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 October 2024 at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood
PRESENT: Cllr R. Atkins, in the Chair
Cllrs K. Braakensiek. S. Hamilton, A. Mackie, B. Robichaud, J. Thompson, C. Williams.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
Borough Cllr A Pitts
APOLOGIES: Cllr D Dray, D. Kent, R. Moon, M. Munday, D. Sargison,
Borough Cllr H. Patterson
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE (10 minutes)
The County Councillor advised that she had not received any questions from members.
Members were reminded that the Local Plan Consultation closed on the 23rd October 2024.
C66 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams – Director of PWCCO LTD.
C67 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
(a) Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 16th October 2024 be APPROVED.
CARRIED unanimously
(b) The minutes of the Planning Environment Committee meeting held on the 16th of September & 6th October 2024 were NOTED.
(c) The minutes of the Finance meeting held on Monday 23rd September 2024 were NOTED.
(c) The minutes of the Estates Committee meeting held on 14th October 2024 were NOTED..
C68 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE
(a) C68 – staffing review – the clerk had had an initial meeting with the advisor carrying out the review. All staff would be interviewed on the 6th November 2024. A meeting with the Chairman would also be arranged.
(b) C61 – Councillor Surgery – No one had attended the surgery held on the 5th October in the Day Centre. It was agreed that this may not be the best location. The next surgery would be held on the 2nd November in the Community Centre. The Clerk would arrange for teas and coffees to be available.
C69 COMMUNITY CENTRE
(a) EV Chargers – responses to members queries from the last meeting are attached.
Members discussed the responses and were still concerned that the sub station needed upgrading when it had only just been installed. There was also concern that the proposed chargers where not the fasted available.
The Clerk stressed that the upgrades were at no charge to the Council.
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
That the Council accepts the upgrades to the sub station and EV installations as well as the management changes as detailed in the report.
CARRIED 3 in favour, 1 against, 3 abstentions
(b) FM Contract – quarterly meeting was held on 26th September 2024 and was attended by the Clerk & Deputy Clerk along with the Council’s consultant.
(c) Directors report & Liaison meeting – Leanne English & Derek Boyle have resigned as Directors of the PWCCO Ltd. ( A copy of the draft minutes are attached)
(d) A copy of the of the revised business plan is attached for members information.
(Both of these documents are confidential to members.) A discussion on these documents was deferred to the end of the meeting.
C70 FINANCE
(a) The receipts nos: 135 – 154 were NOTED.
(b) Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Mackie seconded:
APPROVAL of the payments list: 324 – 391
CARRIED unanimously
(c) Grant requests from –
Cllr Hamilton proposed Cllr Williams seconded:
That the request for £500 for PW Lights UP should be APPROVED
CARRIED unanimously
Cllr Hamilton proposed Cllr Williams seconded:
That the request for £480 for Hi Kent should be APPROVED
CARRIED 6 in favour 1 abstention
C71 SPORTS MEETING
A meeting was held on Tuesday 8th October with the local sports groups, representatives from TWBC and Town Councillors. The Deputy Clerk was also in attendance. A copy of the minutes is attached for information. Cllr Williams chaired the meeting.
Attendees had been invited to a further meeting arranged by a local resident. A copy of his document Paddock Wood Centre for Sporting Education, Excellence and Enjoyment was attached for information.
Cllr Williams also advised that the Town Council’s response to the latest Local Plan consultation had been prepared by the Council’s consultant Troy Hayes.
The Council would also need to review the Neighbourhood Plan once the Local Plan was adopted..
C72 FORWARD PLAN
Two dates had originally been booked for the Forward Plan meeting; however, the facilitator has advised that she is no longer available for the 16th November.
She is still available for the Saturday 23rd November 12 – 4 pm in the Community Centre. Members confirmed this date was acceptable. The Clerk would make the arrangements.
C73 CASUAL VACANCY
Nicolas Maari resigned as a councillor on the 17th September 2024. Notices have been posted advertising the vacancy. An election will be held if 10 electors request an election by the 18th October 2024. If no request is received, then the council can co-opt at the November meeting.
C74 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
A report was attached with updates from the representatives.
(a) Chairman’s Meeting
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association
(c) Bereko Committee –
(d) KALC
(e) Medway Valley Line
(f) Hop Pickers Line – Cllr Williams would attend the meeting the next day in the event that neither Cllr Moon or Sargison was able to.
(g) Youth Council
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre
(j) Highway Improvement Plan
(k) IAG
(l) Bockingfold Solar Farm
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
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.
CARRIED unanimously.
C75 ST ANDREWS HALL
Legal advice & the building survey have now been received and are attached for members consideration. Members discussed the documents and agreed the matter would be further discussed at the Forward Plan meeting.
C76 COMMUNITY CENTRE
Members reviewed the documents supplied
C77 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 18th November 2024, at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road
The meeting closed at 9.55 pm.