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Last Updated:
23 June 2008
Latest Highlights

Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council.

Highlights from the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 27th May, 2008
(followed by a Parish Council Meeting)

  1. Year-end accounts for 2007/8.  These had been approved (LKPC meeting of 15th  April) internally audited and made available for public inspection for the statutory period.
  2. Chairman’s Report 2007/8. Bob Baxter explained that his first year in the chair had been difficult, with two councillors and a clerk resigning during the year.  The reporting, by a parishioner, of Cllrs Baxter, Disney and English, to the Standards Board for England, for allegedly failing to declare an interest in a matter, was an additional concern, and not resolved at the time of writing.   The election of Mark Jones to the Parish Council, bearing fresh ideas about governance and procedures, had caused a considerable stir.
    Nonetheless, the work of the Council progressed, with the Parish Plan-driven project (joint with Teynham Parish Council), to improve the appearance and traffic situation in Greenstreet moving to the initial scheme-consultation stage; very  successful Blossom- and Cherry Day events being enjoyed by parishioners in the Community Orchard, and Phase 2 of the footway creation in Lynsted Lane being supported by the adjacent householders. In all, 32 planning applications were commented on. We were pleased to see that a proposal for affordable housing, next to Vigo Farm, Lynsted Lane, to meet the demonstrated need for local low-cost housing, was approved.
    The operation of the council has been greatly helped by the appointment of Charles Bennett as Clerk.  Despite some self-doubts, we hope to retain him, at least in a finance role.
    Bob thanked fellow members, Phillip Neaves (Orchard owner), Nigel Heriz-Smith (website manager) and especially Vice-chairman Tom English for their help and support over the year. He trusted that, provided  all pull together, the Parish Council would deal effectively with the challenges of the coming year.
    The full text of the report is available via the Clerk and     on the parish website.
     
  3. Committees and representatives:
    Planning Committee. Cllrs. Dawes, Champion, Disney, English, Baxter, vacancy.
    Standards Committee. Cllrs. Darling, Jones, English, Baxter, vacancy.
    Finance Committee. Cllrs. Dawes, Champion, Disney, Jones, Baxter.
    KALC Swale Area Representatives. Clls Dawes, vacancy.
    Publicity. Cllr. Baxter.
    Website. Cllr. Jones.
    Street lights. Cllr. Champion.
    Community Orchard. Cllrs. Disney, English, Baxter.
    Joint Playing Fields Committee.  Cllrs. Champion, Dawes.
    Parish Plan Coordinator. Cllr. Disney.
    Properties. Cllrs. English, Broughton, Champion.
    Footpaths. Cllrs.Dawes, vacancy.
    Parish Tree Warden. Cllr. Baxter.
    Greenstreet Improvement Joint Committee. Cllrs. Disney, Broughton, Champion.
  4. Election of Officers.
    Chairman;  Cllr Baxter.
    Vice-chairman: Cllr English.  
                                     --------------------------------------------

Highlights from a Parish Council meeting held on 27th May, 2008.

This meeting was held directly after the Annual Parish Council Meeting.

  1. Opportunity for members of the public to speak.  Mr R Gosling of Lynsted Lane, addressed the meeting, voicing his views on the consultation day held on 3rd May on the subject of the Greenstreet Improvement Project.
  2. Retention of the Clerk.  Charles Bennett had offered his resignation at the end of his 13 week introductory period, partly on the grounds that he felt he was not capable of working to Parish Council standards. Members were, however, extremely pleased with their new clerk, and resolved to work out a way of retaining him, at least on finance matters, after his return from holiday.
  3. Parish Grant Scheme. Swale Borough Council were winding this scheme down. Any funding in parish councils’ allocations would need to be used by April 2010.  There was £16,880 in Lynsted’s allocation. The Parish Council aims to use this towards furthering the completion (Phase 2) of the Lynsted Lane footway. The short deadline was noted.
  4. Playing Fields.  The banks around the playing area in Frognal Lane were being cleared. Planting with suitable shrubs was planned.
  5. Paul Whalan joins the Council.   The Chairman warmly welcomed Paul Whalan to the Parish Council. Cllr. Whalan lives on London Road, Lynsted, with his wife and daughter.

NOTE.  Full minutes, once signed and adopted, are available for inspection at Teynham Library, on the Parish Council website www.lkpc.org.uk, or by arrangement with the Clerk (phone 476 606).
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 8th July, at the Belle Friday Centre, London Road, starting at 7.30pm.

Parish Council meetings are open to the public, who are warmly welcome.  Parishioners may make a brief statement at the start of the meeting, if they wish.

R Baxter,  Chairman.

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