GOUDHURST PARISH COUNCIL
Local Government for Goudhurst and Kilndown
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF GOUDHURST PARISH COUNCIL
at The Jessel Room, Goudhurst Village Hall on Monday 08 February 2010
PRESENT: Councillors Crookall (Chairman), Bates, Boniface, Mrs Edmonston Kirkby, Noakes, Nichol, Roberts, Rolington, Mrs Stafford and Ward. No members of the public were present.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
427/09 Apologies for absence were accepted from Cllrs Chudley (family commitments) and also from Borough Cllr JR Bullock.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
There were no questions from the Public.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
428/09 There were no Declarations of Interest relating to this Meeting.
429/09 The Chairman reminded Members to ensure that their Declarations of Interest filed with the Monitoring Officer are up to date.
430/09 Cllr Noakes was present during the discussions on the planning applications considered at this meeting, but reserved his position and did not vote on the applications. Cllr Noakes declared that he will reconsider these matters at Borough Council taking into account all relevant evidence at that time.
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
431/09 The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2010, copies of which had been previously distributed to Members, were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.
AMENITIES COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Amenities Committee presented the Minutes of a Committee meeting held on 26 January 2010:
432/09 Maintenance of Goudhurst Pond. Noted that an Agreement is now in place for Mid Kent Fisheries to carry out the work as specified. There has been a minor delay due to the recent adverse weather conditions. Resolved unanimously: that the Clerk will write to Mr & Mrs Rumens to thank them for their gift of two bales of barley straw.
433/09 Heritage Plaques. It was noted that the Amenities Committee hoped TWBC would fund the provision and installation of plaques but Mr Legg, TWBC Principal Design and Heritage Officer indicated that funding was scarce and he would know more after the TWBC Cabinet Budget meeting on 04 February. Mr Legg said TWBC Conservation Officer, John Kaye, would be involved in Consent agreements for Listed buildings and when agreements and consents had been achieved, a formal letter of agreement from TWBC to each individual site owner would be needed. Resolved: that GPC would research historical data and, when sites had been approved, seek permission from owners. Goudhurst Parish Council would produce and fund the accompanying leaflet. Design and colour of plaques would have to be decided. Mrs Joye, Archivist of Goudhurst & Kilndown Local History Society undertook to do further research but would also welcome ideas from all sources. Noted that Mr Legg had indicated that each plaque would cost approximately £200, depending on the amount of lettering. Amenities Committee will report further to Council with proposals.
434/09 Fegan Memorial. Minute 344/09. Noted that Cllrs Mrs Stafford and Bates are working on the wording and presentation of the memorial to Mr James Fegan. Members expressed the view that there is a need to provide an attractive and durable sign at an affordable cost.
435/09 La Zia Maria – Fly Tipping. Minute 355/09. Resolved unanimously: that the Clerk will arrange to meet Sgr Chiappini on site with the fresh copies of the land registry plans recently obtained in order to agree exactly where the boundary between the Parish Council land and La Zia Maria land lies. The Clerk will aim to obtain Sgr Chiappini’s agreement that a line of bricks be laid permanently in the ground to mark the boundary. The end objective is to avoid future disagreements over where grass cuttings and raked up leaves should be deposited.
436/09 Kilndown Bus Shelter and Telephone Kiosk. It was noted that the outstanding work on the Kilndown bus shelter step which Mr Crumpling had agreed to complete within 6 weeks of 04 January had not been carried out. Members expressed concern on Health & Safety grounds. Resolved unanimously: that the Clerk will speak to Mr Crumpling to establish a firm date for the completion of the work on the step, and the repair to the window in the Telephone Kiosk.
437/09 Electricity for Pond Pump and Christmas Lights. Resolved unanimously: to pay a grant of £50.00 to Goudhurst Parish Hall Committee for their electricity used to run the Pond aeration pump and the Christmas lights at The Plain in 2009/10.
438/09 CCTV Facilities. Resolved unanimously: to pay a grant of £60.00 to each of The Vine Hotel and Goudhurst Parish Hall Committee for electricity and facilities for the CCTV cameras in 2009/10.
439/09 Goudhurst Clean-Up Weekend. Noted that this has been fixed for 27 and 28 March 2010.
