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Waltham Parish Council

Ordinary Council Meeting – 5th December 2023

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  1. Agenda
  2. Minutes

Agenda

Waltham Parish Council

EST. 1894

Website: https://walthampc.org.uk

TO: ALL MEMBERS OF WALTHAM PARISH COUNCIL.

 

Councillors are hereby summoned to attend the Ordinary Meeting of the Council on Tuesday the 5th of December 2023 commencing at 7.30 pm at Waltham Village Hall for the transaction of the business described in the following Agenda. Supporting documents can be found in an Agenda Pack on the Parish Councils website. Members of the public may make representations, answer questions, and give evidence in respect of the business on the agenda during item 4 – Public Session (Standing Order 3e).

 

AGENDA

 

  1. To receive any apologies for

 

  1. To receive Declarations of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant

 

  1. To approve the minutes of Motions and Resolutions of the meeting held on the 7th of November 2023.

 

  1. Public Session: To receive representations questions and evidence from the public .

 

  1. Chairman’s To receive an update on current issues:
    1. Update on Parish activities
    2. Update on communications and online banking
    3. Adverse Weather

 

  1. To receive reports: from County and City

 

  1. Financial Matters:
    1. To receive a Finance Report for the period 1st April to the 30th of November
    2. To approve a Payment
    3. To decide the budget for the next financial year and the required

 

  1. Highways Improvement Plan (HIP):

To discuss the outcome of the virtual meeting with KCC and make resolutions:

  1. Traffic speeds in Kake street and Richdore Proposed traffic survey.
  2. Potential for local Speed watch
  3. Gate Signs
  4. Horse hazard warning
  5. Traffic signs and road
  6. 30mph

 

  1. Planning Applications :

To consider a response to application CA/23/02112, single storey side extension, The Nook, Kake Street, CT45SD

 

NB Details can be found on https://pa.canterbury.gov.uk/online-applications/. Councils’ stance can be Object, Support, or Neutral.

  1. 2024 Meetings:

To agree the dates for meetings during 2024

 

  1. Date of next meeting:

The next Ordinary Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday the 6th of February 2024.

 

Clerk to the Council

 

WPC/asm/28:11:2023

 

Minutes

Waltham Parish Council

EST. 1894

https://waltham-pc.gov.uk                                                    https://clerk@waltham-pc.gov.uk

 

 Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council  held on the 5th of December 2023 at Waltham Village Hall

 

In line with the Transparency Code all public documents relating to the meeting are published in an agenda pack on the parish council website. Please note that the minutes remain in Draft form until approved at the next meeting.

 

Present:   Parish Councillors John Barry (Chair), Jane Robinson (Vice Chair) Ben Grillet, and John Hockley. City Councillor Mike Bland was also present.

 

Parish clerk Tony McCord was in attendance.

 

There were no members of the public present.

 

The meeting commenced at 7.30pm with a welcome  by the Chairman.

 

23/24.073 Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Andon because of work commitments and were accepted.

 

23/24.074 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests

There were no declarations pertaining to items on the agenda.

 

23/24.075 Approval of Minutes

The Chairman invited comments on pages one to four of the minutes.  It was Resolved to approve the minutes and the Chairman signed the document as a correct record.                    Action: Clerk                                                                                                

 

23/24.076 Public Session

There were no members of the public present.

 

23/24.077 Chairman’s Report

  1. Update on Parish Activities The Chairman expressed thanks on behalf of parishioners to the organisers of the annual bonfire and also to the Waltham History group for their invaluable contributions to village life and their fundraising activities. Members gave a unanimous vote of thanks for the endeavours.

In subsequent discussions the possibility for a merger between two charitable Trusts was mentioned, with a query about the potential effect on concurrent functions funding from the City Council and grant funding from the Parish Council.

The Clerk advised from previous experience that providing receipts and payments were clearly identified for both Waltham Park and the Village Hall the structure of the accounts was a decision for the Trustees.

The Chairman reiterated his view that the Parish Council should continue providing support through the Grant Awarding Policy. Members unanimously Resolved to support that view.

