Woldingham Parish Council

MINUTES of a Meeting held at the Village Hall, Woldingham on 29 January 2004 at 7.30 p.m.                             

Present:           Jeff Jeffery (Chairman);  Maggie Bantick;  Bobby Johnson;  Colin Packington;  Sheila Butcher; Sally Marks;  Rodney Fuller;  Jill Meekings

Also in attendance:      Richard Butcher part of the time

1. Apologies:           Cllr Michael Batterbury and Karen Newman (the Clerk)

2. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on the 27 January 2004had been circulated and were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

3. Declarations of Interest: Cllr Sally Marks – Highways; Cllr Colin Packington – Copper Beech Tree, Station Road.

4. Matters arising: Cllr Fuller having been absent at the November meeting requested an explanation of the proposed work that may be carried out in St.Agatha’s churchyard.

5.  Planning Matters:

1. Current Applications: A copy of Appendix A had been circulated to all members before the meeting. Cllr Bantick read through Appendix A and the Council voted to ratify the recommendations of the Planning Group.

Appeals:

a.       Park Mews Public Enquiry – 10/11 February. Cllr Meekings analysis of agricultural statement.  Meeting with Chris Nichols our appointed Solicitor 4.2.04

b.      Brambles Slines Oak Road – Written representations Ref 03/1132861

c.       The Warren, Butlers Dene Road – Written representations Ref 03/1135610  

d.      Springfield, off Bridleway 92 – Written representations.  Statement by Richard Butcher that written representation was unacceptable and that the Appeal should be held as a Public Enquiry.   Recommended that as many people should make a request as possible.   The PC had already written such a request.  WA to be notified accordingly.  Cllr Bantick  requested permission to seek Legal Assistance for representationation at a Public Enquiry should such an event be achieved.  The Council voted that she should obtain a quotation for the Council to further consider.

 Dismissed

Chalk Quarry 1 and 2  Cllr Bantick gave a summary part of the Inspector’s report which indicated the main reasons for the refusal. Cllr Bantick passed her thanks to Cllrs Johnson and Packington who carried out the Planning duties during her absence  this month.

Infringements:

Cllr Packington had earlier distributed by Email to all Councillors his letter of 12^th January 04 addressed to the Director of  Environmental Protection  containing his resume of the eight properties upon which outstanding infringement matters still stood.  Copies of the replies dated 21^st and 27^th January had also been distributed likewise. Cllr Packington read out the named properties as Bromfield Stud; Whistlers Steep, Downswold, Springfield; Fields 0087 & 0074 (Drea); Crossways;Freyafell and Forest Edge, and commented that the written response was generally very unsatisfactory particularly as in some cases there had been many months of correspondence with clearly little action by TDC. It was resolved that Cllr Packington would write a further letter in stronger terms requesting precise information with time scales.  Further that a meeting would be requested with PC Cllrs Bantick and Packington to discuss the matter with the Director and Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Protection at TDC.

Cllr Bantick will write letters to the thirteen members of the Development Control Committee explaining the importance of the infringement of the incorrect roof  tiling on Downswold  situated in a conservation area of Woldingham.

Cllrs Jeffrey and Batterbury will carry out a monthly survey of Whistlers Steep, to maintain a diary of demolition and possible new work carried out on this site so that some precision can be directed towards the TDC for the inaction which we consider has passed as a matter of laxity.

Cllr Bantick will write a letter to the forestry officer at TDC in respect of the damaged root system which has been occasioned to the mature copper Beech tree which is registered with a TPO, by the owner of Forest Ridge, Station Road.

6.  Finance:

1. Payments: The payments for the month will be made as Appendix B when approved and signed in the following days and the Appendix can then be attached to these minutes.

2. Precept 2004/5 – The Chairman notified the Parish Council that following discussions with the Deputy Chairman and other interested Cllrs a sum  of £2,000. would be added for work to St.Agatha’s graveyard and £5,000 for the village Post Office.  The Precept as agreed in November would be increased to  £36,246.  This figure had now been notified to TDC.

