downsmail.co.uk Bredhurst


Street lighting Two councillors met with Kent Highways about the trial lighting switch-off. Line markings near the Dunn Street Road pinch point needed to be repainted. The light outside Manor Farmwas surplus to requirements andwould be removed.Aquote was awaited for the installation of a swan neck light at the build-out near Camellia and the centre kerb stone on the approach to the build-out would be painted white to give it more definition.Wrien confirmationwas awaited from Kent Highways.


Playground Following amendments to the sign stating the rules for equipment use for the children’s playground, another proof had been requested.


Parish plan Councillorswere asked to have a look at the Bredhurst parish plan so that the parish councilwas ready to move things forward at the next meeting.


Facebook protocol Cllr Carrwas using the KCC model as the starting point for this. Cllrs Carr and Joneswould be the administrators and councillorswould be kept informed via email of Facebook postings.


Complaints procedure All contact with the parish councilwould now be formally recorded using an agreed system.


Broomfield and Kingswood


Crime report There had been a significant increase in rural crime in recent months and the policewere targeting additional resources to tackle it. There had been a the in Upper Street, and thes of vehicles in Ashford Drive and Gravelly Boom Road.


Clerk’s pay The staff commiee had recommended increasing the clerk’s pay by 2% and the room allowance be increased to £50 per month. Thiswas agreed and will come in to effect from April 1, 2014.


Parish precept The clerk raised the issue of the minibus service and replacement of damaged village signs for consideration for the precept. Itwas decided not to include the minibus service. The Broomfield signwould be replaced and the Kingswood signwould need to be relocated as itwas obscured by trees and itwould be replaced when an alternative locationwas agreed.


Dog waste Cllr Peter Page said hewould be able to get some “No DogWaste” stickers for the new rubbish bin.


Table tennis Councillors asked the clerk to get more details about the all-weather table tennis equipment.


Handy man Cllr Terry Baker suggested that the cost of a handy manwas considered as part of the precept for 2014/2015. Councillors agreed therewere certain areas of the parish thatwould benefit from regular maintenance. Itwas agreed to ask parishioners for their opinions.


Lorry ban Cllr Michael Lovell and the clerk met county Cllr Jenny While, Andy Padgham of Kent Highways and highways officers regarding the “No Lorries” signs for Broomfield Road. The clerk said Kent Highways Serviceswas concerned there would be too many signs at the A20 junction with Broomfield Road, but was happy to carry out a survey of requirements.Awidth restriction could only be included if a statutory consultationwas carried out. Cllr While offered to pay for this out of her members’ fund.


42 Maidstone East Edition January 2014


Minibus service The clerk had received information from Ulcombe about the minibus service. Itwould cost £25 eachway for an eight-seater minibus or £20 eachway for a people-carrier seating six people. Lenham had set up its own scheme and could be contacted with a view to becoming an operator. Licensing a parish buswould be costly and complicated, dependent on the service supplied.


Phone signal The chairman and clerk had received further emails regarding the poor mobile phone signal in the village. Cllr Baker had contacted O2, whichwas to investigate.


Resignation Cllr Peter Forster resigned as councillor with immediate effect due to family commitments, but wanted to continue as a commiee member, carrying out theweekly checks and reports at the sports field.


Downswood


Police report Sergeant Nick Hatcher discussed a burglary at Cheviot Gardens, a the from a vehicle at Bournewood Close, and an intruder at Reinden Grove.


Salt spreaders County Cllr Gary Cooke presented the parish council with two salt spreaders, whichwould be used by Cllrs Anne-Marie Butler and Bill Greenhead. Records will be kept of when and where they are used.


Rate rise Cllr Cooke said that rateswere to be increased, for the first time in three years.


Bus subsidies Therewas concern about bus service subsidies, as some could disappear. County Cllr Gary Cooke’s grantswould reduce to a total of £25,000 next year – a reduction of £10,000.


Notice vandalised The clerkwas to chase up a quotation to repair vandalism to the Foxden Drive notice board. If further vandalism occurred, the relocation of the boardwould be considered.


No meeting It was agreed that the council would not meet in January, unless therewas a change in circumstances.


Play areaAquotation for the Foxden Drive play area had been received fromWicksteed Leisure. Playdale and Park Leisure had also been invited to quote. Itwas agreed to accept the quotation from SteveWaring to cut the hedge next to the play area for £314.50.The general consensuswas that the increase should be kept as small as possible and a precept of £26,000 (up £1,000)would be considered at the next meeting.


Lorry signsArequest had been sent to the chairman of Bearsted Parish Council asking that advisory HGV restricted signs be considered for the top of Spot Lane.


Bus issues Problems with the Arriva bus service raised on Twier and Facebook were forwarded to the company.


Planting The open spaces commiee reported that daffodil and crocus bulbs and wildflower seeds had been planted on verges in Willington Street and the Jubilee tablet site. Caxtons had agreed to pay for the holly plants if the parish council arranged for them to be planted at the side of the Spires Centre.


Hollingbourne


New councillor Lee Vallinswas co-opted to fill the vacancy on the parish council.


Village fete TheWI had offered to help with checking the gazebos prior to the 2014 fete


and the first planning meeting had been arranged.


Waterside Park The proposed development at Waterside Park remained contentious with county Cllr Jenny While, Hugh Robertson MPand VictoriaWallace (Leeds castle) all having wrien leers of objection. MBC memberswere asking that this maer be considered by the full council and not just the planning commiee.


Templeuve visit Twenty-one people had aended the Remembrance Day event in Templeuve. It had been hoped to aract 25 for the event to be self-funding. Feedback from those whowent had been extremely positive. The council resolved to take responsibility for the £120 loss incurred. Interest from Templeuve included choral singing and gymnastic exchanges. The possibility of a boulesweekend in France had been suggested for 2014.


Recycling bin The Salvation Army recycling bin had been vandalised with an angle grinder and the contents stolen. The bin had been removed and replaced by the Salvation Army within 48 hours, for which it had been thanked by the clerk.


Fire hydrantsApresentation was given by Chris Wheal of Kent Fire and Rescue Service on the need to maintain the visibility of fire hydrants, aswell as the need for local people to be aware ofwater reserves such as rivers, streams and swimming pools, to assist fire officers when they aend an incident. He also advised of fire safety services currently available to householders.


Lighting The clerk had received a wrien apology from Southeastern regarding the lack of lighting along Station Road, but aer nearly threeweeks no repairs had been done. The clerk had wrien again.


Leeds


Police report Itwas noted that the police had not aended themeeting once again and a leerwould be sent to the police crime commissioner Ann Barnes.


Notice boardAquotewould be sought for the replacement of the notice board at the church car park.


Playing field Members approved the purchase of a pair of junior goal posts for the playing field for £725 plus VAT. The general maintenance of the playing fieldwas discussed and ameetingwas to be arranged with StevenWaring to discuss the playing field and tennis courts.


Street lightsAreview of the street lights would be undertaken with a view to switching off some of the lights within the parish.


Highways Cllr Gary Cooke reported that The Milners had been adopted. The road had been inspected by Kent Highways and it was felt that the potholeswere not deep enough to warrant resurfacing. Cllr Cookewould look into whether he could sort this out, using his member’s budget.


LorryWatch The LorryWatch scheme and problems of enforcementwere discussed. It was stated that when LorryWatchwas in operation therewas a noticeable reduction in the lorries using the B2163.


Lenham Toilet upgrade The WCswere to undergo a


Parish Councils


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