Minutes 5th July 2022

BISHOPSBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

An Ordinary Meeting of Bishopsbourne Parish Council was held on Tuesday, 5 July 2022 at 6.30pm in Conrad Hall. Present: Cllr R Prestige, Cllr K Martin, Cllr B Dutta. Cllr J Cole, Mrs Val McWilliams- Clerk. There were three members of the public present.

  1. Apologies for Absence

City/County Councillor Mike Sole sent his apologies as he had another commitment.

  1. Comments from the Public

A resident who is the owner raised the question regarding planning application 22/01083 for garage and storage with associated parking together with the repositioning of the existing exit. The parish council explained that it was felt to be too big and had to refuse it on those grounds. The resident was advised to contact CCC if she had any problems

Another resident asked why the street bin by the church was no longer there. It was explained that it had been stolen. The council have applied for a replacement, but it has not arrived yet.

Concern was expressed regarding the Smoked and Uncut Festival that The Pig are organising on 13 August 2022. It was thought that Frog Lane and Bourn Park Road would become a one-way system. There would be no entrance or exit from the Bridge end. The Parish Council had not received any information regarding this. The Clerk will contact Cllr Mike Sole and The Pig to get more information and report back. The Pig is not in Bishopsbourne; it comes under Bridge Parish Council.

  1. Report from County/Cllr Mike Sole was received and circulated to Councillors.

July 2022 (an update on what I have been doing in June)

This month I would like to start by letting you know about the Kent Mental Health & Wellbeing Awards. Nominations are now open. This annual event showcases people, organisations and initiatives that help us cope with life. You can find details of how to make nominations at southkentmind.org.uk

I have attended parish council meetings in Kingston, Barham & Aisha in June. I try to rotate and attend parish meeting whenever I can, but if there are specific items on the agenda that you would like my input on, please let me know. I am also happy to meet up with parish councillors at any time and not just at monthly meetings.

Now that the Canterbury City Council Cabinet system is in place I have been appointed as the Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet Member for Corporate which covers much of the financial side of the council’s business, but also quite a range of areas including Equality & Diversity and Parish Council Liaison. I was also recently appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Canterbury City Council.

I attended the full board meeting of the River Stour Internal Drainage Board that was held in Godmersham and took the opportunity to cycle there, reporting potholes (many of which have now been repaired) in Petham, Kingston and Bishopsbourne. I have also asked when we might see parts of Kake Street and The Broadway resurfaced. This month I was re-appointed to the drainage board by Canterbury City Council. I am also pleased to see that the pavement in Bossington Road, Adisham that I reported has been repaired. Residents in Adisham have come together to consider the future of their village hall and I was able to join their meeting to consider possible options and give support.

With changes to the KCC Highways team responsible to parish Highway Improvement Plans, I had an update meeting about the ongoing speed limit reduction projects in Petham Stone Street and Woolage Village. I also discussed priorities in other parishes that I will continue to push for, including: Kingston – extension of 30mph from Barham around the Black Robin, Bridge – 20mph limits in the village, Barham – 20mph in certain roads in the village and further speed reduction measures in Breach, Littlebourne 20mph in certain roads, Bishopsbourne –SLOW road markings on Frog Lane, Ickham 20 mph limit, Thanington A28 safety, and Chartham – traffic speeds on The Downs.

I was delighted to attend the official opening of The Fifth Trust Barham Skills Centre for adults with learning disabilities. On Canterbury City Council I attended the Scrutiny Sub Committee and commented on the council’s poor track record of delivering capital projects on time. I also attended the Joint Transportation Board as a KCC councillor. Canterbury Pride was once again a bright and colourful event in glorious weather, and I was pleased to be able to meet many people there.

I have continued to follow up issues with bin collections, closed roads, public rights of way, planning and the A2 “bumps”.

  1. New Councillor

Following the resignation of Hannah Andrews CCC granted permission for the Council to co-opt a new councillor. Jamie Cole agreed to take on the role and was duly elected which was agreed by all. The Clerk will inform CCC and send the necessary forms on to them.