7.  Highways & Rights of Way:

a. Highways Monitoring and Reporting:  Cllr Fuller reported that there had been only two road monitoring reports returned for January.   He suggested that Cllr Packington reissue a blank copy of the standardised report sheet to all Cllrs to work from where possible by Email otherwise he suggested by Fax.   Cllr Fuller’s Fax No. is 01883 652600.   As subsequently reported hereafter under ‘Agenda 21’ Lingfield PC recommended that minimal  descriptions be utilised  so that there appeared a simple unity in the whole village report.

b.   Crescent:  Cllr Batterbury being absent,  distributed a report to all Councillors prior to the meeting in which he outlined the proposed new works for resurfacing the pedestrian footpath in front of the shops together with a provisional estimate of costs and suggested programme. 

c.   Service Road: Cllr Packington advised that he had once again spoken to Mr.Taylor (solicitor) but gleaned no immediate news of the completion of the Sealed documents being handled by  the Treasury Solicitors.

d.  Footpaths & Bridleways: Cllr Packington distributed by Email to all Councillors a restricted Report on the progress being made on the cutting of a footpath through the Common Land at Hazel Shaw advising that it’s completion was anticipated by Easter 04 and that the Woodlands Trust were seeking a Hedge Laying Instructor to guide the Woodlands Volunteer group in the final part of the work needed to be undertaken.

e. North Downs Golf Club Parking:  Mr.David Cable, Vice Captain of NDGC and Mr.Ray Austin, also from the club attended the Parish Council meeting and gave some  views concerning the car parking in Northdown Road.   Mr Cable said that it was the intention of the Golf club to restrict it’s members parking on the West side of Northdown Road to a point commencing opposite the exit to the club and running only South of that point.   Also a portion of the roadway running through to Church Road junction would have hatched lines painted to indicate that cars must not be parked upon it.  There was still available the overflow car park next to St.Agatha’s Churchyard and some arrangement might be made for its use.   Cnllr Packington pointed out that even when cars are parked along Northdown road it still leaves 4.40 metres of free road enabling traffic to pass freely in both directions simultaneously at a reduced speed as in Chalkpit Lane which is in itself a beneficial speed restriction on the road at that point.  The Chairman is to arrange a further meeting with members of the Golf Club Committee to discuss further ideas for car parking at the club.

f.          Caterham Bypass: Cllr Marks advised that the work being carried out to fit new safety barriers on the central reservation of the A22 is going very well and is also up to programme.   It is hoped that the current inclement weather will not cause any delay to the project which should be complete by early March.   Some criticism has been received on the costly expenditure of these works.   Cllr Marks pointed out that these works are specifically set in hand to save human lives at the worst black spot in the Tandridge area.

8.  Reports:

a.         Bridleway 92 Cllr Packington reported that he together with the Chairman; Mrs Jane Torrance of the WA; Cllr Penniston-Bird chairman of Chelsham PC;  a representative from the SCC Rights of Way Department;             Mr.W..Robinson of Earl Compton Estates, met Mr.Messenger the Agent for Mrs Sheey of Springfield on 28^th November 03 on the bridleway to discuss vehicular traffic on the bridleway.   Mr Messenger advised  that his Client, whom he believed to be either Mrs Sheey or her Partner had recently purchased a two metre wide strip of land along the West side of the bridleway and therefore the requirement to use the bridleway owned by Earl Compton Estates was no longer a problem for his client.  Cllr Packington has since twice visited Land Registry in Lincolns Inn Fields and has been able to ascertain that no such land transfer has occurred.  It is considered that Mr Messenger’s was misleading and was probably a delaying tactic.

          b.        Agenda 21 The meeting held at the offices of the TDC on 25^th November 03 was chaired by District Cllr Angela Goad.  Cllr Packington has emailed a written report to all members of the PC.  The main thrust of the subjects discussed is that  that an efficiently run Parish Council  will use less resources and will  thereby contribute to the Rio etc agreements.

