PRESENT: Mrs
S Whittington (Chair), Mrs P Warren, Mr J Collins, Mr P Holloway,
Mr P Howard,
Mr L Krause, Mr P Patten, and Mr A Rawlins
PARISH CLERK: Mrs J Batt
BOROUGH COUNCILLOR:
COUNTY COUNCILLOR: Mr R King
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: There were 2 Members of
the Public present at the start of the meeting.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr L Hughes arrived slightly late due to traffic problems and
offered his apologies for not staying for the meeting after agenda
item 3.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no Declarations of Interest
i) Updating of Declarations of Interest for the Code
of Conduct
The Clerk reminded Councillors that they should update their Declarations
of Interest
with the Monitoring Officer if necessary.
3. DISCUSSION WITH PAUL CARTER, LEADER OF KENT COUNTY
COUNCIL ON
ISSUES OF CONCERN TO MEMBERS OF HOTHFIELD PARISH COUNCIL
Mrs Whittington welcomed Mr Paul Carter, Leader of
Kent County Council and our County Councillor, Mr Richard
King, to the meeting.
There followed a 30 minute discussion on items of concern to the
members of Hothfield Parish Council.
Mr Carter and Mr King were very supportive and agreed that they
would meet and arrange meetings with other members of Kent County
Council as necessary to try and address these issues.
Mrs Whittington thanked Mr Carter and Mr King for attending the
meeting.
4. PUBLIC INTERVAL
The Members of the Public had left the meeting.
5. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Minutes 58 were accepted and it was unanimously agreed
that Mrs Whittington should sign them.
Minutes 59 of the Planning Committee Meeting held on 23 July 2007
were accepted and it was unanimously agreed that Mr Howard should
sign them
Proposed Mr Patten Seconded Mr Collins
6. MATTERS ARISING
Mrs Whittington has not received a reply to her letter
regarding Ashford Borough Council’s Lettings Policy. She said
she would contact them again.
The Clerk contacted ABC and asked for details of any land that had
been put forward for sale following the article in the Kentish Express
earlier in the year. She was told that the details would be released
in September and Councillors asked her to chase this up.
We have been contacted by Hollie Homes regarding their Planning
Application for the Old Kings Head. It appears that the officer
is minded to refuse permission, based on Policy RE2. Following discussion,
it was agreed that we should contact the Planning Department and
ask for the application to go to the Planning Committee, as the
Parish Council are very keen that permission is granted for development
on this site, as the application conforms with our Wish List in
which we asked for more A and B Category Housing in the Village.
Mr Patten said he would contact Mr Wallace and ask him to write
a letter of support and ask for it to go to the Planning Committee.
7. GENERAL COUNCIL BUSINESS
Crime and Disorder
We received an email from PC Smith in reply to our
letter regarding the fact that we did not get a response to a 999
call earlier in the year and to the problems we are experiencing
with quad bikes being ridden around Hothfield. The members of the
Parish Council were not happy with the response and it was agreed
to ask Councillor King to arrange for Ashford Borough Council,
our Rural Warden and our Village Police Officer to have an office
in the school, so that they are easily accessible to members of
the community.
Traffic Calming
This was discussed with Mr Carter.
Tidying of Village by Biffa
Mrs Whittington reported that she had met with Biffa
and toured the village. They quoted £168.20 to litter pick
School Road, Coach Drive, The Street and Park Drive.
Mr Holloway proposed that Mrs Whittington asks them to do this for
a 6 month trial period to see how it improves the appearance of
the Village. Seconded by Mr Krause.
Resolution
It was unanimously agreed to ask Biffa litter
pick School Road, Coach Drive, The Street
and Park Drive for 6 months
Fly Tipping – Response from Clean Kent Campaign
Mrs Whittington reported that Bonnie Illingworth had
told her that we are on the list.
MUGA
The MUGA should be ready for use before the end of
September. It is hoped to have
an official opening by a sports team or personality. It does not
have to be officially opened prior to villagers starting to use
it. The administration arrangements still have to be finalised.
Village Appraisal
Nothing to report.
Pluckley Waste Site
Concern was expressed that this will affect Hothfield,
due to the volume of traffic it will generate through the village.
Mrs Whittington reported that she had put in a complaint against
the site on behalf of Hothfield Parish Council. An inspection scheduled
for October has been postponed. Pluckley Parish Council is objecting
to the site being opened in their parish.
Resolution
The members of Hothfield Parish Council unanimously
agreed to formally offer their support to Pluckley Parish Council
in their attempt to stop the Waste Site being sited in their Parish.
8. CORRESPONDENCE AND FINANCE
Correspondence
ABC Housing News
ABC Report of the Standards Committee
Kent Wildlife Trust
KCC Invitation for Chairman to meet Councillor Ferrin
PC Smith re 999 Calls and Quad Bikes
KPA Policing Kent
Explore Kent
KCC Annual Plan
KCC re Mobile Library
ABC Cultural Strategy
KAPC Parish News etc
ABC Report of the Chairman of the Parish Forum
Minutes of the meeting of the North Weald Parish Forum held on 13
June 2007
IOG Saltex
Southern Water
KAPC Parish News etc
Environment Agency
Hollie Homes Ltd – Peter H
Stagecoach Timetable
Minutes of the Standards Committee held 12 July 2007
Kent Wildlife Trust
KCC – Heritage Conservation Team
Jacobs re Bus Services
South East Plan – Examination in Public November 2006-March
2007 Report of the Panel
Clerk and Councils Direct
KAPC Minutes of Meeting held 01.08.07
Record RSS Ltd
Hollie Homes
KAPC Agenda for 26.09.07
KCC re A Conversation with Keith Ferrin
The questionnaire from Jacobs re Bus Services was passed to Mr Holloway
to deal with.
