Parish Councils
downsmail.co.uk Broomfield and Kingswood
Welcome TomHoywas co-opted as a parish councillor andwelcomed back to the council. Sports field Two quoteswere received for the cost of removal of the Levercrest play area. Due to the limited number of councillors present, itwas agreed to carry this item over to the November meeting. Playdalewas scheduled to carry out remedialwork at the play area. Padlock The padlock on the gate in front of the Scout hut had to be replaced and extra keys cut. All keyholders had been supplied with new keys. Football Maidstone Mavericks junior football clubwere unable to increase their numbers for the next season and the team had folded. The manager may be interested in starting a general, all age, training scheme if permied to use the sports field. Councillors agreed in principle that they were open to discussions with the manager. They also agreed to consider applications from any football team interested in leasing the sports field for training and/or matches. Defibrillators Aer a presentation by John Rivers of Kent Association of Local Councils, itwas agreed to request fundraising support from clubs and societies in the parish for the purchase of the equipment. The defibrillator would be installed in a public place and the councilwould investigate the availability of emergency first responders in the parish. Peter Pease Close Aer advertising the availability of shared ownership at Peter Pease Close, the clerk had received some interest from parishioners. When forwarding this information to Orbit she was then informed that the propertieswere already under offer. The clerk enquired about the required local connection of the prospective purchasers andwas informed that on this occasion the S106 had mistakenly not been applied due to confusion during office reorganisations. Aer discussion, councillors requested the clerk obtains legal advice. Scouts The clerk had wrien to thank the Scout group for the fantastic remedialwork on the Scout hut at the sports field. Buses Cllr Mike O’Neill had had to contact Arriva on two days in August about the non-arrival of the number 59 bus.
Chart Suon
Police report PCSO RyanWaring introduced himself as the new PCSO for Chart Suon and Boughton Monchelsea. He said LHS Direct, a legitimate home alarm company, had been cold-calling homes in the area offering free electrical checks. Residents should be aware this could lead to fiing costs and a lengthy maintenance contract. Cllr Rob Forknall said his own and his neighbours’ gates had been tampered with but nothing appeared to have been taken. Community warden Liz Lova said there had been nuisance motorbikes in the area. Flytipping on the Memorial Field had been removed, but a maress had now been dumped on Peen’s Lane. Memorial Field bin The clerkwas unable to buy a polycarbonate bin as agreed at a previous meeting, so a plastic binwas ordered at a cost of £45.55. Bus group Members agreed to a request from Mike FitzGerald that all parishes involved in the group consider paying on a rotational basis for the hire of the village hall
where the meetings are held. Thiswould be about £18 every three years. Football pitchArequest from Coxheath and Farleigh FC to hire the pitch on an ad hoc basis for £40 per matchwas agreed. Children’s playground In the annual inspection various items had been flagged up as requiring aention. Cllr StevenWaring agreed to remove the fire-damaged post when he put up the new bin. He didn’t think the ropes and fixings of the trapeze ring had deteriorated since last year and itwas agreed to monitor the situation. Therewas advanced decay on the small multi-unit and repair or replacementwas recommended. Cllrs Forknall andWaring agreed to visit the site to investigate the bestway of repairing the unit. The clerkwas asked to provide a copy of the report for the insurers. Pavilion The padlock at the pavilion had gone missing. The clerkwas asked to contact the football clubs in this regard and also to ask them to leave the pavilion clean and tidy and put the rubbish bags out when full. Shop on the GreenAplanning application had been submied and the feewas £97.50.
