Woldingham Parish Council

MINUTES of a Meeting held at the Village Hall, Woldingham on 28 April 2005 at 7.30 p.m.                                           

Present:           Jeff Jeffery; Colin Packington; Julie Moylan; Bobby Johnson; Michael Batterbury; Maggie Bantick; Sally Marks; Jill Meekings; Rodney Fuller

Also in attendance:     Karen Newman – The Clerk;    Richard Butcher - part of the time

 1. Apologies: none

 2. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on the 31 March 2005 had been circulated and were signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

 5a. Contact details of residents who might wish to be more actively involved in community matters.

 Cllr Marks questioned whether Infringements should be included in the minutes as they contain personal information.  A vote was taken and carried not to list all the infringements and just to say that various infringements were discussed.

 3. Declarations of Interest: No declarations of interest.

 4. Matters arising: No matters arising.

 5.  Planning Matters:

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

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

c.      Roseacre, Station Road - date not yet announced

 Cllr Bantick advised that a meeting needs to be arranged with Colin Ray of TDC to discuss details of Cherrys, High Drive appeal. Cllr Bantick also advised that Hill Top Walk had been dismissed and she had received correspondence from 02 re a mobile communications base station on Church Road which she is looking into.

 Hurst Place: Cllr Moylan advised that the representatives of Hurst Place had employed a very aggressive barrister who was armed with all the information.  Cllrs Moylan and Packington expressed their concerns at the weakness of the Tandridge presentation and questioning in the afternoon session.  Cllr Marks and Meekings asked for a letter to be written expressing the Parish Council’s dismay at these facts and that it should be sent before results were known.  Cllr Butcher suggested that the Chairman telephoned Bob Evans in the first instance.  The Chairman proposed that he would call Bob Evans this time then if it happens again a formal letter would be sent.  A vote was taken and carried for a formal letter to be written.  Cllr Bantick asked Cllrs Moylan and Packington to write down their concerns in order for her to incorporate into the letter.  Cllr Bantick will draft and seek agreement on letter before it is sent to Bob Evans. Action: Cllr Bantick to draft letter

 The Chairman had requested the plans re 14 The Crescent as he was concerned about the line of the start of the rendering which he felt looked very high.  The Chairman advised that he will look at the plans and compare with what is being built.

 Cllr Bantick expressed her thanks to Cllr Johnson for all her hard work whilst she had been away.

Infringements: Cllr Packington read through the Infringement report which had been circulated to all Councillors before the meeting.  Various infringements were discussed.

 Local Development Framework: nothing to report.

6.  Finance:

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

b.      2004/2005 Accounts: The Chairman advised that the internally audited accounts had now been produced and these had been circulated to all Councillors before the meeting.  A vote was taken and carried to approve the accounts which were then signed by the Chairman and Clerk as a correct record.

7.  Highways & Rights of Way:

a.   Highways Monitoring and Reporting:  Cllr Fuller advised that he had received one report this month. The Chairman advised the meeting that he is meeting up with the new engineer from Highways Department on the 17 May to discuss the matters that had been raised in last months letter.

 Cllr Marks advised that the pot holes had been filled in Lunghurst Road and that the contractor will be looking into the white lining on Slines Oak Road.

 Cllr Batterbury again expressed concern over cars parking on the pavement in the Crescent and the Chairman invited him to meet with Highways on the 17 May to express his concerns.

 b.         Crescent: Nothing to report.

c. Service Road: Cllr Packington advised that he had received 3 tenders for resurfacing of the Service Road and asked for the Council’s permission to instruct the lower tender to go ahead on Tuesday 2 May 2005.  Cllr Packington advised that the cost will be in the region of £39,000 and reported that he had been contacted by 2 landowners with concerns about access whilst the road is being resurfaced.  Cllr Packington advised that the new road surfacing will be reinforced and confirmed that the car park at the Tennis Club is excluded.  Cllr Packington confirmed that the work will take place in 3 sections over a six week period: Scout hut to garage, drainage adjacent to tennis club car park and then the tarmac section behind Garage which will be reinforced with concrete kerbing.

 Cllr Packington asked the Council if he could draft a letter for the Clerk to send to the contractor confirming works on Tuesday 2 May.  Cllr Batterbury asked for a formal contract to be drawn up which Cllr Packington will put in place.

 Cllr Meekings questioned whether the Service Road Group had worked out how the monies are to be charged back and Cllr Packington advised that this is in the hands of the solicitor and will contact him to ask him to speed up enquiries. 

 Cllr Meekings suggested that Cllr Johnson, with her finance background works alongside Cllr Packington on  the financial side.

