BISHOPSBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL
An Ordinary Meeting of Bishopsbourne Parish Council was held on Wednesday 15 February
2023 at 6.00pm in the Conrad Hall. Present: Cllr R Prestige, Cllr B Dutta. Cllr J Cole, Cllr K Martin, Cllr D Tapley, Mrs Val McWilliams- Clerk.
There were 4 members of the public present.
Member of the public stated that the Mermaid are holding a birthday party on 26 March. It would be late and noisy.
- Apologies for Absence
City/County Councillor Mike Sole sent his apologies as he had another commitment.
- Comments from the Public
There were no comments from the public.
- Report from County/Cllr Mike Sole
Cllr Sole’s monthly report was received and circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and uploaded onto the Parish Council website and Facebook page,
- Acceptance of Minutes
The minutes held on 7 December 2022 were approved: Proposed by Cllr Martin seconded by Cllr Dutta.
- Members Interests
No notification by members was given of any pecuniary or personal interest in items.
- Matters Arising
There were no matters arising from the minutes not on the agenda.
- Finance
Lloyds Bank £20,593.81) December 2022)
Monies Out
Val McWilliams Clerks Salary (2 months December/January 26 hrs. at £16.60 = £431.0+ 0ffice maintenance £80 Total £511.60
Revised pay for Clerk’s has been set at £16.60 per hour. As the Clerk had never had a pay increase it was agreed by all to pay her the new amount from this month.
Agreement to pay the above invoices was proposed by Cllr Prestige; seconded by Cllr Dutta.
Online Banking
The big banks are being very slow with online banking It was agreed by all to change from Lloyds to Unity Bank. Because of the problems the bigger banks are having with the
two signatures most parish councils have changed over. The clerk will look into it and report back.
Monies Due
Precept bid for 2023/2024 £8,000.00.
Concurrent Funding £2,144.00.
This money will be received from Canterbury City Council in April 2023.
- New Clerk
Following the interviews for the new clerk it was agreed that Stephanie Woods was the stronger candidate and should be offered the post. This was agreed by Councillors. She will work 5 hours week at a salary of £16.60. The start date will be 1 April 2023.
The Clerk will contact her and let her know.
- Planning/Trees
None
- Highways
Highways have contacted the clerk asking if the Council would agree to “Pedestrians in Road” signage being put up in Frog Lane and Crows Camp Road. The Council would prefer if they would reconsider our original proposal for “slow” to be written on the road. The Clerk has written to Highways and is expecting an answer back at the beginning of next week. She will liaise with Councillors once she gets a response.
Street Cleaning should be done in February/ March The clerk will chase for a date.
Potholes have been reported in the middle of the road in The Street opposite the Mermaid along with the ones in Rose Lane. They have been reported but not repaired yet. The Clerk will chase.
It was reported that there was a large rut on the side of the road in Frog Lane right opposite the butchers. As it isa quite narrow along the road smaller cars run the risk of getting stuck in the rut. The clerk will report it to Highways asking them to fill it in. If they won’t do it, we will arrange to fill it ourselves.
- Flood Awareness
The flood Warden reported that there were no concerns with the drains at the moment.
- Neame Meadow
Cllr Prestige reported the fence that had fallen by the river has now been lifted off the ground and Keith Symes has cleared away the brambles behind it. The Village Hall will repair the fence.
The hedge running from Conrad Hall down to the Forge has still not been cut. The Garden maintenance team have decided that because of the bad weather they will do it at the beginning of March, they will also do the ground surrounding the new Beech tree on Neame Meadow.
Cllr Cole has now done repairs to the play equipment following the ROSPA report.
The gate to the entrance of the Meadow has broken. It has been reported to Keith Symes who will get it repaired. The other gate in the far corner needs checking to see if it is damaged or just left open. The Clerk will get it looked at.
The Evergreen Oak tree by the swings is in a poor way. Cllr Cole has done sterling work on it, but it needs some chipping done. Cllr Cole has done an excellent job of cutting back the lower branches of the Maple tree by the gate. We can now get the lawn mower on to the meadow. The Clerk will contact the tree surgeon to look at the two trees and get a quote for chipping and removing some of the branches left on the ground.
Cllr Prestige thanked Cllr Cole for the excellent job he had done in clearing up the mess from the two trees.
13. The Election
The pre-election period starts the nomination process on 16 March. Notice of election and poll cards go out.
Deadline for nominations is 4pm on 4 April (same deadline for withdrawals)
Notices – names of candidates, polling stations
Parish clerks will receive notices after the deadline – when it will be known whether the election is contested or uncontested.
Postal votes will be sent around 19/20 April.
Voting 7am to 10pm on 4 May.
The count -5 May starting with city council seats before counting parish.
The clerk will receive the nomination papers and will forward the joining forms to anyone wanting to apply. It is going to be easier to join by email as otherwise you would have to go to Canterbury City Council you cannot post the forms it has to be done in person and include a photograph of yourself.
It was agreed to do a flyer to be put up at the Barn Shop, Duck Inn, The Mermaid and Conrad Hall and the Website. Cllr Dutta offered to get the boundary line around the village reduced in order to let people know the boundaries. She will let the Clerk have it to prepare the flyer.
14 Coronation
Vanessa McDonald has stated that she might do a Hog Roast for the Coronation. Before anything else can be finalised it we need to ask her what day she would be doing it so that it does not clash with the rest of the village arrangements. The Clerk will contact her and ask her what her plans are before anything further can be arranged. This will be discussed at the April meeting.
- Website
Cllr Dutta reported that the website was up to date.
- Correspondence
Emails sent to all.
| Chief executives bulletin
Emergency Speed Limit – Reduction Ashford Road Election Bulletin Mike Sole’s monthly report NALC Newsletter M20 Moveable Barrier |
Legal Matters
Chief executives bulletin
Emergency Speed Limit – Reduction Ashford Road
Election Bulletin
Mike Sole’s monthly report
NALC Newsletter
M20 Moveable Barrier
Water Board – Clean rivers and seas tasks
Mike Sole February report
NALC Newsletter
Scam Alerts
Police 7 Crime Commissioner Letter
All councillors have been circulated with the correspondence.
- Councillors Responsibilities
Cllr Prestige Nothing to report.
Cllr Martin. – Nothing to report
Cllr Dutta – Website – Nothing to report.
Cllr Tapley – Nothing to report.
- AOB
The Annual Village meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 May at 7.15pm. Details will be confirmed at the April meeting Mermaid has offered to send a menu to the Clerk. It was agreed not to go overboard with the food this year. There was no further business.
17 Date of next meetings
Wednesday 12 April 2023 Parish Council Ordinary meeting at 6.00pm in the Conrad Hall.
The meeting closed at 7.20pm
Wednesday 10 May 2023 Parish Council Ordinary meeting at 6.00m
Followed by Annual Village Meeting at 7.15pm