ACTION

1

APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from County Councillor P Homewood and Councillor

T Fulwell. 

2

MINUTES

The minutes of the Parish Council monthly meeting held on the 6^th July 2011 were proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Cllr Adams to be a true record of proceedings. It was agreed that the Chairman should therefore sign 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. PCSO Sayer attended the meeting in place of PCSO Stoner who had been unable to attend tonight. It was requested in future, ‘a pub’ was not mentioned in the crime report unless their was evidence to support this, as could be detrimental to all 3 pubs in the village.

CW Liepnik reported on: -

·         Fly-tipping issue in Ferry Lane in which B Horne, TMBC Enforcement Officer is involved

·         Recycling area – CW Leipnik had a meeting with B. Horne regarding this area and they will be working with the school along with the new TMBC project, ‘Love where you live’. CW Leipnik would welcome the Parish Council’s input and involvement for the recycling area and will put a proposals forward to the council.

·         He will be working with the school and Jill Harris from Valley of Visions on a project involving the past, present and future of the village.

Cllr Dalton advised that there will be a presentation of ‘Love where you live’ at the next Parish Partnership Meeting on 8/9/2011. The official launch is on 19/9/11. Cllr Craib suggested that someone in the village should take the lead on this, as it is a high profile TMBC project. It was agreed that Cllr Craib would attend the Parish Partnership and report back to the Parish Council.

PCSO Sayer and CW Liepnik left the meeting at 7.40 pm.

Cllr Craib

6

BOROUGH COUNCILLORS REPORT

Cllr Dalton reported on Community Enhancement Grant, details of which have been previously circulated to Councillors. Up to £5000 is available. A presentation would have to be made to the Committee for large amounts. The first deadline is 30/9/11 and the second round of applications is due in by February 2012.

Cllr Dalton has received a letter from the Enforcement Team at TMBC regarding an unauthorised caravan, which has now been removed, at Ashenden Farm/Stoney Farm and the case is now closed.

Cllr Davis reported that the Fleur de lys site planning application for 8 houses has now been approved although both Borough Councillors are still concerned about increased traffic congestion in Burham.

The next Anti-Social Behaviour meeting is on 19/9/11, which the Chairman will attend.

There is a flooding meeting on 5/10/11, a follow up to the meeting held 18 months ago, which has been delayed due to the KHS re-organisation. Any new flooding issues should be reported to Cllr Davis. The Chairman will attend the site meeting in Wouldham and the final meeting at Aylesford PC offices.

Cllr Parris mentioned flooding along Wouldham Road near to the Gore’s Farm but it was confirmed that this has been identified as being in the Medway Council boundary.

Cllr Davis advised that the Queen’s Jubilee Project has 14 beacons to light in the TMBC area and Wouldham might like to light a beacon in their parish as they have land available for this. All Councillors agreed that they would consider this once they have had more details and Cllr Davis agreed to forward the details to the Clerk so an application can be made.

Chairman

Chairman

Cllr Davis/

Clerk

7

COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT

Nothing to report.

8

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

2 residents raised concern regarding the parking problems in Garden Court after reading the June 2011 Minutes which stated that ‘the problem in Garden Court may have resolved itself as the Parish Council had not received any complaints from residents here’. The Chairman read from the TMBC’s Joint Transportation Board Phase 6 Action plan, dated 13 June 2011, ‘Garden Court (back of High Street) request for double yellow lines. Description of problem:- parking occurs on junctions and across the emergency points. Analysis and recommendations:- requires corner protection and keep clear markings on emergency access points (orig. County, Borough members/Parish Council and resident)’.

Cllr Dalton advised that the procedure for this does take time and that the next phase would be consultation at Parish Council level. The Parish Council are not aware of any other residents in Garden Court complaining about the parking. The member of public advised that they probably wouldn’t complain, as they are the only house facing this road and therefore experiencing the problems.

Cllr Dalton advised that an Oldfield Drive resident has advised him that he had received an aggressive leaflet through his door complaining about parking. This does indicate that there are other parking issues in this area.

