Broomfield and
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Draft minutes - to be approved at the next meeting
Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held at the
Kingswood & Broomfield Village Hall,
Present:
Cllr Mick Biggenden Cllr Bob Bowker Cllr Peter Coleman
Cllr
Maurice Fitzpatrick Cllr Mike Evans Cllr
Sue Wotton – Clerk
Gail Gosden – Assistant Clerk / RFO
There were no members of the public present.
Cllr Bowker was elected Chairman in the absence of Cllr Hendy, and opened the meeting at 19.30
Apologies for Absence
Cllr Derek Hobson Family commitment
KCC Cllr Jenny Whittle Family commitment
MBC Cllr Peter Parvin Official Duties
PC Steve Older Annual Leave
PCSO Richard Kirby Annual Leave
69. Personal & Prejudicial Interests
Cllr Fitzpatrick declared a personal and prejudicial interest in minute item 80 – Affordable Housing
Cllr Hendy joined the meeting at 19.32 and took the Chair
70. Minutes of the Meeting held 6th July 2009 and Matters Arising
Cllr Coleman proposed the minutes be accepted as a true record, seconded by Cllr Evans and signed by Cllr Hendy.
Min 56(v) - A/Clerk reported that the Parish Council’s offer to supply paint for the Scout Hut will be discussed at the next Scout Group meeting in September.
71. Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting held 14th July 2009 and Matters Arising
Cllr Fitzpatrick proposed the minutes be accepted as a true record, seconded and signed by Cllr Hendy, there were no matters arising.
72. Policing
(i) Police Report and Crime Figures 1st – 31st July 2009 – PC Older and PCSO Kirby were both on Annual Leave so no report or crime figures provided. Clerk reported that the ‘Plan for Policing Kent from 2009-2012’ details are now on the Parish Website
(ii) Neighbourhood Watch - Cllr Bowker reported that a strange van appeared in Gravelly Bottom Road on two consecutive days, parked on private driveways, details were passed to the Police.
73.
County Cllr Jenny Whittle, Maidstone Rural
East - Cllr Whittle regretted she was unable to be present but had requested
she be kept updated of any issues that she can assist with and had e-mailed
details and application form re: funding opportunities. Cllr Whittle is also maintaining a watching
brief regarding the heating problems at
Cllrs agreed to approach Jenny Whittle
regarding KCC Highways funding towards the costs of a footpath in
74.
Mayor of Maidstone & Ward Cllr, Peter Parvin was unable to attend the meeting but via the Clerk, informed Cllrs that the Mayor’s Garden party had been a great success, as was this year’s River Festival.
75. Planning
Applications
(i) MA/09/0163
– Chatelet,
(ii) MA/09/0463
– Orchard Farm Nursery,
Cllr Coleman proposed the decisions on items (i) & (ii) be ratified; this was seconded by Cllr Biggenden and agreed by all.
(iii) MA/09/0888
– Rose Cottage,
Two further Applications had been received since the Agenda was published; a Planning Committee meeting was scheduled for Thursday 20th August, 10am at the Sports Field. ACTION – A/Clerk
Decisions (MBC)
(i) MA/08/1712
– 23A
(ii) MA/09/0163
– Chatelet,
(iii) MA/09/0463
– Orchard Farm Nursery,
76. Responsible Finance Officer’s Report
The balance of accounts as at the end of July 2009
Current Account - £200.00
Reserve Account - £31,180.95
The RFO had, as requested, reviewed the PC’s bank account details but has concluded that at this time it was not practicable to make any changes without contravening LGA 1972.
77. Finances
(i) Invoices for payment: £ Chq No
There were no invoices presented for payment
(ii) Payments for ratification:
Wicksteed Leisure – additional paint & repair kit, Sports Field 286.98 562
Phil Tweddell – clearing/maintenance of footpath – Whitehall Drive 98.00 563
Audit Commission – Annual Audit Fee 460.00 564
Allens Contractors – repairs to fence at play area 115.00 565
Clerk – Pay, mileage & room expenses, 20 Jun to 20 July ’09(inc hol pay) 499.15 566
Ass Clerk/RFO – Pay, mileage & room expenses --- “ --- ----“----- 464.75 567
HMRC – Clerks’ PAYE & Employer’s NI contributions 130.52 568
Cllr Bowker proposed that these payments be ratified this was seconded by Cllr Evans and agreed by all.
(iii) Invoices received since publication of agenda
Phil Tweddell – village verge maintenance 308.00 569
Decorating Warehouse- paint for portacabin 211.14 570
Playdale Playgrounds Ltd 5.75 571
(To be ratified at the next meeting)
(iv) Other:
Funding opportunities
See Min 73 - Cllr Rouse requested that funding from the KCC budget should also be considered for traffic calming measures and signs around the village. Clerk to make further enquiries. ACTION- Clerk
78. Complaints Procedure
Clerk had, as requested, reviewed the Complaints Procedure provided within the Governance Tool Kit for Parish Councils. The procedure contained therein is infinitely more detailed than that recently circulated by KALC. Clerk provided copies to all members for their consideration before the next meeting and recommended the GTK Complaints Procedure be adopted in its entirety and included as an Appendix to the Council’s Standing Orders and a précised version be placed on the Parish Website ACTION - Clerk
79. Code of Conduct Training
Clerk had circulated details of Code of Conduct training opportunities, Cllrs Hendy & Rouse will attend the 7th October session – Clerk to confirm. ACTION - Clerk
80. Affordable Housing
Clerk had received notification from Orbit,
that the second Ecological Survey had revealed slow worms on the site at
Cllr Hoy will attend and represent the Parish Council at the Planning Committee meeting should the Application be heard on 3rd September. ACTION –Cllr Hoy
81.
