Southborough Town Council

Annual Town Meeting 13 April 2010

Draft minutes of the Annual Town Council Meeting held on Tuesday 13 April 2010 at 7.00 p.m. in the Community Centre, Crundwell Road, Southborough, Kent.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Cllr Bothwell (Town Mayor), Cllr Burbidge (Deputy Mayor) Cllr Belchem, Cllr Bowie, Cllr Elliott, Cllr Ms Hill, Cllr Mrs Markwell, Cllr Marsh, Cllr Mrs Morton, Cllr Oakford, Cllr Ooi , Cllr Poile and Cllr Miss Thomas

ALSO PRESENT: County Councillor Bullock Jason Visser Kent Fire and Rescue

56 members of the public were also in attendance and 1 member of the press

1. TOWN MAYOR’S WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Councillors and Guests

2. APOLOGIES

Cllr Simmons Borough Councillor Cllr Rusbridge Borough Councillor Cllr Jamil Town Councillor Cllr Mrs Jedrzejewski Town Councillor William Benson Chief Executive Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. David Candlin Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Jim Kehoe Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Kim Hills Mid Kent Highways Clare Trumper Kent Libraries District Ch Insp Wilson West Kent Police PCSO Lee Whitworth West Kent Police Grant Brooker Kent Fire and Rescue

3. MINUTES OF THE MEETING

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on Tuesday 14 April 2009 be signed as a correct record, providing that Cllr Simmons was added to the list of attendees.

A resident asked for the minutes to show that residents were disappointed that the Southborough in Bloom competition was no longer running each year, he hoped that it could be reconsidered for next year. Councillor Ms Hill and Colette Marsh explained that although all residents were sent an application form for the last competition in the Newsletter only 13 people entered their gardens. This was not enough to justify the great expense that went into the event. Hopefully in a few years time it can be back on the agenda but residents need play a big part in it..

1 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Cllr Bothwell presented the Town Council’s Annual Review.

Good evening and welcome to your Annual Town Meeting.

Firstly I would like my fellow Councillors and guests to introduce themselves to you.

This is my second year as Chairman of this Council and sadly, it will be my last, but I will be continuing on as a Councillor.

It has been a very enjoyable experience and one that I will always remember. Being your Town Mayor has been a privilege and once in a lifetime opportunity. The demands of this role were made easier with the support of my wife Sue, as well as our many friends and family.

I would like to think that we have achieved a few good things over the past year, working together with my fellow Councillors there has been many highlights, to many to report here, but just this weekend our friends from our Twin Town of Lambersart were here for the A.G. M., so we arranged a game of Petanque on the new rink in the Coppice of Trees in Yew Tree Road, for them and a few people from High Brooms and members of the committee, of course they beat us at their own game, perhaps when we have mastered the game we will win the cup back.

Well enough from me I will now be asking the Chairman of Committees to give their reports.

Cllr Bowie presented a report on the Planning and Transportation Committee.

There are three things, which have come to light, whilst chairing the Planning and Transportation meetings this year. Two in respect of planning and one in respect of transportation.

The first is the obvious one, and applies to this Committee every year. This is the fact that we are not going to please everyone with every decision we make, but hopefully through careful thought and debate, the outcome is the best for Southborough and High Brooms, in our opinion.

The second is the difference of opinion between this Town Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Each thinks they know what is best for Southborough and High Brooms. Although we are never going to agree with each other on the outcome of some applications, we all hope that due process has been followed. This has not been the case on a couple of applications this year, but is something that this committee will endeavour to make sure happens from now on.

With respect to transportation the Kent County Council seems to be our main hurdle to overcome.

For 2009/2010 we have looked at maintaining the bus routes and are working very hard at increasing the safety of the roads around Southborough and High Brooms.

With St Matthews School and the Holden Pond area being reviewed at the moment. Meetings have been had and sensible suggestions put forward to the Kent County Council and this is the stumbling block, because we hear nothing back at all. Every avenue has been investigated, but still not even a peep from the Kent County Council. So for 2010 we will continue to push forward with ideas to increase the safety of the roads around Southborough and High Brooms and will endeavour to get 2 someone from the Kent County Council to respond to our letters, emails and telephone calls.

You will all be aware that the long awaited junction improvements have started on the London Road, and we can only apologise that no one in the town was pre-warned, but the council were only informed, by the Kent County Council, of the start date, two to three days before work commenced. Hopefully this will reduce some of the congestion through Southborough and High Brooms.

Cllr Elliott presented a report on the Parks and Cemetery Committee.