Coxheath
Resignation Jo Jewiss had resigned as a communitywarden to take up a post with Kent Police. Shewas thanked for her hard work in the community. Itwas not known if or when shewould be replaced. Traffic calming The implementation of a revised traffic calming scheme in Heath Roadwas due to be completed. Village hall The parish council had agreed to pay an annual grant of £5,850 to Coxheath Residents’Village Hall to assist with improvements planned for 2014/15. Christmas lights Action had started to organise the switching-on ceremony for the Christmas lights. They will be illuminated from December 7, 2014 to January 4, 2015. Play area The carousel in the village hall children’s play areawas to be repaired. Football pitch Itwas agreed to continue the upkeep and maintenance of the Beacon Field football pitch for 2014/15, with Maidstone Council, for the same cost as 2013/14. Local plan Councillors John Hughes and Val Pagewould be aending aworkshop organised by Maidstone Council to determine theway forward in relationships with parishes about the borough’s local plan. Nature area The parish councilwas to meet with Conservation Landscape Services to discuss a plan to create a nature area and the management ofwoodland to the north of Linden Road.
East Suon
Streets The position of street maintenance contractorwas to be advertised.Avote of thankswas paid to Harry. Police report PCSO John Boyd introduced himself. Two incidents of anti-social behaviourwere reported during the previous month. Highways The chairman Cllr Malcolm Irelandwould contact Kent Highway Services regarding the poor condition of the road in Tong Lane. Planning The council did not object to an outline application for a manager’s dwelling at Lile Brissenden, East Suon Road, but had concerns about the business’s viability. Play area Cllr JonathanWorsfoldwould remove bolts protruding from signs.
Egerton
Footpaths and stiles The locked gate halfway along the track in WheelerWood had been cleared by Cllr Pat and Don Parr. The stile opposite Egerton Housewas said to be too high andwobbly – it needed an extra step at the boom and the post needed to be strued. Therewas awobbly broken plank on a stile, whichwas also too high, down New Road in the sheep field. Cllr Parrwas to ask the landowner to repair it. Therewas a damaged horselatch on the bridleway through Hazeldene farm – the clerkwas to ask the owner to repair it. Finger post The new top sign had been delivered and the clerkwas to ask RJames& Sons to fit it and grind down the jagged edge on the Pluckley finger sign. Basketball area Cllr Bill Smyth had repaired the basketball area – he had put up a new backboard and painted it aswell as re- instating the hoop with a new net. Strong box Thiswould be bought once the chairman and the clerkwere able to access the archive in the hall. Car park speeding The clerk had wrien to the school and the pre-school to ask drivers to slow down in the car park.
Headcorn
Co-option Cllr John Matherwas co-opted to the parish council. Police report There had been nine crimes reported in the past month and five reports of anti-social behaviour. FloodingAmeeting took place with representatives of the Environment Agency when flood management and resiliencewas discussed. Muchworkwas being carried out with a newwarning system being implemented and new flood mappingwas currently being produced with more accurate survey measurements being taken. Itwas stressed that the operation of the Leigh barrierwas monitored at all times by qualified staff who control thewater release to minimise flood impact during periods of heavy rainfall. Christmas eventAcouple of traders had now expressed an interest to help with the Christmas event in the High Street on Saturday, December 13 and itwas hoped that a Santa’s groowould be arranged. Emergency plan The equipment for the emergency plan box had been purchased andwas now stored in the parish
office.An emergency tree plan needed to be completed. Itwas therefore agreed to seek seven volunteers to fill the top tiers and then advertise and approach residents to complete the specialist areas, ie first aiders, chainsaw operatives, 4x4 owners. Petition The petition regarding speeding in Maidstone Road/Millbank had gathered 473 signatures so far. Dance The barn dance on had raised £363, whichwould go towards the Christmas event.
Cleaning The borough councilwould be contacted regarding the street cleaning issue in Knaves Acre. Parish office Itwas resolved to buy storage items (shelving, cupboards, filing cabinets, noticeboards) for the parish office up to the value of £600 excluding VAT and delivery. Playscheme Another successful summer playschemewas run at Headcorn Primary School with 10 staff and five volunteers, aged 14 to
16.Atotal of 181 children registered for the 42
Maidstone South October 2014 33
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