Otford Parish Council November Newsletter 2016 No 257 Twinned with Neufchatel-Hardelot Clerk: Mrs. S. Palmer The School House, 21, High Street, Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5PG Telephone/answerphone: 01959 524808 Fax: 01959 525298 Office hours 8.30 to 12.30 Mon to Fri – [email protected] Parish Council For those interested in all the activities of OPC, the minutes of meetings are available in the library, and all minutes, agendas and newsletters can be obtained via the web (also available in the library). They can all be read via http://www.otford.info/parishcouncil. The next meetings will be on 14th November and 12th December at 7.30pm in the Club Room of Otford Village Hall. Chairman’s Report I have often been asked to assist with local problems so below I have included a rough breakdown of the Roles and Responsibilities of the various layers of Local Government. Kent County Council KCC is responsiboe for all adoption and Fostering, Blue Badge Parking, Bus passes for those eligible, Countryside Management, Dunbrick (the tip or Dump), Education, ALL highways issues including Gritting Roads, Libraries, Public Transport (Buses), Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Social Services, Srtreet lighting, Trading Standards, Youth Services. KCC has 84 elected members and elections take place every 4 years. Otford is currently in the Ward of Sevenoaks North which includes Bat & Ball, Kemsing and Seal. This is likely to change in May as KCC are reducing the number of County Councillors and effecting boundary changes to accomodate this reduction. KCC - [email protected], 03000 41 41 41, County Councillor - [email protected] Sevenoaks District Council Sevenoaks District Council are responsible for Animal Welfare, Bottle Banks Building Control, Car Parking, Local Traffic enforcement, CCTV, Community Safety, Council Tax and Business rate collection, Housing benefit, Economic Development, Elections, Environmental Health, Food Safety, Housing, Leisure and Sports facilities, Parks and Recreation Grounds, Planning, Refuse and Recycling collection, Street Cleaning. Sevenoaks District Council has 54 District Councillors and members are elected every 4 years. The Otford and Shoreham Ward has 2 District Councillors. SDC - 01732-227000, [email protected] District Councillors - John Edwards-Winser - 01959-522503,cllr.edwards- [email protected]. Michelle Lowe - 01959-525109, [email protected] Otford Parish Council Parish Councils are the foundation of Local Government. Sevenoaks District has 30 such Parishes, whilst other Districts have only a few. The Parishes vary in size and the number of councillors is proportional to their population. For example Otford has 11 councillors, wheras Shoreham has 7 The Parish Councils are responsible for providing and maintaining a range of community assets. In Otford they include, The Allotments, Village Green, Pond & ducks, The Car Parks, Cemetery, Community Woodland, Play Areas, Recreation Ground, Open Spaces, Tennis Courts, Parish Office, Litter Bins, Dog Waste Bins, Seats and Benches, Notice Boards, The Model Solar System, Collection of litter. OPC also operate a Speedwatch and Lorrywatch team, are consulted by SDC on all planning applications that affect the Parish and Strategic Planning affecting the District and County. They have a team of dedicated councillors who give up their time freely to help the local community. OPC - 01959-524808, [email protected] Remembrance Day 2016 Please remember that traffic will be halted at the pond between 10.45am and 11.15am on Remembrance Day Sunday 13th November so if you are making a journey please get through before but if you do get caught please just be patient and remember why you are waiting. WEAR YOUR POPPY WITH PRIDE. Otford Scouts Bonfire Night Otford Scouts are holding their usual bonfire night in the Chalk Pit opposite the Scout Hut on Saturday November 5th. The gates open at 5:30pm and there will be the usual bonfire, fireworks, BBQ, soup and glow-sticks. These are always fun nights with good support from Otford residents so please come and support your local bonfire night, have fun and help Otford Scouts. Advance tickets will be available from Otford Dry Cleaners and Yvonne’s, or at the gate on the night. Community Warden Surgery Paul holds his weekly surgery to discuss any problems and community issues at School House on Tuesdays between 11am and 12 noon. Come and see him. Paul can also be contacted on 07813 713366. Sevenoaks Book Fair On Saturday 19th November between 9am and 3.30pm the Book Fair will take place in Otford Village Memorial Hall. Free admission. Otford Cubs need help urgently Otford is lucky to have two thriving Cub Packs, which meet on Monday and Thursday evenings with around twenty children in each. However, the two leaders