WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 2nd May 2017
7.30pm Wateringbury Village Hall
Present:
Cllr R Tripp (Chairman) Cllr L Simons
Cllr M Wells Cllr K Fisher
Cllr C Talbert Cllr F Fielding Cllr D Marks
In attendance:
Mrs S Cockburn – Clerk to the Council
Cllr M Balfour – Kent County Councillor
Mrs C Byron & Mrs T Bailey – Rostrum Correspondents
8 members of the public
The Chairman opened the meeting by reminding everyone in attendance the meeting may be filmed, recorded, photographed or otherwise reported and asked if any person present intends to make a video or audio recording of the proceedings. None
17/001 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Cllr Tripp put his name forward for re-election. There were no other candidates and Councillors were asked to vote on Cllr Tripp’s re-election as Chairman. All councillors voted in favour. Cllr Tripp was duly re-elected as Chairman.
17/002 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN
No Councillor had put their name forward for election. This post would remain open.
17/003 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr Cayzer who was away and Cllr Simon Jessel
17/004 CO-OPTION OF MEMBER ON TO THE PARISH COUNCIL
The Chairman confirmed there was one vacancy to be filled.
There were three candidates – Sarah Hudson, Margaret Daly & Lucy Barrow A secret ballot was held and Cllr Balfour agreed to oversee the result. The Chairman announced that Margaret Daly had been duly co-opted on as a member of the Parish Council
17/005 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
17/006 ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman reminded everyone of the Annual Parish Meeting on Tuesday 9th May 7.30pm
17/007 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Balfour stated that funds had been made available from the Local Enterprise Partnership, via central Government, to look at the problems at Wateringbury crossroads. There would be an investigation into improving the site and a report drawn up, which would take into account surrounding landowners. The Parish Council and local residents would be able to respond to the report and then a proposal would be put forward.
The roundabout at the junction of Tonbridge Road & Seven Mile Lane would be resurfaced.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Balfour who left the meeting at 7.45pm
17/008 REPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Jessel was not present. The Chairman read out an email received from Cllr Jessel regarding an article in the Kent Messenger. It stated that Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Environmental Protection
Officer, Chris Luche, would be happy to discuss this with councillors. Article & email attached
17/009 CRIME REPORT
Crime report attached which had been taken from Kent Police website.
17/010 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 4th APRIL 2017 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
There was one amendment to the Minutes. Page 51 16/140 Tonbridge & Malling Area Committee of KALC next meeting should read 4th May and not 4th April. Approval of the amended Minutes were proposed by Cllr Wells and seconded by Cllr Talbert.
17/011 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 4th APRIL 2017
Matters Arising attached.
16/137 – Possible use of Drop Box instead of iCloud would be investigated
16/137 – Drayhorse Meadow – The Chairman reported the lease for Drayhorse Meadow had been signed with Lesley Monk. The Chairman said that Lesley had carried out considerable work on the stable at her own expense. A letter had been sent to the Clerk asking for permission to carry out any work. There were metal plates on the doors of the stables which were considered to be a hazard by Lesley’s insurers and have to be removed. Future work on the stable roof was possible. It was suggested that photographs were taken of work carried out.
16/137 – A26 Pizien Well Road junction – the vegetation around the 40mph sign at the west approach of Pizien Well Road still had not been done. The other 40mph sign at the eastern approach had been knocked again and was now facing the wrong way
16/137 – Possible survey on roads – nothing yet to report
16/139 – Report from Chroma Vision on CCTV at the village had not yet been received.
16/139 – Car Park/letter – a letter sent – to date no reply received
16/139 – No reply yet from Mr English regarding the hedge at the cemetery car park
16/142 – Iron fencing/ Bow Road – Wateringbury Pear Orchards had agreed to remove the fencing, and Cllr Fielding requested to ask that the overgrown vegetation around the fencing be removed at the same time.
16/142 – Report and quote for work on the trees at the village hall had not yet been received from Wildwood Tree Care
16/142 – Water up against Post Office Door – it was confirmed that Kent Highways would investigate further
Cllr Fielding raised the problem of heavy lorries using Bow Road and felt the weight restriction sign was not very clear and needs to be more prominent. It was felt this could be put forward during the investigation on the crossroads as per Cllr Balfour’s report.
17/012 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – No meeting The subject of a volunteer cleaning the village signs was raised. There was a discussion on insurers requirements and on the amount entailed with risk assessment. It was confirmed that council had no one qualified to carry out a risk assessment.
Cllr Wells then put forward a proposal that Council do not use volunteers for safety reasons but to use qualified contractors. 6 Councillors voted in favour 1 against 1 abstention. It was therefore resolved that the Parish Council do not use volunteers. It was agreed this could be revisited sometime in the future.
Planning – meeting to follow
Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association – no representative
Village Hall – nothing to report
Tonbridge & Malling Area Committee of KALC_– Next Meeting 4th May.
Parish Partnership Panel – nothing to report.
Kent Community Rail Partnership – Cllr Talbert said he attended a public meeting consultation on the Rail Franchise on the 11th April 1-4pm at
County Hall Maidstone. Cllr Talbert referred to an online petition regarding the proposal to make the Ashford to London service faster by requiring the majority of trains to stop at Tonbridge and thereby reducing the number of trains calling at Paddock Wood and other intermediate stations. Members of the public could still respond until the 23rd May in writing or by email but it must reach Southern Rail by the closing date of 23rd May
Councillors had also been given scoping information from Dr John Cockram on Junction Arts at Wateringbury Station. It was suggested that Dr Cockram be invited to attend the Annual Parish Meeting to discuss this, although it was pointed out it was too late for the Agenda.
Highways & Transportation-Speedwatch – No speedwatch report available
Allotments – Letters had gone out to those plot holders who had not paid the rent. There were no vacancies.
Cemetery – nothing to report
Village Warden – nothing to report
Environment Agency/Flooding – Cllr Fielding reported on a meeting she had attended a meeting on the 26th April. Report attached
It was confirmed the two Members who were due to represent the Council at Joint Flood Group meetings had since resigned. Cllr Fielding said she was happy to represent the Council. The Chairman thanked Cllr Fielding
17/013 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Agreement of the Financial Statement was proposed by Cllr Marks and seconded by Cllr Talbert. All cheques were signed.
17/014 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
There was nothing further on replacing the height barrier at the car park
Mr Syd Thompsett referred to the lack of parking and suggested perhaps the parking area in Bow Road could be made bigger to accommodate more cars. It was confirmed the land belonged to Russet Homes. This was something could be raised when there was an investigation in to improving the crossroads as previously stated by Cllr Balfour.
It was stated that MP Tom Tugendhat held a surgery in village hall which was not advertised and very few people were aware about it.
There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 9.20pm
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