downsmail.co.uk Broomfield and Kingswood
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 bin was 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” signs. In the meantime the clerkwould put up a laminated notice and look into having a lid for the bin, whichwas filling up with water. Therewas concern about the condition of the verge outside the field due to lorries accessing The Stumps. The clerk was asked to write to the property concerned. 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. 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 formulate a welcome 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.
Chart Suon
Speedwatch Members decided to buy new dual message Speedwatch equipment for use solely by the Chart Suon Speedwatch team for £1,965 plus VAT. The current shared equipmentwas showing signs of
38 Maidstone South February 2014
wear and tear and it would enable the team to deploy the equipment more regularly. Members also took into account the recent request for speed tables in the village, the cost of whichwas prohibitive. The purchasewas delayed until April so funds could be used from the 2014/15 budget. Cllr Val Underdown agreed to look into using other sites for Speedwatch, including Amber Lane. Contact details PCSO Richard Kirby was asked to provide up-to-date posters with contact details for display in the Shop on the Green and on the noticeboards. Sign Members agreed to a request for a sign to be placed on the post at Chart Corner directing customers to Lilypie Cafe. Flytipping Communitywarden Liz Lova was advised of flytipping in Forge Lane andWarmlake Road. Lier pick Members agreed to continue with the fortnightly sweep contract with Maidstone Council. Footway Members decided not to pursue a request for a new footway in PloughWents Road aer a Kent Highways Services feasibility study said the proposalwas “fraught with difficulties that will be extremely problematic or impossible to overcome”. Memorial field Councillors considered the wet and muddy patch on the entrance to the playing field and agreed to add topsoil and reseed the entrance in the summer. Bad weather Cllr Peter Forknall reported that in previous years the road had flooded at Rabbits Cross. However, aer the ditcheswere cleared the problem hadn’t re- occurred this year. Itwas also noted that the ditch needed digging out between Hop Engineering and Ashurst Farm. Flooding problems in Norton Road had been reported to Kent Highway Services. Some guering came off the pavilion, and Cllr StevenWaring would put it back up. Many football matches had been postponed this year; CllrWaring suggested more maintenance be carried out on the football pitch next year, including more spiking. Shop on The Green The shop commiee was still discussing options for relocating the facility, whichwas now four years old. The maing path to the shop had become soggy and uneven so sand had been put down. Storm damage PCSO Kirby reported that over 100 treeswere blown down in Maidstone within 20 minutes during a recent storm. Fete refusal The amenities commieewas approached by Suon Valence about holding a joint fete but decided against it. Green hedge CllrWaring had not yet pruned the tree on the green but would do so in the near future, together with tidying up the hedge at the back of the green.
East Farleigh
Dogs plea Over the Christmas period, two Alsatians and a Roweilerwere seen roaming loose in the area of the MAP building in Lower Road and they were very threatening. WI hall Therewas some discussion around the proposed plans for a new WI hall in West Farleigh, possibly to be funded by the sale of the existing building in Forge Lane. The council felt it was a shame that this would mean losing the existing WI hall in East Farleigh. Itwas agreed to write to the
secretary of the Farleighs WI on behalf of the parish council and the recreation ground trustees, inviting them to a meeting about siting the new hall elsewhere. 2014/15 budget Aer taking account of the possibility that the council may agree to take out a loan at the February meeting (see car park below), itwas agreed that the precept be increased by £2,000. Car park The council had received borrowing approval from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for up to £32,223. Together with the £9,000 granted from KCC’s small community capital projects fund, this would cover the cost of puing the final surface on the car park, as specified in the planning conditions. If the council did not do this, Maidstone Council had the power to close the car park. The decision on whether or not to borrowwould be taken at the February meeting. In the interim, the council agreed to draw up a specification for the surfacing and get further quotations. Bridge interpretative sign The council would contact Paul Sapwell at the school to see if it would like the spare copy of the bridge information board picture.
East Suon
Police visits The parish council decided against having the police contact point visiting East Suon. Itwas felt it would be under utilised and awaste of valuable police time beer spent maintaining a presence in the parish. Prison Empl East Suon and yees from East Suon Park prison addressed the meeting. The council agreed to oppose the closure andwould write to the local MP. Neighbourhood plan Three councillors and the clerk had met members of Boughton Malherbe Parish Council regarding a neighbourhood plan. The councilwould progress the idea by arranging a meeting with parishioners. Salt binAsite meetingwas being requested with Kent Highway Services to discuss the possibility of a salt bin on Church Street. Precept The budget for 2014/15 was agreed and the precept set at £6,000. RepairsApayment of £1,765.20was agreed for repairs to the toilet at Filmer Hall.
Egerton
Footpaths and stiles The gate along the footpath fromWanden Lane to FrithWood in WheelerWood had been blocked by a very large log. Itwas thought this may have been to protect thewood from vandals. The footpath across the field from StistedWay to Egerton House had still not been reinstated, butwas clear of dog mess. Molly’s steps Two councillors had offered to clear the steps of leaves to make them easier to see when being used. Itwas suggested that a hand rail could be put in. Sign The board showing the direction of the animal food business placed at Stonebridge Greenwas to be removed and the business ownerwas to apply for planning permission for a permanent sign. Assembly The parish assemblywould take place during theweek starting March 17. Broadband BTwas to upgrade the fibre optic wires to speed up broadband usage but not in all areas. If Egertonwas not
Parish Councils
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