ACTION

1

APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Borough Councillor Davis, PC Grantham and PCSO Stoner.

2

MINUTES

The minutes of the Parish Council AGM and monthly meeting held on the 10^th May were proposed by Cllr Adams and seconded by Cllr Stone, to be a true record of proceedings. The Extraordinary Minutes of the meeting held on 17^th May were proposed by Cllr Adams and seconded by Cllr Craib, to be a true record of proceedings. It was agreed that the Chairman should therefore sign all the minutes.

3

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Members agreed that any matters arising from the minutes would be dealt with under the appropriate heading, as the meeting progressed through the agenda. 

4

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

5

POLICE & COMMUNITY WARDEN’S REPORT

The police report had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting.

CW Liepnik reported on: -

·         Working with the school in a kite making exercise

·         New signage along the Pilgrims Way regarding clearing up rubbish. The Warden had done the scooping exercise for this with the TMBC Officer.

·         Following a recent dog incident, the Warden reminded the Council that dogs which are chipped must have their address changed with the national database for this when their owners move.

The Chairman requested some free signs for looking after dogs to place on the recreation ground and CW Liepnik promised to obtain some of the ‘dog poo fairy’ signs. The Chairman advised that he would be bringing up any dog problems at the next ASB meeting.

CW Leipnik left the meeting at 7.45pm.

6

BOROUGH COUNCILLORS REPORT

Cllr Dalton reported that the Joint Transportation Board Meeting would be held on 13/6/11. A proposal for double yellow lines at Garden Court is mentioned in the Phase 6 parking action plan. The Chairman advised that he does not recall the Parish Council supporting this proposal. After much discussion, it was agreed that the problem here might have resolved itself, as the Parish Council has not received any complaints from residents here. Cllr Dalton agreed to contact Mike MacCalloch to advise him this so he can contact the Parish Council for their views. The Parish Council agreed it would prefer to have further consultation here.

TMBC has been randomly selected as 1 of 50 authorities to take part in a survey by the Electoral Commission. A sample of residents in the TMBC area will receive a survey to complete.

Burham Parish Council will be sending 2 Councillors as representatives to the next 3 Village Liaison Meeting.

Cllr Dalton

7

COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT

Cllr Homewood had been expected at this meeting as he had confirmed his attendance at a meeting held last week with the Chairman and Clerk, to discuss grant funding applications for the various projects discussed last month.

Cllr Adams declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the next item. He advised the Parish Council that the free bus pass for school children is ending for selective schools only according to a local paper. It was agreed in Cllr Homewood’s absence, the Clerk would write to him, copying in Sarah Hohler, Cabinet Member for Education, firstly to clarify the situation on this.

Clerk

8

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

No members of public present.

9

PLANNING:

Planning applications considered and commented upon, by Planning Committee: TM/11/00983/FL – Loft conversion with front dormer at 17 Trafalgar Close, Wouldham – No objections

Planning consents issued: TM/11/00954/LDP – erection of single storey side and single storey rear extension at 4 Trafalgar Close, Wouldham – Lawful Development Certificate issued

Cllr Parris asked what a LDC is. Cllr Adams explained that it is a lawful development that does not require planning consent.

TM1/00887/FL – conversion and extension of existing garage to provide additional living and storage accommodation. Extension of existing driveway and painting of external plot. Creation of new gated entrance to the new landscaped plot adjoining the house (Revisions to plans approved under TM/10/03280/FL) at 1 Trafalgar Close, Wouldham – Granted Permission

Planning applications refused: None to report

Other Planning Issues: Nothing to report.

10

STREET LIGHTING:

Cllr Adams did not have any new streetlight issues to report this month.

11

HIGHWAYS & VERGES

There were not any new highways issues to report this month. Cllr Head confirmed that a KHS contractor had been cutting the hedges/verges in the village last week following a request for an early cut.

12

FOOTPATHS/PROW

Cllrs Head and Stone reported that there are dangerous stumps still sticking out of footpath MR1 that are a trip hazard. A resident had complained about this. It was agreed that the Clerk would inform David Munn, PROW. Cllr Stone advised that he had agreed to run a small tractor over the path in the next couple of weeks to help establish this route, as requested by PROW.

The Clerk had reported the damaged whips to PROW and David Munn had agreed to review this later in the year if the whips did not continue to grow.

Cllr Adams asked for an update on the permissive footpath rights at Oldfield Drive. The Parish Council had not heard anything further since initially contacting Shirley Boards, Trenport. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact Shirley Boards for an update.

