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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,
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Present:
Cllr Mick Biggenden Cllr Bob Bowker Cllr Peter Coleman
Cllr
Mike Evans Cllr Beth Hendy (Chairman) Cllr
Sue Wotton - Clerk
Gail Gosden - Assistant Clerk / RFO
PC Steve Older
There were 7 members of the public present, three questions were asked.
Cllr Hendy opened the meeting at 19.42
Apologies for Absence
Cllr Whittle, KCC Attending KIG meeting
Cllr Hobson Family Commitment
Cllr Rouse Family illness
144. Personal & Prejudicial Interests
There were none declared.
145. Minutes of the Meeting held 5th October 2009 and Matters Arising
Cllr Coleman proposed that the minutes be accepted as a true record, seconded by Cllr Hoy and signed by Cllr Hendy.
(i) A/Clerk advised that the costs of bio-degradable nappy sacks (for dog waste) average £1.85 per 50 = £27.75 per 750. Members agreed to discuss further at the next F & GP meeting in relation to the 2010 Parish Precept. ACTION – A/Clerk
146. Ratification of Minutes of Parish Council Meeting 24th August 2009 & Matters Arising
Cllr Coleman proposed that the minutes be accepted as a true record, seconded by Cllr Biggenden and signed by Cllr Hendy
147. Ratification of Minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting held 15th October 2009 and Matters Arising (See Min 154(iii))
Cllr Hoy proposed that the minutes be accepted as a true record, seconded by Cllr Coleman and signed by Cllr Hendy.
148. Revised Committee Membership
Due to a recent resignation from the Parish Council and a potential shortage of members serving on Committees, Cllr Evans volunteered to join the F & GP and Planning Committees, agreed by all.
149. Policing
(i) Police Report and
Crime Figures 1st to 30th October 2009 – PC Older reported
two crimes: (i) Attempt theft of boat and trailer, 7th October, from
Charlesford Avenue and (ii) Criminal Damage and theft from a vehicle, 27th October - smashed window of vehicle and £60 cigarettes stolen, Laurel Grove. PC
Older reported that an overweight vehicle check had recently been carried out
on the B2163 at
(ii) Neighbourhood Watch - Cllr Bowker reported that children are waiting outside the village shop and asking people to buy cigarettes for them. There have been many reports of cold callers in the last month. Telephone and e-mail scams continue.
150.
151.
No report received. Clerk had, as requested, written to Cllr Parvin, letter dated 17th October, regarding Affordable Housing. Cllr Parvin had replied by letter dated 20th October - copy circulated to all members.
152. Planning
(i) Application for ratification from meeting 24th August
MA/08/2423 – Land adjacent to 28 Ashford Drive, Kingswood – erection of 18 affordable houses (comprising 1 four-bed house, 2 three-bed houses, 8 two-bed houses and 6 one-bed flats) and associated external work including a new access road - approve (See Min 146)
(ii) Decisions (MBC) None received.
(iv) Other
MBC Planning Enforcement training 26th October – Clerk & Cllr Coleman attended. Cllr Coleman reported that this was a very useful session and recommended other members attend next training event
Three
planning applications received since the publication of this meeting’s Agenda, Planning
Committee meeting agreed for 10am, 25th November 2009, Sports Field,
153. Responsible Finance Officer’s Report
The balance of accounts as at the end of October 2009:
£
Current Account - 200.00
Reserve Account - 31,040.96
Receipts this month included £290.00 from MBC re: salt bin funding and £4,981.00 - second instalment of Concurrent Functions Grant. Payments for October totalled £1,795.87.
154. Finances £ Chq No
(i) Invoices for payment:
Village Hall hire 72.00 595
P Coleman - BT line, Clerk’s
P Coleman – Tiscali
Broadband, Clerk’s
Thurnham PC – JPG/Luther Pendragon - Aug 2009 260.10 598
Cllr Evans proposed that these payments are made, seconded by Cllr Bowker and agreed by all.
(ii) Payments for ratification:
Playdale Ltd – Additional washer and caps 9.43 586
Viking Direct – Stationary 329.92 587
T Allen – Replacement washer and caps, trim hedgerow 90.00 588
Clerk – Pay, mileage & room expenses, 20 Sep to 20 Oct ’09 654.66 592
Ass Clerk/RFO – Pay, mileage & room expenses --“-- 493.30 593
HMRC – Clerks’ PAYE & Employer’s NI contribution --“-- 190.20 594
Ratification of these payments proposed by Cllr Hoy, seconded by Cllr Bowker and agreed by all.
