Report of the Parish Council October 2021
Councillor Vacancy
The Council considered two applications for the vacancy on the Council and agreed that both were excellent candidates. It was agreed to co-opt Mr Ernie Berntsen to the Parish Council and to appoint Mrs Helen Boakes to the General Purposes Committee.
The Queen's Platinum Jubliee June 2022
Plans continue to progress for the celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The beacon will be lit as part of the national celebration on Thursday 2nd June and there will be a piper as well as food stalls to create a celebration of the event.
Street parties will be held on Sunday 5th June and, where it is not possible for residents to hold street parties in their roads, they will be permitted to have a “street party” at the Recreation Ground. Residents who would like to take advantage of this are requested to inform the Council so that the event on the Recreation Ground can be held safely. Please contact the Clerk to book your space.
Paddock and Recreation Ground
The trees along the Chaffes Lane side of the Recreation Ground are diseased and will need to be felled. The lime trees by the beacon also have been affected, the Council is liaising with an expert regarding this.
The Council has been successful in its bid for four benches from the Swale Borough Council Welcome back fund. The order has been placed and the delivery may be up to eight weeks due to the pandemic and shortage of materials.
Seven companies have been approached to tender for the grounds maintenance of the Recreation Ground, Paddock, Churchyard and Burial Ground. The Council has accepted the most competitive quote available of £8,932.99.
Highways and Street Lighting
The streetlight in Windmill is still waiting for connection by UK Power Networks.
The Council is still waiting for a response from KCC contractors regarding the bollards in Chaffes Lane at the junction of Church Farm Road, the bollards should have been installed in August. KCC will also carry out a speed survey, they have suggested a full village survey. The survey in Oak Lane needs to be carried out when the building works have been completed and the traffic calming measures have been installed. The rest of the work is progressing.
Village Sign
Concern had been raised regarding the copyright of an image of the sign. The sign is iconic and an image of the sign has been used by clubs and organisations in the village, other groups have been contacted as well. The village sign is in need of refurbishment and when this has been completed, a photo of the sign will be taken with the Council owning the copyright on behalf of the village so that groups can freely use the image.
This is a precis of Council business; full minutes of all meetings can be found on the website when ratified.
Date of next meetings:
Full Council - Thursday 4th November at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.
The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 17th November at 7:30pm in the Small Hall of the Village Hall.
All residents are welcome to attend the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.
To help keep loved ones safe, please DO NOT attend the meeting if you have had any known contact with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days or have experienced symptoms. Questions and comments can be sent to the Clerk to be raised at the meeting.
Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council
Tel: 01622 739324Email: clerkupc@outlook.com
Website: www.upchurchparishcouncil.gov.uk
