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 15th January 2024 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood
PRESENT: Cllr H Atkins, in the Chair
Cllrs R. Atkins, (TWBC) D. Kent, T. Mobbs, R. Moon (TWBC) M. Munday, (TWBC) D. Sargison, J. Thompson, C. Williams.
APOLOGIES: Cllr A Mackie, D. Dray,
ABSENT: Cllr N. Maari, S Hamilton
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE
Borough Councillor Moon advised members that the Local Plan consultation had been opened and encouraged everyone to respond.
He also advised that if the draft plan was accepted then there would be a Call for Sites and it was likely that there would be a number from Paddock Wood put forward.
C112 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams declared that she was a director of the PWCCO Ltd.
C113 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
a) Cllr H Atkins proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That minutes of the meeting held on 18th December 2023 were APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously.
b) The minutes of the P & E Committee held on 18th December 2023 & 2nd January 2024 were NOTED.
c) The minutes of the Finance Committee held on 8th January 2024 were NOTED.
C114 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE
There were no other matters arising.
C115 FINANCE
a) Members considered the attached budget for 2024/25 which was recommended for approval by the Finance Committee.
The budget put forward allowed for investment in the town council, in particular the Estates Committee and Team.
The following points were raised by some members:
- The increase in the precept in 2023 was justified by the community centre.
- A 12% decrease was disappointing.
- No justification for the investment,
- The Town Council has put on hold a number of items over the year and cannot put them off any longer.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr H Atkins seconded:
That the proposed budget should be APPROVED
CARRIED 7 in favour (Cllrs H Atkins, T. Mobbs, R. Moon, M Munday, D. Sargison, J Thompson, C Williams) 1 against (Cllr R. Moon)
b) Cllr H Atkins proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
The precept of £742,038 was APPROVED.
This equates to a 12% decrease in the 2023/24 budget.
CARRIED 8 in favour (Cllrs H Atkins, R Atkins, T. Mobbs, R. Moon, M Munday, D. Sargison, J Thompson, C Williams) 1 against (Cllr R. Moon)
c) Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Mobbs seconded:
That the payments, list 554 – 619 should be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously.
d) The receipts list 205 – 213 was NOTED.
e) Grant Application
Cllr Mobbs proposed, Cllr Moon seconded:
That the grant for £500 to Vivid Streets should be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously.
Members asked if the design for the BT Boxes by the War Memorial could reflect the location and maybe include poppies and hops.
Cllr H Atkins proposed, Cllr Mobbs seconded:
Under section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 the following items should be exempt from the press and public for contractual & commercial reasons.
CARRIED unanimously.
C116 COMMUNITY CENTRE
a) Update on the FM contract – The Estates Manager and Clerk had met with the FM consultant to discuss the contract. A draft specification based on the previous contract and the Council’s current requirements had been developed. The clerk gave an update on progress.
b) An update on the currently financial position was given.
c) Members noted the report from the Directors.
d) Members asked for an up-to-date snagging list.
The meeting was re-opened to the press and public.
C117 SALUS YOUTH WORK
All members of the Town Council had received a letter from Salus, who currently provide youth services on behalf of KCC. Salus have advised that KCC have taken the decision to end the commission of youth provision from the end of March 2024. At present they deliver youth services in Paddock Wood on a Monday evening from 4 pm – 5.30 pm.
Salus are seeking funding to enable them to continue this provision.
Cllr R Atkins proposed, Cllr Mobbs seconded.
Salus should be invited to apply for a grant using the Town Council’s standard grant application process.
CARRIED unanimously.
C118 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
To receive updates from representatives
(a) Chairman’s meeting – next meeting will take place on 17th March 2024
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association – next meeting will take place on 17th January 2024
(c) Bereko Committee – the next meeting would take place on the 16th January
(d) KALC – no meeting
(e) Medway Valley Line – the next meeting was on the 18th January
(f) Hop Pickers Line – the Hop Pikers Line AGM will take place on Wednesday 27th March at
2 pm in the Community Centre. All members are invited. The application to install silhouette of steam engines on the lighting columns along the PROW WT254 (the Black Path) has been submitted to KCC and permission had been granted. A meeting has also been held with Network Training Centre for permission to install additional silhouettes on their fence. The permit to install a lectern style interpretation board on the grass opposite the John Brunt VC pub has been received and work is underway to produce the lectern. It is hoped that all installations will be in place by the AGM date.
(g) Youth Council – Cancelled
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre – date of next meeting TBA
C119 MOTION FROM MEMBERS
Cllr R Atkins has proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
The Town Council makes available the Clerk’s audio recording of all council meetings by hosting them on the internet for the public to be able to listen to them. Recordings should be available for playback for at least three years.
Cllr R Atkins asked for the time limit of 3 years to be removed from the motion.
A copy of the Town Council’s current protocol on recording and filming meetings was attached.
The Council’s Data Protection office had also been consulted and he had advised against publishing recordings of meetings. If members did decide to agree to the publishing of recordings, then those attending the meeting would have the right to have their contribution removed – this would include councillors and staff. His report was attached for members information.
Members discussed whether they wished to publish audio recordings of council meetings.
Cllr R Atkins who had put forward the motion advised that he had spoken to TWBC Democratic Services. The Borough Council has information on its website regarding speaking at meetings and recordings and the clerk reads out a statement. All TWBC meetings are live streamed and published on the internet.
The following points were raised:
- TWBC considers their procedures to be adequate.
- Risk of content being manipulated.
- If parts of the meeting were redacted as attendees did not wish to be published then there would be little point in publishing the recording
- The idea was to make the meetings more transparent and open
Following the debate, a vote was taken on the motion
VOTING: 4 in favour (Cllrs H Atkins, R Atkins, J Thompson, M. Munday) 5 against (Cllrs Williams, Moon, Sargison, Kent, Mobbs)
The Motion was therefore LOST.
C120 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will take place on Monday 19th February 2024 at 7.45 in the Day Centre.
The meeting closed at 9.30 pm
