Council Blog
This Blog contains contributions from members of Eynsford Parish Council. Any opinions expressed are their own, not necessarily representative of other councillors.
Previous posts (up to December 2014) were made by ex-Chairman, Clive Stanyon.
Chairman's Priorities
15th November 2014
Reviewed my own parish council priorities, which now include: meeting PCSO Tim Darling on Monday evening; continuing to review the SDC Allocations and Development Management Plan; and speaking to District Councillor, Michael Horwood about getting some momentum into Speed Watch.
Darent Valley Consortium Meeting
13th November 2014
Attended a Darent Valley Consortium Meeting, with Theresa Durrant, when representatives of Farningham, Horton Kirby & South Darenth, Otford and Shoreham were present.
First, we discussed Speed Watch, and the difficulty that there appears to be in finding volunteers. Three, or preferably four, people are needed to man the equipment, one to read the speed, one to note the type of car, and one/two to record the registration number. All parish councils are very disappointed in the lack of volunteers, when we are being told that traffic speeding is a big issue. It was agreed that we would have a joint push in trying to find new recruits. However, if people do not come forward, this will be a clear indication that speeding traffic is an issue to be complained about, but not important enough to take any action. Your parish needs you, so if you have the occasional two hours, and are prepared to have an evening's training, then please do come forward.
Next, we discussed the Community Warden Consultation, mentioned by me in an earlier blog. It was agreed that, in the event of the community warden service being whittled down to such an extent that it becomes fairly useless, we would consider funding a warden between many local parish councils, provided that we could then have control over how they are used.
Another subject of discussion was Home Based Kent, a programme to help people who run a business from home with funding, advice and guidance. If you are the owner of a home based business and need a business boost, then this may well be worth having a look at. Their web site is www.homebasedkent.biz and their telephone number is 0300 0309660. Why not give the number a call. It will cost you very little and may help you a lot: nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Other topics of discussion were defribillators, the AONB Valley of Visions, and the SDC Tourism Focus Group.
Web Site
12th November 2014
Did a partial review of this new web site, and fed back to the clerks some suggested improvements, for incorporation. The main changes suggested were to flesh out the information on planning, and how we have a, Government, National Planning Policy Framework and a, Sevenoaks District Council, Local Development Framework that takes us through to 2026. Also to clarify the place in planning of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), protected for its landscape value, the London Metropolitan Green Belt, protected for its openness, and the Eynsford Conservation Area, protected for its local character setting. Finally, I suggested a note about listed buildings and the need for listed building consent.
Remembrance Sunday
9th November 2014
Attended the remembrance gathering at the war memorial, and placed a wreath on behalf of the parish council. There was a great turn-out of people to remember those who had given their lives for our benefit, and it was very heartening to see such numbers. It was also a proud moment for me to see that the stone the parish council had laid more recently provides an outlet of remembrance for the families of those more recently taken from us. In contrast, it was also a sad moment for me, knowing that this will be my last Remembrance Sunday as chairman of the parish council, as plans to move to Elham accelerate. The nation seems to be embracing these occasions of remembrance more and more each year, and I am very glad that I took the opportunity to visit the wonderful poppy installation at the Tower of London. Long may we remember the sacrifices made, and be thankful for our freedoms and opportunities.
Chairman's Priorities
8th November 2014
Reviewed my own priorities, which now include: attending the consortium of local parish councils meeting, in Shoreham, on 13th November; making sure that there is a Tree Works Sub-committee meeting held shortly; and continuing my review of the Allocations and Development Management Plan.
Allocations and Development Management Plan
6th November 2014
Continued to review the Allocations and Development Management Plan (ADMP), part of the Local Development Framework (LDF), which will go some way to replacing it. I have noticed three additional items that may give rise to concern. The first is that there appears to be nothing said about the protection of specimen trees. The second is that there appears to be no mention of protection of the best quality agricultural land. However, there is mention of this in the National Planning Policy Framework, and so that may suffice. The third is that there appears to be no mention of lawfully protected species. It may well be that there is no need to mention these as the law may always win over planning. I have referred these three items to our planning chairman, Phil Ward, to consider.
