MEOPHAM PARISH COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORT 2008/2009
www.meopham.org
CONTENTS
Page
Schedule of Full Council and Standing Committee Meetings 3
2008/2009 (114th Year)
Meopham Parish Councillors 4
List of Parish Representatives on Outside Bodies 5
Report by the Chairman - Cllr Peter Hasler 6
Report by the Chairman of the Administration & Resources 8
Standing Committee
Report by the Chairman of the Environment & Amenities 10
Standing Committee
Reports from representatives of:
§ Meopham Village Hall 12
§ Harvel Village Hall 12
§ Culverstone Community Centre 13
§ Meopham & District Footpaths Group/Footpath Warden 14
Report by the Chairman of the Planning & Projects 15
Standing Committee
§ Parish Plan 17
§ Meopham Welfare Committee 18
§ Kent Police and Community Wardens 19
§ Planning Applications 21
Parish Income and Expenditure Account 2008/2009 22
Schedule of Full Council and Standing Committee Meetings 23
2009/2010 (115th Year)
SCHEDULE OF FULL COUNCIL AND STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR 2008/2009 (114TH YEAR)
April 2008 8th Administration & Resources Committee
29th FULL COUNCIL MEETING
May 2008 20th ANNUAL PARISH / GENERAL MEETING
June 2008 3rd Planning & Projects Committee
24th Environment & Amenities Committee
July 2008 1st Administration & Resources Committee
22nd FULL COUNCIL MEETING
August 2008 RECESS
September 2008 2nd Planning & Projects Committee
16th Environment & Amenities Committee
October 2008 14th FULL COUNCIL MEETING
28th Planning & Projects Committee (Budget)
November 2008 11th Environment & Amenities Committee (Budget)
25th Administration & Resources Committee (Budget)
December 2008 16th FULL COUNCIL MEETING (Budget)
January 2009 13th Planning & Projects Committee
27th Environment & Amenities Committee
February 2009 17th FULL COUNCIL MEETING
March 2009 10th Planning & Projects Committee
24th Environment & Amenities Committee
Meopham Parish Council, The Windmill, Meopham Green,
Meopham, Kent, DA13 0QA
Tel: 01474 813779
Office hours: Mondays to Fridays (except Bank Holidays) 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon
E-mail: Website: www.meopham.org
MEOPHAM PARISH COUNCILLORS
In May 2008 elections took place at the Annual General Meeting for the offices of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Honorary Treasurer of Council. Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the three standing committees were also appointed: Administration & Resources Committee; Environment & Amenities Committee and the Planning & Projects Committee.
NURSTEAD AND HOOK GREEN WARDCllr Mrs Julie Baker /
Cllr Mrs Cynthia Barnes
(Vice-Chairman of Council) /
Cllr Mrs Mandy Green /
Cllr Peter Smith (Treasurer)
CAMER AND MEOPHAM GREEN WARD
Cllr William Fisher /
Cllr Peter Hasler
(Chairman of Council) /
Cllr Douglas Powell /
Cllr Mrs Barbara
Wade
CULVERSTONE AND HARVEL WARD
Cllr Max
Bramer /
Cllr Mrs Yvonne-Carne-Ross /
Cllr Adam Tomlinson / Vacant
PARISH REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER BODIES
Action with Communities in Rural Kent Cllr Mrs Wade
Age Concern Cllr Mrs Baker
Clay Cottages Trust Cllrs Hasler Mrs Baker
Council for the Protection of Rural England Cllr Fisher &
(CPRE) Mr W Richardson
Culverstone Community Association Cllr Mrs Carne-Ross
Flagmaster Cllr Fisher
Gravesham Rights of Way Committee Mr K Dare & Mrs G Willsher
Gravesham Joint Transportation Board Cllr Fisher
Gravesham Standards Committee Cllr Fisher
Harvel Village Hall Management Vacant
Kent Association of Local Councils Cllrs Hasler and Powell
Kent Association of Local Councils Cllrs Hasler, Mrs Barnes
Gravesham Area Committee Powell
Kent Federation of Amenity Societies Mr W Richardson
Kent Rural Community Council Cllr Mrs Wade
Meopham Sports & Leisure Association Cllrs Mrs Wade &
Mrs Carne-Ross
Meopham Village Hall Management Cllr Mrs Wade
Committee
Meopham Welfare Committee Mrs A Hamilton
Meopham Windmill Trust Mr I Kerr
NHS Darent Valley Hospital Briefings Cllr Hasler
Transport (Public) Issues Cllr Fisher
Waste Forum Cllr Fisher
REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF MEOPHAM PARISH COUNCIL
At the AGM last year, we welcomed a new Parish Office team of Samantha Burgoine-Smith as Clerk and Sarah Lawry-Johns as Deputy. Unfortunately Sam resigned last summer, but Bryan Rayner joined us as our new Clerk in September 2008 and I am sure many of you have found both Bryan and Sarah both enthusiastic and helpful.
