JUNE 2010 PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES

Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting

held at The Bluebell Centre, Hothfield,

on Monday 14 June 2010 at 7.00pm

[ DRAFT - to be formally accepted at next meeting ]

PRESENT:              Mr L Krause (chair), Mrs A Bramfitt, Mrs K Pender, Mrs P Sutcliffe, Mrs S Whittington, Mr J Collins, Mr P Howard,  and Mr D Parker                                                                                                                                        

PARISH CLERK:                                     Mrs J Batt

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR:                            

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:    There were four Members of the Public present for part of the meeting.

1.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

An apology for absence has been received from Mr A Rawlins (work commitment).

2.       DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no Declarations of Interest.

i)   Updating of Declarations of Interest for the Code of Conduct

Councillors are reminded that they should update their Declarations of Interest with the Monitoring Officer if necessary.

3.    DISCUSSION WITH REPRESETATIVE FROM AwCRK REGARDING A PROPOSED HOUSING SURVEY

Included in error.  The representative is due to attend the July meeting.

4.    PUBLIC INTERVAL

The meeting was opened to the Members of the Public present for questions and comment

from 7.05 – 7.30.

5.    ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 Minutes 88 were accepted and it was unanimously agreed that Mr Krause should sign

them as a true record of the meeting.

6.    MATTERS FOR REPORT ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

There were no matters for report that are not on the agenda.

7.   HOTHFIELD NEWSLETTER

 Deferred to next meeting.

8.   CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL COUNCIL BUSINESS

 KALC Parish News etc

 KALC Minutes of April Meeting and Agenda for 02.06.10

 ABC LDF Sustainable Drainage SPD

 Southern Water

 South East Water Resources Update

 Kent Minerals and Waste Development Framework – Publication of the Scoping Report for

 The Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environment Assessment

i      Litter/Fly Tipping

We continue to experience a lot of problems with litter.  The KCC Youth Project Leader

has persuaded the youngsters to help with a clear up.  The Parish Council will thank them

with a barbecue.

It was agreed that Mr Krause would ask Mr Marden whether he would like the

Parish Council to employ an assistant to help him with his work.

         Action:  Mr Krause

ii   Village Plan/Village Award

Areas of concern raised in the Plan were safety, social opportunities, and the Village Hall.

Mrs Whittington reported on the progress of the plan so far and possible future projects

and activities were discussed.

It was agreed that we need to look at what we can do to help the senior citizens in Hothfield.

Various suggestions were put forward and it was agreed to ask Mr Beckley to talk to the

older residents and ask them what they would like.

                  Action:  Mrs Whittington

Mr Krause asked Councillors to consider the possibility of an award, sponsored by

Councillors, personally, to be given to the person who is considered to have contributed

most to the village during the year.  The award will be presented at the

Annual Parish Meeting and the prize will be given in vouchers that can be spent in the

parish.  This will be discussed again next month.      

iii.  Children’s Play Area

It was unanimously agreed during the month to instruct Digley Associates to carry out the

Annual Inspection on the Youth Shelter and the MUGA.

The inspection was carried out on 13 June.

Mrs Bramfitt will purchase a book to enable her to record her weekly inspections of the

MUGA and Youth Shelter.

                  Action:  Mrs Bramfitt

iv.  Traffic Management

Mrs Whittington reported that Councillor King visited the village recently with a

representative of Kent Highways, to see the problems in School Road for themselves.

As a result KHS are going to carry out a traffic control experiment along all the roads in

the Village.  We will have to accept any advice they give regarding traffic control.

v. Bus Stop

It was agreed that the Clerk should contact Autocross and find out how much they will charge

to repair or replace the roof which has been damaged recently.

                  Action:  Clerk

If we employ an assistant for Mr Marden part of the job description will be the cleaning

of the bus shelter.

vi.  Christmas Tree

Nothing to report.

vii  Pavement Access for Mobility Scooter

Following correspondence with Kent Highway Services, a definitive list will be drawn up,

in time for next month’s meeting, of all the areas in the village where dropped kerbs are

needed. 

                  Action: Mr Collins, Mrs Bramfitt, Mrs Marden and Mrs Pender           

viii  Hothfield Education Foundation   

The Members of the Parish Council unanimously agreed to nominate Mrs Whittington

as their Representative. 

