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WOULDHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the MONTHLY MEETING
of the PARISH COUNCIL held on TUESDAY,
4th MARCH, 2008,
in the VILLAGE HALL, WOULDHAM.
PRESENT: Mr. K Malkinson (Chairman),
Mr. D Adams, Mr T Fulwell, Mrs J Head,
Ms A
Parnell and Mr R Stone.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr R Dalton (Borough Councillor)
Pc Dalton (Police)
Mr. M J Ross (Clerk)
MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC: There was 1 Member of the public
present. Action by
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies
for absence were received from Bor. Cllr. Davis.
2. MINUTES: The minutes of the monthly meeting of the Parish Council, held on the
5th February, 2008
were proposed by Cllr. Stone and seconded by Cllr. Adams, 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: PC Dalton
apologized for the fact that there was no representative from the
Police, at the February meeting. He therefore gave the crime figures for
the period 7th January to 3rd
March, 2008, which, for the Village, were 8
crimes reported ranging from criminal damage, theft of a
motor vehicle and assault. He also gave separate figures for the Laker
Road area where there were 6
crimes including thefts from a shop, carrying
an offensive weapon and drug offences.
Cllr. Head asked if it was thought the some of
the offences at Laker Road were as a result of the recently
opened skate park but the Police did not feel
the crimes could necessarily be attributed to this.
5. BOROUGH COUNCILLORS REPORT: Bor. Cllr. Dalton reported that there
would be a
4.1% increase in the Borough’s Council Tax this year.
With regard to Peters Village all issues have been resolved, with the
exception of the Greenway.
In the case of the adoption of Oldfield Drive, there are still lights
out which have been reported
and bollards have been damaged in the service road.
The planning application relating to the alterations and extensions to
form a new dwelling at
7 High Street, was considered by Area 3 Planning Committee, when
officers recommended
approval of the scheme, but members debated the application and refused
to agree the proposal
6.
COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT: The Clerk reported that he had not received any
report from
County Councillor Rowe.
7.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: The member of the public present raised the matter of the
entry into
the village from the Borstal side and pointed out that there were no reflectors
on the
traffic management works, the
sign for which, had been demolished by a car.
Cllr. Head stated that
KHS were aware of this fact
and it was hoped that the appropriate reflectors would be fitted soon.
He also asked about the fact
that construction traffic appeared to be going into the Pit from Ravens
Knowle and enquired whether
this was allowed as it had been stipulated that all construction traffic for
the Peters Village
development would not go into the village.
8. PLANNING: (a) Planning
applications considered by the Planning Committee:
(i)
The Barn, Rochester
Road-Alterations ro form a dwelling-Minor amendment:
No comments
(ii)
Land west of Rochester Road, Rochester Airport Estate-Change of use: The PC
question whether the road system will be
able to cope with the additional
Action
junctions
and traffic movements that will arise as, potentially, this could give rise
to more ‘rat running’. Also the PC ask how justification can be
given to
developing this Greenfield site when
brownfield land exists in the immediate
vicinity.
(b)
Planning Consents issued:
(i) Land east of Hall Road-Removal
of high voltage overhead line
(c) Planning Applications refused:
There were no applications refused this month.
(d) Other Planning
Issues:
Members discussed the fact that EDF
Energy were burying cables
and
suggested that an approach to Trenport Investments might be
worthwhile to see if they would be
prepared to arrange and pay for
the cables to be buried through to
Knowle Road. Cllr. Adams also
suggested that the PC might consider
seeking their cooperation in
paying for the cables that cross the
proposed playing field of the
school, to be buried. It was understood that EDF Energy had a
policy of burying cables where
opportune, therefore Members Clerk
AGREED that an approach to Trenport
Investments, raising these
two issues, should be made
Planning Committee: Members discussed the sequence of
passing
round planning applications referred
for comments and AGREED
that the route should be
Chairman/Cllr. Head/Cllr. Adams/Cllr.
Parnell/Cllr. Stone.
Access road to rear of High Street: The Chairman reported that he,
together with Cllr.s Stone and Head,
had met with Martin Hunt and
discussed the scheme that had been
produced for the access road
As a result of the meeting, various
revisions had been agreed and
Martin Hunt was going to produce a
revised plan.
