SPRING NEWSLETTER

Issue No 30 : March 2011

RUSTHALL GETS ITS OWN PARISH COUNCIL!

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT IMMEDIATELY FOR NINE PARISH COUNCILLORS RUSTHALL BECOMES A PARISH

At the meeting on Thursday 24 March at the Rusthall Club thirteen prospective Candidates introduced themselves and said why they would like to become parish councillors.

In setting up a Parish Council we aim to improve the infrastructure of the village. There will probably be sub-committees for parks and allotments, footpaths, planning and finance, for example. We will have at the very least a part-time paid parish clerk who will be able to work on Rusthall villagers' behalf to help get things sorted.

On Wednesday 23 February 2011 Full Borough Council made the agreed the proposals for Rusthall to become a Parish and have a Parish Council. A Re-Organisation Order was made and came into force on 1 April 2011.

The final agreed proposals were for:
• a parish council to be established in Rusthall
• the area of the proposed parish council be as per the boundaries which accords with the existing boundaries of the borough ward of Rusthall
• the parish be named ‘Rusthall Parish’
• the parish council should use the ‘style’ of ‘parish’ council as opposed to the alternative styles of ‘village’, ‘neighbourhood’ or ‘community’ council.
• the first term of office of elected councillors be for the standard term of four years with the next elections being held in 2015 and every fourth year thereafter i.e. 2019, 2023 and so on. (subject to the establishment of a parish council taking effect from 1 April 2011 and the first elections being held on 5 May 2011)
• the number of councillors to be elected to the parish council be set at 9, which would provide a ratio of approximately 400 electors to each parish councillor
• the parish council should not be split into separate wards

The Rusthall Parish election took place on Thursday 5 May and elected nine Parish Councillors for a term of four years. A paid Parish Clerk will soon be appointed. Click HERE to view profiles of our new councillors.

Consultation with TWBC
Regarding the TWBC Core Strategy Review consultation, the Council has sent an article to help promote the consultation. This is scheduled to take place from the 16th May – 24th June. However, please note that subject to a cabinet decision the dates could change. They just wish to give us advance notice to prepare for it. Any change of date will be posted here.

Click HERE to view the article.

Kent Police would like to remind everyone about the upcoming Census in March. Each property in England and Wales will receive a questionnaire either through the post or delivered by hand.

They would also like to remind everyone of the following points in respect of the Census period:

• If you have completed your Census form and returned it – no person should call at your property.

• If you forget to complete your form and someone knocks asking for information, check their identity and photo to ensure they are valid.

• If you are in any doubt of the person’s identity – close the door and do not let them in. Always use your door chain when opening the door.

• If you suspect the person is not genuine, try to record some of the details below and report it to Kent Police on 01622 690 690 01622 690 690.

Names – if possible

Person description – what were they wearing, hair colour, age, etc

Any telephone numbers they gave you to ring them back

Vehicle registration numbers, colour, make and model

Company names – if given

OTHER NEWS

Rusthall Elms/Middlefield is nearing completion and some residents have already moved in! We welcome them to the village. The Multi Use Games Area has not yet been built although the car park is in use by the construction company. When it is opened there will be 13 spaces for the village – no commercial vans allowed – and Rusthall Village Association hopes that it will be available for general use during the daytime.

Double Yellow lines – we are concerned that some of the corners of the streets entering the High Street have been worn away and people are parking all over the place! We have contacted KCC Highways and will report back at our meeting.

Grange Road 'Lake' – where the drains are blocked in the sharp turn – is scheduled to be repaired on 11 March. Hooray! The village association has played a part in reporting this to get it repaired.

If you have a highways problem (KCC responsible) telephone 08458 247800 – they will ask you for a postcode and details. They will then give you a reference number. Sometimes they call you back and give you a report on progress or you can phone them back with your reference number. Email through their website at www.kent.gov.uk. We hope that in the future our own Rusthall parish clerk will play a large part in helping us to report and monitor such problems.

Simmonds Court – the crane is expected to come down soon with completion of the whole building in September.

See you all on Thursday 24 March for our general open meeting at the Rusthall Club, 7.30pm.

RVA MEETING DATES FOR 2011
at the Rusthall Social Club in St Paul's Street 7.30 - 9.30pm

26 May
28 July
22 September
24 November

Refreshments 50p at half time.

MEMBERSHIPS - £3 per person per year until May 2011. Our Treasurer will be available at the next meeting with forms

Membership form HERE

Useful Numbers

Jenny Blackburn, Chair 01892 546520   Email jennyblackb@googlemail.com
Town Hall (switchboard) 01892 526121       Ariana Sutton, Community Warden 07813 695872
Gemma Pepper, PCSO 07772 226054
Fly tipping/abandoned vehicles 01892 548154       Graffiti hotline 01892 554159
KCC Highways for broken lights, blocked gullies etc. 08458 247800
TWBC Councillors for Rusthall: Bob Atwood 01892 862455 Barry Edwards 01892 862455
KCC Councillor for Tun Wells West: John Davies 01892 862455