Notice Board

Sunday, 7 June 2015

Upchurch Village Fete Day 2015 - Latest Schedule of Events

Upchurch Village Fete Committee

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Upchurch Parish Council - Casual Vacancy for a Councillor

Two casual vacancies have arisen on the Parish Council. Electors have the opportunity to request an election if they wish. If 10 or more electors write to me with this request, in the next fourteen working days, then an election must take place. I would deem this time limit to have expired by Thursday 30th June 2015.

After this time, the Parish Council is free to co-opt two Councillors. Therefore, anyone interested in coming on to the Council should apply in writing to the Clerk as soon as possible. The qualifications are that you should be a European national, at least 18 years old, an elector and living within three miles of the parish for 12 months or someone with land or a primary place of business in the parish.

Julia Cura
Clerk to the Parish Council

43 Woodside

Rainham

Kent

ME8 0PL

Tel: 01634 363906

Email: clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

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Upchurch Parish Council Report - June 2015

The monthly Meeting of the Parish Council took place on Thursday 4^th June at the Village Hall where 5 Councillors were present and 3 members of the public.

Minutes of the meeting held on 14^th May 2015 – There were no amendments to the minutes and it was proposed by Cllr Rose and seconded by Cllr Denny that they be accepted as a true record. All agreed.

Public Time– Village Centre – A resident raised concerns regarding the untidiness of the Village Centre with regards to overgrown grass and rubbish outside of the Co-op. It was agreed that the Clerk contact KCC to request that the grass be cut and also that she contact the Co-op to request that they address the issues with litter. Planning - A resident enquired as to what the Parish Councils response would be to the Horsham Lane Garage application. Cllr Tucker advised that the Council had submitted their response in time for the 28^th May deadline and had objected strongly to the application. Concerns were also raised with regards to the Jubilee Fields application and the fact that the contractors had given residents the impression that Swale Planning were backing the application at a recent event laid on by Clarendon’s. Cllr Tucker responded that the Parish Council had also been given that impression and that the Clerk had therefore contracted Swale Planning and was awaiting a response and that any information received will be uploaded to the Parish Council website. Burial Ground– A resident enquired as to what Phase 2 is in the Council’s recent Burial Ground update. Cllr Tucker advised that Phase 2 will be the Clerk contacting the plot owners whose graves are currently unkempt and non-compliant in order to start the process of tidying the Burial Ground.

Declarations of Interest – Cllr Lewin declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the Defibrillator.

Correspondence – Planting in Upchurch – Following a letter received by the Clerk from a resident regarding the lack of flowers in and around Upchurch the Clerk reported that she had discussed the situation with both KCC and SBC both of which were willing to help. It was agreed that further discussion was needed with regards to ownership of certain areas of land and whether residents and the School may want to be involved with planting. Parking at Village Fete - A resident had contacted the Clerk regarding concerns with parking on the Recreation Ground during the Village Fete. The Clerk had responded to the resident to assure them that as in previous years the parking would be very well supervised.

Planning – 15/503300/FULL – 2 Horsham Lane, Upchurch – The Council strongly objected to this application due to the fact that no consideration had been given to the conditions on the previous application, parking is limited, the use of black stained boarding would be out of character with the surrounding area and there is no evidence of input from the Conservation Officer or Kent Heritage. 15/503784/FULL – Gore Pumping Station – As this application is to improve the quality of water in Upchurch the Council could see no reason to object to this application as long as during construction heavy vehicular access is mindful of potential impact on the busy A2.

Other Planning Matters – 15/501944/FULL- Jubilee Fields– Cllr Arnold is to draft a letter for the Clerk to send to Southern Water with regards to the impact on the already unreliable sewage system in and around the Village that an application of this size will have. 15/500247/FULL – Greenacres, Holywell Lane - Cllr Lewin reported that the Greenacres application will go before Swale Planning Committee on 11^th June 2015.

Finance – A discussion took place regarding the claiming of basic allowances and expenses for Councillors. It was agreed that the Councillors could claim out of office expenses such as travel costs. As the Council had not had an election it was agreed that the allocation of the election money from last year’s precept should be further discussed at the next Council meeting.

Defibrillator – The Clerk advised that she had received a cheque from the W.I in order to purchase a defibrillator for Upchurch. The W.I are donating this as their 100 year celebration. Cllr Tucker reported that the W.I were still looking into appropriate sites for the defibrillator to be placed and would be continuing to raise funds in order to donate to the Council towards the maintenance of the defibrillator and electricity costs.

