SNODLAND TOWN COUNCIL
8th September 2008

Council Members Present: Cllrs C Block (Chairman), J Atkins, D Brown, Mrs D Crook, B Garlick,
Mrs B Keeley, D Keeley, J Tucker, L Withey , Ms K Woolley, Mrs S Hunter (Town Clerk)

Members of the Public Present: Mr B Porter, Mr J Boyes, Mrs J Wright, Mr P Hickmott, PCSO Hatchard

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Miss Moloney (Vice Chairman), M L Baldock, Mrs S Boakes, Mrs B Brown and C Grayhurst.

2. Declarations of Interest

Cllr Mrs D Crook – Community Association.

3. County Councillor ’s Report

The County Councillor was unable to attend the meeting.

4. Borough Councillors Report

26 July – FLAG FOR QUALITY – TMBC was awarded the green flag once again for Leybourne Lakes Country Park in Larkfield. Only 11 parks in S E England have been awarded this green flag for excellence of amenities. The ceremony was also attended by our new councillor Karen Woolley, with Chris Block our STC chairman and Brian Luker as myself as BC’s.
Denise Harker and Kevin Tallett, both from West Malling, have joined the board of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust as new non executive directors. The M & TW Trust is now at full strength.
The Malling CAB has announced it will cease to operate from 2009/10. This will not affect the Snodland nor Hadlow outreach services which are provided by Tonbridge CAB.
There is a proposal to relocate Grange Park School to new purpose built premises at the Wrotham School site. The present building and grounds are of insufficient size and in poor condition, therefore no longer fit for purpose. The special school is for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The long awaited Snodland parking review will at last begin its review by TMBC this autumn. Karole Reynolds will be responsible for issuing surveys etc to all residents together with consultation and also creating the parking plan. It needs all residents to reply to the survey with their own ideas to help the overall plan to work. This will take time as we all need to get this most important item right from the beginning.
The A228 layby west side near Ham Hill still has investigations and evaluations being made. A conclusion will be reached in the near future.
The Snodland Goes Cleaner campaign is now underway. Many people are now involved and it was a pleasure for Cllr Dave Keeley and myself to do a walkabout with Russet Homes last week and see how much cleaner the area around Saltings Road and the alleyways are.
The four planned childrens centres currently being developed by KCC in the borough are still underway. The East Malling centre will be based in the existing St James the Great Primary School. The KCC are still examining the feasibility of situating the centre in a number of locations, including talks with the Rocfort Road NHS Clinic. The other two will be based in Tonbridge in the near future.
Project work for Medway Valley Countryside Partnership will be funded for 2008/09 by TMBC.
TMBC already has a concessionary swimming scheme, and will therefore not opt for the governments free swimming programme.
Holborough residents (one third) have replied to questionnaires on the subject of parking. The temporary parking areas should be completed by October to ease the existing problems faced.
Cllr Atkins asked if a proposal to install parking meters at the Holborough Berkeley Homes site, that included Cllr Miss Moloney had anything to do with either the Town Council or the Borough Council. Cllr Withey stated that this had nothing to do with either Council, and Cllr Miss Moloney had been asked to assist with questionnaires being sent out to residents by Berkeley Homes. In October temporary parking measures at Holborough will end. Cllr Miss Moloney will be able to report to the Council at a later dated on this subject.

5. Chairman’s Announcements

5.1 Meetings have taken place with Carole Reynolds of TMBC regarding the parking review. The Parking Survey will be sent to all residents via ‘Town Talk’ in the coming days. It was made clear that no extra money is available for parking schemes. The Chairman has read that all parking schemes in Tonbridge and Malling will be the same across the board.

5.2 The Chairman had attended the ‘Green Flag’ event at Leybourne Country Park . They have done very well to obtain two green flag awards.
At Item 11 there will be an extra item: To sign the Paperwork from the Solicitor for the extension to the Community Centre building.

