...in the Garden of England...
November 2008 Minutes
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF DITTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT DITTON COMMUNITY CENTRE ON MONDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2008
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PPRESENT: CLLRS. M J PORTER [Chairman], R ANGEL, R G W BAKER, MRS A R BEADLE, J A BEADLE [from 9.20pm], M D BRINE, W CORDWELL, M LANDER, D H NUNN, B D STONE, MRS A THROSSELL & MRS J F THWAITES
MRS S J KAVANAGH [Clerk of the Council] & MRS N GREENAWAY [Admin. Asst.]
319. OPENING OF MEETING
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm.
320. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were RECEIVED from Cllrs. Beadle & Mulcuck. The previously notified reasons for absence were ACCEPTED and APPROVED and recorded in the absence book Ref. 005.
321. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllrs. D H Nunn and Mrs Thwaites declared a personal interest in item 332(b) as they are members of the Heritage Centre Ltd.
Cllr. Lander declared a personal interest in item 325(a)(i) as he is a school governor.
Borough and Parish Cllr. Stone declared and personal interest in Planning matters as he is a member of the Borough Council Planning Committee.
322. REPORT FROM NEIGBOURHOOD POLICING TEAM
PC Roddick reported on the following matters:-
- Crime figures - October crimes totalled 4: 1 criminal damaged to a vehicle, 1 theft of a vehicle, 1 theft from a vehicle and one other serious crime. The total crime over the same period last year was 14 and the crime total for last month was 15.
- Drug abuse – Police entered a house in Ditton and made five arrests in connection with drug abuse.
- Mini-motos – 10 youths were caught in the local area riding mini motos illegally and have been dealt with by the police.
- Ditton School and Beavers – a talk was given to the children by PC Roddick.
- CCTV – the data from the mobile CCTV in New Road is being examined by Police in connection with the recent serious crime.
323. CONFIRMATION & SIGNING OF MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 6th OCTOBER 2008
The minutes of the above meeting were CONFIRMED and SIGNED as a correct record.
324. MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising not included elsewhere on the agenda.
325. MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD DURING OCTOBER 2008
(a) Community Centre Committee, 13th October 2008
The minutes of the above meeting were presented by Cllr. Nunn and CONFIRMED and SIGNED as a correct record.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
[i] DITTON C OF E JUNIOR SCHOOL CHRISTMAS DISCO 4TH DECEMBER 2009 - Request for reduction of hire fee [Page 144, Item 286(b)]
RESOLVED to make a donation of £50 to the disco to be held at Ditton Community Centre on 4th December 2009 and this be made under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 and financed from the Charities account.
[ii] DITTON C OF E INFANT SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAYRE 18TH DECEMBER 2008 - Request for reduction of hire fee [Page 144, Item 286(c)]
RESOLVED to make a donation of £50 to the Christmas Fayre to be held at Ditton Community Centre on 18th December 2008 and this be made under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 and financed from the Charities account.
Cllr. Mrs Throssell enquired why the dishwasher has been excluded from the kitchen refurbishment. Cllr. Nunn explained that the works are to be phased and it may be included at a later stage.
(b) Planning, Highways & Transportation Committee, 20th October 2008
The minutes of the above meeting were presented by Cllr. Baker and CONFIRMED and SIGNED as a correct record.
(c) Open Spaces & Amenities Committee, 20th October 2008
The minutes of the above meeting were presented by Cllr. Baker and CONFIRMED and SIGNED as a correct record.
(d) Personnel Committee, 30th October 2008
The minutes of the above meeting were presented by Cllr. Mrs Beadle and CONFIRMED and SIGNED as a correct record.
Considerable discussion took place on the personnel estimates and it was NOTED that in accordance with Standing order 43 they will be scrutinised by the Finance and Administrative Committee together with all other committee estimates, before being placed before the Council.
RESOLVED to RATIFY the recommendation regarding staff re-organisation.
(e) Ditton Twinning Association, 28th October 2008
The above minutes were READ and NOTED.
