GOUDHURST PARISH COUNCIL

STANDING ORDERS

COMMITTEES and RESPONSIBILITIES from December 2019

CHAIRMAN:  Cllr Antony Harris VICE-CHAIRMEN: Cllrs Philip Kirkby and Mrs Caroline Richards 

AMENITIES COMMITTEE

Chairman: Cllr Chris Ditton

Vice Chairman:  Vacant Cllrs Boniface, Foster, Kirkby, Knight and Mrs Russell

BUSINESS and COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Chairman:  Cllr Craig Broom Cllrs Ditton, Sutton and Wood

Vice Chairman: Cllr David Knight Adviser: Mr Lorne Mitchell  

BURIAL BOARD

Chairman: Cllr Mrs Caroline Richards

Vice Chairman:  Vacant Cllrs Kirkby, Noakes and Guy Sutton 

Advisers:  The Vicar of the United Benefice and Mr David Nichol

CENTRAL GOUDHURST (TRAFFIC AND PARKING) COMMITTEE

Chairman:  Cllr Antony Harris

Vice Chairman:  Vacant Cllrs Boniface, Broom, Ditton, Noakes and Wood

FOOTPATHS COMMITTEE

Chairman: Cllr Mrs Caroline Richards

Vice Chairman:  Vacant Cllrs Boniface and Wood

Advisers:  Mrs JoJo Bates and Mrs Alison Scott

HIGHWAYS with PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Chairman:  Cllr David Boniface

Vice Chairman: Vacant Cllrs Foster, Knight, Sutton and Wood.

Adviser: Mr Colin Wilson

POLICE & NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH with HOUSING

Chairman:   Cllr Philip Kirkby

Vice Chairman: Vacant Cllrs Knight and Mrs Russell

Adviser:  Mr Peter Rolington  

PLANNING

Chairman:  Cllr Barry Noakes

Vice Chairman: Cllr Alan Foster Cllrs Broom, Ditton, Harris, Mrs Russell and Sutton

POLICY AND STAFFING

Chairman:  Cllr Antony Harris

Vice Chairman:  Vacant All other Councillors   

YOUTH

Chairman:  Cllr Philp Kirkby Cllrs Broom, Knight and Mrs Jayne Russell

The Chairman and Vice Chairmen of the Parish Council are ex-officio on all Committees.   

Except for Planning Committee (Standing Order 47 (2)), all Committee resolutions are subject to approval at Council.

The Quorum for all Parish Council Committee meetings is 3 Councillors.  Advisers do not have voting rights.

OTHER COMMITTEES & APPOINTMENTS

GOUDHURST PARISH HALL COMMITTEE Cllrs Foster and Kirkby  

GOUDHURST VILLAGE GREEN COMMITTEE Cllr Mrs Jayne Russell

HOP PICKERS LINE REPRESENTATIVE Cllrs Boniface and Mrs Newsam 

KILNDOWN RECREATION HALL TRUST Cllrs Ditton, Knight and Sutton

KILNDOWN MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST Cllrs Ditton, Knight and Sutton

KILNDOWN QUARRY CENTRE Cllrs Ditton, Knight and Sutton

KALC AREA COMMITTEE Cllrs Harris, Kirkby and Mrs Richards

DOROTHY BATHURST’S CHARITY Cllr Noakes and Mr Richard Bushrod

GOUDHURST EDUCATION FOUNDATION Cllr Noakes and Mr Richard Bushrod

NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN Cllrs Harris, Sutton and Wood

PARISH HON TREE WARDEN Vacant

PARISH HON POND WARDENS Cllr Foster and Mr Ed Bates

PARISH HON FOOTPATHS WARDENS Mrs Alison Scott and Mrs JoJo Bates 

CLERK TO THE PARISH COUNCIL Mr Anthony Farnfield MBE

ASSISTANT CLERK TO THE PARISH COUNCIL Mrs Claire Reed

COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

AMENITIES COMMITTEE

Meets every 2 months or as required.

Maintains public areas (the Plain & Pond, Quarry Pond Kilndown etc), play areas owned or leased by the Parish Council (GPC), village signs, notice boards, bus shelters, litter clear up campaigns, dog fouling and Christmas lights.  Benches and trees (but not those in the Churchyards).  Monitors rural initiative schemes e.g. High Weald Project.  Monitors Licensing matters.  Responsible for the Goudhurst Pond Warden’s activities.  Responsible for the maintenance of the Goudhurst War Memorial and garden and the Water Trough at The Plain.  Has responsibility for the Glebe Fields (part Village Green) and Lurkins Rise Recreation Area (Hillier’s Field) grounds maintenance and legal issues. Has responsibility for the management of Balcombes Hill car park and the Public Lavatories.  Oversees the annual Goudhurst in Bloom competition. Plans the proposed shelter on the Glebe Field.

Note: the Goudhurst Beacon is now the responsibility of the Parish Council as the land on which it stands is part of the Glebe Fields leased from the Diocese of Canterbury. 

BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Meets on the 3^rd Monday of each month or as required.

