Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on:
Thursday, 19th December 2024 at 7pm at Cuxton Library
Present: Cllr Chalker (Chair), Cllr Nightingale (Vice-chair), Cllr Burley, Cllr Vye, Cllr Jensen, Cllr Porter, Cllr White, Cllr Wilson and Cllr Chamberlain.
In attendance: Mrs N Jackson – Clerk
Three members of the public
118. Apologies for absence
Cllr Thorley
Ward Councillor Filmer
119. Declarations of Interest (DPI, conflict of interest and personal interests) and alterations to the Register.
Councillor Porter – item 16
Councillor Nightingale – item 16
120. Minutes of the meeting held on 21st November 2024 – for approval
Cllr Porter proposed that the minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting. This was seconded by Cllr Vye and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to accept the minutes as a true record of the meeting on 21st November 2024.
121. Matters Arising
None
122. Medway Councillor’s Report and Public Session
• No ward councillor report
• The public session was deferred to later in the meeting as members of the public were interested in later agenda items.
123. Finance
a) Bank Balances
The clerk provided details of the bank balances. Cllr Burley confirmed that he had checked the accounting records against the statements, and all was correct.
b) Approval of payments made since last meeting
The clerk provided details of payments made throughout November. All were as expected.
c) Approval of accounts for payment
The clerk presented the following invoices:
• K Newby – event pianist – £130
• Cuxton Countryside Group – annual grant – £350
• Qualitree Services – dead tree removal – £150.00
• Qualitree Services – ash dieback clearance – £1279.20
Cllr Wilson proposed to accept the balances and payments, and to pay the four invoices presented. This was seconded by Cllr Nightingale and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to accept the balances and payments, and to pay the four invoices presented.
124. Review of Planning Applications
• No new applications received this month.
• Planning decisions regarding ‘Springfield’ on Sundridge Hill deferred again until January.
• Discussion about the recently released updates to the National Planning Policy Framework and their effect on Cuxton.
125. To discuss the next steps of the Courts project
Councillors discussed the plans for this area, in light of the recent grant application refusal. Members of the public also contributed to this discussion.
The main considerations were the costs of the project, the need to select ‘primary’ sports as no one surface is particularly suitable for all preferred sports, the need to make hire charges to ensure the ongoing maintenance of the facility, offers of guaranteed income, timescales, and the effect of this project on the councils’ ability to deliver other projects.
Residents put forward counter proposals for differing ‘primary’ sports, with one requesting a licence to use the space, as it is, in the short term. Councillors agreed with this in principle and asked the clerk to liaise.
Cllr Nightingale proposed to defer this subject to another meeting as he felt it needed more time. Cllr Wilson seconded this, and it was agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to defer this matter to the January meeting, with an earlier start, to allow for further discussion.
Two members of the public left the meeting.
126. Consideration of the casual vacancy advertising
Cllr Nightingale proposed that the vacancy is posted on the 20th of January, is active for 4 weeks and closes on 17th February. Applications could then be discussed at the meeting on 20th February. Cllr Chalker seconded this, and it was agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to commence advertising the casual vacancy on 20th January and discuss applications at the February meeting.
127. To receive an update about perch seating
Following the steady progress and consultation for James Road, Cllr Wilson proposed to accept the quotation offered for this bench and proceed in this location. This was seconded by Cllr Porter and agreed by unanimous vote.
After a poor consultation response for Tar Tank Lane, Cllr Porter proposed to send a further letter to residents requesting input for this location. This was seconded by Cllr Chamberlain and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to proceed with the installation of a perch seat /bench in James Road and to consult again with the nearby residents of Tar Tank Lane.
128. To receive an update about bonfire site fencing
Councillors received information about the new, taller bonfire fencing that the Wheel of Cuxton have agreed to install. Cllr Chalker proposed to accept the quotation and order the new fence. This was seconded by Cllr Nightingale and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to order the new bonfire site fencing at £883.30 and notify the Wheel of Cuxton when it arrives.