326. CORRESPONDENCE
(a) For Noting
The following correspondence was CIRCULATED, READ and NOTED:-
Kent County Council:
Registers of Common Land and Town or Village Greens – Implementation of Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006 from 1st October 2008
Kent Health Watch
Kent Volunteers Awards for Volunteering Excellence 2008
New Feature on Website – ‘Browsealoud’
Kenward Trust: ‘New Life’, Issue 3 2008
Ditton C of E Junior School: Letter of Thanks
RoSPA: Notice of AGM & Notice of Special Resolutions
Ton. & Malling Community Safety Partnership: ‘Newsletter’, September 2008
Clerk’s & Councils: ‘Local Council’s Update’ – Issue 107/108, Sept/Oct 2008
Tonbridge & Malling BC: Parish Partnership Panel, Minutes of meeting held 11/9/2008
Summary of Accounts Leaflet for Year Ended 31/3/2008
Ton & Malling Community Safety Partnership: Cold Calling Zones
(b) For Decision
KALC: 61st Annual General Meeting, 8/11/2008 + Annual Report
Information READ and it was NOTED Cllr. Mrs Beadle is unable to attend.
DCK Beavers: Current Financial Banking Concerns
Information READ and NOTED.
Tonbridge & Malling BC: Community Governance Review – Terms of Reference
READ and NOTED.
RESOLVED THIS COUNCIL DOES NOT WISH TO REDUCE ITS NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS.
Council’s Draft Housing Allocations Scheme
Information on the draft housing allocation scheme was READ and it was NOTED that the consultation period will run until 12th January 2009.
Members are invited to forward their comments to the Clerk who will collate them and pass them onto T&MBC.
Office of Her Majesty’s Lord Civic Service at Rochester Cathedral 26/3/2009
Lieutenant Of Kent: The Chairman, Cllr. Porter, or Vice-Chairman, Cllr. Beadle will attend.
Leybourne Grange Riding Invitation to Christmas Nativity and Blessing 12th Dec.
Centre for the Disabled: 2008
Cllr. Nunn agreed to attend. Anyone else wishing to attend is asked to advise the Clerk as soon as possible.
Mrs T Kemp: Resignation
A letter of resignation was READ from the part-time bar manager and it was NOTED that she will leave at the end of November.
PC Roddick: Probation Payback Scheme
It was NOTED that the aim of the joint working project is for partners to suggest projects that offenders can carry out in the community. Projects could include painting/decorating, litter clearing, ground clearance and leaflet distribution.
Cllr. Lander advised that the School have used the scheme without any problems and found it to be very useful.
RESOLVED TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHEME.
327. FINANCE
(a) Accounts Received
The following accounts received were READ and NOTED:-
Advertisers: Ditton Gazette Adverts 281.00
Ditton Infant School: Grounds Maintenance 330.18
Ditton Junior School: Grounds Maintenance 351.05
Ditton Minors FC: Line Marking 25.85
Ditton Short Mat Bowls: Photocopies 43.18
Multi Sports: Income 149.00
(b) Accounts for Payment
RESOLVED the following accounts be ACCEPTED, APPROVED and PAID:-
Salaries: Gross: 15084.81 Net: 11296.29
Kent County Council: Superannuation – October 2008 3810.06
Imprest Account: Reimbursement 905.94
AquAid: Drinking Water & Sanitization 43.73
Vat 7.65 51.38
Chubb Security: Bar & Office Alarm Service
Contract 559.26
Vat 97.87 657.13
Cobra Insurance: 7 Policy Renewals 11204.41
Emprise: Keyholding and Alarm Response 20.83
Vat 3.65 24.48
Kent County Council: 1st Internal Audit for 2008/2009 320.00
Vat 56.00 376.00
Kent County Council: Vehicle Lease Fee 29/9 – 28/12 1071.00
Vat 187.43 1258.43
Kent County Council: Tennis Posts 219.89
Staples 1.20
221.09
Vat 38.69 259.78
Mower Plant: Service & Parts – Super Bowls 229.26
40.13 269.39
Parkfoot: Diesel 59.41
Vat 10.40 69.81
Parker Merchanting: Boots & Latex Gloves 34.80
Vat 6.10 40.90
Mr Pullinger: Playarea Locking at Weekends 25.00
RESOLVED the following payments be made under Sec 137 of the Local Government Act 1972
Ditton Junior School Donation towards 2008 Christmas Party 200.00
Ditton Infant School Donation towards 2008 Christmas Party 200.00
IMPREST ACCOUNT – Reimbursement of October expenditure
Carried Forward 1st October 2008 1470.22
Add: PC Reimbursement 1029.78
Peter Eligate Cheque 625.00
3125.00
Deduct: October Expenses
Voucher Charge 3.25
Postage Stamps 54.00
