downsmail.co.uk Broomfield&Kingswood


Borough report Cllr Gill Fort reported that MBCwere se�ing the budgets for 2018/19 and that cutbackswere needed,which would probably affect council tax. Jennifer Shepherdwill be running the play equipment scheme atMaidstone Borough Council (MBC) and Cllr Fortwas to notify the clerk as soon as the decision to release the grant funding is available. Cllr Darling raised the issue of councillors on the planning commi�ee abstainingwhen voting on decisions and Cllr Fort said this had been discussed by the commi�ee but no changes to the procedurewould be made at this time. Budget The council agreed to include an allowance of £5,000within the draft budget for 2018/19 following receipt of a le�er fromthe Joint Parishes Group (JPG). Councillors also agreed unanimously to adopt the budget proposal for the year, and to a precept application of £55,500. Trafficmanagement Councillors requested the clerk to apply to the Kent County Council (KCC)member’s grant for 50%of the cost of the installation of the keep clear roadmarkings and/or zebra crossing in Gravelly Bo�omRoad. The council also agreed to the purchase of eight ‘single track road’ signs at an approximate cost of £800. Sports field The clerkwas absent due to illness so the contract for additional equipment for the fieldwas held over to the nextmeeting, and the request for a storage unit in the car parkwill be discussed inMarch. The Gypsy and Traveller Collaboration and village signing agenda itemswere also carried over to the nextmeeting. Buildingwork The community centre commi�eemet to discuss aims and objectives regarding the pre-school extension and the parish council office facility. The preferred optionwas an extension to the village hall but alternatives needed to be considered. Cllr Darlingwas to look into possible funding options,while CllrHoy had contactedMBC planners about the possibility of building something outside the village envelope but there is nowa £150 fee for pre-application advice. Pre-school Cllr Friend had received a report the pre-school outlining a positive outlookwith numbers at amaximumwith awaiting list, and the numbers for September’s intake are already looking very good. TreeworryA tree protected by a TPO in Tall Trees had been felled following concerns that itwas about to go over in highwinds. Itwas agreed that the council would notify the planning authority of their knowledge that the tree had been felledwithout planning permission so that they could carry out an investigation.


East Su�on


Parish/police Itwas decided that Cllr Worsfoldwould a�end the Parish/Police LiaisonMeeting. Therewere no crimes recorded for themonth up until December’s full councilmeeting. PlanningAn application froma Chartway Street boarding kennels for the demolition


32 Maidstone Weald February 2018


of a building and for the erection of four houses on the sitewaswithdrawn. Finance The bank balances for the parish council are £8,161 (NatWest) and £7,061 (Unity).


Headcorn


Absence The clerk stated it is a regulatory requirement for councilors to send apologies and reasons for absence after two members did not a�end December’s meeting. Parking The councilwasmade aware of illegal and inconsiderate parking by drivers. The issuewould be raisedwith the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner to see if PCSO powers could be extended to cover parking, especially at school at drop- off and pick-up times. Co-option The borough council has given the go ahead for the co-option of a new councillor to replace DaveAndrews. DonationHeadcorn Cricket and Tennis Clubwas offered a donation of £250 by the parish council.Heart of KentHospice – which has a shop inHeadcorn – thanked the parish council for its donation. Allotments The financial implications of vandalismto the allotments belonging to theHeadcornAllotmentsAssociation. It was agreed that the rental amountHAA should pay the parish council in 2018 should be £300, not the usual £480. Judicial reviewThe JPG sent a request for a donation towards a high court judicial reviewby the Campaign to Protect Rural England against theWoodcut Farm industrial estate to be built at J8 of theM20. A sumof £750was suggested but thatwas reduced to £250 and put to the vote. Parish councillors voted against giving a donation by a single vote and the clerkwill advise the JPG of the decision.


Hunton


Advertising role TheHuntonHerald newsle�er is seeking a newadvertising co- ordinator,which involves liaisingwith current and potential newadvertisers and arranging for the printing of the annual advertising directory. If anyonewould like to help, contactHelen on 01622 820810 or email herald@hunton.org.uk. Hunton Club Gil Robertsonwas elected as the newchairman at theHunton Village Club'sAGM. GrahamAshlinwas also elected onto the commi�ee.Membership had fallenwithmore than 40 not renewing for 2017 and eight newjoiners. Themeeting decided to keep the annualmembership fee at £20 (£15 for concessions)with a £5 discount available to existingmembers who renewbefore February 28. Therewas also a plea formore volunteers. If anyone can help, email gilbert@breachfarm.com. Road safety The Traffic and Road Safety Working Party (TRSWP) has been set up to look at the road issues throughout the village.Among the issues the group – made up of five councillors and five residents –meet once andmonth and are discussing a number of issues, including theweight restriction on East Street. They are asking anyonewho sees a lorrywhich


exceeds the 7.5 tonneweight restriction to take asmany details as possible down and contactHelenWard at helen@ helenward.org or on 820810, or Jonny Goddard at jonny@cheveneyfarm.co.uk or 820096. WinterWarmer TheWinterWarmer village lunches began on Thursday, January 25, and run for sixweeks untilMarch 1. Doors open at 12pm,with lunch fromaround 12.30pm. The cost is £6. There is no need to book but if you have any dietary requirements, please let Lesley knowin advance on 820210 or email lesley.a.lee@btinternet.com.


Linton


Honours board Cllr Carpenter stated the honours board in the village hall had been updated as agreed. Itwas reaffixed to the wall prior to themeeting and councillors thanked Cllr Carpenter for his efforts. Conservation plan The chairman reported that nowthe newConservation Officer had been in post for a fewmonths itwas to be hoped that the Linton Conservation Management Planwould be progressed. The clerkwas to contactMBC for an update prior to eachmeeting. Highways latest Cllr Cresswell reported that the damaged interactive speed sign on theA229 had been removed. Itwas also reported that the school sign at the entrance to the church car park had been knocked over, so the clerkwas asked to report this to KentHighways. Village crossing The chairman circulated an update and timetable on the village crossing, saying that he felt itwas now possible that this projectmay proceed, financed fromthe Vicarage Field and/or Wares Farmdevelopments. The approximate timescale had been estimated at tenweeks for the design and then three to fourmonths until construction, but it could take longer as there are a number of interested parties. Cllr Cresswell spoke about the cost of the crossing and asked if the council could be sure that it could be funded by these developments. The chairman stated he had nowri�en statement to this effect but that DHA Planning and the developer appeared to be happy to continue to progress the crossing and had put a lot ofwork in already. Fly-tipping The chairman said there had been two incidents of fly-tipping in the parish and Cllr Smithmentioned twomore. CllrWhitmarsh had found papers in the Barnes Lane deposit that included a name and address,which he had reported to MBC but they had not responded. Cllr Mortimer said hewould followthis up withMBC. A229A resident spoke regarding the recent fatal accidents on theA229. The chairman suggested that the council contact KCC to ask if therewere plans to take action to make the road safety in light of the recent accidents. Thiswas agreed and the clerk was to contact KCC. Almshouses TrustMr Bu�ers a�ended on behalf of theAlmshouses Trust in Linton to seek a volunteer trustmember fromthe


Continued on page 34 Maidstone Weald February 2018 33


Parish Councils


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