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 July 2024 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood
PRESENT: Cllr R. Atkins, Chairman
Cllrs S. Hamilton, (KCC) D. Kent, (TWBC) A. Mackie, M. Munday, (TWBC) B. Robichaud D. Sargison, J. Thompson, CWilliams.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
Borough Councillor A Birch
APOLOGIES: Cllrs D Dray, N. Maari, R. Moon
Borough Councillors A Pitts, H Patterson
QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS (15 minutes)
There were no residents present.
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE (10 minutes)
The clerk advised that the council had been contacted by a local resident asking for additional & larger bins in the Town Centre. Borough Cllr Munday advised that all the borough councillors had also been contacted and BC Pitts was following this up.
The matter as to whether there would be any recycling bins going forward was also raised.
The Borough & County Cllrs were also asked about additional services which need to be provided with the planned increased housing in the area. How was the provision calculated? There was concern that many of the services were not being provided until after the houses were built.
CC Hamilton advised that there were high levels of conversation going on over this matter & that the NHS had to make an application for S 106 money to fund services.
Borough Cllr Birch advised that there was a Football Kit competition which was open to under 18s which was sponsored by Ring go.
The Love Where You Live awards were now open and closing date for nominations was 1st September 2024, with the awards being announced on the 4th October 2024.
BC Kent advised that an extra day for the Local Plan Inquiry would take place on the 4th September. This would be to look at Gypsy & Traveller Provision and a Highways update. He would also be raising at the inquiry concerns about Dampiers Corner improvements. There would be a further public consultation to determine whether the plan was sound.
KCC Hamilton advised that there were discussions ongoing regarding affordable housing and whether the schemes were still viable.
BC Birch advised that that Town & Country Housing had been taken over by the Peabody Trust and there was currently an embargo on buying new property until next year.
C25 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams – Director of PWCCO LTD.
Cllr Hamilton – Heritage Paddock Wood
C26 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
(a) The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 17th June 2024 were APPROVED.
(b) The minutes of the Planning Environment Committee meeting held on the 17th June 2024 & 1st July 2024 were NOTED.
(c) The minutes of the Estates Committee meeting held on 8th July 2024 were NOTED.
C27 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE
a) The Audit Papers had been sent to the External Auditors and the relevant notices have been posted on the Council notice boards & website.
b) The Borough Council elections office have advised that they have not received a request for an election to the Casual Vacancy created by the resignation of Tom Mobbs. The Town Council may now co-opt. Notices have been placed inviting residents to apply. Applications will be considered at the August meeting.
C28 COMMUNITY CENTRE
a)The first meeting with Baxalls and Matt Hayden regarding the FM contract had taken place. The Deputy Clerk had attended in the Clerk’s absence. A meeting with the Community Centre Directors/Manager is needed to set up clear areas of responsibility.
Cllr Kent proposed, Cllr Hamilton seconded:
That the Clerk and Deputy Clerk meet with the Directors & Centre manager to draw up a simple document outlining the areas of responsibility. Matt Hayden should also be invited to attend the meeting. Either Cllr Mackie or Thompson would also attend.
CARRIED with one abstention
b) The first AGM for Paddock Wood Community Centre Operations Ltd will take place on the 13th August 2024. This is NOT a public meeting and only shareholders may attend. The Town Council is the sole shareholder. The agenda must be published 14 clear days before the meeting.
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
Town Council holds an extra meeting once the agenda has been published to consider any responses it may wish to make to any resolutions on the agenda. Once the Town Council has agreed its responses the Chairman or Vice Chairman are authorised to speak on behalf of the Town Council at the meeting.
CARRIED with one abstention.
c) Electric Car Chargers – Kent County Council are looking to upgrade the car charges to fast chargers in the Memorial Car park.. UK Power Networks have determined that additional electrical capacity will be required to power the chargers and an additional substation will be required. The upgraded chargers will replace the current chargers. This will be at no cost to the Council or community centre. The new substation will be located alongside the existing one and will need to be craned onto the field.
Following a discussion Members did not feel they had adequate information to be able to decide on whether they agreed to this or not.
They require further information on the route of the cables, and the impact it may have on the community centre.
The Clerk would ask for a site meeting and report back.
C29 LOCAL PLAN UPDATE
a) Cllr Williams up dated members on the current progress of the Local Plan Inquiry as follows:
Stage 3 Hearings
Troy Hayes of Troy Planning is representing Paddock Wood Town Council at the hearings accompanied by a member of the PWTC Planning Committee.
