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required after vegetation had been dumped on parish council land. The cost of clearing the land would be £850, which had been approved by the parish council earlier in the year. The work had been postponed as the leaveswere in bud at the time. Cllr Gary Trussler agreed to get another quotation. Village hall trust Cllr Trussler said a further two invoices had been received totalling £660, of which £59 could be disputed. He suggested that the outstanding bill should be paid in the spirit of good relationships. CllrAmanda Chinnery said she had raised concerns that further invoices would be received at the last meeting and asked whether any assurances had been given that these latest invoiceswere in “full and final selement”. Cllr Kenny Kay said nothing had been received in writing, it had only been verbally conveyed. The invoices would be paid subject to receiving such assurance. Highways Cllr Janea Sams reported on the traffic accessing the sand pit via East Street. The planning application could not be called in by the borough councillors as itwas a KCC application. However, a meeting had been arranged to discuss the issues being experienced by residents in East Street and Rectory Lane. Cllr Sams said there would be an additional 50 lorry movements a day for 26weeks in a conservation area. Remix Cllr Tom Sams said the volunteers had ceased to run the club since the last meeting. He proposed that the loery grant be returned as the clubwas now unable to fulfil the terms of the grant. Thiswas agreed. Playscheme The scheme had cost the parish council just £180 this year – a record low. Land closure Cllr Dean reported that the Booth and Baldwin Trust closes the Booth Field one day a year to prevent it becoming a right ofway, adding that the parish council should consider doing the same for the Glebe Field, WoodlandsWalk and Teers Meadow. Itwas noted that therewas already a right ofway across Teers Meadow and this would need to be discussed with Maidstone Council for the Glebe Field as the parish council did not own the whole field. Itwas agreed to close the amenity land once a year. Cllr Dean reported that historically, WoodlandsWalk used to be locked at dusk and re-opened at dawn by a local resident, Tony Tippen. Itwas agreed that Cllr Dean contact Mr Tippen to see if this arrangement could be reinstated as the openwaterwas a health and safety risk in the dark. Defibrillator Cllr Kay said the unit which had been availablewas not financially viable due to the cost of recalibration and replacing
parts.Anew unit would cost about £1,100 and the Village Hall Trust had offered to house it. Itwas felt there should be two in the village – one at the hall and one at the Roebuck public house. Cllr Janea Sams said a first-aid trainer who had visited the playscheme might be able to get defibrillators at a lower cost. Itwas agreed to investigate this option. Christmas treeAleer had been received from the Friends of St John the Baptist Church regarding the Christmas tree festival on December 5-6. Itwas agreed that the parish council should have a tree, to be decorated from the 4th. Dog binAresident asked if a dog bin could be installed at the other end of Tongs Meadow as therewas an increase of dog owners at that end ofWest Street. Maidstone Council would only install lier bins. Sports pavilionAresident queried the
Section 106 project for a sports pavilion on the Booth Field as the parish council did not own the land. As public money would be used, a lease would need to be agreed for the space and building for public use.
