Report of the Parish Council meeting held on 4th May 2017
Annual Parish Council Meeting
At the Annual Parish Council Meeting, Cllr Ripley was
re-elected as Chairman and Cllr Arnold was re-elected Vice Chairman.
Councillors were elected to
represent Upchurch Parish Council on outside bodies as follows:
a)
Kent Association of Local Councils: Cllr Horton and Cllr Masson
b)
School Representative: Cllr Horton
c)
Police Liaison Officer: Cllr Newbery
d)
Highways: Cllr Arnold
e)
Twinning Group: Cllr Lewin
In addition to representing the
Council on outside bodies, responsibilities were allocated as follows:
a) Paddock and
Recreation Ground: Cllr Denny
b) Allotments: Cllr Masson
c) Burial
Ground and Churchyard: Cllr Hunt
d) Internal
Financial Controls (Internal Auditor): Mr Lionel Robbins
Monthly Parish Council Meeting
Village Hall request for regular contribution towards running costs
Councillors listened to further representations from the
Village Hall Committee to raise the precept to give an annual contribution towards
the running costs. There was a strong
show of support for the village hall at the Annual Parish Meeting but the
number of people attending represented a small percentage of residents. People can support the village hall by hiring
it and by attending fund raising events. The Parish Council cannot give money in perpetuity to any organisation as
it is accountable to all precept payers. There is a system in place to assist organisations for a one off payment
and the Council has recently made a grant of £1000 to the Village Hall towards
the heating.
Councillors heard that the newly formed Friends of Upchurch
Village Hall held a successful quiz night and raised over £500.
Planning
116 Oak Lane, Upchurch
The developer attended the meeting to discuss the planning
application which has been deferred. Concerns
have been articulated to the Parish Council around the perception that an extra
driveway at this point will make the road even more dangerous. The developer said he would like to do
something to help the issue. Councillors
indicated they would be supportive of measures to make that part of the road
safer, especially in respect of increased safety for pedestrians.
Application No: 16/503950/FULL
Location: Orchard View
Otterham Quay Lane Upchurch ME8 8QR
Proposal:
Variation of Condition 2 of SW/13/0706 - to vary the number of caravans
allowed on the site at any one time for an additional static caravan
The application to increase the number of static and mobile
van on Orchard View has been re-submitted and this will be discussed at the
Planning Committee meeting on 17th May.
Allotments
Work on the allotments to tidy up the site has been
completed and the gate has been replaced, five more plots have been rented.
There has been a request for an extra tap at the allotments. It was agreed to replace the notice board
which had fallen into disrepair.
Paddock
The new benches have been installed
in the Paddock. There has been a problem
with the matting under the play equipment which has been pulled up again. The
matting had become a trip hazard and it has been removed. The Council will consider other types of
safety surfacing.
Churchyard
A request had been received from the church for financial
assistance to remove stumps from churchyard. Councillors declined the request and noted there is still space in the
Burial Ground.
Date of next meeting Thursday 1st June 2017 at 7:30pm in
Upchurch Village Hall.
All residents are welcome to attend and there is a time for
members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.
Clerk to the Parish Council
