BROOMFIELD AND KINGSWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

BROOMFIELD AND KINGSWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Broomfield and Kingswood Parish Council held at Kingswood Village Hall on Monday 5^thJune 2006

Present

Cllr Nelson Bowker (NB) Cllr Peter Coleman (PC)

Cllr Jody Evans (JE - Vice Chair) Cllr Mike Evans (ME)

Cllr Dave Law (DL - Chairman) Cllr Beth Hendy (BH) (6)

Sue Wotton (SW) - Clerk

Nigel Cuming - Rural Transport Warden / Editor – B&K Echo

There was one member of the public present, and no questions

Cllr Law opened the Meeting at 9.55pm, following the Annual Parish Meeting

Apologies for Absence

Cllr Sue Clarke - bereavement Cllr Pat Lyne – arm injury

Borough Cllr Peter Parvin PC Stuart Thomas

1. Personal & Prejudicial Interests ( i.e. Pecuniary/Non-Pecuniary)

Cllr Coleman – Village Hall notice board

Cllr J Evans – Planning Application 3 Laurel Grove, Kingswood

Clerk – Village Hall notice board

2. Minutes of the Meeting held 8^th May 2006

The Minutes of the Meeting held 8^th May were signed as a true record by the Chairman, proposed - Cllr M Evans, seconded - Cllr J Evans.

Cllr M Evans suggested approving the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council held on 22^nd May 2006, which had been previously circulated by the Clerk, but requested the deletion of himself as the Kingswood Primary School representative, this role having been abolished. This was agreed and these Minutes were also then approved and signed by the Chairman, proposed - Cllr J Evans, seconded - Cllr Coleman.

3. Actions / Matters Arising from Meeting held 8^th May 2006

(i) Planning Application – 19 Chestnut Drive, Kingswood – Informal Hearing into Appeal, 10.0am 4^th July, Oakwood Park. Clerk had obtained copies of the original Application and plans for consideration. It was agreed that as the Parish Council had not objected to the original Application, no representative would attend the Hearing.

(ii) Clerk had requested a site meeting with KCC Highways, Earl Bourner, regarding recurring flooding problems in Gravelly Bottom Road, at ‘Saddlers’. Mr Bourner had declined a meeting, stating he would arrange to have the pipe which drains on to Gravelly Bottom Road blocked up, and would monitor the situation. Cllr Coleman stated that this matter had now been on-going for a number of years, and when the pipe referred to had been previously blocked off, it had not resolved the problem. Cllr Coleman agreed to progess the matter with the support and assistance of Cllr Parvin. ACTION - PC

(iii) Cllr Coleman reported that Cllr Lyne had spoken to a number of Parish pensioners regarding the suggested outing. The proposal had been received with enthusiasm and Cllr Coleman agreed to make relevant enquiries regarding suitable venues, costs for transport, entry, lunch, etc. to present at the next Meeting. ACTION - PC

4. Policing

(i) Police Liaison Visit - see attached figures supplied by PC Thomas

(ii) Neighbourhood Watch – refer report given at Annual Parish Meeting

5. Maidstone Borough Council

Refer report given by Councillor Peter Parvin at the Annual Parish Meeting

6. Planning

Applications:

(i) MA/06/0870 – 3 Laurel Grove, Kingswood – Erection of a two storey side extension and a single storey rear extension. 10.25pm – Having declared an interest, Cllr J Evans left the room whilst this application was discussed – approved. Cllr Evans rejoined the Meeting at 10.30pm. ACTION - Clerk

(ii) MA/06/0879 – 2 Cayser Drive, Kingswood – Erection of a rear conservatory

- approved ACTION - Clerk

(iii) MA/06/0874 – Overhills, Cross Drive, Kingswood – Erection of a front extension, removal of existing roof and construction of a new roof with increased ridge height including conversion of a new loft area (resubmission of MA/05/1246) – approved ACTION – Clerk

(iv) MA/06/0351 – Street Farm, Chartway Street, East Sutton – Erection of a single storey building with internal basement area for the expansion of existing trial plant for the manufacture of bio-fuel and associated farm storage – refused 1. Additional traffic/HGV movements, Chartway Street, 2. Close proximity to recently approved Chartway Street Caravan & Camping Site, 3. Environment – contamination, movement/storage of possible hazardous chemicals, 4. Contamination of water aquifer beneath site, 5. Insufficient detail re: final use of bio-fuel produces ACTION - Clerk

(iv) MA/06/0822 – Telecommunications Mast, Land east of Morry Lane, Morry

Lane, East Sutton – to install a 20 metre high single pole headframe monopole telephone mast incorporating 3 no. 06m antennas, 1 no. 0.6m and 1 no. 0.3m diameter dishes, radio equipment housing (measuring 1.96m wide x 0.7m deep and 1.49m high, and development ancillary thereto – approved

ACTION - Clerk

Decisions (MBC):

(i) MA/06/0299 – Gwen Mere, Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood – erection of a single storey rear extension with rooms in roof space and dormers, a two storey rear extension, raising of ridge height by approximately 1 meter, alterations to entrance porch and addition of 3 no. pitched roof dormers to front elevation – approved with conditions

(ii) MA/06/0490 – Adjacent to 6 Bell Way, Kingswood – erection of 2 No. semi-detached dwellings – approved with conditions

7. Finance Officer’s Report

(i) Current Account as at 03/05/05 200.00

Reserve Account as at 03/05/05 59,715.25

(ii) Invoices for payment:

Chq. No.

