WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday 4th May 2021 7.30pm
Held via Zoom
DRAFT
Present
Cllr M Wells (Chairman)
Cllr Fielding (Vice Chairman)
Cllr R Tripp
Cllr D Marks
Cllr L Simons
Cllr P Gregson
In attendance
Mrs S Cockburn – Clerk to the Council
Cllr S Hudson – Tonbridge & Malling Borough Councillor
Mrs C Byron & Mrs E Bird – Rostrum Correspondents
4 Members of the Public
The Chairman opened the meeting by stating the meeting would be recorded to assist the Clerk in taking the Minutes.
21/001 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
No Councillor had put their name forward. Cllr Wells would remain
as Chairman until a new Chairman is elected.
21/002 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN
Cllr Fielding agreed to step down and Cllr Gregson put his name forward, which was seconded by Cllr Fielding. All Councillors voted in favour.
21/003 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr M Balfour
21/004 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
21/005 CO-OPTION OF MR CHRISTIAN BALL
A vote was held which was unanimous and Mr Christian Ball was duly co-opted on as a member of the Parish Council
21/006 CO-OPTION OF MR GERAINT OWEN
A vote was held which was unanimous and Mr Geraint Owen was duly co-opted on as a member of the Parish Council
21/007 ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
21/008 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Balfour was not present.
21/009 REPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Hudson said a clean-up in the village was very successful with about 20 people helping up and down Bow Road, removing weeds, dead wood and cutting back shrubs. The ivy has been removed from the fencing in the car park. Cllr Hudson had supplied paint and a group from a school for young adults with learning difficulties, Grow 19, have painted the fence. Weeds in the gravel around the village hall had been removed. The ivy on the fence at the car lot could not be removed due to the condition of the fence and the owners had been told the fence needed attention. Cllr Hudson had been told the long term plan for the car lot was to stay as it was.
The planning application is yet to be heard on 330 homes in Hermitage Lane south of Barming Station. Anyone wishing to write and object the reference is TM/20/02749. On 27th April the Section 106 contribution arm of the KCC consultation was revised to £15,000 to fund a design and consultation for a scheme to address congestion and pollution issues at the junction of the A26 Bow Road/Red Hill Wateringbury
That evening was the Borough Council’s Annual meeting to approve the new Mayor for the next year – Mr Roger Roud – the Borough Councillor for East Malling.
The Chairman said regarding Croudace Homes application in Hermitage Lane it was concerning what was said on congestion on the A26/Hermitage Lane that by 2025 it is expected to operate at overcapacity, even before this development is added.
Concern also over the mention of the A26 Bow Road/Red Hill is mentioned. Cllr Hudson agreed saying this is without any consultation with Wateringbury who will be directly affected. A £2.5million contribution towards the upgrade of the Fountain Lane Junction has been asked for.
21/010 CRIME REPORT
From e-watch – Bow Road between 12.00am on Friday 2nd April and 2.00am on Monday 19th April somebody was seen at a residential property. It was later discovered that cash and a purse were missing and a bank card had been used to make unauthorised transactions. The Police were continuing their enquiries.
21/011 MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 6th APRIL 2021 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved by Cllr Fielding and seconded by Cllr Simons – all Councillors voted in favour. The Minutes would be signed as a correct record.
21/012 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES HELD ON 6th APRIL 2021
Cllr Marks said he and the Chairman had a site meeting on the 9th April with Bikby Construction to look at the track at the playing fields. Birkby would provide quote for repairs.
Birkby had also been asked to look at and report the brick wall at the village hall which needed repairs.
21/013 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – A quote received from Safeplay for replacing the frayed rope between the towers on the multiplay equipment for £911.85. Cllr Simons proposed acceptance seconded by Cllr Gregson All Councillors voted in favour
Safeplay had suggested a yearly Operational Inspection at £75 per year. Councillors felt this was a good idea Cllr Tripp proposed acceptance seconded by Cllr Fielding. All Councillors voted in favour
Highways & Speedwatch – The Chairman said the team were once again doing a brilliant job. Report attached – 791 observations – 84 letters to repeat twice or more offenders – 27 letters to high offender 40mph on 30mph zone – 0 passed to officers for active enforcement. Cllr Hudson said through Facebook there were 7 more interested in joining the Speedwatch team. 3 had completed roadside training and 2 would be trained in the future. The Chairman thanked Cllr Hudson
Cemetery – Members of the public had expressed how nice the grounds were looking
Allotments – All payments received
Village Warden – Waiting for a report
21/014 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND CHEQUES FOR PAYMENT
The Financial Statement was approved by Cllr Marks and seconded by Cllr Fielding and all cheques would be signed.
21/015 ANNUAL RETURN YEAR END 31/3/2021
Section 1 – Councillors agreed answer to each question was ‘yes’ All Councillors voted in agreement of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return for 2020/2021
21/016 RESOLUTION – It is proposed the /Parish Council suspend all future meetings from 6th May 2021 until face-to-face Parish Council meetings resume in accordance with Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 the Parish Council agrees to delegate certain decisions to the Clerk and 2 Council Members. Delegated decisions would be any item already discussed or circulated with a majority decision (including planning), emergency repairs, and agree financial statements. All cheques will be signed once a month by 2 Councillors. All Councillors will be kept informed at all times, by email, of any decisions taken outside any meetings.
Cllr Marks proposed the resolution and this was seconded by Cllr Tripp All Councillors voted in favour
There were discussions on where the Council could meet safely in accordance with Government regulations as the usual meeting room in the village hall was too small and the main hall was not available Cllr Hudson said the school hall was available. It was agreed to explore other venues. The Chairman said provided there was full clearance from KALC and NALC that council can meet face to face. Cllr Simons said she could arrange a risk assessment before a face-to-face meeting. The Clerk would provisionally book the school hall for the 1st June.
21/017 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Mr Steven Jessop referred to his letter on the A6, which the Chairman said had been received and councillors had seen. Mr Jessop said KCC were to dispense with the 40mph advisory limit at the junction of Pizien Well Road and replace with a gateway of 50mph mandatory speed limit which didn’t make sense. Mr Jessop refuted the police had nowhere to stop and caution drivers.
Mr Jessop’s letter had also gone to Ian Grigor and Cllr Hudson. Mr Jessop said there was 40mph limit in Staplehurst, and the Chairman said it was the same for Hadlow.
The Chairman stated the Council and most in the village supported 40mph not 50mph, and Cllr Gregson is talking to the consultants that have been employed.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.15pm