downsmail.co.uk Barming


Annual payments Itwas agreed to renew the council’s subscription to the Kent Association of Local Councils and to authorise the annual renewal payment for insurance. Donation requestA request for a donation was received fromHelp aMaidstone Child.Whilemembers appreciated the hardwork done by the charity, itwas decided not to authorise a donation at this time. Pavilionwork A datewas agreed for a meetingwith the local resident to discuss the heave at the pavilion hard-standing area; two councillors and the clerkwere to be in a�endance. Car park Therewere no newupdates on the planned resurfacing of the Parish Field car park. Cllr Goochwas to contact Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) to seek advice,while CllrManser askedwhether the councilwould consider leaving the resurfacing for three years. Cllr Vizzard suggested that any quotes received should be considered and towait for any advice that is offered, and then a final decision could bemadewhen all the information was available. Tree branch A resident hadwri�en to ask about removing a tree branch. Councillors agreed that if itwas overhanging into the garden, the resident is entitled to remove it; the clerkwouldwrite to the resident to tell themmemberswere happy for the offending branch to be cut back. Salt bins Cllr Gooch reported that she had chased highways regarding the empty salt bins in the parish. She had been advised that all binswould be refilled as part of the blanket order in advance of nextwinter. Field issues CllrManser had drafted a response le�er to the recent complaint received about hirers driving up the Parish Field to the pavilion. The field had


PLANTS and hedgingwere damaged when a garden inMapleAvenuewas broken into. Keys and cashwere stolenwhen a


vehicle parked on a driveway in Allington Waywas broken into. On the same evening, two unknown offenderswere disturbed as they tried to break into two cars on a driveway in the same road. Meat and soft drinkswere stolen froma


butcher’s shop in Tonbridge Road after it was broken into. The offenderwho broke into a house in


North Streetwas disturbed by occupants andmade off. Two cars – aMini One and a Fiat Punto –


parked in BowerMount Roadwere damaged on the samemorning. Phones, chargers and awallet containing


cash and cardswere stolen in a break-in at a house in Cornwallis Road. Two handbags containing cash and other


itemswere stolen froma house in Queens Road. Cash and other itemswere taken froma


Vauxhall Zafira parked in Langdale Rise. Stainless steel gratingswere unbolted


and stolen froma bridge in St Peter’s Street. In London Road, a housewas broken


suffered in the badweather; CllrManser was to forward the le�er as she had given out keys for hirers to use the vehicle gate. School help A local school had been in touch to ask if therewere any jobs that needed doing on a voluntary basis. The only task availablewould be li�er picking andmembers felt itwould be a good idea for the school to contactMBC as they would be able to provide the appropriate equipment for the pupils, so the clerkwas to informthe headmaster.


Loose


Outbuildings Communitywarden Liz Lova� spoke about thefts fromsheds, allotments and garages and gave a number of tips for residents to reduce the risks and also ensure that if property is stolen it can be recovered. She alsowarned that technology items in cars, such as dashcams and satnavs, are often forgo�en about when cars are locked up, despite being expensive items, and provided advice on preventing crimes like these. Cllr Tony Oliver also advised of a scamcarried out on the Loose Road on one of his neighbours, and councillors asked if the warden could visit the victim. Pavilion kitchen The door hingeswere agreed as per the round robin sent the previousmonth. Cllr Luckhurst reported on an email fromthe contractorwhich confirmed thework on the kitchenwould be completed betweenMay 26 and June 3; that the old kitchen and other rubbish would be disposed of by the council and that decoration is not included in the quote andwill be an extra £280. The councillors agreed to decorate the kitchen themselves once the units have been installed. Neighbourhood PlanMBC had commented on the Neighbourhood Plan and these commentswere sent to experts Feria Urbanism,who felt some of them


were unnecessary but, generally,most would strengthen the plan.Ameetingwas arranged to go through the recommendations. SMART update Cllr Rigby reported that manyward councillorswere unhappy that the Joint Transport Boardmeeting had been cancelled andwere considering a legal challenge to the authority of the transport commi�ee. Cllr Rigby had also a�ended a regional Speedwatch conference,where newinnovationswere shown off. Itwas hoped that the Loose teamwould be out by themiddle ofMay. Itwas also reported that Kent is leading thewaywith the scheme, and that other counties are in the process of adopting Speedwatch. Brooks Field The LooseAmenities Associationwas in consultationwithMBC ahead of the planning application for Brooks Field being formally put in. Utilities The council agreed to gowith Pozitive Energy to provide the gas and electric for the pavilion on a fixed rate for 36months. The contractwas signed and will startwith effect fromAugust 1. Expenditure Itwas agreed to set up dedicated @loose-pc.gov.uk email addresses for all councillors, at a cost of £25 for initial set-up and £15 per year thereafter. The contract for the defibrillator was also ratified, aswas the contract for street lightingmaintenance. CommunicationsAnne Rigby, the council’smedia and communications clerk, went over the details of a circulated report about thewebsite and advised that changes had beenmade to theWord package used on thewebsite and that colours could nowbe used.A request had been received froma local swimming club to have their details on thewebsite but this was rejected as advertising from businesses is not allowed on thewebsite.


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


into by aman described aswhite, in his early 20s, of slight build and around 6ft tall. Some cashwas stolen but hewas disturbed by a resident and ran off. Terracotta potswere removed froma


doorstep in BucklandHill. Several speed cameras in Sutton Road


were sprayedwith paint,which damaged the lenses. The initials TAwere sprayed on the rear of all the cameras. A Vauxhall Corsa and a Saab parked in


Buckland Road both had two tyres slashed. A silver and red Giant cycle padlocked


in a bike rack in County Roadwas stolen. Two blue sunloungerswere stolen from


a garden in Boxley Road. Cashwas stolenwhen a house in Boxley


Roadwas broken into. Menwere seen smashingwingmirrors


of vehicles parked inWheeler Street. A Flymomower and a Specialized cycle


were stolen froma flat in St Lukes Road. A black and greenMerida bicyclewas stolen froma bike rack at a block of flats in


KingfisherMeadow. Money, keys and cardswere in a bag


stolen froma locked locker in the staff area of a restaurant in The Broadway. A Kona cyclewas stolen fromin front of


a tile store in Hart Street. The ignition barrelwas damagedwhen a


Mercedes van parked in Farleigh Lanewas broken into. Intruders fled after being disturbed by


the homeownerwhen they broke into a property in ChamberlainAvenue. Two potted treeswere stolen froma


driveway in Gatland Lane. A Hyundai Tucsonwas taken from


outside a house inWestree Court. A silverApollo bicyclewas stolen from


where itwas secured in a car park in KingfisherMeadow. A silver and grey Giant bicyclewas


stolen froma supermarket car park in Barker Road,where itwas secured. A black quad bike,whichwas not


roadworthy,was stolen froma garden in Upper Fant Road.


Maidstone June 2018 37


Parish Councils


Crime Reports


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