HORTON KIRBY AND
MINUTES of the MEETING of the PARISH COUNCIL held on
Present: Cllr P Bradley (Chairman)
Cllrs A Burchmore, M Powsey, D Snape, G Tripp, R
Valentine and
I
Wescombe
In attendance: C Allart, Parish Clerk
P McGarvey District
councillor
T Searles, District
councillor
R Gough, County councillor
PCSO Peter Hylands
3 members of the public
Apologies for Absence: Cllrs
D Payne and G Piller
Declarations of Interests: None
176 POLICE MATTERS
Press Release
Members agreed the wording of Cllr Burchmore’s press release on the subject of the parish
council intending to pursue compensation from perpetrators of graffiti and
other criminal damage.
PCSO Report
Our PCSO reported on various matters. He said that during the forthcoming Easter
school holidays he would be on bike and foot patrol to maximise contact with
the youngsters. There was discussion on
the break-ins and fires in the Paper Mill site.
Peter Hylands said he had asked the security
guard for a key so that he could have easy access to the site. Cllrs Valentine and
Wescombe said that they have an idea who the
youngsters were and would continue to exchange intelligence with the police.
177 REPORTS OF DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
Parish Council
for Hextable
Cllr McGarvey
reported that the Sevenoaks District Council’s Electoral Arrangements Committee had voted against a
new parish council for Hextable because the case for separation had not been proven strongly;
there had been only a slender majority from a poor response rate to the public
consultation.
Buses
Cllr McGarvey reported
that KCC was expecting a 40% increase in the take up of bus passes. He mentioned that there might be an extra
service along the A225 to Bluewater but this would
not be until next year because there was no money in the budget until then.
Casino in
Northern Part of Sevenoaks District
District councillors had been asked by Sevenoaks officers for their views on having a casino in the
northern part of the District. Cllr McGarvey
reported that all councillors in the Swanley /
northern area had said no to a casino.
There was no support for the idea from parish councillors.
178 REPORT OF
Buses
Roger Gough continued the report on buses by saying
that Southdowns residents were fairly happy that the
evening 414s are going up East Hill.
Primary
Schools Strategy
Roger Gough reported that
nothing drastic would happen at
179 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED that the Minutes of
the meeting held on
180 MATTERS ARISING
Replacement
Fence in Church Graveyard
Cllr Tripp reported that she would be arranging a
site meeting with representatives of the Horton Kirby Village Society and the
Parochial Church Council to see what needed to be done to replace the fence.
Peacocks
Cllr Snape said that the
problem to residents had been resolved as the birds were not roaming around
anymore and that an apology had been received from the Fighting Cocks’
landlords.
181 VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE
The Minutes of the last meeting held on 9 March were
received for information.
182 RECREATION & OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE
The Minutes of the last meeting held on 14 March
were received for information.
Heathside
It was noted as a matter of record that the purchase
by the Parish Council of the Heathside Recreation
Ground had been completed on
183 BURIAL GROUND
Policy
Members considered in some detail the various items
to be included in a new policy document for the management of the burial
ground.
RESOLVED that the policy
document as attached to these Minutes as appendix A be approved.
Fees from
RESOLVED that the fees from
184 FIREMAN’S RUN
Members were informed that this path had now been
resurfaced but that it had been suggested that there was now a need for
barriers to prevent cycles being ridden out into the road in a dangerous
fashion.
RESOLVED that no action be
taken on the provision of barriers on the grounds that there was no significant
change in the pathway.
Cllr Valentine felt that the tarmac work had not
been carried out properly as the company had tarmaced
over tin cans. It was agreed that the
contractor would be asked back to have a look at the work with councillors on
site.
185 PARISH COUNCILS CONSORTIUM
Members were asked who would attend this meeting and
to consider what items, if any, should be added to the agenda.
Cllrs Bradley and Tripp agreed to
attend the meeting in the Olive Seal Hall, Eynsford
on 25 April at
186 WILDLIFE GARDENING
Details from Sevenoaks
District Council about their Gardening For Wildlife
scheme 2006 and details of a workshop on Wednesday 19 April from
The following applications had been received for
comments:
SE/05/02000/FUL, 02001/LBCALT & 02002/CAC
amended
Horton Kirby Paper Mills,
Mixed development of 210 1, 2, 3 & 4 bed
residential units including 44 affordable housing units.
There was a great deal of discussion on the revised
plans for the Paper Mill site. In view
of the public show of the plans on 5 April, it was agreed to hold a special
meeting after that date and before the closing date for comments (14 April) in
order to agree this Council’s comments on the applications.
188 CLERK’S SALARY
The 2006/7 national salary award recommended by the
National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks
applicable from 1 April 2006 showing a rise of 2.94% was received for
information.
189 NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND OFFICE
ACCOMMODATION
The clerk asked Members to consider details of the new
office layout and the use of the parish room once the new assistant was
appointed.
Accommodation for the extra member of staff needed
to be sorted out as a matter of urgency as interviews were being held shortly. It was proposed that the parish room was used
during the morning session (9.30 – 11.30) with a second networked computer housed in the existing lockable cupboard. The clerk suggested that the “old” processor
and keyboard could be used but a flat screen would be needed plus another copy
of Microsoft Office and Windows xp. Alternatively, a whole new package could be
better value.
Cllrs Valentine and Wescombe gave a great deal of technical information on the
subject and offered to look at what was needed and suggest a recommendation
within a budget of £300.
190 SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS
RESOLVED that the schedule of accounts, as submitted, be approved and payments made accordingly.
191 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Top Paddock Fencing
Cllr Valentine reported his concern about the hole
in the chain link fencing and the danger of the trip wires at ground level
which had become exposed. This would be
considered as a matter of urgency at the next meeting of the Recreation and
Open Spaces Committee.
192 NEXT MEETING
Members were reminded that the May meeting will be
on Thursday 4 May because of the bank holiday falling on the first Monday.
The meeting ended at 8.55 pm.
Chairman
Date