Cllr Evans extended his appreciation for the diligence of both Clerks in supplying detailed work/hours information for the benefit of Councillors, and wished it minuted.
(iii) Other:
Bank Reconciliation – October 2009. Bank statements to end of October not yet received, therefore the RFO was not able to supply the bank reconciliation – December Agenda ACTION - Clerk
Draft Precept – 2010/11 - Next (closed) meeting of F & GP Committee at 10.15am, 25th November 2009 at 54 Cayser Drive, Kingswood. Items to be researched for consideration:-
(i) Quotes for resurfacing the Sports Field Car Park (last year averaged £10,000.00 + VAT)
(ii) Renovation of seating – see item 161
(iii) Village Handyman – see item 161
(iv) Advice re: contingency received from Kevin Funnell (Internal Auditor)
(v) Sheltered Housing
(vi) Publication costs of Annual Parish Report
(vii) Lockable bollards – Sports Field car park
155. Affordable Housing
Clerk reported that she had received a further
request for affordable housing from a young, life-time resident of
Cllr Coleman proposed that letters be sent to the MPs in question clarifying the misinformation reported via the KM; this was seconded by Cllr Hoy and agreed by all. ACTION- Clerk
Cllr Hendy closed the meeting at 20.25, re-opened at 20.29
156. Sheltered Accommodation
Cllr Hoy had contacted ACRK for relevant information but was recommended taking no further action until Affordable Housing has been concluded. He has also contacted Orbit, no reply to date. ACTION – Cllr Hoy
157.
(i) Report JPG meeting 8th October – Cllr Coleman reported that the meeting was mainly concerned with the preparation for Public Inquiry. Next Group meeting 19th November, Cllr Hoy attending.
(ii) Public Inquiry – Clerk had prepared Input for the Public Inquiry, will be published on notice boards and Website and in December K&B News for information of residents, after being presented to the Inquiry by Cllr Hendy
(iv) JPG Membership / Financial review – retain on Agenda and review at next F & GP meeting.
158. MBC Draft Enforcement Policy Consultation
(i) Cllr Bowker will complete report and email to members before the end of the week. ACTION – Cllr Bowker
(ii) MBC Indoor Sports and Recreation Survey – Cllr Hoy to complete/return ACTION – Cllr Hoy
159. KALC
(i) Report
(ii) KALC – Notice 62nd AGM 14th November 2009 – Cllr Biggenden attending ACTION - A/Clerk
160. Recreation & Sports Field
(i) Revised Scout Group Lease - The Clerk had received a letter from Paul Fisher, Head of Corporate Law, MBC, explaining and apologising for the delays – issue should soon be rectified now that additional staff are in place. (See Min 163)
(ii) Painting of Scout Hut - A/Clerk advised that the Scout Group Chairman, Alan Poulton, has requested financial assistance from the PC towards the cost of painting the Scout Hut. Councillors discussed and agreed that current financial constraints meant that this was not possible at this time. A/Clerk to notify Mr Poulton accordingly ACTION – A/Clerk
(iii) Graffiti removal/repair – A/Clerk had not had an opportunity to check whether it has been removed and had heard nothing further from MBC as to whether the work had been carried out, but will attend at Sports Field asap to check and report back ACTION- A/Clerk
(iv) Signs – entrance and on field – A/Clerk reported that she is continuing to make enquiries in this respect and would report at next meeting ACTION – A/Clerk
(v) Safe pedestrian access - Clerk had prepared a draft letter
for affected residents in
(vi) Resurfacing of car park - Clerk had had telephone call from a Kingswood Scout Leader concerned re: condition of car park – situation re: funding/resurfacing explained. (See Min 154) A discussion followed regarding resolution to prevent large vehicles/lorries from entering the car park, Cllr Bowker suggested a width restricting, collapsible bollard at the entrance. A/Clerk to make relevant enquiries re: cost for next meeting. ACTION – A/Clerk
161. Parish Handyman
A/Clerk had received information from other MBC Parishes regarding the benefits of employing on a self- employed basis, a Parish Handyman. Following discussion members requested enquiries be made of neighbouring Parishes as to whether they might be interested on a joint basis. ACTION – A/Clerk
162. KHS – Roads & Pavements
(i) Survey – condition of
pavements – The Clerks had jointly prepared and forwarded report to KHS requesting a
further survey with their representative. Liaison Officer had sent report to Earl Bourner for his information and
had also confirmed that the next inspection of
(ii) Salt bin – Nothing further heard from KHS to date, despite Cllr Whittle’s support.
