PADDOCK WOOD TOWN COUNCIL
The Podmore Building, St Andrews Field, St Andrews Road
Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6HT
Telephone: 01892 837373
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PADDOCK WOOD TOWN COUNCIL HELD VIA ZOOM ON Monday 15th MARCH 2021, AT 7.30 PM
PRESENT: Cllr M Flashman, in the Chair
Cllr R. Atkins, (TWBC) D. Boyle, S. Hamilton, (KCC & TWBC) D Kent,
R Moon, M Ridger, D. Sargison, C. Williams
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
Borough Cllr M Bailey
7 residents
APOLOGY: Cllrs E Thomas, R Turk,
QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS (15 minutes)
The following questions were received from the Friends of Memorial Playing Field regarding the comments from Kent Highways on the access into the Community Centre:
1). Why was Councillor Atkins told at the Extraordinary Full Council Meeting dated 8th December that the 4.8m wide entrance would be wide enough?
2). Why was it agreed to go forward with the Planning Application at that meeting? (7 votes for, Cllrs Atkins, Hamilton and Kent against) if there was a known unaddressed problem with the only viable access to the site?
3). Can you confirm that the mature pine tree (T28) to the left of the entrance to the car park, will not be harmed by PWTC or its contractors by any works necessary to complete this proposed development.?
The Chairman advised the following:
Following receipt of the KCC Highway comments, constructive discussions have been held and the access proposals are currently being reviewed. Highway Officers had not fully appreciated the widening that is proposed, and more information is being prepared to further aid their assessment of the proposals and these ongoing discussions. 4.8m is wide enough to accommodate two vehicles and this is being reviewed further in respect of the proposed alignment and any lining etc to consider if any additional improvements can be made. The plans as submitted include retention of Tree T28, with appropriate protection proposed and detailed in the application.
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE
BC Bailey advised that after last month’s meeting he had received comments from residents and councillors in favour of installing car charging points in the town centre car park.
The Borough Council was now in discussions with KCC and installation is expected to go ahead.
There were no further updates from the Borough or County Councillors
C115 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
C116 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS
- a) The minutes of the meeting held on 15TH February 2021 were APPROVED. Cllr Boyle queried whether the statement regarding primary schools was factually correct. The County Councillor agreed to discuss this with him outside of the meeting.
- b) The minutes of the Planning & Environment Committee meetings held on the 15th February & 1st March 2021 were NOTED.
- c) The minutes of the Estates Committee held on 8th March 2021 were NOTED.
C117 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
There were no matters arising.
C118 FINANCE
- a) The Clerk advised that the payment to the PWLB had been entered twice (voucher nos:820 & 821) in error. Voucher nos 821 would need to be reversed.
Cllr Boyle proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
That the payments voucher nos: 807 – 857 should be APPROVED with the above amendment.
CARRIED unanimously
- b) The receipts voucher nos: 171 – 193 was NOTED.
- c) Grant requests (The council has a total of £2250 left for 20/21)
- i) Cllr Moon proposed, Cllr Atkins seconded:
The Council APPROVES a request for £500 from the Paddock Wood FC
CARRIED unanimously
- ii) Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
The Council APPROVES a request for £500 from Hi Kent
CARRIED unanimously
iii) Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Ridger seconded:
The Council APPROVES a request for £500 from 11th PW Scouts
CARRIED 5 in favour, 4 abstentions
- d) Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Boyle seconded:
That the council should approve the funding to pay for the planning consultant to assist the
council’s response to the local plan.
CARRIED unanimously
C119 COUNCIL MEETINGS
- a) Members considered the clerk’s report on the annual town meeting and the return to physical meetings.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
That the Annual Town Meeting should take place on the 7th April via Zoom.
CARRIED unanimously
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
That, subject to changes in government guidance the amended time table should be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously
- b) Virtual meeting protocol
Members discussed clause 7 on the protocol and the best way to make it clear they wished to speak.
Cllr Moon proposed, Cllr Hamilton seconded:
That clause should be amended to say insert S in the chat function or raise your hand
CARRIED 7 in favour, 2 against
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
That the revised protocol should be accepted.
CARRIED 7 in favour, 1 against, 1 abstention
It was also asked if the Borough and County Councillors could respond back to the council to questions, even if they were unable to obtain the information requested.
C120 COMMUNITY CENTRE
- a) The Design Team met again on the 4th March to consider the responses from the Working Party. The Working Party will meet on the 16th March 2021 to continue discussing the internal details of the community centre. A copy of the presentation was available on the Council website.
- b) A copy of the board minutes from 3rd February 2021 would be uploaded onto the website.
C121 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The Chairman advised that:
- Aecom were unable to progress with their work at present.
- The Master Plan for Paddock Wood was currently being considered by the Borough Council
- The Neighbourhood Plan group were meeting on the 17th March
C122 VISION ZERO – ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY FOR KENT
The Planning & Environment Committee considered the consultation document at its meeting on the 1st March 2021. A draft response is was attached for members approval. Closing date for the consultation is midnight 15th March 2021.
Cllr Moon proposed, Cllr Sargison seconded:
That the document should be accepted
CARRIED 8 in favour, 1 abstention
C123 LOCAL ELECTIONS
Local Elections are scheduled for the 6th May 2021. The Town Council has two casual vacancies. Requests for a poll have previously been received by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
An information pack has been compiled and is available from the Town Council website, this includes the application from the Borough Council. Social media posts have been made notifying residents of the vacancies. Further posts will be made.
The Day Centre will be used as a polling station. TWBC officers have carried out a Covid 19 risk assessment on the venue.
Key dates are as follows:
- Notice of Election – Friday 19th March
- Nominations open – Monday 22nd March to Thursday 8th April
C124 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
(a) Chairman’s meeting – 16th March
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association – 10th March – the main topic of discussion was the re-opening of the high street.
(c) Bereko Committee – the trip to Bereko for 2021 had been cancelled but it was hoped to go in 2022. Fund raising events were currently on hold
(d) KALC – 9th March – topics of discussion were the TW agreement, Community Amenity Vehicle, flytipping, and Regulation 19 for the Local Plan
(e) Medway Valley Line – the group had met with Harry Teacher who was driving forward the Tudley Village project to discuss connectivity.
- A train station at the new village was discussed
- Bus upgrades between Paddock Wood & Tonbridge
- Cycle routes between Paddock Wood and Tonbridge
- Long distance walking paths
- The Colts Hill bypass which is considered to be essential
- A southern bypass for the villages
(f) Hop Pickers Line – no meeting
(g) Youth Council – Had held a quiz at ½ term and raised £180 for the Tree of Hope. New members were being sought
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre Liaison meeting – 4th March 2021
Attended by the Clerk, Cllrs Flashman, Moon & Williams
The following were discussed:
- The re-opening of the centre
- Future contract – Fusion’s contract expires in 2022 but a short extension would be requested to allow the new contract for all three centres to be negotiated
- Putlands is not an easy site to market as it needed an upgrade.
Members suggested that maybe the Town Council should consider the future of the centre further
(i) Liaison Meeting with Countryside – 23rd & 25th February
(j) Strategic sites meeting – 3rd March 2021- the minutes were circualted
C125 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 19th April 2021.
The meeting closed at 9.14 pm.
CHAIRMAN
