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PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD TUESDAY 14TH OCTOBER 2003 IN THE OLD SCHOOL ROOM, MEMORIAL HALL, MARDEN AT 7.30 P.M. 1. PRESENT Councillors Brown, Lutener, Newton, Reed (in the Chair), Reid, Tippen and Tipples. The Clerk, Borough Councillors Blackmore and Nelson-Gracie, County Councillor Hotson and four members of the public 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Councillors Adam, Ballard, Day and St Clair. 3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Signed as a true copy by the Chairman. 4. MATTERS ARISING Model Code of Conduct Vote for Signing the Code of Conduct as follows: Against 3 For 2 Abstention 1 Meeting with Borough Cllr Blackmore This had been arranged for 8pm on Thursday 16th October but would be for Councillors only. A press release would be issued on Friday and a meeting would be considered for members of the public following this. Angley School A meeting had finally been arranged for KCC representatives to meet with parents on Tuesday 21st October at 3.30 pm in the Memorial Hall. 5. PARISH MATTERS a) All things were in hand, but Cllr Tipples raised concern over the comment in the recent parish magazine regarding tree decoration. The Clerk would write to the PCC regarding this and to clarification the situation. Mr Britcher of Sheephurst Lane had been dressing his tree for 50 years and ideas would be looked into as to whether MPC could hold and/or help to hold an activity in this part of the parish. The Clerk would obtain estimate regarding erection of christmas trees. b) The Police Surgery was held on Saturday 11th October and Cllrs Reed and Reid together with Borough Councillor Nelson-Gracie were in attendance. The Council would look into purchasing an advertisement board. c) The litter bin at Chainhurst was still broken. The Clerk to speak with MBC. d) Traffic Wardens had visited Marden recently and concern was raised as to the parking restrictions. Cllr Tipples commented on an item in a local paper which monies raised by parking fines would be used for "Park and Ride". The Clerk to write to MBC asking whether villages would be able to benefit. Restricted parking was put in place to stop commuters parking throughout the village not for local residents to shop. Situation to be discussed at Traffic Consultation morning. PUBLIC FORUM The Parish Council meeting was adjourned and the Chairman invited members of the public to ask questions or make statements. The public must not take part at any other time. • Pleased to see junction with Maidstone Road finally made permanent and the play area in the playing field was being resurfaced. Albion Road had been marked out. This was for resurfacing work to be carried out at the weekend. • Another possibility to parking restrictions could be period parking - not returning in under an hour etc. • Station carpark had changed ownership and more parking bays were being made. Trunking had been installed for new lights and cameras shortly. 6. MEMORIAL HALL Most of the work had now been completed. The Parish Office door was still to be installed. Following a visit from the Fire Officer this will hopefully be done within the next few weeks. 7. CORRESPONDENCE a) Rail Passengers Committee - public meeting on 11th November 2003. Documents passed to Cllrs Tippen and Adam. b) British Red Cross - open gardens. Letter to be sent to Marden Horticultural Society. c) KCC - Community Paths Project. Letter passed to Cllr Tippen. d) KCC - South East Romany Museum. Several Councillors showed an interest and the Clerk would try to arrange a visit. e) South East England - Regional Minerals Strategy. The Clerk to pass to Cllr Day. f) Kent Rural Community Council - Village of the Year. Certificates had been received and would be placed in the Committee Room of the Memorial Hall and the library. g) Kent Air Ambulance - new Chief Executive. Mr David Philpott took up the post on 13th October 2003. h) Kent Association of Parish Councils - Area Committee. Cllr Lutener would attend. i) Resident - parking on Church Hill and reply. Cllrs not satisfied with answer the Clerk will write to the PCC. j) KCC - Mapping out the Future - Cllr Brown to read. k) Letter from resident - re Pattenden Lane. This letter had been copied to PC Carron and would also be sent to Cllr Adam for the Traffic Consultation morning. The Clerk to write to resident informing her of this. l) Copy letter from resident - re Winchett Hill. This letter will also be provided to Cllr Adam and the clerk to reply. Cllr Lutener was still investigating the water running down the hill. The Clerk to write to Goudhurst Parish Council for their help. m) MBC - Register of Parish Councillors' Interests - List provided of all Cllrs who have returned Register of Interest. n) MBC - General Principles of Conduct for