downsmail.co.uk Boughton Malherbe
Defibrillator Chris Wheal explained the benefits of having a defibrillator and Cllr Ron Galton proposed the parish council buy one. Allwere in favour. Finger post Itwas reported that the sign at the Eastwood Road/Headcorn Road junctionwas still fingerless. Ditch floodingWork needed to be done to rectify the flooding. Dangerous stiles Stiles needing repair were reported on the footpaths from Lenham Road toWoodcock Lane, and another at Three Chimneys. Police report PCSO Alan Beech said a domestic assault had been reported. For the same period in the previous year there had been three crimes, all cases of criminal damage and the. Mobile police station This came to Headcorn and Ulcombe every twoweeks on a Friday. All of the detailswere on the policewebsite and peoplewere urged to aend if they needed advice etc. Speedwatch Gray Green Speedwatchwas trying to carry out sessions everyweek, with most sessions recording 15-20 speeding vehicles. Highways meeting Cllr Jenny While and Andy Pagham discussed HGVs using Liverton Hill. Itwas concluded that more informationwas needed on vehicle quantity before any signwere erected. KCC’s highways departmentwas due to put down a strip thatwould record size, speed and weight of vehicles, at a cost of £500. Cllr While offered to pay half of this, with the parish council paying the other half. Liverton Hill water Some Tarmacwas laid down which pushed thewater into a gully. This had also been done on Elmstone Lane. Emergency plan Itwas decided to amend the plan, which had been done. Itwas three pages long and the aimwas to finish it by February. Bus service No changeswere planned to the 59 service but tender documentswere due to be issued to operators regarding the KCC-funded Saturday service and non- commerical journeys during theweek. Awardswere due to be announced in January, for an April start. Arriva Problems of unreliability with the schoolday 7.03am service and behaviour problems on the 4.10pmwere discussed with Arriva, which promised to pay special aention to these.
Broomfield and Kingswood
Policing PCSO Richard Kirby said there had been two crimes in Kingswood: a the in Lenham Road and a burglary other than a dwelling.
Neighbourhood plan Cllr Terry Baker updated members on the progress of the plan and advised that the public consultation could not start until discussions with Maidstone Councilwere concluded. Sports field The clerkwas asked to arrange a meeting with the Scout group and Maidstone Mavericks. Peter Forster said the new binwas being used for dogwaste, whichwas a health hazard. Cllr Peter Page agreed to chase up the contractor who had been asked to supply “No dogwaste” sigs. In the meantime the clerkwould put up a laminated notice and look into having a lid for the bin, whichwas filling up withwater.
Therewas concern about the condition of the verge outside the field due to lorries accessing the Stumps. The clerkwas asked to write to the property concerned. The clerkwas also asked to obtain estimates for repainting the Portacabin. Joint Parishes Group The group had met with Cllr Chris Garland of Maidstone Council to discuss the emerging local development plan. The JPG had compiled a response to the dra consultation document. Councillors agreed to support the JPG stance and wished to support the vote of no confidence. Planning changes Maidstone Council had announced its intentions to manage the whole planning process electronically. Councillors expressed concern at the limited facilities of the parish council to manage such a system and asked the clerk to inform Maidstone Council of the potential problems. Annual parish meeting Itwas decided that, if possible, the meeting should take place on a Saturday morning in May. All clubs and societieswould be invited to aend and have a stall. Welcome pack Itwas agreed that councillorswould like to have awelcome pack for new residents as they move into the village. Thiswould include a leer of welcome and the most recent Village News. The clerkwas asked to format awelcome leer. Traffic maers Following awalk round the village, Cllrs Baker, Mike Lovell and Michael O’Neill recommended that the interactive signs in Lenham Roadwould not be value for money. They made recommendations for visual improvements that could be maintained if a handyman was contracted. Itwas agreed to recruit a handyman for 2014/15. Pizza van Maidstone Council had received an application for a grant of street trading consent for a mobile pizza van in the car park of the Costcuer shop between 4pm and 9pm on Saturdays. Councillors expressed concern that the locationwas inappropriate due to noise and parking issues.
ResignationAleer of resignation from the parish council had been received from JustinWest, the monitoring officer. Maidstone Council had been informed and the vacancy had been advertised on the noticeboards.
Downswood
Notice board The notice board at Foxden Drivewas bought for £42, but therewere concerns that the hasp did not appear to be very strong. If the boardwas vandalised again itwould be secured, but not repaired, and considerationwould be given to moving it to a new location. Police report Apedal cyclewas stolen from an unlocked shed, but itwas later found nearby andwas returned to the owner. Play area Two of the three quotations had been received for equipment at Foxden Drive. The third quotationwas expected. Cllr David Nuall and the clerkwere to meet with Maidstone Council to view the terracingwork in thewooded area of Foxden. Maers which had been highlighted at MallardsWaywould also be discussed. Volunteering day Maidstone Councilwas hoping for volunteers to help plant whips
and raise the tree canopy in thewoodland area of Foxden Drive. Dra budget proposal Cllr GrahamWyld proposed that the 2014/15 precept be set at £26,000 in line with the previously circulated proposal. Thiswas agreed. Clerk’s report The clerk visited Babo’s following a report from the lier picker that commercialwastewas being le in the residential bin. Shewas given assurances that itwould not happen again.
Hollingbourne
Accounts Cllr John Cobbe declared his dissatisfaction and embarrassment at the unresolved maer of the yearly accounts. Cllr Mike Bedwell said hewas responsible for the council and took any criticism for its performance. Cllr David Ardley said the whole councilwas accountable. Waterside Park Cllr Bedwell said the developmentwas jumping on the back of the intention of extracting sand from the area, and the venturewas a scaled down version of the KIG plan. Notice board CllrAdamWard proposed a new notice board to replace the one by the school at a cost of £696. Thiswas approved. Environmental report Cllr Susan Bauer reported on progress for a replacement village sign.Wrought ironwas ruled out as being too expensive (£5-6,000). The merits of a coloured resin signwere discussed, and the clerkwas to provide a photograph of the original. Planning report Members heard Cllr Alan Benne had been “fobbed off” by Maidstone Council in his aempts to ascertain responsibility for removing unauthorised signage whichwas appearing in and around the village. The policewould only intervene if traffic signswere affected. Niton House The clerk said Cllr Cobbe had asked her to take up the maer of possible non-compliance with Maidstone Council as the alterations at Niton House did not appear to have planning permission. The clerk had received confirmation that no breach had taken place.
Ulcombe
New councillors Two members had been co-opted on to the parish council to fill vacancies and itwas hoped to fill the last vacancy at the January meeting. Police report Therewere four reported crimes (one of criminal damage, one threat to kill and two thes). Three incidentswere part of an ongoing family dispute. The new mobile police stationswould be aending a wider variety of locations in 2014. Solar farms The parish council planned to hold a public meeting in the spring to provide information about solar farm developments. Pink Ribbon walk The route of thewalk in aid of Breast Cancer Carewould be passing through the parish on June 7. Wents Crossroads Following a site meeting with Kent Highways Services itwas hoped warning signswould be improved from all four directions. KHSwould also look to install some multilingual signswarning of narrow roads and bends for Chegworth Road.
Potholes Extensive potholes in Headcorn Road and Ulcombe Roadwould be reported.
Maidstone East February 2014 47
Parish Councils
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