Hartley Players support West Kingsdown, New Ash Green and Longfield community charities with show profits
Donations by Hartley Players to Carers' Cafe at Wellfield and also other local charities.
(Kent Messenger, 30.3.20)
Darent Valley Hospital nurse says new Arriva bus timetable will not let her get to work
Following the new Covid-19 timetable for the 423/433 route from Hartley to Dartford introduced on 28 March, a Hartley nurse explains how difficult it is to get to work at Darent Valley Hospital for 7am when the first bus is not now until 10am. The timetable is basically a Sunday level of service.
(Dartford Messenger, 30.3.20)
Pensioner injured after being robbed in own home in Hartley
Woman in 80s atacked in house in Church Road on 3 March. Purse stolen.
(Dartford Messenger, 10.3.20)
Parish Council Meeting 9 March 2020
Parish Council: Councillors
12 councillors attended the meeting plus one member of the public. No councillors declared interests in agenda itemsFinance: Reserves
The council added £13,365 unspent from other reserves back to the general reserve. They have so much money in reserve that they need to open another bank account because the Barclays account now exceeds the £85,000 compensation scheme maximum.Parish Council: Website
The internal auditor said they needed to comply with Website Accessibility Guidelines by September 2020, clerk to investigate.Finance: Policies
The Finance Committee also reviewed various financial policies.Amenities: Manor Field
The contractor for the car park lighting said they had quoted for the lights outside the pavilion. The car park lights would be a lot more - £750. Council agreed to pay.Youth Services:
Council agreed to increase youth budget from £4,000 to £12,000 to cover Hartley's annual contribution to new scheme mentioned at the January meeting. The Sevenoaks Youth Bus will be available so the outdoor provision at Hartley can run all year. The scheme will run from 1 April 2020 for 48 weeks with 2 week breaks in the summer and Christmas. Full council supported the recommendation 9 votes to 2. Councillors also agreed to pay £100 for portable toilet at Family Fun Day in August.Roads: Ash Road
Gates to be installed in the next month. Parish council told by KCC request for diversionary route when Ash Road was blocked was not possible, all they would do is put up 'Road Closed' signs. They will put in a request to KCC Highways Improvement Plan for the whole of Ash Road between Church Road and St Johns Lane to be resurfaced. Cllr Brazier (KCC) was surprised they requested this as it was far too expensive.VE Day Commemorations:
Additional costs of £525 for security for the marquee approved.Roads: Gorsewood Road
Complaints received about the state of the road. Cllr Oxtoby thought it was a general problem in HartleyAmenities: Allotments
Further to the previous meeting they accepted quotes from Mr Munday of £335 (fence) and £185 (bushes)Finance: Payments
Payments of £9,011 for March were approvedCoronavirus: Brits stranded on cruise ship Grand Princess off California to be flown home
70 year old woman from Hartley on birthday cruise tells of conditions on board ship as it is held off the coast of America.
(Dartford Messenger, 9.3.20, and 11.3.20)
Crime Report - March
From e-watch website. Due to the current emergency they have no reports after 14 March. Theft of green wheelie bin 2 (Larksfield 1, PItfield 1); theft of vehicle or trailer (Woodland Avenue 1, Porchester Close 1); criminal damage 2 (Woodland Avenue 1, Caxton Close 1); burglary of outbuilding 1 (Larksfield).
Crime Report - February
From e-watch website. Criminal damage to vehicle 2 (Porchester Close 1, Caxton Close 1); theft from vehicle 1 (Springcroft 1); burglary of outbuilding 1 (Porchester Close).
Driver arrested after pursuit by off-duty Swanley officer
21 year old man from Farningham accused of failing to stop at road accident at Longfield on 15 February.
(News Shopper, 26.2.2020)
Storm Dennis: train damaged and services delayed after collision with fallen tree at Longfield
Falling tree caused damage to train outside Longfield Station at 10.16am (pictures)
(Kent Messenger, 16.2.2020)
Parish Council meeting 10 Feburary 2020
Parish Council: Councillors
12 of the 13 councillors were in attendance, plus county councillor Cllr Brazier and 1 member of the public. Cllr Oxtoby declared an interest in the redecoration of the pavilion as she is related to one of the contractors.
Amenities: Cricket
Cricket club reported the posts protecting the square at Manor Field had been moved as had their equipment in the storage container. Football club to be informed in case it was them. Cricket club running family fun day with licensed bar on 23 May.
Amenities: Allotments
Quotations to be sought to remove fence panels to assess damage to neighbours fence as agreed in November meeting, also to cut back bushes encroaching on allotments.
Amenities: Manor Field Pavilion
They had got 4 quotes for a schedule of works but now wanted to change the specifications. They went back to the two preferred bidders and full coucil accepted quote from The Sixpence Company for £2,550. Faulty shower tap repaired for £195. Calor Gas have written to say pipework will need replacing. They also accepted a quote from Hartley Electrical Contractors for £65 to test the emergency lights.
Amenities: Trees
They have not heard further from the landowner regarding the tree overhanging the burial ground, District Council agree it is dangerous but said it is up to the Parish Council to do something about it. PC will write threatening to take legal advice if nothing done. Council accept offer from Kent Downs AONB Team for 45 ash saplings at a subsidised price of £101. Location of planting to be confirmed.