A topic at most Parish Council meetings is the A227, Wrotham Road, whether it be speeding, increased traffic volumes, accidents, signage or potholes. We extend our sympathies to the families of Tom Hole and Robert Cooter who were killed on this road in 2008/2009. Residents have said through questionnaires that they want speed restrictions through Meopham observed and yet 80% of drivers caught by the mobile camera are Meopham residents. Local people really cannot have it both ways!
We have been working through Gravesham Borough Council and Kent Highway Services to take further action on the A227, but evaluation by a process known as PIPKIN unfortunately placed it low down the priority list. We have continued to work with Councillor Mike Snelling and it is planned for £50,000 to be spent this year on new signage and also to give greater emphasis to the 30 mph speed limit, perhaps all the way from Culverstone to Nurstead! Meopham Parish Council are logging every accident and getting regular traffic counts so that over a period, we will be able to strengthen any case for further action.
After the tragic fatal accident outside the George Pub in 2007, where a motorcyclist collided with a car emerging from the pub car park we were able to “negotiate” with Kent highway Services the erection of a convex mirror to assist safer exiting from the car park. We were also able to get South Eastern to reconsider, when after resurfacing Meopham Station forecourt, there were 8 parking bays for disabled use and only 2 others, hardly logical when the station has a footbridge.
At the North End of Camer Parade shops we had hoped, when the refurbishment finished three years ago, to have the pavement joined up to the forecourt. The adjacent shops were not in favour believing that parking space would be lost. We have shown it can be done without loss, by cutting back bushes and, with all parties now in agreement, this will hopefully soon go ahead, making it much safer for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Meopham residents have also shown concern over the activity of some young people in certain places. Here I must give particular praise to the considerable efforts of two Councillors, Mrs Barbara Wade and Mr Doug Powell for analysing what is needed to refurbish the play area at Judsons – long overdue – interviewing potential suppliers and also applying for grants. We hope, over the next few weeks, to significantly improve the play area, go on to install a ball court and then extend the football pavilion to provide a decent youth centre. The pavilion will also have the potential for other users during the day i.e. drop in centre, toddler play groups etc as well as providing a much needed activity centre for teenagers. I realise some may question the merit of this because of potential vandalism, but if we do not provide such a facility resultant boredom is more likely to result in vandalism. Early effort in this has been successful in a space which is not only cramped but quite basic. At this point, I should like to thank PC Helen Lamb and her team for our close working relationship and for getting to know the local youth and making Meopham a safer place.
Since 2003, committees have been working first on a Village Design Statement and then on a Parish Plan, and now we hope to gain “Quality Parish Status”. The Clerk will have to complete a CiLCA Course and the Parish Council are required to produce a quarterly newsletter, which should enable those parishioners who neither read the Meopham Review nor have computers to find out more about the work of the Parish Council.
There have been several requests over the last few years for a big social event or fete, not only to raise money but also to bring together all parts of our widely spread parish on a fun day. A committee is working hard to make it happen this year on Saturday 20th June from 12 noon to 4 pm at Judsons Recreation Ground.
The Parish Council is committed to providing affordable housing in Meopham for people with links to the parish. Although the first 10 units have been successful, with lack of potential sites, progress has been slow.
We have recently accepted the resignation of Councillor PatMcSweeney due to poor health, and I would like to pay tribute to his work as a Councillor over many years.
Lastly, I would like to sincerely thank my fellow Councillors for all their support and hard work, not forgetting all of our Clerks. It has been an honour and privilege to chair this Council and now after 3 years, I hand over to a new Chairman.
REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE (A&R)
Responsibilities of the A&R Committee: Overseeing the management and administration of the Parish Council and its office.