  1. Acceptance of Minutes of the Minutes

The minutes held on 3 May 2022 were approved: Proposed by Cllr Martin, seconded by Cllr Dutta.

  1. Members Interests

No notification by members was given of any pecuniary or personal interest in items

  1. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising from the minutes not on the agenda.

  1. Finance

Lloyds Bank £23,908.28

Monies Out

Val McWilliams Clerks Salary (2 months March/April 26 hrs. at £10.50 = £273.00 + 0ffice maintenance £80, Ed.IT Computer Care £78.72 Total £431.72

Money paid May-June

AJL Garden Services £360.00

BEK consulting VAT Jubilee £168

MFW PAY ROLL £264.00

BEK Consulting Jubilee Fete £170.00

Val McWilliams Stationery £79.13 +VAT £15.82 Total £94.95

KALC Subscription £151.46+VAT £30.29 Total £181.75

Val McWilliams Repairs to gate Neame Meadow £50.00

Sign Plaque Jubilee £47.95 + Repairs to gate £50.00 Total £97.05

Came & Company Insurance £889.25

Total £2,275.00

Payment of items approved by Cllr Martin: seconded by Cllr Dutta.

The Clerk reported that she had sent a claim form in for a VAT repayment of £825.69. The money has not been received yet.

As Cllr Cole is not registered with Lloyd’s Bank yet it was agreed to wait until he was registered before finalising the bank form. The Clerk will organise the forms for Cllr Cole to complete.

  1. Planning/Trees

CA/22/01083 Garage and storage with associated parking together with the repositioning of existing access. Little Pett Farm, Pett Bottom Road, Bridge, Canterbury, CT4 5PD. The Council considered the application and felt it was too big and therefore they could not support it.

  1. Highways

The slow signs on Frog Lane have still not been installed. Highways have said that they will be done but they are terribly busy at the moment. The clerk will chase. The Clerk has asked for the survey to go ahead.

The hedges around Neame Meadow and Conrad Hall are very overgrown. The Clerk will arrange for them to be cut back in September.

The Street cleaning has still not yet been carried out. The Clerk will contact Canenco and remind them that it has not been done.

  1. Flood Awareness

The Flood Warden reported that there were no problems at the moment He went on to say that all drains and the gully on his drive are now cleared.

However, he will be keeping a watchful eye over the coming months to check that KCC fulfill their promise to check all surface drains and gullies are clear every six, twelve months that have been scheduled to be carried out.

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 has been put on the website and parish magazine.

  1. Neame Meadow

The meadow is now clear of moles. There are still hay bales left on the ground following the Jubilee celebrations. The Clerk will arrange to get them removed.

ROSPA are due to carry out the annual playground inspection early July.

The weeping Beech Tree is doing well. We are grateful to Cllr Dutta who continues to water it.

  1. Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

This was great success. The barbecue was extremely popular and did make money which enabled the Mermaid to give a donation to charity. Everyone worked extremely hard. The council was extremely grateful for the help given by two former councillors Nick Rooke and Lizzie Jordan; without their help we could not have coped.

  1. Website

Cllr Dutta reported that the website was up to date

  1. Correspondence

Emails sent to all

Canterbury Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan:

CCC Consultation on Street Trading in Canterbury:

Public Engagement Meeting 19 July 2022

Operation London Bridge

KALC Area Committee Minutes

NALC Executive Bulletin

NALC Newsletter

Rescheduled Parish Councillor Planning Stodmarsh Training 20 July 4.30pm

Fire Stopping Campaign Tool Kit

KALC May News

The correspondence has been circulated to all Councillors.

With regard Street Trading in Canterbury, councillors fully support having a market in the High Street although there were some concerns about where cars could be parked. It was felt that shoppers would not want to be too far away from their cars if they had a lot to carry. It was agreed that the Clerk would complete the survey and return it to CCC.

  1. Councillors Responsibilities

Cllr Prestige   Nothing to report

Cllr Martin. – Nothing to report

Cllr Dutta –   Website – Nothing to report

Cllr Tapley – Nothing to report

  1. AOB

There was no further business

  1. Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 13 September at 6.00pm. (Note earlier time) in the Conrad Hall.