downsmail.co.uk Boughton Malherbe
Warden New communitywarden Stuart Ellesmere spoke about his role. He is based at Headcorn library although he can oen be seen around and about. An information open day in the village hall in the spring was suggested. Public session The absence of electricity for a third of the village for four and a half days over Christmaswas raised in relation to the parish emergency plan. Discussion followed on how the emergencywas defined and the parish council’s role, if any, beyond planning. Potholes Therewere many potholes around the parish, all of which had been reported, though itwas recognised that KCCwas having a difficult time. Bus service 59 There had been problems with buses being late, mainly caused by heavy traffic on Loose Road. Also, on the school run at the end of the day, when a single deckerwas being used, there was not space for all out-of-town children to get home as the servicewas being used to get from Maidstone town centre to Loose. Budget The budget for 2014/15 was agreed with the precept remaning at £5,000.
Bredhurst
Allotment gate Repair to the gate and the maintenance of notice boardswere still outstanding. The contractorwould aend to the notice board in the spring. Street lighting The replacement white lining outside The Birches had not yet been undertaken by Kent Highway Services because it advised that salting the roads during winterwould quickly erode the markings. Theworkwas planned for the end of March. Itwas agreed that the trial lighting switch-off should start at the end of March, on the recommendation of KHS. Playground The new sign had been ordered andwould be delivered. Parish plan The original action plan, published in 2004, had mostly been completed. Cllr Carr had asked about MOSAIC, a tool used by KCC to analyse demographics, as extracting local data would be useful to evidence any future plans for the village. This could also be highlighted at the Bredhurst Information Day to obtain views of residents. Itwas suggested that a smallworking party could look at this in more detail once the MOSAIC datawas available. Banner Alarge bannerwas needed to be bought to advertise Bredhurst Information Day on Saturday, May 10, 11am to 1pm. Playground The play area behind the village hallwas included in Maidstone Council’s list of rural sites that may be adopted as part of its play strategy. This would be a chance for the parish council to obtain match funding of up to £10,000 for improvements when required.
Broomfield and
Kingswood Co-option Keith Bennewas co-opted to fill the vacancy on the parish council aer the resignation of Paul Beaney. J8 development Borough Cllr Peter Parvin had responded to a leer asking for his support for the parish council in a vote on the proposed development at M20 Junction 8. Cllr Parvin said he did not wish to seen
54 Maidstone East March 2014
predetermining the issue before any vote. However, neither site had been accepted as suitable to be included in the Maidstone dra local plan. In fact he felt therewere no sites which had been accepted that would adversely affect the parish. The local planwould be going out for consultation from March 21. Weather The clerk had received several calls and emails asking for the parish council to complain to power suppliers about the number of power cuts experienced. Councillors stressed the circumstanceswere exceptional and everything possible had been done. Twinning The twinning groupwas planning a garden safari on Sunday, July 20, to raise funds for the primary school, with the permission of the head teacher. Thiswould include a scarecrow competition, children’s tabletop garden and parishioners opening their gardens for viewing. The parish council agreed to supply stationery for advertising. Highways Responses from councillors regarding the size and location of a road sign recommended by KCC Highways in Chegworth Road had been very mixed. Councillors expressed concern that the sign, whichwas to advise HGV drivers of the unsuitability of the road,would be erected where many large vehicles park, thereby obscuring it and preventing using the layby as a turning point. Buses Councillors expressed concern about the lack of notice that the No 59would now leave Kingswood earlier at 7.06am and requested the clerk to contact Arriva to ascertain if schools had been notified of the changes. Itwould now create a journey time of 1.5 hours eachway. Pizzas Luca Leonardi had been granted a street trading licence to sellwood-fired pizzas from his mobile van in the car park of the Kingswood village shop for up to 12 trading days, Saturdays only between 4pm and 9pm.
Detling
Parish surgeries Cllr Clayton had aended a coffee morning at the church which he had found to be a positive meeting and well received by all who aended. He felt this could be the way to communicate with residents. Itwas agreed the surgeries in the school building would stop and the parish councilwould aend village organisation meetings on a regular basis. HorishWood John Monk spoke regarding HorishWood and the problem with flooding due to a punctured pipe. Cllr Evernden spoke about the work being undertaken by South EastWater. Top soil needed to be brought into thewoodland and an ecologist needed to be appointed to deal with this and the problems regarding the reinstatement of the woodland. He would liaise with the parish councils’ adviser on this maer. The publicwould be unable to use the woodland at present as it was coated in clay. Poppy seeds Cllr Bowie spoke regarding the poppy seeds and the proposal by the parish council to send a packet to all properties within the parish to mark the anniversary of the FirstWorldWar. She had sourced packets of Flanders poppy seeds at a cost of 33p each. Itwas agreed to buy 400 packets at a cost of £132. BudgetAprecept of £21,076was agreed for
2013/14, an increase of 2.7% on last year. Highways Cllr Housden reported on a meeting with KCC Cllr Jenny While and a KCC highways officer to look at problem areas in Detling. KCCwould be looking at the drainage problems at the junctions of the A249 as high priority from the start of the new financial year. The signs for No Traffic and Buses Only at the top junction were being considered by Cllr While as part of the highways fund. Scragged Oak RoadAleerwould be draed to Cllr While concerning KCC’s decision to drop thework at the junction of Scragged Oak Road.
Downswood
Potholes These had been reported at the central refuge by Horton Downs; Mallards Way roundabout (boundary stone side); Church Road (near junction with Deringwood Drive);Willington Street (as you approach Deringwood Drive). Play area The chairman and clerk met with Maidstone Council to discuss the three quotes for Foxden Drive play area. The borough council had offered to print a flyer for consultation and the parish council would pay for delivery, if required.A volunteering daywas being held to plant whips/raise the tree canopy in the woodland area of Foxden Drive. Carols This year’s carols and lights ceremony will be held on November 28. Olympicnic An event application had been agreed by Maidstone
Council.Aquote from the Red Cross of £80 plus VAT has been accepted and an ice cream vendor had agreed to a
end.Aquote of £235 plus VAT from Four Jays for portable toilet hire and fire extinguisher had been accepted. Resignation Cllr Chainey’s leer of resignationwas accepted. Shewas thanked for all her efforts as a councillor.
Hollingbourne
Clerk Cllr Dr Susan Bauer said Elaine Lawrence had given seven years of good service as parish clerk and felt humiliated aer the public criticism by Cllr John Cobbe at the last meeting regarding the preparation of the end of year accounts. All present felt the maer had caused unnecessary upset to the clerk and should have been handled in a more appropriate manner. Advertising for the role of clerk had closed. Accounts Chairman Mike Bedwell said the 2012/13 accounts had been inspected at the request of a member of the public at the clerk’s office. The accounts had been given to the parish council’s adviser for final review before issue to Maidstone Council. Board An order had been placed for a new notice board. Sign Cllr Dr Bauer advised she had inspected a plastic-type village sign and felt itwas not appropriate. Further sign types/sampleswould be considered. Chairman’s report Cllr Bedwell said any developments around Hollingbourne might lead to flooding problems. He thanked the clerk for all her goodwork and said shewould be sorely missed. FeteAquote of £400was accepted for the band to play at the fete evening event. Exit Fire exit signs at the Cardwell pavilion would be reviewed. The illuminated sign above the entrancewas defective.
Parish Councils
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56