MINUTES OF THE CHIDDINGSTONE ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 18TH MAY 2021 AT 8.00PM IN CHIDDINGSTONE CAUSEWAY VILLAGE HALL Present: Cllr J. Roper (Chair), Cllr P. Harris and Cllr B. Taylor Apologies: Cllr A. Baker, Cllr C. Bishop, Cllr P. Myers, Cllr M. Quirk, Cllr R. Streatfeild, Cllr H. Williams and County Cllr M. McArthur In attendance: Louise Kleinschmidt (Clerk), District Cllr S. Coleman and District Cllr J. Osborne-Jackson Closed Session: 1. a. Election of Chair for year 2021/2022 Cllr Harris proposed that Cllr Roper be re-elected as Chair for the year 2021/22. This was seconded by Cllr Taylor and there were no other nominations. Members unanimously voted to accept the proposal. Cllr Roper said that he was willing to stand and was duly elected. b. To receive Chair’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office This will be signed at the June Parish Council meeting. 2. Election of Vice-Chair for year 2021/2022 Cllr Roper proposed that Cllr Myers be re-elected as Vice-Chair for the year 2021/22. This was seconded by Cllr Harris and there were no other nominations. Members unanimously voted to accept the proposal. Cllr Roper reported that Cllr Myers was willing to stand and he was duly elected. The Closed Session was suspended for the Open Session Open Session Report by District Cllr Coleman District Cllr Coleman reported as follows: 1. The number of people testing positive with Covid-19 has levelled off and the figure for the district is in the region of 30. There have not been any deaths from Covid-19 in the district in several weeks. Statistics show that people under 50 years old are not taking up the offer of the vaccine as much as older people. SDC staff members continue to work partly from home and partly in the office and will be in the office for 2-3 days a week going forward. The council’s economic section is considering ways that the council could create income from the empty desks. The volunteers have not received any requests for help in the last few weeks and SDC is in the process of arranging a thank you event for volunteers at the end of September. 2. SDC supported Mental Health Week from 10th to 16th May with several different initiatives including Every Step Counts, which is a wellbeing walk that takes place from a number of locations in the district, including Chiddingstone. This has been well received locally and enjoyed by many. 3. There has been another case of an infestation of rats in Wellers Town and Environmental Health officers have written to the residents concerned and asked them to dispose of their rubbish and take steps to eliminate the rats. 4. At the current time, Environmental Health operates as a joint venture with Dartford Borough Council, but the service will soon move back in house at SDC. 5. D.Cllr Coleman said that she has been contacted by a concerned resident about future intentions to undertake woodland management in Truggers Lane and SDC officers have written to the landowner. Cllr Roper asked if this correspondence could be copied to the Chiddingstone Tree Warden, Cllr Bishop. 6. The planning application at Newtyehurst Farm was refused by the SDC Development Control Committee on 29th April and committee members did take notice of the comments submitted by the Parish Council. D.Cllr Coleman said that she will keep the Parish Council up to date if any action is taken by the landowner. 7. The family fun days will run again this year by Play Place, who allow volunteers to assist at the events and train for an AQA. If anyone knows anyone who might like to know more about this, please let D.Cllr Coleman know. 1 Report by District Cllr Osborne-Jackson District Cllr Osborne-Jackson reported as follows: 1. Many congratulations to the Chair and Vice-Chair for being re-elected in post and congratulations also to County Cllr Margot McArthur who has been elected to represent the Sevenoaks Rural South ward at KCC. 2. The Annual Council Meeting at SDC will be held next week and the Chair and Vice-Chair will be sworn in. 3. D.Cllr Osborne-Jackson said that he has had a one-to-one meeting with the CEO of WKHA with a walkabout around Leigh and Chiddingstone Causeway which was very beneficial. 4. He has also had a one-to-one meeting with the Chief Officer for Housing at SDC and also a one-to-one meeting with Peter Fleming today, who is Leader of the council. 5. WKHA has agreed to pick up the cost of flood remedial work at Redleaf Close in Chiddingstone Causeway, and undertook to keep the Parish Council informed as the project progresses. Cllr Harris offered any help necessary as the parish Pond Warden. 