TO: ALL MEMBERSOF WESTBERE PARISH COUNCIL: Councillors are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of the Westbere Parish Council on TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2020 at Westbere Village Hall at 7.30pm for the transaction of the business described in the following Agenda.
A SPARKES, CLERK TO THE COUNCIL
A G E N D A
1. The Chairman’s opening remarks and apologies for absence
2. Vacancy on the Council – No by-election has been called for and the parish council may co-opt.
3. Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests and Voluntary Announcements of Other Interests, and a reminder to think of any changes to the DPI registerheld at CCC, such as change of job or home.
4. To sign as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting held 21 January 2020
5. Chairman’s Report and Councillors’ Reports
6. Highways Improvements Plan/Action Plan – : any updates
ANY UPDATE re a speed limit reduction on the A28 from Sturry to Hersden
7. TO DISCUSS the informal meeting held on 4 February 2020 with Cllrs and Clerks of Westbere, Hersden and Sturry Parish Councils – TO DISCUSS the suggestion that perhaps quarterly meetings with each parish council hosting in turn be considered?
8. Reports from County and City Councillors
The meeting will be adjourned for parishioners’ questions and comments. This is the only opportunity during the meeting for residents to speak. The period for public participation will last no longer than 10 minutes and a single member of the public is afforded no more than 3 minutes to make their representation, with the discretion of the Chairman.
9. Planning – Any new applications and planning decisions
- TO NOTE that CCC have invited parish councils to individual sessions in relation to the CDLP and Cllrs Harlow, Hopkins and Laws and the Clerk will attend one on 28 February 2020.
- Any update re the Sturry, Broad Oak developments and the Sturry Relief Roadapplication KCC/CA/0091/2019
- The Two Fields site at Staines Hill owned by Bellway Homes – Any updates on (i) new PROWS application made to KCC by the parish council and (ii) The Sturry and Westbere Two Fields Action Group application to try and get Village Green status on the Two Fields site.
10. Financial matters, including bank statements and authorisation ofaccounts (Appendix 3)
- Appendix 3 Finance Schedule to be initialled by the Chairman of the meeting.
- UPDATE on the provision of a backless bench
- Website Accessibility Regulations (by 1 September 2020) and current KCC EIS website hosting – TO NOTE that as per the resolution at the January 2020 meeting KCC Cantium has been appointed as the new parish council’s website host (- now with a waived fee for the first year and £675 for the subsequent years (based on a 3-year contract – more information on the Clerk report.)
- Staff Pension: TO NOTE the Actuary triennial report and increase in employers’ contribution from 1 April 2020 and TO NOTE the re-declaration of compliance to the Pensions Regulator was completed on 22 January 2020.
The future of Concurrent Function Funding
Canterbury City Council is considering the future options for the concurrent functions funding budget and will hold a stakeholder event to explore the options for CFF for 2021/22 onwardson Thursday 27 February 2020, 2pm – 4pm at The Guildhall, Canterbury. (more information on the Clerk report)
11. Environment:
Overgrown bank at Walnut Tree Lane – any UPDATE
Village green Cherry tree – tree works: TO NOTE the preferred contractor has been appointed to: Remove dead wood, trim all round to neaten and shorten the heavy, low horizontal limb to an upright growth point around 2m from the stem. (Conservation area consent has now been given.)
Trees in the churchyards – following the tree survey of all the trees in the churchyards and site meetings with two contractors and prioritisation of works – TO NOTE Conservation area consents have now been given and the preferred contractor contacted.
12. Possible tree stump art sculpture for feature tree in the West Churchyard, should this tree be felled – TO NOTE this idea will run in the next newsletter to seek residents’ views on whether to proceed with this idea, budget permitting.
13. Clerk Report and Correspondence (Appendix 4) – for any items not already covered elsewhere
14. UPDATE on Cllr Williams and the Clerk to undertake a daytime walk to inspect the village drains
If any member of the public wants a copy of any of the separate reports, please contact the Clerk.
Dates of future meetings:18 February, 17 March, Annual Electors Meeting – date tbc, 21 April, 19 May, 16 June, 21 July, no meeting in August, 15 September, 20 October, 17 November, no meeting in December 2020.
Other diary dates: Village Green Party on the green Sunday 5 July 2020.