MARCH 2011 PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES

Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting

held at The Bluebell Centre, Hothfield,

on Monday 14 March 2011 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, Mr D Parker and Mr A Rawlins

                                             Mr D Beckley, Community Warden

PARISH CLERK:              Mrs J Batt

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR:                            

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:    There were 3 Members of the Public present.

Prior to the meeting Mrs Angela Sale discussed volunteering at The Sure Start Centres with councillors and members of the Public present. 

Concern was raised that the necessity for volunteers to have been CRB checked was a KCC, not a legal requirement.  It was felt that this discouraged some people from volunteering and Mrs Sale agreed to discuss this with her colleagues.

1.        APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no Apologies for Absence.

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.    PUBLIC INTERVAL

There meeting was opened to Members of the Public from 7.05 - 7.20 for questions and comment. 

Although questions and comments made under the Public Interval are not generally minuted, they are taken into account by members when discussing the issues to which they refer and may be noted under the appropriate minute heading.  The Members of the Parish Council encourages contributions and consultation by Members of the Public and would welcome written submissions.

Where applicable an item raised during the Public Interval will be included on the next agenda.

4.     ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Minutes 95 were accepted and it was unanimously agreed that Mr Krause should sign them as a true record of the meeting.

Proposed  Mr Collins                Seconded  Mrs Bramfitt 

5.      MATTERS FOR REPORT ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

 There were no Matters for Report that were not included on the agenda.

6.      RISK ASSESSMENTS

Mr Parker reported on the Risk Assessment he carried out. 

Mr Parker will send a copy of the Risk Assessment to the members of the Village Hall Committee to enable them to deal with items relating to the Hall.

Action:  Mr Parker

7.      CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL COUNCIL BUSINESS

 KALC Minutes of Meeting held 02.02.11

 Porchlight

 Clerk and Councils Direct

 Caldecott Foundation

 Audit Commission

 ABC Communications and Policy re Ashford Voice

 ABC Chairman’s Report of the Parish Forum held 26.01.11

 ABC Strategy, Partnerships and Communications  - recycling

 ABC Planning and Development Services – Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004)

 Regulation 17 – Town and Country Planning (Local development) (England) (Amendment)

 Regulations 2008 and 2009

 ABC Ashford Play Matters Strategy Achievements 2007-2011

 KALC Agenda for 06.04.11

 KCC re Explore Kent Walking Festival 2011

             Email Correspondence

Mr Krause did not bring any emails to the attention of councillors. 

i.       Tidying the Village – Rubbish Bins/Litter Collection Equipment

Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to purchase the following equipment from Glasdon:-

1 x Metal Guppy External Litter Bin in Black   £237.28

1 x Skipper Litter Collection Cart - Sack Retention Model in Green     £257.93

Mr Howard offered to take delivery of the equipment.

Action:  Clerk

ii.   Village Hall

               Concern was expressed that when the KCC Youth Leader is not present at the

                  Youth Club, the young people attending are not under control. 

                    Resolution:  Councillors agreed 8:1 that Mrs Whittington and Mrs Sutcliffe

                  should talk to the KCC Youth Leader and ask her to cancel the club if she is not

                  able to attend.

                    Proposed:  Mr Collins            Seconded  Mrs Bramfitt    

                 Action:  Mrs Whittington and Mrs Sutcliffe

iii   Antisocial Behaviour and Littering

      Mr Beckley updated councillors on the problems in the village.  Steps are being taken to

          try and improve the situation.

         Resident should report all incidents of anti-social behaviour to the police.

iv   Bus Shelter

 The roof has been replaced and the cheque will be sent to Data Tooling. 

 This item to be removed from future agendas

v.    MUGA

 A member of the Public present during the Public Interval reported that one of the litter

   bins is missing and the second on needs repairing.  A new bin is to be ordered.

 Delay Timer

 Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agree to accept the quote of £290.00 + VAT

 from   Kingsnorth Electrical for a Delay Timer which will be set to operate during

 certain hours.

 Action:  Clerk

 It was agreed that signs should be installed informing users of the location of the timer

 switch and the times that it can be used.  Mr Parker offered to contact a local sign maker

 to ask for a price.

Action:  Mr Parker

vi      Use of Salt around Village during Bad Weather             .     

           It was reported that we hope to have 2 salt bins installed in the village by next winter.

           Once the bins are in place the locations and arrangements regarding their use will be

           publicised.

vii    Wealden Wheels

         The grant funding has yet to be received by the Council. 

           The Clerk asked Mrs Whittington for a copy of the Grant Application Form for the

           Auditor.

           Action:  Mrs Whittington

 8.      FINANCE  

 Clerks Salary

            The Clerk reported that she had been told that although Parish Clerks have not been awarded a

             pay claim linked to inflation, they are allowed to move up one point on the National Scale.

             Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to increase the Clerks salary to SPC point

             24 - £10.841 per hour, backdated to April 2010.     

         Accounts to be paid

            Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to pay the above accounts.   

            Bank Reconciliation as at 28 February 2011 Statements C/A 400 and R/A 165

         Balance per Cash Book                                          Balance at Bank

            Opening Balance  27172.85                                     Reserve Account  12486.51

          Plus Receipts        15241.55                                    Less u/c cheques             4.16 

                                       42414.40                                                                   12482.35

          Less Payments     19151.32                                     Current Account        100.00

                                       23263.08                                     NatWest Bond       10680.73

          Less transfer to                                                                                       23263.08                                                                                                   

           Available Funds

           Balance at Bank                        23263.08                               

           Less paid 14.02.11                       1443.92           

            Less Earmarked Funds              7280.09

                                                               14539.07

         NatWest Bond (3 mths notice)    10680.73

         Available Funds                             3858.34

                   Earmarked Funds   

            The remaining from the money earmarked for a donation towards the Hospice and the

           £22.15 from the money earmarked for the Bus Shelter has been transferred to the Road

           Sweeping Account to help pay for the litter bin and litter cart.  The balance will be taken

           from the Road Sweeping Grant when it is received from ABC.

           The debit balance for the newsletter will be removed from the list of Earmarked Funds.

           The Clerk will contact Mr Funnell regarding the administration of the Big Lottery Grant.

           Standing Orders

           Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the revised Standing Orders.

           Child Protection Policy

           Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the Child Protection Policy.

           Complaints Procedure

           Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the Complaints Procedure.

           Equal Rights Policy

           Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the Equal Rights Policy.  

           Policy for Dealing with the Press

           Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the Policy for Dealing with the

           Press.                                                                                                                                                                                    

           Localism Bill

           Councillors support this Bill and hope to see it utilised.

           Residents Handbook

           This will be given further consideration at a future meeting.

9.      PLANNING

Please see attached list.

We have received the following Notice of Order:-

Highways Act 1980, KCC (Public footpath AW170 (part Hothfield), Public Path Diversion

 and Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2011.

10.    FORUM FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEEN COUNCILLORS

         Mr Howard suggested the village should hold a Best Garden Competition.   This suggestion

         will be added to the next agenda.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.00 pm.

HOTHFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

PLANNING APPLICATION RECORD 2011

DECISIONS TAKEN AT MEETING HELD 14 MARCH 2011

11/00167/AS     Mr and Mrs Chaney, Heath Cottage, Maidstone Road, Hothfield,

                                        Ashford, Kent TN26 1AN

                                        Detached garage with storage above               

                                       Parish Council:  No Comment

The following decision notices have been received from Ashford Borough Council:-

11/00045/AS     Mr J Latter, 8 West Street, Hothfield, Ashford, Kent TN26 1ET

LBC                               Porch hood to front door                 

                                       Borough Council: Permit

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