Woldingham
Parish Council
MINUTES
of a Meeting held at the Village Hall, Woldingham on 27 May 2004 at
7.30 p.m.
Present: Jeff Jeffery
(Chairman); Maggie Bantick;
Sheila Butcher; Colin Packington; Rodney Fuller; Michael
Batterbury; Sally Marks
Also in attendance: Karen
Newman – The Clerk and Richard Butcher part of the time
1.
Apologies: Cllrs
Meekings and Johnson
2. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on the 29 April 2004 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:
- 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. Cllr Marks abstained.
With regard to the Health Centre at Warlingham the Council
was advised that the Chairman of Warlingham Parish Council would be
keeping the Council informed.
Appeals: Current
a.
Springfield, off Bridleway 92 x 2 – Public Enquiry 27 July 2004
b.
Gable Cottage, Station
Road – Informal
hearing 21 September 2004
c.
Land adj. Ferrers, Lunghurst
Road – Informal hearing 30 November 2004
Infringements:
Cllr Packington advised that in the last minutes he had been asked to
write again to Mr Weigel but advised that he had written to Mr Evans and
has now received an appointment date. Cllr Packington confirmed that
during the month he had received two letters from TDC. One letter was
concerning Whitewold House and the second letter was in response to Cllr
Packington’s letter requesting timescale for Park Mews. Cllr Packington
advised that it was a ‘strange’ letter and read out the letter to the
meeting. The Chairman asked Cllr Packington to write back immediately
and ask for clarification when the 3 months started, as it should be from
the date of the Inspector’s decision and not from now as stated in the
letter. Action: Cllr Packington to write to
TDC asking for timescale clarification
Cllr Batterbury mentioned that the Parish Council should be prepared
for the meeting with Mr Evans and Cllr Packington confirmed that an agenda
is in place. Cllr Marks queried Whistlers Steep and Wapses Lodge and
Cllr Packington confirmed that these would all be brought up at the meeting.
6. Finance:
- Payments: The payments
as Appendix B were signed and approved.
- Cllr Packington advised that he had received the
yearly insurance premium request from Cornhill and asked for
a cheque to be raised in the sum of £449.83. Cllr Packington confirmed
that he has written to Cornhill Insurance about the recommendations
the Internal Auditor raised; reversing the order of Fidelity guarantee,
adding the value of the park benches and submitting the Health Certificates
where they apply. Cllr Packington also advised that he had mentioned
that Cornhill would issue a form concerning the new service road and
confirmed that he has received 5 pages. Cllr Packington
had looked into why our Insurance covered two noticeboards and confirmed
that it was easier for the WA to pay us a premium, which they had done
so last year and a payment request for £11 needs to be issued for this
year’s premium. The Chairman confirmed that he had spoken to the Park’s
Deparment who agreed that the pavement area in the Crescent was covered
by their insurance.
c.
Draft Accounts: Copies of the amended
accounts were circulated at the meeting. The Chairman asked whether all
Councillors were happy for the Accounts to be signed and a vote was taken
and carried. The Chairman and Clerk signed off the 2003-2004 Accounts.
The Chairman expressed the Councils thanks to Clifford Catt the Internal
Auditor for all his hard work, which was very much appreciated and advised
that he has purchased a bottle of Champagne.
7. Highways & Rights of Way:
- Highways Monitoring and Reporting: The
Chairman advised that a letter had been received from the Electricity
Board and the details will be passed to Cllr Fuller to follow up. The
Chairman also advised that the footpath by the station the hedge is
over-hanging the fence by a large amount and asked for a standard letter
to be sent to The Lodge in Woldingham
Road. Cllr Fuller reported that he had received
two road reports from Cllr Packington and Cllr Johnson.
Cllr Marks advised that she has been pressing Charlie Marsh with
regard to sending letters re Butlers Dene Road
and confirmed that this letter will be sent out very soon.
Cllr Marks advised that ‘Community Gangs’ have been set up to work
in conjunction with Parish Councils, which will be like a rapid response
team and will be going around each area where they will be working
for 4-5 days.
- Crescent/Service Road: Cllr Batterbury
confirmed that sample paving blocks had been laid in The Crescent and
advised that they had received one favourable comment at the Public
Meeting. Cllr Batterbury advised that the pressure was now on to speak
to the owners of the Crescent re the cost implications. The Chairman
advised that the old Post Office site has now been sold at Auction and
that he will write to the Auctioneers c/o the Agents to see if we can
find out who has purchased the site. The Chairman advised the new tree
planted opposite the old post office site has had the top snapped off.
Cllr Packington advised that a Schedule of Works has been drawn up re
the Service Road. Cllr Packington suggested that he would speak to
John Cox of the Glebe informing him of the true ownership of the Service
Road and will then invite 3 quotations for the works. Cllr Marks asked
for thanks to be given to Cllr Packington for all his hard work over
the past 21/2 years with regard to the Service Road.
- Footpaths & Bridleways: Cllr Packington
reported that he had written to Oliver Graham who had invited Cllr Packington
to go and talk to him. Cllr Packington advised that this is an extremely
sensitive matter when a landowner finds the whole of his garden is now
commonland. Mr Graham showed Cllr Packington a file containing 3 years
worth of correspondence and asked Cllr Packington to research giving
him the references and the number of the Countryside Agency’s department
in Redhill. Cllr Packington was advised that there was just one man
who could answer his questions in Cheltenham.
After ten days Cllr Packington managed to speak to him and he confirmed
that the narrative Cllr Packington had prepared was correct. Cllr Packington
advised that he hoped in the next few weeks there will be a smooth transfer
and will update at the June meeting.
- North Downs Golf Club Parking: It was agreed
that the hatching on the road and the reflector poles are doing their
job and the item will now be dropped from the agenda.
