PADDOCKWOOD TOWN COUNCIL
The Podmore Building, St Andrews Field, St Andrews Road
Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6HT
Telephone: 01892 837373
www.paddockwood-tc.gov.uk
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PADDOCK WOOD TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 21ST JUNE 2021 IN THE DAY CENTRE COMMERCIAL ROAD AT 7.45 PM
PRESENT: Cllr M Flashman, in the Chair
Cllr R. Atkins, (TWBC) D. Boyle, S Hamilton (KCC & TWBC)
D Kent, R. Moon, M Ridger, C. Williams, M Bailey (TWBC), B Hills (TWBC)
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs T Maxwell, 3 residents
APOLOGY: Cllrs H Atkins, D Sargison, R Turk
CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS
Welcome back to everyone. Particularly to our new Councillor Henry Atkins.
At the May meeting of the Town Council meeting notice was received of the resignation of Elizabeth Thomas as a Town Councillor. Elizabeth has served on the Council for no less than 38 years, having joined it in May 1983. She held the post of Chairman from May 1988 until September 2000 and again from May 2016 to May 2018. She also served on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council from 2002 to 2021 and held the position of Mayor from 2011 to 2012.
I should like to take this opportunity to thank Elizabeth for all the hard work and effort she has put in during her time on the Council. We shall miss her very much. I shall always remember her comment “As Town Councillors our role is to hear courteously, answer wisely, consider soberly and decide impartially. All for the love of it!”
QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS
A question was raised by a resident but as this had related to the Estates minutes which are for noting in this meeting not to be commented on, the chairman decided there was no provision for discussion.
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE
BC Atkins updated that regarding the CAV returning to Paddock Wood, the BC are waiting for a decision regarding lockdown so it may be deferred for another 4 weeks.
KCC Hamilton updated that the library is still on course to reopen, and KCC intention is that it will reopen by the summer.
C22 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
C23 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
- The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 5th May 2021 were APPROVED.
- The minutes of the Estates Committee meeting held on 6th May 2021 were NOTED.
- The minutes of the Planning & Environment Committee meeting held on 7th June 2021 were NOTED.
C24 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
- a) Item C12 – following on from the local elections held on the 6th May 2021 Henry Atkins has been elected as councillor for the West Ward. There was no election for the vacancy on the East Ward as no nominations were received. A further election will now take place on the 24th June 2021. Two nominations were received by TWBC for the vacancy.
Following Elizabeth Thomas’s resignation as a Town Councillor a request for a poll was received by 10 electors of the West Ward. That will also take place on the 24th June and two nominations have been received by TWBC for the vacancy.
This was NOTED by the councillors.
- b) C21 – The regulation 19 consultation for the Local Plan has now closed. Troy Planning had submitted a response on behalf of the Town Council, a copy of which was circulated to all members. It has also been published on the Town Council Website.
Members of the council discussed the Local Plan submission.
C25 FINANCE
- The receipts list voucher nos: 1-131 was NOTED
- Cllr Flashman proposed, Cllr Boyle seconded:
The payments list voucher nos: 1 -166 be APPROVED
CARRIED unanimously
- Cllr Flashman proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
The annual accounts be APPROVED
CARRIED 7 in favour, 1 abstain
- Internal Auditors report was NOTED, and will be referred to the next Finance Committee meeting for review.
- Cllr Boyle proposed, Cllr Moon seconded:
The Annual Governance Statement be APPROVED & SIGNED
CARRIED 6 in favour, 2 abstain
- Cllr Boyle proposed, Cllr Moon seconded:
The Annual Accounting Statements be APPROVED & SIGNED
CARRIED 6 in favour, 2 abstain
- Cllr Moon proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
The Variable Direct Debit list be APPROVED
CARRIED 7 in favour, 1 abstain
- Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
The grant request of £500 to PW lights up be APPROVED
UNANIMOUS
C26 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Cllr Flashman proposed, Cllr Hamilton seconded:
To APPROVE Cllr H Atkins request to join the Estates and Finance Committees
CARRIED 7 in favour, 1 abstain
C27 HIGHWAYS IMPROVEMENTS, COMMERCIAL ROAD
(a) KCC have launched a consultation to discuss the options for improvements to Commercial Road. Members are asked to consider the council’s response.
The Consultation can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/commercialroad. Members are asked to forward comments to the Clerk by 5th July so that a response can be drawn up and submitted for approval at the July meeting.
