Present: Cllr Gaywood* (chairman); Cllrs Mrs Burns, Mrs Coutts, Alford, Sewell, Ramsay*, Barnett, Harris, Mrs Oxtoby, Mrs Solman, Tremain.

Mrs Hoad; Cllr J Kent Tucker (KCC councillor), 5 members of the public.

* also SDC councillor

Index
Alford, Cllr - interest
Axton Chase School
Burial Ground
Burial Ground (new)
Buses
Caxton Close
Gorsewood
Manor Field
Muslim News Award
Northfield
Parish Plan
Planning
Police
Rail Services
Springcroft
Telephone Masts
Website
Wellfield
Youth

1. Statement re Award to Hartley

Cllr Tremain mentioned the award made to the rector Rev Worssam and the village by the Muslim News, and suggested the Parish Council wrote to congratulate him. The Chairman said it was not on the agenda but Mrs Hoad can write a letter.

2. Apologies

Cllrs Abraham, Ward

3. Minutes of Meetings of 8 and 26 March

Minutes of Parish council meeting of 8 March approved 11-0. Annual parish meeting of 26 March approved 11-0. Cllr Alford said he was disappointed at the turnout and thought they should consider not holding it on a Friday in future.

4. Members' Interests

Cllr Alford declared an interest in one item to do with local government pensions.

5. Adjournment for Kent County Councillor

Mr Tucker reported no progress over the cuts to peak hour buses locally.

He said there are proposals to demolish Axton Chase school, rebuild it on "spare ground" on its eastern boundary, and then use the existing site for housing. Cllr Sewell was concerned about the future of the Youth Club there, where 13 of the 15 regulars are from Hartley. Cllr Tucker said he couldn't get into detail. Cllr Barnett asked why the existing school could not be repaired. Mr Tucker said because they wouldn't get a grant from the government for that, only for rebuilding. Cllr Oxtoby supported the plans saying the present building was "rambling". Cllr Harris thought it difficult to accept that playing fields would not be lost, and government policy was to retain them.

He also reported that people will in future be separately precepted for the Environment Agency.

He also asked for the Parish Council's help in getting Meridian TV reception on Sky, although some councillors claimed to receive this already.

Public question.

6. Planning

They agreed minutes of meetings of 10 March and 24 March 11-0. In addition Cllr Sewell called for the tree preservation order at the Scout Hut to be rescinded, because one had fallen down.

Meeting of 10 March 2004 discussed the following applications:

• Amberley, Ash Road (demolish, replace with 4 houses) - object on overdevelopment grounds
• 28 Northfield (conservatory at rear) - no objection
• Burnt Ash, Gorsewood Road (demolish, replace with 2 houses) - object on overdevelopment and neighbour amenity grounds.
• Carill, Church Road (stables) - object as intrusive to green belt.
• Oaklands, Gorsewood Road (conservatory at rear) - no objection
• Downs Valley (telephone mast, pre application consultation) - recommend objection on visual amenity, green belt, residential amenity grounds. Council agreed to this 11-0.
• Black Lion, Ash Road (telephone mast, pre application consultation) - object on visual amenity grounds.
• Land rear of The Birches, Gorsewood Road (5 houses) appeal - recommend sending councillors to attend appeal. Council agreed to send Cllrs Solman and Barnett.

• 22 Northfield (side extension) - no objection
• Kilndown, Gorsewood Road (demolish, replace with 2 houses) - no objection
• Prospect Lodge, Gorse Way (extensions at side and rear) - object, would create precedent of going over building line.
• Axton Chase School (proposals to change Dartford district plan to knock down and rebuild school on another site, and build houses on existing site) - object, on grounds of green belt, loss of school playing fields and possible threat to Youth Centre. At the council meeting Cllr Oxtoby said she disagreed with their decision, and claimed the playing fields are underused. Cllr Burns thought otherwise.

The minutes of the meeting of 18 March were approved. The meeting of 18 March 2004 discussed the following:

• They decided to seek advice from Kent Association of Parish Councils on the Data Protection Act.
• They recommended donations of £50 each to the Kenward Trust and West Kent Mediation. Approved by council 11-0.
• They proposed to support the proposed rail service from Longfield from 2007 but complained about the state of the station. Agreed by council 11-0, Cllr Sewell called for disabled access at Longfield Station.
• They objected to the Standards Board on a number of grounds. At the council meeting Cllr Alford said from his personal experience he was not very impressed with their service.
• They deferred decision on moving meetings to the library because it will cost £300-500. Plans for the new parish office were approved by council 11-0.
• They decided they would like to buy land for access to the proposed new burial ground. Approved by full council 11-0. Cllr Alford said the meeting with the Glover family was helpful. He said they had allowed the council to put in a new gate on the family's land. Cllr Harris raised a query about who would be liable in case of an accident? Cllr Gaywood told him to take this to another committee.
• They banned the public from two items about a county court case and a request under the Data Protection Act.

