WATERINGBURY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 6th December 2016
7.30pm Wateringbury Village Hall
Present:
Cllr M Wells (Vice Chairman) Cllr C Talbert
Cllr C M Cayzer Cllr D Stones
Cllr D Marks Cllr J Evans
Cllr Lin Simons Cllr Catherine Moreland
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 & Ms T Bailey – KM correspondents
5 members of the public
16/080 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr R Tripp
16/081 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/DISPENSATIONS
None
16/082 ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman announced the next Parish Council meeting had been moved and would be on the 10th January 2017
16/83 REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Cllr Balfour reported that repairs to road sensors near the traffic lights would commence next year.
Maidstone Borough Council’s local plan – there would be enquiry the following week and possibly a judicial review.
The Environment Agency is to change the way they deal with flooding on the Medway and a meeting would be arranged for January to discuss the possibility of setting up catchment areas.
The Chairman referred to an email from Cllr Balfour giving reasons why cameras could not go on the traffic lights to record those vehicles that jump the red light. This stated that there was no accident record at the lights which would be a criteria for any cameras and that it was the police who enforce the law and not Kent County Council
Cllr Balfour stated the format of the road at the junction with Pizien Well Road/Tonbridge Road was wrong and the carriageway markings had the effect of pushing cars to the middle of the road. It was felt that any change to the format of the road proposed by Kent Highways would not stop vehicles speeding. The Police are looking at accepting footage from dashcam cameras as evidence.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Balfour who left the meeting at 7.40pm
16/084 REPORT FROM BOROUGH COUNCILLOR
Cllr Jessel reported the Borough Council’s full Local Plan would be available next year. The Borough Council is having to look at cutting services. Also there would possibly be a change to the Area Planning Committees, by reducing them from 3 committees to 2
16/085 CRIME REPORT
Crime report attached which had been taken from Kent Police website.
16/086 MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 1st NOVEMBER 2016 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved by Cllr Talbert and seconded by Cllr Cayzer
16/087 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 4th OCTOBER 2016
Matters Arising attached. Cllr Evans raised the question of the street light in Old Road which has been out for a long time. It was confirmed the Clerk was still trying to get it put right.
Water continues to run on to Bow Road from Waterside Mews
16/088 MINUTES OF FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 23RD NOVEMBER 2017 TO BE APPROVED FOR ACCURACY
The Minutes having been read were approved
16/089 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING 23RD NOVEMBER 2017
Matters arising attached.
Administration:
Insurance – still open
Fund for laptop – it was suggested other Parish Councils be asked if they supplied equipment for their Clerks
General Purposes:
Play equipment inspections – it was agreed to ask other Parish Council’s how often they had their play equipment inspected.
Cemetery:
It was confirmed that Veolia collected the waste once a fortnight. Cllr Evans felt there were other waste collection contractors that could carry this out.
16/090 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Finance & General Purposes – Meeting on 23rd November dealt with above.
Planning – meeting to follow
Wateringbury Sports & Recreational Association – nothing to report
Tonbridge & Malling Area Committee of KALC_- Cllr Wells reported that the recent AGM there would be 300 PCSO’s by next summer and it would be the Chief Constable who would allocate the areas. Present at the meeting was Matthew Scott the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner.
Parish Partnership Panel – no report
Kent Community Rail Partnership – no report
Highways & Transportation-Speedwatch – Speedwatch report attached.
Volunteer Support Warden – Cllr Lin Simons reported the applicant for this roll for Wateringbury had pulled out and we were no longer in the scheme
Allotments – nothing to report
Cemetery – nothing to report
Village Warden – No report except the litter bins had been overflowing and it had been reported to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council.
Cllr Marks referred to a letter from South East Coast Ambulance Service in reply to Council’s letter about the use of ambulance sirens through the village. Cllr Marks asked that Council request a clarification of the wording ‘restricted roads’ Cllr Catherine Moreland objected to the complaints on the use of the sirens and stated she did not want her name to be included on any letters on this subject.
16/091 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Agreement of the Financial Statement was proposed by Cllr Talbert and seconded by Cllr Stones All cheques were signed
16/092 PUBLIC DISCUSSION
A resident of Kings Hill referred to the proposal for extended opening times of the pavilion at the Heath Farm recreational area in Kings Hill.
Residents neighbouring the site were objecting due to noise and disturbance The Chairman said this would be raised at the Planning Committee meeting.
One of the Zebra crossing lights in Bow Road was out. This would be reported.
Mrs Byron thanked the Parish Council for all their hard work and wished them a happy Christmas and New Year. The Chairman thanked Mrs Byron
There being no further business the Chairman thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting at 8.50pm