9.  Miscellaneous Matters:

1. Airports: Cllr Johnson advised that there was no further information concerning  Biggin Hill but there was concern that there was still a possibility of a second runway at Gatwick.   Cllr Marks concurred with this concern and reported that as a result there was currently a Planning blight in the environs of Gatwick.
2. Village Appraisal: Nothing to report
3. Web Site: Cllr Meekings advised that a technical problem at the hosting server was still affecting the web site.  It was not possible to update the diary or contribute to the discussion database.
4. Village Design Statement:  Cllr Johnson reported that a meeting had taken place with David Chapman to agree wording to be used in the document.  Mr Chapman had prepared many excellent drawings.   It was noted that where photographs are to be used, permission of property owners must first be sought.   A Printers invoice for the work is required prior to 1^st April if the terms of the grant aid are to be met.  It may be necessary to request an interest free loan from the Parish Council in order to progress the printing by the due date.
5. Viewpoint:  Nothing to report.
6. Newsletter:  Nothing to report.  
7. Recyling: Mole Valley/Reigate & Banstead/Tandridge have produced a strategy for dealing with municipal waste.   Defra is meeting with local Farmers to discuss the handling of newly categorised obnoxious substances such as animal manure.
8. Post Office:  The Chairman advised that a meeting is to be held to discuss the rent which the Parish Council will pay to enable the Post Office to remain open in the village.
9. Station Parking: Cllr Meekings has written to the area manager Oxted enquiring about the use of the Station Car Park by the taxi operators.  Cllr Meekings will also carry out a review of the station of the station car parking charges in the area  and assess the implications of any chahges on parking at the Woldingham station car parks.
10. Woodley School Parking: The Clerk to write to the Headmistress to ask her to emphasise to the Parents  arriving by car that  every care should be takenas this is a dangerous junction and that careful parking would be appreciated.  
11. Risk Assessment: Clifford Catt’s proposals  for financial risk was  reviewed and it was resolved that the high risk elements would be discussed with him by Cllr Packington. Cornhill Insurance has been asked for  a new quotation form.

    The value of property to be insured would be adjusted to current values.   Risk Assessment to comply with Health & Safety Regulations  would remain as drafted by Cllr Packington.   Cllr Marks pointed out that such a schedule would be required for the service road, when it came into the PC’s ownership.

10. Meetings to attend

       a.    Local Committee, Soper Hall Caterham 30/01 @ 10.15 hrs

       b.    PC/WA Liaison Group, Conifers Park View Rd. 02/02 @ 19.45 hrs

       c.    ADAS  and  DEFRA meeting on waste regs. Ardingly  09/02 19.30 hrs

       d.    Countryside Alert meeting, The Holt,Chelsham  10/02  11.00 hrs

       e.    Parish Seminar (Cllr Marks to notify location & time) 28/02   

11.  Correspondence:

      a.     Letters had been received from three sources (including 7 letters from Mr O’Brien) and these would be answered by the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

12.  Any Other Business:

a.       Diary: February diary is to be produced by the Clerk.

b.      Election of Parish Councillors:  It was reported that two people had indicated an interest in standing for the June elections.   It was resolved that the PC  would advertise information for guidance of prospective new Councillors in the Woldingham Magazine for April and also the Parish Newsletter.

c.       Directional Signpost : Cllr Packington had written to SCC Highways about repairing the damaged signpost at the top of Slines Oak Road on The Green. This followed an earlier telephone call to SCC by the Chairman on the same matter.

d.      White Boundary Posts on The Green Cllr Packington had written to TDC Park Department asking them to arrange replacement posts for those damaged by the recent removal of the Beech Tree.

e.       Landscaping around village sign.  The area in front of the village name sign on Woldingham Road was recently landscaped and planted out ready for spring growth by Knights garden centre, the neighbouring householder and some volunteers.

f.        Damaged Flint Wall on Station Road. This item was inadvertently omitted from the reporting, but the Clerk should now write to Mr.Tucker of Whitewold House, Station Road concerning his front boundary wall which appears to have been struck by a vehicle damaging

stonework and destabilising the top of the wall which has now collapsed onto the pavement.

He should be advised to notify his Insurers prior to the completion of a necessary repair.

Meeting finished at 10.33pm

4 members of the public