MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE LENHAM PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THE

4^TH NOVEMBER, 2009, IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 7.30 p.m.

PRESENT         Cllr. N. Godfrey, Chairman presiding

                        Cllr. A. Barr, Vice-Chairman

                        Cllrs. J. Bate, M. Crutcher, R. Greenwood, M. Osborne, I. Younger

                        Mrs. P. Sutton (Clerk) and Mr. R. Sutton (RFO)

            B. Cllrs. D. Marshall, T. Sams (until 8.50 p.m.)  

            Cllr. S. Morris representing Harrietsham PC (until 8.50 p.m.)

The Chairman asked all present to stand in silence for one minute in memory of Ken Chapman, a former Parish Councillor and Parish Council Chairman, who had recently died.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

PC Kemsley detailed the three crimes reported since the last meeting.   Dates were awaited for the mobile Police HQ to come to Lenham.    PCSO Rowley had obtained funding from Lenham Primary School PTA to purchase high visibility backpacks for each child in school and contact had been made with Platts Heath School for the same.

The Community Warden was still concerned about speeding vehicles in Ham Lane outside the Schools and suggested Cllrs should consider restricted parking in this area.   A stranger/danger presentation had taken place at Lenham School .

REPORT BY C.CLLR. JENNY WHITTLE  

C.Cllr Whittle referred to an email she had received from Kent Highway Services regarding surface repairs to KH219, the Pilgrims Way byway.    She queried LPC’s views on the decision not to close this byway over the winter months.   Cllrs agreed but would monitor.

Cllr Whittle also reported that (i) £500 had been agreed for speedwatch and KHS had approved the dropped kerbs requested for four sites.  (ii) she would chase Highways for a meeting to discuss  improvements to the A20/Faversham Road junction and would inform Cllrs when a date was arranged so that they could attend.

The Chairman declared the Meeting open at 7.55 p.m.

09/72

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

The Council accepted the reason for apology for absence from Cllrs. Davison, Goodwin and Michaelas.

09/73

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Cllr. Barr declared an interest in Item 5B(a) relating to Kent International Gateway and was not present during discussion.

09/74

MINUTES

The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 7^th October, 2009, were confirmed as a true record and it was RESOLVED that they be approved and adopted.

09/75

    A

    B

    C   

    D

    E

MATTERS ARISING

Vacancies on Parish Council  (09/60A)   There had been no response to the notices placed on the boards or in Focus.   Cllrs undertook to publicise at the Market.

Speedwatch   (09/60B)    The Clerk reported that Cllr Davison had been advised that the PCSO Supervisor would be contacting him shortly.   Once it was established that a scheme could be implemented with sites identified for PC Jarvis to assess for suitability (in 30 or 40 mph zones) then volunteers would be trained.

LYPC:  Music Festival  (09/60D)   The Chairman read the report received from the LYPC and the RFO gave details of the finance transactions for the event but pointed out that some items still required clarification.    Following a lengthy discussion it was RESOLVED that a letter would be sent to  the LYPC explaining why the Parish Council considered the event had not been a success and stating that any future events must be properly organised with a Business Plan drawn up and presented to the PC before any future event could take place.

Children's Play Areas:  Safety Inspections  (09/63)  The Chairman had contacted RoSPA who had advised that half yearly inspections would be adequate with a Cllr monitoring the play area on a monthly basis looking at litter and graffiti.  However, RoSPA’s representative would look at the site again when she inspected other sites in the village and update LPC.

Village of the Year Competition  (09/67)   Following the agreement at the last PC Meeting that this Council would enter the 2010 Competition Cllr Barr reported that he had spoken to people from various village organisations who it was hoped would become involved with the Competition.

09/76

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES/SPOKESPERSONS

     A

Finance & General Purposes   The report of the Meeting held on the 21^st October, 2009, was received and it was RESOLVED that the recommendations contained therein be approved and adopted.    The following was reported:-

Refurbishment of PC Noticeboards   The Clerk reported that she had arranged a meeting with the contractor to discuss work to the Honywood Road board.

Signing for Cllrs Table at Market   Cllr Osborne displayed the sign and Cllrs thanked him for his work.

     B

Planning   Cllr. Osborne referred to the meetings held on the 21^st October and 2^nd November, 2009, copies of which had been circulated to all Cllrs.  The Chairman detailed the items discussed at the MBC enforcement training evening.

KIG     The Clerk reported that Cllr Goodwin would be speaking at the Public Inquiry on the 5^th November.   It was also reported that the Joint Parishes Group had asked KALC to circulate details of the Inquiry to all member Councils seeking their support.

     C

Parish Plan Steering Group   Cllr. Barr expressed concern about the future of Focus magazine.   Following discussion it was agreed that he and Cllrs Godfrey and Greenwood would consider possible ways forward.

     D

Highways & Transport   The following was reported:-

Highways Committee   The minutes of the meeting held on the 2^nd November had been tabled.

Spreadsheet   Cllr. Davison had informed the Clerk that at the moment there were 28 jobs on the LPC highways spreadsheet of which nine had been completed.    Cllr Davison and the Clerk were meeting with KHS on the 18^th November and would query why there is such a delay once jobs are reported and also to push for improvements to the A20/Faversham Road junction.   KHS would also be informed that when jobs are completed the standard was not always to an acceptable level.

