MINUTES of a Meeting held at the Village Hall, Woldingham on 24 February 2005 at 7.30 p.m.                                           

Present:           Jeff Jeffery (Chairman); Sally Marks; Julie Moylan; Bobby Johnson; Michael Batterbury; Maggie Bantick; Jill Meekings; Bobby Johnson; Rodney Fuller

Also in attendance:     Karen Newman – The Clerk

1. Apologies: Cllr Packington, District Cllr Richard Butcher

2. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on the 27 January 2005 had been circulated and were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

3. Declarations of Interest: No declarations of interest.

4. Matters arising: No matters arising.

5.  Planning Matters:

a.      A copy of Appendix A had been circulated to all members before the meeting and the Council voted to ratify the recommendations of the Planning Group.

Appeals:

Current

a.      Land adj Ferrers, Lunghurst Road, dismissed.

b.      Land r/o Cherrys, High Drive - hearing 10 May 05.

c.      Hurst Place, Woldingham Road - hearing 19 April 05.

d.      Land r/o Gable Cottage, station Road - date not yet announced

e.      Fortaleza, Lunghurst Road - response by 4.3.05

The Chairman advised the meeting that he had written to Mr Evans concerning pre planning application advice and placed a copy of the reply in the correspondence file for all Councillors to read.

Cllr Bantick mentioned that she had received a letter from Mrs Dunn expressing concern that the planning application for freyafell had been granted.

Cllr Bantick expressed that she was concerned at the size of the station hoarding and it was agreed that she would draft a letter for the Clerk to send.

Infringements:

In Cllr Packington’s absence he had e-mailed to all Councillors beforehand the responses received from Mr Lawrence.  (Mr Lawrence’s responses are in blue italics)

Mr.Drea's Property on BW92

Has the overdue enforcement notice been served on Mr.Drea? - requisitions only just returned and solicitor requests site visit to clarify and verify breaches, especially status of recently erected "stables" as operational development.

Park Mews, Marden

What is the current position in respect of the Court proceedings? - owner has elected for trial in Crown Court on a date still to be arranged.  

Whistlers Steep, Chalk Pit Lane.

You have not responded to my question concerning the reasons for lack of progress on this site. - land ownership enquiries by solicitor proving inconclusive to enable service of Notices to proceed.

Hurst Place, Woldingham Road.

Mr.Barks informed me that the Owner was intending to complete his security lighting around the site and that some shading would be affixed to the current bulkhead fittings to form downlighters. No work at all has been carried out on these items. - owner indicated that he was thinking of approaching local residents but we have no knowledge of any discussions or agreements and do not regard security lighting on the building as being subject to planning control or influence.

Chartwood, Station Road

Have your enquiries made any advance on the matter of the domestic occupation of an outbuilding? - annexe temporarily occupied whilst main house being renovated. Although enforcement notice against use as a separate dwelling remains in force current ancillary occupation not regarded as a material change of use or breach.

Roseacre, Station Road.

Have enforcement proceedings been instituted on this site, as last reported no Appeal had been lodged against the Planning Refusal. The immediate Neighbours have reported additional variations in design on the Southerly boundary, the significance of which is not yet fully appreciated but will require an on site inspection - not yet; developer seeking Counsel's opinion challenging validity of original condition withdrawing PD rights and solicitor advises to wait until advice received as this may affect Council's action against dormers. Appeal now received against refusal of permission and I hope that it will still be possible to pursue enforcement action in the same time frame. No knowledge of any further significant variations - please clarify concerns in order to inform any further site visit.

c. Local Development Framework: nothing to report.

6.  Finance:

a.      Payments: The payments as Appendix B were signed and approved.

b.     Clerk‘s Computer: The Chairman advised that at the last meeting is was agreed that the Parish Council would contribute towards the Clerk’s computer and a sum of £530 had been agreed by e-mail.  A vote was taken and carried to pay the Clerk the agreed sum towards a new computer.

7.  Highways & Rights of Way:

a.         Highways Monitoring and Reporting:  Cllr Fuller advised that he had received no reports but mentioned that he had been in contact with the Highway Engineers with regard to feedback as raised by Cllr Packington in January’s meeting.

Cllr Johnson advised that she is attending a Road Meeting re her part of Butlers Dene Road and mentioned that she will be asked what the situation is with the other part of Butlers Dene Road.  Cllr Fuller confirmed that Highways had written to the residents concerned and the residents had repaired the pot holes but it was agreed that they were not up to standard.  A further letter will be sent to Highways expressing concern over the repairing of the potholes and that the road markings are not visible.

b.         Crescent: Nothing to report.