Clerk

Cllr Stone

Clerk

13

ALLOTMENTS

The Chairman reported that he had been contacted by a resident wishing to rent the top allotment field, formerly rented by Headland. He has an allotment plot and wanted to start a chicken egg laying business and rent out the top field for horses. The Chairman advised the Parish Council that it couldn’t rent the allotments for commercial use or allow a tenant to sub-let the land. The Chairman has written to Trenport to see if they would consider renting the allotments to the Parish Council for a gratuitous sum if we maintained the top field.

14

WOULDHAM COMMON

The Clerk reported that the £1000 electricity easement money had now been received. Cllr Fulwell suggested putting a bin on the Common. This had been discussed before and it was agreed that it was not viable to put a bin here. Both the Chairman and Cllr Head regularly clear up the rubbish here, which is generally put in bin bags and left by the side of the Common. It was agreed that it was up to all Parish Councillors to monitor the rubbish situation here and clear up if visiting or passing the Common.

All

15

VILLAGE HALL

Cllr Stone reported that we had recently had quite a few children’s party bookings for the hall. Jellybeans had raised a concern with a caretaker not being in place and had requested a rent reduction. This was not feasible as they already rent the hall at a subsidised rate and there a new cleaner contactor is in place. The only change is that the Clerk now deals with the bookings, saving the Village Hall money.

Cllr Stone advised that a further meeting with architect, Martin Hunt is taking place on 17^th June. Cllr Malkinson reminded Steering Group members that they need to get information together for Martin for justification for a new hall; such as lack of parking, no disabled access.

Village Hall Steering Group

16

RECREATION GROUND

Cllr Fulwell reported that a car had been seen driving across the recreation ground and there is a post missing which needs to be replaced to prevent this happening again. It was agreed that the Clerk would arrange for this work to be carried out, removing an existing post from in front of the children’s play area and put in the gap.

Cllr Fulwell asked about underground cabling, details send round in a recent Rural News email The Clerk advised that Cllr Adams had already raised this several month back and it had been investigated but unfortunately was not viable for Wouldham.

Cllr Parris reported on a hole in the recreation ground. A board had been placed over it with nails sticking out, which she had removed. It was agreed that when the water board are working on the pumping station, the Chairman would ask them to fill in the hole, as they would have the necessary equipment on site.

Clerk

Chairman

17

FINANCE

Financial Statement – May 2011: This had been circulated to councillors prior to the meeting. The Chairman verified and signed the bank statement.

Bank Position as at 31/05/11

Current Account £100.00

Reserve Account £30,381.09

Building Society £10,290.50

Income for May 2011

Cheques signed:

The following cheques were signed for the Village Hall Management Committee:

18

SPECIAL ITEMS

Items for the Church Newsletter – It was agreed to report on the Police report and the photographic exhibition.

Cllr Fulwell raised concern regarding the parish news advising residents to report Quad Bikes on the roads to the police as some quad bikes are registered vehicles and therefore legal. Cllr Stone advised that he had spoken with PCSO Stoner about this and some unregistered off road vehicles arrive in a registered vehicle, which are then, unloaded and used on the roads. Residents should report the vehicle registration of the vehicle they arrive in to assist the police to trace the quad bike owners.

The Chairman reported on a fly tipping incident on the recreation ground. A resident had provided photos of the vehicle, details of which had been passed to the police and TMBC. It was agreed that the Clerk should forward this information to Burham and Aylesford Parish Council for their information.

Risk Assessment – Cllr Parris had drafted a new risk assessment which was circulated to all councillors. The Chairman asked that Councillors take this away and compare it with the Clerks risk assessment, done for the Audit Commission last year.

Cllr Parnell

Clerk

ALL

19

CORRESPONDENCE LIST: The list of correspondence received and letters sent during the last month had been circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting.

20

DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 5th July 2011 at 7.30 pm.

21

COUNCILLORS/CHAIRMAN/CLERK

Cllr Craib asked the Parish Council for permission to treat the bench on the village green with a preservative. Councillors agreed to this, advising Cllr Craib that she should put a sign on the bench advising that it is wet for at least 24 hours afterwards.

Cllr Parris requested that a sign is put up at the entrance to Hall Road advising that the road is a dead-end/no through road. The Chairman advised that this would be KHS decision and it was agreed that the Clerk should pass this request onto them.

There being no further business to discuss the meeting closed at 8.55 pm.

Cllr Craib

Clerk