ACTION

1

APOLOGIES

Borough Councillor Davis passed on apologies from Borough Councillor Dalton.

2

MINUTES

The minutes of the minutes held on the 1^st December 2009 were proposed by Cllr Stone and seconded by Cllr Savage, to be a true record of proceedings and it was AGREED that they be signed by the Chairman.

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

PCSO Allan Newby’s report had been circulated prior to the meeting. He introduced PC Jackie Wilkinson who started in this area this week. A further 2 PC’s will be joining the area, one next week and another at the end of February. Cllr Savage raised parking problems in Nelson Road with PCSO Newby, who agreed to keep monitoring the parking problems in the village.

Community Warden Leipnik gave a report for December as follows:-

·         He had attended the Christmas fair, party and carol service at All Saints Primary School.

·         Represented the Community Wardens at a crime prevention event

·         There had been a number of shed breaks-ins in the village. He had a limited number of Shed alarms, free for residents

·         He reported that young people in the Ravens Knowle area have been messing with wheelie bins, putting rubbish in the road and throwing a bin over a hedge.

As there were no further questions, PCSO Newby, PC Wilkinson and Community Warden Leipnik left the meeting at 7.40pm.

6

BOROUGH COUNCILLORS REPORT

Borough Councillor Davis advised the Parish Council that a resident had reported that a salt bin is missing at the top of Knowle Road/Junction with Pilgrims Way. It was AGREED that the Clerk would contact Kent Highways Services.

Following on from the meeting with TMBC’s Housing Officer, the draft for the local allocation plan for social housing in the area will be available mid to late January.

There is going to be a regular Anti-Social Behaviour meeting, starting on 26/1/10 to deal with the regular problems we have in the area.

Cllr Davis updated the Parish Council on the flooding reports submitted to KHS. As soon as the cold weather has eased, they will be looking into solving the problems. Any additional flooding problems should be passed onto Cllr Davis to add to the list.

Cllr Parnell pointed out that the flooding at the bottom of School Lane caused problems with the BT telephone exchange being flooded and the loss of the line to residents in this area. It was AGREED that when this happens in the future, Cllr Parnell should contact BT and suggest that BT contact KHS direct regarding the issue of poor maintenance of the road.

Clerk

7

COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT

There was nothing to report

8

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

There were no members of public.

9

PLANNING:

Planning applications considered and commented upon, by Planning Committee: None to report

(a)                Planning consents issued: Front Porch with lean-to-roof at 68 High Street, Wouldham, TM/09/02456/FL – Granted Permission

(b)                 

(c)                Planning applications refused: None to report

(d)               

Other Planning Issues:

The Chairman AGREED he will be contacting architect, Martin Hunt, to set up a meeting regarding putting in a planning application for the New Village Hall.

Chairman

10

STREET LIGHTING:

It was reported that the Car Park light is still not working. Cllr Adams advised that TMBC do not own the light. Cllr Adams AGREED to contact Borough Councillor Dalton regarding trying to establish ownership before the Parish Council considers taking on the maintenance.

The Clerk reported that she had been trained by KHS to access the Parish Portal and report faults online. It is KHS wish that Clerks are now responsible for on-line reporting faulting. It was AGREED that the relevant Parish Councillor emails all street lighting and Highways faults to the Clerk for on-line fault reporting in the future.

Cllr Adams

11

HIGHWAYS & VERGES

The Clerk informed the Parish Council that Julian Cook had advised that the Traffic Calming report we have is the Final Safety Audit Report. It was AGREED that the Clerk would respond to Julian Cook to advise that the Parish Council is not happy with the traffic calming in the village and in certain instances, the recommendations have not been carried out eg. Posts to be painted white.

It was AGREED to ask Cllr Head to chase KHS again regarding the road surface in School Lane.

The Bollards outside 27/29 High Street are still outstanding despite the Parish Report advising that the work has been completed. The Chairman AGREED to contact Peter Homewood regarding this issue.

Clerk

Clerk

Chairman

12

FOOTPATHS/PROW

Cllr Stone reported that a draft application has been submitted to the Valley of Visions for the Community Trail and a meeting would be arranged with Jennifer Smith shortly to progress this further. So far, the Clerk had received 3 responses to the mail drop leaflet. Cllr Savage advised that his wife might be able to assist with any illustrations required for the trail.

