downsmail.co.uk Boughton Monchelsea
Community warden KCCwarden Liz Lova said KCC had decided to retain all uniformedwardens, but there would be a reduction in the number of supervisors and admin staff. Cashpoint thefts There had been a series of thefts from cashpoints and pay points.A posterwarning about this had been displayed on the Church Street noticeboard. War memorialA leer had been received from Mrs Black about the plaque that had been erected by the parish council in the foyer of the village hall. Mrs Black said a number of nameswere missing and should be added. Cllr Stephen Munford said the council would be happy to amend the memorial given the evidence that the fallen menwere residents of the village when they died, served in the armed forces and were killed in conflict. He suggested that Cllr Bill Brown continued to work with Mrs Black to provide the details. Secure cabinet The clerk agreed to buy a secure cabinet for the storage of radios and other items. Albion pubA number of residents had asked what was happening to the pub. The clerk said the building had been withdrawn from sale and the ownerwas carrying out the work with a view to selling it. Member fundingA request had been made to KCC member Cllr Eric Hotson for funding for HGV signage at Cliff Hill and highway safety mirrors at the Green Lane/Church Street junction. Furfield quarryA site meeting was due to take place between trustees and Taylor Wimpey to establish the scope of works to be carried out before Boughton Monchelsea Amenity Trust would consider taking over maintenance of the area.A methane monitoring meetingwas being arranged by Maidstone Council. Parkwood Farm reservoir The parish council’s insurer, Zurich, had confirmed that the parish council had inadequate insurance for the reservoir. Cllrs Munford and Herrin noted that KCC had agreed to carry out a review of the previous studies and investigations on Shaw Stream and the reservoir. KCC said the report would help it understand the role of the reservoir and the benefit it provided. Village sign The clerk said the signwas to be re-erected on the green, complete with a new oak post. Precept 2015/16 Itwas agreed to set the precept at £51,600. For a band D property this represented £41.55 per year, an increase of 81p from last year’s level. Draft parish charterA draft parish charter had been received from Maidstone Council and had been copied to all members. Electoral review The clerk explained that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England had formally started an electoral review of Kent County Council. Itwas agreed that the parish council should request that the boundary should be amended to include all properties on the east side of Hubbards Lane between Haste Hill Road and Heath Road, aswell as all properties on the north side of Heath Road up to the Hubbards Lane/Heath Road junction. School garden Cllr KirstieWilliams said Cornwallis schoolwas looking for a garden/allotment area and she suggested
38 Maidstone South March 2015
that there may be space for them to have a plot at the allotment site. Cllr Colin Brackingwas to investigate. Recreation ground Cllr Angela Whybrow said a rugby club would be using the recreation ground and a contractwas to be signed. She also noted there had been problems with the village hall bar service. NeighbourhoodWatchA new coordinator was still required. Bus group Cllr Whybrow noted that Suon Valence had set up a volunteer transport service. Cllr Munford noted that grants were probably available for seing up and running this kind of service. Parish hut Various workwas needed at the hut including the refixing of roof tiles, the renovation of timber doors, an electrical check and repair and the removal of ivy. It was agreed that the clerk should be given delegated powers to authorise the works up to a total value of £800. Horse chestnut trees Itwas suggested that pollarding work be carried out to the horse chestnut trees on the green. Thiswas not thought necessary but the clerkwas instructed to obtain advice from the landscape maintenance contractor. Following the meeting the advice received was that the workwas not necessary. Social clubA local church had been using the social club as a meeting place but had not had its lease renewed.
Broomfield and
Kingswood Neighbourhood plan Itwas hoped that the final draft had been submied to Maidstone Council for it to commence its consultation process. However, the borough subsequently requested a further meeting whichwas arranged for March. Councillors requested that representation was made at the Kent Association of Local Councils branch meeting that consideration be given to it representing the parishes in reporting to the Local Government Ombudsman the difficulties being experienced with neighbourhood planning in the borough. Alternatively, consideration should be given to a judicial review. Policing PCSO RyanWaring reported that there had been four crimes: two thefts from motor vehicles and one criminal damage in Gravelly Boom Road, and a burglary (non dwelling) in Holly Tree Close. Nuisance youths Following reports of nuisance youths at Kingswood Village Hall the PCSO had aended the village hall several times during the past fewweeks at about 7pm to see if therewere any youths hanging about, and had been in and spoken to people aending the dog training session. He had not seen anyone there during his patrols, but would continue to monitor the area. Dog fouling There had been a considerable rise in complaints about dog fouling on the pavements and in the sports field. Councillors requested that the clerk print posters and put them up in the village and sports field asking for dog owners to clean up after their dogs. Residents had complained to the parish council that they had encountered problems when aempting to use the Maidstone Councilwebsite section intended for people to report problem areas. Assurances had been received from
Martin Jeynes, environmental operations manager, that the current teething problems being experienced would be resolved at the earliest opportunity. Parish policing Councillors asked the clerk to write to senior police officers regarding their disappointment at the lack of action following input regarding a new initiative called Country Eye and to forward the leer to neighbouring parish councils. Leeds bypass The clerk received a response from Leeds Parish Council regarding the planning progress of a bypass/spur road for Leeds village, stating that it had received no further information. Councillors asked the clerk to see if a meeting could be arranged between the parish councils that would be most affected by this proposal. Electoral review The clerkwas asked to ascertain exactly whatwas required from the review and, if appropriate, forward the comments that this parish council would feel that it would be beneficial if the boundary of the parishwas enlarged slightly to include land up to Chegworth Road which would then encompass the Broomfield & Kingswood sports field. HighwaysA meeting with Kent Highway Services had been arranged to discuss parish issues. Sports fieldA meeting had been arranged with the landowner of the woodland abuing the sports field, a KCC public rights ofway officer and the parish council. Pensions The law on workplace pensions now included every employer with at least one member of staff. The law now required the councils as the employer to provide a workplace pension for certain staff. Assistant clerk There had been four enquiries andwere now two firm applications for this role. Election Cllr Garten advised councillors that he had been selected to stand for election asward councillor for Lenham. Dogs Cllr Tandy announced the creation of a new group starting at the village hall on Monday evenings.A group of volunteers had been established with trained dogs to help children deal with their fears of dogs, called cynophobia. Cllr Tandy would provide more information to be included in the next edition of the village magazine.
Chart Suon
Crime report PCSO Neil Denney reported the following crimes: a theft at Chart Corner; a theft from a vehicle at Chart Corner; an aempted burglary in Green Lane. There had been an aempted break- in at a nearby post office so residentswere reminded to stay vigilant. There had been in increase in thefts from sheds and outbuildings and allotments in the Maidstone area. Dog mess Following a complaint about dog mess at the Memorial Playing Field Communitywarden Liz Lova had visited the area on a couple of occasions but all owners had cleared up after their pets when shewas there. Maidstone Council had an online mapping tool for residents, which could be used to build a case to send enforcement officers out. Cllr Valerie Underdown said a lot of complaintswere of dog mess on the footpath leading up to the field. Liz agreed to do a leaflet drop in the area. Cllr Peter Forknall suggested puing up a sign asking 46
Parish Councils
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