Parks and Cemetery Committee

PARKS AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE

TO: MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE: Councillors Lewis (Chairman), Lester (Deputy Chairman), Blackwell, Bowie, Elliott, Ms Hill, Ms Kelly, Mrs Markwell and Poile

Copies to: All other elected Members for information.

You are summoned to attend the PARKS AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE meeting on Thursday 10 July 2014 at 7.00 p.m. in the Council Offices, 137 London Road, Southborough, Kent. TN4 0ND.

AGENDA

1. APOLOGIES AND REASON FOR ABSENCE

2. DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT INTERESTS

Members, who have a Disclosable Pecuniary or Other Significant Interest within the meaning of the Kent Code of Conduct 2012 in any matter appearing on the agenda, are invited to declare that interest at this stage and sign the register accordingly.

3. PUBLIC OPEN SESSION

Standing Order 60(a). Members of the public may speak under this item as long as 24 hours notice of their wish to do so has been given the Town Clerk, and that the subject is relevant to this Committee. No speech may be for longer than five minutes except by resolution of the Committee or Council.

4. MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 June were approved by Full Council on 26 June 2014.

5. INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

Income and expenditure reports relating to the Parks and Cemetery Committee, between 1 June and 30 June 2014 are attached for approval.

6. ALLOTMENTS - BONFIRES

Members to discuss the request from Allotment Holders to remove the ban on bonfires on both allotments sites. Duncan Haynes, a Principal Environment Health Officer from the Environmental Team at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will talk to those present. If Members approve this request, it will be necessary to set an implementation date and rules of use will need to be agreed. Some Councils that allow bonfires, only allow them through the winter and then at specified dates and times. The regulations will need to be rewritten, approved at the next meeting and amended copies re-sent to all tenants.

7. EASEMENT – HOLDEN ROAD

Members to approve the documents for two new houses whose access cross Common Land. The Clerk has taken the opportunity to bring all of the land accessed by Mr Heath in Holden Road to be covered by two other easements. There are four documents all the same but with varying plans. I have attached one of these documents for approval. These have all been through Legal Services at Kent County Council. There will be no easement fees as the access has been in place for many years. Mr Heath has agreed to pay the legal costs.

8. CONFIDENTIAL

It is proposed that during consideration of the following items of business the public and press would be temporarily excluded (Standing Order 76).

These items are considered confidential for the following reason(s)

Information relating to the financial affairs of the Council.

a)  Replacement cutting deck for the Kubota Ride on Mower

The Clerk has been warned by the service engineers, that the cutting deck on the Kubota ride on mower needs to be replaced. The Kubota itself is regularly serviced, as is all of the cutting equipment used by the Grounds Men. However, the cutting deck after 10 years of life, is worn out. The Clerk has attached three quotations from local companies for the required model. Members need to discuss the quotations and select the supplier to be used. As this is such a large amount it will need Finance and General Purposes approval and for the funds to be taken from reserves.

Brenda J Wickens

Town Clerk

4 July 2014