Grammer - printing May edition B&K Echo 25.54 1181

Phil Chander - May delivery Echo (cash) 20.00 Cash

Kingswood Primary School – hall hire 08/05/06 30.00 1182

Silva Property & Garden Maintenance – install

and connect basketball post/hoop at Village Hall 138.48 1183

Clerk – 1^st to 29^th May 2006, inclusive 1136.69 1184

KAPC – Chairmans’ Training Day 52.88 1185 (Cancelled)

Clerk had received on 2^nd June, two overdue, copy Invoices in respect of Traffic Calming, together totaling £19,468.08 (Cheque No. 1188), which had been sent to the previous Clerk, Ron Harrop. These had previously been approved for payment, but were re-approved and the Clerk requested to pay same to avoid further delay. ACTION - Clerk

Clerk had also paid out a cheque in the sum of £180.48 (Cheque No. 1187) to Freeway Signs in respect of the new Neighbourhood Watch signs+, and requested approval to pay £45 to ‘Juniper Trading’ for fitting new lock and additional ventilation on the Parish Council notice board* – approved. ACTION - Clerk

(iii) Concurrent Functions 2005/6 - The Clerk reported having completed and submitted the Parish Concurrent Functions forms to Maidstone Borough Council by closing date for applications.

8. Sports & Recreation Field

(i) Phase II Play Equipment – Cllr J Evans reported that the cost for Phase II of the Adventure Trail (which would be within the fenced area) was £4,580, and the multi sports area, which would also need tarmacing, £7,718. The cost for the ‘Jitterbug’ is £15,839, which was considered too expensive.

(ii) Fencing Play Equipment – Cllr J Evans stated the cost for 70m x 1m high board fencing, with self-closing metal gate, was £5,107. This was considered expensive and Cllr Law volunteered to obtain quotes from local fencing companies for metal hoop fencing, including a self-closing gate and taking the regulations into account - Cllr J Evans will establish what these regulations are. ACTION – DL / JE

(iii) Football Club Contract – The Clerk had circulated the proposed Contract for observations. Cllr Bowker suggested several amendments, including a termination clause, which were discussed and agreed. Clerk to update and re-circulate draft Contract to Councillors, for further perusal. ACTION - Clerk

iv) Clerk had contacted ROSPA and arranged inspection of the play equipment, which will take place during July, and thereafter on an annual basis.

9. Roads

(i) Street Monitor - No report.

(ii) Defects - Clerk reported no action taken on any outstanding, reported defects.

(iii) Quiet Lanes Scheme - Cllr M Evans – to be ‘put on ice’ for time being.

(iv) M20 resurfacing Meeting - Cllr Law and Nigel Cummin had attended on behalf of the Parish. There was a very good turn out. The Highways Agency reported that the cost of resurfacing between junctions 8-9, was £6m, for which there is no budget, and a cheaper option is being considered instead. MBC Environmental Health Officer reported sound recordings of 80-90 decibels along the area of M20 in question, but stated there was only 1 decibel difference from readings taken at locations where the ‘quiet’ surface has been laid. The M20 group is expanding and a working group was been set up – the MPs for Maidstone and Ashford are supportive. The next meeting will be held on 11^th July.

10. Village Hall & Notice Board

Cllr Coleman had no Village Hall report, as there has been no meeting of the committee since he became the Parish Council representative. The new lock and ventilation had been fitted to the notice board outside the village shop*. The Clerk reported that yet again, the Minutes of the last Meeting had been removed from the notice board by person(s) unknown, and hoped the fitting of the new lock will prevent this from happening again, as only the Clerk has a key. The public area of the board remains unchanged.

11. Twinning Project

Cllr Coleman reported that the Project is progressing well, and that a Steering Group had been formed. A letter from the Parish Council has been sent to Broomfield, Colorado, and it is hoped an early reply will be received.

12. NHW Signs

Cllr Bowker reported that the new signs+ are on order.

13. Correspondence File

(i) Letter from Mr R Schroeder regarding the non-discussion by the Parish Council, regarding the re-building of Shant Hotel, when Affordable Housing is being discussed, both prior to Planning Applications being submitted. Clerk to write to Mr Schroeder with explanation. ACTION - Clerk

(ii) MBC - Survey of Parish Youth Activities – Cllr Hendy to complete / return

ACTION – BH

(iii) MBC – Letter and leaflets regarding Planning Enforcement Process – one on file, others distributed for information of Councillors

14. Items for next Meeting’s Agenda

No items requested

15. Any Other Business

(i) Clerk had received the Parish Council renewal schedule from Zurich Insurance – at £879.13, an increase of £130 on previous year, excluding the Fun Day. The Clerk had, therefore, requested a quote from Cornhill, but in view of time constraint, the decision was taken for the Clerk to renew with Zurich for 2006/7. ACTION – Clerk

(ii) Cllrs Law and J Evans had held a meeting with Paul Keenor and David Stubbles regarding the leasing of the old Tall Trees Play Area. A quote just under £1000 has been received to erect fencing inside the existing wire fencing – approved. Cllr Law has also obtained plans from SEEBOARD regarding underground cables, to avoid these being damaged during fitting of new fence. ACTION - DL

(iii) Cllrs Law and Hendy had attended a meeting at Kingswood Primary School, of the Eastern Parishes Rural Policing Forum, on 1^st June, nothing of significance to report. Four meetings a year will be held, next meeting is on Thursday, 7^th September at Harrietsham. Cllr Law was elected as Vice Chair of the Forum.

16. Parish Council Meetings

The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held at Kingswood Village Hall on Monday

3^rd July 2006 at 7.30pm

Cllr Law closed the Meeting at 11.45pm

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