March 2023

This month I would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone of some important changes to the legislation which the Government has introduced regarding how you vote at local and (eventually) general elections.

Borough and parish elections May 4 2023 – new requirements for photo identification

From May this year when you go to a polling station to vote you will be asked to show proof of identity by the election staff before you are issued with a voting slip. The types of acceptable photo-identification are:

• A UK or EEA State (European Economic Area) passport
• A UK or EEA State photo-card driver’s licence
• A National Identity Card issued by an EEA State
• A disabled (blue) badge (if you are the badge holder)
• An older person’s / disabled person’s current bus pass
• A 60+ Oyster Card
• A Freedom Pass
• The Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) card

If you are unable to provide one of the agreed methods of identification, you will not be able to vote – this is a very important rule change. 

We are keen to ensure that no-one gets caught out by this change in the legislation, so if you have relatives or friends who are not "on-line" please make them aware of this significant change and encourage or help them to understand how to make sure it does not catch them out.

If you do not have any of the valid forms of photo-identification you can register to get a free Voter ID Card - the details are available here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/applying-a-voter-authority-certificate

If you vote using the postal vote system this rule change does not apply.

Heathlands: The fight goes on!

The initial findings from the inspector have been made public and the full text can be seen here.

While the inspector has given MBC clearance to proceed to Stage two, there are some significant issues which need resolving for him to find the plan overall “sound”. The most noteworthy issue, for those of us in Lenham, is that although he agreed that there was some merit to the proposal to develop significant housing in what is described as “the broad Lenham location”, he found the specific policy through which MBC proposed to deliver this not sound. For it to be deemed sound there are major pieces of work that have to be delivered, many of these requiring agreement from third parties, such as Network Rail. These are not issues that will easily be addressed.

In terms of what happens next and when, this will rely on MBC to provide resolutions to the issues of soundness the inspector highlighted, not just in respect of Heathlands. Whatever MBC proposes will likely be subject to a six-week consultation, there are no details about that, yet. The local elections in May are a factor in this as the borough council cannot make any decisions deemed as “political” during the six-week lead-up (known as Purdah). Then, of course, after the local elections the balance of control within the borough council may shift.

The parish council continues to work with Save Our Heath Lands (SOHL) and others to scrutinise any revised proposals and to prepare to take action to continue to defend the village. This will require funds and SOHL is preparing fund-raising events which will roll out during the Spring.

SOHL and the parish council would like to thank those who have already supported this effort, without that help the fight against a new town would not be possible.

If you feel you could support SOHL’s efforts, please get in touch with SOHL via the Go Fund Me page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-heath-lands

Throughout this process the parish council has taken, and continues to take, legal and professional advice so this is very much a situation of “The fight goes on!”

Parish Council Elections

The parish council is up for election this year.

If there are more nominations than places on the parish council (13) the election will take place at the same time as the borough council elections, Thursday 4 May. If there are fewer nominations than that number then the election will be deemed "uncontested" and those who put themselves forward will be confirmed as parish councillors.

Nominations for the parish council election are now open.

For a nomination to be valid each prospective parish councillor must have two independent people sign their nomination paper: one person proposes the candidate and the other seconds the nomination. Nomination forms can be collected from the Parish Clerk at the parish office. 

Cllr John Britt (Lenham South)

Chair: Lenham Parish Council

Parish Council Office

The Parish Council office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00h – 13:00h.

Published agendas will be available here

What does Lenham Parish Council do?

Parish Councils are the tier of local government closest to the people. Although the parish council covers the Parish of Lenham it is not linked to the church in any way. All parish councillors are volunteers who dedicate their free time to enhancing their parish as best they can by utilising their individual skills and experience.

Those putting themselves forward to serve as a parish councillor have to submit to the regular election process, or, if filling a vacancy mid-term, can be co-opted for the remainder of that electoral term. Electoral terms are four years. The elections for a parish council will only go to a public vote if there are more nominations than there are spaces on the parish council. Lenham parish is currently represented by 13 parish councillors: four representing South Ward (everything south of the railway) and nine representing North Ward (everything north of the railway). All parish councillors have to agree to abide by the Nolan Principles of Public Office. Parish councillors receive no remuneration for their time.

The responsibilities of Lenham Parish Council include looking after open spaces, such as the William Pitt field and Cemetery, maintaining playgrounds and other amenities, providing Maidstone Borough Council with a view on planning applications within the Parish and undertaking projects to benefit the Parish. Lenham Parish Council also has a Neighbourhood Plan which was adopted as part of the Maidstone Local Plan in July 2021. This Neighbourhood Plan is active until 2031. For more details of the Lenham Neighbourhood Plan please refer to the information tab "Lenham Neighbourhood Plan" on this website.

In addition to holding a full council meeting monthly, Lenham Parish Council has two specific sub committees which also meet monthly: Finance and General Purposes (F&GP) and Planning and (Neighbourhood Plan) Implementation (P&I). Both these sub committees focus on specific issues of work and in some cases do the detail which is then referred back to full council as recommendations to be discussed and agreed.

Both of these sub committees are open to the public and can be attended by all parish councillors, however, while all nominated attendees and visiting parish councillors can participate in the discussions only those parish councillors nominated as attendees to that subcommittee are able to vote on recommendations that will go forward to the full parish council meeting for discussion and agreement.

Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GP)

The F&GP subcommittee consists of six nominated parish councillors and addresses the financial issues which the parish council is responsible for: dealing with contracts for maintenance of open space; maintaining and upgrading play equipment and other financial matters as and when these arise. The committee oversees the preparation of the annual budget and also discusses all other non-expenditure related matters and makes a recommendation to the full parish council for discussion and agreement. The sub committee is quorate when at least four parish councillors, including the Chair, are present.

Planning and (Neighbourhood Plan) Implementation (P&I)

The P&I subcommittee consists of six nominated parish councillors as well as three members of the public (who are non-voting) and the parish's planning consultant (also non-voting). The subcommittee carries out two important functions: it is a statutory consultee for all planning applications in the parish and it is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Lenham Neighbourhood Plan ensuring that the parameters and policies within the plan are actioned and reflected in the parish responses to planning applications. All recommendations from the subcommittee are referred to the next full meeting of the parish council for ratification. The subcommittee is quorate when at least four parish councillors, including the Chair, are present.

Our Mission Statement 

The Lenham Parish Council (LPC) is dedicated to enhancing the lives of all the residents of Lenham and its surrounding hamlets. LPC aims to maintain and protect the Parish environment and amenities. LPC strives to be pro-active in identifying and completing projects, large and small, that will benefit the Parish as a whole, with value for money always being sought. LPC aims to help keep Lenham Parish a unique and special place for residents and visitors alike as the world around us changes.

 

Council Officers:

Parish Clerk: Lisa Westcott

Contact details Email: clerk@lenhamparishcouncil.org.uk            Telephone: 01622 829034

Registered office: 1A High Street, Lenham, Kent ME17 2QD Open: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00h - 13:00h.

Responsible Financial Officer: Mr James Bate

Contact details Email: rfo@lenhamparishcouncil.org.uk

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