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 19th February 2024 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood
PRESENT: Cllr D Kent, in the Chair
Cllrs R. Atkins, (TWBC) D. Dray, S. Hamilton (KCC), N. Maari, A. Mackie, R. Moon (TWBC) M. Munday, (TWBC), D. Sargison, J. Thompson, C. Williams.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk, Ms E Small, Deputy Clerk (until item C129), Mr C Smith, Estates Manager
7 residents
APOLOGIES: Cllr T Mobbs
Borough Councillor S Wakeman
QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS (15 minutes)
Residents were in attendance to express their concerns about the impact the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan will have on Paddock Wood.
The following issues were raised:
- Shock at the Borough’s decision to remove the sports hub from the plan.
- A bid for improvements to the Elm Tree site is being drawn up to enable S106 funding to be sought.
- Lack of infrastructure improvements from the existing developments.
- If infrastructure was improved, then residents would stay in the town and travel elsewhere.
- Concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour. There is a nervousness around the town and many residents do not like to go out at night.
- In April 2021 the draft plan referred to betterment for Paddock Wood
- The flood risk maps have been revised.
- Developers have promised much but delivered nothing.
- The PW Neighbourhood Plan should be guiding development.
- Much of Paddock Wood is now in flood risk zone 3.
- Schools provision is unclear.
- Lack of medical provision
- There is currently an urgent need for improved medical provision.
- What has Paddock Wood got out of the new developments?
- New housing should be for the local community.
The Chairman thanked the residents for attending and reminded them that their responses must be submitted to TWBC by the 26th February 2024.
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE (10 minutes)
Borough Councillor Moon expressed the importance of residents responding to the Local Plan Consultation.
Cllr Atkins drew everyone’s attention to the results of the Budget 2024/25 consultation. Details of which can be found using the following link.
Cllr Munday advised concerns about the borough council’s budget over the next couple of years.
County Councillor Hamilton advised the following:
- that the County Council’s budget had been passed
- The re-alignment of the junction at Badsell Road/Maidstone Road was proving challenging due to the flooding concerns. It would be subject to planning permission which has not yet been applied for.
- There was a prospect of extending Mascalls school.
- Anti-Social Behaviour issues were the responsibility of the TWBC Community Safey Unit.
- The county Council is not responsible for Health provision it is up to the NHS to push for improvements.
- The sale of social housing properties to London Boroughs is a Kent wide problem.
C121 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams declared an interest in Paddock Wood CC Operations Ltd.
C122 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
Cllr Kent to be elected Chairman.
Cllr Kent was elected unopposed and sign the Declarations of Interest.
C123 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL
Cllr Thompson proposed, Cllr Maari seconded:
Cllr Hamilton to be elected vice chairman.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Mackie seconded:
Cllr Moon to be elected vice chairman.
Cllr Hamilton was elected vice chairman with 6 votes in favour and signed the Declaration of Acceptance.
As members of the public were present the Chairman agreed to consider the agenda item on the Local Plan first.
C124 LOCAL PLAN
Members considered the council’s response to the Local Plan consultation, which was circulated to members on the 12th February 2024. Members raised the following issues:
- Ludicrous that the town centre redevelopment is not included in the Local Plan
- Troy Hayes had done an excellent job in preparing the report for the council
- There are 1000 less houses and the sports hub has been taken out of the plan.
- Master planning is not working
- There will be a further call for sites in 10 years
- Lack of infrastructure needs addressing
- Piecemeal development
- Lack of consultation
Following the discussion members agreed that the Troy Hayes should be asked to strengthen the following points:
- Exclusion of the town centre from the plan
- Social Housing should be for PW residents.
- NP is planning policy.
- Lack of the sports Hub
Cllr Kent proposed Cllr Williams seconded:
That subject to the above amendments the document should be approved.
CARRIED unanimously
C125 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
The minutes can be found on the Town Council website and will be taken as read.
a) The minutes of the meeting held on 15th & 22nd January 2024 were APPROVED.
b) The minutes of the Governance Meeting held on the 22nd January 2024 and the amended documents were NOTED.
c) The minutes of the meeting of the Personnel Committee held on Monday 29th January 2024 were NOTED
d) The minutes of the P & E Committee held on 15th January 2024 & 5th February 2024 were APPROVED.
e) The minutes of the Estates meeting held on the 12th February 2024 were NOTED.
C126 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE
Cllr Munday advised that the Garden Therapy Scheme was not progressing as the funding had been withdrawn.
C127 FINANCE
a) Cllr Munday proposed. Cllr Thompson seconded:
The payments list, voucher nos: 620 – 696 be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously.
b) The receipts list voucher nos:214 – 217 were NOTED.
C128 CO -OPTION OF NEW COUNCILLOR
TWBC have advised that there has been no request for an election following the resignation of Henry Atkins. The council can therefore co-opt a new councillor. Adverts have been placed inviting residents to apply. Closing date for applications is the 2nd April 2024. Co-option will take place at the meeting on the 15th April 2024.
C129 COMMUNITY CENTRE
a) Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Mackie seconded:
That Leanne English should be appointed as a Director of PWCCO Ltd.
CARRIED 7 in favour 4 abstentions.
b) Update from recent Liaison – a meeting took place on the 6th February. Reports from the meeting had been circulated to members.
c) Update on FM Contract – the closing date to receive the draft contract will be 16th This will be assessed by the Council’s advisor and forwarded to members on the 23rd February for review. A meeting will be held on the 4th March to determine the council’s decision. A Governance Document will also be included to set out areas of responsibility for the Town Council and the Community Centre.
C130 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
The ATM is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 3rd April 2024 in the Community Centre.
The clerk has been advised that this clashes with a Full Council meeting of TWBC.
Alternative venue availability in April is Friday 5th, or Friday 12th April. (Note: the Clerk is not available on the 12th April)
The Annual Town meeting must be held between 1st March & 1st June.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
The meeting should be moved to Friday 5th April 2024.
CARRIED unanimously.
A representative of the Woodlands PPG had agreed to attend the meeting. The Clerk was asked to see if a representative from the police would be available to attend.
C131 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 on the 28th February 2024
(c) Bereko Committee – soup lunch will take place on the 8th March 2024
(d) KALC – no meeting
(e) Medway Valley Line – no meeting
(f) Hop Pickers Line – the Hop Pickers Line AGM will take place on Wednesday 27th March at 2 pm in the Community Centre. All members are invited. The interpretation boards along the Black Path and opposite the John Brunt PH have been installed.
(g) Youth Council – there are currently 5 members of the group with a rotating chairman. Cllr Kent asked that a vote of thanks should be passed on to the outgoing chairman.
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre the manager will be attending the next town council meeting.
(i) Reports from meetings which members have attended on behalf of the Town Council.
C132 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will take place on Monday 4th March at 7 pm in the Day Centre to determine the FM contract for the Community Centre. The next Full Council meeting will take place on Monday 18th March 2024 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre.
The meeting closed at 9.35 pm