WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 4th April 2017
7.30pm Wateringbury Village Hall
Present:
Cllr R Tripp (Chairman) Cllr D Stones
Cllr M Wells (Vice Chairman) Cllr L Simons
Cllr C Talbert Cllr D Marks
Cllr K Fisher
In attendance:
Mrs S Cockburn – Clerk to the Council
Cllr M Balfour – Kent County Councillor
Cllr S Jessel – Tonbridge & Malling Borough Councillor
Mrs C Byron & Mrs T Bailey – Rostrum Correspondents
12 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
16/129 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr Cayzer who was away
16/130 CO-OPTION OF MEMBER ON TO THE PARISH COUNCIL
The Chairman confirmed at that time there was one vacancy to be filled. Permission to co-opt for the second vacancy had not been given by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
There were three candidates – Sarah Hudson, Frances Fielding & Margaret Daly. A secret ballot was held and the Chairman announced that Frances Fielding had been duly co-opted on as a member of the Parish Council
The Chairman did stress there would be another vacancy and those applicants who had been disappointed could put their names forward for the second vacancy
16/131 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
16/132 ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman confirmed the resignation of Dennis Stones, and thanked him for all his hard work and support while he was on Council. It was agreed a letter of thanks should be sent.
16/133 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Balfour stated in the Local Transport Plan Kent County Council had identified improvements needed to the Wateringbury crossroads. If funds were available in the future this would be looked at.
The question of the changes to Arriva bus services, with some being axed, was raised and Cllr Balfour said that Kent County Council had nothing to do with this as it was a commercial service. However, Kent County Council were doing all they could to raise the problems these changes would cause.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Balfour who left the meeting at 7.45pm
16/134 REPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Jessel stated the budget from central Government would reduce from £2.4m to £1.4m in four years so there could be huge cuts which was worrying Councillors. Cllr Jessel referred to an article in the KM sent to him regarding building on Hermitage Lane and the increase in traffic which would impact on Wateringbury. Jane Heeley of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and Stuart Maxwell of Maidstone Borough Council had been mentioned in the article and Cllr Jessel had asked both for their comments.
16/135 CRIME REPORT
Crime report attached which had been taken from Kent Police website.
Cllr Wells said there was a lack of supporting information on the police reports and Councillors agreed this should be raised at the next KALC meeting.
16/136 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 7th MARCH 2017 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
There were two adjustments to the Minutes. Page 43 The date of the Minutes should read the 7th and not the 9th. Page 44 16/124 Should read ‘All Councillors’ and not ‘Al Councillors’ The amended Minutes were approved by Cllr Talbert and seconded by Cllr Marks. All Councillors agreed
16/137 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 7th MARCH 2017
Matters Arising attached.
16/089 – Investigate iCloud – Nothing further on this
16/114 – Drayhorse Meadow – The Chairman stated a lease had not been signed as the proposed tenant had a number of issues to raise and it was hoped to clarify these and complete soon. The trees that needed cutting back had been done. Any repairs to the roof would be done.
16/117 & 16/126 – Road markings/crossroads & A26 Pizien Well Road junction – these were still with Matthew Balfour
16/128 – Possible survey on roads – no update
16/138 STANDING ORDERS – VOTING PROCEDURE FOR CASUAL VACANCIES
Adjourned from the last meeting Councillors were asked to agree the addition to the Standing Orders. Agreement was proposed by Cllr Talbert and seconded by Cllr Wells. All councillors agreed.
16/139 WATERINGBURY CAR PARK
Cllr Marks reported on a site meeting he had with Mike Hoiles, Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, on the 29th March regarding the problems of parking in the car park. Mr Hoiles stated he was not speaking for the committee but for himself. Mr Hoiles felt the use of the car park by commercial vehicles was impinging on local business during the day, and that the problems were more prevalent during the day than the evening. He felt that Pay & Display would affect the smaller day time users.
Mr Hoiles also discussed the problems with the CCTV. There was no Service Agreement with the supplier, Chroma Vision, and the cameras had not been serviced for some years. Chroma Vision had looked at the cameras and would let the Council have a written report on their findings. There was a £90 call out charge.
Cllr Marks suggested Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council is asked if any formal legal agreement was in place regarding parking. Also, the possibility of the Parish Council taking over the running of the car park. Cllr Fielding said the cost to the Council to resurface the car park would be horrendous. Cllr Simons was also concerned about the upkeep. Cllr Marks said any costs would be down to the Borough Council. It was also suggested to look again as replacing the height barrier that Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council had removed some time ago.
16/140 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – No meeting Cllrs were asked if they were happy for the Clerk to ask Colin Hanley to carry out an internal audit as he had done in previous years. All councillors were in agreement
Planning – meeting to follow
Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association – nothing to report
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 there would be a public meeting consultation on the Rail Franchise on the 11th April 1-4pm at
County Hall Maidstone.
Highways & Transportation-Speedwatch – Speedwatch report attached
Allotments – All invoices had been sent out at the beginning of March. There is one vacant allotment.
Cemetery – The car park had been cleared of rubbish including signs of possible drug use. It was suggested that Council write to Mr English requesting the hedge be removed completely and replaced with fencing
Village Warden – nothing to report
16/141 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Agreement of the Financial Statement was proposed by Cllr Fisher and seconded by Cllr Talbert. All cheques were signed.
16/142 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Mrs Pat Jolly reported the planters on the station platform were overgrown.
Mr Michael Williams referred to his report at last month’s meeting on the dangerous iron fence in Bow Road the property of Wateringbury Pear Orchards. Mr Mike Pursey, Chairman of the Pear Orchards, who was present, said he would look into it.
There were discussions on the problems in the car park.
It was reported the trees at the village hall needed to be looked at especially the fir tree which was now hanging over the pavement. Also, there was still a problem with water splashing up against the Post Office door from repairs done to the road. It would be reported again.
Mike Witts reminded the meeting of the village fete on 4th June. There are still spaces available for stalls. There are 33 stalls and activities arranged. Volunteers were still needed to help on the day.
It was stated that all MP’s were well aware of, and involved in, discussions on changes by Arriva to their bus services.
Mrs Christine Byron congratulated the Clerk on the new Council website. Mrs Byron also showed the meeting a sample a Blue Plaque that it was hoped could be produced for various sites around the village. Approaches had been made to property owners and the majority were in favour. The cost of each plaque would be around £80 and this would be covered jointly by the Rostrum magazine and the Wateringbury History Society.
There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 8.50pm
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