Committee Members present: Cllrs C King (Chairman), D Keeley, J Atkins, C Block, Mrs S Boakes,
D Brown, Mrs D Crook, C Grayhurst, Miss A Moloney, J Tucker

Council Members present: Cllr B Garlick, Mrs S Hunter (Town Clerk)

Members of the Public present: Mr Boyes, Mr Pollington, Mr Hickmott, Mrs Hutchinson

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mrs B Brown, Mrs K Grayhurst and L Withey.

2. Declarations of Interest

Cllr D Crook – Chair of the Community Association.

3. Matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2007

3.1 The bench at Holborough needs welding and the Clerk will chase this up.
3.2 Email from Peter Sharp regarding portable goalposts at Holborough. The Council will not provide portable goalposts, and the agreement will remain the same as with the previous Council. They will have to put up the goalposts and take them down.
3.3 Cllr King attended the meeting with the Police regarding public events. As from 1 April 2008 there are three options:
a) Keep any policing under 24 hours (which will be free of charge)
b) Pay up front, costs plus 35% charge and 17.5% vat (may be payable although vat element is still to be decided
c) No events that need policing
The Council will aim to keep requests for policing within the 24 hour period. This will include their attendance at meetings.

3.4 The Clerk is still waiting for the residents of Holborough Park to get back to the Council regarding opening and closing times. The Clerk will chase this up.
3.5 The 10K Run was a great success, with media coverage. The pictures are on our website.
3.6 The gates at Potyns are now able to be locked. Cllr Mrs Crook will have extra keys cut for the users of the Community Centre. Cllrs Withey and King have offered to hold keys for emergency purposes.

3a Open Forum

3a.1 Mr Pollington has concerns regarding the bowls green that is proposed for Potyns in the future. Part of the conditions of Townsend Hooks planning application are for the building of phase one at Potyns. It was explained to Mr Pollington that there is certain planning criteria that the Council has no control over, and by agreeing to the plan, conditions were attached for the benefit of Snodland.
Mr Hickmott said there may not be as much money in the ‘pot’ for this as was hoped, as house prices have fallen dramatically, and we are unable to dictate the market.
Mr Pollington thanked the Council and left the meeting.

4. Firework 31 October 2007 Arrangements and Risk Assessment

The risk assessment was discussed and the Committee agreed that everything had been covered.
The Clerk asked for help from Councillors for the event, meeting at Potyns at 6 pm.
Cllrs D Keeley, Block, Atkins and Mrs Boakes agreed to help. Cllr Miss Moloney will help, but will leave prior to the display taking place.
Cllr Miss Moloney asked that we check for our display with Pheonix Fireworks for next year as it will fall on 5 November and the pyrotechnic company may have other larger venues booked.

5. Remembrance Day Parade 11 November 2007 Arrangements and Risk Assessment

The Parade meets at Holmesdale College at 2 pm to leave at 2.30 pm and arrives at the Cemetery at approx 3 pm, where there Remembrance Service takes place. The parade then makes its way back to the Town Hall for refreshments. The wreath has been ordered for the Council. Cllr King asked why the event was in the afternoon. Cllr Grayhurst replied – we are only able to have a police presence in the afternoon. The risk assessment for this event is low, with the worst scenario being the band or religious leaders unable to be at the event.

6. Christmas Lights

The lights will be put up soon ready for Christmas. The ‘turning on of the lights event was scrapped last year due to costs for road closures and certain elements of safety.
Cllr Miss Moloney suggested that the Council look at doing something for next year, which does not involve a road closure. Any ideas, to be forwarded to the Clerk.

7. Potyns Play Area Update

The play equipment has been ordered and will be installed soon. Cllr King showed the meeting the picture of what the new equipment will look like. The Clerk will try to get a copy to go on the website, and publicise what it will look like.

8. Additional Street Cleaning

Costings for extra street cleaners were circulated. Cllr Atkins is opposed to this as it is a Borough responsibility and they should be providing the service which is paid for. Cllr Miss Moloney said that under the current scheme there is no rapid response for clearing up glass for example. The residents want more. Cllr Atkins said various areas in the Borough receive a better service.
The Borough Council are promoting a ‘Clean up Snodland’ campaign. This will involve Holmesdale College, Russett Homes, Police and either STC or the Partnership. The Clerk is having a meeting with Phil Beddoes regarding this tomorrow. If anyone has ideas for a ‘catch phrase’ for this project, please let the Clerk know.