The Chairman agreed that the Parish Council would notify the resident when the Parish Council receives the consultation document. He also pointed out that the Parish Council does not determine DYL and from past experience, TMBC does not always take into account the Parish Council’s views on issues such as this.

The 2 residents left the meeting at 8.10 pm.

Clerk

9

PLANNING:

Planning applications considered and commented upon, by Planning Committee:

TM/11/01805/FL – single storey extension to rear at 80 Oldfield Drive – No Objections

TM/11/01653/FL – single storey rear extension at 7 Ravens Knowle – No Objections

TM/11/01796/FL – change of use of part of existing recreation ground and erection of new village hall – recreation ground, Knowle Rd – No objections

Planning consents issued:

TM/11/01796/FL – change of use of part of existing recreation ground and erection of new village hall – recreation ground, Knowle Rd – granted permission

Planning applications refused: None to report

Other Planning Issues:

TM/11/01653/FL – single storey rear extension at 7 Ravens Knowle – application withdrawn by applicant.

10

STREET LIGHTING:

Cllr Adams did not have any new streetlight issues to report this month other than the intermittent fault at the light outside 36 High Street which had already been added to the portal.

The Chairman advised the Parish Council that their maintained streetlights were now getting so old that the replacement parts could well be obsolete and the Council may at some stage have to look at the cost of replacing these streetlights, which is understood to be in the region of £1000 for each light.

11

HIGHWAYS & VERGES

The Chairman reported a pothole at the junction of Pilgrims Way and Knowle Road and further potholes in Hall Road. It was also agreed the Clerk would chase up KHS regarding putting a ‘No through road’ sign up on Hall Road, previously reported on the portal.

Cllr Craib asked if the Parish Council would determine classification of Portland Road and Castle Street, as there are parking issues. It was agreed to investigate.

Cllr Parris reported that a KCC maintained tree and shrub outside 99 High Street needed cutting back. The tree branches affected the BT line here. It was agreed that Clerk would report this to KHS.

Discussion took place regarding other areas in the village where residents owned the footpaths in front of their properties where trees are lifting up the pavement. Cllr Davis confirmed that the pavement outside 73 – 115 High Street is private ownership and TMBC have agreed to sweep the area but any tripping hazard is the problem of the individual householder.

Cllr Adams advised that residents in Oldfield Drive have complained about the state of the land opposite 1 Oldfield Drive, which is Trenport land. It was agreed that the Chairman would contact Trenport.

Cllr Adams advised that residents have reported to him about the state of the road running from the top of the black robin steps to Keepers Cottage. The Chairman advised that PROW did not have any money to resurface this part of the road. It was agreed that the Parish Council should contact the officer in charge of the North Downs and Peter Homewood, so the Parish Council could take this up as the state of the road was ruining it for walkers along the North Downs Way.

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

Chairman

Clerk

12

FOOTPATHS/PROW

Cllr Adams asked if there was any further news on the permissive right of way at the back of Oldfield Drive. Cllr Stone reported that Shirley Boards at Trenport had contacted the farmer who rents the field to see if he had any objections to losing the bottom 6ft of the field, which he didn’t, so the permissive right should be granted shortly.

13

ALLOTMENTS

The Chairman reported that the top field had been mowed. A resident had contacted the Clerk with a request to look at using this field for one week a year for a Christian event for children. The Clerk had requested further details of the proposal in writing, which we are still waiting for and would therefore be circulated to councillors once received.

The Chairman reported that there had not been any further progress with Trenport regarding a rent reduction for the allotments.

Clerk

14

WOULDHAM COMMON

The Chairman reported on an incident of vandalism at the Common during late August. A group of teenagers, camping on the common had left a mess and had sawn through the bench. The Parish Council’s contractor had been instructed to clear up the mess at a cost of £20. Two new bench slats have been ordered at £57. Due to the small amounts involved, it was not considered worth claiming on the Parish Council insurance.

