downsmail.co.uk BoughtonMonchelsea
Crime report PCSO Richard Kirby sent in his report which noted nine incidents of the, one burglary and two aempted burglaries. Thiswas a slight increase on the figures for the same period last year. Warden’s report Communitywarden Liz Lova had beenworking with the elderly and vulnerable. She said several residents had received phone calls relating to a bogus company offering free smoke alarms or equipment to help with breathing difficulties and arthritis. There had been an increase in doorstep callers and residents werewarned not to buy from these sellers. PoachingAn instance of poaching had been reported. If poachingwas suspected, residents should report it to the police. Community assets Members discussed which assets within the parish might be worth registering. Itwas noted that if an assetwas registered the owner could potentially claim for losses due to, for example, a delayed sale. If this happened, the parish council might be liable for costs. Itwas suggested that the village shop, social club, primary school and pubswere all possibilities but itwas agreed not to pursue any registrations at this time. Allotments Cllr Colin Bracking said the allotment guidewas almost complete and would soon be going to print. Neighbourhood plan The clerk said 60 questionnaires had been returned and she had produced a document summarising all the responses. Precept Cllr Ian Ellis noted that the parish council’s preceptwas somewhere in the middle of the precepts set by all Maidstone parishes. The parish services scheme grant for 2014/15would be just £4,154 and the parish councilwould need to raise its precept this year by more than inflation. It was agreed to set the precept at £50,000, which represented £40.74 per year for a band D property, an increase of 12 %, or just over 8p perweek. Council vacancy Ms J Skinner and Mr R Edmans had applied to be co-opted on to the parish council. Itwas noted that both candidateswere veryworthy but lived in southward, when northward candidates were desperately
needed.Adecision on the two applicantswas deferred, and a recruitment drivewould be carried out in northward in the meantime. St Peter’s ChurchAleer had been received asking the parish council to consider making an annual grant to help the Friends with maintenance and repairs. Itwas noted that the parish council had historically given an annual grant of £2,500 towards grass cuing. Itwas agreed that the councilwould help in otherways, eg by advertising fundraising events in newleers and on thewebsite. Village hall Cllr Angela Whybrow said the commieewould be arranging for some branch removalwork to trees in the village hall car park and recreation ground to make parking easier during this year’s village hall fete. Cricket pavilion The clerk had been approached by a parishioner regarding the possibility of refurbishing the cricket pavilion for use as a café. Thiswould be brought up at the next village hall and recreation ground meeting. Parkwood Farm Cllr Peter Herrin said the reservoir gate had been shut on the evening of December 23, which had heldwater back
38 Maidstone South March 2014
from The Quarries. However, there had been so much rain that the reservoir became full. Hewas certain that without the reservoir and sluice the houseswould have been flooded over Christmas. Since then, Cllr Herrin and Cllr Stephen Munford had been to the reservoir several times each day to release thewater in a controlled manner. Councillors Brown, Bracking and Ellis agreed to act as flood operation team for the next two months. Play area Some of the equipment in the Church Street play areawas coming to the end of its useful life and other pieceswould require maintenance. Cllr Brown, Munford and the clerkwere to progress this and the village hall and recreation groundwould be approached for a financial contribution. North ward Cllr Gary Cook had made a grant of £500 some time ago with the parish council agreeing to match it. Cllr Kirstie Williams advised that a reasonableway to use itwould be to create a gap in the fence to give access to the playing field at Park Wood.Akissing gate or similarwould be required. The clerkwas to complete a KCC grant application form. Village fete The fete will take place on Saturday, June 14. NoticeboardsAresident had commented on the state of the noticeboards. Cllr Leon Date agreed to inspect them and identify any repairs needed.
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 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 dra 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. This would 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 use of the layby as a turning point. Buses Councillors expressed concern about the lack of notice about the No 59 leaving
Kingswood earlier at 7.06am and requested the clerk to contact Arriva to ascertain if schools had been notified of the changes. It would 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 per year.
Coxheath
Traffic calming Kent Highways Services wasz planning a programme thatwould result in the existing traffic calming scheme in Heath Road being removed and a new scheme installed by the end of August 2014. Local plan The parishwas to seek a collaborative response by engaging with other parish councils over issues arising from Maidstone Council’s borough wide dra local plan. Bus shelterAdelegated budget had been approved for the repair of the bus shelter next to the Coxheath Primary School playing field in Heath Road. Post office The Post Office had announced that Coxheath Post Officewas to be modernised and refurbished, necessitating temporary closure thatwas due to end on March 7. Fencing repair The councilwas to repair fencing damaged in the badweather on the perimeter of the recreation area off Linden Road. Annual meeting The annual parish meeting datewas set for Tuesday, May 6. Council anniversary The parish council was to organise an event for June 1 to mark the 50th anniversary of its foundation.
East Farleigh
Resignation Cllr Paul Barker had said he could no longer carry on as a councillor because of hiswork situation. Therewere two vacances on the parish council. Crime report Nobody from the police could aend the meeting but six crimes were reported for January: a the of fencing at Court Lodge Farm, Forge Lane; a the from a vehicle at Franklyn Coages, Workhouse Lane; a the of a motor vehicle from Medway Villas, Lower Road; a burglary from The Priory; a burglary from Vicarage Lane and criminal damage to Court Lodge Park, Lower Road. WI hall The trustees of the recreation ground charity had met with representatives of the WI to discuss the possibility of a new WI hall on the recreation ground in Vicarage Lane. The councilwas looking into the possibility of the group having the land as freehold. Meeting dates Itwas agreed that parish council meetingswould be moved to the first Tuesday of every month, starting in June. The January meeting will be held on the second Tuesday. Car park The parish council had received borrowing approval for £32,223 for the completion of the final surface of the village hall car park. Itwas agreed to borrow this from the PublicWorks Loan Board over a period of 26 years. Play areas The council had received Maidstone Council’s dra play area strategy and itwas agreed that the Vicarage Lane play areawas strategic and therefore eligible for the parish
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Parish Councils
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