(iii) Meeting 11th November – Meeting with KHS to take place at the Scout HQ on Wednesday 11th November, commencing 10.0am, Clerk has notified KHS of the topics the Parish Council wishes raised in order for appropriate Engineers, etc. to attend. Cllrs Bowker, Coleman, Hendy, Hoy & Evans attending.
(iv) ‘My
(v) Clerk had received information from Alan Riley, KHS Landscape Manager confirming that the public footway between Whitehall Drive and Gravelly Bottom Road has been cleared and that this, plus those running Laurel Grove <> Gravelly Bottom Road and Lenham Road <> Holly Tree Close have been added to KHS list for inclusion in future scheduled clearing. KHS Officer will contact Clerk in next few weeks to arrange a walk around the village to discuss other associated issues, Mr Riley offered to attend a PC meeting and give input if members think would be helpful. A/Clerk requested to advise P. Tweddell accordingly. ACTION – A/Clerk
163. Tall Trees Lease
Clerk had received letter from Paul Fisher, Head of Corporate Law at MBC re: delays (See Min 160(i)).
164. Twinning Project
(i) Update of activities and contact - Cllr
Coleman reported that the Beaver Scout Section Leader is now involved and expressed
an interest in making e-mail contact with a Colony in
(ii) Payment to Project Organiser – Cllr Coleman proposed that Mr T Skinner should receive a contribution of £100.00 towards running costs, seconded Cllr Evans and agreed by majority. ACTION – A/Clerk
165.
Cllr Hoy advised that the last meeting had been cancelled therefore there was nothing to report.
166. Parish Pensioners’ Outing 2010
(i) Cllr
Coleman proposed that the allowance for the Pensioners’ outing is increased in
2010 to £1,400.00
in order to fund the preferred trip on the MV Princess Pocahontas from
Gravesend to
(ii) A/Clerk advised that there were some potential difficulties on the boat in regard to toilet facilities for the disabled as they are not wheelchair friendly. There was, however, the opportunity to privately charter the boat at little extra cost which might help in overcoming this concern. A/Clerk requested to confirm these details and provisionally book to charter the boat for the outing, in early June 2010. Clerk to include details in Dec issue of K&B News. ACTION – Clerk & A/Clerk
167. No. 59 Bus Service
Cllr
Biggenden reported that there is a change to the No. 59 bus timetable as of today. There are now two additional services:- (i) 09.48 from
Maidstone, arriving Village Hall 10.24, returning to Maidstone at 10.27, (ii) the
17.00 bus from
168. Correspondence File
(i) KCC – Mobile Library Service – changes to services including staff reductions. Cllr Hendy requested Clerk write to KCC in this respect ACTION - Clerk
(ii)
(iii) KHS
-
(iv) Victim Support – request for donation. RFO advised this Charity is included within budget – Members agreed a £50.00 donation. ACTION - RFO
169. Items for next Meeting’s Agenda
(i) Coppicing / maintenance of scrub and hedge at sports field - Planning Committee Agenda 25th November.
(ii) Applications for Parish Council vacancy / co-option
170. Any Other Information
(i) Items for December issue of K&B Village News to Clerk by 5th November latest
(ii)
(iii) Reminder
- F & GP Committee meeting Wednesday 25th November, 10.15, at
(iv) Required amendment to Code of Conduct – needs to be advertised in the local press. Clerk had received a recommendation from Boxley PC, that local Parish Councils collectively place a relevant advertisement in the Downs Mail to keep costs per Parish to a minimum. Details to be confirmed by MBC, Clerk to respond to Boxley accordingly. ACTION - Clerk
(v) Mayors Charity Quiz Night – Friday, February 19th 2010. Members to form team and take part.
171. Planning Enforcement (Closed Session)
Clerk had received e-mail today from MBC stating IT system out of action for last three weeks, therefore the Enforcement information is out of date, need to input several weeks data, apologies received for any inconvenience caused.
172. Parish Council Meeting
The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 7th
December 2009 at
There being no further business Cllr Hendy closed the meeting at 22.07.
Signature Chairman
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