6. In response to a complaint raised by Bough Beech residents, D.Cllr Osborne-Jackson has investigated case studies across the country of train drivers using their horns at pedestrian crossings. He is going to request that a beeper is installed at the pedestrian crossing which will give a warning beep if a train is approaching. This will be a costly exercise and may take some time to process. Although this is in D.Cllr Coleman’s ward, he said he was happy to undertake this issue as he has good contacts with Network Southeast. 7. There has been a noticeable increase in the graffiti tag OWL throughout the area, both on railway lines, private and public land. The cost of removal is expensive, and he is working with SDC officers to identify the culprit. Closed Session 3. Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Baker, Cllr Bishop, Cllr Myers, Cllr Quirk, Cllr Streatfeild and Cllr Williams and members accepted their reasons for absence. Apologies for absence were also received from County Cllr McArthur. 4. Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest / Non-Pecuniary Interest on matters to be discussed None. 5. Appointment of Committees and representatives to other bodies Members unanimously approved the following: Planning Committee: Cllr Mitzi Quirk (Chair) Cllr Jonathan Roper Cllr Richard Streatfeild Cllr Howard Williams Cllr Paul Myers Cllr Ben Taylor Finance Committee: Cllr Jonathan Roper (Chair) Cllr Richard Streatfeild Cllr Chris Bishop Cllr Paul Myers Affordable Housing Cllr Jonathan Roper (Chair) Committee: Cllr Richard Streatfeild Cllr Andy Baker Cllr Mitzi Quirk Cllr Howard Williams Aviation Working Group: Cllr Richard Streatfeild Cllr Penny Harris Cllr Chris Bishop 2 Representatives to other bodies: HWCAAG: Cllr Richard Streatfeild Cllr Penny Harris Cllr Chris Bishop Liaison between Parish Council and Parochial Church Council: Cllr Howard Williams Kent Association of Parish Councils, Sevenoaks Area Committee: All Chiddingstone Tennis Club: Cllr Richard Streatfeild Eden Valley Museum Trust: Cllr Howard Williams Margaret Hyde Almshouses: Cllr Andy Baker Chiddingstone Village Hall Management Committee: Cllr Penny Harris Chiddingstone Causeway Village Hall Management Committee: Cllr Andy Baker CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England): Cllr Chris Bishop Chiddingstone Ramblers: Jenny Chettle Chiddingstone Tree Warden: Cllr Chris Bishop Chiddingstone Pond Warden: Cllr Penny Harris Countryside Access Wardens: Cllr Howard Williams Rob McCoy David Hunt The list of committee members and representatives to outside bodies were proposed by Cllr Harris, seconded by Cllr Taylor and all were in favour. 6. To confirm that the Parish Council is eligible to use the General Power of Competence The Clerk reminded members that the General Power of Competence gives authorities the power to take the reasonable action they need ‘for the benefit of the authority, its area or persons resident or present in its area’. Under the provision a local authority has power to do anything that individuals generally have full legal capacity to do. To remain eligible, the Parish Council has to confirm that: (a) the number of members of the council that have been declared to be elected, whether at ordinary elections or at a by-election, is equal to or greater than two-thirds of the total number of members of the council; (b) the Clerk is qualified in the Certificate in Local Council Administration; (c) the Clerk has completed the relevant training. There are some restrictions: to abide by statutory duties such as considering the likely effect of crime and disorder and conserving biodiversity, and to abide by legislation, such as employment law, health & safety, equality and data protection. 7. To minutes of the Chiddingstone Parish Council Meeting held on 19th April 2021 were approved. Proposed by Cllr Taylor, seconded by Cllr Harris, and all were in favour. 8. To hear update on current legislation regarding Parish Council meetings and functions The Clerk reported that Parish Council meetings are now required to be held in person. Cllr Harris advised that the Parish Council can use Chiddingstone Village Hall now as well as The Causeway Hall. The Clerk has added the use of the Village Halls post-lockdown to the Risk Assessment, which members considered and approved. Action Hazard / Risk Those Affected Action taken to Control Risk Necessary Meeting in public post Parish Council i. If an attendee is displaying To keep up to Covid-19 lockdown: Clerk symptoms or has been in close date with i. Cleanliness of the hall County Councillor contact with someone who has Government and equipment District Councillors tested positive of Covid-19 they guidelines and ii. Management of social Members of the public must not attend the meeting. legislation. distancing ii. If an attendee falls ill whilst in iii. Respiratory hygiene the hall, they must move to a safe iv. Anyone with Covid-19 quiet place, make arrangements to symptoms go home and Parish Council to inform the committee.