 Cllr Marks proposed that the work goes ahead on Tuesday 2 May with the Parish Council looking into the matter of the legal advice on recharging the monies back.  A vote was taken and carried for the works to go ahead. 

 c.         Footpaths & Bridleways: The Chairman read out a letter received from Strutt & Parker who represent Titsey Estates the landowners of Bridleway 92 with regard to the amount of rubbish and fly tipping along the bridleway.  The Chairman proposed that a meeting be set up between the agents of Titsey and Compton Estates and Phillippa Gates of Bridleways to discuss the problem.      Action: Chairman to arrange meeting with Agents and Bridleways

Cllr Fuller advised that he has put in an application re resurfacing the footpath in Slines Oak Road to the bottom of BW92.

8.  Reports:

a.   South East Plan: Cllr Packington advised that the meeting was attended mainly by Parish Councils from the west of the district and Woldingham Parish Council was the only representative from the East.  Cllr Packington advised that SCAPT had asked for Parish Council to send letters to SEERA, SEEDA, CPRE and SCAPT voicing their concerns and confirmed that these had been sent by the Clerk.  Cllr Moylan advised that Tandridge’s response was very detailed.

b.   Chesham & Farleigh AGM: Cllr Meekings and Packington attended - nothing to report.

c.    Road Group Meeting: The Chairman advised that several solutions had been discussed for the problem junctions in the village and that changes had been suggested to the speed limits within the village, he will be marking these options on the local road map as well as listing the various options available.  The road map will be on display at the APM asking for comments and an article will be placed in the next newsletter.  The Chairman confirmed that he had received a copy of the report on usage and speed on the five roads that had been targeted in the Village. Seperately the village CPSO had been checking on speeds and advised that many of the people speeding were Woldingham residents.

9.  Miscellaneous Matters:

a.      Airports: nothing to report.

b.      APM: The chairman advised that the agenda had now been agreed and will be e-mailed to all Councillors.

c.    Village Design: All Councillors were handed a photocopy of the document .  Cllr Johnson advised that the document will be made available on TDC’s website from 29 April - 16 June  for comments.  Cllr Johnson advised that she had written to Awards for All to put back the grant monies as the document will not go to the printers until after the Committee meeting in September.  Cllr Johnson gave thanks to Sue Edwards for all her hard work in producing the document.

d.      Viewpoint on the Ridge: The Chairman confirmed that the two seats and height barrier had been replaced.  The two seats have now been concreted into the ground and the rubbish has been cleared and taken away.  Cllr Marks gave thanks to Cllrs Packington and Jeffery for their hard work in clearing the rubbish.  The Chairman advised that the grant from SITA covered the VAT and asked for permission to spend the monies left on new seeding.  The Chairman confirmed that the viewpoint is going on Highways schedule for verge cutting.

 e.      Newsletter:  The Chairman advised that the newsletter was now ready and asked for volunteers to help with the stuffing and stamping of envelopes.  A time agreed as 12.30pm at Warren Barn Farm.  The Chairman thanked the Clerk for all her hard work in putting the newsletter together.

f.       Recycling: Cllr Batterbury advised that he has 20 green boxes and bags to give away on a first come first serve basis at the APM.  Cllr Meekings asked whether a letter could be sent to TDC complaining about the amount of rubbish left laying around after the general rubbish collection in Park View Rd . Action: Clerk to write letter

g.    Post Office: Chairman advised that the temporary post lady and her husband went for a interview to become a full post mistress, even though they were very knowledgeable they failed it is thought because the Parish Council pays the rent and they wouldn’t have the security of tenure.  The Parish Council expressed their concern over this and it was unanimously agreed that a letter be sent expressing the Parish Council’s disappointment at the Post Office’s attitude and seeking clarification on the position. Action: Chairman/Clerk to send letter

h.    Station Parking: Cllr Meekings reported that the new Council car park charges were a success and confirmed that more spaces and people were able to park after 9.30am.  Cllr Meekings advised that the parking lines and disabled bays had now been repainted in the Railway car park.  Station Parking will now be removed from the agenda.

i.       Road Group: reported above.

j.       Security:  The Chairman confirmed that the CCTV camera is still operational in Church Road.

k.      Woodlea Parking: The Chairman advised that the parking problems were progressing and that the School would be receiving a grant from the Safe Routes to Schools. 

l.       Trafalgar Day:  Cllr Packington advised that a Steering Committee had been formed but they were looking for other groups to join them and an invitation will be sent to the Parish Council of Chesham & Farleigh inviting them to join the committee.  The ideas put forward so far are: beacon, Trafalgar dinner, church service and asked whether the PC will be able to back the Steering Committee.  The Parish Council agreed to put £2,000 towards the fund and this will be listed separately on Appendex B.  Cllr Packington advised that the next meeting will take place on Monday 9 May at 7pm.

m.   Litterpick: Cllr Packington advised that the ‘leaders’ need to speak to the people in their teams asking them to walk along the roads and not to keep crossing the roads for safety.  Cllr Packington asked for people to make a note of where they have left their full rubbish bags so that these can be collected later in the day.

10. Meetings to attend: No meetings 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 May.

Meeting finished at 10.40 2 members of public present