Meeting Minutes, January 2007
The meeting was opened at 7.15pm on Monday, 8th January 2007 at Chilworth Infant School.
Present
| Chairman: |
Mr Peter Burt |
| Other Councillors: |
Mr John Peake
Mrs Patricia Allen
Mr David Bunting
Mr Mike Lunnon |
| Guildford Borough Council: |
Mr David Wright |
| Parish Clerk: |
Mr Chris Karney |
| Members of the public: |
2 members of the public were present |
Opening Address
The Chairman welcomed Mr David Bunting to his first meeting as Parish Councillor. Cllr Bunting signed an Acceptance of Office form.
16.1 Apologies for Absence
Cllr Colin Hayward, Cllr Keith Childs (GBC).
16.2 Minutes of the Previous Meeting
16.2.1
The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 13th November 2006, having been circulated to Cllrs, were approved subject to the following amendment:
- Para 14.5.2 - Replace South Downs Way with North Downs Way
16.2.2
The minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 18th December 2006, having been circulated to Cllrs, were approved.
16.3 Declaration of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
Cllr Burt declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 16.7 as owner of the Parish Field.
No other Councillor declared a personal or prejudicial interest in any agenda items.
16.4 Matters Arising
16.4a Donation to Chilworth and Blackheath Voluntary Care Committee
The donation of £30 (see item 15.5) had been made and a letter of thanks received in response from Mrs Chris Channel.
16.4b Chilworth Station Signal Box
A letter had been sent to SPACIA withdrawing the Council's interest in renting the Box.
16.4c Slip Road by Chilworth Station
- The Clerk had spoken to Mr Kaz Banisaied (SCC Guildford Local Transportation Services). The Council's request to designate the slip-road as one-way appears to have been a casualty of the LTS reorganisation. Mr Banisaied agreed to consider the request, however the Clerk was not hopeful of getting a positive decision.
- The Clerk had again spoken to John Cheesman (SCC Guildford LTS) on the subject of the ‘Planter’. Mr Cheesman confirmed that he had requested Mr Sam Pead (Network Rail) to remove it, but had had no response. The Clerk had attempted, unsuccessfully, to contact Mr Pead.
16.4d Community Landscape Character Assessment
The Parish Council had submitted comments on the Guildford Borough Community Landscape Character Assessment.
16.4e Bus Shelter Repairs
Work on re-roofing the Lockner Holt shelter was now complete and appeared to be satisfactory.
A local resident had volunteered to apply temporary repairs to the roof of the Chilworth Station shelter. Cllrs authorised expenditure on materials required for the repair.
Adjournment
The Chairman adjourned the meeting for comments from the floor.
16.5 Highways & Byways
16.5.1 Footpath up the West Slope of St Martha's Hill
The footpath (FP250), which forms part of the North Downs Way, has been badly eroded by rainwater run-off. Bob Crompton (Surrey Wildlife Trust) and James Browne (SCC Rights of Way) had held a site meeting to discuss remedial work and the digging of drainage channels to divert the run-off. However work could not start until the Spring.
16.5.2 Footpath to St Martha's Hill via the Pack Horse Bridge
Cllr Lunnon, as the Parish Council's representative on the Gunpowder Mills Working Group, had been asked to raise the matter with the Group. However he reported that the Gunpowder Mills Working Group had not met since the last Parish Council meeting.
16.5.3 Floodlights at the Percy Arms
Complaints had been received over two of the external floodlights at the Percy Arms. The beams from the lights were dazzling drivers travelling West on the Dorking Road. Cllr Hayward had spoken to the owner of the Percy Arms but the switching off of the offending lights had proved to be only temporary.
The Clerk had spoken to Josie Smith (GBC Principal Planning Enforcement Officer) and was informed that, following other complaints about the lights, a Planning Enforcement Officer (Matt Banks) had made an inspection. Officers agreed that there was a problem but had concluded that it was not a matter for Planning Enforcement and had referred the matter to Environmental Health.
Cllrs expressed surprise that this matter was not considered a planning matter and instructed the Clerk to query the decision. The Clerk asked for confirmation that the lights still presented a problem as it was reported that some repositioning of the lights had taken place.
16.5.4 Road surfaces on Halfpenny, Blacksmith and Sample Oak Lanes
Concern was expressed over the number of un-repaired potholes in the Lanes. It was acknowledged that this was a countywide problem with many parish councils reporting similar problems. The Clerk was instructed to raise the matter with Highways and Cllr Hayward volunteered to raise the matter with Cllr David Davis (SCC).
16.5.5 Fallen tree in Halfpenny Lane
The Clerk had reported a fallen tree, which was partially blocking the sunken part of Halfpenny Lane, to Highways. Highways responded with a work crew within 24 hours but had left part of the stump in the road for several weeks. However Cllrs reported that it had now been removed.
