Parish Council Minutes 26th March 2025

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF GOODNESTONE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 26th MARCH 2025 AT 7.30PM AT GOODNESTONE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT:
Councillors: Jon Aldington (JA), Paul Allen (PA), Sue Baker (SB), Francis Plumptre (FS), David Smith (DS) (part), 5 Members of the Public, County Councillor Chandler, District Councillor Bartlett, Parish Clerk – Joanna Jones

APOLOGIES

None.

PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION TIME

The meeting closed and one member of the public spoke in support of the defibrillator being moved from the pub to the redundant phone box in Chillenden and the importance of publicising its location and the availability of first aiders in the community. A representative from the Village Hall outlined plans for VE Day Celebrations which would be funded by jumble sale proceeds and requested that the Parish Council buy a Lamp of Peace to be kept in the Church. A member of the public reported that a Give Way sign had fallen over on the road towards Staple and the wide width sign was missing at the Goodnestone end of Buckland Lane, Clerk to report to Kent County Council.
Action Clerk
The meeting re-opened at 7.46pm

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Declarations of interest in Chillenden Windmill were declared by Councillors Allen and Baker as they are members of the Windmill Committee.

CO-OPTION

To fill Parish Councillor Vacancy
  1. Parish Councillor Candidates
    RESOLVED that David Smith be co-opted onto Goodnestone Parish Council, he took his place on the Council. Clerk to submit paperwork to Dover District Council.
    Action Clerk

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

RESOLVED the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 22nd January 2025 be duly signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record of the meeting.

REPORTS

  1. County Councillor Chandler – County Councillor Chandler gave a report covering Local Government re-organisation, road funding and road closures due to utility companies, her recent visit to Richborough Castle and the Medieval Centre in Sandwich and answered question on devolution.
  2. District Councillors Bartlett– Monthly reports had been emailed. District Councillor Bartlett gave a report on the Dover District Council budget, new community grant scheme, Kearsney Abbey, the garden waste scheme, Maison Dieu, Tides and DDC’s parking strategy review.
  3. Parish Councillors – Councillor Aldington reported that the Nonington telephone exchange was on the list for fibre within the next 12 months for the Goodnestone area. Councillor Plumptre reported that the Developer of the Rowling Farm buildings is willing to sponsor some road improvements, Clerk to contact County Councillor Chandler to enquire how to implement this.
    Action Clerk
  4. Community Police Officer – Report had been emailed.

ACTIONS

Action Owner Status Update
Finance KS On-going Remaining funds in the Natwest Deposit Account to be transferred to Unity Trust & Account closed.
Millenium Field & Environmental Fund Clerk / SB On-going Clerk has met with Community Payback Scheme they will review the proposal in the spring. Volunteers for working party will be followed up in the Spring.
Gov.uk website & emails JA On-going .gov website & emails to be organised
SID repaired & pole re-sited Clerk On-going SID is repaired, waiting for Kent County Council to assess SID pole site
Quote for salting Catshole Hill when icy Clerk On-going Roger Austin quoted £20, Clerk to accept quotation
Action Clerk
New salt bin & refill existing salt bins Clerk Discharged Kent County Council are not issuing new salt bins, empty bins reported to KCC for re-filling.
Line & 20mph roundel repainting Clerk Discharged Rowling Road junction programmed, Kent County Council reported repainting in Chillenden not required.
Chillenden bin by bench & Windmill Clerk Discharged Quote received for bin by bench, bin at Windmill not possible from Dover District Council.
Precept Clerk Discharged Submitted to Dover District Council
Damaged Kent County Council Highways & Footpath Signs SB On-going To be reported to KCC using on-line tool
Resignation Councillor Stanford Clerk Discharged Reported to Dover District Council

FOOTPATH OFFICER REPORT

  1. Report – Nothing specific to report.
  2. Request for the Old Cart track to become a Public Right of Way
    Agreed that Councillor Allen will follow up on the previous research and Clerk will find out how far back the evidence needs to go and the deadline for submission.
    Action PA & Clerk

