SEPTEMBER 2011 PARISH COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES

Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting

held at The Bluebell Centre, Hothfield,

on Monday 12 September 2011 at 7.00pm

[ DRAFT - to be formally accepted at next meeting ]

PRESENT:                                               Mr L Krause (chair), Mrs J Colby, Mrs P Sutcliffe, Mrs E Turner

                                                                   Mr J Collins, Mr P Eckersley, Mr P Howard and Mr D Parker

PARISH CLERK:                                    Mrs J Batt

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR:                            

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:    There were 3 Members of the Public present for the first part

of the meeting.

1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

An Apology for Absence has been received from Mr J Patel (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.     PUBLIC INTERVAL

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

4.     ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Minutes 100 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 Sutcliffe

5.     MATTERS FOR REPORT ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

There were no Matters for Report.

6.     RISK ASSESSMENTS

 All the items raised on the Digley report have been dealt with.

 Mr Parker reported that he had carried out the six monthly risk inspection.  He will source

 some “No climbing signs” for the bus shelter.  He has given a copy of the risk

 assessment to Mrs Marden so that the Village Hall Committee can deal with the

 issues relating to the hall.       

7.      CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL COUNCIL BUSINESS

ABC re Parish Forum

Clerk and Councils Direct  

Royal Horticultural Society

Glasdon

KCC Consultation on KCC’s Countryside Access Improvement Plan

KALC Finance Conference 2011

Clerk and Councils Direct

Email Correspondence

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

Grass Cutting

The members of Community Payback have cut various areas of grass around the village.

Request to place a Book Bank in Hothfield

Councillors did not feel they could give permission for a book bank in the village, but they

suggested that the British Heart Foundation should contact the Bluebell Centre and ask

whether they would be able to take a wheelie bin.

Parish Council nomination for 2 Ex Officio Trustees on the Hothfield Education Foundation

Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to nominate Mrs Highwood and

Mrs Whittington as Ex Officio Trustees on the Hothfield Education Foundation   

8.    FINANCE      

       Accounts paid in August   

         The above payments were authorised by Councillors Krause, Parker and Howard

 
          Accounts to be paid at this meeting

            Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to pay the above accounts.   

            Proposed Mr Collins                              Seconded  Mr Parker

            Bank Balance per Cash Book                                       Balance at Bank

            Earmarked Funds     

Adoption of Externally Audited Accounts  

Omitted from the Agenda in error.

The Annual Return has been received back from the District Auditor with no

Matters Arising.  The Completion of Audit Notice and a copy of the accounts will be posted on the notice board once it is installed.

Report on the Review of Documents by the Finance and Policy Working Group

Mr Krause reported that all was in order with the documents.

Insurance – Self Insured Assets

Resolution:  Councillors unanimously agreed to self insure the Litter Cart.

All other assets are insured.

Request for ESA funding from the Bluebell Centre

Following discussion Councillors unanimously agreed that the Clerk should write and inform

Mrs Parker that, whilst they are keen to support the work of the Bluebell Centre and to

fund activities for the children of Hothfield, they do not feel that the money given to

Hothfield for Extended School Activities should be used to pay for the parents take part in

outings.  The cost of the coaches required to transport the children seemed to be excessive and

it was considered that the money would be better spent funding activities in the village.

9.      PLANNING

 Please see attached list.

10.   FORUM FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN COUNCILLORS

Mr Howard reported that the Summer Fete made in the region of £200 profit.

Mr Parker is currently taking bookings for the Village Hall.

The lottery money is to be used to pay for the removal of the Ash Tree from the car park as it is dangerous.

There is a problem with the sewerage backing up.  Mr Parker will contact Environmental Health.

The Harvest Supper is being held on 1 October.

Subscriptions to the Hothfield Lottery are due for renewal.

Mrs Sutcliffe updated councillors on the Youth Project.  A full report will be made at the October meeting.     

The Clerk was asked to write to Oakover Nurseries to thank them for the Gift Token they donated as a prize for the Garden Competition.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.50 pm.

HOTHFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

PLANNING APPLICATION RECORD 2011

DECISIONS TAKEN AT MEETING HELD 12 SEPTEMBER 2011

11/01015/AS     Hothfield Car Sales, Maidstone Road, Westwell, Ashford, Kent TN26 1AP

                          Change of use of existing car showroom to workshop for MOT testing (use class B2),

                          External changes to the showroom building to include new steel framed cladding to the

                          Roof and walls and the insertion of a steel framed roller door.  The erection of a steel

                          framed building for car valeting.

                                     Parish Council:  Support

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