The minutes of the meeting of 17 March 2004 were approved 11-0. It discussed the following:

• They decided to create a new burial place for ashes - exclusive 2 foot plots. To be fenced in with post and chain, prior to building a wall, they hope, in 2005/6. At the council meeting Cllr Barnett said they decided not to allow a plaque on the spot, but one can be put on the wall like at Fawkham. They discussed for some while about this recommendation, and eventually agreed 11-0 to spend up to £200 on the post and chain.
• They recommended banning buying grave plots for the interment of ashes. Cllr Burns said she did not go along with this proposal in committee and was very much against the recommendation. People should be able to be near loved ones. Cllr Barnett said that although no-one had formally asked to do this, if people knew they could all the plots would go in no time. They could start over again in the new graveyard. Cllr Gaywood asked what would happen if someone paid for a burial plot and then decided to have a cremation? Cllr Barnett agreed to withdraw the motion.
• They accepted quote of £200 from Stephen Gay to repair unsafe monuments.
• The stones in the garden of remembrance are to be regrouted.
• Action is being taken against a number of people who have infringed the burial ground rules.

9. Youth

The meeting of 16 March 2004 discussed arrangements for the Youth Day of 24 April. Cllr Sewell said there was no recommendation except to be there!

10. Northfield

A motion to vary standing orders to reduce the number of quotes required for a contract between £250 and £1,000 from 3 to 2 was approved 11-0. Cllr Alford said they should adopt Hartley Parish Council's Financial Regulations.

11. Community Facilities (Wellfield)

Council approved their minutes. At the meeting Cllr Ramsay said he has spoken to Brian Rose (the enforcement officer at Sevenoaks) about fencing off Down Ampney, Gorsewood Road.

The meeting of 1 April 2004 discussed the following:

• They decided the occasional bulky refuse collection point should be on land outside 86 and 143 Caxton Close. Cllr Burns said they hoped this would stop dumping in Gorsewood, Cllr Coutts said there was a microwave there. Cllr Gaywood said the committee did not need to bring this to council, Cllr Ramsay they did because they will have to pay for a leaflet.
• The new notice board by Mr Glidewell will cost £285, and they are still trying to get a dog bin
• They decided to apply to Sevenoaks Council for a licence to use a grassed area off Caxton Close for a children's play area. Cllr Burns said Sevenoaks wanted a licence, Cllr Ramsay said the officer at Sevenoaks went pale when they suggested a lease. He added there has been some talk that Sevenoaks may want to use the land for houses. They are trying to get a community group established to apply for a grant.

The meeting of 31 March 2004 recommended that the team be reformed as an editorial team. There was much discussion on whether it should be an editorial team or working group, eventually the recommendation was approved 11-0.

13. Parish Plan

The meeting of 11 March 2004 appointed Mrs Solman as the chairman and decided to convene a public meeting, probably in May. Their minutes were approved 11-0 and Cllr Solman congratulated.

14. Springcroft Flooding

Cllr Tremain said that at the March surgery, 3 residents had raised with him and Cllr Burns the persistent problem of flooding at the end of the road, and he circulated pictures dating back to 1985 to councillors and the public. He said it had flooded 16 times in 2002 and 4 times this year already. Cllr Burns said one senior citizen is trapped in their home when this happens. Cllr Harris said he had asked around and found that the problem lies in mud washed down Manor Drive and blocking the Springcroft drains. They supported Cllr Tremain's motion to get action 11-0. Cllr Sewell asked to also mention the problem of flooding in Church Road, but Cllr Harris said it didn't do damage to property there.

15. Payments

Payments of £9,000 for March were agreed 11-0.

16. Police

They were generally keen to apply for a Police Community Support Officer, which will cost the council about £15,000 pa initially (50% of cost for first 3 years). Cllr Sewell pointed out that New Ash Green has two PCSOs and didn't have to pay anything. Cllr Harris said Hartley was stuck in the middle of nothing again with all the surrounding parishes having something. Cllr Ramsay queried whether such an officer would have anything to do. Cllr Burns said definitely yes, she has been the victim of crime twice in the last month. Since moving to Hartley she has been the victim of crime 5 times in 7 years, and never when she lived in the city. She thought the problems from New Ash Green have moved to Hartley.

Meeting closed 9.41pm

17. Public Questions

Mrs Sharp asked whether there would be any low cost housing at Axton Chase School. Mr Tucker thought they would be executive homes. Cllr Oxtoby thought there would be some provision for key workers. Mr Gronow said demolition and replacement was the best option as it is full of asbestos.

Mrs Brudenell asked whether the council was considering provision for green burials such as at Otford? Cllr Oxtoby was in favour. Mrs Brudenell asked why the pond cleaning was not on the agenda. Cllr Gaywood said he meant the Amenities committee.