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 17th June 2024 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood
PRESENT: Cllr R. Atkins, in the chair
Cllrs S. Hamilton (KCC), D. Kent, (TWBC) A. Mackie, R. Moon,
M. Munday, (TWBC) B. Robichaud D. Sargison, J. Thompson, C. Williams.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
Borough Cllr H Patterson
APOLOGIES: Cllr D Dray, N Maari
Borough Cllrs A Birch, A. Pitts
QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS (15 minutes)
There were no residents present.
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE (10 minutes)
No question had been submitted to the Borough or County Councillors.
Borough Cllr Munday advised that he had spoken to Borough Cllr Birch who was Chair, Community Events Working Group, about the possibility of Youth Hubs for Paddock Wood.
Borough Cllr Patterson advised that as the member for Pembury and Capel, which includes a small part of Paddock Wood, he was keen to stay in touch with Town Council.
He would be representing Capel PC at the local plan inquiry, and also expressed concern at the changes to the social housing at the Berkley Homes Estate, on Badsell Road.
C17 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams – Director of PWCCO LTD.
C18 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
(a) Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
That the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 20th May 2024 should be APPROVED – with the inclusion of Cllr Hamilton in the attendance list
CARRIED unanimously.
(b) The minutes of the Planning Environment Committee meeting held on the 20th May 2024 & 3rd June 2024 were NOTED.
(c) The minutes of the Personnel Committee meeting held on 3rd June 2024 were NOTED.
(d) The minutes of the Estates Committee meeting held on 10th June 2024 were NOTED.
C19 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
That the revised meeting dates should be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously.
C20 FINANCE
(a) The receipts list voucher nos: 67 – 98 were NOTED.
(b) Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
That the payments list voucher nos: 74 – 127 should be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously.
(c) Members noted the internal auditors report. This would be referred to the next Finance Committee meeting for review.
(d) Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
That the annual accounts should be signed
CARRIED unanimously.
(e) Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Hamilton seconded:
That the Annual Governance Statement should be APPROVED & SIGNED.
CARRIED unanimously.
(f) Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Kent seconded
That the Annual Accounting statements should be APPROVED & SIGNED
CARRIED unanimously.
(g) Cllr Kent proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That the Variable Direct Debit list should be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously.
(h) Grant request – PW & District Lions
Cllr Kent proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That a grant of £500 should be made to the Lions towards the Carnival costs.
CARRIED unanimously
(i) Rural Services Network – Market Towns
The Rural Services Network seeks to provide a voice for rural communities by representing rural services, networking between rural service organisations, and establishing and broadcasting best practice in rural service provision.
The Town Council has had a free subscription for this service for 6 months and members are asked to consider subscribing to the service. The fee is £100 + VAT. https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/
Cllr Thompson proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
That the Council should pay the subscription for a year and then review it.
CARRIED unanimously.
C21 CASUAL VACANCY
The closing date for residents to request an election following the resignation of Thomas Mobbs is 5 pm on 13th June 2024. If the Borough Council does not receive a request for an election, then the Council can co-opt a new councillor. The Clerk advised that she was waiting for an update from the Borough Council as to whether a request had been received.
C22 COMMUNITY CENTRE
(a) The Facilities Management Contract has now been signed and exchanged with the contractors. The mobilisation meeting will take place on 26th June 2024.
(b) Director’s report – noted the report and the Clerk was asked to follow up on the installation of the defibrillator and the replacement bollard.
C23 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
To receive updates from representatives
(a) Chairman’s meeting – The chairman that he attended the meeting, and the main topic of discussion were the relaunch of the Visit Tunbridge Wells website and the Community grants scheme. He would forward the presentation members when available.
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association – the meeting took place on the 12th June 2024 and the main agenda item was to improve the Shoop Local signage which was being to look faded.
(c) Bereko Committee – no report
(d) KALC – no report
(e) Medway Valley Line – suggestions were still wanted for the circular walk around Paddock Wood. This would be launched next year.
(f) Hop Pickers Line – the remaining silhouettes were due to be installed on the 25th June 2024
(g) Youth Council – would be relaunched in the autumn once exams were over.
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre – a provisional date of 23rd July was agreed for the next meeting.
(j) Highway Improvement Plan -Cllr Hamilton advised that she was trying to find out more about the location of speed indicators. She also advised that if the Town Council had a HIP then it could be used to bid for s106 highways funding.
(k) IAG – next meeting would take place on the 19th June 2024. Cllr Hamilton advised that she had asked TWBC if the CCTV could be used to greater effect.
C24 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 15th July 2024, at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road
The meeting closed at 8.30 pm