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Road and Leeds Road. This had been dealt with by communitywarden Dawn Riach- Brown but the resident would be asked to monitor the situation in future. Tony Haylor Itwas reported that Tony Haylor, a former parish councillor, had sadly died. The chairman would attend the funeral on behalf of the council.
Loose
Cold callers PCSO Doug Muir had received complaints of cold-callers mainly at Lancet Lane. A warning would be placed on the website that if peoplewant work done, they should contact their own recommended companies independently. Loud music A complaint had been made about loud music coming from LooseValley. PCSO Muir stated that noise complaints could not be dealt with by the police and should go through Maidstone Council. However, if the noisewas in the early hours or persistent, the police could go out if needed and if available. Award It was agreed that proprietors of the post office should be encouraged to take part in the Kent Rural Retailer 2015 compe- tition, particularly in view of it being a cru- cial community-based local business. GazeboAgazebo would be purchased for a maximum £500 for outdoor events held by the parish council. Roy’s Wood Itwas agreed to pay the cost of urgent essential works recently carried out in Brooksfield Community Wood, known locally as Roy’s Wood. Community awards The clerk reported that an award received for the late Cllr Roy Hood from Kalc (Kent Association of Local Coun- cils) to denote his services to his community for many years, was passed on to his wife and family who were said to be extremely touched.
Marden
Police report The crime figures had been sent by email. There had been two crimes in the previous month – a theft from a motor vehicle and a case of criminal dam- age. There had been reports of a nuisance bike on the playing field but the rider had been identified and spoken to. The caravan had been removed from the Cockpit area. Speed checks had been carried out along Goudhurst Road; police dogs came to the village and a young personwas spoken to about drugs. Drugswere also found and the personswere being dealt with by the police and drug referral to the drugs inter- vention support programme. NewsletterA breakdown of newsletter costs had been given to a resident as re- quested at the last meeting. The village club had offered to sponsor the newsletter and had a double-sided insert in every newsletter. This would be used to inform the parish of the club’s past and future events, charitable work and general activi- ties. The assistant clerkwas to obtain cost- ings for a triple-fold newsletter, an eight-page newsletter and for the current double-fold newsletter with an A4 insert. Memorial hall roof The clerk had circu- lated a report to councillors prior to the meeting.A problem had arisen regarding insulation of the main hall roof but this was being rectified. Scaffolding had been placed around the building so that work could continue, andwas due to be finished
by Christmas. Public conveniences The parish council had a five-year lease with Maidstone Council but Maidstone Councilwanted to bring all leases into line with Lenham Parish Council (15 years). The clerk had gone through the new lease and no major changes had been made. Itwas proposed that the annual payment of £2,500 be incor- porated into the parish services scheme grant, but no guarantee had been given that this would continue for the full 15 years. Itwas agreed to accept the changes in the lease term. Assistant clerk The amended contractwas signed by the chairman regarding the in- crease ofweekly hours and annual leave entitlement. Playing field changing rooms The clerk had circulated a report of work Marden Minors Football Club wished to have un- dertaken and their action plan for the fu- ture of the club. The clerkwas asked to ascertain whether the ceiling had been fixed and councillors asked for details of costings for extractor fans and airbricks. Litter bins Maidstone Council had agreed to replace six bins but asked that the parish council contribute half the costs – about £650. Maidstone Council would continue to maintain and empty all litter bins. Itwas agreed to proceed with this. Clothing bank Clotheswere overflowing from the bank and bags had been left around the base. Maidstone Council had proposed that the bank was removed. CCTV Confirmation of a CCTV camera for the car park and the quote regarding play- ing field optionswas still awaited. Wooden litter bin The assistant clerk had received some costings for a litter bin and was contacting companies regarding the signage. Cllr Newton offered to build a wooden litter bin and a notice board for the signage. This offerwas accepted and the clerkwas asked to source a galvanised bin to put inside.
Staplehurst
Redrow Homes Maidstone Council had advised Redrow Homes that it would not be agreeable to a reduction in affordable housing provision to allow bungalows to be built on Fishers Farm. Councillors agreed to take no further action. Countryside Properties After hearing con- tributions from members of the public, councillors agreed that a requested meet- ing with Countryside Properties to discuss land for a community centre should not take place. Caretaker The bags of rubbish collected by the caretaker included the contents of emp- tied rubbish bins. The caretaker had painted the main gate on Surrenden Field and would be attending to the posts on NicolsonWalk. Parish surgery Subjects raisedwere: solar farms, traffic flows to and from the pro- posed Redrow development and at the crossroads, the planning application relat- ing to Staley Farm, landscapes of local value and the successful campaign to re- tain the special status of the LowWeald. RemembranceA wreath would be ordered for the Remembrance Day parade and service on November 8. Public forumA resident raised five issues in Bell Lane for attention by the appropri- ate authority. The clerk advised that the
toilet door would be repaired in the next few days.
Ulcombe
Crime report Therewas one report of pos- sessing a controlled drug. The community warden said she had received a report of fly-tipping and that this had been dealt with. She said scam mailwas becoming a wide-scale issue where people, especially the elderly, had been targeted and felt obliged to pay out. She urged that advertis- ingwas put on the noticeboard andweb- site informing people that the community warden could help with this. New councillor Jon Thompsonwas unani- mously co-opted to the parish council and welcomed. Parish clerk Liz Ricewas confirmed as the new parish clerk and responsible finance officer. The email address remained un- changed. Bus group Arriva had had changes in its management structure which might bring about further changes next year, but noth- ing was in the pipeline. KCCwas intending to review its subsidy level next year. SpeedWatch The co-ordinator advised that there were now 12 volunteers dealing with SpeedWatch on a regular basis. There was funding in the pipeline to buy equip- ment and Broomfield and Kingswood Parish Council had completed the applica- tion and would be sharing the equipment with Ulcombe.
West Farleigh
PigeonsA letter from a resident regarding pigeonswas read out. The resident’s disap- pointment with the performance of the local PCSOs over the matterwas noted. Roads Cllr Bryan Merritt asked the clerk to write to Kent Highway Services (KHS) to ascertain ownership of the secondary road at the green, as itwas in a bad state of re- pair. He also reported that the bollards at the Thatched Cottage had been smashed by a Clock House Farm vehicle. DrainA drain had collapsed in Ewell Lane. Road closure signs Therewas a discussion on the repeated misplacement of road clo- sure and diversion signs, which remained in place long after workwas finished and often reduced visibility. Articulated lorries and Fern’s tipper truckswere said to add to road problems. Itwas decided to seek a meeting with KHS. Footpaths Local pavements and kerbs were sprouting weeds. Itwas agreed that more than sweepingwas needed and the possi- bility of employing someone to deal with the problem would be investigated. Playground The equipment had been in- spected and found to be good, but a new bench seatwas needed. Itwas agreed to spend up to £600 on this. Defibrillator Thankswere expressed to the sports club and the British Heart Founda- tion for their gift of this apparatus, which would be insured by the council. Low-cost housing Cllr Bruce Scott said this was a complex issue and that a community land trustwas probably the bestway for- ward, after a survey of needs. Right-to-buy was potentially a negative factor.A com- munity land trust would be independent of the parish but would give the village best levels of control over selecting potential clients.
Maidstone South November 2015 43
Parish Councils
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