who ran the Thursday Pack retired in July. Jonathan Booth, who runs the Monday Pack has taken over the running of both Packs for now. He can only do this until Christmas. After that, and unless a new leadership team can be found, the Thursday Pack will close, which will disappoint many local children (not just those who currently attend, but all future Cubs!). Please, if you have any Scouting experience and/or are willing to help (training and support will be provided), please contact Jonathan on: (01959) 524954 or by email on: [email protected]. Otford Village Society Community Christmas Party The Otford Village Society will be hosting an Otford Community Christmas Party on Saturday 3rd December in Otford Village Memorial Hall from 7.30pm until late. This is a fundraising event to raise money to carry on refurbishment of the Village Hall. There will be local beers and wine, magic, music, wine tasting, face painting, a hog roast, raffle and silent auction. Tickets are £10 adult and £5 children. Otford Oast WI The next meeting will be on Thursday 17th November at 9.30am in Otford Village Memorial Hall when they will be looking at ‘Forever Aloe Vera Products’. A crèche is available and the first visit is free. For more details or if you wish to join please contact the Secretary Sharna Peyto on 07860 463656 for more details. Otford Heritage Centre The next Coffee and Cake morning will be on Tuesday 1st November between 10.30am and 12 noon. You will be able to see the displays, meet some of those who run the centre who are all volunteers and at 11.30am Elizabeth Ward will introduce the latest display on ‘Otford Pond’ If you would like to come - and you would be most welcome - please ring Tina Freke (01959 524661) to reserve a place and a cake. Otford & District Historical Society The next meeting of the 2016/17 Winter programme will be on Wednesday 16th November at 8pm, refreshments served from 7.30pm in Otford Village Memorial Hall when Ed Thompson and Alan Williams will talk about ‘Post-War Education – the Wildernesse Years’. Adult subscription is £10. No charge for under 16’s and visitors are welcome at £3 per meeting. Otford Evening WI The next meeting will be on Thursday 10th November at 7.30pm in the Club Room of Otford Village Memorial Hall when Ian Porter will talk about ‘The Real Downton Abbey’ – domestic service in the early 20th century’ Visitors are most welcome and more information is available by contacted their President on 01959 524831. Otford Gardeners’ Society The final meeting of the year will be on Tuesday 6th December at 7.30pm in Otford Village Memorial Hall will be the Annual Quiz and Fun night. Teams of maximum of 6. Contact Janet Finney on 01959 523760 for more details or e-mail [email protected]. Sevenoaks Embroiderer’s Guild Exhibition The last meeting of the year will take place on Saturday 26th November in Otford Village Hall between 11am and 4pm. There will be holding a party and a afternoon talk by Wendy Dolan on ‘Interpreting Natural Forms in Embroidery’. For further information please contact Sylvia Grafton on 01732 452117. Christmas Wreath / Table & Mantle Arrangement Making Workshop Denise Thompson our village’s own designer florist is offering the chance to come and make a Christmas Wreath on Wednesday 7th December at 7.30pm in Otford Village Memorial Hall. The cost will be £35. Then on Wednesday 14th December at 7.00pm she will be holding a Table and Mantle arrangement workshop. Cost again is £35 but arrangements may be more dependent on size required. Everything will be provided at each workshop (except please bring your own scissors/secateurs) and light refreshments will add to the fun. Places are limited so please book on 01959 525009. Guide Christmas Post Box The Guide Christmas Post Box will be in Otford Library between Thursday 24th November and Friday 16th December inclusive during opening hours. A second Box will also be available in the Parish Council Office on Monday to Friday between the same dates. All cards will be delivered by Brownies and Guides over the weekend 17/18th December. Stamps will be 25p per card and all money will go to the chosen charities. This will be the 34th year that Otford Guides have been delivering Christmas cards in the village and we would like our Christmas Post Service for the village to continue and be really successful, so please give generously and support us by posting early. Library opening hours – Monday 9am – 1pm, Tuesday 9am – 5pm, Wednesday Closed, Thursday 9am – 1pm, Friday 1pm- 5pm, Saturday – 10am -2pm Parish Council opening hours- Monday to Friday 8.30am – 12.30pm Tree of Light The Tree of Light service will take place on Friday 9th December at 7.00pm on the Village Green. Following the service there will be refreshments offered in the St Bartholomew’s Church Centre.