GOUDHURST FOOTBALL FIELD COMMITTEE
The Chairman presented the Minutes of a Committee meeting held on 22 January 2010:
440/09 Negotiations with Goudhurst United FC (GUFC) and Other Parties. Noted that the Minutes of the Goudhurst Football Field Committee meeting held on 22 January will be used as a basis for detailed discussions with Officers of GUFC to be held on 10 February 2010. This will be followed by a meeting between GPC, GUFC and local residents. The Committee will report further to Council on 08 March 2010. Meanwhile all parties expect GUFC will play their first home match on the ground at the start of the 2010/11 season.
HIGHWAYS AND FOOTPATHS COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Highways and Footpaths Committee presented a report dated 29 January 2010:
441/09 Replacement DR Strimmer for PROW Maintenance. Resolved unanimously: to purchase a new DR strimmer at the cost of £350.00 + VAT. The Chairman of the Highways & Footpaths Committee will approach KCC PROW for a contribution towards this cost. Resolved unanimously: that since the present DR strimmer has reached the end of its useful life, it will be written it off as scrap.
442/09 Crittenden Road closure. Noted that KCC have put forward a proposal to close Crittenden Road at the junction of A228 Colts Hill. Whilst this is not in Goudhurst Parish, it is a route used by Goudhurst residents to reach Tonbridge via Brenchley and Matfield, especially when the A21 is closed. Cllrs Ward and Crookall attended a public consultation on 23 January at Capel where opposition to the closure was evident. Cllr Ward will attend a meeting of the Colts Hill Working Group on 12 March 2010 as an observer.
443/09 Bray’s Alley WC36A – overhanging tree. Resolved unanimously: to accept a quotation of £200.00 for cutting back an apple tree which drops large quantities of fruit onto the footpath seasonally so causing difficulties for pedestrians.
444/09 Hop Pickers’ Line. Resolved unanimously: to reimburse the Clerk’s expenses of £202.00 being the cost of 12 separate titles to ownership from the Land Registry of the closed railway line between Hope Mill and the Goudhurst and Cranbrook Parish boundary.
HOUSING COMMITTEE
The Chairman presented the Minutes of a Committee meeting held on 20 January 2010:
445/09 Appeal by Cascade Housing – TW/08/03892. Resolved unanimously: that Cllr Roberts will represent Council at the appeal hearing at the Town Hall on 23 February 2010. It was noted the Cascade Housing has apparently not submitted their written statement to the Planning Inspectorate by the deadline.
YOUTH COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Youth Committee presented the Minutes of the Youth Forum held on 03 December 2009:
446/09 Skate Park in Goudhurst Parish. Minutes 330/09 and 277/08. On the Youth Committee’s recommendation it was resolved unanimously not to proceed with this project. Members had concluded that the Parish is not big enough to afford or support a skate park of the size and with all the facilities that would satisfy the needs of modern skateboarders. An example is Staplehurst where the facility has cost over £150,000.00 and is not considered to be sufficiently satisfactory. The ‘gold standard’ facility is an indoor one at Rochester which is very big and attracts large numbers of users.
Resolved: that the Clerk will write to Jack Coleman of Culpepers who proposed this scheme with a view to inviting him to a meeting so that Council’s decision can be explained to him personally.
447/09 Proposed Meeting on Social Behaviour. Resolved unanimously that an informal group be established consisting of representatives from Goudhurst Parish Council, the Police, the Vicar of the United Benefice, the Roman Catholic Priest, the Head Teacher of Goudhurst & Kilndown CE Primary School, KCC Youth & Community and representatives from Youth organisations in the parish. The objective is to improve information and guidance to younger members of the community. Councillors expressed the view that GPC has no knowledge or expertise in these subjects but have a perceived concern about under-age drinking, drug use and promiscuity. It was agreed that while this is not a Parish Council committee, and that meetings will not be Minuted by the Parish Council, the Chairman of the Parish Council Youth Committee will chair the group.
