Ditton Parish Council
Meeting Minutes, January 2006
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF DITTON PARISH COUNCIL,
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER
AT DITTON COMMUNITY CENTRE ON WEDNESDAY, 4th JANUARY 2006
[Click here for a downloadable version in Adobe PDF file format.]
PRESENT: CLLRS. J D DAY [Chairman], M J PORTER [Vice-Chairman], R G W
BAKER, MRS A BEADLE, J BEADLE, MRS J E DESAVE, J E DESAVE, MRS A
THROSSELL & MRS J F THWAITES.
MRS S J KAVANAGH [Clerk of the Council]
436. OPENING OF MEETING
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm and wished all Members and staff
a happy and prosperous new year.
The Chairman asked Members to take an urgent item regarding a recent assault
on a member of staff, who was locking the playground at the time of the
incident, details of which had previously been circulated.
Discussion took place. Members expressed grave concern that, although
the Police were called at the time the member of staff was being attacked
they did not arrive until some 15 minutes later.
RESOLVED the Police be notified of this Council’s concern at this further
incident of assault in the vicinity of the Community Centre and the length
of time it took them to attend.
RESOLVED that details of security cameras with good image quality and
suitable installation sites, be investigated.
437. APOLOGIES
Apologies previously notified were RECEIVED and ACCEPTED from Cllrs. Mrs
M and A R Mulcuck.
438. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
All Members declared an interest in item 445(a) as two of the applications
are for land which, until recently, was owned by the Parish Council.
439. CONFIRMATION & SIGNING OF MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD
5TH DECEMBER 2005
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 5th December 2005 were CONFIRMED
and SIGNED.
440. MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising not included on the Agenda.
441. CORRESPONDENCE
For Noting
The following correspondence was CIRCULATED, READ and NOTED:-
Kent Wildlife Trust: Events in Kent, February – May 2006
‘Natural World’, Winter 2005
‘Wild Kent’, Issue 3 2005
Ton & Malling Borough Cncl: ‘Here & Now’ Issue no 6 Dec/Jan 2006
Parish Partnership Panel – Minutes of meeting held 10th November 2005
& presentation literature
Minutes of Council, Cabinet & Committee Meetings 2005, Vol 5
Action with Communities Funding for Parish Plans
In Rural Kent:
‘Oast to Coast’, Winter 2005
Canine Crisis Council: ‘Newsletter’ 34, December 2005 + encls.
Kent Police: Maidstone & Malling Newsletter for Parish Councils –
November 2005
Community Safety Booklet
Force Amalgamations – Stage 2 Submission
English Housing Association: Resident’s Newsletter – Winter 2005/2006
Ditton Infant School: Letters of Thanks
Kent County Council: Kent & Medway Funding Fair 2006
Report & Accounts 2005 – Superannuation Fund
Clerk & Council’s: ‘Local Council Update’, December 2005, Issue 74
Maidstone & T Wells NHS: ‘Trust News’ November 2005
Loic Flory KCC: Advance Notice of Local Board Meeting for Tonbridge &
Malling 9th March 2006
Ditton Heritage Centre Ltd: Letter of Thanks
Mr David Thornewell: Letter of Apology re. invitation for 12th December
2005
Mr Jeremy Wilton (Cluttons) Letter of Thanks
Kenward Trust: ‘New Life’ - Issue 4, 2005
Mentor Services: Newsletter – Winter 2005/2005, Issue 5
‘Legal Update’ – Issue 14, December 2005
Groundwork: Landfill Tax Funds
Kent Police: Maidstone & Malling Newsletter for Parish Councils December
2005
Maidstone Weald NHS: Health Services over the Holiday Period + encls
Patient Link, Issue 5
Zannah Bell: Consumer Direct – On-line Consumer Advice
NALC: Local Council Review, Volume 57, No. 5 January 2006
(b) For Decision
Fire & Rescue Service: Consultation
Information READ and NOTED.
The Clerk was asked to complete the response on behalf of the Council.
Consortium Kent (VICK) Kent Infrastructure Development Plan – DRAFT
Cllr. Baker agreed to READ this document and draft a response for Council’s
approval at the next appropriate meeting.
