BISHOPSBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL
The Annual Meeting of Bishopsbourne Parish Council was held on Tuesday, 3 May 2022
at 6.00pm in Conrad Hall. Present: Cllr R Prestige, Cllr K Martin, Cllr B Dutta. Mrs Val
McWilliams- Clerk. There were two members of the public present.
1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
At The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council the first item of business is to elect a new
chairperson for the year. Cllr Martin proposed that Cllr Prestige be elected again. This
was seconded by Cllr Dutta. There were no other nominations. Cllr Prestige agreed to
accept the nomination and sign the Declaration Acceptance of Office form.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
There were no comments from members of the public who attended the meeting.
3. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllr Tapley due to work commitments. Cllr H Andrews has
had to resign due to work commitments.
4. REPORTS FROM COUNTY/CITY CLLR MIKE SOLE
City Cllr Sole attended the meeting and gave the following report:
It is the time of year when parish councils have their Annual Parish Meetings (APM). It is
always good to go to the se to find out more about what the parish council and the many
varied community groups have been up to. It is also an opportunity to meet up when
many residents and talk about issues of concern as well as presenting my own report. In
April I was able to visit the APMs in Lower Hardres & Nackington, Barham, Waltham, and
Bridge. In May I will be at the APMs of Bishopsbourne, Womenswold, Ickham; Well,
Wickhambreaux and Littlebourne so I look forward to meeting residents then.
Unfortunately, diary clashes mean that I have only been able to attend nine out of the
sixteen parishes this year, but I also attended Kingston Parish Council in April. Getting
out and about, discussing issues and looking for solutions is what I most enjoy about
being a councillor. This month I met with residents in St Vincent’s Close, Littlebourne to
discuss parking issues. I was good to hear everyone’s views and by working with both
the City and County Council. am hopeful that we will be able to see some small
improvements coming forward.
I had a particularly good morning in Thanington and Wincheap discussing issues with the
city councillors, and this included a visit to the Thanington Resource Centre where I was
able to catch up with the local PCSO and the Bishop of Dover for some interesting
conversations.
As the City Council moves from the Committee system to the Leader & Cabinet model, I
have had briefings on how this will work in practice. The Community Committee and
Regeneration Committee that I used to sit on will no longer exist, but I am looking
forward to holding the council to account with a position on the new Scrutiny Committee
amongst others.
I attended the AGM of the Little Stour & Nailbourne Flood Management Committee in
Littlebourne. As the Lib Dem group spokesperson for Climate Change and Finance & have
had update briefings from Canterbury City Council.
5. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
The minutes held on 2nd March 2022 were approved. Proposed by Cllr Martin, seconded
by Cllr Dutta.
6.MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
No notification by members was given of any pecuniary or personal interest in items.
7. MATTERS ARISING. There were no matters arising from the minutes not on the
agenda.
8. FINANCE
Lloyds Bank £16,176.48
Monies In £1,949.00
Monies Out Val McWilliams Clerks Salary (2 months March/April 26 hrs. at £10.50 =
£273.00 + 0ffice maintenance £80, + Stamps £33.96, +Ed.IT Computer repairs (£121.16
+VAT £24.23) Total £145.39 + Audit £20.00 TOTAL £552.35
Val McWilliams for refreshments AVM £103.60.
AJL Garden Services Neame Meadow & Church ground maintenance £480.00
GRAND TOTAL £1,135.95
Agreement to pay the above unpaid invoices was proposed by Cllr Dutta; seconded by
Cllr Martin.
The Clerk presented the accounts to the Council, which had been audited by the Internal
Auditor. The resolution to apply for the Certificate of Exemption from PK Littlejohn the
External Audit was passed unanimously. The Chair and Clerk signed it and the Clerk will
now forward it to PK Littlejohn for acceptance. Councillors approved the Annual Return
and all supporting documents for the financial year end 2021-2022 which was signed by
the Chair and the Clerk. Acceptance of the forms was proposed by Cllr Prestige seconded
by Cllr Dutta.
9. PLANNING/TREES
CA/22/00292 Detached outbuilding. 1 Flint Cottages, Bourne Park Road, Bridge. There were no objections.