PLANNING COMMITTEE The following items were noted and agreed:
448/09 DECISIONS
TW/09/03541 Lidwells House North Road Goudhurst
Erection of detached garage
Granted permission
TW/09/03548 Bethany School Jarvis Lane Goudhurst
High ropes course and equipment store
Granted permission
TW/09/03685 Triggs Farm Cranbrook Road Goudhurst
Two-storey rear extension with chimney and conservation rooflights and insertion of a new window at each of ground floor and first floor level in the existing east (side) elevation of the dwelling
Granted permission
TW/09/03688 Triggs Farm Cranbrook Road Goudhurst
Listed Building Consent: Two-storey rear extension with chimney and conservation rooflights and insertion of a new window at each of ground floor and first floor level in the existing east (side) elevation of the dwelling
Granted permission
TW/09/03691 Old Park Cottage Cranbrook Road Goudhurst
Lawful Development Certificate (Existing) – Use of garage as an annexe that is ancillary to the main house, in breach of Condition 3 of planning application TW/06/01260
Refused permission
TW/09/03769 Church Room Back Lane Goudhurst
Replacement of a PCVu window with a fully glazed PVCu door. New timber decking play area with timber fencing around the perimeter
Granted permission
TW/09/03844 Mount House Ranters Lane Goudhurst
Demolition of single-storey lean-to structure. Erection of a single-storey rear extension and alterations to outbuilding
Application withdrawn
TW/09/03846 Mount House Ranters Lane Goudhurst
Listed Building Consent - Demolition of single-storey lean-to structure. Erection of a single-storey rear extension and alterations to outbuilding
Application withdrawn
TW/09/03874 Stable Cottage Bedgebury Road Goudhurst
Listed Building Consent – Replacement of single-storey double-glazed conservatory with single-storey extension
Granted permission
449/09 APPLICATIONS
TW/09/03872 Stable Cottage Bedgebury Road Goudhurst
Replacement of single-storey double-glazed conservatory with single-storey
extension
Recommend approval
Subject to the views of the Conservation Officer GPC is content that this application is approved.
TW/09/03874 Stable Cottage Bedgebury Road Goudhurst
Listed Building Consent - Replacement of single-storey double-glazed conservatory with single-storey extension
Recommend approval
Subject to the views of the Conservation Officer GPC is content that this application is approved.
TW/09/03986 Forestry Commission Park Lane Goudhurst
Adoption of existing open store to accommodate a wood fuel system to serve Park House and the Forestry Commission offices
Recommend approval
Sensible use of a currently redundant building. The plans do not indicate how heat will be transferred to the house and the offices, so this will presumably occur by means of underground pipe work which does not require permission
TW/09/03999 Upper Taywell Cranbrook Road Goudhurst
Three dormer windows to roof including conversion of part of roof space to form bedroom and en-suite bathroom
Recommend approval
The installation of the second floor facilities will have no impact; the new dormers are of an appropriate local stile
TW/09/04003 Upper Taywell Cranbrook Road Goudhurst
Single storey extension to provide garden room
Neutral
Whilst acknowledging that, due to the well screened setting, it will have little visual impact, this proposal will further increase the footprint of the original terrace of three modest cottages to over 90%. The applicant should be invited to submit volume calculations in order that officers may ascertain whether the volume increase complies with policy.
TW/09/03962 Bockingfold Farm Ladham Road Goudhurst
Retrospective – Application for extension of existing cold store building to provide space for ice cream and frozen fruit storage. Installation of blast chiller. Associated landscape planting.
Recommend refusal
This application is for a new building, formed by the enclosing and roofing of a space between two authorised buildings, which has been constructed without the benefit of planning consent. Furthermore it is occupied amongst other items by an item of machinery which condition 3 of TW/06/01312 clearly states should not be present without the written approval of the Planning Authority.
This development, despite the agent’s claim, would appear to be in conflict with elements of all the ‘Key Principles’ of PPS 7 - National Planning Policies
In this important document, para. 4 encourages the establishment of employment development sites in identified locations close to rural settlements. Paras 14 to 30 require the countryside, particularly in an AONB to be protected for its own sake, whilst encouraging the introduction of diversification into non-farming activities which require a rural location. Para. 31 requires the LPA to encourage the re-use or even replacement of existing buildings (but not new building) for suitable employment uses, but giving due regard to all the constraints identified in paras. 17 to 21 and the amenity of nearby residents.
Goudhurst Parish Council (GPC) believes that this application is in conflict with all the relevant advice in PPS7.
The application building is not a replacement building nor a suitably designed re-build, but a new building.
This application is in a remote location, approximately 1.5 miles from the village centre with most of that distance on an unclassified narrow road with the occasional passing spaces. This road is now showing serious damage to the verges caused be the heavy traffic which the business attracts.
This location cannot possibly pass the necessary tests of sustainability, a recurring theme in PPS7, since most of the raw materials are imported to the premises. All of the required dairy produce, a major ingredient, is being imported from Northiam, some 13 miles distant. Only some 8 of the 46 ice/sorbet flavours offered are from ingredients grown on the application farm. (see http://www.taywell.co.uk/handmade-ice-creams/handmade-ice-creams-flavours.html) In that respect it is possible that the applicant is already in breach of condition 2 of 06/01312. Furthermore, whilst one of the sale locations is close by, another newer one is some 12 miles distant in Tunbridge Wells High Street.