442. FINANCE
(a) Accounts Received
The following accounts received during December 2005 were READ and NOTED:-
Ditton Junior School: Grounds Maintenance Fee 210.00
Ditton Minors: Reimbursement of electric & Water Charges 25.88
NRRG
Ditton Minors: Multi Sport Hire Fees 44.00
Ditton Bowls Club: Reimbursement of Water Charges 267.66
Mr Baker: Advertisement – Ditton Gazette 28.00
S R Interiors: Advertisement – Ditton Gazette 35.00
Hirers: Multi-sport facility hire fees 672.50
Tenants: Allotment Rents 2005/2006 161.50
EDF Energy: Wayleave – Playing Fields 11.50
EDF Energy: Wayleave – Bowls Club 3.45
Accounts For Payment
RESOLVED the following accounts be ACCEPTED, APPROVED and PAID:-
Salaries: Gross: 13670.58 Nett 10247.58
DPC Imprest A/C: Reimbursement of December Expenses 5814.78
Kent County Council: Superannuation - December 2005 2330.40
AquAid: Still Water 18.75
Vat 3.28 22.03
BT: 2nd Booking Line 41.15
Clerk’s Line 41.15
Fax Line 47.92
Vat 22.78 153.00
Communicorp: Local Council’s Update subscription 60.00
CSP: Printing Winter 05 Gazette
16 Pages 1203.38
Vat 210.59 1413.97
Glasdon UK Limited: Handling Charge for Returned Bin 7.35
Vat 1.28 8.63
Kent County Council: Stationery, cleaning items,
Rigger gloves etc. 156.82
Vat 27.45 184.27
Land Technics: 2040 Ultra 500ml
3” Silver Tape – Tractor 10.46
Vat 1.83 12.29
Mower Plant Svs: Solo Back Pack Blower 275.00
Mower Repairs/Spares 467.55
742.55
Vat 129.95 872.50
Nexus Data Systems Ltd:Web/Email hosting 49.00
Vat 8.58 57.58
Nico Office Ltd: Consumables for Minolta
Printer 18.98
Vat 3.32 22.30
Parkfoot Garage Ltd Mitsubishi Fuel – November &
Shampoo, sponge, screenwash 78.11
Vat 13.67 91.78
RBS Accounting: VAT Partial Exemption calculation
For 2004/2005 420.00
Vat 73.50 493.50
David Stephens: Audio services Remembrance
Day 2004 & 2005 310.50
Audio services, music, elecs for
Firework Night 2005 380.00 690.50
Three Towns Office Stationery & Raffle Tickets 83.28
Equipment Ltd: Vat 14.56 97.84
Top2 Bottom: Roof Repairs, Changing Rooms
NRRG 295.00
Vat 51.62 346.62
Trident Trailers: Trailer Parts 151.54
Vat 26.52 178.06
Travis Perkins: Part to repair to Allotment Water 33.19
Pipe, Village Green Posts Vat 5.81 39.00
Cheque Drawn Between Meetings
DPC Imprest Account: Emergency Reimbursement top up for 1000.00
Inland Revenue
Imprest Account – Breakdown of Expenditure during December 2005
Carried Forward 1st December 2005 394.38
Add: PC reimbursement 5605.62
PC Reimbursement (emergency top up) 1000.00
7000.00
Deduct: December Expenses
Voucher Charge 3.25
Inland Revenue 5776.80
Community Centre Exp 82.90
SLCC Fees 150.00
Petty Cash 228.27
Webmaster Fees 390.50
Postage Stamps 93.00
Raffle Tickets 19.00
Christmas Lights Comp Vouchers 25.00
Water Account 46.06 6814.78
185.22
Sum to be drawn on 4th January 2006 5814.78
BALANCE 6000.00
*Sum required to restore balance to £6000
(c) Direct Debits - Paid During November 2005
RESOLVED the following direct debits paid during November 2005, be ACCEPTED
and APPROVED:-
[i] DITTON PARISH COUNCIL ACCOUNT
02.11.05 02 22.84
04.11.05 WPA Health Care 380.15
07.11.05 Nildram 42.82
22.11.05 EBS 56.25
28.11.05 Euphony Communications 15.32
28.11.05 Nat West Debit Card 43.93
[ii] DITTON COMMUNITY CENTRE BAR ACCOUNT
02.11.05 Sky Business 246.75
09.11.05 Post Office Ltd 43.98
21.11.05 Scottish Courage: - Stock 6433.13
21.11.05 Beer Seller 1236.20
22.11.05 HMC&E – Gaming Machine 124.00
25.11.05 BOC Manchester: - Beer Gas 229.13
28.22.05 Walkers Snacks Ltd 234.72
29.11.05 Nat West Account Charge 55.00
[iii] DITTON COMMUNITY CENTRE ACCOUNT
21.11.05 Tonbridge & Malling BC 1408.00
(d) Parish Council Precepts 2006-2007 – Communication from TMBC
Information previously circulated was READ and the council tax base for
Ditton for 2006/2007 NOTED as 1735.66.