Granted
CA/21/01321 Two-storey side and rear extensions together with dormer windows following
demolition of out buildings and annexe. Little Pett Farm, Pett Bottom Road, Bridge Granted
10. HIGHWAYS
The large pothole on Bourne Park Road opposite the two cottages has now been
repaired.
The Clerk has written to the Planning and Delivery Team at Kent Highways who have
replied that when they consider speeding, they consider the number of historic accidents
recorded on the police database and what the current speed limits are. There have been
no recorded accidents along Frog Lane. They have also looked at The Street and Rose
Lane where average speeds are below 30mph.
It would be possible to arrange for a more accurate speed data to give a better idea. This
would need to be done via an Automatic Traffic Count (tubes across the road for 1 week
or 2). If the council would like to go down this route, they would have to bear the
associated survey costs of £110. The Council agreed that they would like to go ahead
and arrange for a survey to take place. The Clerk will contact Highways and ask them to
arrange for one to be conducted.
11. NEAME MEADOW
The moles have now been cleared from Neame Meadow.Grass cutting has started again. Neame Meadow will be cut every other week. The church yard on the side of the church will also be cut every other week, it was agreed tocut the rear of the church a couple of times a year. The clerk will organise it. The Clerk will contact AJL Garden Maintenance and ask them to do an extra cut on Neame Meadow and remove the grass cuttings in readiness for the Queen’s Platinu Jubilee activities on the meadow. The Clerk will arrange for it to be cut 31 May/1June.
12. FLOOD AWARENESS Flood Warden, Roger Martin reported that following the difficulties at Frog Lane, KCC now intend to schedule six, twelve or twenty-four months
cleaning of all surface water gullies and drains. Hopefully, that will also extend to those
drains covered by CCC and save us from having constantly to report blockages as and
when they occur
.
The Flood Warden gave a detailed report of the Environmental Issues following a recent
meeting of the River Group which included the Environmental Agency and Southern
Water. The full report will be put on the website and parish magazine.
He went on to say that all drains and the gully on his drive are now cleared. All are
working well now.
13. Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The parish council is not responsible for the running of the event that is the responsibility
of the Mermaid. The Parish Council will be responsible for running the barbecue. The
Mermaid will supply the food and sauces the cost to be reimbursed by the council.
Cllr Dutta will organise the children’s Fancy Dress. Cllr Martin will liaise with Emma
Homewood to see what extra help might be required.
The clerk will investigate obtaining a plaque for the tree in readiness for the Rector to
bless it at the fete. It was agreed to have a metal plaque standing on an 18inch spike.
The clerk will research the wording and let the council know to approve before ordering
it.
It was agreed to do a flyer to be delivered to residents adverting the event. The house
name and address will be put on the back of the flyer stating that if they bring the flyer
with them, they will be entitled to one free burger per household. The clerk will organise
labels to be stuck onto the back of the flyer.
14. WEBSITE
Cllr Dutta reported that the website is fully up to date.
15. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
Emails sent to all
NALC Events, Fighting Climate Change
KALC Canterbury Area Committee – Draft AGM Minutes and CCC Standards Committee
Information
KALC Environmental Calculator Workshop
Drop-in Session Canterbury Library
Local plans Update
NALC Newsletter
Mike Sole Report
Rural Kent Community Matters
Chief executive's bulletin
Mike Sole A p0ril Bulletin
All councillors have been circulated with the correspondence.
16. COUNCILLORS’ RESPOSIBILITIES
Cllr Prestige Nothing to report
Cllr Martin. – Nothing to report
Cllr Dutta – Website – Nothing to report
Cllr Tapley- Nothing to report
17. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The Weeping Beech tree planted for the Queen’s Jubilee has been given a clean bill of
health. The clerk will arrange for the surrounding base area to be tidied up before the
fete.
We are still waiting for a replacement bin for the one stolen from the church to be
installed. The Clerk will chase.
18. NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will take place on 5 th July 2022 at 6.00pm in The Conrad Hall
There being no further business the meeting closed at 6.50pm.