Amenities: Gorsewood
Fly tipping continues at Gorse Wood. Items dumped include mattresses, a trampoline and enclosure and bags of clothes. West Kent Housing Association say their staff may be able to use their volunteering days to help in any clean up organised by the parish council.
Cherry Trees: Shops
Following complaints about the state of the paving there in November, they wrote to the landlord but have received no reply. Kent Highways not interested because it is private land. They have written to the MP, and he has written to the landlords but got no reply either.
Amenities: Playgrounds
Mr Mundy to be asked to action the 24 points from the latest playgrounds inspection.
Amenities: Woodland Avenue
Committee rejected request to hold a 3 day traditional family funfair there, and allowed the person who crashed into the gate to pay the £360 cost at £10 per week.
Planning:
Council to ask Sevenoaks about green belt policy after permission for building was granted (? Quay House)
Finance: Payments
Payments for February of £12,435 were agreed, including £1,680 for 7 days' work at Rectory Meadow.
Bad weather incidents
Kent Fire Brigade clear fallen trees at Hodsoll Street and Caling Croft, New Ash Green.
Police in Horton Kirby and New Ash Green find 700 cannabis plants as well as knives, a knuckle duster and an axe
Two rooms in a house at Coltstead, New Ash Green, used for growing the plants (about 2kg).
(Kent Messenger, 8.2.2020)
Crime Report - January
From e-watch website. Criminal damage to car 4 (Porchester Close 3, Northfield 1); Burglary 1 (Church Road); attempted burglary of outbuilding 1 (Ash Road)
Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership forced to think again about Kent Test policy
Group which runs Our Lady of Hartley RC Primary School among several others, have postponed their recent ban on pupils sitting the Eleven Plus Kent Test at the school, to allow current year 5s to sit the exam this year.
(Kent Messenger 22.1.2020)
Hartley Parish Council Meeting 13 January 2020
Parish Council: Councillors
12 members of the council were present along with Cllr Brazier (KCC) and 2 members of the public
Finance: Community Infrastructure Levy
The council has received £12,641 from this source. Cllr Abraham said Sevenoaks had confirmed they could use the money on the Manor Field Car Park, which the Finance Committee authorised at the same meeting, including £750 to Hargreaves Architects Ltd to prepare plans.
Finance: Precept
Council sets 2020/21 precept at £137,773 (2019/20 - £133,697) with a band D charge up 3% at £53.89.
Finance: Insurance
Additional charge of £11.33 to include the new burial ground Pergola.
Parish Council: Office Equipment
They decided laptops were a better buy and so authorised purchase of two for £972 plus over £500 set up costs with Wrotham Computer Care Limited. The contract for the photocopier has come to an end so they decided on a 5 year contract with existing supplier Kent County Supplies at £140.45 per quarter and 0.21p per b&w copy and 2.1p per colour copy (current contract is £190.90 per quarter with 0.37p b&w and 3.4p per colour, last year they made 72,529 b&w copies and 39,165 copies). They will need to remove the hard disk on the old copier for £500 because there may personal data about benefit claimants on it.
Youth Services:
Following West Kent Housing's withdrawal of provision of youth services, plans had been drawn up by the youth Hub delivery manager for 1 x 2 hour youth club in New Ash Green and West Kingsdown (all year) and 1 x 2 hour street provision at Hartley (summer months). Committee rejected current plans, partly on cost grounds. Family fun day in August at Woodland Avenue had been well attended
Health: Urgent Care Centre
Council happy that public consultation supported Gravesham Hospital as the site for this. They also plan to send letters of complaint about the local surgery, in particular the new prescription ordering system.
Roads: Ash Road
Finance Committeee OK with increased cost of £2,786 for village gates. Also they are unhappy KCC will not install a fixed speed camera here because the road doesn't have a record of serious accidents. Police apparently recently carried out recent speed checks, which the council have asked for details of. KCC Highways Improvement plan rejected HPC request for alternative route when Ash Road is blocked.
Roads: Castle Hill
Following complaints about lorries using the road, council to request signs at either end.
Hartley WI:
Council gives them permission to decorate Hartley Green with knitted sunflowers to celebrate their 100th anniversary in 1921
Roads: Merton Avenue
Complaint about the state of the unmade up par tof the road referred to Kent Highways.
Amenities: Manor Field
Council agreed to pay Kent County Services £1,750 to pave area around VE day beacon
Amenities: Manor Field Pavilion
They accepted quote of £642 from Hartley Electrical Contractors to install external socket and £188 to replace car park floodlights
Roads: Stack Lane
Sign at junction with Church Road needs replacing, district council are aware
Roads: Manor Lane
Sign at junction with Church Road needs replacing, district council are not aware
Planning:
Cllr Abraham says Sevenoaks have no intention of withdrawing draft district plan, which was rejected by the inspector.
Finance: Payments
Payments of £8,908 for January were approved.
Southeastern delays as train hits bicycle on tracks at Longfield
Hour delay to services after accident which occurred at 8.15pm
(Kent Messenger, 4.1.2020)