The Parks and Cemeteries Committee is the committee responsible for the cemetery and all the recreational areas and open spaces owned by the Town Council. These include the Common, Pennington Grounds, Holden Pond and the allotments, to name but a few. As a town we are fortunate to have an excellent team of ground staff who are responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of all these areas. I know the rest of the committee and the residents of Southborough and High Brooms would want to join me in thanking Malcolm, David, Kevin, Carl and Gabor for all the work they do throughout the year to keep our facilities in such excellent condition. Much of what I wanted to say has already been covered by the Town Clerk, Brenda Wickens, in “Clerk's corner” on page 5 of the latest Spring 2010 edition of the Council's newsletter which all residents will have received and hopefully read.

The Pond It is now over three years since the pond was desilted and cleared of surplus weed. The flora and fauna have now re-established their natural balance and it looks great.

Recreational Areas

Crundwell Road As reported last year the Committee decided to provide a landscaped area of trees and seating. Your Committee fully appreciate that there is a shortage of play space for young people to play ball games in this part of the town as the Housing Association have placed “No Ball Games” notices in the open spaces on the estates. Your Council will be discussing this issue when representatives from Town and Country Housing next attend one of our meetings.

Pennington Road Recreation Ground I am pleased to report that following last year's annual town meeting Tunbridge Wells Borough Council granted planning permission for a 6 metre high climbing frame to be sited on ground which was formerly occupied by the pitch and putt facility which was little used. This was installed in May and is proving very popular with the older children and some adults!

Petanque Terrain in the Coppice of Trees in Yew Tree Road Following the receipt of a petition from residents, your committee gave its approval for the laying out of a Petanque terrain on open ground towards the rear of the coppice of trees in Yew Tree Road. This was installed in November and last Saturday morning the Southborough and High Brooms District Overseas Friendship Association held a match with their friends from our twin town Lambersart. They were not able to beat the French at their own game and the Lambersartois took Daisy Fletcher's trophy back to France with them! Therefore I invite the residents of Southborough and High Brooms to come along and play a few games and see if we can get our trophy back next time!

3 Frank Weare Recreation Ground I regret to report that we have continued to suffer vandalism of the play equipment in the Frank Weare Recreation Ground. The most serious incident occurred when someone poured petrol onto one of the pieces of equipment and set fire to it. Houses surround the site and someone must have seen the clouds of black acrid smoke and flames and yet it was not reported to the police. The alleyway at the northwest corner of the site has been closed off so that there is now only one entrance to the park on Salisbury Road. This should prevent offenders escaping from the police in the event of an incident.

The Common Southborough Cricket Club have submitted a Planning Application to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for the installation of an all weather pitch and a practise net on the cricket ground which forms part of the Common. Representatives from the cricket club have discussed this with the committee at last weeks meeting and we would be very pleased to hear your views.

Football in Southborough A lease is shortly to be signed for the playing fields but I regret to inform you that there has been no further progress with obtaining funding for the new pavilion. The Council continues to recognise the great opportunities provided for the young people in the town by the football clubs and wants to ensure that they have the facilities that they need.

Use of the Ridgwaye Playing Fields for other events Such use will be restricted to times when ground conditions are suitable. It is obviously in the interest of the football clubs that the playing surfaces are not damaged.

Conclusion I’d like to thank all the members of the Committee for their contribution to the work of the Council during the year. I'd should also like to thank Brenda Wickens and her team in the office for servicing the committee.

My fellow committee members and I will of course be pleased to answer any questions you may have on any of the items mentioned or any other matter related to the work of the committee. Thank you.

P.S. I'd just like to add that as you are aware Cllr Bothwell, Cllr Chater and I are so called “twin hatters”, i.e. we are also your Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillors and are in a position to take questions relating to issues at the Borough Council.

Cllr Peter Oakford presented a report on the Finance and General Purposes Committee

Good evening Ladies and Gentleman. My name is Peter Oakford and I serve as the Chairman of the Finance and General Purpose’s committee - this evening it is my pleasure to represent all other members of the FG&P committee.

The main role of the Finance and General Purposes committee is to monitor the income and expenditure of Southborough and High Brooms Town Council ensuring the best value for the town residents is obtained. One of the key tasks is to develop the annual budget in November/December each year taking into account the various level of expenditure required by each committee to maintain and improve the level of support to town residents. These include the maintenance of the common; play areas, parks etc and the various local organisations that the council supports.