The agreed allocation for Ditton for 2006/2007 under the Scheme of Financial
Arrangements was NOTED as follows:-
Basic Allocation @ £2.38 assuming a minimum of 1,250 adults £8677.00
Cemeteries & Churchyards 1339.00
Debt Charges 3968.00
£13984.00
(e) Christmas Dances - Balance Sheet
The balance sheet for the Christmas and New Year Dances was CIRCULATED
at the meeting and the profit on ticket sales NOTED as £4343.00.
The profit from the sale of raffle tickets at the dances was NOTED as
£991.30. This sum will be placed in the Charities account and used
to make donations to local charities and good causes.
(f) Investment Options
Further information, previously circulated was READ and NOTED. Additional
information is still awaited.
Members were advised that once all the information is to hand they will
need to decide on the best investment option for the Council. This must
then be notified to the Audit Commission and, if possible, looked over
by the Finance Officer at the Borough Council to ensure that all requirements
of the Trustees Investments Act 1962 and CIPFA’s Treasury Management in
the Public Services: Code of Practice have been complied with. The Council
should not ratify their decision until this has been done.
FURTHER NOTED the Council will need to draft and put in place an annual
investment strategy, which includes formal and comprehensive objectives,
policies and practices, strategies and reporting arrangements and control
of their treasury management activities.
RESOLVED to set up an investment working party to assist the Clerk with
meeting all the legal requirements.
Cllrs. Beadle, Day and Mrs Thwaites offered to be on the Working Party.
443. REPORTS FROM BOROUGH & COUNTY COUNCILLORS
The Chairman read a report from County Cllr. Geoff Rowe as follows:-
Disability Working Party - Meeting 1.02.2006.
Parish Partnership Panel – Meeting 9.03.2006. Agenda items no later than
3.02.2006
Cllr. Rowe wished all Members and staff a Happy New Year.
444. REPORT FROM PARISH CONSTABLE/COMMUNITY POLICE
There was no Police Officer present.
445. PLANNING, HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION MATTERS
Cllr. Porter 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.
(a) Plans Received for Comment
TM/05/04080/LB Internal renovations and repairs Installation of new bath,
shower, WC And drains
580 London Road
RESOLVED NO OBJECTION, SUBJECT TO LISTED BUILDING CONSENT.
TM/05/04087/FL Construction of underpass to all Weather training gallop
Kiln Barn Farm
RESOLVED NO OBJECTION
TM/05/04166/RD Details of external materials submitted (Merlin Grey BS
18B25 to horizontal cladding, Metallic Silver RAL 9006 to vertical cladding)
pursuant to condition 2 of planning permission TM/05/01040/FL. Seventeen
B1 (c); B2 and B8 buildings with associated yards, Site 2 & Former
P C parking areas, hard and soft Allotments landscaping.
Bellingham Way
RESOLVED THIS COUNCIL HAS NO COMMENT TO MAKE AS THE LAND, UNTIL RECENTLY,
WAS OWNED BY THE PARISH COUNCIL
TM/05/03210/FL Conservatory: Obscure glazing to side elevation to a height
of 1.8m above Mallard House internal floor level
12 Streamside
RESOLVED NO OBJECTION
TM/05/04162/RD Details of landscaping and Travel Plan submitted pursuant
to Conditions 5 & 10 of planning
Permission TM/05/01040/FL: Seventeen B1(c); B2 and B8 Buildings with associated
yards, Site 2 & Former P C
parking areas, hard and soft Allotmentslandscaping
Bellingham Way
RESOLVED THIS COUNCIL HAS NO COMMENT TO MAKE AS THE LAND, UNTIL VERY RECENTLY,
WAS OWNED BY THE PARISH COUNCIL
TM/05/4207/FL The installation of two additional 700 cubic metres ash
storage silos complete with ancillary equipment
Aylesford Newsprint Bellingham
Way
RESOLVED NO OBJECTION
(b) Plans Dealt with by T & M Area Sub Committee No 3
The following decisions were READ and NOTED:-
TM/05/01438/FL Erection of four dwelling houses And two garages
Sheldon Court
REFUSED
TM/05/03102/FL Conversion of garage to enlarged Bathroom, new utility
room and Dining Room
1 Cobdown Close
GRANTED WITH CONDITIONS
TM/05/03111/LB Change of use of existing third Bedroom on first floor
into bathroom And toilet
578 London Road
GRANTED WITH CONDITIONS
TM/05/03448/FL Installation of an additional 350 Cubic Metres ash storage
silo complete With ancillary equipment including Minor site roadway modifications
Aylesford Newsprint Bellingham
Way
GRANTED WITH CONDITIONS
TM/05/03410/FL Change of use to industrial and Office use plus works to
accommodate Additional floorspace
Unit 2 Site G Bellingham Way
GRANTED WITH CONDITIONS
(c) ‘B’ Lists
The following ‘B’ Lists were READ and NOTED:-
05/47 - 28.11.2005; 05/48 - 05.12.2005; 05/49 - 12.12.2005; 05/50 - 19.12.2005
(d) Kent Minerals & Waste Development Framework – Resubmission of
the Statement of Community Involvement to the Secretary of State
It was NOTED that the document is available for viewing on their website
at www.kent.gov.uk/mwdf.
