On the 17th July we are planning a Goudhurst Open Day to celebrate all that is good about our community.  Starting at 11.00 (untill 4pm) there will be over 50 stalls on and around the Plain as well as in and around the Parish Hall and the Goudhurst Club. There will be a barbecue, Pimms tent, plenty of cakes, bread and Artisan food with something for all the family. The church will be open for milkshakes and the tower will be open to give you the best view of our Parish from Bewl to Brenchley. Parking will be in the Lower Glebe and we are hoping to close Balcombes Hill as well as closing Back Lane to through-traffic to make it safer for visitors.

Unfortunately we will not be out of Covid restrictions as was originally hoped so Covid rules will apply indoors and we will have a one-way system around the outdoor stalls with social distancing.

We look forward to seeing you on the 17th.

From Monday 5th July 2021, a section of North Road will be closed to south bound traffic for approximately 14 days. The closure will be between Ballards Hill and Chequers Road and is to enable KCC to carry out patching work.

Public Consultation

In November 2020, Town & Country Housing decided to sell many of its garages by auction, the 9 garages at Mary Days were to be included. Parish Councillors and residents were concerned about the impact on the parking situation in and around Mary Days if the site was sold or redeveloped. Since November the Parish Council has been looking into the possibility of purchasing the garages and at their meeting on 04 May 2021, Goudhurst Parish Council agreed to purchase all 9 garages from Town & Country Housing at a cost of £68,000.

The purchase will be funded by £20,000 from Council reserves and, at the same meeting, Goudhurst Parish Council resolved to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government to apply for a £48,000 fixed-term loan from the Public Works Loan Board (HM Government) over the period of 20 years. The annual loan repayments will come to around £3,300. It is not intended to increase the council tax precept for the purpose of the loan repayments; the garages will be rented out and the income used to make the loan repayments. There has already been a lot of interest from residents wishing to rent a garage.

Financials

These figures are based on the assumption that 5 of the smaller garages are let for £600 a year and the 3 larger garages for £750 per year, therefore 1 garage being unlet. There is also a 10% discount applied for residents of the Parish.

5 x £600 + 3 x £750 (pa) would produce, after a 10% community discount, £4,725.

Income:                                                                                                                £4,725pa

Estimated annual costs:                                                                                £4,506pa

(including interest repayments, maintenance, insurance and contingency)            

Estimated Surplus to GPC                                                                                  £219+

On this basis the projected revenue should lead to a small surplus to cover the administration costs. This calculation is on an income and expenditure basis however it should be noted that at the end of the period Council will have an asset of some value which it owns outright.

This consultation is the final opportunity for members of the public to share their views on the purchase.

If you would like to comment on the proposal, please email the clerk, Claire Reed at clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk

Claire Reed, Clerk

11 May 2021

If you haven’t completed your Census yet, its not too late! Help can be found on the Census website at census.gov.uk, via the Census helpline on 0800 141 2021 or on the Census YouTube Channel.

Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If you answered yes to any of these then why not join viral sensation, Jackie Weaver, and a group of community heroes to discuss getting involved with your parish council. This event will tell you what you need to know about local councils, and what they do, the role of a councillor and how to become one.

Speakers: Cllr Emily Benner, Croxley Green Parish Council, Cllr Rachael Pearson, Denmead Parish Council, Cllr Dan Thomas, mayor of Much Wenlock Town Council and Jackie Weaver, chief officer at the Cheshire Association of Local Councils

Host: Matt Chorley, presenter for Times Radio and Saturday columnist for The Times

For more information and to book your free place, visit the NALC website.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a casual vacancy is deemed to have occurred in the office of Councillor for the Goudhurst Ward of Goudhurst Parish Council following the death of Mr Peter Wood.

An election to fill the vacancy will be held if, within 14 days* from the date of this notice (i.e. not later than 15 March 2021), 10 electors for the Ward give written notice to the Returning Officer claiming such an election. Notice can be given by email to elections@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or in writing to: The Returning Officer, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RS

If no such notice is given the Parish Council will fill the vacancy by co-option.

If you are interested in becoming a Councillor please email Mrs Claire Reed, Clerk to Goudhurst Parish Council, at: clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk for more information.

If an election is requested, under current legislation, a poll cannot take place until 6 May 2021 as a result of the Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 and the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Claire Reed (Mrs), Clerk to Goudhurst Parish Council

23 February 2021

* In computing any period of time for this purpose, a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, or bank or public holidays or any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning must be disregarded.

If you leave the house for work or essential activities, it is important to book regular symptom-free covid tests.

Protect yourself, your family & friends with regularly testing every 2 weeks. Don’t be the reason you are unknowingly spreading the virus in the community.

Book your test online – kent.gov.uk/symptomfreetest

Click on the relevant month to read previous editions

February 2021 – Issue 2

January 2021 – Issue 1

December 2021 Issue -1, the pilot

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