PADDOCK WOOD TOWN COUNCIL
The Podmore Building, St Andrews Road, Paddock Wood
Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6HT
Telephone: 01892 837373
www.paddockwood-tc.gov.uk
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NOTICE OF A MEETING OF THE ESTATES COMMITTEE TO BE held on Monday 10th July 2023 in the Day Centre Commercial Road at 7.45 pm.
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COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Cllr H Atkins, R Atkins, A Mackie, D Kent, T Mobbs, R Moon,
D Sargison, J Thompson
APOLOGIES: Cllrs H Atkins, R. Atkins
ES12 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
ES13 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
To APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on the 12th June 2023
ES14 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
To be updated on any matters arising from the previous minutes not covered elsewhere.
ES15 IMPROVEMENTS TO SKATE PARK
The Council has been approached by skateboard park users asking for the park to be upgraded.
There is currently £30,000 in the Town Council reserves and another £74,500 in section 106 funding for skatepark improvements.
It is recommended that a local consultant who has worked in both Swanley and East Peckham should be invited to attend the September meeting to look at options.
ES16 WATERING OF HANGING BASKETS
To review the current watering regime considering any further restrictions.
ES17 OLD CHURCH YARD MAINTENANCE
Complaints have been received regarding the vegetation at the Old Church Yard. Concerns were expressed last year that the cuts had been carried out earlier, allowing for two cuts a year rather than just one. However, this has resulted in the Churchyard becoming very overgrown. Members are asked to agree to returning to two cuts a year. This will prevent it from being so overgrown and also make cutting back easier.
ES18 HEDGE CUTTING
There have also been complaints regarding overhanging hedges around the fields and onto the public footways. During the period April – July it is not possible to carry out major hedge cutting due to bird nesting. Limited cutting by hand can be carried out when essential. The Council’s contractor normally cuts the main hedges in August.
Members are asked to consider two cuts a year in the future. Once before the bird nesting season and later in the year.
ES19 TENNIS COURTS
The nets and posts have been delivered and are awaiting installation. The estates manager has reported that the grass around the courts has been left to grow wild. Poppies, cornflowers and wild geraniums are now growing there. Members are asked to agree that this can be left as a wild flower are with additional planting later in the season.
ES20 LONG GRASS AREAS
The long grass areas at all of our sites need wildflowers to be added. Members are asked to decide whether the Estates manager can invest in these areas in the autumn and spring by purchasing plants and seeds to enhance these areas.
ES21 FOAL HURST WOOD
There has been a request from a volunteer to spray the paths with glyphosate. Members are asked whether they support this request to be carried out by the Estates team.
ES22 RINGDEN AVENUE ALLOTMENTS
The water pipes are leaking at Ringden Avenue allotments. It is likely that a full section of pipe requires repairing. A quote for this work is awaited.
ES23 CEMETERY FENCING IMPROVEMENTS
At the April 2022 estates meeting, a proposal was given to install concrete blocks along the fence line of the Cemetery to prevent incursions. The Estates Manager has been requested to revise this quote. The current Cemetery budget allows for £7000 for ditch/bollards to be installed.
There are 2 options available to the Council:
- To purchase and deliver to site 25 concrete blocks 1.4m long and weight of around 1.2 tonne at £100 each. Then, a contractor to soil up the interior side of the blocks to hide them using the existing soil waste from burials and continue this over the next few years. This is the cheaper option.
- To request an updated price on ditches and bund which was passed last year.
ES24 REPLACEMENT OF LIGHTS IN PODMORE BUILDING
Please see attached quote for repairs to lights in the Podmore Building, this is to replace the remaining “open” lights. This amount can be covered in the budget for Podmore maintenance.
ES25 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will take place on 14th August 2023.
NICHOLA REAY
Clerk to the Council
4th July 2023