Online Training   Cllr. Bate had attended the training session.   He reported that a lot of the jobs on the spreadsheet had now dropped off as there were only three months on the new system.

     E

Law & Order  

Eastern Area Police/Parishes meeting   The Chairman had attended and a report of the meeting had been circulated to Cllrs.

KPA Policing Priorities for 2010/13   Surveys had been received and it was agreed that the Chairman and Cllr Bate would complete and return.

     F

Environment   The following was reported:-

Trees at Groom Way    Cllr. Greenwood would submit a planning application to MBC for work to the trees.

Recycling   The Clerk reported that the letter to MBC expressing concern at the attitude of MBC Officers to this project had not received a reply and Cllr. Goodwin had queried if this should be followed up.     Cllrs. discussed possibilities for the future of the existing site and it was agreed that Cllr Osborne and the Clerk would investigate further.

Parking in The Square   Reference was made to Tatlers use of a parking bay to display their goods which made parking difficult and it was agreed that the PC would draw this to the attention of Mr. Kitson at MBC.

09/77

REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE MEETINGS

Police:  Future of Police Car    The Chairman, Cllr Greenwood and Cllr Morris from HPC had met with Inspector Sandwell who had advised that the agreement was now out of date and the car no longer satisfied Police standards.    A review would take place in six months time to ascertain if the Parishes wished to enter into another agreement with the Police.

MBC: Future of Public Conveniences   The Chairman and Cllrs. Osborne and Barr had met with MBC and a response was awaited.    Cllrs. Greenwood and Younger were investigating various ways forward.

MBC:  Street Cleaning   The Chairman and Cllr Greenwood reported on their meeting with MBC.   Various matters had been discussed but nothing major had come out of the meeting.

Len Valley Business Assn.   Cllr. Barr reported that the recent meeting had been attended by the Tourism Manager of MBC and it was felt that there was a need to raise the profile of Lenham.

09/78

PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE

As Cllr Davison was not in attendance it was agreed that this item to referred to the next PC Meeting.

09/79

HONYWOOD & DOUGLAS CHARITY:  APPOINTMENT OF PC REPRESENTATIVE

The Clerk reported that Mrs P. Appleton, one of  LPC’s representatives on the Charity wished to retire at the end of her term of office in 2010.    Cllrs would consider possible people to replace her and discuss at the next PC Meeting.

09/80

KALC/KENT RURAL

Receipt reported of Oast to Coast, a copy of which was passed to Cllr Osborne.

 KALC Annual General Meeting  Papers had been received for the AGM on the 14^th November, 2009 and it was RESOLVED that Cllr Godfrey would attend.   Any other Cllr interested in attending should contact the Clerk.   The Chairman detailed the motions to be debated at the AGM and it was RESOLVED that LPC would support all.

09/81

ACCOUNTS

Cheques for consideration & payment

Citizens Advice Bureau               October outreach session                                   £50.00

Thurnham PC                            KIG:  Professional fees Aug 2009                        £592.69

Supplies Team                           Printer Cartridge                                       £35.01

MBC                                         Remove spindle in Ham Lane Playground £57.50

G.B. Lister                                LYPC:  Music Festival food                                 £145.00

EDF Energy Ltd.                        October energy                                                  £77.14

Salaries and expenses detailed as Appendix A and filed with the signed copy of these Minutes.

Amounts paid into Acct.

KCC                                         Annual grant Picnic Site                                   £1300.00

MBC                                         Concurrent functions 2^nd instalment                    £9580.00

MBC                                         Members devolved budget, Speedwatch             £1500.00

HM Revenue & Customs VAT Refund April-Sept 2009                              £1014.81

A. W. Court                                Purchased grave and interment fee                      £150.00

Memorials of Distinction             Fee, erection headstone                                     £35.00

Natwest Bank                            Reserve Acct interest to 30.9.09                             £1.35

          “                                     Liquidity Manager Acct interest to 30.9.09               £3.37

It was RESOLVED that the accounts be approved and the cheques signed.

09/82

   A

   B

   C

   D

CORRESPONDENCE

MBC:  Venues for Training Courses   MBC were consulting Parishes on a suggestion that it would enhance attendance at Training Courses if courses were held away from the Town.   Seven clusters of Parishes had been drawn up and MBC would be looking for one Parish in each cluster to make available facilities for any courses with the rest of the cluster being invited to attend.   Comments were requested on whether Parishes felt this method would work.   Following discussion Cllrs agreed the allocated cluster and were happy to make the Community Centre available for courses.

BTCV:  Kent Heritage Trees Project   Information on the Project had been received.    Passed to Cllr. Greenwood .   Cllr. Osborne reported that there was an overhanging tree outside 34 Old School Close which needed reducing in height.   The pavement was also being damaged by the tree’s roots.   The Clerk would contact MBC’s Landscape Officer.

Kent Downs & Marshes Leader Programme   Information given on the Rural Development Programme Leader which is a grant funding stream designed to assist with local issues, identified by people living in a particular local area.   Passed to Cllr. Barr.

Letter from Gez Clark     Attention had been drawn to the very poor and dangerous state of the foot bridge on the public footpath 399 between Court Lodge Meadow and Tanyard Farm.   The Clerk would contact the Footpaths Officer.

Cllr. Barr also drew attention to the condition of the bridge under the railway on public footpath 398.    Clerk to contact Network Rail.

The meeting closed at 10.00 p.m.