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WOULDHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the MONTHLY MEETING
of the PARISH COUNCIL held on TUESDAY,
11th NOVEMBER,
2008, in the VILLAGE HALL, WOULDHAM.
PRESENT: Mr. K Malkinson (Chairman),
Mr. D Adams, Mrs J Head and Mr T Fulwell.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr R Dalton (Borough Councillor)
Mr D Davis (Borough Councillor)
PC Dalton (Police)
Mr. M J Ross (Clerk)
MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC: There were 2 members of the public
present. Action by
1. APOLOGIES: Apologies for absence were received from
Councillors Morgan, Parnell
and Stone, County Councillor Rowe and PCSO
Honeysett.
2. MINUTES: The minutes of
the monthly meeting of the Parish Council, held on the
7th October, 2008 were proposed by
Cllr. Adams and seconded by Cllr. Head, 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 reported that there were 4 crimes
reported in the Village this
month. These were 3 burglary
other than dwelling and 1 theft miscellaneous.
There were no crimes reported for Laker Road and PC Dalton pointed out
that the traffic calming
measures in Laker Road were now completed and this may have had an
influence on the fact
that there were no crimes reported.
PC Dalton was also asked if the Police were aware of the fact that
gypsies were encamped in Laker
Road and he confirmed that since they were on private land, it was the
owners responsibility to
ensure their removal but the Police were monitoring the situation.
Fireworks that had been let off at the top of School Lane, was also
raised and it was confirmed
that PCSO Honeysett had dealt with the situation.
The Clerk drew attention to the fact that TMBC had advised that
‘Operation Cubitt’ was to be
operated in the Borough from 1st
– 5th December. This was
the removal of any untaxed vehicles
from the public highway. If the
PC were aware of any areas where there were such vehicles, the
Borough Council should be advised, with authority for them to act if the land is private.
5. BOROUGH COUNCILLORS REPORT: Borough Cllr. Davis advised Members
that TMBC
were aware of the problems relating to gypsies on land in Lake Road,
which was just inside the
TMBC area. The land they are on
is private and consequently TMBC are working, in
co-operation with the owners of the land, to resolve the matter
With regard to Oldfield Drive, it appears that Malcolm Appleby of KHA
has indicated there is
currently no Traffic Regulation Order in place and it is essential to
progress this before the
adoption can be proceeded with.
The sewers in Oldfield Drive and Trafalgar Close are partly public and
partly private. The public
sewers are the responsibility of Southern Water, but obviously the
private ones are the
responsibility of the homeowners.
If there are any immediate problems with the private sewers,
TMBC wish to be advised of the fact.
There is currently a White paper in progress through
Parliament which will make all sewers public in 2010.
In the case of the Church car park, the Church are still waiting to
purchase the land from Lefarge
Action by
and when this acquisition takes place, TMBC will assist with the
development of the car park.
Borough Cllr. Dalton reported that another planning application had been
submitted for 7 High
Street.
He also stated that in the light of the constant damage that was
occurring to the wall of the
properties to the left of the Village Hall, TMBC had enquired whether
extending the double
yellow lines would assist in obviating this happening.
The Parish Partnership Panel would be meeting of the 13th
November at TMBC Offices.
It had also been confirmed that the review of the Aylesford Sewer Plant
had been completed and
there were no further plans for development, other than routine
maintenance.
The practice of ‘cold calling’ on houses in the village was also
referred to and it was suggested
that anyone receiving a call from such individuals, should ask for
formal identification and it was
proposed that the Parish News items in the magazine, should draw
attention to this fact.
6.
COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT: County Councillor Rowe’s report had been circulated
and the
content was summarized as follows:
1. Friends of Wouldham All Saints CE Primary
School have submitted an application
for £1600 towards installation costs of a community bicycle shelter and
Wouldham
Guides have been in receipt of a grant for camping equipment. No application was
made this year for grant from the Small Community Capital Grant, by the
PC and the
list is now closed. Subject to
any comments from the PC County Cllr. Rowe is happy to
support the applications received.
2. KCC Health Watch was launched on
Friday, 10th October.