8. Reports:
a.
Newcomers Meeting: The Chairman advised that himself and Cllr
Meekings attended and said it was a good meeting although there were more
Villagers than newcomers.
b.
WA/PC: The Chairman advised that the minutes had been circulated.
c.
Tatsfield AGM: The Chairman advised that he had attended.
9. Miscellaneous Matters:
- Airports: The Chairman advised that it
had been found out that the Parish Council was not a member of Flightpath
as previously thought. The relevant paperwork has been requested to
enable us to join. Flightpath’s meeting was on the same night as the
Parish Council and a member from the Woldingham Assocation would represent
and report back. In the absence of Cllr Johnson there was nothing else
to report.
- Village Appraisal: In Cllr Meekings absence there was
nothing to report
- Web Site: In Cllr Meekings absence there
was nothing to report
- Village Design Statement: In Cllr Johnson absence there was nothing to report.
- Viewpoint on the Ridge:
The Chairman confirmed
that the work was still going ahead on the 15-17, 22-23, 27-29 and 30
June. The Chairman mentioned that a 60ft Beach Tree was dead between
the Road and the Viewpoint and that he had had a meeting with the Downlands
Trust who felt the Tree came under the responsibility of Surrey Highways
– who they will contact.
- Newsletter: The Chairman
asked the Clerk to investigate the cost of sending the newsletter through
the post office bulk delivery service.
- Recyling:
The Chairman asked Cllr Batterbury to liaise with Martin Barnett. Cllr
Marks asked whether details of the ‘can crusher’ could go on the website
and in the next newsletter.
- Post Office: The Chairman advised that the contract for the
temporary Postmistress has still not been received but a third person
has been trained. The Chairman advised that the Shop is not doing very
well with takings down 30% on this time last year. The lease is up
next year and if the shop goes so will the post office.
- Station Parking: The Chairman advised that
Cllr Meekings is looking into another idea, which has been suggested
by a resident and will report back at the next meeting.
- Litterpick: Cllr Packington
produced a catalogue of ‘reflective outdoor wear’ and it was agreed
that the Parish Council would purchase 20 tabards in time for the next
litterpick at a cost of £170. Cllr Marks confirmed that she is able
to borrow 20 reflective jackets from Carillion. The next litterpick
will be on September 11. The item will be removed from the agenda.
- APM:
The Chairman thanked everyone for their efforts and advised that he
felt the AGM had run very well and the speakers were very informative.
Cllr Marks expressed her thanks to Mrs Jeffery and Packington for all
their hard work with regard to providing the food.
- Elections: Cllr Butcher would not
be seeking re-election and the Chairman thanked her for all her hard
work and the advice that she had been able to give the Council from
her years of experience at County level, this had helped considerably
over the past 4 years. The Chairman advised that as only 9 nominations
had been received there would be no election. Cllr Marks asked the
Clerk if she could investigate new councillor training for Julie Moylan
and also to purchase a ‘pink’ councillor book. The Chairman advised
that he had received a copy of the Woldingham Focus of the Liberal Democrats,
which states that the Liberal Democrats are working on the Parish Council
as well as at TDC. The Chairman confirmed with Mike Simpson that Woldingham
Parish Council was non-political and agreed that an apology would be
available for inclusion in the next newsletter. The text had been copied
in error from the Warlingham Focus.
- Road Group: The Chairman confirmed that a meeting with Charlie Marsh
had taken place. The next meeting will take place on 3/6 at 7.30pm at
the Village Hall. The Chairman confirmed that Chelsham and Farleigh
and Tatsfield are now on board and a recommendation has been put forward
to prepare a combined presentation from the three Parish Councils to
the next meeting of the Tandridge Local Committee calling for the Local
Transport Plan to be continued into the area north of the M25 as originally
planned and the investigation into speeds and road usage should commence
as soon as possible.
- WA information Packs: The
Chairman advised that as previously agreed the Parish Council will contribute
£650 towards the cost of the newcomers information packs. The Chairman
confirmed that the WA have agreed to help towards the costs of Springfield up to 25% and advised that
Chelsham & Farleigh could not and Oxted Parish Council have asked
for a letter to be sent explaining the situation.
10.
Meetings to attend
- Mr Evans/Lawrence Meeting at TDC 7/6 at 10am – Cllr
Packington, Batterbury, Bantick and the Chairman
- Planning Meeting 7/6 at 8pm
11. Correspondence:
a.
Win Normington
b.
Neila Penman – re Road Group
c.
Caroline Potter – Station Parking
d.
Kerry Boland – re excessive road noise on M25
12. Any Other Business:
a.
The Chairman advised that a thank you had been received
from the Scouts re the grant and on the 30/5 from 11am they are
asking for volunteers to help with the painting etc.
b.
Cllr Packington advised that David Knight had weeded under
the Millennium sign at that he had weeded Slines
Oak Road and the ridge sign has now been planted
out.
c.
Cllr Marks advised that she is pushing for the ‘street
furniture’ at Wapses Lodge to be replaced. Cllr Marks mentioned that
the hedge of Croft House is overhanging Croft and Lunghurst Road junction
and asked for a standard letter to be sent. Cllr Marks asked for thanks
to be minuted to Cllr Fuller for cutting back the hedges at the junction
on Limpsfield Road.
d.
Cllr Batterbury expressed the appreciation of all the
Councillors to both the present and past Chairman for all their hard work
and direction in leading the Council during the first four years.
e.
Similarly, the Chairman expressed his thanks to The
Clerk and to all Councillors for their work and support.
Diary: June diary was passed around for all Councillors
to complete.
Meeting finished at 10.37pm
Before the meeting Paul Newdick
TDC Head of Forward Planning gave a talk on future changes to the planning
system.
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