Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on:
Thursday, 16th January 2025 at 6.30pm at Cuxton Library
Present: Cllr Chalker (Chair), Cllr Nightingale (Vice-chair), Cllr Vye, Cllr Jensen, Cllr Porter, Cllr White, Cllr Wilson, Cllr Chamberlain and Cllr Thorley.
In attendance: Mrs N Jackson – Clerk
One member of the public (arrived and left mid-meeting)
138. Apologies for absence
Cllr Burley
Ward Councillor Filmer
139. Declarations of Interest (DPI, conflict of interest and personal interests) and alterations to the Register.
Councillor Porter – item 5b
Councillor Nightingale – item 5b
140. Minutes of the meeting held on 19th December 2024 – for approval
Cllr Jensen proposed that the minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting. This was seconded by Cllr Porter and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to accept the minutes as a true record of the meeting on 19th December 2024.
141. Matters Arising
None
Medway Councillor’s Report and Public Session
• No ward councillor report
A member of the public arrived
142. Finance
a) Bank Balances
The clerk provided details of the bank balances. Given Cllr Burleys absence, Cllr Thorley offered to review the bank statements as well, in future.
b) Approval of payments made since last meeting
The clerk provided details of payments made throughout December. All were as expected. The chairman informed the council that he had made a purchase of tarpaulins to cover the Brockles bench, for which he wanted to be reimbursed.
Cllr Jensen proposed to accept the balances and payments for December. This was seconded by Cllr White and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to accept the balances and payments for December 2024.
c) Approval of accounts for payment
The clerk presented an invoice from Logic Alarms, offering two levels of service/maintenance for the CCTV system in the recreation ground. Cllr Wilson proposed that the £125 package, with callouts included, should be chosen. This was seconded by Cllr Thorley and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to purchase the CCTV maintenance package, with callouts included, from Logic Alarms, for £125.
143. Review of Planning Applications
• No new applications received this month.
• A decision regarding ‘Springfield’, Sundridge Hill, is still expected on 31/01/2025
• The member of the public enquired about his application and was informed that CPC were not a consultee on his project.
The member of the public left the meeting.
144. Appointment of Internal Auditor
Cllr Chamberlain proposed that the council appoints Lionel Robbins, as our auditor for this year’s internal audit. This was seconded by Cllr Porter and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to appoint Lionel Robbins as the internal auditor for CPC this year.
145. Signing of Precept Paperwork
The clerk presented the precept demand paperwork, issued by Medway Council, completed to show the demand of £62,016.00, as agreed at the main council meeting on 19th December 2024.
It was checked and dutifully signed by the Cllr Chalker (chair), Cllr Nightingale (Vice-chair), Cllr Thorley, and then by the clerk.
It was resolved that Cuxton Parish Council will notify a 2024/2025 precept demand as follows: Cuxton Parish Council demand the sum of sixty-two thousand and sixteen pounds, £62,016.00, from Medway Council.
146. Deciding upon the next steps of the Courts Project
A significant discussion was held about this matter near the beginning of the meeting. Councillors discussed the negative outcome of the grant funding bid, the possibilities for this area, (in both the long and short term), the financial implications, the commitment made to the residents and the safety of the area currently.
After extensive research and consultation over the last few years, councillors were well-informed to discuss feasibility, quotes and future use.
Councillors felt that surface and fencing improvements would be required in the short term for health and safety reasons, and that those remedial works would create a better ‘starting point’ for potential enhancements of the area.
Councillors reviewed three independent quotes from Bourne Sports, Sovereign Sports and Trevor May, and decided to proceed with remedial works to the existing surface, resurface with a new asphalt course, carry out fencing repairs and replace the existing fencing ‘kick boards’.
Cllr Wilson proposed to appoint Trevor May to conduct these works at a cost of £27,720 (with a contingency agreement up to £30,000) and to continue to investigate further enhancements for the area, seeking the advice of the local authority. This was seconded by Cllr Chalker and agreed by unanimous vote.
Cllr Thorley then proposed that these remedial works should be paid from the general reserve. This was seconded by Cllr Chalker and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to appoint Trevor May Contractors to conduct remedial work to the fencing and surface of the tennis courts, and to lay new asphalt surface in works up to the value of £30,000, paid from the general reserve.
147. Correspondence
Infrastructure Survey – Medway Council have sent an infrastructure survey and requested that it be completed and returned by 27th January. Cllrs Nightingale and Jensen volunteered to look over a draft, prepared by the clerk, before submission.
148. Information Exchange
Updates were given about perch seating, bonfire fencing and email migration.
The chairman closed the meeting at 7.43pm
Next meeting: 20th February 2025, 7pm at Cuxton Library
Signed Ged Chalker Chairman
On the 20th day of February 2025
Members Future Agenda Items
Registering community interest asset – (MN) 2025
Social Media Accounts / Usage – (MN)
Civility & Respect: Dignity at Work Policy
Perch seating
Additional Park Benches