Hollingbourne
Pavilion Hollingbourne Property Services was thanked for its prompt service in repairing the leaking roof at the Cardwell Pavilion. The workmen did all the work on a Saturday to avoid disruption for the children’s groups. A20 crossing Kent Highway Services had predicted the cost of a pelican crossing between the Mercure Great Danes and Leeds roundabouts would be £70,000. The parish council said the solution needed to be found quickly, despite the expense, to avoid road accidents and preserve lives and safety of people using bus services. The clerk would arrange for a petition to be organised at the school and at Christopher’s shop. Crime report The following crimeswere reported: non-dwelling burglary, criminal damage, theft, noise, all Eyhorne Street; burglary, Hollinbourne Hill/PilgrimsWay; criminal damage, PilgrimsWay; nuisance vehicle, Culpeper Close; flytipping, Greenway Court Road. Speed Checkswere carried out at Eyhorne Street close to Greenway Court Road, with four tickets issued for speeding. School parking The PCSOs noted there were no enforcement signs relating to the zigzag lines outside the school. Damage The PCSOs had been carrying out patrols in the area where a local farmer had reported criminal damage on his field. When possible the PCSOs had used the police 4x4 vehicle to patrol the byways in and around Hollingbourne and on several occasions had stopped a number of vehicles and spoken to users about their driving. Name for homes The suggested names for the development next to 103 Eyhorne Street had been rejected either by Maidstone Council, for popularity, or by the developer. Itwas agreed that Michael Nightingale Close be suggested for approval. Boleneck Regarding the boleneck at the entrance to the village, KCC Cllr Jenny While suggested the 30mph restriction signs be brought forward to slow the traffic. Cllr Bauer would like bollards placed on the footpath where cars regularly mounted the kerb. Cllr While would inspect the area. Fete reportAfete co-ordinator and more helperswere needed. The parish council would no longer supply tables to stallholders who should either hire or provide their own. The three village hostelries would be approached to see if they wished to tender for the bar. Each event would be given a set time and if delayed, it could not over-run and affect another display. The fete commiee suggested the profit raised at the last fete should be spent on a shipping container to store equipment. TributeAmuch-respected villager, Sid Jenkins, had passed away after a long illness. He would be missed by everyone. VacancyAvacancy had arisen for the editorship of the parish magazine following the resignation of Jean Duffy.
Otham
Police report There had been a theft from a vehicle inAvery Lane and a burglary (non
dwelling) in White Horse Lane. Anti-social behaviourAn incident concerning racial abusewas discussed.A resident ofAvery Lane telephoned Cllr Trench to report that one of his dogs had been aacked by a dog whose owner then went on to make racially abusive comments to the resident and his daughter. PCSO Timon Gurr said itwas being investigated. County report KCC Cllr Gary Cookewas thanked for the work that had been undertaken inWillington Street. Kerbing had been installed from outside the village hall to the village green. Councillors agreed that it had dramatically improved drainage. Parish questionnaire Results would be compared with the previous survey at the next communications meeting. LicensingAlicensing application had been granted with reduced hours (noon to 9.30pm) for Bearsted Football Club (BFC) in Honey Lane. The catering manager must be on site and alcohol must only be consumed in the building. Football ground The planning enforcement officer had stated that “due to a change of circumstances at the club, (under the terms of a new long term lease BFCwere now the sole tenants of the land and in full control over who uses the land and for what), the unresolved breaches will be closed with no enforcement action taken”.Adialogue had been opened with the club to encourage that they approach the planning department and landscape officers regarding any future proposals and tree works. Photo competition MrWeaverwas presented with his photograph in a frame. DitchAn orderwas placed for digging out 100m of ditch in White Horse Lane and using the spoil to make a bund, preventing vehicles from being driven over the verges. The costwas estimated by Kent Highway Services at £500 to £600. Traffic calming proposals The traffic survey showed an increase in volume and speed of vehicles travelling through the village. Remembrance David Marchant had confirmed that this would be his last year as the Royal British Legion representative for the village. The parish council would continue to try to find a replacement.A donation of £40was agreed for the wreath.
Ulcombe
Crime report Therewas one report of pos- sessing a controlled drug. The community warden said a report of fly-tipping had been dealt with. She said scam mailwas becom- ing a widespread issue in which people, es- pecially the elderly, had been targeted and felt obliged to pay out. New councillor Jon Thompsonwas unani- mously co-opted to the parish council. Parish clerk Liz Ricewas confirmed as the new parish clerk and responsible finance of- ficer. The email address remained un- changed. Bus group Arriva had undergone changes in its management structure which might bring about further changes next year. KCCwas intending to review its subsidy level next year. SpeedWatch The co-ordinator advised that therewere now 12 regular SpeedWatch vol- unteers. Therewas funding in the pipeline to buy equipment and Broomfield and Kingswood Parish Council had completed the application and would be sharing the equipment with Ulcombe.
Maidstone East December 2015 47
Parish Councils
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