Woldingham Parish
Council
MINUTES
of a Meeting held at the Village Hall, Woldingham on 25 March 2004 at
7.30 p.m.
Present: Jeff Jeffery
(Chairman); Maggie Bantick; Sheila Butcher; Colin Packington; Rodney
Fuller; Michael Batterbury; Jill Meekings
Also in attendance: Richard
Butcher part of the time
1. Apologies: Cllrs Marks and Johnson
2. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on the 26 February 2004had
been circulated and were signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject
to the following amendment:
Pg 49: Change Steven Biegal to Stephen Weigel
3. Declarations of Interest: No declarations of interest.
4. Matters arising:
No matters arising
5. Planning Matters:
a. 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.
-
14 The Crescent:
The Chairman asked whether a meeting should be set up with
the applicants to discuss the parking.
b.
Appeals:
Current
a.
Springfield, off Bridleway 92 – Documents have been sent off in triplicate.
The Parish Council would like to give its thanks to the resident who made
the £60 grant towards the costs. The Parish Council had agreed at a previous
meeting to meet the costs up to £200.
b.
Gable Cottage, Station
Road – informal hearing
c.
The Warren,
Butlers Dene Road
d.
12 Welcome Cottages
Cllr Batterbury asked that thanks be given to Cllrs Packington and Meekings
for all their hard work with regard to the Park Mews Appeal. The Parish
Council would also like to acknowledge thanks to Mrs Burgess Winning.
Cllr Bantick advised that a meeting had taken place with the proposed
developer of Hurst Place
on 3 March 2004. The Parish Council has been supplied with another set
of plans and the developer has requested another meeting which the Parish
Council has declined and has suggested that an application is now submitted.
Cllr Bantick asked the Chairman what the situation was with Holmwood.
The Chairman advised that he had been in contact with the WA and not much
progress has been made to-date. Following the WA AGM on 26 March some
more information should be available. Action: The chairman
c. Infringements:
Cllr Packington advised that at the last meeting it was agreed that he
should write a letter to Stephen Weigel, which was passed over to Mr Evans
to respond to the Parish Council’s complaint. Mr Evans has invited the
Parish Council to a meeting with Mr Lawrence and his team and it was agreed
that the Council would take up the offer of a meeting with a written agenda.
Cllr Meekings suggested we should ask for Mr Evans to attend the meeting
also due to the importance of it.
Cllr Packington advised the meeting that he felt it would be beneficial
for the Parish Council to keep a regular diary record of site visits:
who was visited, what the problems are, what action will be taken and
when. Cllr Packington mentioned that it will help TDC to stop falling
into traps and failing to carry out their obligations as we are constantly
going over the same ground and keep going around in circles. A response
will be drawn up at the next Planning Meeting.
6. Finance:
a. Payments: The payments as Appendix
B were signed and approved.
b. Grants: The Chairman advised
the meeting that a formal vote had not been taken with regard to the £2,000
grant to St. Agathas Churchyard. A letter has been sent explaining that
the grant monies are to help towards the upgrading of the paths to hard
standing status in the interests of Health and Safety. The Parish Council
has also advised that they believe the Diocese should contribute
to this item as it would apply to all churches with loose gravel paths
and we understand the initiative did come from them. The formal vote
was taken and the £2,000 grant approved. The payment will be made after
April 2004 when the new precept has been received.
7. Highways & Rights
of Way:
- Highways Monitoring and Reporting:
Cllr Fuller reported that he had received only
one road report this month. Cllr Fuller advised that he had spoken
to Charlie Marsh, Highways about the problems in Butlers
Dene Road who mentioned that he had been
speaking to Cllr Marks about it. Cllr Marks had distributed an e-mail
to all Cllrs about the legality of Butlers
Dene Road and the Chairman will speak to
Cllr Marksto clarify the position. Action:
Chairman to speak to Cllr Marks
Electricity Board: Cllr Fuller advised that he had drafted a
letter for the Clerk to send which is asking for the hedge to be cut down
to a height of 1m. As Cllr Fuller had advised the meeting that the safety
details on the site were out of date the Chairman asked that the letter
was amended to ask for the Health & Safety list to be up-dated.
Action: Clerk to amend and send letter
- Crescent: The Chairman advised that we had received
notification of receipt from Charlie Marsh with regard to the letter
sent on 16 March re the proposed repaving of the footpaths. Cllr Batterbury
advised that it is a question of arranging a meeting with Charlie Marsh
to move forward as per the details in the letter of the 16 March. The
Chairman advised that there was three items, which need to be discussed
with regard to The Crescent and The Service Road. Cllr Packington confirmed
that he had seen Charlie Marsh inspecting the pavements in The Crescent.
- Service Road: Cllr Packington advised that
he had spoken to Mr Taylor at Hedleys with regard to obtaining a VAT
invoice for the Parish Council accounts. Mr Taylor has promised that
a VAT invoice will be issued in the next few days. Cllr Packington
advised that he had had a meeting with Charlie Marsh who was very helpful
and they walked the length of the service road together. Cllr Packington
will up-date the Crescent/Service Group at the next meeting of that
Group and mentioned that drainage and access need to be discussed.
