Parish Council Meeting 9 September 2019
Parish Council: Councillors
There were 10 councillors present, plus the clerk and 3 members of the publicAmenities: Cricket
The showers at Manor Field had been cold at 7pm, the council's electrician found a loose wire which has partially solved the problem, but the cricket club says it is still running cold. Meopham have lost a junior team so won't need Longfield Hill this year but they will continue to maintain it because they hope to have a team in 2020.Amenities: Football
Council accepted quotation from KCC Landscape Services to mark out 3 pitches and another 9 a side pitch with respect lines, for £631. The club had complained one set of posts was leaning and asked for new sockets. Council agreed there is a problem, but think grass cutting would also damage any new sockets and they would be expensive, so they want to meet the club to discuss alternatives.Amenities: Manor Field Pavilion
The Fire Risk Assessment found no new issues, and they accepted quote from BrodexTrident to do a legionella risk assessment for £350.Amenities: Playgrounds
Quote from Playdale for a Timber Combo 10 to be installed at Longfield Hill has been accepted, cost £2,748. They are going to ask Mr Mundy if he can repair the surfacing. They also hope Mr Mundy can grease the Chantry Avenue roundabout which is stiff to turn, but it may be unaccessible, if so it will cost them £155.Amenities: Trees
Tree risk assessment reported dangerous tree on land bordering burial ground which is overhanging parish council's land. They have put the shed out of bounds because of the risk and have written to the landowner.Amenities: Fairby Lane
Parish council turned down request for dog bin at Fairby Lane because they don't own the land.Amenities: Allotments
Rubbish has been dumped near the gate apparently this included a three piece suite, allotment owners to be told not to do that. One of the owners has replaced the leaking taps.Amenities: Gorsewood
There have been instances of fly tipping near the Caxton Close car park. Council to keep log of incidences in Hartley because they blame KCC for introducing charges to dispose of certain items at Pepper Hill.Amenities: Recycling
Council voted 9-0 to reject a suggestion by Sevenoaks Council that the bottle banks be restored to Woodland Avenue (they had been removed in 2011)Burial Grounds: New Burial Ground
They discussed some landscaping issues. They also decided to charge the same as the existing burial ground, confirming to a question from Mr Mayer that the 3 times fee for non-residents would also apply. Reservations for burials would be allowed but not for specific plots. They accepted a £430 increase in the cost of the pergola because oak prices had risen folliowing the fire at Notre Dame.Burial Grounds: Hartley Burial Ground
They accepted a request from a resident who had purchased a plot for £30 in 1994 to swap this for a plot to bury a pot of ashesBurial Grounds: Old Garden of Remembrance
They accepted a quote from Bottanical to supply and install plants for flowerbed at cost of £484. They have received a donation of £300 from a resident towards this.VE Day Commemorations:
The Committee discussed a number of suggetions including coconut shy, ice cream van, vintage fire engine, involvement of schools and rugby club, possible Hartley Players play, cine footage, bar, lighting of beacon.Finance: Payments
Payments of £28,543 were agreed. Dr Roberts queried why the council is being billed £913 for a parish council election that didn't take place? They promised to query this with Sevenoaks.Electoral Register Details
(31 July) Review of polling places by Sevenoaks Council has the following details about local polling:
Hodsoll Street and Ridley - 415 electors (56 of them with postal votes)
Hartley North - 2,267 electors (372 with postal votes)
Hartley South - 2,161 electors (358 with postal votes)
Parish Council Meeting 8 July 2019
Parish Council: Councillors
Only 8 councillors were present at the meetingFood Bank:
County Councillor Brazier reported that a food bank is to open in New Ash Green. They are getting the unit in the shopping centre for free and both he via the member's scheme and Sevenoaks Council will be contributing towards it.Amenities: Cricket
Cricket club at Manor Field having difficulty finding someone to remove the sight screens. They also report showers were cold at 7pm.Amenities: Football
Hartley De Sales complained about large increase in fees last year and said they might not carry on if they go up again. Council agree on a £46 increase to £1,900 for the 4 teams and will provide details of their costs. Will provide new sockets for goal posts and paint them too.Amenities: Manor Field Pavilion
New LED emergency light to be provided in kitchen hallway and Gents after annual test found them too dim, cost £110. Local resident with relevant qualifications has offered to do fire risk assessment for free, council agreed with thanks. Apparently there are no smoke alarms in the pavilion. Works to cold water tank following 2017 recommendations to prevent legionella to be undertaken by Caches Ltd for £283.Amenities: Manor Field
Council to get quotes for gravel stabilisation grid for carpark, as the district council will not allow tarmac in green belt. Both floodlights in car park need replacing.Amenities: Playgrounds
Minor repairs authorised to Woodland Avenue, Longfield Hill and Chantry Avenue playgrounds following inspections. Seat on cradle swing at Woodland Avenue will need replacing at cost of £174.Amenities: Woodland Avenue
Gate damaged by car crashing into it. Quotations for new gate being obtained.Amenities: Pond
Council decided not to do anything about the pond, although they were concerned about its state. Kent County Council said they would only act to maintain drainage from road, not anything aesthetic. A local group had put a notice to advocate improvements.Amenities: Allotments
Council allowed request by allotment holder to grow 2 miniature apple trees. Two notices threatening termination of tenancy to be sent to tenants of uncultivated plots. Neighbouring landowner complains about council's fence leaning on theirs and tree shading out their garden. Council to do something about the fence but not the tree as they say it isn't a health and safety problem. Council also refused request to crown ash tree overhanging another plot as it was not on their land and they don't think it will make a difference. Fees for allotments to be unchanged for 2020/21.Amenities: Trees
They are waiting for a report on Ash trees and die back. They are difficult to deal with as felling may cause them to explode; cost per tree about £1,000. Branch of tree at the Burial Ground and trees by a property at Porchester Close to be removed. Other trees near Porchester Close were said to be interfering with television picture, but council say they are not a health and safety hazard so won't take action. Another resident concerned about tree in Hartley Wood, tree surgeon said it wasn't a risk but recommended pruning hornbeams by the property, council to get quotation.Burial Grounds: New Burial Ground
Council accept quote from Jade Construction Limited of £4,400 for 2m x 6m pergola.Burial Grounds: Burial Ground
Some actions following visual inspection. They agree to accept reservation of double plot request but only if plot not needed before new burial ground opened. Old Garden of Remembrance to be planted with new plants and shrubs, following complaint from resident that area did not look well tended.VE Day Commemorations:
Initial plans: Service at War Memorial (3pm), Event at Manor Field (4pm). Quotations to be obtained for marquee hire, fireworks, PA system. Budget of £7,000 agreedCar badly damaged and wall demolished in crash in Ash Road, Hartley
Car crashed into wall of house near Hartley Green at 1.47am.
(Gravesend Messenger 7.7.2019)