1.

PRESENT

Cllrs Adam, Brown, Day, Lutener, Newton, Reed (in the Chair), Reid, Tippen and Tipples.  Borough Councillors Rodd Nelson-Gracie and Paddy Germain, the Clerk, four members of the public and one member of the press.

2.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence.

3.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of 11^th May 2004 were agreed and signed as a true record.

4.

MATTERS ARISING

a)

Model Code of Conduct

Vote on Code of Conduct

For     2                 Against        4                 Abstained    2

5.

PARISH MATTERS

a)

Letter from BT and MBC regarding public payphones

A letter had been received from BT with follow-up letters from MBC regarding the reduction in the use of public payphones.   Marden Parish Council were informed that out of the three telephones in the parish, Church Green and Chainhurst would be kept but High Street telephone would be removed.  It was agreed that the Clerk would reply that MPC were reluctant to lose any telephones but agreed that if one had to definite be lost than it would need to be High Street.

b)

Clean Sweep Week

MBC were undertaking a Clean Sweep Week from 28^th June to 4^th July.  It was decided that this would be held over to the first meeting of the new Council.

Issues raised included:  Cherry Orchard Estate, Kebab Shop signs, Parking outside Tandoori restaurant and Chestnuts area.

6.

MEMORIAL HALL

The car park was due to be lined out for parking today.

7.

CORRESPONDENCE

a)

MBC - Street Audit.   MBC were proposing to undertake street audits within the Borough and wished to have feedback from parishes for roads which may benefit.  Although some felt it was a waste of money it was decided that the High Street would be put forward.

b)

Countryside Agency - Map of Registered Common Land.  No common land within the parish.

c)

MBC - SPG:  Open Playing Spaces - Cllr Brown to read

d)

Environment Agency - Flood Warning Service.  Cllr Lutener to read.

e)

Angley Farm.  The third year donation was due and a letter had been received from Angley School informing MPC of work undertaken by the farm over the last year.  It was agreed that a further donation of £200 would be made.

Cllr Adam had read documentation regarding the Regional Transport Strategy.  It was felt that although comment was not necessary the document should be kept on file as useful items regarding public transport.

8.

PLANNING

a)

Decisions - Approvals

MA/04/0391 - Little Hickmotts Nursery, Summerhill Road - Erection of a conservatory.

MA/04/0427 - Colton, Battle Lane - Erection of two storey side extension and installation of two new windows in the rear elevation.

MA/04/0402 - Air Ambulance Trust, Wheelbarrow Park Industrial Estate - Erection of 22.5m high replacement telecommunications mast and associated development to accommodate a mast share for Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone within a security compound.

TA/0059/04 - Tree Preservation Order No. 15 of 1994, Rookery Path - removal of two lowest branches on 1 Ash and 1 Oak.

Refusals

MA/03/2137 - Land Off Barrel Ash Close - Erection of two semi-detached dwellings.

MBC Committee

MA/04/0580 - Poplar Tree Farmhouse, Mile Bush Lane - demolition of existing conservatory and erection of two storey front and side extensions. Was due to be heard by MBC Planning Committee on 27^th May.  No outcome had been received.

b)

Minutes of Planning meeting previously circulated to Councillors.

c)

Planning Application - MA/04/0853 - Warehouse No.6 Pattenden Lane - Change of use from B8 use (Warehouse) to B2 use (general industrial) and provision of ancillary offices and revised parking at unit 6. 

Cllrs reviewed the plans but agreed that objection should be made regarding the hours of working.  Letters were missing from the file and the clerk was asked to contact MBC regarding this.

9.

HIGHWAYS

a)

MBC - localised flooding - Letter regarding work carried out on culvert at Winchett Hill.  It was still felt that the problem was from water running down the hill and across the road.  The Clerk would write to Goudhurst Parish Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council regarding this.

b)

Cherry Orchard Estate.  The Clerk had finally contacted Wimpey and was informed that adoption of the highways had taken place.  It was decided that the Clerk would contact MBC Highways regarding this and to look into Section 106 with respect to the play area.

Other Highways Issues

Broken gulley in Roundel Way.

Email received from MBC regarding grass at Stilebridge.  Left off contract.  The Clerk to contact to see when it would be done or if MPC undertook the work could we invoice MBC.

Trees overgrowing footpath at Lucks Way play area.  MBC to be contacted.

Cllr Adam had not responded to MBC regarding traffic consultation.  This would be held over until after elections.

Cllr Adam had attended the TRAMP meeting and gave details regarding traffic issues in Marden.  This would be included in final document.

Cllr Tippen asked whether the cast iron road signs would be renovated.  The Clerk had a contact number and would find out more details.

10.

CEMETERY

a)

A ceremony would be held at the Cemetery on 4^th July in memory of the soldiers who died in Pattenden Lane.

Cllr Reed asked whether it was possible to replace the rose bushes that had died by the war graves.  The name of the rose was "Remembrance".

Some of the beech trees had died and Cllr Lutener would look into replacing these.

11.

PLAYING FIELD

a)

Borough Cllr Nelson-Gracie had passed on a contact name from Yalding regarding Byelaws.  Cllr Adam to contact.

12.

FINANCE

a)

Balances as at 26^th May 2004.

Post Office £14,461.01 Current Account £00.00 Reserve Account £51,339.10

b)

Payments for Approval

Invoices were agreed for payment and cheques signed.

Insurance policy was agreed and cheque signed.  It was decided that a quote would be obtained next year from another insurance company.

Maidstone Borough Council

Weekly Lists of Planning Applications

Agenda for Planning Committees

Agenda for Environment and Transportation

Agenda for Local Development Document Advisory Gp

Minutes of Planning Committee

Forward Play of Key Decisions

News Releases - A great day out in Maidstone/Staff shape up for charity walk/Maidstone Council welcomes Meridian back to Maidstone studios/Swimming policy at Maidstone Leisure Centre is "correct".

Others

Parish Magazine

Downs Mail

Kent County Playing Fields Assoc Newsletter

Kent Police Newsletter