Members were asked to read the document and send their comments to the
Clerk who will collate them and submit them to Kent County Council by
30th January 2006.
(e) Hermitage Quarry, Aylesford
NOTED Kent County Council has resolved to grant planning permission with
conditions, for the following:-
TM/03/2784 - EXTRACTION OF RAGSTONE & HASSOCK AND PROCESSING ON SITE
FOR SALE AS CONSTRUCTION AGGREGATES. RESTORATION BY BACKFILLING WITH INERT
WASTE;
TM/03/2782 – VARIATION OF CONDITIONS (ii), (x); REPLACEMENT OF CONDITION
(xxxvii) AND REMOVAL OF CONDITION (xi) – OF PLANNING PERMISSION TM/88/295;
AND
TM/03/2787 – VARIATION OF CONDITIONS (1), (2), (4) & (7) OF PERMISSION
REFERENCE TM/95/761 – HERMITAGE QUARRY, HERMITAGE LANE.
(f) Planning Enforcement Investigation at Q8 Petroleum, London Road, Ditton
NOTED a site visit found that there was a breach of planning condition.
The owner, leaseholder and occupiers have been reminded of the need to
comply with the condition to ensure the car wash entrance and exit shutters
remain closed at all times when the dryers are in operation.
FURTHER NOTED all interested parties have been advised that any further
occurrence will be in breach of planning condition (viii) and consequently
liable to enforcement action.
(g) Kent Highways Partnership
Details of the handout material for the West Kent Parish Seminar held
on 17th November 2005, were READ and NOTED.
(h) Minutes of the Joint Transportation Board Meeting 5th December 2005
READ and NOTED.
446. OPEN AIR CHURCH SERVICE AND PICNIC, 25TH JUNE 2006
Members were advised that The Rev. Priscilla Payne will be standing in
for the Rev. Toss Terranova for four months later this year.
During this time The Rev Priscilla Payne wants to try to bring parishioners
together by holding an ‘open air Service’ on the Village Green on 25th
June 2006 and follow this with a picnic on the school playing fields.
It is envisaged that the Service will take the format of ‘Ditton’s Songs
of Praise’ with residents nominating their favourite hymns and participating
in the Service.
The Rev Priscilla Payne wishes to circulate a questionnaire in the village
asking for hymn nominations and why they are nominating them. The top
five would then be sung at the Service. To this end she has asked if the
Council could assist by circulating the questionnaire with an edition
of the Gazette and also allowing her an editorial in the Gazette.
RESOLVED to accede to the request to hold the Service on the Village Green
on 25th June and assist with circulation of a questionnaire and an item
in the Gazette.
Cllr. Day agreed to liaise with the Rev Priscilla Payne regarding the
questionnaire and Gazette item.
447. MATTERS ARISING FROM “CORRESPONDENCE FOR NOTING”
Cllr. Baker requested that a letter be sent to both Schools thanking the
children for the entertaining and greatly appreciated letters of thanks.
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The Chairman moved that in view of the confidential nature of the business
about to be transacted, the press and public be excluded from the remainder
of the meeting in accordance with Standing Orders 27 & 50.
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448. CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM BOOK
There were no Confidential Memoranda.
449. CLOSURE
The meeting closed at 8.56pm.
Chairman
7th February 2006