Action: Clerk

  1. Online Banking. Communication problems were being rectified but there were continuing issues regarding councillor registration with the Unity Trust authorisation process and with accessing the Waltham-pc.org email system. Action: Members & Clerk
  2. Adverse Weather arrangements The Chairman reported that informal contacts with potential contractors had not produced results. A revised Adverse Weather policy had been circulated which prioritised adverse interventions in Church Lane, Whiteacre Lane and Gogway. Discussions with KCC on a partnership approach were unproductive as their services were contracted out to Amey PLC. It was Resolved to approve the revised policy and to redouble efforts to find a local contractor.                                                          Action: Chairman and Clerk

 

23/24.077 Reports from County and City Councillors

  1. A report from County Councillor Mike Sole had been received and had also been posted on Waltham Facebook.
  2. City Councillor Mike Bland gave a verbal report on current issues:

: Several parish councils had been reporting problems with waste collection services and

improvement efforts were ongoing.

: A revision of the Local Plan is taking place and will be published for consultation during

February/March.

: The City Council is working on the budget for 2024/25, and while money is tight it is hoped

to make some contribution towards climate change and biodiversity.

:  Ward councillors have limited access to opportunity funds to support local groups and

would consider small scale applications.

: The Council property at 1 Richdore Road is currently being upgraded prior to letting.

: The reported problems at Dene Meadow are being investigated.

 

23/24.078 Financial Matters

  1. Finance Report: Members were presented with a  report for the period 1st of April to 30th of November 2023.   After  discussion Members Resolved to approve the report .
Balance   brought forward 01:04:2023.            £9,346.94 
Total receipts (including B/F) £19,801.76
Total payments £9,976.71
Cashbook Balance @ 26:11:2023 £9,155.05
Unity Trust balance @ 26:11:2023 £9,155.05

 

  1. Payment Schedule 1st to 30th of    Members were advised that revised pay scales had been agreed at national level backdated to the 1st of April 2023. A decision on payment of the increase was down to individual councils.
Transaction Number Invoice Date Invoice No: Payee Payment Summary Net Amount VAT Gross Amount
23/24.26 25:11:2023 08 A.S.McCord Salary & Expenses £427.10 0        £427.10
   

Having considered the clerks salary and expenses claim Members Resolved to support the salary increase and to approve the payments schedule.                                                                     Action: Clerk

  1. Budget for 2024-2025. Members discussed in detail the proposed budget which had been included in the agenda pack. The Budget reflects inflationary pressures over the past four years and the need to build contingency reserves. After careful consideration and noting that no adverse comments had been received, it was agreed that an increase to the Precept of £1,019 would be required. Members unanimously Resolved to approve the budget and a Precept request for £8,180 would be forwarded to the City Council.                    Action: Clerk

23/24.079 Highways Improvement Plan (HIP) priorities for 2024/25:

The Chairman reported on the productive Zoom meeting held on the 23rd of November with KCC and the subsequent revision of the HIP programme.

  • Options for speed reduction. KCC offered to fund and conduct a speed traffic survey on Kake Street, and to provide a 30mph toolkit (received),
  • Details of Speedwatch would be forwarded to the Clerk, and the potential for collaboration with Petham PC could be explored.
  • The installation of a Gate Sign at the Kake Street entrance to the village was supported, and KCC offered to fund a second Gate Sign at the Richdore Road triangle.
  • Reduction of hazards for horse riders and children. KCC offered to fund an additional horse sign in the vicinity of Sarness Farm.
  • Missing give way sign and worn road markings. Members were advised that these should be reported on the KCC Highways portal enabling monitoring of subsequent progress. Action: Clerk

                                             

23/24.080 Planning Applications:

Members considered the application CA/23/02112 for a single storey side extension at The Nook, Kake Street CT4 5SD and Resolved to make no objections.                       Action: Clerk

 

23/24.081 Meeting dates for 2024:

A proposed set of dates for Parish Council meetings and the Annual Parish Meeting were discussed. Members agreed that variations to dates should only be made if there was a risk of meetings being inquorate. It was Resolved to approve the meetings programme.

 

 

23/24.082 Date of Next Meeting: Business having been concluded the Chairman thanked attendees for their contributions and closed the meeting at 9.30 pm. The next Ordinary Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday the 6th of February 2024 commencing at7.30pm in Waltham Village Hall.

 

 

 

 

Chairman’s Signature:                                                                             6th of February  2024

 

Documents

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