Full Council Meeting, Budget Adjustments and Riverside Signage

Evening

Chaired a full council meeting. Both of the clerks were congratulated on having passed their Working With Your Council course work.

Budget adjustments for the current financial year were agreed, ostensibly to deal with a higher than expected carry forward figure, and outstanding payments, from the last financial year. One beneficiary was the fund to do something about the old, concrete, playground bases in Harrow Meadow, the budget for which had been removed, but has now been restored with £1,000. Another beneficiary was the proposed footpath through the Castlefield Nature Area, which received an extra £250.

It was noted that a road closure had been arranged for Remembrance Sunday.

Malcolm Richardson reported on a survey that he had done of the signage at Riverside. He recommended that some cleaning be done, but that there was no need for any rationalisation of signage. A few, minor, remedial works were agreed, consisting of the removal of a rusting post in the village car park, and the repair of that car park fence, plus the reinstatement of some granite sets outside the Riverside Club.

Our county councillor, Roger Gough, agreed to try to pursue a phased approach to the proposed highway scheme for the area around the school, given the lack of available funding to implement the proposed scheme in one go.

Nominations had been received for a Kent Association of Parish Council award for contribution to village life. Following a vote, a recipient for the award was agreed, and a presentation will be arranged for the next Annual Parish Meeting.

It was agreed to pay up to £500 for an initial path to be created in the Castlefield Nature Area, following consultation with the North West Kent Countryside Project. A donation of £250 was agreed for the WI.