Community Centre Expenses 303.21
OSA Expenses 150.40
Bar Petty Cash 85.59
PC Petty Cash 63.89
Parish Council Expenses 85.60
Peter Eligate Showband 25/10/08 625.00
Dance Ticket Refund 160.00 1530.94
1594.06
905.94
2500.00
*Sum to be drawn on 3rd November 2008 to restore balance to £2500.00
(c) Cheque Drawn between Meetings
H M Revenue & Customs: VAT Payment to 30.9.2008 1542.88
(d) Direct Debits - Paid During September 2008
The following Direct Debits paid during September 2008 were READ & APPROVED:-
(i) DITTON PARISH COUNCIL
01.09.2008 WPA 573.48
03.09.2008 Mentor RBS PLC 365.17
03.09.2008 02 24.42
03.09.2008 Sky Business 411.25
08.09.2008 Nildram 42.82
08.09.2008 EDF Energy 357.87
15.09.2008 Post Office 52.70
17.09.2008 BT Direct Debits 48.98
17.09.2008 “ 49.04
17.09.2008 “ 58.04
22.09.2008 EBS Direct Debits 20.00
22.09.2008 Euphony Communications 24.08
22.09.2008 S & N UK 6,373.07
22.09.2008 Tonbridge & Malling BC 1,143.00
22.09.2008 Waverleys 1,087.92
22.09.2008 Red Fuel Cards 32.28
22.09.2008 Tonbridge & Malling BC 101.00
25.09.2008 BOC Manchester 264.38
29.09.2008 BT Direct Debits 51.08
29.09.2008 “ 271.57
29.09.2008 Walkers Snacks 252.72
29.09.2008 EDF Energy 1 Ltd 331.23
29.09.2008 Business Card 118.68
(e) Seasonal Donations
RESOLVED seasonal donations be made under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 as follows:-
£250 - Age Concern
£125 - Pop-in-Club
(f) Hallowe’en Dance – Balance Sheet
The Hallowe’en Dance balance sheet showed a profit from ticket sales of £768.63. Raffle tickets sales showed a profit of £153.55 which will be placed into the Charities account.
328. REPORTS FROM BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Borough Cllr. Stone reported on the following matters:-
- Christmas Tree Recycling – there will not be any collection points this year but Christmas trees can be recycled through the green lidded bins.
- Operation Cubit - will be operating in the Tonbridge and Malling area in the near future.
- Health Profile 2008 - The profile gives a snapshot of health in the Tonbridge & Malling area and is funded by the Department of Health and produced annually by the Association of Public Health Observatories.
Co. Cllr. Rowe reported on the following matters:-
- Grants - It has been agreed that some of the £5,000 KPA money will be used to develop Cold Calling Action Zones in the following parts of Ditton; Cherry Orchard, Pear Tree Avenue and Priory Grove. The projects will be developed because these areas have been identified as having a problem, have a well organised Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and been requested.
Ditton is to receive £2,800 towards heating installation at Ditton Heritage Centre from the Small Community Capital Grants. The application for £1645 for a Hearing Aid system for small Meetings has yet to be processed from the local members grants. If Ditton Parish Council is happy that he should support this application and it has no other request, then he will authorise it.
- KCC Health Watch – this was launched on Friday 10th October 2008 and is a service established by Kent County Council in partnership with the NHS in Kent to help local residents express their views about health and social care in the county and get through to the right people.
329. REPORT FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING TEAM
Dealt with earlier in the meeting.
330. PLANNING, HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS
(a) Plans Received for Comment
TM/08/02728/FL Retrospective Application for conversion
of Garage to Habitable Room and Erection
of single storey side extension
AMENDED BLOCK PLAN 5 Ditton Place
RESOLVED TO CONTINUE TO OBJECT TO THIS APPLICATION AS IT IS NOT IN KEEPING WITH NEIGHBOURING PROPERTIES AS IT LOOKS LIKE A TEMPORARY SHELTER.
TM/08/02865/FL Single Storey Rear Extension and Loft Conversion Incorporating Front and Rear Riviera
Dormers
24 Priory Grove
RESOLVED NO OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION.
TM/08/03017/FL Two Storey Side Extension and Single storey Rear Extension
5 Wilton Drive
RESOLVED TO OBJECT TO THIS APPLICATION ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE IS INSUFFICIENT OFF ROAD PARKING FOR THE SIZE OF THE EXTENDED PROPERTY AND IT WILL BE OVER-
INTENSIFICATION OF THE SITE.
