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WOULDHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the MONTHLY MEETING
of the PARISH COUNCIL held on TUESDAY, 6th
NOVEMBER, 2007, in the VILLAGE HALL, WOULDHAM.
PRESENT: Mr. K Malkinson (Chairman),
Mr. D Adams, Mrs J Head, Ms A Parnell
and Mr
R Stone.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr D Davis (Borough Councillor)
PCSO
Honeysett (Police)
Mr. M J Ross (Clerk)
MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC: There were 3 Members of the public
present. Action by
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies
for absence were received from Cllrs. Giles, Fulwell and
Bor. Cllr. Dalton.
The Clerk pointed out to
Members that Cllr. Giles had not attended a Parish Council meeting for 6
months and therefore, under
Section 85 of the Local Government Act, 1972, he ceased to be a member of
the Parish Council. The Clerk confirmed that he would advise
the Monitoring Officer of TMBC of this
fact and confirm that there is
a further casual vacancy on the PC, thus making a total of 3 vacancies
currently. Members AGREED to this course of
action.
2. MINUTES: The minutes of the monthly meeting of the Parish Council, held on the 2nd
October,
2007, were proposed by Cllr.
Adams and seconded by Cllr. Stone, to be a true record of the proceedings
of the Parish Council, and it
was AGREED that they be signed by the Chairman.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM
MINUTES: Members AGREED that matters arising from the
minutes would be dealt with
under the appropriate heading as the meeting progressed through the
agenda.
4. POLICE REPORT: In the absence of a
Police Officer, PCSO Honeysett reported the crime figures
for the past 2 months. During this period there were 11 crimes
reported. Some of these crimes were
currently being investigated and they ranged
from attempted burglary to theft of a MV and criminal
damage.
PCSO Honeysett also stated that she had not
realized that Laker Road, Rochester came within the
boundary of the Parish and consequently she had
a separate set of crime figures for that locality. In this
instance 8 crimes had been reported for this
area ranging from theft of a MV, interfering with a vehicle
and assault.
The parking on the pavement at the Wouldham
Court Farm development was continuing to occur and it
was suggested that PCSO Honeysett should, where
appropriate, leave a note on the windscreens of any
cars illegally parked on the pavement, pointing
out the fact that they are illegally parked.
This course of
action was AGREED by Members.
Cllr. Stone made reference to fireworks that
had been let off in the vicinity of School Lane which had
caused problems and enquired whether the
reported situation had been actioned.
PCSO Honeysett was
unaware of the situation and undertook to
investigate
5. BOROUGH COUNCILLORS REPORT: Borough Cllr. Davis reported
that fly tipping
that had taken place at Hill Road, had been cleared by TMBC but there
still remained a degree
of litter. He was in discussion on possible actions with Dennis Gardner
of TMBC with particular
reference to possible ways of making the area less accessible for fly
tipping. Members
AGREED that an item should be included in the Church News regarding
this and asking members of the public to phone in reporting any fly
tipping observed.
With regard to the adoption of Oldfield Drive, Bor. Cllr. Dalton had
consulted with KHS and
EDF Energy but there had been no progress to date. Members AGREED that letters should be Action by
sent to Malcolm Appleby of KHS and EDF Energy inviting them to a PC
Meeting to explain
Clerk why there has been such a delay in progressing this matter and try
to determine actions
that need to be taken to bring
this matter to a conclusion.
The planning application from Trenport for Condition 26 is to be
considered by Area 3 Planning
Committee at their next meeting and a petition for soft surfaces for the
Greenway has been
submitted by local horse riders.
Cllr. Head enquired whether it was legal create a wooded area from an
agricultural field.
6.
COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT: The Clerk advised members that he had not
received
any report from County Cllr. Rowe.
7. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: A member of the public asked who was
responsible for
installing the kissing gate on MR6 since she felt it was difficult for persons with pushchairs to
get through. The Chairman
confirmed the PC had installed the gate and were satisfied that it
allowed access to all wishing to use the footpath.
Another member of the public referred to the fact that some of the
street furniture had been
damaged and knocked over and Cllr. Head confirmed that this would be
recorded on the next
spreadsheet for submission to WKH.
