PADDOCK WOOD 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 TO BE HELD ON Monday 18th November 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, D. Kent, R. Moon, L Norcott (after item C78) B. Robichaud, J. Thompson, C. Williams.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs N Reay, Town Clerk
APOLOGIES: Cllr D Dray, D. Sargison, A. Mackie, M. Munday
Borough Cllrs Pitts, Patterson, Birch
BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS UPDATE (10 minutes)
BC Kent advised that the social housing on the Badsell Road development site had been reduced from 40 houses to 22 (16 x one bed & 6 x two bed).
He had also attended the Local Plan hearing the previous week.
CC Hamilton advised that the Council was supporting a town in Ukraine with a winter appeal. The Old Town Hall in Gravesend had been leased to collect donations. There was list of item needed and members were asked to publicise the appeal.
Cllr Braakensiek raised the issue of parking outside the primary school which was causing concern. CC Hamilton advised that TWBC had been contacted and asked to refresh the zig zags in Forest Road. She would be meeting with the Head Teacher & representatives from the PTA to discuss parking and safety.
This was an issue which could be covered in the Highways Improvement Plan.
C77 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Williams – Director of PWCCO LTD.
C78 CASUAL VACANCY
Following discussion with members Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
Leanne Norcott should be co-opted as a member of Paddock Wood Town Council
CARRIED unanimously
Cllr Norcott signed the declaration of acceptance and joined members for the remainder of the meeting.
C79 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
(a) Cllr Hamilton proposed, Cllr Thompson seconded:
To APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 21st October 2024
CARRIED unanimously
(b) The minutes of the Planning Environment Committee meeting held on the 21st of October 2024 & 4th November 2024 were NOTED.
(c) To NOTE the minutes of the Estates Committee meeting held on 11th November 2024 WERE noted
C80 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE
(a) Staffing Review – the advisor met with staff on the 6th November 2024 and will be returning to complete the interviews on 21st November 2024.
(b) Councillor Surgery – the November event took place in the Community Centre. Residents were invited to join councillors for a coffee and a chat. Attendance had been limited but concerns had been raised by a resident of Mascalls Grange about gardens flooding, the toilets backing up and the poor standard of the playa equipment. The lack of overall infrastructure was also raised.
In general attendance at the Councillors drop in events had been low. It was agreed that the December event should be held at the Community Centre again. Members would review future events at the January meeting.
C81 FINANCE
(a) The receipts nos: 154 – 166 were NOTED.
Cllr Thompson proposed, Cllr Hamilton seconded:
To APPROVE the payments list: 391 – 447
CARRIED unamimously.
(b) Staff Salaries
Pay rises for 2024/25 have now been approved by the National Joint Council. For all grades up to SCP 43 the agreed amount is £1,290 per annum. Grades from SCP 44 to 62 are increased by 2.5%. These will be included in the November salaries and will be backdated to the 1 April 2024.
The current minimum wage is £11.44/hour. The lowest wage the Town Council pays is £13.79/hour which is 20.54% above the minimum wage. The minimum wage will increase to £12.21 in April 2025, and the Council should ensure that the differential remains the same when pay rises are announced in 2025/26.
(c) Grant requests from:
Alone at Christmas – £500
This was withdrawn.
C82 FORWARD PLAN
The session has been confirmed for Saturday 23rd November 2024, 12 noon – 4 pm.
C83 COMMUNITY CENTRE UPDATE
(a) EV Chargers – the responses to the Council’s queries from the last meeting are attached.
(b) A copy of the monthly report is attached for members for members only
(c) A copy of the liaison meeting minutes was attached for member only.
C84 LOCAL PLAN UPDATE
Members NOTED the Council’s Response to the most recent consultation. The Public Hearing continued on the 14th November 2024.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Williams and the Deputy Clerk for their work on the Local Plan responses along with the Council’s consultant Troy Hayes.
Cllr Williams reported that the final draft of the Plan was expected shortly and will have a 6 – 8-week consultation on any amendments.
The following issues were raising that the Inquiry:
- The borough council submitted 8 documents at the last minute which the Inspector would not accept, so they will need to be looked at during the consultation period
- The expansion of Mascalls School will be to accommodate Paddock Wood pupils not those from surrounding villages
- There is a meeting due to be held in Cranbrook to discuss schooling as there will be no schools in Cranbrook
- Ther was no KCC representative at the Hearings
- No recent topographical survey has been carried out
- 63% of infrastructures cost will be for road improvements
- The town council should lobby the Borough Council for section 106 funding at the pre application stage.
- The plan shows for 40% social housing.
- The town Council had been invited to sit on a group with the Borough Council and developers for a master planning process.
C85 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
To receive updates from representatives.
(a) Chairman’s Meeting
(b) Paddock Wood Business Association
(c) Bereko Committee –
(d) KALC
(e) Medway Valley Line
(f) Hop Pickers Line – work on the new sculpture on the junction of Church Road development and the footbridge was progressing. The interpretation board had been graffitied. The Council’s Estates staff would try to remove it.
(g) Youth Council
(h) Putlands Leisure Centre
(i) Highway Improvement Plan
(j) IAG
(k) Bockingfold Solar Farm
Cllr Atkins proposed, Cllr Kent 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
C86 COMMUNITY CENTRE
Cllr Thompson proposed, Cllr Kent seconded:
(a) That the Town council should sign the deed of variation for the TWBC Loan
CARRIED 5 in favour, 1 against (Cllr Moon) 2 abstentions.
(b) Members noted the financial report and requested that a further breakdown should be given.
(c) It was agreed that a letter of thanks should be sent to Derek Boyle for his work in the community centre.
C87 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 16th December 2024, at 7.45 pm in The Day Centre, Commercial Road
The meeting closed at 9.35 pm