A further requirement of the approval of 06/01312 in condition 3 is that no new machinery should be introduced. This was to protect the amenity of several nearby residences. The principle new machine, the blast refrigeration unit, which has been imported to the site, caused very frequent and substantial noise nuisance to these nearby dwellings throughout last summer. GPC is aware that, during warm weather, there were numerous calls to the environmental department asking officers to take action to limit the noise emitted from the unit which this application seeks to legitimise. Users of the immediately adjacent bridle path and footpaths were similarly subjected to noise levels which they would not expect on a rural footpath.
GPC believes that the applicant should give more detail regarding the full specification of the blast freezer unit, in order that planning and environmental health officers can make an assessment of the potential noise output of the machine. This would enable a judgement to be made as to whether this equipment should ever be installed in a sensitive rural location or should only be used where a B2 permission would be allowed. It is already very clear that if this freezer is allowable, the premises in which it is located must be properly sound insulated. The submitted application gives no indication that sound insulation is intended and should be refused on those grounds alone.
It seems apparent that the business has outgrown its current location and should seek a more suitable site where the noise levels and activity which it draws can be accommodated without affecting the lives of near neighbours. It would be utterly unreasonable for them to have to endure another summer of unremitting noise nuisance.
In conclusion GPC strongly recommends refusal on policy and amenity grounds and requests TWBC to seek audited information from the applicant that he is in compliance with condition 3 of 06/01312.
TW/10/00066 Telecommunications Mast (Vodafone) Jarvis Lane Goudhurst
Installation of a 22.5m lattice mast accommodating 3 No antennas and 1 No
0.3m transmission dish, radio equipment housing and ancillary development
within a compound surrounded by a 1 metre high stock proof fence
Recommend approval subject to the following caveats:
- Tree and Landscape Officers are content that the screening which was apparent at the time of the Appeal Inspector’s visit will still mitigate the visual impact of the mast and cabinet;
- if such screening is not in place, approval should be conditioned to take measures to improve the screening
TW/10/00116 Latchwood Oast Three Chimneys Farm Bedgebury Road Goudhurst
New single storey infill extension and related alterations
Recommend approval
Modest extension of appropriate construction; no impact on neighbouring properties or AONB
ACCOUNTS
450/09 Resolved unanimously: that the following payments be made:
DDR BT Broadband and GPC phones Jan – Mar 10 £95.13
2712 AVB Farnfield January 10 pay and expenses £1269.27
2713 HM Revenue & Customs January 10 PAYE and NI £362.22
2714 Pearson’s Landscapes The Plain maintenance Jan 10 £70.50
2715 Ryman Stationery (payable AVBF) Slide binding bars £42.57
2716 Goudhurst Parish Hall Electricity used to run pond pump & Xmas lights £50.00
2717 The Vine Hotel Grant for use of premises for CCTV equipment 09-10 £60.00
2718 Goudhurst Parish Hall Grant for use of premises for CCTV equipment 09-10 £60.00
2719 Mrs B Harrison-Stafford Payment to Mrs Hogben for casual labour War Mem’l £10.00
2720 Mounts Hill Woodcraft & Design Ltd Gateways £1420.25
2721 Kent County Training Partnership Clerk CiLCA course £90.00
2722 Pearson’s Landscapes Tree work on PROW WC36A £235.00
DDR Veolia Environmental Burial Grounds bin January 10 £75.67
451/09 Receipts in January 10:
Burial Board £440.00
Refund from Palintest £42.32
452/09 Bank reconciliation to end January 10. Noted that Council’s cash book balances total £34,346.62
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
453/09 Monday 08 March 2010. 7.30 pm at the Jessel Room.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
454/09 The following items were noted:
- KCC Annual Performance Report 2008/09
- KCC Comprehensive Area Assessment of Kent
- Kent Wildlife Trust letter seeking funding for Wildlife Reserves (The Gill at Goudhurst is one)
- Kent High Weald Project “Welly Walks” for pupils and families of Primary Schools.
- TWBC Parish Chairmen’s Meeting 03 February – verbal briefing from the Chairman
- KENT LINk Community Engagement event on 25 February at Tonbridge
The Meeting closed at 9.20 pm.
Draft Minutes for Confirmatio
Freedom of Information policy: download policy document (Microsoft Word®)
Clerk to the Parish Council
Anthony Farnfield MBE
clerk@goudhurst.co.uk
www.goudhurst.co.uk
copyright © 2010 Goudhurst Parish Council