WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday 2nd November 2021 7.30pm
Wateringbury Village Hall
Present
Cllr P Gregson (Vice Chairman)
Cllr D Marks
Cllr F Fielding
In attendance
Mrs S Cockburn – Clerk to the Council
Cllr S Hudson – Kent County Councillor & Tonbridge & Malling Borough Councillor
Mrs E Bird – Rostrum Correspondent
PCSO Josh Vincent & colleague
2 Members of the Public
21/043 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr Wells Cllr Simons Cllr Tripp Cllr Owen
21/044 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
21/045 ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman reminded the meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting on the 16th November at 7.30pm
The Chairman thanked Cllr Marks who will be laying the poppy wreath on behalf of the Parish Council at the Remembrance Day service at the church on Sunday the 14th November
21/046 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR & BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Hudson reported improved air quality at the crossroads. The testing equipment was no longer working.
The number of objections to the 40mph speed limit from Pizien Well Road to Canon Lane had risen to 13 and this meant it would now go before the Joint Transportation Board
The defibrillator will be installed at the church on the 6th December
Cllr Hudson had made a donation of £1000 to Wateringbury Football Cub for equipment from her Members Grant
Meadow View Court in The Orpines is temporarily closed due to a case of Covid
21/047 CRIME REPORT
PCSO Josh Vincent, who attended with a colleague, reported that Wateringbury is a quiet low crime area. Motorbike joy riders were a problem in the area of Teston Road. It was proposed to fence off the exit to Kings Hill to close an escape route.
He recommended using My Community Voice a service to keep in touch with local police. This allows the public and businesses to communicate with PCSO’s to check local area crime and get alerts. It was stressed it is not for crime reporting, which should be reported by phone using 101 for non emergencies. There is also Report a Crime on the police website site – www.kent.police.uk
PCSO Vincent was asked to patrol the playing fields occasionally as a deterrent to possible criminal activities.
21/048 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 5th OCTOBER 2021 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved by Cllr Fielding and seconded by Cllr Gregson – The Minutes were signed as a correct record.
21/049 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 5TH OCTOBER 2021
The ‘No Parking’ sign had been installed on the gate at the playing fields
The Chairman and Cllr Tripp would inspect the Magna lock at the play area.
The request to update the notice board at the village hall similar to that in Teston parish as raised. The Teston notice board was bespoke and cost in the region of £4000. It was felt that due to the demand on the parish’s surplus monies this would not be considered.
It was agreed Cllr Fielding and Cllr Tripp progress and look at the costs involved for removal of the lower play area equipment and install a new play area adjacent to the upper play area equipment.
21/050 ELECTORAL BOUNDARY REVIEW
A proposal to join Wateringbury with Mereworth & East Peckham was felt to the best outcome and it was agreed to support this
21/051 KCC PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING SCHEME
Councillors had copies of the proposed scheme. It was stated there was no conflict with Charles & Associates and the Highway Improvement Plan, so the scheme was supported.
21/052 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – No meeting
Highways – All the new LED lanterns had been fitted. The Chairman thanked Cllr Owen for checking around the village that all the new lanterns were in place.
There had been a request for a 7.5t weight limit in Love Lane. This would be included in the Highway Improvement Plan
Speedwatch – report attached
Cemetery – The purchase of the car park freehold was with William English’s solicitor
Village Warden – John Ibbs was unable to attend due to being unwell. Report attached.
21/053 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND CHEQUES FOR PAYMENT
The Financial Statement was approved by Cllr Marks and seconded by Cllr Fielding and all cheques were signed.
21/054 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Cllr Hudson said there would not be a fete in 2022 to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee but it was hoped that something could be arranged.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.30pm