The Committee will seek to identify a core of members from the business community to help develop initiatives. Members of the public and business representatives will be welcome to attend meetings:

Mr Lorne Mitchell (Adviser) will be a non-voting member of the Committee, 

Objective: To support and promote new and existing business facilities and infrastructure within our Parish by:

1. Providing a forum for local business to raise and discuss their needs, issues and concerns

2. Supporting and promoting specific initiatives that improve business facilities and infrastructure 

within the Parish

3. Acting as a point of coordination and information sharing for Parish wide business initiatives

4. Providing cross committee coordination for issues raised 

5. Sharing business initiative with residents groups where there may be a shared benefit

6. Aim to increase local employment including apprenticeships

7. Supporting start-ups businesses 

Meetings will be held on the third Monday of every month (or as needed) at 17:30 hrs in the Jessel Room.

Businesses in the Parish will be informed of the meetings by the Clerk through agendas and minutes. A list of businesses contacts will be shared and updated by the committee bearing in mind GDPR requirements.

BURIAL BOARD

Meets at least 3 times annually.

Reviews and implements Goudhurst Burial Board Regulations, including fees and charges.  Issues Exclusive Right of Burial Certificates, allocates burial plots and ashes plots, deals with permission for monuments, the collection of fees and charges, the processing of certificates for burials and the maintenance of official burial records.  Liaises with Funeral Directors, gravediggers and bereaved families as required.  Ensures that St Mary’s Churchyard, Goudhurst cemetery and burial grounds, and Christ Church Churchyard, Kilndown are maintained in good order.  The day to day administration of the Burial Board business is carried out by the Clerk.

CENTRAL GOUDHURST (TRAFFIC AND PARKING) COMMITTEE

Meets on the 3rd Monday of each month or as required.

The Committee has taken note of the increasing Traffic and related Parking issues in and around Goudhurst High Street. It has noted the reference in the Neighbourhood Development Plan public consultation questionnaire as the No 1 issue for residents of the Parish.  Goudhurst Parish Council has setup a special one issue Committee to try to find an acceptable solution, in a reasonable timeframe.  The Committee has therefore taken on this mandate:  

“To seek a resolution of the parking problems in the centre of Goudhurst with the specific objective of achieving a sustainable solution for long, medium and short stay parking solutions.  This will enable the introduction of a Traffic Management Plan to ease village centre congestion, meet the needs of business (retail, hospitality & commercial), tourists, residents and pedestrians whilst seeking to balance traffic flow with the needs of on street parking and its role in calming traffic speeds and safety”. 

FOOTPATHS COMMITTEE

Meets at least 2 times every year

To monitor, maintain and improve where possible and appropriately in collaboration of the relevant authorities e.g. KCC:

a.     Walking routes (e.g. PROW footpaths and footways alongside roads) 

b. Liaises with KCC on local PROW maps.  Note that Goudhurst Parish has 39 miles of PROW.

HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE with PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Meets every 2 months or as required.

a.  i.    Traffic flow and traffic calming on public highways

ii.    Access on foot on the highway in and around Goudhurst

iii.  Interactions between pedestrians and vehicles (crossings, footways, parking, etc)

iv.  HGV traffic issues

v.    Public transport – bus services

vii.   Cycling

b. To establish and take account of residents’ views on Highways and Public Transport matters.

c. To develop positive relationships with KCC and TWBC officers and Members.

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Meets twice monthly or as required.

Considers all planning applications received from Planning Authorities and makes recommendations and representations.  Standing Order 47 also refers. Represents Council at TWBC Planning Committee and Appeal Hearings as required.   

POLICE & NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH with HOUSING

Meets as necessary and at least once annually prior to the setting of Council’s annual budget and precept.

1. Establishes and maintains good relations with Kent Police.  Also the Police Community Liaison Officer and the KCC Community Warden allocated to cover Goudhurst Parish.  Encourages participation in local  Neighbourhood Watch activities.  Advises Council on CCTV performance in the Parish.  Brings forward recommendations for replacement equipment and possible expansion of CCTV coverage in key areas.
2. Monitors the administration of the Section 106 agreement between Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Goudhurst Parish Council and the relevant Housing Associations relating to the allocation of affordable housing in the Parish.  Monitors Housing Needs Surveys (should be renewed every 5 years) and Affordable Housing schemes in the Parish.

POLICY AND STAFFING COMMITTEE

Meets at least annually.

Prepares an annual budget to determine the Precept for approval by Council.  Annually reviews Council’s Standing Orders, Finance Regulations, insurance cover, banking arrangements, and the Clerk’s remuneration, employment conditions and job description.  Supervises the appointment of the Clerk to the Counci and the Assistant Clerk. Hears internal complaints and complaints received from or against staff and prepares recommendations for the consideration of Council.  Appoints members of an Appeal Committee as required.  

YOUTH COMMITTEE

Meets as necessary (but usually at least three times annually).

Assists local organisations by supporting the organisation and promotion of recreational projects to occupy and inspire young people in the Parish.  Has responsibility for Chequer Field including relations with and the activities of Goudhurst United FC and their junior teams (Goudhurst Dynamos) and Goudhurst & Kilndown CE Primary School in their use of the Chequer Field facilities, including the pavilion.  Has responsibility for recreational activities on the Glebe Field (Village Green) but not maintenance or legal issues. Has responsibility for all aspects of the equipment and maintenance of the Back Lane children’s play area and any other play areas that may be developed on GPC’s estate. Liaises with the organisers of the annual Goudhurst Fete on the use of the Glebe Field.  Responsible for activities on the Lurkins Rise (Hillier’s Field) Recreational Area.

Goudhurst Parish Council, The Hop Bine, Risebridge Farm, Goudhurst   TN17 1HN   01580 212552  clerk@goudhurst.co.uk