Halling Parish Council - February 2006 Minutes

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Meeting of Halling Parish Council held on 9 February 2006 at the Jubilee Hall, Upper Halling.

Present: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Councillors Mrs Coleman, Mrs Weaver, R Underdown, P Wyatt, L Hitchcock, B Smith, T Reynolds and R Swain.
W R Swan – Clerk and 8 members of the public.

1. Apologies for absence
There were no apologies.

2. Minutes of last meeting
It was proposed by the Vice-Chairman, seconded by Councillor Smith, that the minutes of the previous meeting were a true record. All agreed and the Chairman duly signed them.

3. Matters arising - none

4. Notification of Any Other Business
Vice-Chairman - 2 items and the Clerk – 1 item.

5. (a) Estates Committee
The Vice-Chairman reported that the Jubilee Hall car park had been cleared. He is waiting for a report and quotations on the safety surfaces in both recreation grounds.

(b) Footpaths Committee
The Committee Chairman, Councillor Wyatt, reported that Lafarge are waiting for a decision from Medway Council concerning the reopening of the Ticker path. He has been chasing Medway Council about the state of the Warren path. The Plough path was closed for a short time when MKWCo were putting in a new main. The path and the sides will be trimmed and cleared by Lafarge. The fence on Marsh Road next to Ferry Meadow is in a poor condition and he will be chasing Saxon Homes to get this repaired as it has not yet been adopted by Medway Council. The Clerk is to contact HM Land Registry to ascertain the ownership of the marsh.

(c) Planning & Development Committee
The Committee Chairman, Councillor Underdown, reported that the following planning applications have been received:
1 Lambarde Close – extension and 3 Acre Grove – extension. The Parish Council had no objection to these.

6. Highways
The Chairman referred to the survey carried out by the Halling Association which showed that the top two concerns of residents were parking and speeding. There is to be a meeting of the Parish Council with Medway Council officers on 22 February 2006 to discuss the plans for double yellow lines. He pointed out that the suggestion to put these along the length of Kent Road on its western side did not come from the Parish Council but from Medway Council.

The Chairman then gave an update to the correspondence with the police and highways about the incident on 7 January 2006 involving an overturned lorry at the new roundabout on the A228. The new roundabout has been redesigned but the changes have not yet been implemented. Discussions on this and the proposed footbridge across the A228 will be raised at the meeting on 22 February.
Medway Council has supplied the Parish Council with the results of the speed survey in the High Street. 15.6% of vehicles are exceeding the speed limit northbound with 27% exceeding the limit southbound. This is an average of 20% and is not acceptable.

According to Medway Council the bridge over the railway in the High Street is unsafe over 7.5 tons which means that delivery lorries will not be able to use it and it is uncertain of the position concerning buses. Councillor Hitchcock asked who owned the bridge – apparently it belongs to Network Rail.

Medway Council is to be approached about this as a matter of urgency.

7. Halling Marsh
Councillor Wyatt has met with Barry Barnes about the footpaths on the Marsh. (see Footpaths)

8. Harris House
The Chairman said that things have been very quiet but it is not yet closed.

9. Halling Association
The Vice-Chairman said that they were waiting for feedback from members about the Forge Green costings.

10. Jubilee Hall
Councillor Mrs Weaver said that the garage is leaking and the Committee is obtaining quotes for the work. The quotes for the handrails are also awaited.

11. Community Centre
Councillor Hitchcock reported that the next Committee meeting is on 13 February. The Vice-Chairman said that according to the deeds, the 2 parking spaces at the side of the building were for disabled parking. Councillor Hitchcock is to look into this.

12. Lafarge – no report.

13. Cemex
The Chairman reported on the Parish Council’s visit to the exhibition on 2 February.

He then read out the Parish Council’s letter to Medway Council and Cemex giving it considered opinion and objection to the proposal preferred by Cemex. A copy of this letter is to be sent to Bob Marshall-Andrews MP.

14. Youth Club
Councillor Hitchcock said that the Club is still running with only 8-12 year olds. He is to put an article in Halling View to attract new members and adult helpers.

15. Precept for 2006/7
The Chairman reported on the Finance Committee on 19 January. The Parish Council had kept within the budget for the current year but as there is a lot of additional expenditure due in 2006/7 eg on play areas and safety surfaces in the recreation grounds, it was recommended that the Parish Precept be increased from £11 to £12.50 per household. It was proposed by the Vice-Chairman, seconded by Councillor Wyatt, that this be ratified. This was agreed unanimously.

The Vice-Chairman said that he would make enquiries about the amount that might be due to Halling from the Ward Councillor’s local fund.

16. Correspondence

(a) Medway Council – Precept Form for 2006/7
(b)   Riverside Medical Practice – points re Surgery opening hours and waits for appointments.
(c)   CEMEX – invitation to preview meeting of plans for west site – 2 February 2006.
(d)   Medway Council – email re bird flu
(e)   Medway Council – change in details of planning applications

(f)    Action with Rural Communities in Kent- entry pack for Village of Year competition to be in by 31 March 2006.
(g)   Medway Council – email re meeting on yellow lines
(h)   Rev Knight – email re quiz in Jubilee Hall 18 February.
(i)    Kent Highways – acknowledgment of HPC letter re A228 incident
(j)    Medway Council - Halling Station railway bridge in High Street.
(k)   Kent Police - acknowledgment of HPC letter re A228 incident
(l)    Kent Highways – report on A228 incident.
(m) Kent Police – answer re A228 incident
(n) Tonbridge & Malling BC – pre-inquiry meeting re Peters Pit on 9 February 2006.
(o) Medway Council – Forge Green project costs.
(p) Medway Council – email re meeting on yellow lines and request for footbridge.
(q) Medway Council – Parish Liaison meeting for Clerks 15 February at Halling

17. Income
EDF – wayleave on Marsh - £30.61

18. Expenditure                                   (£Net £Vat    £Gross)

(a) J Sutherland – handyman’s wages      185.29          185.29
(b) Medway Council – lottery permit          17.50           17.50
(c) Clive Stanley – web services Jan 06     22.00           22.00
(d) P Wilkins Smith – Halling View              40.00           40.00
(e) Letrex – toner Halling View                502.95 88.01 590.96
(f) BT – telephone charges                       63.22 11.06 74.28
It was proposed by Councillor Reynolds, seconded by Councillor Underdown, that the above payments be ratified. All agreed.

19 .Any Other Business
The Vice-Chairman said the an offer of £500 per annum had been received from the Parochial Church Council towards the Parish Council’s costs in having the grass in the Cemetery cut. It was agreed to ask the PCC to make their arrangements for grass cutting in the Cemetery using the £500 towards this. They could also ask the Halling Association for a grant to help with this. Mr Trevor Dady offered to get quotes on behalf of the PCC.

The Clerk reminded Members that the Annual Parish Meeting is on 25 April at the Jubilee Hall and asked if there were any preferences for guest speakers. It was suggested that representatives of Medway Council be asked along to explain the Strategic Plan and how it affects Halling. Also could Bob Marshall-Andrews MP be invited to talk on the impact of the building proposals in the Thames Gateway. Members asked if the Community Police Officer, Dave Crompton could be invited to the meeting.

20. Parishioners’ Questions
Points raised by residents at the meeting included the following:

(a) MKWCo – work on Plough path
(b) Yellow lines in Kent Road
(c) Cemex plans for the Rugby site
(d) Fence at top of Vicarage Road
(e) Grass cutting in Cemetery
(f) Village Playing field
(g) Change of use at Railway Station

Last updated ~ 03 March 2006

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