Committee Members: Cllr Mrs Cynthia Barnes, Cllr Mrs Yvonne Carne-Ross, Cllr Max Bramer, Cllr William Fisher, Cllr Peter Hasler, Cllr Peter Smith and Cllr Mrs Barbara Wade
The Committee met three times during the course of this Council year under the Chairmanship of Cllr Max Bramer and Vice-Chairman Cllr Pat McSweeney (who resigned in January 2009).
Quality Parish Status
A sub-committee within A&R has been monitoring and reviewing our progress towards obtaining Quality Parish status. We hope to attain quality status in 2009 and currently meet most of the criteria. Gaining this status would enhance our standing and give certain autonomous rights. The Clerk has been enrolled onto the CiLCA course (Certificate in Local Council Administration) to fulfil one of the mandatory requirements of Quality Parish Status. The Planning and Projects Committee is also overseeing the development of the Parish Plan. More information on this is given later in this report.
Emergency Plan
The Parish Council’s Emergency Plan is reviewed at every Committee meeting to ensure it is up-to-date at all times.
Standing Orders
Meetings of the Council are conducted under strict protocol to ensure that members conform to a recognised code of practice and that any interests are declared. Standing Orders are reviewed annually to ensure that the highest standards of integrity and conduct are maintained.
Risk Management Assessment
The Committee reviews risk management regularly, including the need for full insurance protection against all required eventualities that could take place within the Parish, including public and employer liability. The cost of meeting damage, which is unfortunately caused by malicious vandalism, is high and one that unfortunately comes with a price for the residents of Meopham.
Personnel Issues and Staffing Matters
The Parish Council has responsibility for the staff in the Parish Office. Formal contracts of employment are in place and there are annual appraisals as part of the salary review. This year we said goodbye to Mrs Samantha Burgoine-Smith and welcomed Mr Bryan Rayner who joined our Deputy Clerk, Mrs Sarah Lawry-Johns. They have proved to be a good team and work well together.
Accounts and Financial Matters
The Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Annual Audit is completed through an internal audit process, in order to satisfy the District Auditor that the public finances are accountable to public scrutiny. We were pleased that the accounts for the financial year 2007/2008 received an unqualified Audit report.
Information given to the public
The 2009/2011 Meopham Guide was produced by the Parish Office and circulated throughout the Parish. Copies were placed in various locations including the library, medical centre, Costcutter, Meopham Station and local estate agents. Monthly reports on the work of the Parish Council are placed in the Meopham Review and also placed in Meopham Station, the Post Offices, Costcutter and noticeboards around the Parish. As part of the Quality Parish Status requirements, we are examining the practicalities of publishing and distributing a quarterly newsletter.
The Parish Website (www.meopham.org)
The website continues to be very popular. There are sections including local history, landmarks, local information, local services and amenities, education, groups and societies. There is a facility for parishioners and organisations to advertise community events. The section on the Parish Council lists details of councillors, standing committees, meeting dates and minutes, once approved and progress on all planning applications, along with details of the Parish Council’s precept and budget for the financial year.
Grants in Aid
Small Grants are made available by the Council to groups and organisations within the Parish who are in need of support, particularly with meeting some of the costs for equipment that often can make a difference to the well-being of the members of the group. Details of grants awarded are listed in the Income and Expenditure accounts on page 22.
REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND AMENITIES COMMITTEE
(E&A)
Responsibilities of the E&A Committee: Recreation Grounds and other facilities including Playground Equipment, Meopham Sports and Leisure Centre, Village Halls, Rights of Way, Footpath Groups, Paths Partnership, Village Sign, Village Greens, Property/seats, Notice Boards/by laws, Maintenance & Upkeep of Harvel Pond, Woodlands/Trees, Allotments.
Committee Members: Cllr Mrs Julie Baker, Cllr Mrs Cynthia Barnes, Cllr Mrs Mandy Green, Cllr Peter Hasler, Cllr Douglas Powell, Cllr Peter Smith and Cllr Mrs Barbara Wade
The Committee met five times during the course of this Council year under the Chairmanship of Cllr Mrs Barbara Wade and Vice-Chairman Cllr Douglas Powell.
Judsons Recreation Ground
The Parish Council is responsible for Judson’s recreation ground which was gifted to the Parish in 1950. The Pavilion and the football pitches have been well used over the past year by both Meopham and Nurstead Football Clubs for weekend games. The pavilion, which we think is around 40 years old, needs urgent refurbishment and we would like to take the opportunity to extend use of the facility. Part of the pavilion is already used by the Youth Club and we hope to extend the building to give space for extra activities.