The need for another bollard on the approach to
the Riverfront was also raised and Cllr. Head Cllr. Head
also stated that she would take this matter up
with TMBC.
8. PLANNING: (a) Planning
applications considered and commented upon, by Planning
Committee:
(i)
Peters Pit & Works –
Proposed new Village-Details of site
investigations and remediation strategy
(Condition 8)-Revised
cycleway, footway and bridleway strategy: No further comments
other than those already submitted
(ii)
Peters Village-Details
of retention, interpretation & management
programme for chalk faces: No comments
(iii)
7 High Street-Demolition
of side extension & erection of new
2 storey house with off street parking: The PC identified that
Policy P6/1of the Local Plan,
quoted by the applicant, does not
apply to Wouldham and there are
also concerns over the proximity of
various windows to the communal alleyway which
serves the other
properties including the Village Hall (fire escape). The PC therefore
consider that rather than enhancing the area, the
proposal would
remove the individuality of the terrace.
(b) Planning Consents
issued:
(i)
181 High Street-Loft
conversion rear dormers & porch.
(ii)
Land between A228 &
Hall Road-Bridge Crossing-Detail of external
materials.
(c) Planning Applications
refused:
There were no applications
refused this month.
(d)
Other Planning Issues:
Access
road to rear of High Street: The Clerk reported that the PC
were
awaiting the results of the application to the KCC Local Board
for a grant
towards the fees for the design and planning application.
It was
unlikely the result of the application would be known before
January,
2008 Peters Pit Development- Liaison Group: The
Chairman
reported that arrangements were trying to be made to
meet on the
23rd November.
Action by
9. STREET LIGHTING: Cllr. Adams reported that he had carried out a
survey of the Oldfield
Drive area and had established that there were 3 lights out. There was also a light out in Hall
Road.
10. HIGHWAYS & VERGES: General: Cllr. Head referred to the monthly
spreadsheet that Cllr. Head
was submitted to WKH and asked
if there were any other issues to be added for this month.
11. FOOTPATHS/PROW: General: Cllr. Head referred to the fact
that a Land Rover was
seen driving up MR6 and asked if this was allowable. It was suggested that the issue be taken
up with the PROW Office at KCC. Cllr. Head
12. ALLOTMENTS: The Chairman reported that Andy Fizzani had
resigned as Chairman of
the Allotment Association. Andy
Marr had been appointed as Chairman for the time being.
Cllr. Parnell raised the issue of plots that had been let but were not
being cultivated and
consequently were left in an untidy state. It was felt that unless the allotments were shown to
be well used and maintained in a neat condition, the land may well be
lost for development.
It was AGREED that the temporary Chairman be advised that there was a
need to ensure the
proper maintenance of the allotments.
It was also AGREED that the Clerk should seek the Clerk
views of TMBC on registering the land as allotments on the Local Plan to
ensure they remain
allotments for all time.
13. RECREATION GROUND: The Clerk reported that he had been
in touch with John
Fletcher of the Medway Inn regarding his proposals for establishing a
garden area within part of
the Recreation Ground car park.
It was suggested that a site meeting should take place on
Saturday 10th November at 1.0pm when all members who would be
able to attend at this time
should be present to hear Mr. Fletcher’s proposals. This was AGREED.
14. VILLAGE HALL: The Clerk reported that he had received a
response from Lafarge
Cement regarding the restrictive covenant on the Village Hall. They were happy to allow the
release of the PC from this covenant subject to certain safeguards. They had provided details of
the Company’s Solicitors and suggested that the PC arrange for their
Solicitors to contact them
with a view to progressing the matter.
Since this was a fairly straightforward matter, Members
AGREED that the Clerk should seek the services of a local Solicitor who
could deal with this Clerk
matter and would not be too expensive.
Members also AGREED that a meeting of the VH Management Committee should
be arranged
and to this end, the Clerk make contact with all the users of the VH
with a view to them
Clerk
attending a meeting. In view
of Cllr. Stone,(Chairman of the
Management Committee) being
absent, the meeting should be arranged for a date after the 23rd
November.
16.
FINANCE: (i) General: The Clerk advised Members that as from the 1st October,
2007,
the minimum
wage was £5.52 per hour.