local authority members. Not on agenda o) KAPC - AGM on 8th November 2003 p) Kent County Constabulary - Police Community Support Officers. For discussion at Finance meeting. POLICE Total of nine crimes since last meeting - 2 burglaries other than dwelling; 1 theft (detected); 1 theft of motor vehicle; 1 theft other; 2 criminal damage; 1 threat to kill; 1 threat of criminal damage (detected). PC Carron raised the issue of stolen dogs being held to ransom. Asked that everyone be aware. Cllr Tippen asked about a car abandoned and had been reported. Eventually was burnt out. PC Carron to investigate. Police would be in attendance at the Traffic Consultation morning and the next Police Surgery was due on 8th November 2003. Borough Councillors Blackmore and Nelson-Gracie present. Cllr Blackmore informed the Council that she would be able to attend the meeting with KCC on the 21st and asked the Clerk to arrange a meeting with parents to discuss issues. 8. PLANNING a) Decisions - Approvals MA/01/0742/C01 1 Amhurst Cottages, Howland Road, Marden. Erection of part two storey, part single storey side extension. MA/01/0827/C01 1 Amhurst Cottages, Howland Road, Marden. An application for listed building consent for erection of part two storey, part single storey side extension. MA/03/0836 Riverfield Fish Farm, Staplehurst Road, Marden. Change of use of land and physical works to create an extension in the fish farm, to form an area for recreational fishing. The application involves the formation of ponds and lakes, the erection of a building and the formation of a car park. b) Minutes of Planning meetings previously circulated to Councillors. Cllr Tipples was concerned over a planning decision made by Marden Parish Council planning group. The application was refused and went to committee at MBC. It was subsequently approved. Cllr Brown explained that MPC have guidelines which are provided by MBC to abide by and try to be as consistent as possible with all applications. 9. HIGHWAYS a) Copy letters from MBC re ditch clearance and maintenance b) Highways Seminar was attended by Cllr Reed and the Clerk on 1st October 2003. A brief resume had been provided by MBC and passed to Cllr Lutener. Several residents had complained about road signs not being visible through overgrown vegetation. The Clerk to contact Highways. 10. CEMETERY Site meeting to be held on 15th November at 9.00 am. 11. PLAYING FIELD a) Report from MBC received detailing areas of concern. b) ROSPA report received. Nothing substantial. Slide needs to be looked at for safety reasons. c) Quote for Litter bins had been received. Cllrs felt this was too expensive. The Clerk to contact local business to see if they can provide. d) Date for site meeting is 15th November at 10.00 am. Works had commenced on replacing surface tiles with wetpour. 12. FINANCE a) Balances as at 1st October 2003 Post Office £14,096.89 Current Account £00.00 Reserve Account £47,078.94 b) Payments for Approval Already paid Ian Jones £700.00 Alison Hooker £959.46 Inland Revenue £359.40 Playground Management Ltd £78.14 Kent County Supplies £108.00 Memorial Hall £60.00 Tracon £15,844.55 Poolsafe £3.670.14 To Be Signed Scats £15.98 Sweepclean £423.00 Memorial Hall £60.00 Graham Carey £215.00 Petty Cash £50.00 c) Playscheme /Scout HQ hire. The Scouts had asked for payment of HQ hire to be made via purchases to the value of £275. This was agreed. New noticeboards were needed in the memorial hall now works in the lobby area were completed. This was agreed. Other Parish Issues Cllr Hotson informed the Council that the two representatives from KCC were the right people to attend. He also reiterated the low visibility of road signs. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILLORS Maidstone Borough Council Other Weekly Lists of Planning Applications Agenda for Planning Committee - 18th September and 9th October 2003 Agenda for Environment and Transportation Agenda for Housing Strategy and Regeneration/Amended Agenda Agenda for Joint Transportation Board Minutes of Planning Committee - 18th September 2003 Forward Play of Key Decisions Joint Transportation Board - 16th October 2003 News Releases - Clean safe and sound / £7,000 for Maidstone's Youth Forum / Captain Clean's war against grime / Stuck in a Jam / Maidstone Matters - creating an expectation for Maidstone / Maidstone is a top performing council Best Value Performance Plan and Corporate Plan Borough Update Events for 2004 Downs Mail Applause - World Dance & Music Programme Police Newsletter Hazlitt leaflets Parish News Playing Fields Newsletter Marden Parish Magazine Clerks & Councils Direct KCC - Your Guide to Speedwatch THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING CLOSED AT 9.30 PM Chairman ………………………. Date: 11th November 2003 (Mrs Dorothy Reed) |
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