3. A permanent replacement Community
Warden has now been recruited and will take up
duties on the 17th November.
7.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: A member of the public raised the question of plastic
recycling
and asked if it would be possible for Wouldham to have an appropriate
facility. She was
advised
that this was unlikely as the whole question of plastic recycling was very
expensive in
relation to
the value of the plastic.
The same
member of the public confirmed her agreement with the suggestion of installing
CCTV
in the
village and suggested that it would be located on the green area opposite the
shop.
The
problems of parking in the Oldfield Drive area were also raised and Cllr. Adams
pointed out
that
because the roads were currently un-adopted, there was nothing that could be
done.
The question of youth club
provision was another issue raised and it was pointed out that until sufficient
volunteers could be found to
run the club, little could be achieved.
8. PLANNING: (a) Planning
applications considered by the Planning Committee:
(i)
Land east of 11 School
Lane – Details of validation of contamination
report: No comments
(ii)
21 Nelson Road – Bay
windows and single storey side extension: No comments
(b) Planning Consents issued:
(i) Peters Village-Details of archaeological
management
(c) Planning Applications refused:
There were no planning applications refused this
month.
(d) Other Planning Issues:
Access road to rear of High Street: Martin Hunt, the Consultant, was
now
gathering the information suggested
by TMBC and will submit this to the
PC in due course.
Tree Preservation Order-Land and
buildings, Hall Road: The Clerk
Action by
reported that TMBC had confirmed that the TPO made on land and
buildings in Hall Road, was now
approved.
1-3
Portland Road: The
Clerk reported that he had received
notification from TMBC that the
outstanding works, that were the subject
of enforcement procedures, had now
been completed to their satisfaction
and the matter was now closed.
9. STREET LIGHTING: Cllr. Adams reported that there were 6 street
lights out
but, despite chasing KHS, no action was forthcoming to date
The Clerk reported that he had received an approach from Ringway,
offering their services in
street light maintenance and it was AGREED that the approach be noted
and filed for obtaining
a quote next year..
10. HIGHWAYS & VERGES: General: Cllr Head reported a site meeting held with
representatives of KHS regarding the bollards outside the Church and
part of Wouldham
Court. It had been agreed that
the bollards would be relocated to a specific plan and that they
would proceed with this as soon as possible. They had also agreed that they would place a
bollard outside 27 High Street.
The bollards would be changed to wooden ones that were more
aesthetically pleasing.
Members also asked about the Final Audit Report that was expected on the
Traffic Calming
Scheme. The Clerk confirmed
that no such report had been forthcoming to date and Clerk
undertook to chase Julian Cook of KHS to establish when the report could
be expected.
Matters
Arising: The Clerk
reported that following his approach to Trenport regarding
the possible re-opening
of Old Church Road, they had stated that they were not
prepared to re-open the road for a
variety of reasons including to deter fly tipping, illegal
raves and burning out cars,
etc. Members discussed these issues
and asked the Clerk Clerk
to enquire of Trenport about rights
of access.
11. FOOTPATHS/PROW: General: The Clerk confirmed that he had
written to David Munn
of KCC PROW seeking to learn whether they would be prepared to
contribute towards the
cost of bringing many of the paths up to a reasonable standard and also
asking if a second cut is Clerk
planned for the paths this year.
To date no reply has been received.
12. ALLOTMENTS: There was nothing to report on the allotments this
month.
13. RECREATION GROUND: The Clerk confirmed that he had
approached Park Leisure to
provide a quote for the replacement of the window in the Teenage Shelter
but up to this point, Clerk
no quotation had been forthcoming.
The matter of the surface of the car park was again raised and it
appeared that Cllr. Stone was
unlikely to be able to acquire the necessary scalpings. It was therefore AGREED that
alternative sources of obtaining these scalpings should be investigated
14. FINANCE: (i) General: The Chairman
referred to the proposal to investigate the
provision
of the PC’s own website and the fact that Barry Hutchings was producing a
suggested
layout. Cllr. Fulwell proposed that
the PC should investigate the potential of using
the KCC
website where they offer free training on setting it up and maintaining
it. There was
considerable
discussion on the relative merits of each approach and it was AGREED that the
PC
should wait
until Barry Hutchings had produced his outline draft of the website, which the
Chairman,
together with the Clerk, had discussed with him. Members could then examine the
relative
merits of both websites and make a decision.