16.5.6 Flooding on the Dorking Road by Pine View Close
Cllr Lunnon reported that the road was flooding at this point after heavy rainfall. There was no history of flooding of the road and it seemed likely the drains were blocked. The Clerk will contact Highways.
16.6 Correspondence
16.6.1
An update to the self-teaching package for clerks, ‘Working with Your Council’, was available for £19.50. Cllrs authorised the expenditure.
16.6.2
A letter had been received from Mrs Helen McIntyre responding to the Chairman's letter of thanks and in it she thanked Cllrs and the Clerk for their personal gift to her.
16.7 Parish Field Committee
- Mr Peter Burt reported that he made his third application for retrospective planning permission for the Kissing Gates.
- A meeting of the committee was arranged for Monday 5th March 2007, subject to the availability of committee members' Roger and Carole Manning (not present).
- Cllr David Bunting was co-opted onto the Field Committee.
16.8 Councillors' Business
16.8.1 Gas Exploration on Blackheath Common
A letter had been sent to SCC Planning Department objecting to the application. Cllr Allen reported that a site visit was scheduled, for the liaison group, to a gas storage facility (Humdley Grove) that was similar to the possible planned site for Albury Park.
16.8.2 Parish Newsletter
Cllr Peter Burt volunteered to edit the annual newsletter. Contributions were requested with a deadline of the end of February.
16.9 Planning
16.9.1 Planning Committee Chairman's report
The Clerk read out an E-Mail from Barbara & Richard Winkworth and letters from Mr & Mrs Roderick Reading and Mr & Mrs R K Horton on the subject of construction traffic for Chilworth Manor using Halfpenny Lane.
a. 05/P/2098 – Housing Development (14 dwellings) at FES Hayward & Sons Depot, Dorking Road, Chilworth
This second application also covers a proposed housing development covering the whole site. The Parish Council submitted comments and expressed reservations. PENDING
b. 06/P/1595 Titan Sheds, Blacksmith Lane
Conversion of two existing units into 7 live / work units and new two storey unit to provide 2 live / work units. With 19 car parking places and covered cycle racks following demolition of existing lean-to for storage tank.
The Parish Council submitted comments and expressed reservations. APPROVED
c. 06/P/2523 – Ashbank, 3 Dorking Road, Chilworth
Single storey rear extension following part demolition of existing shed.
No comment by the Parish Council. PENDING
d. 06/P/2525 - Tal-Y-Bont, Blacksmith Lane, Chilworth
Conversion of existing bungalow to two-storey dwelling.
No comment by the Parish Council. PENDING
e. 06/P/2573 – 56 Dorking Road, Chilworth
Conversion of existing roof space to provide habitable accommodation.
No comment by the Parish Council. PENDING
f. 06/P/2593 – Oak House, Sample Oak Lane, Chilworth
Conversion of part of existing first floor flat (Flat 3) into two flats (Flat 3 & Flat 4).
The Parish Council submitted comments. PENDING
16.10 Adopt a Station Scheme
16.10.1 Map Panel at Chilworth Station
No progress since the last meeting.
16.11 Finance
16.11.1 Bank Reconciliation
Cllr Hayward had checked the reconciliation before the meeting and signed it as correct. The Council approved the reconciliation.
16.11.2 Invoices paid out of committee
641 Chilworth Voluntary Care Committee
(Local Government Act 1972 Section 137 payment) |
£ 30.00 |
16.11.3 Invoices for payment
| Harold Wakeford & Sons - War Memorial Maintenance |
£ 145.00 |
| Chilworth C of E Infant School - Room Hire 13th November 2006 |
£ 8.20 |
| HM Revenue & Customs (Q3 2006/07) |
£ 448.13 |
16.11.4 Clerk's Salary and Expenses
| Clerk's Expenses |
|
|
| Postage |
£ 5.46 |
|
| Photocopying |
£ 5.85 |
|
| Stationery |
£ 20.32 |
|
| Use of Home as Office (2 months @ £12.00 pm) |
£ 24.00 |
|
| Telephone Rental |
£ 15.70 |
|
| Clerk's IT Allowance |
£ 16.65 |
|
| Clerk's Net Salary |
£ 825.41 |
|
| Total Clerk's Salary and Expenses |
£ 913.39 |
|
| Total Expenditure |
£ 1544.72 |
16.11.5 Financial Forecast
The financial forecast for January was noted.
16.12 Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday 12th March 2007 at Chilworth Infant School, commencing at 7.15pm.
16.12.1
The date of the May meeting was changed to the 21st May 2007 to avoid a clash, for Borough Cllrs, with the Albury PC Meeting.
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