PADDOCK WOOD TOWN COUNCIL
The Podmore Building, St Andrews Road, Paddock Wood
Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6HT
Telephone: 01892 837373
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MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ESTATES COMMITTEE to be Monday 14th February 2022 at 7.45pm in the Day Centre, Commercial Road.
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PRESENT: Cllr D Boyle, in the Chair
Cllrs H Atkins, R. Atkins, R. Moon, D. Sargison
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
APOLOGIES: Kevin Butler, Estates Manager
Cllr M Flashman
ES62 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no Declarations of Interest.
ES63 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Prior to the approval of the minutes Cllr R Atkins queried whether the meeting had been quorate, and put forward the following motion, which was seconded by Cllr H Atkins:
That the last meeting was not quorate and did not follow the Terms of Reference.
VOTING 2 in favour, 3 against. The Motion was therefore LOST.
The minutes of the meeting held on the 13th December 2021 were APPROVED and signed as a true record.
ES64 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
- a) ES53(a) – the specimen trees have been planted at Putlands, and the whips have been taken to FHW and planted. The trees are part of the Queens Green Canopy project – pictures will be taken and uploaded on the official website https://queensgreencanopy.org/
- b) Day Centre Tree stumps – a scan of the area has taken place and the contractors have advised that the stumps are too close to the cables to be ground out.
- c) ES60 – Invicta Law have been contacted and asked to act on the Council’s behalf.
- d) Bench at Ringden Avenue
The Grant funding has been approved and the contractor will install the bench as soon as possible. Permission will need to be obtained from KCC to work on the highway.
- e) The council’s insurance company has agreed to pay for the damage to the fencing at the Memorial Playing Field following tree damage last summer.
- f) Contractors have re laid the hedge of St Andrews Old Churchyard. A lot of replacement hedging has been required due to the amount of tree ivy.
ES65 GREEN LANE POND
Members considered the attached report and the update from the Clerk. SW and the Environment Agency had completed monitoring the area and had advised, by telephone that the pond should be left to recover, but might benefit from dredging.
The Clerk was asked to contact the council’s pond maintenance company to seek their advice.
ES66 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
The council’s contract for the Christmas lights has now expired. The contractors have offered to renew the contract for another three years at a cost of £5800. A new scheme would cost £8120. The council had budgeted £10,000 for Christmas Decorations in total, which also has to include installation and the cost of the trees.
Cllr Moon proposed, Cllr Boyle seconded:
The existing contract is renewed for a further three years.
CARRIED unanimously
ES67 HANGING BASKETS
As it is the Platinum Jubilee the Council’s plant contractor has advised that they can put together a colour scheme of Red, White, Blue & Silver.
The cost will be £4136 including installation. The Council has budgeted £5,000 for Town Centre planting.
Cllr Boyle proposed, Cllr H Atkins seconded:
That the quote should be accepted, and the order placed for Jubilee colours.
CARRIED unanimously
ES68 FOAL HURST WOOD
The section 106 funding which had been allocated to replace the footbridges is not yet available. As two bridges are in urgent need of replacement it is recommended that existing funding of £3000 in the FHW budget should be used to replace them.
Cllr Boyle proposed, Cllr Moon seconded:
That the £3000 from the existing budget should be used to pay for the bridges.
CARRIED unanimously
It was asked by members if additional interpretation boards could be sourced.
ES69 TERMS OF REFERENCE
Members discussed the revised terms of reference and felt that further revisions were required. Cllr Boyle would discuss this with the Cllr Flashman chairman of the PPP Committee.
ES70 PADDOCK WOOD FOOTBALL CLUB
Members considered the request from Paddock Wood Football Club to use the rugby pitch for parking on the weekend of 18/19 June for their football tournament.
Cllr Boyle Proposed, Cllr H Atkins seconded:
That the Council should not give permission due to:
- potential damage to the pitch.
- Narrowness of the gate accessing onto Mascalls Court Road. It is only wide enough for one vehicle.
CARRIED unanimously
Members suggested they should approach Putlands Sports and Leisure Centre to see if they could use their car park.
ES71 DATE of NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on the 14th March 2022.
The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.