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
NOTICE OF A MEETING OF PADDOCK WOOD TOWN COUNCIL TO BE HELD ON Monday 17th March 2025 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood
COUNCIL MEMBERS: Cllr R. Atkins, K. Braakensiek. D. Dray, S. Hamilton, D. Kent,
- Mackie, R. Moon, M. Munday, L. Norcott, B. Robichaud
- Sargison, J. Thompson, C. Williams.
Residents do not need to attend a meeting to ask a question of the Council. Questions can be sent at any time to the Council offices using the details above.
QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS (15 minutes)
If you wish to speak to the Council about any item on the agenda, please see the updated Protocol for the Public attending Town Council and Committee meetings, which can be found on the website or can be obtained from the Town Council offices.
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE (10 minutes)
Town Councillors should submit questions a week in advance, if possible, to the Borough/County Councillor concerned (copied to the Town Clerk).
APOLOGIES:
C124 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams – Director of PWCCO LTD.
C125 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
(a) To APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 17th February 2025
(b) To NOTE the minutes of the Planning Environment Committee meeting held on the 17th February 2025.
(c) To NOTE the minutes of the Estates Meeting on the 10th March 2025.
C126 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE
(a) C119 -The Deputy Clerk has raised the issue of a wood land burial site with the borough planners. They have recommended that the Town Council speaks to the developers directly.
C127 FINANCE
If members have any queries on the finances, please contact the RFO or Clerk before Noon on Thursday.
(a) To NOTE the receipts nos: 213 – 228
(b) To APPROVE the payments list: 671 – 727.
(c) To agree the Reserves Transfer list. (attached)
(d) To consider the attached grant request from Paddock Wood & District Lions
(e) To APPROVE the release of funds for the VE Day event by Heritage Paddock Wood. The Town Council has earmarked £8,000 for the event.
(f) VE Day Flag – to decide whether to purchase a VE Day Flag, see attached.
(g) UK Shared Prosperity Fund – the Town Council has been advised that TWBC has some fund remaining from the fund which needs to be allocated and spent by the end of the financial year. An update will be given to the meeting.
C126 COMMUNITY CENTRE UPDATE
(a) To NOTE the attached report for members only.
(b) The next quarterly meeting with the council’s FM consultant and the FM contractors will take place on Friday 14th March 2025. The Clerk & Estates Manager will attend.
C127 PITCH IMPROVEMENTS – S106 FUNDING
To consider the attached recommendation from the Estates Committee meeting held on Monday 10th March 2025.
C128 HIGHWAYS IMPROVEMENT PLAN
To consider the attached report from the Chairman of the Council. The Highway Improvement Plan Information Pack 2024/25 is in the members shared area for information or can be found on the Town Council website.
C129 KENT RESILIENCE PLANNING
There will be a free in-person community resilience planning workshop being held for parish, town and community councils on Thursday 3 April 2025. The event is being run on behalf of the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum. A place has been booked for a representative from Paddock Wood Town Council to attend. The Chairman of the Council has asked if the Vice-Chairman of the Council & each committee would be prepared to carry this forward.
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
C130 LOCAL PLAN UPDATE
TWBC is still hopeful of a final consultation date in Spring, with an adoption date during the Summer. They are awaiting response from the inspector since submitting further modification documents.
Troy Hayes is aware of the timescale and will be updated as and when
Full details on the local plan’s progress can be found at https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/local-plan/examination-of-the-local-plan
C131 DEVOLUTION
In order to help council’s keep up to date on the Local Government Re-organisation KALC has created an area on their website. Members will be able to follow the plans on the following website – https://www.kentalc.gov.uk/devolution. The Clerk will be attending the NALC Power Shift conference on 23rd June 2025. https://www.nalc.gov.uk/events/power-shift-2025.html The Leader of TWBC will be holding Parish Chairman’s Briefing prior to this meeting.
C132 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
To receive updates from representatives.
(a) Chairman’s Meeting
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association
(c) Bereko Committee – the soup lunch will take place on 21st March 2025.
(d) KALC
(e) Medway Valley Line
(f) Hop Pickers Line – work is progressing on the installation of the sculpture, information boards and buffers at The Burrows development. The HPLG has requested Town Council support for the installation work. See attached letter. The group will next meet on Tuesday 11th March 2025.
(g) Youth Hub:
- It is hoped to have access to a Youth Worker
- two rooms booked from the last Friday of April & going forward.
- Some funds have been offered by local businesses, but they will want to be acknowledged on publicity material. Members are asked to confirm that this will be acceptable
- Volunteers will be needed and will be advertised for by the Town Council
- The office will assist with social media for the Youth Hub
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre – see newsletter in the shared area for members
(i) IAG
(j) Bockingfold Solar Farm – next meeting will take place on 11th March 2025.
C133 CLERK’S LEAVE
The Clerk has requested permission from the Council to take an extended holiday in the summer from Friday 27th June – Friday 18th July 2025, inclusive.
Under section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 the following items should be exempt from the press and public due to legal privilege & commercial confidentiality.
C134 FORWARD PLAN
To agree the attached notes & actions from the Forward Plan meeting. To agree a working party to develop the Plan for public consultation.
C135 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Annual Town Meeting will take place on Wednesday 9th April 2025, at 7 pm in the Community Centre.
The next meeting of the Town Council will be held on Tuesday 22nd April 2025, at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road
NICHOLA REAY,
Clerk to the Council
11th March 2025