POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
6th October 2008

Committee Members Present: Cllrs J Tucker (Chairman), C Block, Mrs S Boakes, D Brown, B Garlick,
D Keeley, Miss A Moloney

Council Members Present: Cllrs J Atkins, Mrs D Crook, Mrs B Keeley, Ms K Woolley, Mrs S Hunter (Town Clerk)

Members of the Public Present: Mr J Boyce, Mr J Metcalfe, Mr D Pearce, Mrs M Pearce

1. Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Cllrs Mrs B Brown (Vice Chairman) and L Withey.

2. Declaration of Interest

Cllrs Miss Moloney and Mrs D Crook – Community Association.
Cllr Miss Moloney – Allotment holder.

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 September 2008

3.1 Item 10 – Cemetery Lodge sink – only two quotations to date.
3.2 Grease filters are being made for the café by Martin Environmental and will be installed in due course.
3.3. Item 19 – Should read ‘not be able’.
3.4 Item 20.3 – Lafarge did not wish to enter into a lease.

4. Questions from the public

4.1 Mr James Metcalfe asked why there is no number 71 bus service on bank holidays and at weekends. Cllr Tucker answered that the bus company say the cost would be too high for this service.
4.2 Mr Metcalf requested that the sign posts in the town remain red and tax payer’s money is not spent on changing the colour.
4.3 Mr Metcalfe asked about Cox’s Barn being connected to the main sewer. The Committee were unable to comment as the letter Mr Metcalfe referred to had not been seen by STC. A copy of the letter has been requested.
4.4 Mr Metcalfe asked if free newspapers were paid for out of the Council Tax. The Chairman replied, no.
4.5 Mr Metcalfe then raised the issue of fly tipping and was informed that all fly tips must be reported to the Borough Council. 4.6 Mr Boyes asked how much the Council Tax increase will be. The Council has not set the budget yet, this will be done at the end of November/beginning of December.
4.7 Mr and Mrs Pearce said they will be closing he café next Monday as the kitchen is being done over the weekend. Mr Pearce will put up the white plastic wall backing after the grease filters have been fitted.
Local businesses in the vicinity of Brookland Lake café have been parking up to twenty cars in the car park. The Committee will discuss this issue in Part II of the meeting.

5. Financial Review

A copy of the financial review had been circulated. (Copy on file)

6. Audit Trail

Cllr Withey called into the Office on 1 October 2008 to carry out an inspection of the accounts. A copy of his report will be held on file.

7. Requests for Donations

TMBC Crime Prevention Panel has requested a donation.
STC already support by providing the police office and through the Snodland Partnership.

8. Christmas Lights Quotation

RECOMMENDED to accept W R Brown’s quotation to install and take down the Christmas lights.

9. Insurance for Water Pipe at Cemetery

STC does not wish to insure this.

10. TMBC Financial Arrangements Outcome

A copy of the document will be in the Office for perusal. The grant for Snodland will be £37153 for next year.

11. Review of Charges for Council Facilities

A decision needs to be made on the length of time for Exclusive Right of Burial.
Cllr Miss Moloney stated that in the current climate we must be fair to our Council Tax payers and look at the areas that the Council may have been over generous in the past. Allotments are not priced sensibly in comparison with other parishes.
Cllr Atkins suggested the extension of the Cemetery should offer a range of exclusive right periods at varying prices in different zones.
Cllr Miss Moloney supported Cllr Atkins on this issue.

12. Agree the Site of the Bowling Green

RECOMMENDED - to place bowling green as per the attached plan. (Copy on file)

13. Update on Potyns

The soil samples have been taken and the only request to date for an alternative sport was from Mr John Coomber for a Petanque area. The landlord at the Freemasons Arms may already have one of these and it would not be a good idea to double up.

14. Section 38 Agreement Catts Alley

All the necessary payments and documents have been dealt with, and this is very near to completion.

15. Correspondence

15.1 Invitation to CAB Annual General Meeting. The Clerk will ask Cllr Withey if he would be able to attend.
15.2 EDF Energy has given all parish and town councils six months notice for the maintenance contract with them. All parishes are waiting for KCC Highways to get back to us regarding who we can use in the future.
15.3 Perry’s Accountants are offering their financial services if the Town Council should need them.
15.4 Mr Taylor complained to the water company about a leak at Wyvern Close. His main concerns were accidents being caused if the water should freeze. The water company firstly told Mr Taylor it was a natural spring. Through Mr Taylor’s persistence the water company have now ascertained it is a leak. Mr Taylor is very irate about this matter, especially as the water costs are high.

16. Carnival Collection

RECOMMENDED to round up the Carnival collection to go to Crossroads Young Carers to £600.

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

The Committee was informed that Mr Roy Searing passed away on Sunday evening.
Mr Searing had been one of the founder members of the Twinning Association.

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.