downsmail.co.uk
grant scheme. The Gallants Lane one is leased to the parish council, and itwas agreed to ask Maidstone Council to take back the lease and the maintenance. The play area in Fairhurst Drive is in Coxheath, but is used by East Farleigh residents. It was considered non-strategic and will not be supported by MBC. Residents have a year to agree to take it over, aer which time it will be dismantled. Itwas agreed to approach Coxheath Parish Council with a view to sharing maintenance.
Egerton
Footpaths The footpaths from StistedWay to Egerton House had not been re-instated butwerewalkable as the cropswere low. The owners ofWildings Farm had requested a diversion of the footpath near their property for privacy. Councillors Geraldine Dyer and Pat Parr had contacted them and the owners of a nearby property and put them in touch with KCC. Stiles Two stiles near Egerton House had been reported. The stile opposite Egerton Housewas too high to climb over and a requestwas made for a kissing gate. The otherwas slippery due to theweather conditions. The footpath sign opposite Field Mill had fallen over andwould be reported. Highways The fallen tree thatwas overhanging the road at Stonebridge Barn had been removed but no action had been taken regarding the foliage overhanging the road. More hedging had collapsed into New Road. The clerkwas to contact the owner to ask that it be cut back. Emergency planningAregisterwas available to show areas at risk of flooding. Cllr Parrwondered if the emergency plan should highlight areas at risk. Culverts Highways engineer Kevin Gore had been in contact with Cllr Peter Rawlinson and an inspectionwas to be carried out to identify anywork needed. Molly’s Steps Councillors Tim Oliver and Bill Smyth had cleared away the leaves to make the steps safer. Richard Kingwas to contact the head teacher at the school to discuss the idea of a handrail or barrier. Stonebridge Green TheAboard showing the direction of the animal food business placed on the green had been removed and the business ownerwas to apply for planning permission for a permanent sign on his property. Broadband RichardWall carried out a postcode search and found that Egerton had been flagged for a superfast broadband upgrade. Fingerpost The clerk had taken pictures of the finger posts at Newlands Green Road and Green Hill Lane and sent them to a foundry in London. Cllr Smyth suggested a local firm makes a replica from lightweight steel rather than have a replacement made from cast iron. The clerkwas to enquire about costs.
Headcorn
Precept Itwas agreed that the precept for 2014/15 for a band D propertywould be £52.70. Therewould also be a precept of £25,000 or £17.28 per band D property for the village hall repayment of the public boardworks loan over a 25-year period. Thiswas a 25.98% increase – £14.43 per year or £1.20 per month up on 2013/14. The total precept equated to £5.83 per month.
46 Maidstone South March 2014 Hunton
Budget The parish voted to ask for the same precept as last year from Maidstone Council to cover running costs, resulting in a 26p rate increase per resident. School Cllr SteveWyles met Mrs Gibbs- Naguar, the new head of Hunton Primary School and expressed the council’s wish for the school to become more involved in village events. Parking problems outside the schoolwere discussed. Parentswere urged to park at the village hall with the aim of seing up awalking bus for children to the school. GatewayAvillage gatewaywas to be installed at the boom of Hunton Hill as well as reflector posts on the verge alongside the playing field onWest Street. NeighbourhoodWatch The scheme continued to grow with a current membership of 103 properties, around a third of the village, and itwas named Maidstone and District Neighbourhood Watch of the Year 2013. Crime report Three crimes had been reported in the previous two months – criminal damage to a garden statue, the of heating oil fromWest Street and the of a lawnmower fromWater Lane. King George V playing field The scheduledwork to cut back the trees overhanging the football and cricket pitches could not be carried out as the groundwas toowet. The poor condition of the car park remained a concern. The cost of resurfacing was prohibitive but the commieewas looking into more modest improvements. Village hall New village hall commiee chairman Christina Harrison reported that current bookingswere almost at capacity. Stepswere being taken to remedy a number of items requiring repair or maintenance.
Loose
Tribute Chairman Vianne Gibbons spoke about the very sad loss of Cllr Roy Hood, who gave more than 40 years of his life to the parish council and many more serving the people of Loose. Hewould be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Itwas agreed to involve the family with any ideas of a lasting tribute for him and for everyone to have thoughts of whatwould be appropriate. CannabisAplastic bag which may have contained cannabiswas found locally and reported to the police. Cllr Malcolm Summer said nothing had been done since he aended a restorative justice meeting which followed the vandalism at the King George V playing field last June. The clerk would take this forward. Treasurer David Smith had resigned as trustee and treasurer of the McAlpine Trust. The clerkwould write to thank him for his 24 years of service. Viv Daviswould take his place as trustee and as a parish council representative. Hugh Laing, as chairman, would temporarily take on the role of treasurer. Planning Initial steps towards seing up the neighbourhood planningworking groupwere discussed. Budget Itwas agreed that the precept for 2014/15would increase by 5% to cover losses from the closure of the KCC Sure Start centre and uncertainties over the parish services scheme and tax benefits grant from Maidstone Council.
Absence The absence of Cllr Liam Corbe was discussed. Itwas agreed he could continue his role as parish councillor until April 1 and if therewas no aendance up to the March meeting, the maerwould be reviewed.
Marden
Crime report There had been four crimes since the last meeting: three burglaries and one the of a vehicle. Furtherworkwas being undertaken in The Cockpit area with Golding Homes, but it seemed to be quieter since thework around the drugs and shed breaks. Motorbikes had been reported in Stonepit, but the owner had given permission for them to be used. Business forum An update on the events of 2013 had been circulated and an email had been received from Elaine Collins giving details of the faster broadband proposals. It was hoped theworkwould be completed by July. Village hall roof Millwood Homeswas to receive quotes from the hall commiee regarding roofing costs to look at the possibility of providing Section 106 money for the roof refurbishment. Bus shelter One of the planning conditions of the Redrow developmentwas the provision of a bus shelter in Goudhurst Road. Councillors had agreed on the type of shelter to be provided but the clerkwas to contact Redrow about the location and the question of maintenance. Public toilets Itwas requested that the upgrade be included in the parish council’s Section 106 document.
Staplehurst
Surrenden playing field Parish councillors approved the quote from SRFC Ltd for work on the Crowther Close hedge at a cost of £2,085 to be undertaken before the end of March.
Neighbourhood plan Post-consultation event questionnaireswere being returned slowly and publicitywould be extended to encourage responses. Itwas agreed in principle to engage Feria-Urbanism to support the parish council in its response to Maidstone Council’s dra local plan consultation. Bus service Cllr Peter Spearink advised that a meeting had been held with MPHelen Grant and a leerwas being prepared for her to facilitate a meeting of interested parties. Clean-up Paperwork had been completed for the village clean-up on March 22 and village groupswould be contacted to encourage participation. PotholesAresident spoke about potholes in Bell Lane which, being in the unadopted section,were not the responsibility of Kent Highways. Potholes on the A229 near Huntsman’s Stables had been reported. QuestionnaireAresident said it had not been possible for two people to complete the neighbourhood plan questionnaire from the same computer. This issue had just been identified andwould be addressed. The short-term solutionwas to find another device or complete a paper version (available from the library or parish office). Itwas suggested that clearing cookies might help.
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