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Ward report Maidstone Cllr Gill Fort said that following enquiries, it seemed that the parish did not have enough people on the electoral role to increase the number of councillors to 11. The figurewas 42 short of the required total. For nine councillors, 701 to 1,350 electors are needed and currently the parish has 1,309. For 11 councilors, the figure would need to be more than 1,351. Cllr Fort suggested that the parish ask parishioners to make sure they are registered on the electoral roll. Policing Four crimes had been reported – theft in Gravelly Boom Road, burglary (non-dwelling) in Peter Pease Close, and criminal damage in Lenham Road and in Cayser Drive. Cases of anti-social behaviour involving nuisance youths had been reported in CharlesfordAvenue and Copperfield Close. Community Right to Bid Further enquiries had revealed that therewas only a CRB on an asset of community value which has been in current or recent use for the community and that it contributes to the wellbeing of that community. As the land in question is privately owned, it cannot be registered as a community asset. The alternate option would be to write to the landowners directly. Councillors requested that the clerk write to the landowners of two parcels of land at the end of CharlesfordAvenue advising of their interest to purchase. Sports field Signs at the field needed to be updated to include morewarnings that dogs are not allowed in the play area. The clerkwas asked to obtain quotes for replacement signs. The clerk had requested costs from Maidstone Council for emptying waste bins at the sports field, but they had not been received yet. The loaned CCTV from the crime support unit had now been removed. Theweekly sports field checks would be done by Cllr Clark and forwarded to the clerk for filing. Mobile homeA retrospective application for replacement of a gypsy mobile home at Orchard Drive, Chartway Street, Suon Valence with a single-storey detached dwelling had been refused by Maidstone Council.The applicant had lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.


Downswood


Council vacancy Theresa Lyons had expressed an interest in the vacancy but was unable to aend the meeting. Shewas to forward a CV for consideration. VegetationA resident asked about the vegetation on roads and pavements and was told that KCCwas due to start spraying with weedkiller. Parking Itwas agreed to put a request on the website asking drivers of commercial vehicles to park considerately. Potholes The online reporting systemwas said to be working well. Potholeswere usually inspected and marked out ready to be repaired within a couple of days. Mallards roundabout Repairs to the roundabout and the road surfacewere being investigated. Car parkA car appeared to have been abandoned in the car park for several months. As the car park was often used by non shoppers, Caxtons would be asked to provide an appropriate sign. Itwas noted


46 Maidstone East September 2016


that the pharmacist’s car had been badly damaged in the car park. Convenience store The glass in the door had been broken and a slab had been thrown at the window the previousweek. Both incidents had been reported to police. Donation request The request from Bearsted Parish Council for a contribution towards the cost of running the summer play schemewas considered and a donation of £150was agreed. Olympicnic John Leafwas willing to mark out the ground. Cllr Carmichael offered to source a barbecue and provide the gas. The parish council would underwrite the loss of any food purchased but not used. Cllr Weeks offered to organise drinks with the convenience store. Garden competition Cllr Carmichael offered to shortlist the remaining roads to enable judging to be carried out.


Harrietsham


Pokemon Go The communitywarden had spoken to several children about using the new Pokemon Go app whilewalking along roads. He asked children to ensure they are aware of their surroundings while playing on the game and to go around in pairs rather than on their own. He had also aended training to identify vulnerable people in villages and asked that they register on the UK Power Network’s register so that if there was an incident in the area, they could be quickly found and evacuated if necessary. Police report PCSO John Boyd said there had been two crimes. Onewas an aggravated robbery whichwas an ongoing investigation. He reassured all present that lone womenwere not the target in this incident, the robbery was for specific items. There had been 38 other incidents reported to the police which included one road traffic accident and a report of bad driving. There had been more calls about suspicious activity and PCSO Boyd urged everyone to report everything of a suspicious nature immediately on 101. Nuisance vehicles around Sandway Roadwere being monitored. MeetingsA resident asked why the parish council, having unanimously agreed to move its meetings to the school hall, had stayed at the village hall. Itwas suggested that the venue for parish council meetings be added to the agenda for September. Hedge cuing Workwas required to the hedges on the east side of the allotments. Complaints had been received from allotment holders that they were unable to access their plots as the hedgeswere encroaching on the footpaths and the area was overgrown with neles.A quote for £135 for the section running along the allotmentswas accepted. Salt bag The tonne salt bag, delivered by Kent Highways for the winter, had been placed in the wrong position which had resulted in the soil being contaminated and a section of the hedge dying. The chairman of the village hall trust had wrien to the parish council giving 60 days to rectify the problem. Itwas noted that the hedge could not be replaced in 60 days as it was the wrong time of year to establish a new hedge. Cllr Kay had informed the chairman that the parish councilwas currently obtaining three quotes for the remedial work. He would confirm with the


trust that the work could not be completed within the given timescale.A discussion took place on two types of salt bins that could be purchased by the parish council to locate at the village hall for the salt to be delivered in future. Itwas suggested that this be added to the September agenda. East Street Itwas suggested that the grass triangle in East Street in front of the Almshouses could be made a feature with perhaps a planter to protect it from lorries. Councillorswere reminded that thiswas a conservation area. It would be discussed further in commiee. Traffic CllrWilliams had wrien to Kent Highway Services several times about the traffic in Goddington Lane but had not received any response to date. He now intended to contact Helen Whately MP to ask her assistance. Defibrillators Harrietsham Clubwas speaking to the postmaster of the village post office to see whether he would be prepared to pay the electrical running cost for the defibrillator to be sited outside. The assumed costwas about £8 a month. The other unit was to be placed on the wall at the village hall by the parish office and an agreementwas being drawn up with the chairman of the village hall. Ma’s Marathon Ma Gilbert was completing the Canterbury half marathon onAugust 29 to raise money for a new portable piano at Harrietsham School (sponsor form in the parish office). Show The annual village show would be on September 3.


Hollingbourne


New homesWealden Homes, developers of the 14 homes being built next to 103 Eyhorne Street, had contributed £78k to Maidstone Council and KCC in relation to the site. Of this, £22,050was open space contribution for use at Hollingbourne Recreation Ground and the Cardwell play areas. The clerk would contact Maidstone Council about this. Fete barbecue Cllr Cobbe reported that it was not imperative that a food hygiene qualificationwas obtained for the barbecue at the fete, but it had been obtained in advance of this. Itwas reported that the fete had gone verywell. Crime report One crimewas reported – a burglary on the A20. Therewere no cases of anti-social behaviour. Parked vehicles Several vehicles had been parked on the grass verge on Greenway Court Road, close to the junction with the A20. Both had been moved and any other vehicles should be reported by calling 101. Sewerage inspection Itwas confirmed that the foulwater disposal in the villagewas not perfect and a jeerwas needed for regular clearance of the pipes. Since 2013, heavy jeing had taken place every three months, controlling the situation. CCTV had shown a blockage in the Hasteds area pipework and SouthernWater was working to solve this. Storm drains Thesewere overflowing in the area of Tanyard Coage and the surface water drained at the corner of Eyhorne Street to the river. Itwas noted that the floodwater came from the manhole. Village shop Shula had received much positive feedback about the village shop but it needed to be a viable business. The parish councilwanted to help but would


Parish Councils


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