SHADOXHURST PARISH COUNCIL

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MINUTES 319

 

Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held at The Village Hall, Shadoxhurst

on Wednesday, 9 December 2009 at 7.30 pm

 

PRESENT:                                      Mr W Hollands (Chair), Miss M Smith, Mrs L Holman

                                                         Mr R Buss, Mr H Clark, Mr B Howe and Mr A Pilton

                                                         

PARISH CLERK:                           Mrs J Batt

 

BOROUGH COUNCILLORS: Mr P Davison 

 

COUNTY COUNCILLOR:               

             

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:    There were two Members of the Public present

 

1.        APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

An Apology for Absence was received from Borough Councillor Hicks and

County Councillor Angell.

 

2.        DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Mr Buss, Mr Howe and Mr Pilton declared a personal interest in matters pertaining to

Shadoxhurst Recreation Committee.

 

Mr Howe declared a personal interest in Planning Application No 09/01282/AS, as he is

a near neighbour.

 

i)    Updating of Declarations of Interest for the Code of Conduct

              Councillors are reminded that they should update their Declarations of Interest with

              the Monitoring Officer if necessary.

 

2.        PUBLIC INTERVAL

The meeting was opened to the Members of the Public present from 7.42 – 8.00 for questions and comment.

 

4.      ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING      

 Minutes 318 of the previous meeting were accepted and it was unanimously agreed

 that Mr Hollands should sign them.

Proposed  Mr Howe      Seconded  Miss Smith

 

 

 

 

 

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5.      MATTERS FOR REPORT ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

 There were no Matters for Report that were not on the agenda.

 

6.      CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

 Mr Holland reported that he and Miss Smith met with the new Chief Executive of

 Ashford Borough Council, Mr John Bunnett in November.  Mr Bunnett lived in the area as a boy and has good local knowledge. 

 

 Mr Hollands and Miss Smith also attended a meeting regarding the Chilmington Green

 Development.  A local resident gave an interesting presentation on the history of the area.

 

  7.    CORRESPONDENCE, FINANCE AND OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS

Correspondence

SMP

KAPC Parish News etc

Clerk and Councils Direct

KALC Minutes and Agenda for meeting to be held 02.12.09

G Burley & Sons Ltd

KCC re Grass Cutting

Kent Air Ambulance Trust

Barnardos

KCC Landscape Services

Forestry Commission Register of New Planting and Felling Applications

Fieldwork

         ABC re Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

Protect Kent

Carolyn Redmayne re accidents on A2070

Jacobs

KCC Consultation Infrastructure Provision Service Strategies in Kent 2009

District Audit re External Auditor for 2009/2010-2013/2014

 

Bank Balance

The balance stands at £18882.26 in the Treasurers Account and £1759.05 in the

Current Account.

 

     Accounts to be Paid

    

PAYEE

DETAILS

NET

£

VAT

£

GROSS

£

Mrs J Batt

Salary and Expenses

649.44

  5.86

655.30

KCC Landscape Services

Grass Cutting

385.05

57.76

442.81

HMRC – The Post Office

Tax Payment – P Prior

  19.60

 

  19.60

Mrs J Batt

Expanding File

    5.10

 0.77

    5.87

Mercury Windows

New lock for VH door

 65.22

9.78

  75.00

Mr B Howe

3 extra keys for above

31.30

4.70

  36.00

 

     Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to pay the above accounts.     

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     Budget and Setting of Precept for 2010/2011

     Please see budget as attached.

 

     Resolution:  It was unanimously agreed to set the precept for 2010/2011 at £11440.00.

 

     Grass Cutting Tenders

Resolution: As the quote from KCC Landscape Services is for £942.60 for 12 cuts, and our Standing Orders state that we only need one quote for any items less that £1000, councillors unanimously agreed to accept the quote of £78.55 per cut.

 

     Newsletter

     Mrs Teresa Tyrer attended the meeting and discussed the future of the newsletter with

     councillors present.  She will liaise with Mrs Brady regarding the handover.

 

     Mr Pilton reported that Mr Brady is researching printing costs for the council.

 

     Councillors agreed the following:-

 

     Resolution:  It was agreed that Mrs Tyrer will take over as Editor of the

Shadoxhurst Newsletter from 2010.  In order that we can pay for the newsletter from S144, Mrs Tyrer will liaise with Miss Smith and Mrs Holmans regarding the content of the newsletter.

    

     Insurance

         Nothing to report. 

 

         Annual Play Area Safety Inspection                                                                         .    

         Following discussion the following was agreed upon:-

 

         Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to cancel our contract for the

         annual play area inspection with Playsafety and ask Digby Associates to carry

         out the inspection next year at a cost of £45.00.

 

Website

Nothing to report.

 

Crime and Disorder

     Nothing to report.

 

         Appearance of Village

         Mr Hollands has been unable to obtain any plaques.  Councillors asked the Clerk to purchase

         3 for the Gardening Club, one for Future Scholars and two for the Parish Council.

 

Play Area

Mr Pilton reported that a slide will cost in the region of £6000.  The Recreation Committee will pay 50% and Mr Clark will research funding for the project.

