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Kingswood Annual meeting There will be a new format for this year’s annual parish meeting, on Saturday, May 17 at the village hall from 10am to 2pm, when clubs and societies will be publicising themselves. Public consultation will begin on the neighbourhood plan. Policing PCSO Richard Kirby reported one crime in Kingswood: a the in Ashford Drive.
Neighbourhood plan Due to changes by Maidstone Council to the previously agreed plans, further adjustments might now have to be made, which could mean the launch of the public consultation on May 17would have to be cancelled. The clerkwas asked to write to MPHugh Robertson. Handyman Quotes forwork had been received and an arrangement for a trial sessionwas being arranged. Highways Residents had raised concerns about traffic on unpaved footpaths round the village and the danger to pedestrians from overhanging trees and shrubs. MeetingAmeeting had been arranged with Kent Highway Services for the clerk and councillors to go round the parish on May 21 and identify any issues. The clerk would include issues of overgrown hedges and potholes. Ashford Drive Areplacement street plate had been erected. Resurfacing Gravelly Boom Roadwas scheduled to be resurfaced along its entire length at the end of July. Pensioners’ outing Due to safety issues brought to the clerk’s aention aer the booking of the Pocahontas river trip, the destinationwas changed. The trip will now be to the Bluebell Railway for a cream tea. Speed limits Cllr Baker proposed that a 20mph speed limit be investigated and suggested a consensus of opinionwas sought at the annual parish meeting with a tick form. Cllr Benne agreed to lead this initiative. Speed restrictions could allow for more comprehensive safety and traffic calming measures, whichwould not be allowed within current 30mph limits.
Chart Suon
Annual parish meeting Members noted that Mary Underdown had kindly agreed to provide refreshments at the interval. The annual reportwould be distributed at the meeting and thereaer to every household. Lilypie parking Signswould be made up stating the bays at AmberWay were for residents’ parking – permit holders only, to try to deter Lilypie staff/customers from parking
there.Aquote for £152.57 excluding deliverywas accepted from RBLI for two signs and 12 residents’ permits. Hertsfield Bridge Kent Highway Services needed to carry out repairs to the north arches and had advised that the work would take sixweeks from the end of June, including a closure for seven days. Diversion Therewas no objection to applications to divert part of footpaths KH549 and KH556. Football pitch The football clubs had on recent occasions given lile notice that the pitch required rolling before their next match. This meant that Landscape Services
46 Maidstone South May 2014
could not carry out the work at such short notice and so it was carried out by Cllr Waring. He had to get a key cut for one of the clubs and had purchased some white line marker. Spring clean The annual Chart Suon spring clean had taken place and six volunteers had turned up to help. Speedwatch The new equipmentwas due to be delivered. Lier picking Members noted the leer from Garry James and asked the clerk to respond, thanking him for his comments and reiterating the need for him towear his high-visibility jacket while lier picking on behalf of the council. Parish services scheme Members noted the grant for 2014/15 would be £2,225, which was £71 less than the previous year as Maidstone Councilwas no longer providing funding for street lighting. The grant would be paid in two instalments, in May and October.
Coxheath
Local plan Having wrien to the leader of Maidstone Council, expressing grave reservations over the content of the proposed Maidstone local plan, the parish council agreed to bring these concerns to the aention of the local MPs. Neighbourhood plan Maidstone Council publicised the Coxheath neighbourhood plan for sixweeks to April 30. Woodland The parish councilwould be seeking advice from KentWildlife Trust before developing a management programme for the woodland to the west of the village hall playing field. Christmas lights The parish council had purchased five additional motifs for the Christmas lights display at a discounted price of £1,000 plus VAT. Co-option Former chairman Elizabeth Poswas co-opted on to the parish council, and returns aer a five-year absence. Crime The parish councilwas to express concern to Kent Police over the level of crime in the village and in particular the increase in cases of criminal damage. Meeting The annual parish meetingwas due to be held on May 6.
East Farleigh
Trough repair The horse trough on the triangle was damaged aer a recent collision but Gordon Newton from The Stone Shop in Farleigh Hill kindly re- assembed and refurbished it free of charge. The council expressed thanks for his community spirit. Emergency flood plan The council had looked at Yalding’s plan and agreed that it was a suitable template. The clerkwould edit it to fit East Farleigh and circulate for approval at a future meeting. Crime briefing PCSO Alan Hunter reported two ongoing crimes relating to common assault and threats to damage property. Hewarned there may be an increase in shed/allotment and bike thes with the longer evenings. Local planAmember had aended a meeting on Maidstone Council’s dra local plan. The parish council agreed that it supported Kent Association of Local Councils in its offer towork constructively with Maidstone Council to develop a balanced strategy for its local plan. The
clerkwould inform KALC of this. Neighbourhood plan Arising from the issue of the local plan, the council felt it should re-visit the idea of the need for a neighbourhood plan for East Farleigh, to safeguard the areas that are valued. Itwas agreed that the clerkwould ask Clive Powell at KALC for advice about costs and benefits. Car parkWorkwas progressing on the village car park. The final surface and bay markingswould be done in time for the summer term. Traffic calming Plans had been received from Andy Padgham at Kent Highway Services concerning possibilities for traffic calming in the centre of the village/triangle area. Thesewould be put on the agenda for the next meeting. Play areas Maidstone Council had offered to pay to put droppable bollards at the entrance to the Gallants Lane play area, if the parishwould pay for re-turfing. Itwas agreed to accept this offer. The council would buy two recycled plastic benches at about £280 each to be placed next to the Vicarage Lane play area, whichwas being used a lot more now that parentswere using the car park.With more parents using the recreation field, dogs and dog messwere now becoming an issue. The council agreed to speak to the school/Paul Sapwell about the possibility of the children making posters asking owners to clean up their pets’ mess. Speedwatch There had been two Speedwatch sessions in April and the police had offered support.
East Suon
Crime report Therewas one reported crime – the of one mail bag/postal packet. PCSO Alan Beech reported hewould be leaving Kent Police aer 10 years to take on other challenges. Hewas thanked for the hardwork and support he had shown the parish in the past three years. Highways KCC had been contacted regarding water running down Morry Lane and an update had been requested on Church Road andWorkhouse Lane concerning overgrown trees from the old course.
Broadband Maidstone Council’s overview and scrutiny commiee had requested suggestions for topics to review. The parish council asked for the poor level of broadband services in rural areas to be discussed.
Egerton
Mobile signal The community first responderswere having difficulty with communications due to the lack of mobile phone signals. The ambulance service provides mobile phones for the CFRs to keep in touch aer 999 calls to an
ambulance.Asub-commieewas formed to look into whether itwas feasible to have a new mast provided within the village. Drainage The parish councilwould contact landowners and request ditches within the fields could be cleared before next winter. Planning The parish councilwas concerned about the development at The Old Byre because the site had planning restrictions for no permied development. The alterations were put through as a “non-material amendment”, which do not
Parish Councils
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