- Footpaths & Bridleways: Nothing to report
- North Downs
Golf Club Parking: The Chairman advised that a meeting had taken place
on Thursday
18 March with David Cable, Vice Captain to discuss parking and the area
around Boult’s Seat. The Chairman mentioned that the Golf Club
is having great success in stopping the parking in the narrow end near
the bus stop by putting in the posts. The Club has attached the Police
letter to all of the cars, which advised that they could prosecute any
driver parking on the verge. The Chairman confirmed that the Golf Club
are going ahead with doing the white crosshatching and Charlie Marsh
has agreed to pay half the costs. Further discussions took place in
using the parking area behind the Church and the Golf Club will look
into the availability of this and possibly opening up a the idea of
having an approach at the end of the fairway. The Chairman confirmed
that the area around Boults Seat will be tidied up by the Groundsman.
8. Reports:
a. Local Strategic Partnership 28/2: Chairman and Cllr Marks
attended. The Chairman advised that it was looking at the way forward at TDC and closer
working with Parish Councils.
9. Miscellaneous Matters:
- Airports: In Cllr Johnson’ absence nothing
to report. The Chairman mentioned that he had heard that Redhill Airport
was up for sale.
- Village Appraisal: Nothing to report
- Web Site: Cllr Meekings advised that the
technical problems have now been resolved. The domain name (www.woldingham.com) is due for renewal
in the next few weeks. This will be renewed for a further 5 years
(cost inclusive of VAT is £53).
- Village Design Statement: The Chairman confirmed that he had passed his draft copy to Cllr Marks.
- Viewpoint on the Ridge: The Chairman confirmed
that work will start on the viewpoint on 15-17, 22-23, 27-29 and
30 June. The Chairman advised that a noticeboard and some seats
will be put up. The Chairman expressed concern about the amount
of rubbish that is dumped there and mentioned that maybe TDC could
be contacted to provide a skip for its removal.
- Newsletter: The
Chairman asked for all items from Councillors to be in by 14 April
and the next newsletter will be issued on 1st May to
coincide with the Annual Parish Meeting on May 20. The Chairman
asked that all Cllrs give a 3 minute presentation at the AGM.
- Recyling:
The Chairman handed Cllr Batterbury a letter which was received
from SCC offering “an Interactive Workshop on Waste in Surrey.”
Cllr Batterbury advised that most Woldingham Residents have large
gardens and cater for their own composting. It was suggested that
there would be little benefit in opening a communal recycling facility.
- Post Office: The Chairman advised
that a verbal agreement has been reached with the temporary postmistress,
no agreement has been signed as yet as the Chairman has asked to
see the temporary postmistresses contract. A vote was taken and
carried that the Parish Council would pay the rent from the 1st
April with the first payment at the end of the assuming the contract
is forthcoming and the agreement is signed. Otherwise the Parish
Council will have to reassess the situation. The Chairman confirmed that the rent would be paid retrospectively
at our monthly council meetings.
- Station Parking: Cllr Meekings advised
that she had received no response from the letter written in December
to the District Station Manager the Chairman asked for a follow
up letter to be written as no telephone number is available. Cllr
Meekings advised that she had been to look parking at, and in the
vicinity of, all local stations. There is little difference in
charges scale for the Tandridge Car Parks at Woldingham and Upper
Warlingham (opposite the fish shop). She advised that
the latter has more bands for parking ie. 0-1 hr, 2-3hrs etc. The
important fact to note is that all car parks are almost full. Woldingham
is an attractive place to park because of the free (Church Road) and 50p car park. The
most practical solution to free up space for shoppers after 9.30
a.m. is to increase the charge in the 50p car park. This will have
an adverse impact on all commuters (including Woldingham residents)
and may lead to further parking down Church
Road or elsewhere. We have to consider
whether these effects are desirable.
- Woodlea School Parking: The Chairman read out a letter
received from Sue Woolacott in response to the Parish Council’s
letter re parking and read out the example of actions taken with
regard to the parking problems. Cllr Meekings suggested reports
on both school and station parking are included in the next newsletter.
- Risk Assessment: Nothing to report and will be taken off the
agenda.
- ESPLG: The Chairman advised
that the next ESPLG will be taking place on Wednesday 31 March and
that the agenda and attendees list had been e-mailed to all Cllrs.
- Litterpick: A litterpick
has been arranged for Saturday 10 April. Residents are to be asked
to meet at 10am on the Green for specific roads and areas to be
allocated.
- AGM: The Chairman confirmed that the AGM will be on Thursday
20 May and asked for Cllrs to e-mail the Clerk which people they
wish to be invited.
- Elections: The Chairman confirmed that
no forms had been received as yet but the Clerk had e-mailed to
all Cllrs the timetable.
- Road Group: The Chairman confirmed that a meeting will be held on 8
April and it was publicised in last week’s Surrey Mirror. The Chairman
advised that a letter had been received from Chelsham and Farleigh
Parish Council asking if we would like to join forces with regard
to the “unsuitability of local lanes”. The Chairman advised that
this will be put to the Road Group.
10. Meetings to attend
- AGM
Oxted and Limpsfield 31/3 – clashes with ESPLG
- WA
liaison meeting 31/3
11. Correspondence:
a.
Mr
J O’Brien x 2 contents made known to meeting
12. Any Other Business:
a.
Diary: April diary was passed around
for all Councillors to complete.
b.
On behalf of Cllr Johnson The Chairman mentioned
that Cllr Johnson felt a Parish Council photograph should be taken
for the archives. The Chairman will ask Mrs Jeffery to take the photograph.
c.
Cllr Meekings mentioned the problems she and a
few residents are having with the new postal delivery arrangements
and asked whether the Parish Council could write to the Post Office
on behalf of the village. The Chairman said that at the moment we
will give the benefit of the doubt to the Post Office that they are
having teething problems but if the situation continues then the Parish
Council will review.
Meeting finished at 10.50pm
|