Each registered party is only allowed one speaker at the table which requires effective communication during the sessions.
Week 1 Hearings
The initial hearings dealt with the following issues:
- Green belt, the sustainability appraisal and early review of the plan (10 year plan).
- Strategy for Tudeley Village
- Meeting housing needs
The submissions were circulated to members before the June hearings.
The hearings resulted in requests to TWBC for additional information, which has required review by Troy Hayes prior to meetings.
Week 2 Hearings
Troy Hayes submitted PWTC’s additional information for Week 2.
The hearings take place on:
- Hearing Day 4: Tuesday 16 July 2024 (Morning session 10:00-13:00; afternoon session 14:00-17:00)
- Hearing Day 5: Wednesday 17 July 2024 (Morning session 9:30-13:00; afternoon session 14:00-17:00)
- Hearing Day 6: Thursday 18 July 2024 (Morning session 9:30-13:00; Reserve session (if needed) afternoon 14:00-17:00)
July 16th relates to the strategy for Paddock Wood and includes questions relating to:
- Flooding and flood risk
- Education provision
- Sports and leisure provision
- Highways infrastructure
- Viability and infrastructure provision
- Employment land
- Gypsy and traveller accommodation
- Green belt
- Policy requirements
July 17th will cover highway matters including strategic and local road networks and policy requirements in the morning and other matters (local green space, material changes since Stage 2) in the afternoon.
July 18th will continue “other matters.”
There are two further days planned as reserve sessions and it looks as if there will be a session on housing needs on 24th July, which PWTC will need to be represented at:
- Hearing Day 7: Friday 19 July 2024 (Reserve session (if needed) Morning 9:30-13:00; afternoon 14:00-17:00)
- Hearing Day 8: Wednesday 24 July (Reserve session (if needed) Morning 10:00-13:00; afternoon 14:00-17:00)
Cllr Williams will attend with Troy Hayes on 16th, 17th and the morning of 18th July.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Wiliams for attending the hearings.
Borough Councillors Pitts & Kent would also be attending the hearings as well as CC Hamilton.
BC Kent advised that the following issues had also been discussed or were due to be brought up.
- The garden village at Tudeley
- Colt Hill Bypass
- Local Green spaces
- Housing needs supply.
Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
That a further £3,500 from the Council’s professional fees budget should be allocated for the additional hearing days.
CARRIED unanimously
C30 FINANCE
a) The receipts nos: 98 – 116 were NOTED.
b) Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That the payments list: 128 – 186 be APPROVED
CARRIED unanimously
C31 MEMORIAL FIELD
A request has been received from Heritage Paddock Wood who are hoping to hold an 80th Anniversary of VE Day event on the Memorial Field on Saturday 10th May 2025 from 12-6 – which would require the field from around 8am to start setting up. They would also like use of the Pavilion & car park for the day.
Subject to the Town Council approving the use of the field they will also contact the Community Centre to see if they can use that as well.
The group are also seeking funding for the event and this will be referred to the Finance Committee as and when the level of funding is known.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
That Heritage Paddock Wood is given permission to use the field for the event.
CARRIED 1 abstention
C32 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
The Chairman asked that written reports be submitted in time to be sent out with the agenda in the future. Members agreed that this was a good idea.
(a) Chairman’s meeting – no meeting
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association – there was a breakfast meeting planned for 17th July which the Chairman planned to attend
(c) Bereko Committee – no report
(d) KALC – no report
(e) Medway Valley Line – The walk around Paddock Wood was now available and would be circulated.
(f) Hop Pickers Line – the silhouettes were now installed along the Black Path & the next stage of the project will be to install a sculpture on ther corner of the path at Dimmock Close.
(g) Youth Council – has been suspended over the summer.
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre – next meeting is scheduled for 23rd July 2024.
(j) Highway Improvement Plan – the County Cllr stressed the importance of of the plan to be used as a vehicle for applying for S106 funding for road improvements.
(k) IAG – the next meeting was on the 18th September 2024. Cllr Thompson & Kent
Under section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 the following items may be exempt from the press and public due to legal privilege & commercial confidentiality.
C33 ST ANDREWS HALL
Members considered the attached confidential report and the proposals contained in it.
Cllr Thompson proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
That the Council should seek legal advice to clarify its position and to have a survey carried out on the building to establish what work is required to comply with the 2030 MEES standards.
CARRIED 6 in favour, 1 against 2 abstentions
C34 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 19th August 2024, at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road
The meeting closed at 10 pm.