6. Questions from the Public

6.1 PCSO Kim Hatchard presented the crime figures. In July 62 crimes were reported.
In August 55 crimes. Twelve of these were reported by businesses.
Cllr Withey asked PCSO Hatchard if anyone was being prosecuted for the graffiti in the Saltings Road area. PCSO Hatchard did not know, but would find out. Cllr Withey also asked if there were any CCTV images at the end of August detecting who owned/was responsible for racing the cars around the car park. PCSO Hatchard will ask PCSO Coppard to check.
6.2 Mr P Hickmott asked if an amendment could be made to include him to those attending the Planning meeting on 13 August 2008, at which he is recorded as speaking. Cllr D Brown noted that the minutes state there were several members of the public at the meeting who had not signed the attendance sheet.
6.3 Mr Hickmott asked about Item 19 on the Policy and Resources committee on 1 September 2008. The Clerk explained that STC will be able to pay some of the allocated £25000 in revenue, to assist with revenue based Partnership projects. The majority of the allocation would be capital.
6.4 Mr Hickmott has concerns about the ‘temporary parking’ spaces at Holborough costing 25p per hour. This will cause further parking problems at the far end of Holborough Road, as people visiting Holborough will park there instead. This will need to be considered as part of the parking review.
6.5 Mr Porter complained that several street lights were either not working, day burning, covered by foliage or non-existent. If Mr Porter brings a detailed list to the Council Offices, the staff will be able to assist in the reporting/repair of these lights.
6.7 Cllr Atkins has requested the parking at Holborough is placed on the next Planning agenda as 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling is unacceptable and causing problems.

7. To Confirm as a correct record the Part I Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 7 July 2008 (pp 24-27)

Cllr Tucker proposed the minutes were a correct record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr D Keeley.
RESOLVED that the Part I Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 July 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Signed...............................................

8. To receive Part I Reports of the Council’s Committees

8.1 Amenities & Recreation - 2 July 2008 (pp 29-31)

RESOLVED - to allow a shed to be placed on 30a Sloughfields.
RESOLVED – to accept quotation from T Pocock and request an annual inspection of the Clocktower.

8.2 Planning & Environment – 13 August 2008 (pp 33-35)
8.3 Policy & Resources – 1 September 2008 pp (37-39)
RESOLVED - £100 to Victim Support – Section 137.
RESOLVED – to accept the quotation from Mr Pocock for £4300 to carry out work at the Pavilion Café.
RESOLVED - to accept quotation for grease filter at Brookland Lake Café from Martine Environmental Services.
RESOLVED – to accept the quotation for cleaning floors at the Devonshire Room.
RESOLVED – to apply for a grant from TMBC to upgrade street lighting.
RESOLVED – To accept quotation from Mr Towell to provide IT support.
Item 13 – there is a metal bench at the Cemetery that will suit the purpose for Nevill Park .
Cllr Atkins wished it to be noted that he does not believe Snodland tax payers should pay for work to be carried out on the Cricket Pavilion kitchen.
RESOLVED that the Part 1 minutes of the Council’s Amenities and Recreation, Planning and Environment, Policy and Resources Committee’s held since 7 July 2008 be confirmed and accepted as part of the proceedings of the Council.

9. To Receive Details of Cheques Signed Since the Last Council Meeting

The cheque list was circulated.
014191 – a hedge trimmer had to be hired as the Council’s one is in for repair.
014151 – the small van has been repaired and is working well.
014194 – the payment for the Clocktower – the Clerk will contact the CCLA to see if this size bill will have a detrimental effect on the charity funds and will call a Charities Meeting to report.
014164 – Panache Audio Systems. The Council pay for the stage for the community event and the money is claimed back from the Chamber of Commerce.
RESOLVED that the cheque list be accepted.

10. Correspondence

10.1 The Kent County Council Draft Permit Scheme can be viewed at: ww.kent.gov.uk/publications/transport-and-streets/kent-permit-scheme.
10.2 KALC has a finance information day being held at Headcorn Village Hall on Saturday 18 October 2008. The Clerk stressed that it would be beneficial for a councillor who is on the Policy and Resources Committee to attend. The cost will be £60 + £10.50 VAT. Please inform the Clerk by Friday 12 September 2008 at the latest if you wish to attend.
10.3 The SLCC regional conference will take place on Wednesday 12 November 2008. It will be held at the East Sussex Regional Hotel, Uckfield. The cost for a member is £45. A group offer is available if the Clerk is a member at a cost of three delegates for £115. Please inform the Clerk by Friday 12 September 2008 if you wish to attend.
Cllr Garlick proposed the Clerk should definitely attend. This was agreed by the Committee.

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

11.1 The planning consent of phase two development at Smurfit is conditional on a) Barratt Homes, b) TMBC granting planning consent for extension. The obligation will be on Barratt Homes to build the extension at the Community Centre.

Cllr Block and Cllr D Keeley signed the documents from the solicitor. 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.