MARDEN PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 14TH JUNE 2005
AT THE ALLENS, ALBION ROAD, MARDEN COMMENCING AT 7.30PM 1. PRESENT Cllrs Adam, Brown, Gething, Lutener, Mannington, Newton, Reed (in the Chair), Reid, Spain and Tippen. The Clerk, 1 member of the public, Borough Councillors Germain and Nelson-Gracie, the Community Warden. 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies were received from Cllr Scott, County Councillor Stockell and P.C. Tim Stanley. 3. DECLARATION OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 4. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the meetings of 10th May 2005 were agreed and signed as a true record. 5. MATTERS ARISING Cllr Tippen asked if any response had been received from SE Train. Nothing to date. The Clerk to chase. 6. PARISH MATTERS a) Newsletter - Copy was presented to Council for agreement to send to print. Should be ready for collection by next weekend. b) Affordable Housing Survey - Was being delivered tomorrow for distribution on weekend of 25/26th June. c) Parish Council Public Participation Policy - Cllr Adam had circulated the proposed policy and following small amendments was adopted by Marden Parish Council. 7. COMMITTEE REPORTS a) Amenities Committee - (draft minutes previously circulated). Cllr Lutener (Amenities Chairman) gave a bring resume of meeting held on 24th May. b) Planning & Highways Committee - (draft minutes previously circulated). Cllr Adam (Planning & Highways Chairman) - circulated a breakdown of what had been discussed at the 31st May meeting. (i) MBC decision list circulated. (ii) Parish Plan - A first meeting had been arranged for Monday 4th July at the Scout HQ commencing at 8pm. This has been instigated by members of both the Parish Council and Marden Society but a steering group would be formed who would carry forward. All welcome. Minutes of each Committee would be adopted at the next meeting of each Committee. The Clerk agreed to send out draft minutes to all councillors once typed. 8. CORRESPONDENCE a) Previous correspondence read by Councillors - reports (i) Revised Parish Charter - Cllr Adam and Brown and read through this document and comments would be sent to MBC. (ii) KCC - Integrated Kent Franchise & SRA Stakeholder Briefing Document - Cllr Adam to draft letter in response to Alistair Darling's reply. (iii) ODPM paper on "Planning on Gypsy and Traveller Sites" - still to read. (iv) KCC - Minutes and Waste Discussion Pack - Cllr Reid reported that Marden was not too involved as did not have quarries in the vicinity of the Parish. However some concern was raised as by 2015 all landfill sites in the area will be exhausted and KCC are looking at other ways of reducing waste, ie recycling and incineration. Kent need to come up with a strategy. (v) MBC - Draft Climate Change Action Plan - still to read. Maidstone 20/20 - Cllrs Adam, Tippen and Reid had read document. Cllr Tippen would forward comments to clerk for inclusion in the next planning and highways meeting. b) Resident re telecommunications mast, Howland Road - Resident thanks Marden Parish Council for help given and informed the meeting that the application for this site had been withdrawn. BOROUGH COUNCILLORS Borough Councillor Germain asked if the council were any further forward in deciding on what funding was needed. This would be discussed at next Amenities Committee meeting and the clerk would then inform Borough Councillors. Borough Councillor Germain asked how the work on the cast iron signs was going. Cllr Lutener was in contact with contractor and, although slow, work was being carried out. COMMUNITY WARDEN A litter pick had been arranged with the Brownies on 27th June from 5.30 pm to 7.00pm. Had been approached by the school council to help fund a "Buddy Bus Stop" and "Peer Mediation Group". This had been agreed by his managers. Had met, along with several councillors, to discuss the Village of the Year with 1st round judges. On 16th September a coach trip was being arrange for the older residents of the parish to visit a "Trickster Presentation" to inform people of bogus callers etc. Any funding from the parish council would be appreciated. This would be discussed. Can graffiti be removed from the changing room? Cllr Lutener to look into. POLICE (PC Stanley absent) report provided by Community Warden - 11 crimes in total: 2 burglary other than dwelling; 4 thefts; 1 assault; 2 criminal damage; 2 theft from motor vehicles. 38 calls were received from residents in the last month. 9. FINANCE a) Balances as at 1st June 2005 Post Office £14,918.59 Current Account £00.00 Reserve Account £75,731.01 b) Payments for Approval - all payments agreed and cheques signed (list attached to minutes in file). Issues Raised but not on Agenda KAPC was arranging another Councillors' Information Day on 16th July. Any councillors interested should contact the clerk. A 2nd round judge had contacted the clerk to ask to meet regarding the Business Section. Cllr Mannington to contact him with a date. Concern was raised as to the safety of the Cemetery Caretaker when cutting hedges etc. This would be placed on the Amenities agenda. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8.40 PM PUBLIC FORUM Items raised from the public: Resident from the Cherry Orchard estate asked questions regarding development in The Willows and farmland around this estate. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILLORS Maidstone Borough Council Agendas for MBC Committees Weekly Planning Lists Forward Plan of Key Decisions Local Development Document Advisory Group Planning Committee - 19/05/05 - report Others The Clerk Newsletter The Playing Field Newsletter The Parish Pump Marden Parish Magazine Angley School Farm Newsletter Kent Police - April/May 05 Newsletter Kent Youth & Community Area Newsletter Chairman ............................ Date: 12th July 2005 (Mrs Dorothy Reed) Minute No.44