Biddenden
Parish Council - Official Website
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Biddenden
Parish Council - Official Website
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These minutes are subject to approval at the Council meeting on April 11th 2006 Minutes of the meeting held in the Old Village Hall on March 14th 2006 Present Cllr P Whapham – Chairman Cllr C Friend Cllr Mrs E Cansdale – Vice Chairman Cllr H Richards Cllr Mrs J Ashcroft Cllr J Rymer Jones Cllr M Conway Cllr Mrs B Swain Also present Cllr N Bell, Ashford Borough Council and 30 parishioners. Apologies for absence-Cllr Mrs R Ashton, Cllr R Brown and Cllr Mrs G Scott. 1 There were no alterations to members Register of Interests. 2 Items for discussion raised by parishioners present. The Chairman asked that any comments on the Post Office be reserved for item below when he would allow discussion. The formal Council meeting was closed at this point.
The formal Council meeting was reopened. 3 Minutes of the meeting held on February 14th 2006 These were approved and signed by the Chairman
after it was noted re item 7 that Cllr Mrs Ashton did not support the
(agreed) ban on Christmas Tree advertising on the Jubilee Meadow. Mrs Stokes said she felt she was speaking for the majority
of the parishioners by saying that demand for the Post Office was
overwhelming and personal support for the Post Mistress was equally strong. The
Council had voted to adopt the current proposal and it should now be allowed to
get on with it without constant threats of delay pending yet more
investigations. If the parish did not support the Council it could be voted from
office next year. Mr Nicholls spoke in favour of Mrs Stokes summary of village
views. The Chairman reopened the formal Council meeting at this
point . Cllr Rymer Jones said all councillors had an obligation to
be well informed on council matters and it was up to them individually to press
for facts they felt were unclear. Cllr Richards said he was pleased to see copies of all
recent correspondence to the Chairman on the Post Office issue as this
underlined his own concerns. In view of the alleged inadmissibility of Cllr Mrs Scott’s vote at the January 10th meeting Cllr Rymer Jones said the Council should reaffirm its decision (in Cllr Mrs Scott’s absence) to go ahead with the chosen scheme. Cllr Conway felt this was unnecessary however Cllr Rymer Jones proposed that, "This Council
reaffirms its wish to retain a Post Office in Biddenden and agrees The Chairman seconded the proposal. Cllrs Mrs Cansdale, Friend, Rymer Jones and Whapham
supported the proposal, Cllr Conway voted against and Cllrs Mrs Ashcroft, Richards
and Mrs Swain abstained. 5 Traffic and Pedestrians Committee. Cllr Friend referred to the current position concerning
local speed monitoring and said PC Sharp (the responsible officer)
would be present at the Annual Parish Meeting on April 18th to
explain all. Messrs Ridge and Whitestone has completed a survey of road signs in
the parish and a copy is attached. This could be considered in detail at the
next meeting. 6 Millennium Field and Jubilee Meadow Committee. Cllr Richards gave councillors a copy of the Committee minutes of March 8th. There was discussion of a suggestion of an all weather foot/cycle path around parts of the Gordon Jones and Millennium Fields. This would be discussed at the next meeting and councillors were asked to come forward with their ideas. Cllr Richards said the Millennium Field and Jubilee Meadow
funds (about £12,000), which are a separate Parish Council account, were
in excess of the MF & JM needs and about £10,000 could be used to reduce a
future precept. This was agreed subject to further discussion. (It
should be noted that the annual payments (about £6,500) to the Public
Works Loan Board for the purchase of the MF & JM have always been made
from the councils general accounts and for a year or so could be debited to the
MF & JM account if councillors agree) 7 Report from Cllr N Bell, Ashford Borough Council. Cllr Bell referred to the free bus travel
available to all over 60 from April 1st 2006. The only restriction
was for journeys prior to 09.00. It was agreed that the council would not object to
the felling of trees at Mill Hatch, Tenterden Road to allow a proposed