4 The total budget requirements for your town council this year is just over £500,000 and the income generated through the council facilities is £110.000 the remaining £390.000 is financed through your local council tax. However, we fully understand the impact of the current financial situation and have therefore, even with increases in utilities and general running costs carefully managed your councils expenditure for the coming year and have produced a budget resulting in no increase for the Southborough and High Brooms council tax for the year 2010/2011 For an average Band “D” household the amount will remain at £89.44 per annum.

Salaries and pension remain the largest area of expenditure accounting for some 60% of the council’s total budget.

Meeting the legal changes in government Health and Safety requirements continues to be an area of increasing cost with the cemetery being an example of changes for this year. We have had to include within our expenditure the funds for a legally required survey to be conducted of all of the monuments and head stones to ensure they are safe and to reset any that are deemed to be a danger to members of the public whilst visiting the cemetery. In addition we are installing a computerised burial record system as an upgrade for the manual system that holds over 100 years of details.

The refurbishment of the railings at the cemetery is also due to start – a much- needed task as this was last done some 40 years ago.

The refurbishment of the pavilion in Pennington Park is nearing completion, which upgrades the building to a very high standard that we can all be very proud of.

The repairs to the bus shelter at the common have recently been completed which has returned this traditional building to its former splendour. Following strong representation at this meeting last year for a Pentanque Piste to be built Cllr Colin Bothwell personally took this project on board and drove it to fruition. As we are all aware the official opening event took place last Saturday.

The Victoria Theatre remains one of your councils key focus areas and is an asset of our town that continues to thrive. I am sure you would have read in the local media of the restoration work that has been started with a much needed re-wire - the reason why we are hold this year’s town meeting here this evening. The re-wire is well underway and due to be completed by the end of this month at a cost of approximately £50.000. The re-wire has been designed to “future proof” the electrical requirements of the hall ensuring it will be ready for new equipment such as a PA and sound system, lighting etc.

We are now focused on the remaining improvements and restoration work that needs to be undertaken. The cross party working group has had a number of meetings with experts from within the theatre world, not only for guidance on the re-wire but to help with the fund raising and provide professional advice for the next steps.

We continue to see increasing demand for the use of the Royal Victoria with confirmed bookings for the rest of this year from May.

We all look forward to the annual Christmas Pantomime as this is just one example of the quality of productions staged within our town - and of course our theatre was also seen on national television by millions of viewers at the end of last year as it featured in the Morrison’s Christmas commercial.

As always our continued thanks go to Bob Shaw of the council’s team for his ongoing focus and coordination of the Hall and Brian Hampton for his help in supporting Bob. 5 Following many years of inactivity the Town Centre Hub Development project has been brought to a head with the Coop being forced to sell the site to another retailer. Unfortunately although we understand an offer was accepted many months ago the sale has still not been completed, however we are led to believe the last few issues are now being resolved and we expect to officially learn of the new owner within the coming weeks and do expect an early meeting with them to bring this proposal into reality. Should it be required we have allocated a £50.000 contingency from reserves as Southborough and High Brooms Council’s contribution to the tri-party funding of STC, TWBC, KCC to kick start this project.

This evening we also need to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of 2 sub-committees that we are pleased too continue to financially support. “Southborough in Bloom” and the wonderful “Christmas Lights” event; an enormous amount of work goes into both these programmes throughout the year and it would be remiss not to thank the councillors, members of the public and naturally the local business for their continued support of these events.

I would like to close by acknowledging the effort and achievements of all our town council employees led by Brenda Wickens our Town Clerk. It is through their efforts that we are able to maintain the level of service to the community and keep the common, play areas and parks within Southborough and High Brooms in such good condition.

5. QUESTIONS

Please see the attached table of questions and answers.

6. CIVIC AWARDS

Civic awards were presented to Beatrice Wisdom, Elaine Lawrence and Jean Best for services to the Town.

There being no other business the Mayor thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.35 p.m.

Cllr Bothwell Town Mayor

6 Southborough Town Council

Annual Town Meeting 13 April 2010

Question From Question Question To Answer

Mr Venner Why has the Hub development Cllr Bothwell The Co-op chose to sell the land been delayed for so long? last year and the sale is still going Pennington Road through. It would appear that the Co-op is being difficult over the sale agreement. The Town Council can do nothing until we are officially told who has purchased the land.

Mrs Iris Veness Why isn’t the Council more forceful Cllr Bothwell The Councils Steering Group is in getting the development moving working hard to get things moving, Salisbury Road but until the land is sold and papers signed, we have to wait.