HIGHWAY OFFICER REPORT

  1. Road Markings junction High Street at Goodnestone worn Clerk to report to Kent County Council.
    Action Clerk

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

  1. Millenium Field & Environmental Fund – How to maximise usage and add value to the village Clerk to contact Probation Service.
    Action Clerk
  2. Chillenden – rubbish bin by bench – £380 for bin and installation, £190 per year to empty
    RESOLVED to order the bin and request that it is not within a metre of the bench.
    Action Clerk
  3. To consider the adoption of the BT kiosk in Chillenden – cost £1
    RESOLVED that the Parish Council are happy to adopt the BT kiosk and a parishioner is happy to maintain it. Councillor Allen to follow up on the written permission to adopt from the actual landowner.
    Action PA
  4. Defibrillator publicity
    Agreed that the Member of the Public will produce a draft poster that the Clerk will circulate to the members and the Clerk will organise defibrillator training sessions in Chillenden and Goodnestone.
    Action Clerk

FINANCE

  1. Dover District Council – Quadrennial Review of Parish Council Allowances 2025-2029 – views required
    No comment to be made.
  2. To add Councillor Suzanne Baker and Councillor Paul Allen as signatories on the Unity Trust Bank Accounts
    RESOLVED to add Councillors Baker and Allen to Unity Trust as signatories and onto Internet banking as users, the form was signed, Clerk to submit.
    Action Clerk
  3. Grant request from Holy Cross Goodnestone – £1,000 to resurface path
    RESOLVED to grant an additional £1,000 to the £1,000 already pledged for the path and handrail at Holy Cross, Goodnestone, to request that confirmation is received that all funds have been raised.
    Action Clerk
  4. Staff Salary Increase as of 1 April 2025
    The Clerk is currently paid at SCP22 with an annual increment due in April 2025 making it SCP23 with future increments due in April each year to a maximum of SCP23, subject to satisfactory performance. Increase of 36p per hour, annual increase of £51.84 as at 1st April 2024.
    RESOLVED Clerk to be on SCP23 from 1st April 2025.
  5. Section 137 limit now £11.10 per Elector
    Noted.

PAYMENTS

  1. Payments to be approved
    RESOLVED the following payments should be made.
    Payee Service Invoice Amount
    Already paid
    Unity Trust Bank Charges January – paid 28/02/24
    		£6.00
    Joanna Jones Clerk’s Net Salary February
    		£153.59
    HMRC PAYE – February
    		£38.40
    Set up to be paid
    Kent County Council Pension Clerk’s Pension – February
    		£66.43
    Westcotec Speed indicator device repair 16602 £1,098.00
    Joanna Jones Clerk’s Net Salary March
    		£153.59
    HMRC PAYE – March
    		£38.40
    Kent County Council Pension Clerk’s Pension – March
    		£66.43
    Unity Trust Bank Charges February – due 31/03/25
    		£6.00
    Transfer Unity Trust Deposit A/c to Current A/c Transfer £1,000.00
    Goodnestone Village Hall Rental for Meetings for year to March 2025 March 2025 £175.00
    Kent County Council KCC Pension Fund – Actuary Fee AF707360426 £804.38

PLANNING

  1. Planning Applications
    To discuss any planning applications received prior to the meeting
    None.
  2. Planning Decisions
    To note any planning applications received prior to the meeting
    None
  3. Planning Correspondence
    To discuss any correspondence related to planning
    None
  4. Report
    Nothing further to discuss

CORRESPONDENCE

  1. KALC (Kent Association Local Councils) & NALC (National Association Local Councils) – all updates emailed
  2. East Kent Urgent Treatment Centre Review
    Noted
  3. Dover District Council Parking Strategy Consultation – Meeting 26th March 6pm
    A lack of capacity in rural, Deal and Sandwich car parks was reported.

CHILLENDEN WINDMILL

To discuss and agree actions relating to Chillenden Windmill
  1. Proposed Kent County Council Consultation to Divest
    No decision due until after the Election, Mill Meeting planned for 27th March.

COMMUNICATION

To discuss and agree actions relating to communication
  1. Gov.uk – website & emails Councillor Aldington reported that the Domain name is secured, he will produce a proposal for moving emails and the website to it.
    Action JA

EVENTS

To discuss and agree actions relating to events organised by the Council & outside events
  1. Annual Parish Assembly
    Agreed for 28th April at 7.30pm, Clerk to organise but not able to attend.
    Action Clerk
  2. VE Day
    RESOLVED to purchase a Lamp of Peace for £55, Clerk to organise.
    Action Clerk

PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION TIME: A short session set aside for parishioners to raise matters. Individual contributions should be kept to less than 5 minutes.

None

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

28th April – Annual Parish Assembly – Goodnestone Village Hall
14th May – Chillenden Village Hall
30th July – Chillenden Village Hall
17th September – Chillenden Village Hall
26th November – Goodnestone Village Hall
Meeting was formally closed at 21:29