This would be a matter for discussion at
the next
meeting.
Action by
(ii) Bank Position:
Income this month: Nil
Current
Account: £8,004.58 (Less cheques for payment today)
Savings Account: £18,836.21
Building Society Account: £10,016.01
(iii)
Accounts for Payment:
Cheque No
|
Payee
|
Detail
|
Amount
|
|
Direct |
EDF
Energy |
Street Lighting -
Electricity supply October, 2008 |
23.95 |
|
|
M J Ross
|
Sal: 768.75; Rent: 150.00;
Exp: 37.44; Imp: 10.72 |
966.91 |
|
|
Ms
J Harmer |
Litter duties – October,
2008 |
183.36 |
All the above accounts were approved for payment.
(vi)
Grants: Cllr. Head asked for it to be recorded that she was
disappointed that the PC had not submitted an application for grant, to
KCC. It was pointed
out that Cllr. Morgan was putting an application together for a Members
Grant in respect of
picnic facilities, etc., on the Common and the Clerk undertook to ‘chase
up’ on the matter. Clerk
16 SPECIAL REPORTS: Church
News & Letter: It was AGREED that the Clerk would
put the news items together, which would include crime figures,
reference to cold calling and
the fact that the PC will be carrying out a survey of the whole village
in regard to CCTV
before committing the Parish to any firm plan for it. It was also suggested that all villagers
should be wished a Very Happy Christmas from the PC.
Henry
Peters Trust: The
Clerk stated that the Trust, for which
the PC had responsibility was administered by the Church, since it was
designed for the people
of the village who fell on hard times and needed some small financial
help. The Church had
pointed out that the current Board of Trustees did not include a parish
councilor and asked if
the PC could nominate a councilor to serve. Cllr. Adams proposed Cllr. Parnell, who was
absent from the meeting and it was AGREED that subject to Cllr. Parnell
accepting the role, Clerk
she become the PC’s representative on the Board of Trustees.
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 2nd
December, 2008.
19. COUNCILLORS/CHAIRMAN/CLERK:
Cllr. Adams enquired about progress in the
matter of
Knowle Pit and the Chairman confirmed that he was waiting for Mike Bax, the
Agent, to
respond to his approach.
It was also
suggested that the PC should obtain an update on the situation in regard to the
Valley of
Vision and the likelihood of the PC obtaining any grant funding from it.
The
establishment of the youth facility in the village was also raised and it was
stressed that
before any
progress could be made, it was essential that a number of volunteers to
administer it
would need
to be recruited.
Cllr.
Fulwell asked about the progress on the purchase of the garden areas by the
owners of the
Ravens
Knowle properties and was advised that Trenport had made, what appeared to be a
generous
offer, to sell the land to them and an outcome of this was awaited.
The
Chairman reported the fact that he had been approached by a number of residents
of
Cornwall
Crescent in regard to the anti social behavior of residents of a property
fronting
Knowle Road
whereby they were having frequent bonfires in their garden. Cllr. Fulwell, a
resident of
Cornwall Crsecent, stated that he was unaware of these activities and the
Chairman
expressed
his disappointment at Cllr. Fulwell’s apparent ignorance of what was a blatant
act
of anti
social behavior. The Chairman
confirmed that he was pursuing the matter with Russett
Homes.
The Clerk
reported a notification from the Vicar regarding the Remembrance Day Services
and also a
letter from TMBC advising that the Borough Council had agreed to undertake a
Community
Governance Review, which will enable them to consider the PC’s request for a
reduction
in the number of councillors. The
proposals will take about a year but will be in
place for
the next Parish elections which are due in 2011.
The Clerk
also advised that he had received several emails supporting the idea of CCTV in
the
Village.
There being
no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.30pm
Signed as a correct record of the
proceedings
Date: 2nd
December, 2008. Chairman:………………………
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