9. Cemetery Lodge (quotes for work)

Quotations have been received for heating, bathroom and kitchen for the Lodge.
Cllr Atkins is unhappy with the quotes and thinks it would be cheaper for the Council to have a supply of gas connected and a gas heating system put in. As the heating for the Lodge is needed soon, Cllr Miss Moloney requested that the Clerk be allowed to proceed with this without coming back to the Committee.
RECOMMENDED – The Clerk to proceed without returning to the Committee.

10. KCC Spreadsheet

The spreadsheet was explained and discussed. It was noted that the serious accident on the A228 last week was recorded by the Council.

11. TMBC Cycling Strategy

There were some concerns regarding the interaction between cyclists and pedestrians on the new cycle paths. Cllr King said this was unavoidable.
Cllr Miss Moloney suggested they extend the safe cycling route to the M20. It was explained that this is currently via Nevill Park, Leybourne etc.

12. TMBC Local Play Strategy

This can be seen on the ( www.tmbc.gov.uk) TMBC website. Cllr Miss Moloney reported that it identifies the need for more play spaces in Snodland, and there is a huge amount of lottery funding available for this.

13. Cemetery (Railings placed around new graves)

A letter has been sent to the person responsible for placing a railing around a new grave, explaining that it is not the policy of this Council to allow this in the Cemetery. The Clerk received a telephone call from one of the relatives asking that the Council reconsider. The Clerk will reply that the Council are unable to change their policy and request that the rail is removed within the next four weeks.

14. Allotments

Mr Comber is unable to attend tonight and all seems to be well at the moment.

15. Football

An email has been received from Peter Sharp, requesting that the Council purchase portable goalposts for Holborough. They have also invited Cllr King to their AGM on 31 October 2007, which is the Council’s Firework Display night. The Clerk will reply that the original agreement with the previous Council that the club will put up their goalposts will remain. The meeting for 31 October will have to be rescheduled.

16. Correspondence

16.1 Notification has been received from KCC that MR51 is classed as a bridleway.
16.2 Kent Highways has informed the Council of road works due to start on the A228 Leybourne/Castle Way on 31 December 2007 for 17 weeks.
16.3 An invitation has been received from Cemex to view an exhibition of their proposal for the former cement works at Halling. This will be in their works office on Thursday 1 November 2007 between 4.30 and 8 pm. The public exhibition will be on Saturday 3 November 2007 between 10 am and 3 pm.
16.4 A letter has been received from 108 Simpson Road regarding trees/hedges overhanging the front of their property. STC staff have cut the area back to the best of their ability and will revisit to see what can be done.
16.5 107 Simpson Road has replied and wishes to rent the land at the rear of their garden. This will be £30 per annum.
16.6 A letter has been received from the Twinning Association stating that named members of the Council are required. Cllrs Block and Miss Moloney will represent the Council as civic dignitaries, although Cllr Miss Moloney would be unable to commit to all of the meetings.
16.7 Cllr King passed on information from Trading Standards regarding a 0906 phone number scam.
16.8 The KALC is holding its AGM at Ditton Community Centre on 10 November 2007. It was agreed that Cllrs King and Miss Moloney would attend.

17. Quotes for Grave Digging

The Clerk presented the additional quotation obtained from KCC Landscape Services and the re-quote from W R Brown, with W R Brown presenting the best option. Cllr Atkins is still unhappy regarding these quotes and suggested they were the Clerk’s preferred contractor. The Clerk objected to this comment.
RECOMMENDED that W R Brown has the grave digging and this will be reviewed annually.

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

18.1 A new bus stop has been installed in Dryland Road and from 18 December 2007 the bus service will be doubled to a ½ hourly service. A new timetable will be distributed with Town Talk.
18.2 Car Parking
RECOMMENDED – STC objects to charging in the car park in Rocfort Road.
18.3 The Council’s insurance broker has produced several quotations for renewal this year. He is still waiting to obtain one more quote and has suggested that the Council remain with the current insurers subject to this other quote coming in. So far a reduction of £4000 has been made.

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.