Three Villages Liaison Group: There was nothing to report this
Month.
9. STREET LIGHTING: Cllr. Adams stated that he and Bor. Cllr. Davis
had walked round the
Village and had determined which lights were out, particularly in the
Oldfield Drive area.
It was now necessary to determine what was an EDF Energy/supply problem
and what was a
minor issue.
10. HIGHWAYS & VERGES: General:
Cllr. Head referred to the Spreadsheet and enquired
whether members had any items to add but there were no other issues
raised. Clerk
The proposed survey of residents about the possible closure of
Scarborough and Margets Lanes
was discussed with the Chairman pointing out that Burham PC had decided
that they would not
survey their residents and the fact remained that, at this point in
time, KCC had no plans to close
the road and would the survey be more relevant when the bridge was
constructed and it was
easier to determine whether these two lanes were likely to become ‘rat
runs’. Members
discussed these issues at length culminating in Cllr. Adams proposing
that the survey of residents
should be carried out now and this was seconded by Cllr. Fulwell. A vote was then taken and
there were 2 members in favour of the proposal with 4 against. It was therefore AGREED that
the PC would carry out the survey of residents but this would be
deferred until such time as the
situation changed with hard evidence of the ‘rat running’ through these
lanes.
The Clerk reported that he had received notification from KHS that they
proposed to close a
stretch of the High Street from Portland Road to Ferry Lane to carry out
drainage repairs and
general patching works. The road would be closed for up to a week from
the 17th March, 2008.
Action
11. FOOTPATHS/PROW: General: The Clerk reported that 3
revised quotations had been
received for the surfacing of the footpath through the strip of land by
the school that the PC
had recently acquired from Trenport Investments. The lowest quote was from Paul Lunn and
amounted to £2, 915.64 plus VAT.
Members AGREED to accept the quote and authorized the Clerk
Clerk to accept the quote and ask for the works to be carried out as
soon as possible.
Matters Arising: The
Clerk reported that following his approach to Trenport seeking
a permissive footpath
from Oldfield Drive through to the allotments and High Street, he
had now been advised that they were
not prepared to grant this right. They
felt that their
donation of the land adjacent to the
school had completed a permeable network of
highway and paths around this Blue
Circle/Taylor Woodrow development.
They note
that, following the removal of a
section of fence, members of the public have started to
wander along this route but the
disrepair will be made good soon.
12. ALLOTMENTS: There was nothing to report on this item this month
and there was
no representative of the Allotment Association present.
13. RECREATION GROUND: The bench was being repaired and
TMBC were going to refit
a litter bin by the child’s play area
The Chairman informed Members that he had some literature on adult play
equipment which he
felt would be very suitable for placing on the Recreation Ground. He would circulate it to Chairman
Members so that they could examine it with a view to discussing the
possibility of purchasing
some items, at the PC meeting next month.
14. VILLAGE HALL: Cllr. Stone reported that there had been a
Management Committee
meeting recently with representatives of the users attending and giving
their views on what
they see as the problems relating to the Hall at the moment. It was hoped that the main Cllr. Stone
concerns could be addressed promptly and matters were in hand to deal
with this.
15.
FINANCE: (i) General: The Clerk reported that he had had
an approach from Came &
Co.,
Insurance Consultants, who were acting for Norwich Union Insurance, who were
offering
a Parish
Council Insurance Scheme. The PC
currently insure with Zurich Insurance but
Members
AGREED that it would be beneficial to obtain a free quotation from Norwich
Union Clerk
who were
launching this new scheme.
(ii) Bank Position:
Income this month: £2,000
Current
Account: £1,512.56 (less cheques for payment today)
Savings Account: £18,466.10
Building Society Account: £10,016.01
(iii) Accounts for Payment:
Cheque No
|
Payee
|
Detail
|
Amount
|
|
Direct |
EDF
Energy |
Street Lighting -
Electricity supply: February, 2008. |
22.96 |
|
2356 |
BT
|
PC Telephone account |
73.61 |
|
2357 |
Arkadia
|
Fee for preparing PC’s
Annual Return for Audit Comm |
235.00 |
|
2358 |
M J Ross
|
Sal: 750.00; Rent: 125.00;
Exp: 36.16; Imp: 12.38 |
948.54 |
|
2359 |
J Harmer
|
Litter Duties-January, 2008 |
176.64 |
|
2360 |
Headland Garden Services
|
Invoice for updating and
changing Notice Boards |
80.00 |
All the above accounts were
approved for payment.
