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 21st July 2025 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood
PRESENT: Cllr C. Williams, in the Chair
Cllrs K. Braakensiek, D. Kent, (TWBC) A. Mackie, R. Moon,M. Munday, (TWBC & KCC), B. Robichaud, J. Thompson,
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
Borough Cllrs A Pitts, H Patterson
4 residents
APOLOGY: Cllr. D. Sargison
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Paddock Wood Litter Pickers had recently cleared the derelict pond by the railway bridge and had found some medical and human waste and were seeking advice as to how to deal with it. The clerk said that the Council would supply them with sharps boxes. The Environment Health officer would be contacted regarding concerns about waste found. Cllr Pitts agreed to follow this with the TWBC Environmental Health Officer.
Cllr Thompson advised that the council had budgeted to replace some of the bins on its own sites and would looking to do this later in the year.
The Chairman thanked the PW Litter Pickers for their work.
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE
Cllr Kent advised that a letter regarding free trees had been sent out to all parishes. The clerk confirmed that it had been forwarded to the Estates Manger.
Cllr Munday advised that the tree project also included fruit trees. He also advised members that the Borough Council had approved the next phase of the improvements to the Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells. He had also sent details to members of the changes to the parking charges. Paddock Wood had retained its free first hour of parking in the East and West Car parks. Other charges had been varied, and this included reducing the all-day parking in the West Car park to less than the station car park. Concern was raised that this could encourage all day parking by commuters making it difficult for residents and shoppers to park. It was agreed that this would be monitored and Cllr Munday agreed to obtain the monthly usage statistics.
County Cllr Munday had circulated to members his monthly report.
C29 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams is a Director of the PWCCO Ltd.
C30 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
(a) Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Robichaud seconded that the minutes should be APPROVED & signed with the following amendment C21 c) To include the Town Centre Assets.
CARRIED unanimously
(b) The minutes of the meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee held on the 16th June 2025 & 4th July 2025 were NOTED
(c) The minutes of the meeting of the Estates Committee held on 14th July 2025 were NOTED.
C31 PADDOCK ATHLETICS CLUB
Paddock Athletics Club are seeking planning permission to extend the athletics track at Putlands from a 2-4-6 lane track to a 6-lane track. Under the terms of the lease the club needs to seek permission from the Town Council as the landowner to make the application.
Mr Ridger from PWAC addressed the meeting. He explained the background to the project and advised that costs to increase the track to a 6 lane track would be in the region on £305k and is likely to take 3 – 5 weeks.
The Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan shows an expansion of the track and the TWBC Indoor Built Sports Facility Needs Assessments 2027 – 2033 states of the track at Putlands
Par 6.39 “it would make little sense to develop new provision elsewhere in the borough without first expanding & optimising use of this facility, as the need arises.”
Both schools in the town have free access to the facility and members of the public can hire the track for £5/hr. Hillview school have also expressed an interest in using the track.
Members spoke in support of the proposal.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Moon seconded:
That the town council APPROVES the request to apply for planning permission to expand the track.
CARRIED unanimously
C32 FINANCE
(a) The receipts list nos 95 – 126 was NOTED.
(b) The monthly finance report was NOTED. Members thanked the RFO for the report.
(c) Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
That the payments list nos: 145 – 225 should be APPROVED
CARRIED unanimously
(d) Members discussed the grant application from Sustrans for £100. The grant is being requested to support an event at Paddock Wood station to mark its 183rd birthday in the Railway 200 year.
Members asked for the previous year’s accounts to be forwarded to the council. Concern was also expressed that the funds were to be spent on sweets and soft drinks at the event. Members asked if funds could be spent on alternatives.
Once the information had been obtained the request would be referred back to the council.
(e) The Town Council has appointed a new Administrative Officer who will be starting on the 4th Some re-organisations of the office and additional IT equipment will be required.
There is currently £4300 in the reserves for office equipment. Approval is requested to use this reserve fund for this purpose. Current estimate is £2500.