development (which it had supported) but would want replacement trees provided. The Council agreed to: a) Reaffirm its decision of October 12th 2004 to grant the Tennis Club £2000 towards court resurfacing. b) Repair the bus shelter (by the Weavers) for £750 c) Provide the Clerk with a new printer up to £250 d) Continue with the existing mowing contract for 2006 10 Correspondence Cllr Rymer Jones advised that the Rector would be leaving from May 15th 2006 and a Priest in Charge would be appointed between September and November. 12 The meeting was closed to
the public at this point. It was suggested the Council tries to establish just who
occupies the village housing originally designated for older peoples use. 13 Next meeting. April 11th April 18th Annual Parish Meeting. Graham Smith, Parish Clerk. 01622 890596
The Council considered the following at its meeting on March 14th 2006: Decisions received from Ashford Borough Council: 04/01221 Priory Wood. Tenterden Rd. Change of use to caravan site, stationing of one mobile home and one touring caravan. “Disposed of undetermined” 05/1870 Biddenden car park. Renewal of temporary Post Office Portacabin until April 2007. Permission granted. 05/02071 Elmstone House, North Street. New access from highway. Permission granted. 06/00007&8 Hales Place, Cranbrook Rd. Various alterations to house. Permission granted. 06/00017 Birchdene, Benenden Road. Erection of car port. Permission granted. 06/00067 Pell House Farm, Sissinghurst Rd. Two storey rear extension, garage alterations etc. Withdrawn. 06/00159 Pell House Farm, Sissinghurst Rd. Extension to rear and kitchen alterations. Withdrawn. FC06/00017 Beale Lands Farmhouse, Shawlands Lane, High Halden. Coppicing. No objections. 04/00160 Great Omenden Farm, Pook Lane. Appeal against refusal of ABC for a new farm bungalow. Appeal dismissed.
The Council’s Planning Group made the following decisions. 05/01232 Olivers Foods, Bell Lane. Installation of telecommunications mast. No objections. 05/02046 Old Beer Garden and Cellars, 30 High Street. Change of use to offices. No objections. 06/00210 15 Headcorn Rd. Rear and porch extension and side dormer window. No objections. 06/00217 Biddenden car park. Conversion of toilets to PO building and new toilets. No comment as PC application. 06/00236 Great Batchelors Lodge, Sissinghurst Rd. Conversion of redundant agricultural building to dwelling. Object (for various reasons) 06/00312 Summer Hill, Fosten Lane. Conversion of barn to dwelling. No objections. TC06/00024 Mill Field, Tenterden Rd. Various tree works. No objections. TC06/00021 John Mayne School. Fell 1 willow. No objections. For consideration by the full council: TPO No 4
2006 Mill Hatch, Tenterden Rd. Proposed TPO. The Council decided to oppose the
TPO but request replacement trees are planted.
The Council approved the following payments at its meeting on March 14th 2006 £368.00 S Keen, Lengthsman, Wages 1652 £444.67 G Smith, Clerk, Salary 1653 £46.67 Staples, Stationery 1654 £2330.00 A J Sowerey – Construction of footpath MF to school 1655 £250.00 A J Sowery – New scrapes in Jubilee Meadow 0169 £1458.34 G D Brightling – Supply of stone for new MF school footpath 1656 £26.00 Subscription to Campaign to Protect Rural England 1657 £688.32 KAPC Annual subscription including “Parish News” publication. 1658 £52.88 KAPC Course fee for “Planning” day. (Richard Carr is going and he has already paid the Parish Council the fee.) 1659 £2000.00 John Mayne School. Contribution for MF-School footpath 1660 £105.75 Mrs Ashcroft. Reimbursement for Gordon Jones Field drop post 1662 £1820.67 Cyma Architects. Stage works for new PostOffice/toilets 1663 £34.17 R King. Installation of drop post, tidying war memorial. Time and materials. 1664 The following money has been received. £135.00 Ashford Borough Council. Refund of overpaid PO planning fee. Councillors may recall that at the October 12th 2004 meeting it was unanimously agreed to make up to £2000 available to the Tennis Club towards resurfacing their courts. The work is now finished at a cost of £21665 and the Club would now like to take up our offer. Do councillors confirm their earlier decision? (Yes, Agreed to make the £2000 available)
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