Cllr Head advised, further to her earlier email, on an incident where a young lad was injured at the Common. He had apparently run into a tree which had caused extensive facial injuries.

15

VILLAGE HALL

The Chairman reported that now planning permission has been granted the Steering Group have started to look into the next phase for this project. A meeting had been held on 25/8/11 to look at potential funding/contractors. Budget prices have been requested from 6 contractors, looking at the pine log style buildings. A response has been requested within 4 weeks. Once we have an idea of the funds required, we can start look at the internal fixtures/fittings, taking into consideration the potential users of the hall. Once we have an idea of the funding required, we can contact fundraisers. The fundraisers fee would be a percentage of the money that they raise.

Cllr Head asked about any conditions on the planning consent. Any Councillor wishing to view the consent detail could do so online at the TMBC website under planning application no. TM/11/0176/FL.

Cllr Stone spoke to the Parish Council regarding the Trustee issue on the current village hall. An email, plus an information leaflet on Village Halls run by Parish Council’s as Sole Trustee’s had been circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting. All Councillors agreed to the Parish Council becoming Sole Trustee’s of the Village Hall and to the clerk applying to the Charity Commission to vest the land with the Official Custodian.

Cllr Parris asked about the role of the trustee and the Cllr Stone confirmed that a Management Group, which would include the existing Parish Council members, would be responsible for the day to day running issue’s of the hall and would be very much run as it does currently, with the Management Committee reporting back to the Parish Council at each monthly meeting.

Cllr Parris requested information on the availability of the hall for afternoon sessions. It was agreed the Clerk would forward this information to Cllr Parris.

Clerk

Clerk

16

RECREATION GROUND

Some rubbish had been dumped by the recycling bins at the weekend, probably for the bulky refuse collection, but had missed it. It was agreed that the Clerk would liase with CW Liepnik to see if the rubbish had now been removed.

The Clerk had received the Rospa report on the playing equipment back at the weekend. It was agreed details would be forward to councillors in due course.

The Chairman advised that Peter Homewood had agreed to the Parish Council applying for a KCC small capital grant for £2000 for 2 further pieces of outdoor fitness equipment and the Clerk was in the process of completing the application form.

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

17

FINANCE

General: The Clerk informed the Parish Council that the Annual Return has been received back from the Audit Commission signed with no comments made.

Financial Statement – July/August 2011 : This had been circulated to councillors prior to the meeting. The Chairman verified and signed the bank statements.

Bank Position as at 30/08/11

Current Account £100.00

Reserve Account £22,004.23

Building Society £10,290.50

Income for July/August 2011

Cheques signed prior to meeting:

Cheques signed at the meeting

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

18

SPECIAL ITEMS

Items for the Church Newsletter – Cllr Craib agreed to report on the new village hall planning permission being granted, ‘Love where you live’ TMBC initiative, planned new fitness equipment and encourage resident’s to report any problems with streetlights to the Parish Council.

Risk Assessment – This had been circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting and all councillors approved this document.

Cllr Craib

19

CORRESPONDENCE LIST: The list of correspondence received and letters sent during the last 2 months had been circulated to all councillors prior to the meeting.

20

DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 4^th October 2011 at 7.30 pm.

21

COUNCILLORS/CHAIRMAN/CLERK

Cllr Parnell asked if anyone would be representing the Parish Council at the Church Service on 11/9/11. Cllr Parris agreed to attend. Cllr Head advised that she would be attending the Church for the Vicar’s leaving service later in the year.

Cllr Parnell asked if anything could be done to prevent people parking right next to the recycling area. It was agreed that this could be addressed when the Parish Council looks at relocating the recycling area with the new village hall plans. In the meantime, it was agreed that the Clerk would contact TMBC to see if a sticker was available which says to ‘keep access clear’

Cllr Stone advised that there would be a ploughing match and gymkhana at Ringshill Farm on 24/9/11.

The Chairman advised the Council that the caravan in the recreation ground car park had been stolen.

There being no further business to discuss the meeting closed at 9.20 pm.

Cllr Parris

Clerk