129. To consider NNR proposals
Cllrs reviewed information about the National Nature Reserve proposals and agreed to meet Mr Philips, of White Horse Ecology, at the February Land Management Committee meeting. They also discussed asking Mr Philips if he would be available to speak at the Parish Assembly.
Cllr Nightingale proposed that Cuxton Parish Council becomes an affiliate member of the NNR if possible. This was seconded by Cllr Chalker and agreed by unanimous vote. Cllrs will discuss at the February committee meeting.
It was resolved that Cuxton Parish Council will sign up to become an affiliate member of the new NNR.
130. To submit nominations for the KALC awards
Cllrs discussed previous winners of the awards and nominations for the 2025 award.
Cllr Chamberlain proposed that the volunteer playground inspectors should be nominated. This was seconded by Cllr Porter and agreed by unanimous vote. The clerk to submit the paperwork.
It was resolved to submit the KALC award nomination for 2025, naming the playground inspectors as the joint recipients.
131. To authorise the fire extinguishers Inspection
Cllr Chalker proposed to authorise the inspection. This was seconded by Cllr Chamberlain and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to book the annual fire extinguisher inspection.
132. To authorise two further days in Six Acre Wood
Cllr Porter proposed to authorise this necessary work in respect of Ash dieback. This was seconded by Cllr Jensen and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved to authorise 2 further days work of Qualitrees Services, in Six Acre wood.
133. To authorise obtaining quotes from surveyors
Cllr Chalker proposed to authorise the clerks time for this project. This was seconded by Cllr Wilson and agreed by unanimous vote.
It was resolved that the clerk will begin seeking quotes from surveyors for work to the recreation ground buildings.
134. To consider the ongoing maintenance of the Bike Track
Cllrs Porter and Nightingale left the room.
The remaining councillors reviewed three anonymised quotes for the ongoing maintenance of the bike track, deciding upon a quotation for a three-year period, with 4 cuts a year at times determined by the clerk. The clerk to contact the supplier and organise.
It was resolved to enter a new three-year contract with Cuxton Gardens for bike track maintenance, with 4 cuts per year, at times requested by the clerk.
Cllrs Porter and Nightingale returned to the room.
135. Report of meetings attended on behalf of council
a) Police Liaison
Cllr Wilson gave a verbal report of issues raised with the police, including recent car and garage thefts . She also thanked them on behalf of the village for their work in finding the recent missing person.
b) The Academy of Cuxton Schools
The clerk provided a written report detailing the headteacher’s responses to Cllr Chamberlain’s concerns about traffic.
c) Medway Council Climate Action Working Party
A meeting was held on the 27th November, during which Cllr Nightingale introduced the climate strategy for Cuxton Parish Council.
d) Training reports
Cllr Nightingale gave a brief summary of the three courses that he had attended and explained that the 4th had been cancelled. He will circulate the slides from the planning training course to all councillors.
136. Correspondence
a) Brockles Bench – the clerk shared suggestions, made by a resident, in response to Cllr Chalker’s concerns about the impact of winter weather on the carved bench in Brockles field. Cllrs were reminded that whilst the bench is not a CPC asset, the parish council agreed to pay for maintenance of the bench. Cllr Chalker confirmed that he would deal with the situation personally.
b) Netwise – The clerk provided information about the last remaining government grant allocations for the registration of a .gov.uk address. Cllr Wilson proposed to secure grant funding to purchase cuxtonparish.gov.uk and switch over to this new domain in order to address one of the comments made on the most recent audit. Cllr Porter seconded this, and Cllrs voted with 7 in favour and two abstentions, Cllrs Vye and Chalker.
It was resolved to secure government grant funding to purchase cuxtonparish.gov.uk and switch the website and emails over to this new domain.
137. Information Exchange
• The Allotment Association and plot holders prepared a very thoughtful Christmas Card for Mrs Law, the owner of the land.
The chairman closed the meeting at 9.08pm
Next meeting: 16th January 2025, 6.30pm at Cuxton Library
Signed Ged Chalker Chairman
On the 16th day of January 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