WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Held on Tuesday 6th September 2016
7.30pm Wateringbury Village Hall
Present:
Cllr R Tripp (Chairman) Cllr D Stones
Cllr M Wells (Vice Chairman) Cllr J Evans
Cllr C M Cayzer
Cllr C Talbert
Cllr D Marks
In attendance:
Mrs S Cockburn – Clerk to the Council
Ms T Bailey – KM Reporter
4 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
16/040 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllrs Mrs Moreland & Mrs Simons. Cllr S Jessell and Cllr M Balfour
16/041 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
16/042 ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman stated the date for the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting was to be confirmed
16/043 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Balfour was not present
16/044 REPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Jessel was not present
16/045 CRIME REPORT
PCSO Harkness was not present Crime report attached which had been taken from Kent Police website.
16/046 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 5th JULY 2016 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved by Cllr Cayzer and seconded by Cllr Stones
16/047 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 5th JULY 2016
See separate sheet. 16/037 It was agreed to contact Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council asking for their views on the Parish Council investigating the cost of purchasing and erecting a new height barrier. Cllr Evans had made initial enquiries and the cost would be around £525
16/048 STANDING ORDERS – AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 46 & 47
Section 46 reads – The Clerk shall afford to the press reasonable facilities for the taking of their report of any proceedings at which they are entitled to be present. There shall be no audio or video recording or photographs of the meeting without the express approval for the Council
Amendment to read: At the start of every meeting the Chairman shall remind everyone in attendance that the meeting may be filmed, recorded, photographed or otherwise reported about, and ask if any person present intends to make a video or audio recording of the proceedings.
Section 47 reads – If a member of the public interrupts the proceedings at any meeting, the Chairman may, after warning, order that he be removed from the meeting and may adjourn the meeting for such a period as is necessary to restore order.
Amendment to read – If any member of the public disrupts the meeting or obstructs the transaction of business the Chairman may, after warning, order he be removed from the meeting and may adjourn the meeting for such a period as is necessary to restore order.
These amendments were proposed by Cllr Tripp and seconded by Cllr Stones and stood adjourned until the next full Parish Council meeting
16/049 AMBULANCE SIRENS – LEVEL OF USE
Councillors discussed a draft letter from Teston Parish Council addressed to
The Acting Chief Executive and the Interim Chair of the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust regarding complaints about the frequent use of ambulance sirens.
After discussion Councillors agreed to support the draft letter and to send a separate letter stating Council’s concerns.
16/050 DRAYHORSE MEADOW – TENANCY UNDER LICENCE
The Chairman told Councillors of a meeting he and Cllr Marks had had with Adam Francis tenant of Drayhorse Meadow and a further with a possible new tenant. Adam Francis had stated they had found a property with its own land and would be moving out of Drayhorse Meadow in the coming weeks. As the existing lease did not expire until February 2017 Mr Francis had asked if Drayhorse Meadow could be sub-let for the remainder of the lease. Cllr Marks pointed out to Council the lease clearly stated this was not allowed and there was no break clause in the lease which allowed it to be terminated early.
After discussion it was agreed the tenants should be told Council could not agree to sub-let. It was also agreed the site be put on the open market immediately. It was agreed that a site meeting/inspection be arranged with the present tenants.
16/051 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – No Meeting. Councillors had seen a letter sent to the Chairman from Wateringbury School on the school’s 40th anniversary and were looking to raise funds to replace the library roof and windows. It was stated Council had £400 available in the donations budget. Cllr Stones proposed donating the £400 which was seconded by Cllr Evans. All Councillors voted in favour
Planning – There would be no planning meeting as no plans had been received
Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association – nothing to report
Village Hall – nothing to report
Tonbridge & Malling Area Committee of KALC_- Cllr Wells reported 12 parishes present at the last meeting at which he stated it wass felt there was a lack of co-operation from the police on Speedwatch and other Parish Councils agreed. This would be taken forward to the next Parish Partnership Panel meeting and Cllr Wells had been asked to attend. Cllr Wells also stated that our Council was disappointed our PCSO would no longer give monthly crime reports, but these to be taken from the Kent Police website. Some Parish Council’s said they never see their PCSO. KALC also had a training budget which was not being used.
Parish Partnership Panel – nothing to report
Kent Community Rail Partnership – nothing to report
Highways & Transportation-Speedwatch – Speedwatch report attached. Charles Stroud stated the number of speeding vehicles was significantly lower. Again more volunteers were needed. The Police were carrying out trials with some new equipment
Volunteer Support Warden – Nothing to report
Allotments – One vacant plot although a resident had expressed an interest. Inspection of allotments due late September Cllr Evans agreed to do this.
Cemetery – nothing to report
Village Warden – report attached
16/052 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Agreement of the Financial Statement was proposed by Cllr Cayzer and seconded by Cllr Stones All cheques were signed
16/053 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Mrs Sarah Hudson said Charles Stroud should be afforded the same courtesy as other people when reporting on Speedwatch and supported his comments
Mrs Hudson also referred to public liability cover for Parish Council contractors. It was confirmed these were in place and each year up-to-date cover would be requested.
Mrs Hudson felt the tenant of Drayhorse Meadow should be allowed to terminate early if another tenant was found.
Cllr Evans referred to the ‘tunnel’ removed from the play area that he was storing and said he wished to have it removed. The Chairman said the tunnel could be reinstated for the play area and a cost would need to be investigated
Lesley Monk introduced herself as an interested party in taking over the tenancy of Drayhorse Meadow.She stated she had lived in the village for 20 years. Work was needed on the stables which she would carry out and would consider a longer term lease for more than 3 years.
There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 9.35pm