Woldingham Parish Council

MINUTES of a Meeting held at Woldingham Village Hall, Woldingham on 27 March 2008 at 7.30pm.

Present: Michael Batterbury Colin Packington
Rodney Fuller Sally Marks
Bobby Johnson Julie Moylan
Jeff Jeffery Bill Williams

Karen Newman (Clerk)

It is with deep regret that the Council announced the death of its Chairman:

Gillian (Jill) Meekings, Chairman 2005 - 2008

In commencing the Meeting with one minutes silence to mark the passing of Jill the Council stood to recall in silence the service that she had given to the Village of Woldingham. First elected in 2000, her drive, enthusiasm and commitment to innovation has been a significant asset to the Council. Her keenness to be involved, though gravely ill, had been demonstrated until only a few weeks ago. She will be sorely missed by Council members and residents alike.

Election of a new Chairman: Cllr Packington proposed Cllr Bobby Johnson and was seconded by Cllr Batterbury. Cllr Johnson accepted the position and opened the meeting.

1. Apologies: None

2. Minutes.
The Minutes of the meeting held on the 28 February had been circulated and were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

3. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Packington - Forestridge
Cllr Johnson - Company Secretary of Woldingham Magazine
Cllr Marks - member of another authority Surrey County Council
Cllr Jeffery - Member of the Village Hall Committee
Cllr Fuller - Church Road Farm

4. Matters arising
The Action list was discussed and will be updated for the April meeting.

Slines Oak Island: Cllr Jeffery advised that no planting will take place until the daffodil bulbs have died.
Improved Signage: Cllr Jeffery advised that a new company had been approached and will report back at the April meeting.
Bus Stops: The Clerk advised that she had spoken to SCC and had been told that the request is in the queue to be done but there was a back-log and no time scale could be given. Cllr Marks to chase on behalf of the Parish Council.

5. Planning Matters:
A copy of Appendix A was circulated to all members at the beginning of the meeting. The two outstanding plans were looked at during the meeting - Church Road Farm and Hapstead. No objections. The Council voted to ratify the recommendations of the Planning Group.

Two plans were looked at during the meeting Church Road Farm and Hapstead - no objections.

b. Infringements: Cllr Packington read through the infringement report which had been circulated to all Councillors before the meeting.

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

7. Highways & Rights of Way:
a. Highways Monitoring and Reporting:
Cllr Fuller advised that he is still waiting to hear from Woldingham Golf Club re a date for a meeting to discuss the overgrown hedges.
Cllr Fuller to chase up Woldingham Golf Club.

Cllr Jeffery advised the meeting that there is a dead beech tree near the view point at the Ridge and Cllr Fuller will contact Highways.
Cllr Fuller to contact Highways re dead beech tree

8. Reports:
New Cllr Meeting: The Chairman reported that the meeting went well and all attendees had been advised of the election process. It was now a matter of waiting to see who will submit their forms.

Woodlea Governors Meeting: Cllr Jeffery advised that himself and Cllr Marks had attended the meeting and had raised the ideas previously put forward to the Head teacher Judith Croft. Cllr Jeffery reported that the idea of a drop of point on the land owned by Craigmyle Glebe was fully supported by the Chairman of Governors. Cllr Jeffery did advise the meeting that the Parish Council would assist with funding. One idea the school was considering was a drop of circle in the school grounds but Ms Croft was not happy about the loss of land. Cllr Marks asked Ms Croft to reconsider as The Glebe were willing to loose part of their land to form a drop off area. The Chairman asked the Clerk to chase the minutes of the meeting.
The Clerk to chase minutes of the meeting.

9. Miscellaneous Matters:
a. Airports: Cllr Batterbury summarised the email from Alan Simmonds which he will forward to all Cllrs.
b. Station Car Parking: Cllr Packington advised that he had surveyed the land and White & Son had been approached to look at the land for valuation purposes. Cllr Packington asked if the Parish Council wished to go further but the Chairman advised that the Council really needs to see whether planning permission would be granted. It was agreed that Cllr Williams would draft a letter to TDC asking them to provide car parking facilities and the finance to go with it.
Cllr Williams to draft letter to TDC
c. School Parking: Covered above.
d. Improved signage: Covered above.
e. Speedwatch Cllr Jeffery advised that more people are going out now that the weather is warmer and it is working well.

f. Newsletter: The Chairman advised that she was still waiting for 2 articles and asked for these to be emailed to her as soon as possible.
g. Village Event: Cllr Moylan advised that she is waiting to hear from the Village Club whether they are going to provide refreshments on the day and a ½ page advertisement will be going out shortly.
h. Insurance: Cllr Packington advised that he had been sent the up-to-date schedule as requested by the Clerk and handed it to the Clerk for safe keeping. Cllr Packington also advised the Council that each Councillors will be covered by insurance if an overlap happens when the new Council comes into force.
i. Post Office: Cllr Jeffery advised that the PO is safe at the moment but it is not reaching its turnover and people need to use it or in the next round of cuts the Village will loose it.
j. APM: The Chairman advised that Ray Watson had agreed to come and speak on behalf of Flightpath.
k. May Elections: The Chairman asked the Clerk to speak to TDC re the publication of Persons nomination.
Clerk to speak to TDC.
l. WAG: The Chairman had emailed to all Cllrs before the meeting a copy of the Petition that had been drawn up by the WA. The Chairman advised that a liaison meeting was need to discuss the petition and a meeting was agreed for Friday 4 April at 9am.

10. Meetings to attend:
LORD - April 1 - Cllrs Williams and Batterbury to attend
Land r/o Gable Cottage - April 8th - Cllr Batterbury

11. Correspondence:
Correspondence received during the month was circulated to all Councillors during the meeting.

12. Any Other Business:
a. Diary: All Councillors completed diary dates for April 2008.
b. Cllr Marks advised that concessionary bus fares for the over 60's was coming into force after 9am.
c. Cllr Marks advised that mechanical diggers, as part of the annual drain maintenance scheme, had been organised to assist with alleviating the flooding at Bug Hill junction.
d. Cllr Packington advised the meeting that George Pysden, who had commissioned the Parish Council's notice board had passed away.

Meeting ended at 9.20
8 members of the public present part of the time