            Service Road:

            a) Letter of Instruction issued to Hedleys, Solicitors, to make further enquiries in connection with access status of each property bordering Service Road.

            b) Removal of light debris and deposited rubbish removed to dump.

            c) Removal of small sapling trees completed.

            d) Letter issued to all Landowners and Tenants of the Crescent informing them of tree removal and further works. No comments received by given contact name.

            e) The removal of the large Sycamore tree by Caterham Tree Surgeons instructed and expected by end of the month.

            Anticipated action in March:-

            i) Discussion with Contractor on timings and procedure for the work

            ii) Subject to a) above, issue of informative letter to Landlords & Tenants concerning major works and costs.

c.         Footpaths & Bridleways: Nothing to report.. 

d.         Road Sweeping Schedule: Cllr Moylan mentioned that she had spoken re Lunghurst Road and was advised that there are no trees on Surrey Highways verges in Lunghurst Road.  All the trees are on boundaries of private properties.  Cllr Moyland advised that on the Tandridge web site you can check when your road is next due to be swept.  

8.  Miscellaneous Matters:

a.      Airports: The Chairman advised that he had e-mailed all Cllrs that the Draft Master Plan for Biggin Hill Airport Development has been issued and an article will be going in the next newsletter.  The document will be on the planning notice board for public reference following distribution of newsletter. 

b.      Village Appraisal: Nothing to report.

c.      Village Design: The Chairman advised that Cllr Batterbury had resigned from the group and Cllr Meekings will be taking his place. 

d.      Viewpoint on the Ridge: The Chairman advised that he had contacted Surrey Highways to ask whether the BT contractors would be held responsible for the damage on site.

e.      Newsletter:  The Chairman advised that Cllr Batterbury had resigned as editor of the current newsletter and that he and the Clerk had taken over the final stages of production. He advised that he was looking to go to print on Monday and asked for volunteers re stuffing and stamping of envelopes.  The Chairman asked whether he could have permission to use 1^st class stamps due to the date of the Bromley Council Meeting.   A vote was taken and carried.                                                                   

f.       Recyling: Cllr Batterbury advised that he is doing an article to go in the next newsletter.

g.     Post Office: The Chairman advised that the Postmistresses had not yet received her new contract from the Post Office and that the new lease for the shop is being re-negotiated for June.

h.     Station Parking: The Clerk was asked to chase up a copy of the ratification re the parking amendments which went to full council on 16 February.

i.       Road Group: The Chairman advised that the next meeting will take place on the 3/3. now that SCC are going ahead with their investigations on speed. 

j.       Security:  Cllr Johnson mentioned that the Neighbourhood Watch is running very well and the Parish Council felt that the combination of Neighbourhood Watch and the PCSO Kia are making residents more aware of security within the village.

k.     Woodlea Parking: The Clerk was requested to contact Sue Woollacott to get an update on the situation.

l.       Trafalgar Day:  Cllr Packington has received a Brochure from the Government Quango responsible for these celebrations Nationally, with hints and suggestions for how Villages etc may celebrate the event.

            This brochure is available to all on the web, please go to www.trafalgarweekend.co.uk and either read insitu or download for printing out.

            The first committee meeting will be held at 2.30 on Wednesday 2/3 at Warren Barn Farm.              

 M.   Meeting Room: The Chairman mentioned that a number of group meetings are being held at Warren Barn Farm and feels that a payment to cover heating and lighting expenses should be made.  It was agreed that a sum of £5 would be payable on receipt of an invoice.

10. Meetings to attend

a.   Limpsfield and Oxted AGM - 16/3 - no one to attend

11.  Correspondence: The Correspondence folder for the month was circulated to all Councillors during the meeting. 

12.  Any Other Business:

a.         Diary: All Councillors completed diary dates for March.

Meeting finished at 9.45pm

2 members of public present

 
APPENDIX B

WOLDINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

February 2005

Gold Account

Balance as at February 23 2005                               £27,643.98

Savings Account

Karen Newman Wages & Expenses                             £978.90

Including payment of £530 towards new

PC

Village Hall - January                                                    £36.45

Village Hall - February                                                   £12.15

Viking Direct - stationery                                            £138.68

Caterforce                                                                   £411.25

Expenses for the month                                            £1,577.43

Balance as at February 23 2005                                 £9,254.91

Village Design Account

Balance as at February 23 2005                                 £3,648.72