downsmail.co.uk Addington


Motorway update Fivemembers of the public a�ended a presentation from Highways England and GaryWoods, from Jacobs, on the Smartmotorwaywork between junctions three and five. The schemewas expected to start in the spring and take about 16months,with some weekend closures of theM20. Highways England suggested itmight be able to a�end another parish councilmeeting to answer the concerns it could not answer. LegalMembers heard the details of the bridge reinstatement schemewas being negotiatedwith Highways England’s solicitor by Sian Stephens, fromHedleys, on behalf of the parish council. Buses County councillor Sarah Hohler reported possible cuts to community bus services. She added that school bus routes would not be affected. Yellow lines Borough councillorAnn Kemp reported that Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC)was consulting about renewing the yellowlines on part of theA20 inAddington. Defibrillator Both of the village emergency packs had been checked and a newsign had been requested for the BT box at the Jet garage. Speedwatch CllrAnnis reported that two sessionswere held in November as part of National Road SafetyWeek. Recreation Cllr Robinson reported that a resident had kindly removed the old play equipment fromthe recreation ground and had dug out the concrete foundations. Cllr Robinson reported that the Recreation Ground Commi�eewas nowlooking to raise grants andmoney for replacement equipment. Local PlanMembers heard TMBC’s Local Planwould be subject to a further round of public consultation early in 2018, following its call formore sites. Dark skiesMemberswerewaiting for advice fromCPRE as towhat could be requested in the Local Plan in terms of policieswith respect to external lighting, particularly in rural areas. Tree contest Fencing has been removed fromaround the upright beech on the village green. Cllr Robinsonwill suggest species thatmight be suitable to join it after winning a tree in the KentMen of Trees Trees in the Village Competition. NominationMembers unanimously agreed to nominate Brian Fissenden for the KALC CommunityAwards for his services to the community. WardensMembers resolved that the KCC Volunteer SupportWardens schemewould not be of any relevance or benefit to the village, given the costs involved.


KingsHill


Buses The clerk has registered the parish council’s interest in being involved in the reviewof the X1 and X2 services. Development TheArea 2 Planning Commi�eewere to consider Phase 3 at the nextmeeting. Itwas noted that a supplementary reportwas to be received concerning the temporary access being provided for themarketing suite and to address issues regarding traffic leaving the access as itwould have to cross two lanes of traffic to leave Kings Hill. Waste changes Decisions overwaste


38 Malling January 2018


disposal had not beenmade, it had been reported at the Street Scene and Environmental Services commi�ee. Itwas to be discussed at the Parish Partnership, whichwas to be a�ended by CllrWaller. New proposal The council discussed the possibility of a school andmedical hub being put in place in Kings Hill as had been announced byMP TomTugenhadt. Defibrillator The council agreed to apply for funding fromthe KCCmembers fund for the defibrillator equipment.


Leybourne


Police coverage Cllr Ulph hadmetwith the Commissioner of Kent Police,where he had expressed the council's concerns about the lack of a police presence in Leybourne and police generally. County report Cllr Hohler said that KCC were inviting comments on their proposed budget,with the county’s increased population having an impact. Cllr Chapple askedwhy KCC tend to hire hotels for events rather than cheaper locations and Cllr Hohler said thatwhere possible KCC do try to use their ownmeeting rooms. CCTV The council agreed to upgrade one of the CCTV cameras at a cost of £848 plus VAT and another at the bombhole for £1120 plus VAT. Volunteers Cllr Chapple reported that as yet no volunteers had come forward for the Speedwatch scheme, sowas to promote the scheme to see if the council could get the minimumrequirment of six to come forward. The clerk also reported that no villagers had come forward to support the NeighbourhoodWatch scheme either. New homes CllrMearns had a�ended a meetingwithWaites over their plans to build 250 newhomeswith access via the A20. Therewere grave concerns over the traffic and junctions onto theA20.Waites had not yet applied for planning permission for the project. Finance Itwas agreed to arrange further meetings to determine the 2018-19 budget, where theywould also discuss “Project Leybourne”,which concerns restoration andmaintenance of open spaces. Village Hall The clerkwas to sign a contractwith the contractor, Fulkers, over theirwork. Plans for a defibrillatorwere deferred until the extension is completed to allowit to be situated on the sidewall near to the newentrance as it needs to be kept in the shade. TrimGymCllr Ulph gave an update on the TrimGymproject. Itwould have to be moved further up the stretch of land as an oil pipeline runs under the existing site. Talkswere taking placewith KCC and planning applicationwould be required. Data protection CllrMearns had a�ended a seminar on data protection and the event highlighted the requirements,which would take a lot ofworkwithin the office to ensure compliance.Workwas due to start as soon as possible. Website Itwas agreed to adopt a change of design for the council’swebsite at a cost of £500.


Mereworth


Tree work Le�ers had been sent to two residents informing themthat the parish


councilwould not be cu�ing the trees around the recreation ground. One had replied confirming hewould obtain quotes for cu�ing back the branches that overhung his garden. Patio The clerk reported that county councillorMa�hewBalfour had been approached about improvements to the patio at the pavilion andwaswilling to support theworkwith his county grant. An application had been sent. Precept The precept for 2018-19was agreed at £31,120.00.Members unanimously supported the 13%increase,which included contingencies for elections, open spaces and treework. Cllr Thorogood noted therewere likely to be trees that need felling in the area and the allotments requiredwork. Cllr Bound felt itwas prudent to build up amodest amount of reserves and important to communicate to residents that the increase had been necessary to cover increasedworkloads, audit fees and the cost ofmanaging the parish allotments and open spaces. Village hallMembers heard carswere still being parked in the hall car park and this had recently prevented pre-school children using their garden play area. The clerk had prepared a le�er to be put onwindscreens should further problems occur. Parking Rev Pat Dickin hadwri�en to the council regarding parking outside the church during funerals and special events, despite cones being put in place to prevent this.Members agreed residents had the right to park as itwas public highway. It was not felt that therewas any justification for creating a car park by the church. Members suggested that itwas the responsibility of those involved in large church events to arrange for the overspill parking arrangement and to direct cars to the pavilion car parkwhen available. School The clerk circulated correspondence fromNu Venture bus company about parking outside the school. The school lay-by was not conducive to good trafficmanagement and recommendedmoving the bus stop east of themain gate and had also offered to run a shu�le bus for pupils fromKings Hill. If the problemswere not resolvedmembers heard the bus companymight re-route. Members felt establishing the lay-by and The Street in front of the school as a ‘drop- off’ only areawas themost practical solution and the parish councilwould support it providing the school enforced it. Marking The clerk noted thatwhite lines on The Street had nowbeen completed and apologies received fromthe Highways Engineer for the long delay. Traffic Speed Indicator Devices,which flash the road speed, had also been discussed.Members heard somewere mobile and could be used to cover several sites.Members agreed to apply for two, with Kentish Stone asked tomove them around once the poles had been fi�ed. Allotments Cllr Regan had asked if the Estatewould consider giving the allotments to the parish council. The clerk hadwri�en to tenantswho had notmade an effort to tidy their plots asking themto do thework by next spring or theywould be given notice to quit. Three tenants had decided not to renewtheir tenancy. The vacant plots had been offered to those on thewaiting list but all had refused as the plotswere in such poor order. Itwas


Parish Councils


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