Swingfield Parish Council

SWINGFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT: Councillor Tony Hutt (in the Chair), Councillors Barry Fletcher, Vic Harmer, John Heasman and Colin Tearle.

Apologies of Absence: None

Officer in Attendance: Mrs Tina Wiles

5764. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Colin Tearle declared that he had an interest in minute 5767 (Budget Monitoring Report - schedule of payments) as Chief Executive of Hawkinge Community Centre which was to receive a payment from the Parish Council. He remained in the room for the discussion and abstained from voting on the item.

Councillor V Harmer declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in minute 5767 and was absent from the room discussion and voting on the item.

5765. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on 19 May 2015 were submitted approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

5766. CO-OPTION OF PARISH COUNCILLORS

Four applications had been received for four vacancies following the elections in May 2015. The Chairman said that two applicants had submitted apologies for not being able to attend and invited the applicants to address the Council.

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor V Harmer and

RESOLVED: To appoint Andy Csiszar, Steve Godden, David Monk and Steve Notley to the Council.

Note: The Councillors signed their declarations of acceptance of office and joined the meeting.

5767. SWINGFIELD PARISH COUNCIL BUDGET MONITORING REPORT

REPORT PC/15/01 provides the latest budget monitoring information and a Statement of Accounts for Payment.

An addendum was circulated which dealt with additional grounds maintenance works required for the site.

The Clerk reported that PKF Littlejohn LLP, the Council’s External Auditor has completed its work on the Parish Council’s Audit and has forwarded the Certified Annual Return a copy of which was circulated at the meeting. The Audit showed no matters had been raised.

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor J Heasman

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note Report PC/15/01.

2. To authorise the Chairman of the Parish Council to sign the bank reconciliation and the bank statements.

3. To incorporate the additional maintenance works within the grounds maintenance contract.

4. To receive and note the Certified Annual Return for the Financial Year Ended 31 March 2015.

(Voting: For; 6, Against; 0, Abstentions; 0)

5768. SWINGFIELD AND DENSOLE PLAYPARK AND INFORMAL NATURE RESERVE

Councillor Harmer said that he and the Clerk had been invited by the grant funder – Up on the Downs to attend a site meeting at the site to show members of the Board who made decisions about awarding grants, the type of project that benefited from the funding.

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor B Fletcher and

RESOLVED: To receive and note

(Voting: For; 7, Against; 0, Abstentions; 0)

5769. NOTICE BOARDS

The Parish Council currently uses 4 noticeboards. Councillor Harmer had been asked to do an assessment of the condition of them and reported that some were beyond economic repair.

He said that in respect of the notice boards at Minter Close and the Post Office he would replace the legs at no cost to the Council.

Proposed by Councillor Steve Notley

Seconded by Councillor Andy Csiszar and

RESOLVED: To receive and note the repairs at no cost to the Council.

(Voting: For; 7, Against; 0, Abstentions; 0)

5770. PLANNING MATTERS

To receive and note the responses submitted to the District Council in respect of the planning applications received since the last meeting of Council detailed at appendix 1.

Councillors Hutt and Harmer said that they had attended a site visit at Selsted Yard – off Stockham Lane with a planning agent. The proposal was for residential development and the agent would keep the Council informed of when the planning application would be made.

Proposed by Councillor Colin Tearle

Seconded by Councillor Vic Harmer and

RESOLVED: To receive and note the responses sent to Shepway District Council since the last meeting of the Council.

(Voting: For; 7, Against; 0, Abstentions; 0)

5771. ROADS AND FOOTPATHS

No items were raised.

5772. PARISH MAINTENANCE

An addendum was circulated at the meeting which set out the position regarding the red telephone kiosk outside the Three Bells in Swingfield Street.

Proposed by Councillor Colin Tearle

Seconded by Councillor J Heasman and

RESOLVED: To progress the adoption of the telephone kiosk.

(Voting: For; 7, Against; 0, Abstentions; 0)

5773. CORRESPONDENCE

The Correspondence file was available in Hawkinge Community Centre.

The Clerk reported that the Website was up and running.

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