TM/08/02560/FL Two storey side extension
24 Acorn Grove
A copy of a communication from a resident sent in connection with the above application was READ and the objections raised NOTED.
RESOLVED TO OBJECT TO THIS APPLICATION AS IT WILL BE OVER-INTENSIFICIATION OF THE SITE AND THE BUILDING WILL BE TOO CLOSE TO THE BOUNDARY WITH THE NEIGHBOURING PROPERTY. ALSO THE COUNCIL QUESTIONS THE NEED FOR TWO FRONT DOORS AND IS CONCERNED THAT THIS EXTENSION WOULD BE USED AS AN INDEPENDENT DWELLING.
(b) Plans Dealt with by Tonbridge & Malling Area Sub-Committee No. 3
Parish and Borough Cllr. Stone requested it be NOTED that his comments and decisions on planning applications at this meeting are a preliminary view and, in accordance with the Code of Conduct, he will look at all applications afresh at Borough Council level.
The following decisions were READ and NOTED:-
TM/08/02544/FL Single Storey Rear Extension
49 Scott Close
GRANTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS
TM/08/02769/TPOC Sweet Chestnut trees to trim back to boundary to prevent overhanging onto property covered by TPO Aylesford No. 2 1986 (TPO 12-06-17)
81 Primrose Dr
GRANTED CONSENT
TM/08/01984/RD Details of refuse storage and landscaping
submitted pursuant to conditions
9 & 10 of TM/08/00237/F: Change of use of ground floor (No. 18 ) and two storey extension to rear to form 4no. self contained
flats
16-18 New Road
APPROVED
(c) ‘B’ Lists
The following ‘B’ Lists were CIRCULATED, READ and NOTED:-
08/41 - 13.10.2008; 08/42 - 20.10.08
(d) Agenda, Minutes, Notes etc. of Area 3 Sub-Committee
NOTED, this document was not available.
(e) Ditton Tollgate Sign - Communication from Kent Highways
Kent Highways have advised that it would be far better for the parish council to have the plaque made up and then they would have it fixed to the wall.
RESOLVED that as the feature was of great heritage importance to Ditton and was destroyed by Kent Highways during highways work, it is their responsibility to rectify the matter and not this Council’s.
RESOLVED assistance be sought from Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council to ensure that a plaque of this historical feature is provided by Kent Highways at the site.
331. DITTON REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES
NOTED all details have now been finalised.
332. DITTON GAZETTE
(a) Christmas Edition
NOTED items for the Christmas edition need to be received no later than 22nd November 2008.
(b) Delivery - Communication from Heritage Centre and Offer from St Peter’s Church
It was NOTED that as the Church is now having regular space in the Gazette, they have offered to deliver the bulk of them without charge.
A communication from Ditton Heritage Centre Ltd, offering to undertake deliveries of the Gazette for one year starting with the first edition in 2009 and at the same rate as is currently being paid, was READ and NOTED.
RESOLVED to accept the offer from the Church and the deliveries be monitored to ensure they are distributed on time.
RESOLVED the Heritage Centre be thanked for their proposal and advised of the offer from the Church and that should this not be successful the Council will contact them to ascertain if their proposal still stands.
333. 2009 EVENTS
(a) Firework Display
Discussion took place on whether to hold a firework display next year, bearing in mind that the cost would probably be in excess of £6,000.
RESOLVED that, if possible, the event be held on Thursday 5th November 2009.
(b) Hallowe’en Dance
Discussion took place and the success of this year’s dance was NOTED.
RESOLVED to hold a Hallowe’en dance next year and engage the services of The Peter Eligate Showband.
334. MATTERS ARISING FROM “CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING”
There were no matters arising.
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In view of the confidential nature of the following business about to be transacted, In accordance with Standing Orders 27 & 50, the remainder of the meeting will exclude the press and public.
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335. CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM BOOK
(a) T & M BC County of Kent Act Section 32 Ref. CM 341
READ, CONFIRMED and SIGNED as a correct record.
(b) Spinal Point Increases 2009/2010 Ref. CM 342
READ, CONFIRMED and SIGNEDas a correct record.
(c) Staff Salaries 2009/2010 Ref. CM 343
READ, CONFIRMED and SIGNED as a correct record.
336. CLOSURE
The meeting closed at 10.02pm.