Cllr Williams proposed, Cllr Munday seconded:
That the sum of £2500 should be authorise from the Office Equipment Reserve
CARRIED unanimously
C33 GENERAL POWER OF COMPETENCE
Cllr M Munday raised the point that PTWC may have lost the General Power of Competence due to the number of non-elected councillors. Currently Town Council have 9 Cllrs, 7 elected and 2 co-opted. According to the General Power of Competence Act 2012, the town council should be made up of 2/3 elected councillors.
The clerk advised that the Town Council did not hold the General Power of Competence. However, as the council will no longer have 2/3 (9) of its members elected it would not be able have it going forward. This is unlikely to change the council’s activities.
The Clerk also advised that the study module which she would need to complete, is being withdrawn from the 1st August 2025. She will therefore register for the module so that it is completed for future use.
C34 CO – OPTION
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council have advised that they had received requests for an election from 5 electors for each of the 4 vacancies. Requests from ten electors are required to trigger an election. The Council can now go ahead with the co-option process.
At the previous meeting it was agreed that the council would deliver leaflets around the town.
A draft leaflet was created and approved ahead of Full Council, so they were available for the Carnival. Cllrs have discussed having the leaflets printed up professionally and distributed via a company.
The clerk advised that costs would be in the region of £500 and no budget had been agreed for this.
Members agreed that, if possible, leaflets should be delivered before the meeting, to the whole town
It was also agreed that an open session would be held so that interested residents could meet with existing members. The following confirmed dates will be held in the Day Centre:
7th August – 7pm-8:30pm
16th August – 10am-12pm
Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Mackie seconded:
That the funds should be taken from the reserves.
CARRIED unanimously
C35 COMMUNITY CENTRE
Cllr Munday took the chair for this item
- The monthly report is attached for information. Members asked for the following:
- minutes of the meetings with the FM contractor.
- Confirmation of the year end date for the accounts was also requested
- Could the usage figures be displayed in a graph like that which had been created for the council’s finances.
- The manager has submitted a grant application to fund the installation of a water fountain at
the Community Centre. The grant guidelines require prior approval from the Town Council.
however, due to the grant’s closing date falling before the next Full Council meeting, the
application was submitted conditionally pending Council approval. The Town Council is now
asked to consider and confirm whether they support the installation of the water fountain.
Members had some concerns about the proposal and asked for further information.
Cllr Munday proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That this matter should discussed at the Liaison meeting due to be held on Wednesday 23rd July.
CARRIED unanimously
C36 COMPAID
Members have been invited to visit the Compaid Centre at Eastlands if they would like to get an overview of the work carried out there. If members would like to attend, then a date needs to be agreed.
All members present expressed an interest in visiting. The Clerk would contact Compaid to arrange a suitable date.
C37 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
(a) Chairman’s meeting – the minutes of the previous meeting had been circulated to members.
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association – Cllr Thompson had attended the previous meeting which had been held at the West Kent Shooting School. He was very impressed with the facilities available there.
(c) Bereko Committee – there will be a quiz on 20th September at Mascalls School. Cllr Williams advised that she had been invited to visit Bereko this autumn.
(d) KALC – Cllr Williams advised that she had been unable to attend the last meeting.
(e) Medway Valley Line – A birthday celebration for Paddock Wood Station will held in August.
(f) Hop Pickers Line – all elements of the project were now ready to be installed and date from the developers was awaited.
(g) Youth Hub – The group had now broken up but will be back in September. Numbers were increasing and funding was being sought. More volunteers were needed to help with the Hub.
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre – next liaison meeting will be on the 16th September. The replacement curtain in the sports hall will be installed on the 29th July 2025.
(j) Highway Improvement Plan – Cllr Mackie reported that he and the deputy clerk had reviewed the Create Streets mapping software and are looking to come up with questions for residents to answer. Create Streets will allow residents to pinpoint problem areas.
(k) IAG – The next meeting will be in September. The group were looking to launch the Safe Haven project locally.
C38 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 18th August at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road