WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday 7th June 2022 7.30pm
Wateringbury Village Hall
Present
Cllr P Gregson (Chairman)
Cllr M Wells (Vice Chairman)
Cllr R Tripp
Cllr L Simons
Cllr D Marks
Cllr F Fielding
Cllr G Owen
In attendance
Mrs S Cockburn – Clerk to the Council
Mrs E Bird – Rostrum Correspondent
3 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 anyone present intends to make a video or audio recording of the proceeding – None
22/013 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None
22/014 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
Cllr Tripp declared he had been appointed a Trustee and Chairman of The Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association. Cllr Trip requested dispensation to speak on matters relating to the playing fields. Dispensation only to speak when Cllr Tripp was in attendance at Parish Council meetings. All Councillors voted in favour
22/015 ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
22/016 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR & BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Hudson’s report attached
22/017 WATERINGBURY CRICKET CLUB
Matt Rye, Chairman of the Club, put forward a case for asking the Parish Council for a donation towards a new cricket net. After discussion Cllr Hudson suggested the club apply to her for a donation from her Members Grant. Mr Rye thanked Cllr Hudson.
22/018 CRIME REPORT Kent Police website – April – 3 Assault without injury – 2 distraction burglaries – 2 misc. violence
22/019 MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 3rd MAY 2022 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes were approved by Cllr Marks and seconded by Cllr Fielding The Minutes were signed as a correct record
22/020 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 3rd MAY 2022
22/009 –Football Club options – no comments received via website
Memorial Garden – No comments received via website
22/021 MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON 17th MAY 2022 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
There was one amendment – Item 5 second paragraph- start should read ‘vegetation on Pear Orchard land had overgrown on to the pavement’ With the amendment the Minutes were approved by Cllr Owen and seconded by Cllr Fielding and would be signed as a correct record
22/022 MATTERS ARISIING FROM MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON 17th MAY 2022
Item 5 – Wateringbury Football Club – there had been no further meetings with the club. The Club were obtaining quotes for fencing. It was confirmed the Council would arrange a lease with the club for use of part of the car park for storing goals. Approximate cost £600
22/023 ANNUAL RETURN YEAR END 31ST MARCH 2022
Annual Governance Statement Page 5 – Councillors agreed that answers to nine questions were ‘yes’. Approval for the Annual Return was proposed by Cllr Owen and seconded by Cllr Marks. The Chairman and Clerk signed page 5 and the Annual Accounting Statement page 6. A date for an internal audit was being arranged with Colin Hanley.
22/024 REPORTS ROM COMMITTEES & OTHER BODIES
Committee Members
Vice Chairman – Cllr Gregson proposed Cllr Wells as Vice Chairman all Councillors voted in favour
Planning Committee – Cllrs Gregson, Wells, Tripp, Fielding, Simons, Owen
Highways – all Councillors
Village Hall Management Committee – Cllr Owen
T&M Area Committee of KALC – Cllr Wells
Parish Partnership Panel – Cllr Gregson Cllr Wells
Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association – Cllr Simons
Joint Parish Council Consultative Group – Cllr Wells
Joint Parish Flood Group – Cllr Fielding
Reports
Finance & General Purposes – No meeting
Cllr Fielding gave an update on the proposed new play equipment – quotes ranged from Playdale £52,941.10 Safeplay £59,000 and Wicksteed £59,305.20 various questions had been raised with the suppliers. Cllr Fielding and Cllr Tripp asked for the Council’s authority to apply for grants. Cllr Fielding said the cost of clearing the lower play area at around £7600 would not be included in any grant. Cllr Owen proposed agreement and this was seconded by Cllr Wells. All Councillors voted in favour
The Chairman thanked Cllr Fielding & Cllr Tripp for their work on the proposed new equipment.
Highways – The Chairman referred to an email from the resident at 169 Old road about a street light. The email had not been answered .
Speewatch – report attached
T&M Area Committee of KALC – next meeting 21st July
Parish Partnership Panel – Report on meeting 26th May attached
Cemetery – final documents on the transfer of the lease were due
Allotments – The problem of allotment holders taking vehicles down the public footpath was raised. The possibility of offenders losing their allotments was raised. After discussion it was agreed the Chairman would draft a letter to all allotment holders.
Cllr Simons and Cllr Fielding agreed to carryout an allotment inspection. A date would be arranged.
Village Warden – report not received.
22/025 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND CHEQUES FOR PAYMENT
The Financial Statement was approved by Cllr Wells and seconded by Cllr Marks and all cheques were signed.
22/026 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Cllr Hudson referred to the Memorial Garden for the cemetery and the lease with Wateringbury Football Club,and that both had been put on the council website asking for comments. Council needed to tell residents via social media they were on the website.
Cllr Hudson raised the cost of the new play equipment and asked if a new one was needed, and this should also go out for consultation.
It was stated the equipment in the lower play area was coming to the end of its life and some may not pass the next inspection. Any new equipment would be better sited next to the senior play area.
There was some discussion and exchanges at which the Chairman asked that any complaints be directed to him. Cllr Hudson left the meeting.
It was reported the vegetation at the gate leading from Fields Lane to the playing fields was overgrown and needed cutting back. Also a new sign of locking /unlocking times for the gate was needed. It was agreed Maidstone Signs be asked for a new sign. There was some report that youths had thrown stones at windows. Rubbish was being left behind the bus shelter in Bow Road on Clarion Housing land. Clarion Housing would be contacted
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.30pm