NOTED that Cllr B Hills offered to chase up Parking Enforcement.
(b) A survey has been published on Survey Monkey to assist the Council in drawing up the Highways Improvement Plan.
Members discussed the survey and other methods to get feedback from residents.
C28 COMMUNITY CENTRE
- a) The Community Centre Board had met on the 14th June 2021. Baxall had submitted the final figures to the Project Manager that morning. The Technical Project Manager, the Project Manager and the Quantity Surveyor will review the figures and report back to the board on the 22nd June 2021.
(b) The planning permission is still awaited.
(c) The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had asked for further information on the Town Council’s finances to progress the application for borrowing approval. This had been submitted.
(d) Cllr Boyle proposed, Cllr Moon seconded :
To APPROVE the design for the Memorial Plaque for the community centre
CARRIED 6 in favour, 2 abstain
C29 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Group has met with AECOM to discuss design codes. It was agreed that the codes should not relate to specific locations – in particular the sites specified in the draft local plan. It has been agreed that the NP now needs to push ahead as soon as possible, and our documents needs to be future proofed. There may well be changes in the DLA designs before the local plan is actually passed. This view was endorsed by Jon Herbert, our NP consultant who was also present at both the meeting with AECOM and the NP steering group meeting last week.
C30 SOUTHERN WATER
To consider the attached report from the Planning & Environment Committee.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Moon seconded:
To APPROVE that the Council do not support either option from Southern Water and that PWTC propose the siting of the storage tank underneath the buffer zone at the Berkeley Homes Badsell Road Development.
CARRIED 6 in favour (MF, CW, DB, RM, DK, MR), 1 abstain (SH), 1 against (RA)
Cllr Williams to send off on the 22nd June 2021.
C31 DELEGATED POWERS
An update on any decisions which were made was NOTED.
C32 FUTURE MEETINGS
As the capacity of the Day Centre is limited other venues have been approached to see if Council meetings could be held elsewhere. At present there are no other venues available.
The next Town Council meeting is due to be held on the 19th July when the final easing of Covid 19 measures is supposed to take place. The Town Council will be up to full strength by then with 13 members.
This will further limit the number of residents who can attend meetings.
Members are asked to consider whether the meeting due to be held on the 19th July should be delayed, alternatively the meeting could be streamed. The costs and equipment required to live stream the meeting is being sought and will be reported to the meeting if available.
Members discussed the lack of availability of larger halls where meetings could be held.
PPP, Personnel, Finance meetings to be delayed until after Covid restrictions lift.
Cllr Boyle to find out from Estates Committee whether they want it to be delayed or to go ahead with limitations.
Town Council to look into streaming and better/alternative equipment that could be used.
C33 PADDOCK WOOD CARNIVAL
- a) To receive an update on the current position.
- b) Members are asked to consider if due to the current Covid 19 concerns they wish to have a stall at the carnival if it goes ahead.
If members do not wish to have a stall, it is suggested that displays of the Council’s work are made and put in the Podmore Building windows.
Cllr Flashman proposed, Cllr Hamilton seconded
That the Council does not have a stall at the fete but posts displays in the Podmore Building’s windows.
CARRIED 7 in favour, 1 against
C34 COMMUNITY WARDEN
A new community warden has been appointed for Paddock Wood. Following discussions with the Chairman and Warden’s team leader it has been agreed that she may use the side office at the Podmore Building on occasions. This would only be when the clerks were present and only by prior arrangement. – NOTED
C35 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
(a) Chairman’s meeting.
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association
One of the concerns expressed at the meeting was the pay machine in the Eastern carpark. Frequently not working properly, long queues, people late for appointments, key presses not activiating.
Cllr Flashman proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
That the Town Council write to the Parking Departments at TWBC
CARRIED 6 in favour, 2 abstain
(c) Bereko Committee – no meeting
(d) KALC – no meeting
(e) Medway Valley Line – no meeting
(f) Hop Pickers Line
Cllr Moon updated the Council on the new unveiling of an information board in Horsmonden Green on 26th June
(g) Youth Council – no update
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre Liaison meeting – no meeting
(i) Liaison Meeting with developers – no meeting
(j) Strategic sites meeting – no meeting
C36 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 19th July 2021.
Cllr Boyle requested that he would like to be put forward to be the liaison with the Royal British Legion.
The meeting closed at 10.15pm
CHAIRMAN
