News
Historic homes OLDER residents in Maidstone are being given the chance to snap up a slice of the town’s history, in the latest building phase at Audley Mote House. Work has begun on the penulti-
mate phase of the luxury retire- ment village adjoining Mote Park, and among the 43 properties being converted and offered for sale are the historic brew house and dairy, which formed part of the original Georgian estate. The properties are due to be com-
pleted by next autumn, bringing the number of properties to 92.
Sycamore to go
CONSERVATION area consentwas granted for the removal of a sycamore tree at 21 Church Lane, Bearsted.
Maidstone Council gave the go-
ahead and advised the applicant to seek expert advice on a possible risk of land movement.
Festive concert
THE Detling Singers will be joined by Fairfax Brass for their Christmas Concert at Detling Village Hall on December 20. The evening prom- ises a mix of fun and festive music suitable for all ages. For tickets, call 01634 862297.
downsmail.co.uk
Parish clerks threaten to quit over video rule
LEGISLATION that allows mem- bers of the public to record council meetings could cause parish council clerks to quit. Several clerks are close to resign-
ing, according to Geraldine Brown, chairman of the Maidstone division of KentAssociation of Local Councils (KALC). She haswritten to the infor- mation commissioner’s office for clar- ification on the policy, which she fears could have an adverse effect on free speech. The local government secretary
Eric Pickles issued the guidance to councils in June last year, directing that public meetings could be recordedonfilmandreported online. However, Mrs Brown toldYalding
Parish Council that anyone wishing to film all or part of proceedingsmust declare it at the start of themeeting or could be liable for prosecution. Concern has arisen sincemembers
ofHard–HarrietshamAgainst Reck- less Development – began posting snippets of parish council meetings on social mediawebsite YouTube.
Hard took umbrage with the
parish council about its refusal to minute the public session of the meeting, so started to record it. The new guidance states that council- lors and council of- ficers can be filmed at council meet- ings, and corrects the misconception that the Data Pro- tection Act pro- hibits this. Mrs Brown said
KALC chairman Geraldine Brown
she believed parish clerks were ex- empt from the ruling, but would need to sit out of view if a recording were to take place,which would hin- der the smooth running of the meet- ing.
She said: “The issue is causing a lot
of furore with the parish councilsand some clerks are on the point of ten- dering their resignations. Iamtrying to get some clarification to see what can be done.” Amanda Broadhurst, clerk toHar-
rietsham and West Farleigh parish councils, said: “Some clerks are un- happywith the possible broadcasting onsocial media; a sentiment that I to- tally agree with. “Tomy knowledge this is nothing
to do with
Hard.My understanding is that clerks feel that as non-elected members of the parish council they should not have to be included in recordings.” DenmnisClifton, chairman of Har- rietsham Parish Council, called the legislation “ill conceived and open to abuse”. Headded: “Our parish clerk, as an employee of the parish council, should not be subjected to the taping and I believe it is an infringement of her civil liberties. “Our first meeting after the regula-
tion came into force was taped and immediately the content was dis- played on YouTube. This is not what the legislation was designed for and should be urgently revisited to en- sure the human rights of employees is properly considered.”
01622 678966 4 Maidstone East December 2014
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