18 April 2020 - Arriva announce further bus reductions
As a result of the Covid-19 emergency, Arriva announce that Saturday services on the 489 to Gravesend will be reduced from every 80 minutes to just 4 journeys a day.Arriva Press ReleaseParish Council Meeting 15 April 2020
15 April 2020 - Parish Council: Councillors
This was the council's first virtual online meeting as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Present were Cllrs Oxtoby, Abraham, Bennett, Penny Cole, Driscoll, Graeme, Malham, Mohr, Ross, Sewell. Also Cllr Brazier (KCC) and 2 members of the public. Apologies from Cllrs Alford and Perry Cole. No declarations of interest were received.> 15 April 2020 - Burial Grounds: New Burial Ground
The big news was the announcement that the burial ground was ready and the council voted to open it with immediate effect. Other matters considered at the meeting of 9 March were: (1) Concerns about state of lavender and box border. (2) They will obtain quotes for post and chain fence to separate ashes burial site. (3) Path from car park to be cleared of vegetation and moss. (4) They plan to get new quotes for the brick plinths. (5) They have appointed the firm Gardens of England as the gravedigger. (6) Following a request to reserve a plot for interment of ashes, they had said in August that was allowed but now they have considered the matter further and reversed that decision. They were concerned about revenue loss if the burial was many years later, and also might be too hard to administer (approved by full council). (7) They recommended banning larger American style caskets for burials (approved by full council)> 15 April 2020 - Burial Grounds: Hartley Burial Ground
(1) Shed is full of rubbish and looked dangerous, they will tell Mr Munday they plan to remove it. (2) Wooden fence to left of entrance gate requires repair as it is leaning. (3) they have told an enquirer that it is OK to bury ashes in a reserved grave space, however a burial could no longer take place there.> 15 April 2020 - Burial Grounds: Old Garden of Remembrance
Extra layer of bark to be added to the newly planted area> 15 April 2020 - Burial Grounds: Charges
They amended the scale of fees agreed at the October meeting because they realised they wanted to increase fees for out of parish people by £15 not £5 (approved by full council)> 15 April 2020 - Amenities: Gorsewood
They accepted quote from Sevenoaks Council of £850 to clear up flytipping there> 15 April 2020 - Covid-19: Manor Field Pavilion
They closed Manor Field Pavilion on 23 March. Someone to visit once a week to check on condition and to make the building "occupied" so legionella insurance is not invalidated. Full legionella test to be done before reopening.> 15 April 2020 - Covid-19: Playgrounds
They closed them until at least 30 April. They resolved to set up arrangements to inspect them every 8 weeks as required by insurers (they have amended their requirements which would normally be 4 weeks because of the crisis)> 15 April 2020 - Covid-19: Parish Office
Office is closed. Assitant clerk will work there, clerk will work from home, refurbished laptop bought to achieve this (£577 to include required login software). If clerk needs to attend office, it must be when assistant clerk isn't there. Council agreed to delegate power to clerk to spend up to £2,000 on matters arising from the pandemic.> 15 April 2020 - Covid-19: Volunteers
Cllr Penny Cole reported the Sevenoaks Council scheme has 33 volunteers in Hartley> 15 April 2020 - Finance: Payments
Payments of £9,142 for April were agreed.>
This was the council's first virtual online meeting as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Present were Cllrs Oxtoby, Abraham, Bennett, Penny Cole, Driscoll, Graeme, Malham, Mohr, Ross, Sewell. Also Cllr Brazier (KCC) and 2 members of the public. Apologies from Cllrs Alford and Perry Cole. No declarations of interest were received.> 15 April 2020 - Burial Grounds: New Burial Ground
The big news was the announcement that the burial ground was ready and the council voted to open it with immediate effect. Other matters considered at the meeting of 9 March were: (1) Concerns about state of lavender and box border. (2) They will obtain quotes for post and chain fence to separate ashes burial site. (3) Path from car park to be cleared of vegetation and moss. (4) They plan to get new quotes for the brick plinths. (5) They have appointed the firm Gardens of England as the gravedigger. (6) Following a request to reserve a plot for interment of ashes, they had said in August that was allowed but now they have considered the matter further and reversed that decision. They were concerned about revenue loss if the burial was many years later, and also might be too hard to administer (approved by full council). (7) They recommended banning larger American style caskets for burials (approved by full council)> 15 April 2020 - Burial Grounds: Hartley Burial Ground
(1) Shed is full of rubbish and looked dangerous, they will tell Mr Munday they plan to remove it. (2) Wooden fence to left of entrance gate requires repair as it is leaning. (3) they have told an enquirer that it is OK to bury ashes in a reserved grave space, however a burial could no longer take place there.> 15 April 2020 - Burial Grounds: Old Garden of Remembrance
Extra layer of bark to be added to the newly planted area> 15 April 2020 - Burial Grounds: Charges
They amended the scale of fees agreed at the October meeting because they realised they wanted to increase fees for out of parish people by £15 not £5 (approved by full council)> 15 April 2020 - Amenities: Gorsewood
They accepted quote from Sevenoaks Council of £850 to clear up flytipping there> 15 April 2020 - Covid-19: Manor Field Pavilion
They closed Manor Field Pavilion on 23 March. Someone to visit once a week to check on condition and to make the building "occupied" so legionella insurance is not invalidated. Full legionella test to be done before reopening.> 15 April 2020 - Covid-19: Playgrounds
They closed them until at least 30 April. They resolved to set up arrangements to inspect them every 8 weeks as required by insurers (they have amended their requirements which would normally be 4 weeks because of the crisis)> 15 April 2020 - Covid-19: Parish Office
Office is closed. Assitant clerk will work there, clerk will work from home, refurbished laptop bought to achieve this (£577 to include required login software). If clerk needs to attend office, it must be when assistant clerk isn't there. Council agreed to delegate power to clerk to spend up to £2,000 on matters arising from the pandemic.> 15 April 2020 - Covid-19: Volunteers
Cllr Penny Cole reported the Sevenoaks Council scheme has 33 volunteers in Hartley> 15 April 2020 - Finance: Payments
Payments of £9,142 for April were agreed.>
Hartley farmer, Kent County Council and NFU Mutual call for care on countryside walks over Easter weekend
Sheep worrying at Hartley Bottom farm leaves two sheep injured, one of the dog assailants being a daschund. Farmer reports many more walkers on footpaths since the Covid-19 restrictions were imposed.
(Dartford Messenger, 10.4.20)