What Does the Parish Council Do?
The Duties and Responsibilities of Chilham Parish Council
The Parish Council carried out a full range of duties for the benefit of the residents and meets once a month to administer parish business. All parish councillors volunteer their time, the only paid employee is the Clerk who sets the agendas, minutes the meetings and implements the actions and decisions. The Clerk also ensures that we operate within the law. Members of the public are encouraged to attend our meetings and have an opportunity to speak to councillors during the Parishioners Questions during the meeting. The Parish Council is funded by a precept which is collected from residents by Ashford Borough Council as part of the Council Tax. Most importantly, the parish council is eleted to meet the needs and represent the views of its parishoners.
Finance
The Parish Council manages the precept as referred to above. We produce a budget and report against it on a quarterly basis. There are rigourous rules governing the financial arrangments of Parish Councils which are overseen by the Responsible Financial Officer and the Independent Internal Auditor.
Planning
The Parish Council is included in the consultation process for planning applications.
Insurance
The Parish Council carries 3rd party liability insurance
We recognise that many people in the parish don’t understand what the parish council can and cannot do, so this website and regular newsletters keep you informed about what your parish council is doing on your behalf. We welcome feedback, good or bad, so please use the form on the how are we doing page to let us have your views on the website or, for that matter, any issue that you think the parish council should be dealing with.
You can now also follow us on Twitter @ParishChilham
If you would like to receive emails that the parish council considers would be of interest with regard to life in the parish you can sign up for a newsletter!
Chilham Parish Council Newsletter
Update on planning application OTH/2023/2025. The Bothy, Chilham. Fell to ground level 30 dead Ash Trees.
The Parish Council has been informed today, by the case officer at Ashford Borough Council, that the application has been withdrawn.
Following the failure of a tree on Church Hill during storm Ciaran. Discussions with the agent, Forestry Commission and Ashford Borough Council, the application and FC the matter is being dealt with as a 5 Day Notification. Owing to the risk of further failures the retention of the trees was untenable. The Parish Council understand that that the trees are due to be removed on Monday 13th.
The 5 day notification was approved with the following condition: Replacement tree(s) shall be planted within 12 months of the removal of the original trees covered by the Order. Full details of the number, size and species of the replacement tree(s) shall be submitted to, and approved by, the Local Planning Authority before replanting occurs.
Remember that you can report noise from barking dogs
to Ashford Borough Council online at https://www.ashford.gov.uk/environmental-concerns/noise-nuisance/ or by e-mail to environmental.protection@ashford.gov.uk
Survey of traffic safety at Bagham Junction (A28/A252 intersection
Chilham Parish Council wants to hear from residents their experiences and opinions about traffic safety at Bagham Junction (A28/A252 intersection). Our online survey, which shouldn't take too long to complete, is available at until 18th October 2023 - thank you!
Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott has asked as many people as possible to complete the Annual Performance Survey of Kent police - at the following link https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/KentPolicingSurvey2023/
Planning applications
Did you know:
Anyone can comment on open planning applications, via the Ashford Borough Council Planning Portal. Go to https://www.ashford.gov.uk/planning-and-development, click on 'View and Comment on Applications'.
From there you can search for the specific application by entering the planning reference number, street name, or any other terms that would appear in the application.
You can look at all of the related documents to do with the application, and make your comments there.
Clerks Update
The accounting statements for 2022/23 are available on the finance documents page. These have been forwarded to the external auditor and are therefore unaudited.
Dates 2nd Juy 2023