Cllr Savage advised that the crack appears to be opening up by the footpath by the riverbank open space off Nelson Road. It was AGREED that the clerk should contact Steve Medlock, TMBC Engineer, regarding this.

Clerk

13

ALLOTMENTS

It was reported that a hole had been cut in the fencing and the sheds had been robbed. Arrangements had been made for the repair.

14

WOULDHAM COMMON

There was nothing to report.

15

VILLAGE HALL

The Village Hall floor had been sanded and re-varnished over the Christmas holiday period. Everyone agreed that this improved the hall. Curtains are next on the agenda for the refurbishment.

16

RECREATION GROUND

The Chairman reported that he would like to revitalise his idea for outdoor gymnasium equipment, subject to funding. It was AGREED that the Chairman would contact the company that makes the equipment and obtain a quote.

Chairman

17

FINANCE

General: The Clerk advised that she had a meeting with the Business Relationship Manager at Natwest Bank. Due to problems incurred with the length of time it took to add the clerks signature to the bank account, the bank had agreed, free of charge, to change the bank accounts to an automatic transfer system where all the money is held in the reserve account, earning interest, with just held £100 in the current account. Every time a cheque is presented, funds are automatically transferred into the current account. The Clerk had also asked the bank to look into the way the account had been set up, currently incurring monthly bank charges. The bank agreed to change the bank to be set up as a club and societies account, therefore now not incurring any further bank charges.

Bank Position as at 31/12/09

Current Account £8,656.16

Reserve Account £18,915.13

Building Society £10,282.66

Income for December 2009

02/12/2009 EDF Energy Wayleave £49.64

09/12/2009 Village Hall Repayment of loan £250.00

11/12/2009 EDF Energy Wayleave £7.68

Accounts for Payment:

Direct EDF Energy Street Lighting – Dec.09 £23.95

2494 Sarah Egglesden Salary/Expenses £963.36

2495 J Harmer Litter Duties £185.60

2496 HM Rev & Customs NI/PAYE £62.99

2497 Canterbury Flooring Village Hall Floor £1100.00

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

100610 J Harmer Village Hall Duties – Dec 09 £200.00

100611 KCC (KCS) Towels/Toilet Rolls £39.39

Grants: nothing to report

18

SPECIAL ITEMS

Items for the Church Newsletter – Cllr Parnell AGREED to include items from the Community Warden’s report in the Church News letter as well as the action be taken on road flooding, the Parish Councils concern at accidents at the traffic calming in the village, Valley of Visions Community Trail project is progressing and the Parish Council is looking into outdoor gym equipment on the recreation ground, subject to funding.

Ravens Knowle –The Parish Council has now received a letter from Trenport advising that they wish to grant the Parish Council the virtual freehold (999 year lease) at a nominal rent for the use of the land as a village Green. It was AGREED that the Parish Council did not want to take on this land and the Clerk would respond to Trenport declining their offer. It was also AGREED that the clerk would write again to Kent Law suggesting that the residents of Raven’s Knowle form a Residents Association, which could then look to purchasing the land from Trenport.

Churchyard and Cemeteries Maintenance – Headland no longer wish to maintain the cemetery. The Chairman has visited the cemetery and it is now showing signs of neglect. It was AGREED that the Chairman would meet with the Rector, Jennie Bradshaw, and ask her how the Church wishes to proceed with the maintenance of the cemetery: either the Parish Council will continue to forward the maintenance money to the Church and the Church arrange a contractor, supervising their work or the Parish Council will retain the money and seek a suitable contactor and supervise the work on a regular basis.

Cllr Parnell

Clerk

Chairman

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 2^nd February 2010 at 7.30 pm

21

COUNCILLORS/CHAIRMAN/CLERK

Cllr Adams asked if the Clerk had any further update regarding the survey of the trees at Pilgrims Reach. The Clerk had forwarded an email to Cllr Adams from Liz Guthrie, TMBC, advising that the survey will be carried out in the spring when the weather is better.

Cllr Adams would also contact Cllr Head regarding the tree in School Lane.

The Clerk advised Councillors that an updated 20^th edition of The Parish Councillor’s Guide is now available. Currently most Councillor’s have the 18^th edition. It was AGREED the Clerk would look into seeing if a PDF version is available. If this is not available, the Clerk will look into obtaining copies for Cllrs Savage, Parnell and Head, who are currently all without a copy of this book.

There being no further business to discuss the meeting closed at 9.05 pm.

Clerk