MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STOKE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE, 2011 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE VILLAGE HALL MALLARD WAY LOWER STOKE.


PUBLIC SESSION NOT PART OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING.
Present: No members of the public were present.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS (NEW STANDING ORDERS)

No questions.  

PRESENT: Councillors: Cllr B Stone Chairman, Cllr Mrs M Elmes Vice Chairman Cllr Mrs J Cherry, Cllr Mrs P Wade, Cllr G Barron, Cllr G Blackman, Cllr J Luck, Mr R Morrad Clerk.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
 
Min 873:11. All members present.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA EITHER PERSONAL OR PREJUDICIAL.

Min 874:11. None received. 

3. MINUTES. 

      Min 875:11. The Minutes of the Meeting 847:11 to 872:11 held on 10 May 2011, copies of which had been previously circulated to members, were proposed by Cllr J Luck seconded by Cllr Mrs J Cherry, resolved to accept as a true record and signed by the Chairman. 

4. PLANNING APPLICATIONS REGISTERED FOR DECISION, AND DECISION REPORTS FROM MEDWAY COUNCIL RECEIVED.

Min 876:11. No Applications received.

5. CORRESPONDENCE.

Min 877:11. Appendix B. copies of which had been previously circulated, listed all reports and circulars received. The clerk read out items from the list highlighting various issues and answered members’ questions. The following actions were resolved:
 
Further advice regarding a proposed rural footpath between Allhallows and Stoke is to be obtained from Mark Johnson, Medway Council. 

Stoke school be given permission to use the play park in Button Drive as a car park on 9th July 2011, the date of the school village fete. 
An email requesting information about public toilets in Stoke, the clerk is to find out what organisation is requesting the information. 

A planning/parish council/ Medway Council meeting is to take place on 12 July. Both the chairman and vice chairman indicated they would be attending. 

Action: Clerk on all above items

6. MONTHLY ACCOUNTS & BANK RECONCILLIATION. 

Min 878:11. The monthly accounts were proposed by Cllr G Blackman seconded by Cllr Mrs M Elmes, and resolved that the said Accounts, a copy of which had been previously circulated to Members and as set out at Appendix C be approved for payment: Action: Clerk. 

7. REVIEW COUNCIL POLICIES.

Min 879:11. No policies were reviewed at the meeting.

8. REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Min 880:11. Cllr G Blackman gave a report from the last Police Liaison meeting which he had attended. Amongst the items discussed were the following: Medway is moving back to 3 sections, and there is now a new Inspector, Gian Chahal. It was reported that there is no real level of crime on the Peninsula. The PCSO at Cliffe has been replaced by Dave Tom. The police are monitoring car racing at night around the new roundabout on the A228. Lead and copper lightning conductors have been stolen from the churches at both Stoke and Grain. A drug problem has been identified at Grain. A scam is going round by knocking on doors and informing residents that their car windows are open. It was reported that on Medway Council’s web site anyone can ask the camera car to come to particular trouble spots of illegal parking.  It is still necessary to phone Maidstone police to make a call for a Medway officer to respond.

9. PLAY PARKS WORKS & CONTRACTS.

Min 881:11. It was agreed that the clerk and chairman would draw up a list of items to obtain a quotation for works in the play parks following the annual safety inspection. Action: Clerk. It was further agreed that following a single quotation for suggested tree works in Button Drive Play Park that the clerk obtains a further quote which should include an insurance assessment of tree conditions plus cutting back of the hedge row in the road by the school. Action Clerk. 

10.  WEB SITE/IT.

Min 882:11. The clerk reported that the Parish web site received 244 hits in May.

11. HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Min 883:11. A plastic dustbin is in the side of the road on Allhallows Road, Lower Stoke between Button Drive and the S Bend (Norwood Corner). Part of an old chair is in a lay by at Upper Stoke on the Hoo/Kingsnorth Road. Water is not running down the road drains on the A228 between Upper Stoke and Middle Stoke. All these items are to be reported to Medway Council. Action: Clerk.

12. VILLAGE HALL REPORT FUNDING GRANT
Min 884:11. A further report on funding applications will be sent to the Village Hall secretary. Action: Clerk.

13. PROPOSED GOVERNMENT CHANGES TO THE STATUS OF HIGHWAYS.

Min 885:11. There is nothing further to report at present.

14. STOKE CAR PARK CLEANING CONDITION.

Min 886:11. A letter from the cleaning contractor was read out in which it explained that more equipment had been supplied to the cleaner. Also it was noted as requested a further much larger litter bin has been fitted in the car park.

15. CLERKS EQUIPMENT REQUEST.

Min 887:11. The clerk discussed the need to archive both the old paper files and to back up more securely all the computer files either by a separate much larger back up unit than the existing one or by online electronic file back up. It was agreed that the clerk should obtain costs for online backup systems and the cost of scanning paper files and saving as microfilm or disc in a separate place than the original copy for safety/fire reasons. Action: Clerk. 


16. NEWSLETTER.

Min 888:11. Report on general items from the minutes. The newsletter was late going out last month due to the meeting being much later due to the election year and the clerk being on holiday. Action: Clerk.

17. A. O. B. AT THE CHAIMANS DISCRETION NO MOTIONS MAY BE PROPOSED NOR DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER THIS ITEM BUT IF MEMBERS WISH THEY MAY BE AGENDERED AT THE NEXT MEETING.

Min 889:11. Problems with intermittent electrical supply in Stoke: It was reported that problems with the 132kv line due to tree problems had caused the automatic interruption switching to keep taking place. Also it is understood a number of main fuses have now also been replaced.

18. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th July 2011. 

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.15 pm

Signed…………………………………………..Chairman
On the………….Day of………………….2011   



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