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 February 2025 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood
PRESENT: Cllr R. Atkins, in the Chair
Cllrs K. Braakensiek. S. Hamilton (KCC)*, D. Kent, (TWBC)*, A. Mackie, R. Moon, M. Munday (TWBC)*, B. Robichaud, D. Sargison, J. Thompson, C. Williams.
(* denotes “dual hatted” members)
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
Borough Councillor H Patterson
APOLOGIES: Cllr D Dray,
Borough Councillor A. Pitts
NOT PRESENT: Cllr L. Norcott,
QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS (15 minutes)
There were no residents present
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE (10 minutes)
Borough Cllr Munday advised that anyone wishing to speak at the Communities Housing and Environment Cabinet Advisory Board meeting Tuesday, 4th March, 2025 would need to attend in person. It was expected that the Parking Strategy would be discussed at that meeting.
Borough Cllr Kent advised that Southern Water had been called to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to answer questions on the following:
- Upgrades of the sewage system
- When likely to implemented
- Disturbance to the road system
- Protection of the station from future flooding
Cllr Williams advised that there were additional questions from the Town Council which she would forward to Borough Cllr Kent
Borough Cllr Patterson & County Cllr Hamilton advised that they had noting to report. Borough Cllr Kent had some issues which he would follow up outside of the meeting.
C115 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams – Director of PWCCO LTD.
C116 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
(a)Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Hamilton seconded:
That the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 20th January 2025 be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously
(b) The minutes of the Planning Environment Committee meeting held on the 20th January 2025 were NOTED..
(c) The minutes of the Personnel Committee meeting held on the 22nd of January 2025 were NOTED.
(d) The minutes of the Estates meeting held on 10th February 2025 were NOTED.
C117 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE
- C103 – the council’s comments regarding the parking strategy have been sent to the leader of the council.
- The Annual Town Meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 9th April 2025 in the Community Centre. Cllr Matt Lowe Cabinet Member for Planning at TWBC has accepted the Council’s invitation to attend. He has offered to carry out a presentation with a Q & A session afterwards. He will be accompanied by a Borough Officer.
- C113 – a response has not yet been received regarding the council’s letter of complaint.
C118 FINANCE
If members have any queries on the finances, please contact the RFO or Clerk before Noon on Thursday.
(a) The receipts nos: 200 – 213 were NOTED.
(b) Cllr Williams proposed Cllr Munday seconded.
That payments list: 602 – 670 be APPROVED
CARRIED unanimously
(c) Fees list for 2025/26
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
That the fee lists for 2025/26 should be APPROVED
CARRIED unanimously
C119 LOCAL PLAN UPDATE
Memorial Woodland – Members considered the information from the Deputy Clerk about a charity called Life for Life Memorial Forests. The charity plant memorial trees where clients can scatter ashes, completed with a memorial plaque. They lease the land (this can be from the council or the developer) for 35 years. They work with a minimum of 2 acres. They do all the work, dealing with the clients from start to finish, maintenance and community organised events. When the 35 years is over, the charity return the thriving woodland back to the landowner or council.
As no further burial land is being in allocated in Paddock Wood under the local plans members discussed whether this would be an alternative to traditional burials. If members were in favour then the Borough Council could be asked to negotiate with developers to allocate land on the new sites.
A discussion as had as to whether the town council should provide the land instead, however it was flet that in the first instance a request should be made to the borough council.
Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Williams seconded:
That the Town Council should ask the borough council to put in a request to developers to that land be allocated for a Memorial Wood land.
CARRIED unanimously
C120 COMMUNITY CENTRE
Members considered the following list for approval for works at the Community Centre
| Works | Funded by | Carried out by |
| a double socket and possibly an ethernet socket in the coffee shop to install a TV. | PWCCO Ltd | Baxalls |
| Shelving in the walk in storage area to be fixed to the walls | PWCCO LTD | Community Centre Staff |
| Cupboards in entrance hall to nursery area to be fixed to the walls | Nursery Tenant | To be agreed |
| Kitchenette in Nursery area – plumbing in place | PWTC | Town Council Staff |
| Art sinks in the nursery area – plumbing in place | PWTC | Town Council staff |
| Shelving in the cupboard in the nursery area – to be fixed to the walls | Nursery Tenant | To be agreed |
| Repairs to the solar panel strings which have been damaged by bird strike | PWTC | Baxalls |
. The Clerk advised that Scalliwags had identified a kitchen supplier who may be prepared to donate the units if the Council supplied the labour.
The Clerk was also asked to contact Baxalls to see if there could be anything could be installed to prevent further bird strikes.
Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
That the above works be APPROVED
Carried 10 in favour, 1 abstention
Cllr Thompson proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
That the council delegates authority for approval for minors works at the community centre to the Clerk & Estates Manager up to £2,000.
CARRIED 10 in favour, 1 abstention
C121 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
To receive updates from representatives.
(a) Chairman’s Meeting – there had been no meeting
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association – there had been no meeting
(c) Bereko Committee – the soup lunch would take place on the 21st March 2025
(d) KALC – no meeting
(e) Medway Valley Line – There will be a guided walk from the John Brunt from 10.30 am on Thursday 20th February 2025
(f) Hop Pickers Line – work was progressing on the 2 new notice boards, installed of the buffers and the sculpture of the hop picker on stilts by the lakes at The Burrows
(g) Youth Council – Cllr Braakensiek advised that she had met with representatives from the Tunbridge Wells Youth Hub & the YMCA. They were hoping to get funding for a youth worker to enable a youth hub to be run in the Community Centre on a Friday evening.
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre – liaison meeting on the 11th February the minutes were available to members.
(i) IAG – the Kent Police & community advice day was taking place in the Community Centre on the 18th February 2025.
(j) Bockingfold Solar Farm – details had been circulated for members information
C122 SCALLIWAGS PRE SCHOOL
(a) As reported at last month’s council meeting Scalliwags Pre School has handed in notice to vacate St Andrews Hall and will be moving to the nursery in Paddock Wood Community Centre at Easter.
The chairman and clerk with met with a representative from the Trustees to discuss Scalliwags departure from the building.
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.
(b) To consider the attached report
(c) To consider the attached legal matters regarding the pre-school’s move to the Community Centre.
C123 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 17th March 2025, at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road
NICHOLA REAY,
Clerk to the Council
11th February 2025