9.    FINANCE

Accounts to be paid 

           Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to pay the above accounts. 

Bank Reconciliation as at 14 June 2010 – Statements C/A 391 and R/A 155

          Balance per Cash Book                                          Balance at Bank

            Opening Balance 27172.85                                       Reserve Account  17174.20

          Receipts                 5818.09                                       Less u/c cheques     1191.54

                                      32990.94                                                                    15982.66

         Expenditure            6249.28                                       Current Account       100.00

                                      26741.66  

         Bank Charge-tbr         10.48                                        Corporate Bond    10648.52

                                      26731.18                                                                      26731.18

        Resolution: 

        It was unanimously agreed that Mr Krause should liaise with Mr Marden in future

        regarding any extra street cleansing required and Councillors gave him permission to

        authorise Mr Marden to undertake up to 5 extra hours work per month.

Earmarked Funds

           Available Funds

           Balance at Bank                        26731.18

           Less Earmarked Funds            14150.77

                                                              12580.41

          NatWest Bond (3 mths notice) 10648.52

          Immediately Available               1931.89 

With regard to the Secondary Age Youth Activities, we have been awarded £13644 which will

be delivered in 3 tranches.  In year one we will receive £3587, in year 2 we will receive £4881 and in year 3 £5176.  In addition the Hothfield Education Foundation has contributed £1000 and the Parish Council £1000 per year for each of the 3 years.

This money will be used to pay for 3 x youth workers for 3 hours per week for 3 years, for

fees for specialist activities during the 3 years and for the hire of the Village Hall over the 3

years.

Councillor King has kindly given us £3200 to be spent on Primary Age Activities. The After

School Club has been running for some weeks and the children have experienced African

dancing, singing, dancing and have undertaken a project on Hothfield Heathland.

The Parish Council are very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund, Councillor King  and

the Hothfield Education Foundation for their support with the Youth Activities.   

Adoption of Externally Audited Accounts

The accounts have not yet been received back from the auditor.

Insurance

Mr Parker took the insurance documents to check.

Action Required following Risk Assessment

Nothing to report

Big Lottery Fund Grant Update

Resolution: In order to comply with our application for Big Lottery Grant Funding,

for Secondary Youth Activities, Councillors unanimously authorised the transfer of the

£1000 grant from the Parish Council, to the Business Direct Reserve Account.                                 

10.    PLANNING

Please see attached list. 

11.    FORUM FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN COUNCILLORS

Mr Krause brought an email regarding Big Lottery Funding for Community Wildlife

Projects to the attention of Councillors.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.58 pm

Signed …………………………………………………………. Dated …….............................

                                                   Mr L Krause, Chairman  

HOTHFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

PLANNING APPLICATION RECORD 2010

DECISIONS TAKEN AT MEETING HELD 14 JUNE 2010

10/00182/AS     Mr and Mrs M Stallwood, The Kings Head, The Street, Hothfield, Ashford, Kent TN26 1ES

Demolition of existing 20th Century toilet blocks to north and south elevations.

Internal and external alterations including:  removal of internal partitions at first and second floor, replacement floor throughout ground floor area, alterations to ground floor fenestration to north, south and west elevations, rendering, tile hanging and new glazed roof to rear addition to create conservatory, 3 roof lights to north roof slope, insertion of steps to eastern elevation and removal of dormer window to western elevation

                                       Parish Council:  Support (unanimous)

The following application has been withdrawn at the applicant’s consent:-

10/00254/AS     Mr M Keeys, 1 & 2 Yonsea Villas, Maidstone Road, Ashford, Kent TN26 1AF

The demolition of two farm cottages, change of use of land to residential, erection of two new detached dwellings (relocated and reconstructed from another site), together with associated landscaping

The following application has been granted:-

10/00549/AS     Ms S Starkings, Stable Cottage, Church Lane, Hothfield, Ashford, Kent TN26 1EL

Erection of a conservatory

The following application has been refused:-

10/00123/AS     Mr H Everitt, Turners, West Street, Hothfield, Ashford, Kent TN26 1EU

 LBC                              Replacement of seven white timber framed windows

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