Committee Members present: Cllrs C King (Chairman), J Atkins, C Block, Mrs S Boakes, Mrs B Brown,
D Brown, Mrs D Crook, Miss A Moloney, J Tucker, L Withey, Mrs S Hunter (Town Clerk)

Members of the Public present: Mr Boyes, Mr Hickmott, Mr Laverty, Gavin Stroud, Terry Reeves,
Mr Ward, Mr Comber, Mr Baldwin, Mr & Mrs O’Connell, Paul Gray, Mr Rimmer, Kevin Bush, and Girls Football Team.

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs D Keeley, Mrs B Keeley and C Grayhurst.

2. Declarations of Interest

Cllrs Mrs D Crook and Miss A Moloney – Community Association

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 January 2008

There were no matters arising.

4 Open Forum

4.1 The girl’s football team need a pitch to play on in September; they have sponsorship and funding and would like to use a pitch with changing facilities. Cllr king explained that our pitches are fully booked, however we would look into this to see what arrangements could be made. Mr Reeves asked what size pitch would be required and suggested the use of the bottom pitch at Potyns, if changing facilities can be arranged.
4.2 South East Coast Ambulance Service gave a presentation on Community Responder Schemes. They will be coming to Snodland in the near future for a recruitment drive.
4.3 Kevin Bush gave a presentation of the Friends & Motorcycle Club, and requested the use of Brookland Lake car park, to display motorcycles, and promote ‘Safe Biking’.
The Committee agreed to support this event and we will advertise it on our web site.
4.4 Mr Vince O’Connell asked if there was any news regarding the Gym and stated that he had read in the paper, that the council could not afford to store the equipment. The Council are looking for a cheaper alternative for storing the equipment, as it is public money that is being spent. Regarding the new build at Potyns, we are still waiting for the mill to complete their part of the plan.
4.5 Mr Reeves asked about the extension of the playing fields at Potyns, would we be concentrating on the football pitches first, before the Bowling Green? The land transfer is imminent; we are just waiting for the solicitors to tie up loose ends, and we will then begin the work on the playing fields. The bowls club have another four and a half years where they are, so this will be done at a later stage.
Paul from Snodland Nomads made a request for the goal posts to be replaced at Holborough; the Council will look into this.
The All Weather pitch has moss on it and even though it is cleaned off by the staff, it may help if it is cleaned with a pressure wash. The Clerk will arrange for this to be carried out.
The cost of hiring the pitches at Holmesdale is very costly, and the club are unable to continue with this long term, and look forward to the extension to the playing fields.
A request was also made for the All Weather pitch to be resurfaced, the clerk will obtain costs.
4.6 Mr George Ward asked about the swing at the new play area in Potyns. The Clerk will arrange a meeting with the play equipment inspector and Mr Ward.
4.7 Mr Baldwin said the floor in the pavilion café needs to be looked at, as it moves, also there are two piles of rubble to the side of the path that need to be removed. The Clerk will investigate this.

5. Allotments

There is a lot of rubbish that has been placed on the hard standing area in the allotments at Sloughfields; Mr Comber asked if the grounds maintenance staff can remove this. The clerk will arrange this.
Mr Comber also asked if when the letters go out for the payments for this year, could a reminder, asking people to take their rubbish with them and not leave it in this area be sent.
Mrs Bridger has made a request to place a shed and green house on her allotment, the committee agreed to this.

6. KCC Lay By A228

KCC are proposing to encourage pedestrians to walk on the opposite side of the road, to where the Lorries park. They intend to carry out a full safety audit.

7. Boundary Walk

The boundary walk will take place on the Sunday 11 May 2008 and the 10k Run will take place on Sunday 12 October 2008.

8. Public Transport

There are new timetable cases and an increase in the number of outlets for bus timetables, e.g. the shop in St Benedict’s and the Jet Garage at Holborough.
Some section 106 funds have become available to improve Snodland Railway station. This will include CCTV, lighting, seating and real time information boards, and the work should begin very soon.

9. Football

This was covered in open forum.

10. Correspondence

10.1 Mr Parsons of Norman Rd would like to purchase the land behind his garden at Nevill Park. A site visit will be arranged to see if this is viable.
10.2 KCC have sent us information with regard to the re routing of footpath MR44. STC previously agreed to this after a site visit.
10.3 East Malling & Larkfield Parish Council has copied us into their reply to the Borough’s open space strategy. This is in the office for perusal.
10.4 Snodland Community Cricket Club have requested the use of the Cricket Meadow and Pavilion for the coming 2008 season. The committee agreed to this request.
10.5 Cllr King is STC’s representative for the TMBC Crime Prevention Panel.

11. Costs for grave digging (report from the Clerk)

The clerk presented the comparison’s with Aylesford Parish Council, who give their ‘grave digging’ to the funeral director. After speaking with a funeral director, it would appear what we are charged for grave digging is on a par with what the funeral director is charged. The income and expenditure for the cemetery was presented for the past two years from our accounting programme.
Cllr Atkins was still unhappy with this information. Cllr Moloney through the chairman said that it has already been agreed to review the grave digging in a year’s time, and we will address this issue then.

12. Potyns

This was covered in open forum.

13. Any other items which the Chairman has decided are urgent owing to special circumstances

The signs at Holborough have been put into place; however the trees surrounding them will need to be cut back before they come into leaf.
There are brambles trailing into the corner of Holborough rd as you turn onto the A228. The Clerk will contact KCC to have these trimmed back, as it is causing problems for drivers.
The lock on the door to the Council Offices needs to be replaced, even though it has been repaired. It would be wise to renew the lock now before it breaks again.
Recommendation to replace the lock.

The Chairman moved that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.