1 – Apologies for Absence |
To receive apologies for absence.
Relevant Legislation: Local Government Act 1972, s 85.
2 – Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests |
To receive disclosure of any pecuniary interests relating to meeting agenda items.
Having declared an interest, a member must not participate in discussion on the matter and must not take part in any vote unless an appropriate dispensation has been granted.
Relevant Legislation: Localism Act 2011, s 31.
3 – Public Participation |
The council meets and makes its decisions in public. A council meeting is not a public meeting. It is a meeting held in public and there is no requirement in law which allows members of the public to speak at such meetings.
However, the council is keen to encourage public attendance at meetings and will therefore provide an opportunity to local registered electors to show it is committed to community engagement.
A maximum of 3 minutes is allowed per person to speak and the total length of time afforded for public participation at each meeting shall be no more than 15 minutes, subject to an extension of this time, in exceptional circumstances, being agreed by the Chairman.
Relevant Legislation: Local Government Act, s 100.
4 – Approval of Minutes |
To approve the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 28 May 2025.
Relevant Legislation: Local Government Act 1972, Sch 12, para 41 (1).
5 – Co-Option for Milestone Ward |
For Decision |
To resolve co-option for the position of Councillor in Milestone Ward.
Members will be presented with expression of interest forms submitted by prospective candidates. Members are requested to consider these applications and resolve to co-opt one candidate who will then become a Councillor and be asked to sign the Acceptance of Office book, before joining the meeting.
The closing date for Expressions of Interest is Sunday at midnight, so reports will be to follow.
6 – Reports from outside organisation and agencies |
For Information |
1. Kent County Council
2. Dartford Borough Council
7 – Calendar of Meetings Update |
For Decision |
To ratify an amendment to the Calendar of Council and Committee Meetings
Due to recent staffing changes and the current demands of ongoing project deadlines, it will not be feasible to prepare a meaningful agenda and supporting reports for the Strategic Planning & Environment Committee meeting on that date. As such, this meeting is proposed to be cancelled.
In light of the same staffing developments, alongside the current ongoing recruitment for the CSEO vacancy, it is also proposed that the Performance & People Committee convenes on Wednesday 30th July instead. The next scheduled meeting of the Performance & People Committee is not until November, and an earlier meeting would be preferable.
As this constitutes an amendment to the approved Calendar of Meetings, the proposed changes are presented to members for ratification by the full Council.
8 – Calendar of Events |
For Decision |
To resolve the Calendar of Events for Autumn/Winter 2025.
As per the revised terms of reference for this year, the Calendar of Events requires ratification by the Full Council. With the position of Community Strategy & Engagement Officer yet to be filled, the Calendar of Events has been kept minimal at this time.
Members are presented with a proposed calendar of events for consideration and approval.
>View the proposed Calendar of Events for Autumn/Winter 2025
9 – Consideration of Formal Consultation on Parish Name Change Proposals |
For Decision |
The council is request to consider the outcome of the consultation on the proposed parish name change and seek Council’s decision on whether to proceed to formal consultation or retain the current name.
>View the Parish Name Change Proposals Report
Recommendation
That the Council considers the consultation findings and determines whether to:
a) Proceed to a formal 12-week public consultation on parish name options; or
b) Retain the current parish name and take no further action.
10 – Finance |
10.1 – Finance Report |
For Information |
To note the Finance Report for the Quarter ending 30 June 2025.
Members are presented with the Responsible Finance Officer’s financial report for the quarter ending 30 June 2025, which outlines the financial position of the Council at the end of the first quarter. Members are also presented with two appendices; Income and Expenditure and a Balance Sheet.
Members are requested to note the contents of the financial report and appendices provided.
View the Finance Report for the Quarter ending 30 June 2025
10.2 – Community Grants |
For Decision |
Stone Parish Council’s grant award policy is designed to provide support to local not-for-profit groups and organisations delivering services to the community of Stone Parish. The council is keen to offer funding to enable specific projects, activities and events that align with the council’s 3-Year Strategic Plan and will help to promote and develop a sustainable and inclusive community network.
All applications will be assessed against specific criteria, with consideration to the impact the individual activity or project will have on the parish and how they align with the council’s key focus areas, as outlined in the 3-Year Strategic Plan. In addition, as the council has declared a climate emergency, consideration will be given as to whether the outcome of the activity, project or event will have a detrimental impact on the environment.
Further information and details of the eligibility criteria can be found by following this link Grants Award Policy and all applicants are required to complete the same grant award form.
