Councillor Perham commented that a letter which had been received by the Clerk concerning a current planning issue had made comments which were not substantiated and that he took exception to them.

A new planning application form has been introduced and Councillor Larkinson will point out to CCC that there is nowhere on it for applicants to write their telephone number, which is useful when JL arranging to view the proposed work.

36/08 Reports of Councillor representatives

No Man’s Orchard An event entitled “60 Years On” will be held on Saturday 26 July from 11 a.m. funded by a grant from Awards for All. There will be a All hog roast, live music etc. The new sculpture will be unveiled on that day. Up to date photographs of No Man’s Orchard are needed for the All web site.

Police Liaison No report.

Rough Common Village Hall Councillor Perham had contacted the Village Hall Advisor at ACRK to seek her advice. She had been very helpful. As a result the Parish Council has now become a member of ACRK. The AGM of RCVH will be held on 24 April and residents and Parish Councillors of Rough Common are urged to attend. Councillor Perham will arrange for a notice to be published in the Kent Messenger. RP

Upper Harbledown Association A meeting had been held.

KAPC The next meeting will be on 9 April.

37/08 Up date Status on Other Items No further information is to hand regarding the signwriting on the noticeboards. The Clerk will investigate. The noticeboard at Upper Clerk Harbledown needs to be refixed. Councillor Amos will carry out this JA task.

38/08 Correspondence The digest had been circulated.

39/08 Finance and accounts for payment It was resolved to accept the Accounts for payment. Proposed by Councillor Wright and seconded by Councillor Shire. A list of the accounts accompanies these Minutes.

318 40/08 Annual Parish Assembly Chairman of Committees and Councillors with Portfolios were JC, SD, reminded that they would be expected to give a short report. BG, RP Refreshments will not be served this year.

41/08 Future Issues  Park & Ride

Date of Next Meeting

Monday 28 April 2008 at St Mary’s Hall, Upper Harbledown, at 7.30 p.m. All Planning Applications received will be on display from 7.15 p.m.

The meeting closed at 9.00 p.m.

319 HARBLEDOWN & ROUGH COMMON PARISH COUNCIL

SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS AUTHORISED AT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON 31 MARCH 2008

Clerk’s Account £528.67 New Clerk’s Account £356.81 Inland Revenue (NI and Tax) £755.64 Clerk’s Expenses (including membership of ACRK (£35)) £140.11 New Clerk’s Expenses £73.14 Odyssey Consulting Engineers (P&R) £2,517.67 Chairman’s Allowance £83.96 Councillors’ Allowances £29.98 KAPC subscription £614.45 Serco (emptying litter bin) £22.21 Mickle Print £272.00 H&RCPC P&R Appeal (donation received Feb) £20.00

TOTAL £5,414.64

Income since last meeting Allotment Rent £378.58 Walks Guides £21.00

Cheques signed by Councillors J. Larkinson R. Perham

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