WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 7th November 2017
7.30pm Wateringbury Village Hall
Present
Cllr M Wells
Cllr D Marks
Cllr C Talbert
Cllr L Simons
Cllr M Daly
In attendance:
Mrs S Cockburn – Clerk to the Council
Cllr M Balfour – Kent County Councillor
Cllr S Jessel – Tonbridge & Malling Borough Councillor
Mrs T Bailey – Rostrum Correspondent
6 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
17/063 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
Cllr Marks proposed that Cllr Wells be elected Chairman as Cllr Tripp was away All councillors voted in favour
17/064 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr R Tripp Cllr M Cayzer Cllr F Fielding
17/065 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
17/066 ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman gave a vote of thanks to Mike Pursey who had agreed to read the Roll of Honour at the Remembrance Day Service on the 12th November
The Chairman reminded the meeting of the vacancy on the Parish Council
17/067 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Balfour said plans for any improvement to the crossroads were progressing slowly. Kent County Council will produce some design hopefully by the end of the year. This would then go out to consultation. There could be problems of a lack spaces for primary school children going on to secondary education. A new school was needed and there was a question as to whether Central Government would give the funds, or Kent County Council would have to fund this even though there would be budget restraints.
All pot holes had been filled. Winter service was in place and gritters had been out already. Cllr Balfour confirmed that Kent County Council supply the grit/sand for the various boxes around the county.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Balfour who left the meeting at 7.40pm
17/068 REPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Jessel referred to a planning application from Countryside Properties for 130 new homes at Kings Hill. There were no affordable homes included in the plans, only one access, and questions on the lack of infrastructure. There were plans to build a primary school. Although the developer said there were enough secondary school places it was felt this was doubtful and a new secondary school may be needed at Kings Hill.
The Chairman said that Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council would miss their Local Plan 5 year target of the number of homes to be built with a shortfall of 199 homes. If this happened then developers would put forward land they owned for development.
17/069 CRIME REPORT
Crime report attached – taken from Kent Police website and e-watch website
17/070 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 3rd OCTOBER 2017 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved by Cllr Daly, seconded by Cllr Talbert and signed as a correct recor
17/071 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 3rd OCTOBERE 2017
17/057 – Possible Survey on Roads – Cllr Marks stated that Crispin Kennard of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has asked that the Parish Council did not do a traffic count at present due to their scoping report.
17/057 – Insurance on pavilion – Nothing to report
17/058 – Parish Charter – Cllr Wells referred to a letter from Patrick Thomas, Chairman of the Tonbridge & Malling Area Committee of KALC, showing amendments to the Charter and a final version would go to the Paris Partnership meeting on 16th November for final approval.
17/059 – The Original offer by Hair Traditional to maintain the cross road gardens had been withdrawn. After discussion Cllr Daly proposed that Kent County Council be asked to allow the Parish Council to take back the maintenance of the gardens. This was seconded by Cllr Marks and all Councillors voted in favour. The cost per year to the Council would be approximately £280. Councillors agreed this amount should be included in the Budget for 2018/1019
17/071 MINUTES OF FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 17TH OCTOBER 2017 TO APROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved by Cllr Talbert and seconded by Cllr Simons and signed as a correct record
17/072 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 17TH OCTOBER 2017
Item 1 – Draft Budget
Donations agreed – Scouts & Guides £500 – Watch Club Youth Club £300 – Wateringbury WI £300 – Royal British Legion £200 – Heart of Kent Hospice £100 – Crossroad Care £300 – Kent Community Rail Partnership £100 – Citizens Advice Bureau £100 – £100 in reserve
Fingerpost sign – cheque for balance sent as agreed
WW1 Centenary – Other Parish Council’s had been asked if they were commemorating the centenary but so far nothing had been received.
17/073 CAR PARK – MEETING WITH TONBRIDGE & MALLING BOROUGH COUNCIL
Cllr Tripp, Cllr Marks & Cllr Wells had a very positive site meeting with Robert Styles and Andy Edwards of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council to discuss the problems experienced in the car park. Mr Styles had subsequently written setting out some options for the Parish Council to consider. These included the option for the Parish Council to take over the management or a pay and display ticket system. It was agreed to write to Mr Styles stating the Parish Council would like to pursue the matter and ask for any costs that might be involved. After discussion it was agreed Councillors should arrange a meeting with the Trustees of the Village Hall to discuss the options. There would be further consultations with the village.
Mr Styles had stated that height barriers were no longer installed at Borough Council car parks due to health & safety issues. The only height barriers that remain are at large parks/sports grounds where sites are targeted by travellers.
17/074 VILLAGE HALL CCTV
Following discussions with the Village Hall Committee on the repairs needed for the CCTV system four options were put forward
1 The Village Hall are prepared to pay 50% of the repair costs
2 They do not want the equipment gifted to them
3 They are prepared to install equipment to cover the village hall but not included the car park.
4 The existing equipment would be left in situ as a deterrent without repairing it.
After discussion it was agreed that no decision would be made until after progress had been made over the issues with the car park.
17/075 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – No meeting
Planning – meeting to follow
Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association – Nothing to report.
Village Hall – Nothing to report
Tonbridge & Malling Area Committee of KALC_– Nothing further to report
Parish Partnership Panel – Cllr Wells said that Steve Humphrey, Director of Planning at Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council would be asked to attend the next meeting on the 16th November to explain about the shortfall in house building in the 5 year Local Plan.
Kent Community Rail Partnership – report of Stakeholders Meeting attached
Highways & Transportation-Speedwatch – No meeting
Speedwatch report attached.
Allotments – nothing to report
Cemetery – nothing to report
Village Warden – There were some problems in the playing fields with foxes faeces.
Joint Flood Group – no report
17/076 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Agreement of the Financial Statement was proposed by Cllr Talbert and seconded by Cllr Marks. All cheques were signed.
17/077 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
The Council was asked for what reason had the offer of maintaining the cross roads gardens been withdrawn. The Chairman said a few questions were asked, such as for how long would the gardens be done, what size would the advertising signs be and was public liability in place.
The option of a pay and display ticket system in the car was raised and it was felt that local business would suffer if this was introduced.
Michael Williams thanked the Parish Council for the offer of £100 for the Friends of Wateringbury but said this was not now needed as funds would be made available from the Rostrum Community fund. Mr Williams also said he would prepare a list of signs within the village that needed attention. The condition of the former butchers shop needed attention. Cllr Marks said that special funds from Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council for improvements within the village were not available for this type of item.
Mike Witts, Chairman of the Fete Committee reported that three members of the Committee had, for various reasons, given up and unless new volunteers were to come forward the Committee may struggle to formulate a fete for 2018. Mr Witts said he was unable to carry on. It was felt the Parish Council should have a representative on the Committee. Everyone agreed the previous fetes had been a great success and it would be very disappointing if a fete for next year did not go ahead.
Mr Witts was thanked for all his help and support on the Fete Committee.
Dennis Stones said he was pleased to hear that the Council would consult with everyone on the car park. Whatever decision was made would upset someone.
The Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 9.35pm