Neighbourhood Plans, Community Wardens, Tourism, and a Footpath at the Castlefield Nature Area
3rd November 2014
Attended the Planning and Community & Environment Committees, at the Parish Office, chaired respectively by Phil Ward and Andrea Cornwell. It was particularly pleasing to see a full set of eight councillors present, as well as four non-councillor co-optees, making it a bit of a squeeze!
There were two planning applications for review, for 7 St Martin's Drive and 3 Elizabeth Cottages, and we did not object to either.
There was a discussion about the possibility of producing a Neighbourhood Plan, and it was agreed that Phil would set up a small team to consider what sites in the village might be suitable for inclusion in such a plan. The purpose of a Neighbourhood Plan is not to oppose development, rather it is to direct development in a way that meets local needs, as opposed to what a developer might want to build. A Neighbourhood Plan needs to have the backing of the local community, via a referendum, and if accepted by Sevenoaks District Council, becomes planning policy against which planning applications are then judged.
As the parish council had received a consultation, from Kent County Council, on the community warden service, this was discussed. Kent County Council wish to save over £1.2m on this service, and are proposing to cut down on the number of community wardens from 79 to 40, as well as to get these community wardens to cover villages that currently do not have one. Logically, this indicates that a community warden would have to cover at least double the number of villages that each currently covers, when they are already spread fairly thinly. In addition it is suggested in the consultation that the wardens would not have dedicated parishes. Councillors agreed that if the community wardens are both spread more thinly and not dedicated to an area then the service becomes fairly pointless. The council, therefore, objected to the proposals. We shall keep a keen eye on this, and discuss it with other local parish councils at a forthcoming consortium meeting.
Tourism was next discussed, and whether we would want to do something in the way of encouraging more tourism and supporting the local tourist attractions. It was agreed that most parishioners would not want to see any encouragement that generates more traffic in the village on sunny weekends in particular. However, it was discussed that we could perhaps do something to encourage the use of trains, perhaps by negotiating discounts with local attractions and pubs, to those that travel by train. This was just an idea. It was agreed that Andrea would set up a small team to give this some more thought.
The format of the next Annual Parish Meeting was the next topic, when it was agreed that the more informal approach of last year should be repeated, but that the event should be made to look a little more like a parish council event, and perhaps to include some short, formal business. It was also agreed that we would seek views on whether a Friday evening is a good time to hold it.
Finally, Andrea reported on a site meeting that she had attended with the North West Kent Countryside Project, at the Castlefield Nature Area, when it was agreed that a footpath, open to members of the public, would be a positive move. As a result, we will be proceeding with path clearance between the High Street access, to the boundary of the allotments, for which we had already agreed a cost of £500.
Allocations and Development Management Plan
2nd November 2014
Completed my review of the policies in the Sevenoaks District Local Plan which I had not so far reviewed. Started to review the Allocations and Development Management Plan (ADMP), part of the Local Development Framework (LDF), which will go some way to replacing it. I have noticed three potential items so far that may give rise to concern. The first is that there is no mention of tandem development, ie development behind an existing road frontage, such as Station Road. I would be concerned if the plan opened up such development possibilities. The second is that there appears to be no mention of vehicle parking standards for domestic property extensions, although new developments are covered, and this would be a worry given the existing parking problems in the village. The third is that there appears to be little mention of the protection of wildlife sites, bearing in mind that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) expects local authorities to '... set criteria based policies against which proposals for any development on or affecting protected wildlife or geodiversity sites or landscape areas will be judged'. I will ask Phil Ward, our Planning Committee chairman to double check these points, and then seek clarification from Sevenoaks District Council should he agree that there is a concern.
Sevenoaks District Local Plan
31st October 2014
Continued to look at the policies in the Sevenoaks District Local Plan (SDLP), this time for Population & Housing and Employment. This I am doing with a view to identifying any policy references, important to Eynsford, that ought to be covered in the Allocations and Development Management Plan (ADMP), within the Local Development Framework LDF). The ADMP substantially replaces the SDLP.
