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News July - September 2019

Hartley-Kent: The Website for Hartley
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Parish Council Meeting 9 September 2019
 

Parish  Council: Councillors

There were 10 councillors  present, plus the clerk and 3 members of the public  

Amenities:  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 ashes  

Burial 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 meeting  

Food 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 agreed   

Car badly damaged and wall demolished in crash in Ash Road, Hartley
Car crashed into wall of house near Hartley Green at 1.47am.



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