WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 1st November 2016
7.30pm Wateringbury Village Hall
Present:
Cllr R Tripp (Chairman) Cllr M Wells (Vice Chairman)
Cllr C M Cayzer Cllr C Talbert
Cllr D Marks Cllr D Stones
Cllr Lin Simons Cllr J Evans
In attendance:
Mr P Farr – on behalf of the Clerk to the Council
Cllr S Jessel -Tonbridge & Malling Borough Councillor
Mrs C Byron & Ms T Bailey – Km correspondents
Approx. 10 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 intended to make a video or audio recording of the proceedings. None
16/067 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr M Balfour Cllr Mrs Moreland was not present
16/068 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
16/069 ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman announced the Clerk’s absence was due to the recent loss of her husband Philip. The Chairman conveyed his condolences to Susan and her family on behalf of the Council and others present. The funeral would be on 3rd November 2.00pm at Maidstone Crematorium
The Chairman reminded the meeting tof he Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting on the 23rd November 7.30pm
16/70 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Balfour was not present
16/071 REPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Jessel reported the Borough Council’s plan to reduce the precept by 30% over the next 4 years. This had not been resolved but almost definitely forthcoming
16/072 CRIME REPORT
Crime report attached which had been taken from Kent Police website. Cllr Marks & Cllr Lin Simons asked for greater details pm ‘violent’ crime and other Councillors agreed
16/073 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 4th OCTOBER 2016 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved by Cllr Talbert and seconded by Cllr Cayzer
16/074 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 4th OCTOBER 2016
16/047 Cllr Evans suggested Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council be approached regarding the possible purchase of the car park
16/050 A suggestion that the use of Drayhorse Meadow went to the highest bidder was rejected.
16/051 Cllr Evans reported piles of discarded vegetation at the allotments could give rise to possible disposal issues in the future
16/075 PROPOSED PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARY CHANGES
After discussion it as agreed the preference was that Wateringbury should come within the constituency of Tonbridge & The Weald.
16/076 RESPONSE TO DRAFT TONBRIDGE & MALLING BOROUGH COUNCIL LOCAL PLAN
The Chairman invited any comment from the public – none
The Chairman announced the draft plan envisaged no further development to take place within Wateringbury in the planning horizon 2031. Cllr Marks stated that in the intervening period before implementation of this plan certain planning applications could still be approved.
Concern was raised over the Broadwater Farm development which could impinge on the roads around Wateringbury. Cllr Evans suggested any further local development should include starter homes. Cllr Wells stated the current infrastructure would not support that.
16/077 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – No Meeting. Next meeting scheduled for 23rd November. Councillors were asked to agree to a donation to the Heart of Kent Hospice in respect of the late Philip Cockburn. Councillors agreed to a donation of £50
Planning – meeting to follow
Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association – Cllr Evans reported the garage adjacent to the cricket pitch needed attention.
Tonbridge & Malling Area Committee of KALC_- Cllr Wells reported that all local councils at the last meeting reported insufficient support from Police on Speedwatch. Cllr Evans suggested police camera vans on Tonbridge Road faced the wrong way as most speeders travelled in the opposite direction.
Parish Partnership Panel – no report
Kent Community Rail Partnership – no report
Highways & Transportation-Speedwatch – Speedwatch report attached.
Cllr Evans requested cameras to be mounted on the traffic lights and the Clerk was asked to request this.
Volunteer Support Warden – Nothing to report
Allotments – Previous comments apply
Cemetery – nothing to report
Village Warden – Due to illness John Ibbs was unable to submit a report.
16/078 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Agreement of the Financial Statement was proposed by Cllr Marks and seconded by Cllr Talbot All cheques were signed
16/079 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Mr Syd Thompsett congratulated and thanked the Parish Council for the exemplary condition of the cemetery.
Mrs Sarah Hudson commented that her Code of Conduct complaint had been upheld. After 18 months the police did not proceed due to lack of material and training by the Monitoring Officer should be implemented. Training of the whole Council was to be implemented. The Chairman asked Mrs Hudson what was the source of her information. Mrs Hudson replied it was from the Monitoring Officer. The Chairman stated the Monitoring Officer was carrying out routine training with Parish Councils and this had no connection with any complaints
Mr Peter Cotton raised concerns over the licence granted to Red Hill Farm Estates to sell alcohol. Whilst he had no objection to this there were concerns over possible events to be held and not sufficient notice had been given to allow responses from local residents.
The Chairman stated that the Parish Council would not have been informed or consulted about the premises application that went to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council.
Concern was raised over a water leak at the bottom of Bow Road and the Clerk was asked to report this.
Mr Syd Thompsett referred to a planning application from 15 Red Hill concerning a garage. It was stated this would be covered at the planning meeting,
There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 8.50pm
…