DownsMail In touch with your parish


Continued from page 38 mended; community, com- mended; communication, highly commended, and business, run- ner-up. Cllr David Fox was to attend


the KALC reassurance and safety for local councils train- ing course. Members heard neighbour-


hood planning was progressing well and a presentation was being prepared for November 16 at the village hall. Cllr Sally Lewer said a meet-


ing was to be held to review Headcorn Day and it was felt more help was needed from councillors on the day to set up and run the event. The provi- sional date set for next year was September 7 and 8. Cllr Fox said Remembrance


Day was being organised and confirmation of the road closure notice was still pending from Maidstone Council. Cllr Selby reported on a meet-


ing with Golding Homes and Maidstone Council and a pres- entation was to be made to the village before the end of the year. The shared ownership op-


tion was not viable due to eco- nomic reasons and all of the properties would be marketed for the rental sector. The coun- cil felt the loss of the shared ownership element could be detrimental to the community and it was agreed to write to Golding Homes. Cllr Bridget Dungey said a Christmas Fair was to be held on Saturday, December 8. Cllr Fox said that when the


toilet and play area inspection was carried out, a visual review of the trees on Days Green should be undertaken to ensure the insurance public liability. Any issues should be reported to the clerk. The open spaces committee


had been asked to carry out a re- view of the public toilets for fu- ture refurbishment.


Langley Council Rights of way


CLLR Cassin reported that all rights of way relating to Langley had been included in the KCC definitive map and statement of public rights of way. PCSO Dawn Riach-Brown


said the skateboarding initia- tive was progressing, with £500 donations being received from both Golding Homes and Kent Fire and Rescue. A request was made for a donation from Lang- ley Parish Council. The meeting heard that Maid-


stone Council had approved a single-storey and rear extension at TheWeavers in Green Lane. There was a discussion on shared ownership of the parish council computer, and it was agreed that Sutton Valence and East Sutton parish councils could use the Langley com-


46 South


puter. The petition regarding the abolition of the concurrent functions grant drawn up by KALC was available to sign at the doctors, and would need to go to the farmers’ market. The clerk had drawn up an explana- tion sheet to go with it. Five crimes were reported


and the issue of quad and motor bikes in the woods behind Grasslands was discussed. The clerk said an overgrown


path at Horseshoes Lane had been reported. The monthly play area in- spection had not been received. The clerk reported that the


posts for the car park fencing had been taken back because the wrong size hole had been drilled. They had now been put in place. Cllr Burton asked whether there would be an issue with rusting. Cllr Knowles said the village


hall had won free BT broad- band for a year. There would be a fete next


year, but the date would be changed. The barn dance had to be cancelled due to lack of sup- port. The council asked the clerk to


liaise with the hall committee regarding the noise level from a class being held at the same time as the parish councilmeet- ing. In response to consultation on


the council tax base, it was re- quested that the precept set by parishes should not be affected by the new scheme. A date had been set for the ju-


bilee tree planting and a digger had been booked. A new email address had


been set up: langleypc@hot- mail.co.uk


Record archiving Linton Council


IT was reported that the sorting of the parish records for archiv- ing was still being progressed. PCSO Jo Watts was not at the meeting. Cllr Dennis Collins re- ported a suspicious van in the area and informed members that he had reported this to the police.


Chairman Clive Baxter circu-


lated the reponse from Maid- stone Council to the letter sent regarding the conservation management plan, and asked for comments. Cllr Jerry Whit- marsh said he accepted the comments about the amount of work that needed to be under- taken regarding the implemen- tation of the management plan, but he thought the area ap- praisal was a statutory function. Cllr Ian Firmin said Redwall


Lane was to be resurfaced and the pot holes inWesterhill were due to be repaired. The clerk circulated an email


from a resident questioning the number of bollards to be re-


placed along the A229.Cllr Firmin said he would ask this question but it was for Kent Highways to determine. Cllr Baxter said the shoe bank would be placed in a parking space at the car park. Cllr Jane Sawyer said a meet-


ingwas due to take place to dis- cuss Speedwatch. Cllr Sawyer said she was pro- gressing the post and wire for the allotments. She said they had found where the rabbits had got in to the allotments and the fence would need to be re- paired. Shesaida rabbit controller


had offered to deal with the problem free of charge and this was approved by members. It was noted that the picnic


bench had been stolen from the play area and a replacement would cost about £250. Cllr Richard Butters said the


fence to the side of the play area was broken and needed re- pair. The clerk was asked to re- port this. Cllr Whitmarsh said the vil-


lage hall management commit- tee was seeking quotations for replacing the kitchen.Hesaid the committee was grateful to the council for the joint mem- bership with the ACRK and they were making use of this. Cllr Whitmarsh said a profit of £1,225 had been raised at the cream teas event, £55 of which was from the sale of jubilee mugs. He said the Linton boundary project had been awarded the Thurnham Heritage Award.


Marden Council Police report


THERE had been seven crimes since the last meeting. Lines of enquiry were ongoing and CCTV footage was being viewed on several of the crimes. PCSO Nicola Morris was con- tinually receiving information on drugs. Yalding was willing to lend


out its Speedwatch equipment and it was understood that Col- lier Street was looking to buy its own. An item was to be placed in the newsletter regard- ing volunteers. The clerk had contacted Staplehurst council regarding the cost of borrowing the equipment and would also speak with Yalding. The HR sub-committee had


met to discuss the six-week cover for the clerk’s sick leave. It was agreed that the assistant clerk would work additional hours and these would be paid on a salary scale relevant to an acting clerk position. Several councillors had agreed to cover the office during opening hours to assist and would visit the of- fice to go over any issues. A breakdown of the feedback


on the public consultation over local needs housing had been


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


sent to the parish council and further amendmentswere being made by Golding Homes to the plans for Maidstone Road. Cllr Kate Tippen gave details


of what was to be included in the newsletter. The clerkwas to contact the community warden and the play scheme manager to provide reports. It was due to go to print on November 9. Members heard the council


did not need a licence to trans- fer bags of litter between land owned by them. The village caretaker would liaise with the cemetery caretaker to move bags from the playing field to the cemetery to put in the bin there. A copy of a petition and a let-


ter had been received from res- idents of Battle Lane and Summerhill Road regarding the proposed increase in activity at Duckhurst Farm. Staplehurst Parish Council had undertaken a consultation, but it was felt there was not much that could be done from Marden as it seemed the activity was within planning law. An item would be placed in


the newsletter asking for sug- gestions on how savings could be made at the library. The public conveniences cleaning contract was due to expire in May 2013, and 90 days notice needed to be given. The clerk had contacted the cleaning company which un- dertakes the work at Staple- hurst and was awaiting information from them. It was agreed that once this informa- tion was received, councillors would consider whether or not to cancel the existing contract and opt for the new company. A draft letter to Mascalls School was circulated regard- ing possible work placements within the parish council. Councillors agreed this would be sent. All councillors and volun-


teers available to help with Marden at Christmas would be provided with a rota. Christmas trees would be brought up to the village prior to them being installed to check they were working.


Councillors felt the parish services scheme petition was too wordy and agreed they would not be taking part in ob- taining signatures. They felt the best way forward would be to work with Maidstone Council to see what could be available for Marden. It was agreed Cllr Tippen would put together an item for the newsletter giving the details of the new scheme rather than include the piece made available by KALC. A meeting had been held with Maidstone Council and parish councils to discuss the options for the council tax discount scheme.


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