(iv) Chairman’s Insignia: The Clerk reported that he had now
received an
amended quote from Shaw and Sons for the Chairman’s insignia. They confirm
that by not
producing a mould and not providing a case, they can provide the insignia for
Action by
£1475 plus
VAT. The insurance cover provides for
reimbursement up to £1450 and
therefore
Members AGREED that the revised quote be accepted and the Clerk be authorized
to confirm
to Shaw & Sons that the replacement Chairman’s insignia be produced. The cost Clerk
to the PC
would be £25.
(iv) Grants: The Clerk reported that he had
received a letter from
the Wouldham Guides asking if the PC would consider making a grant so
that they can
explore new avenues which might not otherwise be open to them, covering
such activities as
team building, problem solving and external leadership. Adequate provision was made in the
Precept for 2008/2009 for a grant to be made and Members therefore
AGREED that a grant of
£500 should be made. This would
not be payable until the financial year 2008/2009.
(v) Audit Commission Returns: The Clerk presented completed
Returns of PC Accounts for 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 as required by the
Audit Commission.
These accounts had been drawn up by Arkadia, Accountants that had been
employed by the
PC to carry out this work and Members were asked to approve these
Returns so that they could
be submitted to the Audit Commission.
Members AGREED the accounts and authorized that Clerk
they be submitted to the Audit Commission.
16 SPECIAL REPORTS: (a)
Village Sign: The Clerk reported that he had contacted KCC
Supplies who had advised that the price for providing a brass plaque
with the wording
“Designed and built by Ken & Jo Savage – 2007” engraved on it, would
be £32.20 plus £10
carriage. Members AGREED to
this charge and authorized the Clerk to place the necessary Clerk
order for the plaque.
(b)Church News & Letter: Various subjects were agreed for
inclusion in the Parish News, including notification of road closures,
crime figures and the
Clerk
fact that Mick Gurr, milkman, retired on the 23rd February
after 48 years of service.
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 the1st
April, 2008.
19. COUNCILLORS/CHAIRMAN/CLERK:
Cllr. Adams suggested that the PC should ask
Liz Guthrie
of TMBC to look at the trees of the Village and suggest any that warranted a
TPO.
Members
AGREED that Ms Guthrie be approached with this suggestion. Clerk
He also
raised the question of the PC obtaining payment for recycling of cardboard and
it was
decided
that this should be an agenda item for the April meeting of the PC.
Grants from
Geoff Rowe via the Local Board are available but can the PC establish who is
entitled to
apply for such grants. It would appear
the County Cllr. Rowe has some money Clerk
for grants
still available.
Cllr. Head
made reference to the fact that the bluebells were now in bloom on the Common.
Cllr.
Fulwell referred to the possibility of purchasing the land at Church Place and
the Clerk
advised
that he had the address of the Agents acting for the owner.
Cllr.
Parnell asked about the “Wouldham” sign as you enter the Village which has been
moved
but the
fact that a ‘Neighborhood Watch’ sign is still left in the old position. Since the
Neighborhood
Watch did not appear to exist in this locality any longer, it was suggested
that
the sign be
removed.
Action by
The Clerk
informed Members that he had received notification from Duncan Robinson, Chief
Solicitor
and Monitoring Officer of TMBC, that he was retiring through ill health, on the
31st
March,
2008. Ian Henderson, his Deputy would
be acting Chief Solicitor & Monitoring
Officer
until a successor is appointed.
He also
referred to an email he had regarding the newly established Valley of Vision
and the
grants that
were available but stated that this was something the PC were already aware of
and the
Chairman had already had discussions on the matter.
There being
no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.50pm
Signed as a correct record of the
proceedings
Date: 1st
April, 2008. Chairman:………………………
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