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Mr Whitewas also presented with a garden plant and Mr White with a bole of wine. Parish award The Rev Sue Morrell presented the Parish Council Community Engagement Shield to Carol Hodgson who also received a garden plant. KALC award The KALC Community Engagement Certificatewas presented to Brookside Garden Centre for its charitable work over the years and for its donations which had helped numerous village organisations. Terry Shead accepted the award on behalf of his family and staff at the garden centre. Surgery Sarah Baker of Woodlands Health Centre and Ian Ayres, NHS Clinical Commissioning Group answered questions regarding the future of East Peckham Surgery. Ms Baker said the health centrewas fully commied to working with the parish council to retain the surgery. MrAyres stated that in his opinion, East Peckham needed its surgery and that he would do all he could to ensure its future. He also stated that hewas delighted to be working with such a pro-active parish council. Question time Peter Street congratulated the parish council for organising an excellent annual meeting and gave a vote of thanks to the council members and the clerk, which was met with a round of applause. Mr Street said the village should be particularly proud of the council’s work in resisting the closure of the East Peckham surgery.


KingsHill


Officers elected Cllr Tony Peywas elected as chairman of the parish council and Cllr Dave Hurringwas appointed as vice- chairman. CllrWallerwas thanked for his work as chairman for the past three years and Cllr Cassidywas thanked for his work as vice-chairman for the past four years. Sports Park Play Area Itwas resolved that this be dealt with by the sports park commiee. On completion of the play area, the day-to-day running issues will be dealt with by the planning, highways and environment commiee. Allotment site Therewas an update regarding thewater leak at the allotment site at Kings Hill. Due to the urgency of the work the CEO had appointed contractors under her delegated powers.


Mereworth


Police report PCSOs Toni Mahews and Kim Hockey provided the crime figures for the year. There had been 32 incidents, including thefts from garages, burglaries, and leaving without paying (restaurants and garages). The policewere working to improve parking at the school, although it was difficult to do anything about inconsiderate parking. Hedges Mrs Regan said she would like to reinstate hedges and fences alongside land she farmed in Beech Road as several passing places had been created by drivers which could encourage rat-running and flytipping. Therewere no objections. NeighbourhoodWatch The year had been quiet compared with last year’s spate of burglaries in the area.


Oam


Officers elected Cllr David Franklingwas re-elected as chairman and Cllr Barry Oliver


Community award


FORMER chairman Mike Rowe was chosen by Offham Parish Council to receive the Kent Associa- tion of Local Councils’ Community Award. Having lived in the village for 30 years, he was


also a magistrate and chairman of the bench, an advisor with Citizens Advice, churchwarden and member of the parochial church council and the “go-to” man for historical information about the area. He has an extensive picture archive of Offham


and helps judge the village photo competition every year and is also chairman of the Offham Society and technical advisor for events in the village hall. He thanked the parish council and said that Offham was a wonderful community and it was a joy for himself and his wife to be involved for 40 years. He received the award at the annual parish meet-


ing.


was elected as vice-chairman. Speedwatch County Cllr Sarah Hohler had agreed to fund the Speedwatch equipment for the village. Councillorswere keen to set up some dates to start operating. Lorries It had been reported that lorries were reversing out of Church Road when they found they could not get under the railway bridge. This had been reported to KCC Highways. Church Farm had already put signs upwarning drivers of the low bridge and had given maps to all drivers and companies they use. Further signswere suggested on the A20. Traffic orderAtraffic orderwas suggested for Church Road. Members approved of the extended zigzag lines near the school but would prefer them to be longer, to create a passing place in Church Road. Proposed yellow lineswere of no use as cars did not park on the side of the road to be painted. Environmental Enhancement scheme This received overwhelming support at the annual parish meeting, which had been aended by more than 120 people. There was one vote against the scheme and about 10 abstentions. Final detailswere being discussed with KCC and itwas hoped work would start in the summer. Awards The Kent Association of Local Councils community awardwas presented to Mike Rowe. TheOamParish Council Awardwas presented to Stewart Bes at the annual meeting and to Paul Nelson in February. He died a short while later and would be missed in the village. Village calendars The 2017 calendarswere on sale from CllrWendyWilliams at £5 each.


Ryarsh


Officers Cllr Storeywas re-elected as chair and Cllr Emsonwas re-elected as vice-chair at the annual meeting. Funding change Tonbridge and Malling councilwas consulting on various proposals which would affect the parish councils, such as the removal of council tax support grant. Itwas expected that any cuts from TMBC would be passed on to residents through the parish precept. Summer fete More than 60 stalls had booked for the fete on June 18. Phone box competition Councillorswere very pleased with the number and quality of entries from Ryarsh Primary School in a competition to decide how to use the phone


box on Chapel Street and what to call it. The entrieswere being considered.


Troiscliffe


Officers elected Cllr RichardWalliswas elected chairman and Cllr David Jones as vice-chairman. Police reportAgarage had been broken into at a home in Aldon Lane, Addington. Sheds were broken into at Troiscliffe school and a car had been set alight in Beech Road. Defibrillator The clerk had offered to find out if a community responder in Addington would be willing to hold an awareness session on how to use the defibrillator. Queen’s birthday Memberswere delighted with the turnout for the lighting of the beacon to mark the Queen’s birthday. The chairman thanked members for their help in organising the event. Ian Fernwas thanked for providing the champagne. Taylors Lane KCCwas drafting a proposal for priority signing which would be used to start the consultation. Village sign Work to install the sign which had been located at the duck pond had been delayed butwas due to take place. Power supply The clerkwas to contact UKPN to enquire about a power supply to the Christmas Tree. UKPN would be able to assess the current arrangement and advise on a power supply for the tree. Potholes Therewere two potholes in the lay- by next to the parish council noticeboard. Workswere programmed. Potholeswere also reported in Ford Lane and Vigo Hill. Street signs The clerk had reported that the sign at Taylors Lane and The Pilgrims had lost some of its leers. The Giveway sign at Church Lane also needed aention. Playground The contractor had revised his quote for replacing six posts around the perimeter fencing of the play area.A decision to accept the quote of £421.20was ratified. The contractor would also level the memorial bench next to the play area. Allotments The clerk and the chairman had met with the contractor to discuss the installation of chestnut fencing for the boundary with Darren’s Meadow. As there was no definitive boundary the fence would be erected on the edge of the hardcore driveway.Adecision to accept a quote of £1,065 to clear the vegetation and install chestnut fencingwas ratified.


Malling June 2016 41


Parish Councils


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