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involved in the upgrade, aworking group would push for it to be included.
Headcorn
Joint Parishes Group The council wished to be involved in the publicity project regarding the planned M20 Junction 8 development, but the division of financial costs per parishwould need to be altered due to distance of the village from the site. Playscheme 2014 Daily chargeswould be increased to £3.50 for bookings or £5 on the day. The sum of £1,900would be put in the budget to fund the scheme but the group would re-consult the council if necessary. It was also resolved to promote the scheme to neighbouring parishes if required and seek a donation from those parish councils. Neighbourhood play groupAn invoice was to be forwarded to Maidstone Council for the sum of £2,500 towards costs. Train timesAresident raised concerns about Southeastern’s public consultation to changes to the timetable in December 2014. Itwas felt that off-peak serviceswould mainly be affected. Parishioners’ questions Issues raised by residents included the removal of old planning notices around the parish, vehicles parking on the pavement in Oak Lane and stream maintenance. Dangerous tree Cllr Richard Thick raised the issue of a dangerous tree in Thatch Barn Road and mentioned the recent flooding.
Langley
Warden visits Dawn Riach Brown had been conductingwelfare visits in addition to visiting the Heath Road bus stop, where up to 30 childrenwait for the bus to school. Complaints had been received about speeding on Green Lane. Budget The budget for 2014/15was approved. Contingency had been set high because of imminent costs of street lighting and the costs of vandalism and liering. The preceptwould be frozen. Police report There had been four incidents of criminal damage and a burglary other than a dwelling in Horseshoes Lane. There had also been a the in Heath Road. Footpaths The hedges along the A274 near the allotments had been cut by the landowners. KCCwould be asked to clear the pavements. Speed limit Therewas an ongoing petition for a reduction in the speed limit to 30mph on the A274. The clerkwas to contact Cllr Eric Hotson and Richard Emme. Playground Two signs had been received and the clerkwas to arrange for their installation. The monthly inspection had revealed a broken end cap on the handle of the air skier.
Loose
Development Frustrations experienced by members of the public affected by the proposed Persimmon development of Pickering Street/Boughton Lanewere understood. The parish councilwould hold an extraordinarymeeting on themaer and would distribute leaflets notifying people of themeeting date once the applicationwas received. Sewage leak SouthernWaterAuthority area manager BobHart and Lower Loose Valley pumping station manager Sco Pringwere
introduced.All three pumps failed in August 2013. Itwas felt that this must have been due to poor maintenance in view of two failures in a short space of time. Tankers had to be used to deal with the leaking sewage which caused further problems in accessing the site. New housing Parish councillors felt potential new housing in the area could affect the pumping station and questionswere raised on the expected capacity and information that was passed to the local planning authority. Itwas agreed thatMrHartwould get some answers to the questions at a futuremeeting. Friends and neighbours The councilwas supporting a good neighbour scheme, which had been set up by a group of Loose residents. For details call 07909812139. Resignation David Smithwas to step down as treasurer of the McAlpine Trust. Allowances Itwas agreed thatmembers should not claim parish councillors’ allowances, but that any out of pocket expenses and travel costs claimed for parish council business should be refunded.
Staplehurst Council
Severe weather Councillors noted that communication channels had been hampered by power outages arising through badweather. This meant many peoplewere unaware of the severity of the problems suffered in parts of the village. Chairman John Perrywas seeking a meeting with the Environment Agency. Councillors agreed to make representations about proposed cuts at the agency and to write to Golding Homes about support offered to tenants. Neighbourhood plan Itwas agreed to continuework on the plan and to accept the quote of £19,100 from Feria Urbanism. Parish precept Aprecept of £1.08 perweek for a band D propertywas agreed, which would involve a £5,000 increase in the general fund. Uncertainty about future legislation and the parish council’s delivery of more and more services suggested it would be prudent to build up reserves. Buses From April, two double-decker buses would be introduced on the Cornwallis service. The 3.15pm buswould leave Maidstone 10 minutes earlier andwait at Cornwallis Academy. Hedge work Two quotations, each for £330, from SRFC,were accepted forwork at Jubilee and Surrenden Fields, providing they included removal of clippings.
Suon Valence
Prison Three employees from East Suon Park Prison spoke of the proposed closure and gave the parish council a brief account of events and the success rate that the prison has achieved in the low numbers re- offending. The council agreed to oppose the closure andwould write to MPHugh Robertson to ask for his support. Budget The parish precept for 2014/15was set at £29,995, meaning an increase for a band D property of £5.50 per annum. Resignation Groundsman Roger Bruce had resigned and a nearby parishioner had been asked to take over while the jobwas advertised. The clerkwould write to Roger thanking him for hiswork. Bus shelter The bus shelter had been demolished again. The clerk had contacted Maidstone Council to discuss its positioning. An email had requested it be
moved to a safer position. Lighting The clerk had given three months notice to Haven Power and three quotes were being obtained. Pavilion repairs The Kings Head donated £500 to the parish council for use where needed, possibly for pavilion repairs. The landlord had suggested a coffee morning once a month to raise funds. Councillors thought thiswas an excellent idea, if possible to be held on aWednesday so more of themwould be available to aend. Hedge planting, Suon RoadACAT scan had been paid for and the results showed several utility pipes and cables go under this piece of land. KCCwas not prepared to complete thework and a cultivation licence would be needed. The hedgewould need to be maintained by the parish council or parishioners. The chairmanwould inform parishioners that itwas not possible to proceed with the scheme.
West Farleigh
Traffic Members of the public reported accidents and near misses at the junction of Lower Road with Teston Lane. Proposals included beer signage, cameras and a lower speed limit. Councillors expressed dissatisfaction with the current response from Kent Highway Services and the inaction over the promised resurfacing of Teston
Lane.Ameetingwould be sought. Open spaces Maidstone Council had largely shied responsibility for grass- cuing and maintenance to the parish council, whichwas one of the reasons why the parish preceptwas increasing. Sports field parkingAleerwas among complaints about cars parking on Charlton Lane during football matches. Councillors were dissatisfied with the sports club’s response andwere considering official action against the use of the lane as a car park. It also affected the village bus service. Flooding Councillors felt the recentworks at the boom of Yalding Hill had made maersworse. The silting of the drainswas said to be almost impossible to prevent due to theweather. Crime report Cllr Julie King reported via neighbourhoodwatch that there had been no reported crimes in the village in the previous two months. Chip van Plans for a mobile chip shop in the Good Intent car park on Monday eveningswere generally supported. Precept Councillors approved a rise in the village precept of £750 for 2014/15, from £13,000 to £13,750.
Yalding
Floods thanks Thankswere expressed to PCSO Nicola Morris for her hardwork during the Christmas floods. Culvert Enquirieswere ongoing about the ownership of the culvert in Laddingford. Window plan The councilwas opposed to an extra window being added to a garage extension at Orchard Oast, Yalding Hill. Play area strategy Concernswere expressed about Maidstone’s dra play area strategy and the implications for playgrounds. Kerbs and verges Conservation kerbing and grass vergeswere to be laid in the High Street in March, depending on theweather. Christmas lights These had remained switched on in Lower Yalding and The Ta as a crime prevention measure.
Maidstone South February 2014 39
Parish Councils
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