1. |
PRESENT Councillors
Adam, Brown, Day, Lutener, |
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2. |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Councillor St Clair. |
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3. |
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Cllr Brown asked that amendment to item
4, last paragraph be made to indicate that she feels strongly that councillors do need
training. Signed as a true copy by the Chairman. |
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4. |
MATTERS ARISING |
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a) b) c) |
Model
Code of Conduct Vote
for Signing the Code of Conduct as follows: Against 4
For 2
Abstention 2 Angley School A further meeting had taken place on
Monday 8th December with Simon Webb of Kent County Council. KCC felt that they had met parents half way by
offering the 10 children from Marden a place on a bus from Staplehurst. Parents felt this unacceptable. Mr Webb to take back to KCC comments made by
parents and further meeting would take place early next year. Affordable Housing Document Cllr Brown had read this document and
comments were made. Other Cllrs to read and
pass back to the Clerk for comment to Maidstone Borough Council. |
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5. |
PARISH MATTERS |
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a) |
Christmas
2003 The
Clerk would obtain quotes for purchase of further lights for the tree outside The Allens
for next year. Shop judging would be taking
place on Friday 19th December at |
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b) |
Recycling
Banks The
Clerk is in constant contact with Maidstone Borough Council regarding the positioning of
these banks. The site at the library car park
is not ideal but MBC had informed the parish council that they will be clearing the site
twice daily of any rubbish that is laying around the banks together with keeping the rest
of the car park tidy. In the meantime other
sites are being looked into including the old coal yard at the station. |
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c) |
Village
of the Year sign A
small plaque had been received in recognition of Marden winning the environmental section
of the Village of the Year competition. It was
decided that this would be sited at the library. Cllr
Lutener to look into. |
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d) |
Vandalism
at Marden Station The
letter received by the parish council by a local resident had been copied to Kent Police
and the British Transport Police. Inspector
Dodge of Kent Police had contacted the clerk to say that she was awaiting a reply back
from BTP. Concern was raised as to where the
Kent Police boundary finished and the British Transport Police boundary started. The Clerk would write to Inspector Dodge regarding
this. |
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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.
·
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The bollards at Cornerways seemed to be
doing the job proposed. |
·
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New lights had been installed at the
railway station and car parking marked out differently although not all spaces were being
utilised. |
·
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The member of the press asked what time
Christmas celebrations started on 20th December. |
·
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Borough Councillor Germain asked whether
the village sign outside the farm shop might be a suitable location for the village of the
year plaque. This was discussed but felt that
the library would be a more appropriate place. |
·
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Cllr Tippen thanked the members of the
public who attended the parish council meetings regularly. |
6. |
MEMORIAL HALL |
POLICE
PC
Carron was not in attendance but had sent crime figures for the month of October.
22
reported crimes - 2 theft of motor vehicle; 1 theft from motor vehicle; 6 theft; 6 common
assault (3 have been detected); 4 criminal damage; 1 possession of cocaine (detected); 1
threat to cause damage; 1 burglary dwelling.
It
was felt that when PC Carron was on duty in Marden the crime figures were reduced. The clerk was asked to keep a record of this.
7. |
CORRESPONDENCE |
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a) |
Elections
2004 - a copy of this had been circulated to all councillors. As the elections for next year would be held in
June this would mean that councillors would represent the parish for one month longer. The Annual Parish meeting would still meet in April
but the Annual Parish Council meeting would follow the elections. |
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b) |
Allowances
for Parish Councils - Cllr Adam to read. |
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c) |
Parking
Enforcements in Villages. This letter had been
received in response to MPC's letter regarding parking fines from Marden. |
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d) |
Parish
Sweeping Arrangements. The Borough Council
would be taking over responsibility of road sweeping as from |
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e) |
Local
Boards. A letter had been received from County
Councillor Hotson regarding representatives from parish councils, organisations etc to be
involved. |
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f) |
Email
from local resident regarding the situation with the new rail service including the
timings of trains. The Clerk to write to SE
Trains regarding this. |
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g) |
Local
Transport Plan - Cllr Tippen to read and collate responses. |
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h) |
Invite
from Staplehurst Parish Council - two representatives were invited to attend Christmas
drinks with Staplehurst PC on 15th December.
Cllrs Brown and Reid agreed to attend. |
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An
additional letter had been received from a local resident following publication of the
agenda. This would be discussed at the next
planning meeting as was relevant to a planning application. |
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Borough
Councillors
Congratulations
were expressed to Borough Councillor Germain on his election.