He will take it to the Youth Forum.
The Chairman asked Mr Warren to write a response, on behalf of the
Parish Council, to the Environment Agency regarding the South East
River Basin.
No one on the Council wishes to attend the Conversation with Keith
Ferrin.
Mrs Whittington received a letter from the KWT regarding Hothfield
Nature Reserve matters. They want to develop the triangle on which
the toilets are currently situated into a heath and graze animals
on it. They are also considering either closing Cade Road or installing
cattle grids. This would overcome the social problems in this area.
It was suggested that Mrs Whittington should invite John McAllister
to the next Parish Council meeting.
Mr Krause pointed out that a Local Wildlife Trust has been approved
in Hothfield, Pluckley and Little Chart by the Kent Wildlife Trust.
Mr Patten reported that the Kent Wildlife Trust have asked the Parish
Council to take on responsibility for setting up a formal agreement
with those members of the community who wish to graze their horses
in the Parish. It was felt that although we agree in principle,
it was too onerous a task for the Parish Council to take on. We
will discuss it with Mr McAllister if he is able to attend
the next meeting.
We received an email from Mr Chaney which was circulated to all
councillors prior to the meeting, regarding the problems being experienced
in the vicinity of the toilets. The Chairman will respond on behalf
of the Parish Council.
Mrs Fields is no longer able to produce the Hothfield Newsletter.
Mr Twydell submitted a letter to the Chairman laying out a proposal
for the newsletter and it was unanimously agreed that Mrs Whittington
should contact him regarding this.
Mr Patten proposed, seconded by Mr Holloway that a letter of thanks
to Mrs Fields on behalf of the Parish Council.
| PAYEE |
DETAILS |
£ NET |
£ VAT |
£ GROSS |
| Playsafety Ltd |
Annual Play Area Site Inspection |
75.00 |
13.13 |
88.13 |
| Audit Commission |
Annual Audit 2007 |
120.00 |
21.00 |
141.00 |
| Mrs J Batt |
Salary and Expenses |
522.03 |
3.92 |
525.95 |
Resolution: Councillors unanimously agreed to pay
the above accounts.
Bank Balance
The account balance stands at £11050.97. £1452 of this
is earmarked for the Village Appraisal.
Bank Mandate
Nothing to report.
9. PLANNING
Please see attached list.
i. Alteration to Terms of Reference
It was agreed to alter the Terms of Reference to include all Councillors,
with the exception of Mr Rawlins as members of the Planning Committee
10. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION/UPDATING OF WEBSITE
Mr Rawlins said he would speak to Mr Stanley if and
when the Newsletter changes.
11. RISK ASSESSMENT/RISK INSPECTION
The Clerk received the Play Area Safety Inspection
Report during the recess and passed it to Mr Hughes for action as
required. She spoke to Mr Hughes and pointed out that action must
be taken where necessary to ensure we are fully covered for insurance
purposes.
12. VILLAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
Repairs and Maintenance
Nothing to report.
Items to be reported to the County Lengthsmen
Mrs Whittington to report items as necessary.
13. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20 pm.
Signed ………………………………………………………….
Dated …….............................
Mrs S Whittington, Chairman
HOTHFIELD PARISH
COUNCIL
PLANNING APPLICATION
RECORD
10 JULY 2007 – 10 SEPTEMBER 2007
Full Planning Permission requested – Delegated
to Officers unless otherwise stated:-
DECISIONS TAKEN AT PLANNING COMMITTEE 23 JULY 2007
| 07/01052/AS |
Hollie
Homes Ltd, re The Old Kings Head, The Street, Hothfield, Ashford,
Kent TN26 1ES
Proposed Development of four, four bedroom houses, with new
private driveway
and change of use of existing building to single dwelling
Parish Council: Support |
| |
|
| AS/07/TEMP/0034 |
KCC Children, Families
& Education, Hothfield Village Primary School, School
Road, Hothfield, Ashford, Kent TN26 1HA
Refurbishment of
existing unused classrooms to create a Children’s Centre
including canopy, external impact absorbent play area, additional
entrance door, fencing, gate, bin store and buggy park
Parish Council: No Comment
|
| FOR CONSIDERATION AT MEETING HELD 10.09.07 |
| |
|
| 07/01433/AS |
Mr and Mrs Richardson, 7 Common Way, Hothfield, Ashford, Kent
TN26 1EF
Replace existing single storey rear extension
Parish
Council: Support |
| |
|
| 07/01562/AS |
Montash Properties Ltd re Barn 2, Home Farm, Water Fall Road,
Hothfield,
Ashford, Kent
Proposed timber frame garage and store
Parish Council:
Support |
| |
|
| The following application has been
refused:- |
| |
|
| 07/00867/AS |
O2 UK Ltd, re Land at Britton Farm, Maidstone Road, Hothfield,
Ashford, Kent
The replacement of the existing 15m monopole supporting 3no
2G antennas and
2no 3G (18m to top of antenna) with a 20m monopole (22.7m to
top of antennas) |
| |
|
| The following application has been
granted:- |
| |
| 07/01156/AS |
Mr D Roberts, 9 Tutt Hill Cottages, Westwell Lane, Hothfield,
Ashford, Kent TN26 1AL
Rear Double Storey Extension and Front Porch |
| |
|
| AS/07/TEMP/0034 |
KCC Children, Families & Education, Hothfield Village
Primary School, School Road, Hothfield, Ashford, Kent TN26 1HA
Refurbishment of existing unused classrooms to create a Children’s
Centre including canopy, external impact absorbent play area,
additional entrance door, fencing, gate, bin store and buggy
park |
| |
|
| |
|
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.12 pm.
|