Brian Dury Why hasn’t the Council found it Cllr Bowie The review was still taking place appropriate to develop a robust and there is nothing the Council can Crendon Park campaign to prevent the Borough do until we know the outcome of this Council from implementing car review. parking charges on the two town car parks

Elaine Lawrence Why has the Yew Tree Road car Cllr Bothwell A fault had been identified with the park been allowed to get so bad – lights and was in hand to be Crundwell Road the lighting doesn’t work and the Cllr Elliott repaired. The car park is to be potholes are enormous resurfaced shortly.

Town Clerk will report to Highways.

7 Jeannette Martin Can something to be done about Cllr Bowie There is a hotline for reporting the bad potholes Broomhill Park potholes to Kent Highways Woolley Road Road Town Clerk will report to Highways

Andrew Lohmann Very concerned over the safety of Cllr Bowie Planning and Transportation children at St Matthews Primary wholeheartedly supported the work Andrew Road School and the speeding. to improve the safety of the children. We are working with the school to look at the problems. Proposals had been put to Kent Highways. Parents are to blame for the bad parking.

John Excell Would not lowering the speed limit Cllr Bowie Speed was not an issue but bad help towards the safety of the parking by parents was. A speed Brokes Way children at St Matthews check of Yew Tree Road was done, but only a couple of cars were at fault.

Simon Wilshaw Was the decision to re-wire and Cllr Bothwell The Town Council is being guided refurbish the Royal Victoria Hall by an experienced paid Theatre Pennington Place made with the help of a someone Cllr Oakford Consultant for all of the required that was paid by the Council? works being carried out.

8 Maurice Verrall Now that the work is almost Cllr Bullock The lights will always be on stop for complete at the junction of London longer to allow a higher volume of Gordon Road Road and Yew Tree Road, will the traffic to pas through on the A26. sequence of the traffic lights be There are no plans to change this. altered in favour of Yew Tree Road, at the moment the lights are on stop for far too long.

Iris Veness There is a “honeycombed” hard Cllr Bowie This needs to be reported to Kent standing area on one side of the Highways. Salisbury Road road in Salisbury Road for parking. Where grass has been left this too Town Clerk will report to Highways has been parked on and turned into mud and holes. Residents want this grassed area repaired or replaced with the same “honeycombed” finish.

Simon Wilshaw Can the Council explain why Cllr Cllr Bothwell His resignation has been accepted Rumsey is still a Town Councillor from the Conservative Group but Pennington Place when I for one have no faith or trust Cllr Bullock the Town Council cannot force him in him. to resign as a Councillor. He will remain as an Independent Councillor until such time as he decides to resign or is not voted in May 2011. Standards Board for England did not suspend him as it considered that the matter was to do with his private life and nothing to do with his position as a Councillor.

9 Brian Dury The prison sentence related to non- Cllr Bothwell Nothing was found in Cllr Rumsey’s payment of council tax long before past that prevented him from Crendon Park Rumsey became a Councillor. Why standing to become a Councillor. was he allowed to stand as a Conservative Candidate? The checks on his past record should have prevented this.

Jay Moore Please can there be more visible Cllr Bothwell PCSO Lee Whitworth deals with presence on the allotments to these matters and we will pass on London Road prevent the reoccurring damage and this request to him. vandalism to plots. Town Clerk to speak to PCSO

Mike Handcock If a referendum was held about Cllr Bullock This was a party political question Council Tax and KCC, TWBC and from the Conservative new Bidborough the Town Council manifesto. It wouldn’t apply to the Town Council and wasn’t deemed to be pertinent to this meeting

Brian Dury Why did the Council agree to a Cllr Bowie The sign was placed before the A26 welcome sign for the A26 Southborough sign with a sensible Crendon Park Cllr Elliott distance between. Southborough is part of the Borough of Tunbridge Wells and therefore there was no reason why there should not be a sign. All towns in the Borough bordered by other councils have had the signs put up.

10 John Excel What is the current waiting list for Cllr Elliott There is currently a waiting list of 20 the allotments and why wasn’t the people. Land is very poor for an Brokes Way Speldhurst Road allotments site allotment site, it was closed at a being used. time when allotments were not very popular and there were a great many plots available on the other two main sites.

Beatrice Wisdom There is a major parking problem at Cllr Bowie It may be the case that parking Forge Road and yellow lines are permits are required. Parking on Forge Road required. People park on the Cllr Bullock pavements is an offence but pavements otherwise the unfortunately there are just too emergency services would never many cars for our narrow roads, get through. which are not designed to carry so many vehicles.