(i) Report JPG Meetings 15th & 28th July - Clerk had sent apologies that there was no member available to attend the meeting on 28th July.
Cllr Hoy advised members regarding the amendments that have been made to the KIG Application submitted by AXA and gave an update of proceedings at the 15th July meeting.
(ii) JPG Membership / Financial review - No change, retain on Agendas ACTION - Clerk
(ii) Clerk had received information from Parish Footpaths Officer, Norman King, in respect of KIG proposals to close and/or divert several footpaths, bridleways, etc. that run through the site. Parish
Councils and individuals are urged to write letters of objection by 12 August in this respect, full details available from the Clerk on request. Cllr Coleman proposed that this PC write a letter of objection, seconded by Cllr Evans and agreed by all. ACTION - Clerk
82. Recreation & Sports Field
(i) Revised
Scout Group Lease - A/Clerk reported that she had received an e-mail from
(ii) Safe
pedestrian access – The Clerk had e-mailed KHS Liaison Officer, Pam Kaur, on 17
July regarding
(iii) Annual Safety Inspection Report
A/Clerk had circulated to all Councillors via e-mail, the Safety Report produced following the Annual Safety Inspection. Several minor points need action and members agreed that the work should be carried out at the earliest opportunity. A/Clerk advised that there were no significant risks highlighted in the report. ACTION – A/Clerk
Cllr Bowker requested that a report be submitted to Kent Police re: damage to play area surface indicated in the Annual Safety Report ACTION – A/Clerk
83. Roads, Pavements and Transport
(i) Maintenance of pavements / footways – Clerk had written to KHS on 19 July in respect of footpath maintenance responsibility and had since been advised that the letter had been forwarded to Abby Manser at Jacobs for response, no reply received to date.
Cllr Fitzpatrick requested that enquiries be made of KHS regarding the previous marking of potholes, etc. to footways around the village, indicating that repairs were to be carried out. ACTION - Clerk
(ii) Arriva 59 weekday bus service - Clerk reported that there had been no further reports of incidents regarding the 59 bus service, despite a second poster having been displayed on the noticeboards and Website. Cllr Coleman requested that information be publicised in the Village News asking for detailed information re: future 59 bus service complaints. ACTION - Clerk
(iii) Speed limits / interactive signs - Clerk had, on 17 July, written to Ben Hilden, KHS, outlining the requirement for traffic calming, Lenham Road, including interactive signs – no reply to date
(iv) KHS Parish Portal Communication training – 2nd September -Clerks’ attendance at this training would allow for PC to be more aware of facilities available. Clerk to ascertain whether there would be a need to participate in additional official training at a later date. ACTION – Clerk
(v) Clerk had replied to KHS on 29 July regarding request for Parish Drainage Ditch ownership details
84. Parish Plan
Cllr Hoy advised Cllrs that part of the Parish Plan aspired to a 20mph speed limit for the village. Clerk requested to write to KHS accordingly. ACTION - Clerk
85. Emergency Parish Planning
Clerk had received details regarding KCC’s
Emergency Planning Group and Parish Emergency Plans re: potential risks such as
flooding, heavy snow / storm damage, pandemic occurrences, etc. A community self-help plan template will be
available to all Parishes in
86.
Clerk and A/Clerk had both had contact with members of the V/Hall Committee regarding the ongoing problems with the emptying of the bottle banks and broken glass left in the car park, etc.
Cllr Hoy reported that at the last meeting of the V/Hall Committee there was a discussion regarding lack of storage space and consideration of an extension. Members agreed that they would support this if the V/Hall Committee went ahead with this proposal, with a view to there being included, a permanent facility / office for the Parish Council. ACTION - Clerk
87. Public Footpaths & Rights of Way
Cllr Coleman advised that there had been no further reports of public footpath problems.
88. Correspondence File
(i) MBC – Overview and Scrutiny Function review – Parish Councils invited to suggest changes that would make the service more effective – Cllrs requested more details of their function, Clerk to write accordingly. ACTION - Clerk
(ii) ACRK – Notification of 85th Annual Meeting, Tuesday 1st September, Cllr Evans agreed to attend
89. Items for next Meeting’s Agenda
As per meeting
90. Planning Enforcement (Closed Session)
Cllr Hendy closed the meeting at 21.17 whilst this issue was discussed and re-opened same at 21.20.
91. Any Other Information
(i) Freightliner dates, Village Hall car park: Saturday 3rd October, 1315 – 1415 hours
Saturday 28th November 1315 – 1415 hours
(iii) Items
for September issues of Kingswood & Broomfield News – Cllr Evans requested an
article asking for villagers to respond if they did not want a 20mph speed restriction in
(iii) Cllr
Hoy requested the Clerk write to
(iv) Clerk requested to approach KCC Cllr Jenny Whittle to request she write an article for the Village News regarding the KIG campaign, to encourage residents to participate in the Public Inquiry due to commence in October ACTION - Clerk
(v) Cllr Biggenden proffered his apologies for not being able to attend the August Coffee Morning at the Village Hall, but agreed to attend the next one on 5th September.
92. Parish Council Meetings
The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 7th September 2009 at
There being no further business, Cllr Hendy closed the meeting at 21.28pm
Signature Chairman
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