8. |
PLANNING |
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a) |
Decisions
- Approvals MA/03/1345 - Lords Field, An application for advertisement consent
for 1no. free standing V board and 1no. flat board. |
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MA/03/1824 - 25 Meades Close, Marden Erection of a two storey side extension
and first floor extension. MA/03/1852 - 3 Chainhurst Cottage, Change of use of dwelling to a mixed use
as a dwelling and bed & breakfast accommodation and the removal of a 1no. first floor
window and enlargement of opening to form doorway with external wooden staircase leading
to ground floor courtyard to side elevation. MA/03/1903 - Lords Field, Erection of a polytunnel MA/03/1915 - 2 Broad Forstal Farm
Cottages, Erection of two storey side extension
and alterations to roof existing dwelling MA/03/1920 - Erection of open verandah to rear of
dwelling MA/03/1936 - Brookmead, Demolition of existing garage,
greenhouse and utility area and erection of replacement garage and utility room using
existing base. MA/03/2014 - Lords Field, Erection of an additional polytunnel in
connection with existing nursery. |
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b) |
Minutes of Planning meetings previously
circulated to Councillors. |
c) |
Planning Letters MA/03/1862 - The Old Manor House, Change of use of small area of
agricultural land to garden. Withdrawn. MA/02/2186 - Little Hertsfield, Removal of an existing rear extension
and the erection of a two storey rear extension. Appeal
Dismissed. Land adjoining and to rear of Beale
Farm, Goudhurst Road, Marden Without permission, the erection of a
building and creation of a hard surfaced track. Appeal
hearing |
d) |
Applications for Decision MA/03/2248 - Tanner Farm, An application for listed building
consent for the demolition of an existing lean-to to barn.
Councillors had no objection. MA/03/2226 - 1 Tilden Cottages, Erection of single storey rear
extension. Deferred to next planning meeting
as awaiting further information from Maidstone Borough Council. |
9. |
HIGHWAYS |
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a) |
Information
received following Highways Seminar together with list of highways works. Cllr Adams to read. |
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b) |
TRAMP
- document circulated for comments by Councillors regarding questionnaire to be sent to
all residents of the area. |
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c) |
Traffic
Consultation - Cllr Adam had circulated further draft regarding traffic consultation
morning and was awaiting responses back from Councillors. Cllr
Tippen requested that Parish Council meet with new vicar on his arrival in the village to
discuss parking on Church Hill. A
suggestion had been made to Cllr Tipples regarding school parking and whether a one way
system could be implemented with access from memorial hall through to the school. Unfortunately due to security issues the fencing
could not be moved. |
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10. |
CEMETERY |
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a) |
Minutes
of meeting circulated. |
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b) |
A
local resident had offered to make a metal arch for the cemetery at a cost of £45. This was agreed. |
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c) |
The
oak tree in the centre of the cemetery needed to be looked at regarding a slight pruning. Cllr Tipples to look into. |
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11. |
PLAYING FIELD |
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a) |
Minutes of meeting previously
circulated. Cllr Adam apologised for not being
in attendance. |
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b) |
Report
from MBC received. Problem with "no
dogs" sign. The clerk to look into. |
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c) |
Footpath
through Chestnuts was eroding away. The clerk
to look into costings for replacement. |
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d) |
Signage
to be looked into regarding "no motorcycles" etc. |
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e) |
Wimpeys
to be contacted again regarding Cherry Orchard estate play area and footpath. |
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f) |
Cllr
Brown had read information on DDA and an access audit should be undertaken both in the
playing field and other areas of the village under the responsibility of the parish
council. |
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12. |
FINANCE |
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a) |
Balances
as at Post Office £14,096.89 Current Account
£00.00 Reserve Account £37,089.18
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b) |
Payments
for Approval |
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Already
paid
Tracon
Alison Hooker
Inland Revenue Ian Jones To
be paid KCC
(KCS) Kevin
Browne (Swings) BT Tracon Hollingbourne
Property Services Colin
Sayell (Xmas trees) Marden
PCC KCC
(Landscape Services) Petty
Cash (Xmas and general) Scats |
£20,092.50 £959.47 £359.39 £616.00 £25.56 £60.00 £220.13 £1021.08 £45.40 £51.32 £525.00 £180.00 £187.88 £250.00 £26.98 |
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c) |
Minutes
of Finance Meeting previously circulated |
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d) |
Precept.
Following the finance meeting the precept was agreed to be set at £40,000.00 for
the year 2004/05.
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THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILLORS
Other |
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Weekly Lists of
Planning Applications Agenda for Planning
Committees Agenda for Housing
Strategy and Regeneration Agenda for Environment
and Transportation Planning Committee
Minutes Forward Play of Key
Decisions News Releases -
Transfer wait could bring millions more improvements Borough Update |
Police Newsletter Marden Parish Magazine Clerks & Councils
Direct Local Heritage News Kent Youth &
Community Newsletter The Playing Fields
Newsletter Parish News SERPA Newsletter Community Strategies
and Annual Report - Kent
& Sussex Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group |
THERE
BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING CLOSED AT
Chairman
……………………….
Date:
(Mrs
Dorothy Reed)