WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 10th January 2017
7.30pm Wateringbury Village Hall
Present:
Cllr R Tripp (Chairman)
Cllr C Talbert
Cllr C M Cayzer
Cllr D Stones
Cllr J Evans
In attendance:
Mrs S Cockburn – Clerk to the Council
Cllr M Balfour – Kent County Councillor
John Ibbs – Village Warden
Mrs C Byron & Mrs T Bailey – Rostrum Correpondents
6 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
16/093 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr Wells who was unwell and Cllr Jessel
Cllr Lin Simons & Cllr Catherine Moreland were not present
16/094 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
16/095 ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman announced the resignation of David Marks and asked Councillors to agree a letter of thanks being sent on behalf of the Council. Four Councillors voted in favour Cllr Evans abstained.
16/096 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Balfour reported Kent County Council were having discussions on their budget. They were considering the possible devolution of services from County to Borough/District level, and these discussions were ongoing but Cllr Balfour said he would also like discussions at parish level.
Cllr Balfour stated there would be a campaign this year to make drivers more aware of, and be more considerate to, other road uses.
A member of the public referred to the use of ambulance sirens and lights in the village on Boxing Day when no other traffic was around. Cllr Balfour said he would look into this. The Chairman stated the Council has also raised similar questions with SECAMB
The Chairman thanked Cllr Balfour who left the meeting at 7.45pm
16/097 REPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Jessel was not present.
16/098 CRIME REPORT
Crime report attached which had been taken from Kent Police website.
16/099 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 6th DECEMBER 2016 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved by Cllr Talbert and seconded by Cllr Cayzer
16/100 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 6th DECEMBER 2016
Matters Arising attached. Cllr Evans stated that Council could find the information on insurance co-operatives on the internet, and he did not have the time to do this himself.
The Chairman said the Clerk had expressed she would prefer to use her own computer equipment and that using iCloud would be investigated. Cllr Evans said he had pointed out to Councillors a laptop could have been purchased a reasonable price. Cllr Evans continued to ask the Chairman why the decision not buy a laptop was taken.The Chairman asked Cllr Evans if he wished to put forward a proposal to buy a computer. Cllr Evans agreed and put forward a proposal to buy a computer for council – No seconder This proposal was not carried.
Cllr Evans was not no satisfied with the decisions and stood up, said he resigned from the Parish Council, was abusive to the Chairman and Mr Evans then left the meeting at 8.05pm.
Councillors were not happy with the play equipment inspections carried out by RSS and asked that other Parish Councils be asked who they use for their inspectionsCouncillors had seen an email from Kent County Council stating that as from 2017 they would reduce their payment to the Parish Council covering maintenance of the crossroad gardens and the corner of Canon Lane from £355 to £60.93 per year. Councillors agreed they could not subsidise this and it was agreed to hand these areas back to Kent County Council. Kent County Council would be advised of the decision.
It was agreed the Clerk would amend the final draft budget to take this into account. Agreement of the budget, subject to the amendment, was proposed by Cllr Cayzer and seconded by Cllr Talbert. All Councillors voted in favour.
16/101 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – No meeting
Planning – meeting to follow
Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association – nothing to report
Tonbridge & Malling Area Committee of KALC_- Nothing to report. Next meeting would be on 12th January
Parish Partnership Panel – no report
Kent Community Rail Partnership – no report
Highways & Transportation-Speedwatch – Speedwatch report attached.
Councillors discussed the problem of vehicles mounting the pavement to get round other vehicles waiting to turn right down Bow Road. Installation of a bollard was suggested.
Allotments – nothing to report
Cemetery – nothing to report
Village Warden – John Ibbs report attached. John said he does look at the play equipment regularly and if there is a problem this would be reported to the Clerk. The problem with dog fouling was still present but it had been slightly better recently. He asked that residents contact him if they see anything untowards and/or if they come across a lot of litter.
Michael Williams asked if the Council could consider seeking a volunteer litter warden. John Ibbs said the sports association arrange organised litter picks with equipment supplied by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
The Chairman thanked John for his work on behalf of the village. John left the meeting at 8.25pm
16/102 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Agreement of the Financial Statement was proposed by Cllr Cayzer and seconded by Cllr Talbert All cheques were signed
16/103 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
It was suggested Council ask Kent Highways to look again at some form of road marking showing vehicles where to wait before turning right down Bow Road.
Michael Williams referred to the fingerpost sign at the cross roads asking when this would be refurbished. This would be followed up
There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at approximately 8.30pm
PART 2 CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS
Councillors discussed the bids received so far for the lease to Drayhorse Meadow. They agreed that more information in the way of references were required.
When this information was obtained a possible Extraordinary Parish Council meeting may be called in order to take the matter further.
As it was unlikely a tenant would be found to take over the lease by the 14th February, it was agreed that Council should insure the stables from the 14th February until a new tenant was in place.
Meeting Part 2 was closed at 9.16pm