Parish Councils


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Cllr Trussler said money could be taken from general reserves. He offered to ask doctors to assist with funding and it was suggested that other groups might also wish to contribute. The council would buy two units. Cllr Kay said the defibrillators would need servicing every two years but would look in to other costs. Big Lunch Cllr Dean had offered to take on the role of representative for the year and the working groupwas happy for Cllr Williams to assist too. Thiswas agreed. Noticeboard The parish council might want to buy an extra noticeboard forWest Street close to the Hollies, but land ownership and permission would have to be investigated. Once the parish council moved to its new premises the board on the green would be obsolete, and could possibly be moved to the Hollies. AccidentA resident gave background of an historical accident on East Street when vehicleswere unable to be diverted along the A20 or Church Road as both had a low bridge. The police had to use radios to direct traffic along East Street. The resident said he didn’t think Kent Police would like the use of the “Unsuitable for HGVs” signs. A20 messA resident said messwas being caused by larger vehicles accessing the Crest Nicholson site. Cllr Janea Sams had asked the company to complete the work.


Hollingbourne


Condolences The parish council sent condolences to Mary Henderson, former parish clerk, on the loss of her husband Jim, and to the family and friends of Miss Marion Pring who died on March 12. Buses KCC Cllr Jenny While would pursue the issue with Stagecoach of schoolchildren having to cross the Ashford Road to reach the bus stop. FenceA potentially dangerous metal fence with spikes had been erected along Hospital Road and it was believed the quad bikers who use the adjoining land were responsible. The concernwas that if any cyclist, horse rider or child should fall on to it, the fence could impale them. Cllr Alan Benne had contacted Maidstone’s enforcement office. The parish needed to make a formal complaint. The clerk would forward photographs of the fence to Cllr Jenny While who would take up the issue with Richard Emme of KCC. Crime report PCSO RyanWaring spoke of a rise in vehicle thieves using electronic devices to clone the signals emied by a driver’s key fob when remotely unlocking a car. The information can then be used to produce an identical key. Vehicles are then stolen to order. Parking The PCSOs had emailed parking services regarding ongoing parking on double yellow lines and the provision of double yellow lines in the layby opposite The Pavings. Cllr Benne mentioned a high-sided commercial vehicle whichwas permanently parked outside properties in Bourneside Terrace, Eyhorne Street. The propertieswere for elderly or disabled residents, and the vehicle took up parking space designated for them and blocked the view of housebound people. Royal birthday A quotation was agreed for repairing the fire beacon brazier on the school grounds. The clerk would liaise with the school and start organising the lighting of the beacon to celebrate the


Queen’s birthday on April 21. SignpostA quote had been agreed to refurbish the village signpost outside The Dirty Habit public house. The contractor would be instructed to start work. Traffic Cllr While would look into whether the village could have a 20mph speed limit, particularly near the school. Cardwell pavilion Mel Lawlee of Safe Hands, who provides an after-school club, was likely to soon start hiring the pavilion. Assembly The parish assembly is on Tuesday, April 12. Pavements The pavementwas very dirty from Hasteds to the Sugar Loaves public house. The clerk would request it be swept. Fete report The Dirty Habit would provide the evening food, band and bar. The clerk was pursuing a response from Sir David Steel, chief executive of the Leeds Castle Foundation, regarding opening the fete. TwinningA group from Templeuve would like to visit Hollingbourne on November 26 and 27 for a martial arts event. Any villagers or local clubs who would like to be involvedwere asked to contact the clerk or Cllr John Cobbe via the parishwebsite.


Lenham


Scams The communitywarden reported recent scams which covered medical equipment sales, nuisance phone calls and blue badge charges, all of whichwere fraudulent contacts. Vacancies Therewas a need for two more councillors, preferably from the south ward of the parish. Therewere currently 10 councillors from the northward and only one from the south. It would be advantageous to have representatives from Sandway or Lenham Heath. Hedges Itwas reported that Swadelands Schoolwas aware of the overgrown hedges between the school field and Cherry Close. Budget restrictions and staff shortages were delaying non urgent/emergency maintenance and repairs. Toilets Repairs to the gents’ WCswere being undertaken as emergency repairs. Precept Itwas resolved to raise a precept of £57,232.93 for 2016/17, which equated to a band D charge of £40.89. Dickley Lane Hedges in Dickley Lane opposite the garage had been cut back and the area lier-picked. Car park The new bin for the Maidstone Road car park had been collected by the contractors ready for installation. The car park improvementswere progressingwell. The area had new floodlights andwas regularly lier picked. Neighbourhood plan Cllr Michael Ballard would apply for £3,000 funding towards the costs of the process. Planning Cllr Richard Greenwood reported on negotiations between Lenham Cricket Club and the developer of the stie at the United Reformed Church site. The safety neing would be 8m high and run along the boundary between the development and the cricket ground. It would remain in situ during the cricket season.A management company would take responsibility for the operation of the net. The possibility of burial remains on the site would be investigated. Highways Safety issues regarding the faded road marking outside Lenham Primary Schoolwere reported. Itwas requested they be repainted.


CCTV Once agreementwas reached on the use of the church tower for installation of equipment and, subject to the agreement of the associated costs to install a new CCTV system, works could progress. Rabbits The quote for rabbit-proof fencing at the cemetery from R James Fencingwas accepted. TreeA quote would be sought to remove a fallen tree across the path at Glebe Pond. Tourism Ideas to market Lenham included updating theWalks in Lenham leaflet and contacting tourismwebsites to see if Lenham could be included.


Otham


Co-opted Kevin Hipkinswas co-opted to fill the vacancy on the parish council. Precept The 2016/17 precept would be set at £10,466.23. Village hallA donation of £475was agreed to cover the cost of the new floor shortfall and allow work to proceed. ChurchA £50 donationwas agreed for St Nicholas’s Church as thanks and to cover expenses for the village meeting in December. Football ground While noise from players was lower, levels had increased from coaches/parents. Noise, lier and traffic would be discussed at a meeting to be aended by Cllrs Bole and Trench. Ditch KCC Cllr Gary Cooke had agreed to finance the clearance of the ditch. Village green Cllr Gardner’s suggestion to have reflectors fied to the posts on the village green as a safety feature was agreed. They would be sourced and fied as soon as possible. Christmas carols The eventwas reported as very lovely, if not aswell aended as previously. Cllr Gardner had wrien to hosts Mr and Mrs Fisher to thank them. LierA resident and a friend collected about six bags of lier in White Horse Lane. Stakeholders in the village would be contacted to request action on lier.


Ulcombe


Community warden Dawn Riach-Brown noted that many flytipping incidentswere quickly reported by members of the public for removal. She hoped to aend a fundraising event near Ulcombe Church on April 17 andwas liaising with the organisers regarding road signs on the Lenham Road to help make the event safer for pedestrians. Dogs The “No Dogs” signs for the recreation play area/car park had been received.A borough-wide audit of all dog waste binswas being carried out and any not widely used would be removed. The clerk would request that the one by the village hall be removed. Village party No response had been received from residents to form a working group. Itwas felt that, as timewas running short, a picnic on the recreation ground could be arranged for June 11. Medals Itwas resolved to order 130 commemorative medals for the pupils of the school to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday. File storage Three four-drawer files would be purchased up to the value of £350. HighwaysA layby appeared to be emerging in the Ulcombe Road near the junction of Boycourt Lane.


Maidstone East April 2016 55


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