Parish Councils
downsmail.co.uk Addington
Kent Men of Trees Addingtonwas not suc- cessful in obtaining a prize this year. Mem- bers considered the suggestions in the report and noted that the suggested work to the trees at East Street Green would be carried out the followingweek. Members agreed to consider at the next meeting a recommendation that the parish council’s crab apple tree at The Chestnuts,which had a heavy infection of apple scab, be replaced by a winter-flowering cherry. Police matters Two crimes had been re- ported.A vehicle windowwas smashed in London Road and a driver had failed to pay for petrol at the Jet garage. Grass mowing RichardAble Landscapes was appointed as the grass maintenance contractor for 2016. Clerk’s salaryA salary increase for the clerk for 2016/17was unanimously agreed. Public request Amember of the public asked members to consider removing a possible proposal in the parish plan about St Vincents being made oneway. Appeal Members noted that an appeal had been made to the Planning Inspectorate against the decision of Tonbridge and Malling Council to refuse permission for a garage extension at 4 Hazelview, East Street. Lighting The clerk had written to all com- mercial premises in Addington to ask them to be mindful about light pollution and re- view the brightness of their lighting partic- ularly in the winter months. Highways Therewas a possible problem with drains near The Paddockswhere the road kept flooding. KCCwas investigating. Another golf club sign had appeared on the A20. Themissing posts and damaged verge at Stubblesdown had been reported to the Highways Steward. Village hall The village hall committee had submitted a planning application to Ton- bridge andMalling Council for a single-storey extension to provide additional storage alongwith two French doorswith sidelights to replace the existing picture windows. RecyclingA request from Tonbridge and Malling Councilwas approved to erect a Recycle Here sign at the recycling area in the village hall car park.
Birling
Defibrillator training The training session had beenwell attended by more than 20 residents. Responsibility for the defibrilla- tor had now been handed over to the vil- lage hall committee. Street lights The clerk had obtained a quote for LED lights with timers from PSR light- ing of £460 each andwasmeeting with Laser Energy to discuss the possible sav- ings. Itwas agreed that no actions would be taken until full details had been received from KCC. Ham HillA response had been received to CllrWestwood’s questions. Two complaints had been received from the same person re- garding the tannoy used to summon vehi- cles for loading. The direction of the speaker had been changed after the first complaint but after the second complaint it was decided to move the tannoy to face in the opposite direction. No external lighting had been installed nor a decision made as to where it might be placed. Temporary
towers might be used which would only be lit when receiving goods at night. The restoration workswere not complete and a slightly improved model had been agreed with KCC. Works would take place in spring, alongwith planting. S137 Malling community service This service providing transport to hospital ap- pointments had closed due to lack of clients and the £50 cheque had been returned. Emergency plan Itwas agreed that Andy Edwards from Tonbridge andMalling Council should be asked to speak to the council to advise on best practice in devel- oping an emergency plan.A copy of an emergency planning handbook and other informationwere placed in the councillors’ pack for circulation. Tonbridge and Malling Council had kitchen caddies for distribu- tion to the public. Speeding KCC had advised that they would not authorise a speed count if one had been carried out recently. Cllr Hohler has asked Kent Highways to provide de- tails of the latest information . The last sur- veywas carried out in June 2008 and showed that half the vehicles travelling along Snodland/Ryarsh Roadwere exceed- ing the speed limit. Councillors thought that volumes of traffic had increased in the seven years since the survey although the Kent Highways traffic engineer who had supplied the information doubted that much would have changed and had reiter- ated Cllr Balfour’s comments that the real- itywas that therewere no more funds for traffic calming measures. Itwas decided to ask Cllr Hohler if a new survey could be carried out to establish the
facts.Members considered that if KCC did not support the application the parish council would con- sider independently funding a survey. Nursery Itwas decided to thank Candy Bal- four, whowas leaving the nursery, for her vision and contribution in establishing and managing the Montessori nursery.
East Peckham
Shops Tonbridge and Malling Council’s property services department had been asked to advise on its intentions for the paved land in front of the parade of shops in The Pound. Primary school The school had been asked about plans for the former caretaker’s house next to the school. FootpathA letter had been received regard- ing the footpath at Chidley Cross Road. This had been referred to Kent Highway Services. InteractiveDVD The clerk had advised the DVD producers that whilst the parish coun- cilwas supportive of the project it would not be directly involved. However it would be pleased to encourage contributions from residents. JubileeHall Regular bookings remained constant but there had been an upsurge in casual booking enquiries for children’s par- ties, some of which had resulted in con- firmed bookings.A booking had been made for a cycling charity event in May 2016. Maintenance New litter binswere to be in- stalled shortly. Outside lights had been ad- justed for the darker evenings. Emergency lights had been installed in the corridor. Street snooker Play Innovation had sup- plied at no cost a set of replacement discs. Thesewere due to be installed. Play areas Repairs had been carried out to
the safety surfacing in the older children’s play area and the four-seat springer in the younger children’s play area. FootpathA badger or a fox had dug two deep holes whichwere being monitored and regularly infilled. Tonbridge and Malling Council had been asked to put a Tarmac layer over the path towards the school as a protruding tree root had created a trip hazard. Fingerposts Installation had once again been delayed. Following a discussion itwas resolved that Heritage Fingerposts would be given until the end of 2015 to complete the work, after which the parish council would make alternative arrangements. Flood plan Chris Graham represented the parish council at ameeting of Tonbridge and Malling Flood Technical Group. Itwas noted that the East Peckham flood plan had been updated. Therewas still a vacancy for a flood coordinator. The parishwas re- quired to submit to KCC a road closures plan for approval before it could close any roadswithin the parish in an emergency sit- uation. The clerk had prepared a draft pro- tocol for consideration by the CEP team. Allotments The clerkwas in discussions with the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership regarding an allotment project. Itwas noted that the project would be sub- ject to successful funding bids and itwas hoped that one of the vacant allotment plots could be used to create a community gar- den/growing project. Maintenance As the contractor did not wish to renew the contract, a new one would have to be appointed. Quotations had been invited from three potential con- tractorswhich would be considered at the next meeting. Livingwage Members considered whether the parish council should submit an appli- cation for LivingWage Foundation Accredi- tation. Itwas noted that in order to be eligible for accreditation, all staff, contrac- tors and contractors’ staff should receive at least the livingwage of £8.25 per hour. It was resolved to apply for accreditation.
KingsHill
Resignation The parish council had re- ceived the resignation of Cllr Hall who had been a longstanding member. Hewas thanked for his contribution to the parish council and its work.A token of thankswas agreed.
Obstructive parking and speeding Mem- bers noted the range of measures which were being taken to deal with these prob- lems on Kings Hill. Public sessionA resident raised the issue of the church development. Mr Wooding- Jones, the project manager appointed by the diocese, discussed the residents’ survey whichwas undertaken by the church. It was confirmed that no planning application had been submitted and no community consultation had yet taken place.A resident raised the financial issue of building a new place of worship. Mr Wooding-Jones con- firmed this would be the responsibility of the church. The anti-social parkingwas dis- cussed and a resident suggested a consider- ate parking scheme. Itwas resolved that an article would be placed in the View From The Hill.
Remembrance Day Itwas resolved that the parish council would be responsible for the parade this year.
46 Malling January 2016 35
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