Responses from the applicants for this round of funding are presented for consideration.
Summary of Applications received
| Name of Organisation | Summary for Purpose of Grant | Amount of funding requested |
| Hope on Prescription | Match Funding for Arts Council England Grant to provide engagement, workshops, festival events and performances. | £500 |
| Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex | Contribution to the operating costs of HEMS — helicopters, rapid-response vehicles, medical equipment, fuel, highly-trained crews. | £500 |
| Mary’s Child Kent | Eight ‘Food and fun’ events during the summer holidays. Crafts, games, activities and a healthy lunch | £560 |
| Brent 6th Dartford Scout Group | A flag pole, flag and installation costs to provide a flagpole at The Claire Tiltman Centre | £500 |
| Healthy Living Centre Dartford | Delivery of a social supermarket and community food grower. | £500 |
| Castle Hill United Football Club | Court hire, equipment and staffing costs for a street football project. | £500 |
| Citizens Advice in North & West Kent | Training and supervising of volunteers as first points of contact in Citizens Advice. | £500 |
| We Are Beams | Donation towards the running costs of our family advice service. | £1,000 |
10.3 – Modification of Existing Construction Contract for Stone Recreation Ground |
For Decision |
Members are presented with information regarding the contractual and legislative basis on which the council may resolve an award of further works to GPS Projects Ltd in respect of extension works to Stone Pavilion.
Recommendation:
That the Council resolves to approve the proposal to modify the existing contract with GPS Projects Ltd to include the Pavilion extension works, and delegates authority to the Chief Officer to execute the necessary documentation and publish the required notices.
>View the Report for the Modification of Existing Construction Contract for Stone Recreation Ground
11 – Consultations |
11.1 – Council Tax Consultation |
For Discussion |
To discuss and resolve Council response to the Changes to Council Tax Billing Consultation by the government
Members are provided with a link to the consultation and a summary of the proposals can be found below.
SLCC | Government Consulting on Changes to Council Tax Billing
Summary of the government’s proposed approach
- The way council tax is administered has not been updated in decades. This consultation sets out how the government intends to modernise the administration of council tax to deliver a fairer and more efficient system for taxpayers and local government.
- The government proposes changing council tax billing from 10-months to 12-months by default. This will assist households in managing their finances. It proposes maintaining the ability for households to pay over 10 months where this is preferable.
- The government is seeking views on ways it can improve the transparency of council tax information. This change will help taxpayers understand what their council tax is spent on and help them connect their council tax to local services. The change is also intended to provide taxpayers with information on the support available to them and how to access it.
- The government is seeking views on how it can modernise council tax disregards to ensure they continue to support those they were intended to support. The criteria for disregards have not been reviewed in decades.
- The government also proposes changing the outdated and alienating name of the “Severe Mental Impairment” disregard, and amending its definition to encourage more eligible people to make use of the disregard.
- The government is interested in views on how we could improve efficiency in billing for councils. The requirements for how councils communicate council tax information is still much the same as when council tax was introduced. This consultation seeks views on how this may be modernised to deliver value for money for councils and taxpayers.
- The government is seeking views on whether there is anything the government can do to remove barriers to effectively challenging bandings, recognising that some households could be paying more than they should and do not have a straightforward mechanism to check and challenge their council tax band.
- Finally, the government is proposing changes to processes for collecting and enforcing council tax charges. It is right that councils have the power to recover debts owed to them and to tackle cases of avoidance. However, the government believes households should be free from concerns of disproportionate enforcement action. The government is proposing increasing the time before councils can request a full bill from households and capping the costs charged on households in seeking liability orders for debts.
11.2 – Dartford Borough Council – Housing Strategy |
For Information |
To note the response submitted on behalf of the Council to the DBC Housing Strategy Consultation 2025-2028.
The Housing Strategy Consultation from DBC sets out the Borough Council’s plans on how they intend to deliver the Housing Service to residents over the next three years.
Since the deadline for responses is Friday 11th July, a response was submitted on the Council’s behalf based on the Council’s Strategic and Neighbourhood Plan policies. A copy of this submission has been provided for members to note.
>View the response to the Housing Strategy Consultation
12 – Planning Applications |
For Discussion |
To resolve representations to Major Planning Applications affecting the parish.
1. 25/00386/FUL – Tilehurst Woodward Terrace Horns Cross Greenhithe Kent DA9 9DD
Demolition of 18 no. garages within 2 blocks and the erection of 3 no. three bedroom houses with associated parking.