 

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Soil in Recreation Field

KALC do not think it would be classed as fly tipping as the soil was not dumped on public land.  One suggestion is that we go to law over it as it is trespass/private nuisance.  We have a duty to make sure it is cleared up to avoid it becoming a health/safety hazard.  The alternative is that we arrange for it to be cleared and write to the gentleman concerned and tell him that we have cleared it up this time but will not do so again.

 

Councillors agreed not to proceed any further with this issue. 

 

Clerks Salary

This was not on the agenda but Mr Hollands asked to include this item at this point.

 

Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to increase the Clerk’s Salary to

£2222 per annum.

 

  8.    PLANNING

         Please see attached list.

 

  9.    OUTSIDE REPORTS

         Recreation Committee     

          Mr Pilton confirmed that the Bonfire Event made £970.

 

         Tree Warden

         Nothing to report.

 

         Borough Councillors Report

         The following was received from Mrs Hicks:-

Sorry I won’t be able to attend the parish council meeting but I am supporting the local Shadoxhurst economy with the WI at the other end of the village!

I expect you have received photos of the recent accident opposite Poplar Farm.  As we all know this area is a black spot locally with the junctions of Hornash /Lane and Bromley Green Road onto the A2070.  I have written to KHS asking for improvements to this junction to be given priority and I know that our County Councillor is pressing for improvements.

Last week together with Peter Davison I attended a public enquiry at ABC against an enforcement order requiring the unauthorised siting of a caravan in Woodchurch.  It was very interesting to note the large number of local residents who also attended this hearing and this public objection is a material consideration that the Inspector has to take into account.  Should there ever be a similar situation in Shadoxhurst I do hope that local residents would show their support in a similar way.

ABC is now working on the Gypsy and Travellers Accommodation DPD.  The level of provision is unclear and will not be known until the revision of the SE Plan which is expected to be adopted in early 2011.  The number of pitches is likely to be between 16 and 30.

         I recently went on a visit to Dartford with ABC to see the Fast Track Bus System. 

         It was a quick service using bus lanes and running every seven and a half minutes from

 

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estates to town centre locations.  This is the system envisaged for Ashford and if successful should help to keep the number of cars of our rural roads.

The Mortgage Rescue Scheme is a national scheme that has been set up to prevent vulnerable home owners from losing their homes.  To qualify a householder must live in a home valued at under £225k with a household income of less that £60k.

If successful under the scheme their home would be purchased by Moat Housing who will purchase at market price and rent it back at 80% of the market rent with an option to buy back after three years.  To date 33 individuals have been referred for debt advice of which three were referred to Moat Housing and only one mortgage rescue has been completed.

Trust you have a good meeting and in case I don’t see you before a HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

 

Mr Davison also reported on the proposed alterations to Bromley Green Crossroads.

 

He said that there have been a lot of problems recently with Hare Coursing on

Romney Marsh. Some of the gangs are violent and a farmer and his daughter were attacked

 

The Elwick Road Development is underway.  There is a proposal to build another theatre on

the site and Mr Davison has been pressing for a Community Theatre but with no success to

date.

 

The Borough Council’s budget is in dire straits.  Officers failed to take into account the

fact that the money from car parking and the sale of council houses has dropped.  The

Council is looking to cut staff and services and Mr Davison advised that they are looking to

the parishes to pay to maintain services within the villages such as toilets.

 

Mr Davison was asked whether Ikea is coming to Ashford.  He thought there were plans

for a shop in the Beaver Road area.

 

A councillor asked whether the shared space is considered to be working.  Mr Davison

said views on this were split 50/50.

 

         County Councillors Report  

         The following was received from Mr Angell:-

Just to let you know that I have been having discussions with Highways about the Bromley Green cross roads. It appears that there may be a way for some improvements to sight lines and we went into this in some detail. The private landowner where we would like to chop a bit off lives in Berwick upon Tweed and Highways will be in touch with him. I have also asked for the stop line coming out of Hornash is moved as well.

 

         Footpaths

         Nothing to report.

        

12.    VILLAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

         Matters Arising from the Round Robin

         There were no Matters Arising.

 

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         Items to be reported to the County Lengthsmen

         The large pothole along the Bethersden Road. Enquiry No1223

         The ditch along Church Lane.

 

         Miss Smith reported that she attended the Parish Seminar and found it very positive.

        

13.    FORUM FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN COUNCILLORS    

          The Clerk was asked to write to Environmental Health and report the rubbish outside

         of Hornash House.

        

         There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.50 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Signed…………………………………………………… Dated …………………………………

                          Mr W Hollands, Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadoxhurst Parish Council

 

12 November 2009 - 9 December 2009

 

Planning Applications Received    

                  

Full Planning Permission requested – Delegated to Officers unless otherwise stated:-

 

09/01282/AS   Mr A Warren, 10 Lonefield, Shadoxhurst, Ashford, Kent TN26 1HP

                       Double driveway and carport - retrospective

                        Parish Council: Support

 

    

The following applications have been granted:-

 

09/01135/AS   Mr J Partington, 6 Brinklow Terrace, Woodchurch Road, Shadoxhurst,

                        Ashford, Kent TN261LF

                        Proposed dropped kerb