The Clerk
also referred to the fact that he had now obtained a quotation from Shaw &
Sons for
the
replacement of the Chairman’s insignia which had been stolen from the Clerk’s
house
when it had
been burgled. The quotation amounted
to £1950 plus VAT and members
AGREED that
the Clerk should proceed to submit this to the PC’s insurers with a view
to Clerk
obtaining
clearance to placing an order for the replacement of the insignia.
(ii)
Bank Position:
Income this month: Nil
Current
Account: £7490.05 (less cheques for payment today)
Savings Account: £18,380.95
Action
Building Society Account: £9,724.08
(iii) Accounts for Payment:
Cheque No
|
Payee
|
Detail
|
Amount
|
|
2329 |
Royal British Legion |
Remembrance Sunday Wreath &
Donation |
50.00 |
|
Direct |
EDF Energy |
Street Lighting–Electricity supply
October, 2007 |
22.96 |
|
2330 |
Brachers
|
Fees for further action |
218.55 |
|
2331 |
K Malkinson
|
Reimbursement for litter pickers
purchased |
22.44 |
|
2332 |
M J Ross
|
Sal: 750.00; Rent: 150.00; Exp:
20.80; Imp: 12.04 |
932.84 |
|
2333 |
J Harmer
|
Litter duties – October, 2007. |
220.80 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total to be authorised today: |
1467.59 |
|
|
|
|
|
All the above accounts were approved for payment.
(iii)
Grants: Cllr. Adams undertook to approach
County Cllr. Rowe in regard
to the KCC Local Members Grant which was to be for clearing and
providing a surface for the
newly acquired strip of land by the school, together with such works as
are necessary to provide
adequate ornamental vegetation along it. Cllr. Adams
16 SPECIAL REPORTS: (a)
Village Sign: Cllr. Adams advised Members that, in order to
progress matters with regard to the junior signs, he had taken on
himself to place the signs at
either end of the village in locations approximate to those discussed by
Members at their last
meeting. He had sited these
high up in order to try and avoid vandalism, on telegraph poles
near the Church and by Cornwall Crescent.
(b)Church News & Letter: Various subjects were agreed for
inclusion in the Parish News, including the fact that children from the
school had participated
in the planting of bluebells on the Common, the crime figure reported by
the Police and it was
also suggested that local people would be interested to hear that Rita
Martin’s dog ‘Peg’ was Clerk
now living with her granddaughter.
17. CORRESPONDENCE: The
list of letters and other correspondence received during the
month was
circulated to Members on the e-mail, so that any Member could request sight of
any
particular
item that they wished to read.
18. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be on the 4th
December, 2007.
As this meeting would be the last before the Christmas break, Members
AGREED that a
small buffet be provided at the Medway Inn, on similar lines to that
provided last year.
19. COUNCILLORS/CHAIRMAN/CLERK:
Cllr. Head raised the matter of Disabled
parking
bays and was suggesting to KCC that a review of the current allocation be
carried
out.
Cllr. Stone
referred to the RBL Poppy Appeal and confirmed that within the Village there
were a
number of sources for donating to this with Poppies in the pubs and the shop,
apart
from Stella
Stevenson’s normal action in this respect.
Cllr. Adams
stated that he felt the parking provision in the planning application for 7
High
Street was
inadequate and also enquired about the Church Car Park that was proposed and
would this
be available to the public. It was
confirmed that this would not be available for
public use.
Action by
The final
point raised by Cllr. Adams was in regard to Knowle Pit and the progress in
negotiations
to acquire this for the PC. The
Chairman stated that he was chasing Mike
Bax who was
reporting the matter to the Maths School
Discussion
also took place on the proposed access road issue and the outcome was that
the PC
would place an order with Martin Hunt to develop the scheme and the PC would
continue to
attempt to obtain a grant but this could not be allowed to hold the matter
up. Clerk
The
Chairman referred to the fact that Roman remains found locally, were the
subject of a
report and
Trenport would be sending a copy to the PC in due course.
There being
no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.40pm
Signed as a correct record of the
proceedings
Date: 4th
December, 2007. Chairman:………………………
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