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Zipwire The contractor had been contacted about the zipwire,which they will reinstate as previously. SweeperMemberswere unsure if the road sweeper had been and Cllr Carr agreed to followthis up. Playing fieldMembers heard the lease renewalwas underway and ameeting arrangedwith the diocese in January.A rent reminder notice had been sent and Cllr Joneswas to check the status of rent paymentswith Savills. The newclose- board fence along the boundary between the playing field and the village hall had been installed and had a�racted positive comments. Low-risk items had been identified and itwas recommended that the cable runway be removed or replaced as it was old and non-compliant. Itwas agreed to consider adding this to the budget for 2018/19,with the clerk obtaining estimates. Grass cu�ing Quotes had been received for cu�ing the grass and applyingweed killer fromthree companies. Itwas agreed to arrange a further site visitwith one of these to ensure they had quoted correctly and to consider the contract and costswhen se�ing the budget. The clerkwas asked to organise a site visitwith the contractor. Training Itwas agreed to pay for Kent Association of Local Council (KALC) training for the clerk on the newData Protection Regulations at a cost of £30 plus VAT, although the cost could be shared with other councils. Hydrants Cllr Carr reported that he had completed the fire hydrant check. QuizAn invitation had been received to theMayor’s Charity Quiz night. Itwas agreed to try and put a teamtogether.


Hollingbourne


Bypass CllrWard reported on the public meeting on the Leeds/Langley relief road at theMercureHotel. The council’s key concern remains that the village could become a ‘rat run’ for trafficwishing to reach the bypass.Memberswere told Kent County Council (KCC)was commi�ed, in early 2018, to a year-long study tomonitor and investigate the routing and construction of a bypass. Chairman’s report Cllr Bedwell reported that the KCC Volunteer SupportWarden Scheme had been recommended as a valuable addition to the community but felt villagers should be asked if theywould like to have a SupportWarden before a decision wasmade.Any comments fromvillagers would be gratefully received before Sunday, February 11 by email to pchollingbourne@gmail.com. 101 trialMembers heard the public can nowreport crimes and incidents, aswell as non-injury road traffic collisions, on-line directly atwww.kent.police.uk. Once a reportwasmade online, the user received a unique reference number and a return email confirming receipt. Precept Itwas agreed that the parish councilwould retain a reserve of £19,000 and keep the precept as last year because therewere no specific projects planned in 2018/19.


32 Maidstone East February 2018


Policemeeting The clerk reported on a Crime Prevention and Safety Conference on December 7,where themain speaker wasMa�hewSco�, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner.Members heard the police had retained the same funding and staff, but priorities had changed dramatically. Itwas agreed for the clerk to investigate restarting theNeighbourhood Watch scheme in the village. Borough councillor Patrick Garten also advised that Mr Sco�would like tomeet the parish council.Members agreed thiswas a good idea and Cllr Gartenwould arrange this. Village hallA le�er of concern had been sent to Ian Garrod at Enterprise Inns expressing concern about the failure to renewthe lease on the village hall. Buses Cllr Prendergast advisedmembers that nothingwas decided regarding the future of subsidised bus services. One of her key pledgeswhen she stood for electionwas to ensure children and other vulnerable residentswere not left isolated in rural communities and shewouldmake this clear in her response to the consultation. Crossing The publicmeeting to consider Network Rail’s plan to divert the footpath over the railway line inHollingbournewas postponed until January 23. The proposal to close the footpath to thewest of Hollingbourne Station and divertwalkers over the station footbridgewould be decided by KCC’s Regulation Commi�ee Member Panel. Cash cutsMembers heardMaidstone Borough Council (MBC) had discussed funding for the Parish Services Scheme and possible financial cuts. Cllr John Perry and Cllr Garten had noted that parish councils had not been consulted. Parish plan Cllr Benne� had drawn up an outline ofwhat should be includedwithin the Parish Plan forHollingbourne. The ma�erwould be considered at the next ParishMeeting. Brexit Cllr Cobbe� reported that there had been no news fromKCC about arrangements for themovement of vehicles through Dover Customs after Brexit. This maymean customs transit timeswill increase fromtwominutes per vehicle to 20,which could lead to the imposition of Operation Stack daily. Speeding CllrArdley hadwri�en to the local authoritywith a proposal for new road signswithin the village.A response had not been received so the clerkwould followthis up. CardwellMembers heard the clerkwould arrange for the bulkhead light to be repaired at the Cardwell Pavilion. Cllr Wardwould look to produce a fire safety draft policy and CllrArdley had asked that more health and safety signs be put up to stop drilling into thewalls and the use of blu-tac on the paintwork. MillenniumGreen CllrWard reported that the installation of newplayground equipment, funded byWealdenHomes, had been a real success. Off road Cllr Bedwell reported that there had been a couple of events involving motorbikes and quad bikes, but these had been orderly and planning rules had not been breached.


Fete CllrArdley reported that June 9 had been fixed as the date for the fete and exemption dog showand thatmore helpers and stallholderswould be needed. Members agreed if the fete broke even, it would be good news, as some fixed costs had risen. Itwas noted that the parish council’s total exposurewas £1,500 in a worst case scenario. Meadows Trust Cllr Benne� a�ended the Avenue of Remembrancemeeting held by theHollingbourneMeadows Trustwith the Royal British Legion andwas glad to announce that the projectwas gathering pace and looking to raise the necessary funding for the 100 hawthorn trees that would be planted onHollingbourne Meadows Trust land tomark the centenary of theWWIArmistice.


Leeds


Relief Road Cllr Gove� reflected on the publicmeeting on the proposal for a Leeds/Langley Relief Road.He said there was clearly a breakdown in the relationship betweenMBC and KCC. Cllr Gove� said that he felt that the localMPswere the only route to a positive outcome. Budget The clerk informedmembers that the draft budget had been circulated to members for consideration. Parishmaintenance Cllr China had instructed contractor StevenWaring to clear the dangerouswet leaves on Foley Hill and PenfoldHill. The clerk reported that the bulb planting had taken place and she had sent a thank you le�er. Recreation areas Cllr China reported that the extension to the playing field car park was being progressed. Concernswere raised over the emptying of the bins at the playing field, and Cllr Gove� suggested that the council consider having a second bin installed outside of the field, and itwas agreed. The clerkwas to liaisewithMBC over this. The pavilion doors needed to be repaired and Cllr China had arranged for this to be undertaken by the football team, CCTV Cllr Gove� informedmembers that the CCTV cameras had been erected along Forge Lane as agreedwith a resident. Cllr China had read an article in theMBC Magazine regarding CCTV for fly-tipping and suggested that therewas also a need for CCTV cameras along Burberry Lane.


Lenham


Carwash Concernswere raised by a member of the public about the detrimental effects of the carwash facility on Old Ashford Road. Visual impact, noise, road safety and ecological issueswere discussed and the planning commi�eewere to convey the concerns toMBCwhen responding to the retrospective application. MaintenanceNewsubstantial boltswere to be installed in the gents toilet cubicles, and the hand towel dispenserswere to be replaced. The cycle ranks in the Square were being reinstalled byMBC as requested. Allotments TheHamLaneAllotment Associationmembers arranged ameeting


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