Bus Shelter – Cllr Tucker reported that Cllr Masson has made excellent progress with the Bus Shelter proposal and has met with the Conservation Officer in order to obtain quotes for the appropriate type of shelter for the Village and the site that it should be placed. The Clerk has submitted a pre-planning meeting request with Swale Planning and Cllr Masson has contacted Cllr Mike Baldock with regards to a possible grant toward the shelter. There will be a pre-planning meeting arranged with residents to discuss the proposal in the future.

APM 2016 – The date was set for 21^st April 2016.

Casual Vacancies – The Council currently has two casual vacancies which the Clerk has advertised on the Parish noticeboards.

Recreation Ground – Support Posts – Cllr Denny reported that two support posts near the new fence had been damaged and would be removed.

Paddock – Play Equipment - Cllr Arnold advised that the new parts had been fitted to the play equipment. The Clerk reported that the Annual Inspection of the play equipment would take place in July.

Burial Ground and Churchyard – Cllr Tucker reported that during a recent meeting with the Churchwardens concerns had been raised regarding the erosion of the wall and fence joining the Churchyard and the Village Hall. The Churchwardens had also reported that the ashes plots in the Churchyard were still under discussion with the Diocese and due to the size of the quotes received to place a pathway through the Churchyard it had been decided that the most uneven parts would be addressed first at less or no cost. St Mary’s Church Clock – The Clerk reported that the Annual service is due in August and will be arranged in order that Cllr Masson can be present.

Highways – Cllr Arnold reported that five street lights had been repaired. Road Markings – Cllr Tucker asked that Cllr Arnold contact Highways to request that the hedges be cut back on Windmill Hill before new road markings were applied. Cllr Arnold reported that he had still not received a date for the closure of Windmill Hill for repairs. Parking outside School – Cllr Lewin reported that the Enforcement Officers are looking into the parking situation outside of the school.

Other Matters not yet arising – Burial Ground – Cllr Tucker reported that following a meeting at the Burial Ground a resident had suggested that a charitable fund be set up in order to assist with the maintenance over the coming years. Cllr Tucker advised that this would be considered for the future. Horsham Garage – Cllr Lewin reported that the Enforcement Officers are having difficulty contacting the garage owners.

There will be no monthly meeting in July. The next meeting will take place on 6^th August 2015 at 7:30pm in the Village Hall.

Please note the full Minutes from the Meeting can be seen on the Upchurch Parish Council website.

Julia Cura, Clerk to the Parish Council.

Tel: 01634 363906

Email: clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

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Tuesday, 2 June 2015

Upchurch Twinning Group - AGM

Upchurch is twinned with the Commune of
Ferques, Pas de Calais, France.

You are invited to join us at our Annual General Meeting on Thursday the 11th of June at Holywell School Hall, commencing at 7:30pm.

We look forward to meeting you there! As an incentive we are offering a glass or two of wine, with a few nibbles, after the meeting.

Why not come and join us?

You can find out more about Upchurch Twinning Group at the link here ☞ http://bit.ly/1Q2dfN7

Ann Harman Secretary

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Monday, 1 June 2015

Upchurch Best Kept Garden 2015 - Update

All gardens in the Parish that can be viewed from the front of your home will judged on or about Saturday 18th July.

The judging takes place without interviews with the occupants – so if you are shopping or on holiday you garden will still be judged!

Prizes are awarded for:-
• Firstly a garden which is predominately growing flowers,
• secondly a garden which is mixture of flowers, trees and or shrubs,

and
• Finally for those with only a small or no front garden the judges will assess any hanging baskets or flower troughs.
• The Overall Winner will look after the Barbara Webb Memorial Rose Bowl for one year.

Prizes for the above will be presented at the Upchurch Horticultural Society Show during early September in the Village Hall.

This year the prizes are sponsored by the Upchurch Parish Council and Helena Sait of Radiance.

Helena is an Image and Colour consultant and is offering a Gift Experience Certificate for a Full 1-1 Colour Analysis at her company Radiance by Helena as a prize this year (Value £85.00).

For further information look up: www.radiancebyhelena.co.uk

Gerry Lewin

01634 366113 or Email: lewing135@btinternet.com

On behalf of the Upchurch Horticultural Society and the Parish Council

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