1 – Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Burrell
2 – Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests
There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.
3 – Public Participation
The mayor asked if any members of the public wished to speak at this time. Two members of the public wished to speak on item 11.2 regarding the petition for a safe crossing on St James Lane. The members of the public were parents of children who attend Stone St Mary’s primary school and spoke about how they felt it was dangerous for the children to cross the road, with no crossing along the busy stretch of St James Lane.
The Mayor thanked the members of the public for their comments.
4 – Approval of Minutes
The minutes for the meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 16 July 2025 were approved.
Relevant Legislation: Local Government Act 1972, Sch. 12, para 41 (1).
5 – Reports from outside organisations and agencies
- Kent County Council
Cllr Waters and Cllr Fryer from Kent County Council (KCC) gave a verbal report to members, updating them on several Highways issues which had been discussed at the recent Joint Transport Board meeting. The main points that members noted were around the enforcement of the box junctions on the Blue Star roundabout and the ongoing discussions about the Galley Hill road collapse.
Members asked that the ongoing issue of lorries parking along London Road be brought up again at the JTB meetings as there were still ongoing safety and environmental concerns around this.
Members thanked Councillor Waters and Councillor Fryer and resolved to note their reports.
- Dartford Borough Council
Councillor Mote gave a verbal update to members from Dartford Borough Council (DBC). Councillor Mote advised that the Summer events in Dartford had gone very well and advised members that officers at DBC were currently working on scenarios around devolution ahead of the submission to the Government in November.
Members thanked Councillor Mote and resolved to note his report.
6 – Motion to Rescind Resolution on Parish Name Change (Item 9.0 – 23 April 2025)
At its meeting on 23 April 2025, the Council resolved to request a change to the name of the Parish and submitted this request to Dartford Borough Council, thereby triggering the legal requirement to undertake a formal public consultation.
A subsequent report presented to the Council in July 2025 summarised feedback from the Strategic Plan consultation, which included questions relating to the proposed name change. The report also outlined the estimated cost of £3,000 to conduct the required public consultation and provided options to either undertake this activity,or take no further action and retain the existing name.
The Council subsequently voted 7 to 4 in favour of the alternative option. However, inclusion of this second option was a procedural error as the council’s resolution to request a name change remained in force and could not lawfully be reversed without an appropriate mechanism under Standing Order 7(a). This vote therefore carried no legal standing, as it contravened Standing Order 7(a), which states:
“A resolution shall not be reversed within six months except either by a special motion, the written notice whereof bears the names of at least one-third of the members of the Council…”
Standing Order 7(a) exists specifically to prevent frequent reversals of Council policy, ensuring consistency, credibility, and operational stability in decision-making.
A valid special motion to rescind the April resolution had since been received and had been included with the agenda report. The motion had been signed by five members of the Council, meeting the requirement under Standing Order 7(a).
Members were requested to reconsider the merits and implications of the name change in light of public feedback and associated costs, and to determine whether this remained the most appropriate strategic direction.
The Clerk clarified the legal position to the members who then discussed consultation responses that had been received regarding the Parish name change. Discussion was had about the importance of consulting fully regarding the potential name change to ensure that all residents were given the opportunity to have their say, given that 115 responses had been received with a small majority of support against those objecting not providing a conclusive outcome.
Members agreed that it would not be democratic to rescind the decision before consulting with the Parish as a whole.
Outstanding issues also remained regarding the costs of implementing parish name changes on the address databases held by Dartford Borough Council. Informal dialogue had intimated that there could be a cost per household for administering such changes, which could result in an unexpected cost to the parish. It was felt necessary to obtain full clarification regarding this prospect to inform the council’s position.
It was requested that officers confirm the full cost of consultation of the whole Parish for consideration of this expenditure at the next meeting, along with provision of clarification regarding address database amendments so that the full implications of this activity are clear
Following significant discussion, Members resolved not to rescind Item 9.0 – 23 April 2025 and to await clarification regarding the prospective costs of consultation and address amendment,
7 – KALC AGM Motion Submission
Members were presented with a recommendation for submission of an item for inclusion on the Kent Association of Local Council’s Annual General Meeting. The proposed motion is set out as follows:
The Council seeks the dissolution as appropriate, of the Local Government Act 1972
Sch. 14 to remove the legislative requirement for an annual parish meeting to be held in a parish where a parish council exists, except if there is a proposal for the potential dissolution of the parish council, or the grouping of a parish with another parish or parishes under a common parish council.
Should support not be forthcoming for dissolution of the requirement, the council seeks
legislative amendment of the time constraint period within which an annual parish meeting
must be held to enable it to be held at an appropriate time in the year for a meaningful event to
take place, subject to it not being more than thirteen months past the last annual parish
meeting.
Failing support for any legislative amendments to this schedule, the council requests that the
National Association of Local Councils remove any criteria in respect of annual parish meetings
from the Local Council Award Scheme.
Members resolved to approve the submission of the motion as presented for inclusion on the Kent Association of Local Council’s Annual General Meeting.
8 – Council Logo and Branding
Members were presented with drafts for a new logo and branding for the Council following its change of style to that of a Town Council.
The proposed draft Stone Town Council logo sought to modernise the former Stone Parish Council logo while retaining its most recognisable and meaningful elements. The aspects of the old Stone Parish Council logo; the blue river, lantern and the white horse of Kent, were represented in the new logo in a more simplified and contemporary form.
Members discussed that with the decision now resolved to proceed to consultation on the name of the Parish, the Council’s name could still be subject to change but it was confirmed that the logo would work in both scenarios.
Members provided feedback in relation to the logo, which will be considered as part of the final edits.
Members resolved to approve the Council logo pending some minor amendments.
9 – Finance
9.1 – CIL Expenditure Request
Members were presented with a report in relation to additional works which had been required at the Memorial Garden at Stone Recreation Ground. Members were also requested to note the prospect of further additional sums in relation to improvement works at Stone Pavilion.
The report outlined the works which had been undertaken, including the reorientation of the memorial stones and inclusion of a hard standing area to allow remembrance services to be improved.
Members resolved to approve expenditure of £25,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy in respect of additional works to the Memorial Garden under Phase 2 of the Stone Recreation Ground Masterplan.
10 – Correspondence
Members were presented with a draft letter to the landowner of Stone Pits 9 and 9A for consideration and resolution.
Members were informed that ongoing issues with safety of the horses being kept on the land had been raised with officers. It was felt prudent to make contact with the land owner to raise awareness of the welfare issues of the horses on the site South of London Road and request their cooperation to elicit an appropriate solution.
Members resolved to approve the correspondence with the landowner as presented.
11 – Highway Improvement Plan
11.1 – London Road Green Corridor
To note an update on the London Road Green Corridor Scheme.
Members noted a verbal report from officers regarding the ongoing London Road Green Corridor Scheme. Planning officers from Dartford Borough Council had confirmed that Kent County Council had recently approved funding for the production of detailed designs for the scheme. No indicative timeframe for this had yet been shared with officers, but it was expected that there would be future discussions between the council and KCC regarding the ongoing maintenance of the greening in this scheme.
Members resolved to note the update on the London Road Green Corridor Scheme.
11.2 – St James Lane
Members were presented with a link to a recent petition for installation of a safe crossing on St James Lane to improve the safety of children who walk to Stone St Mary’s primary school.
Members discussed the stretch of road and noted that it had been reported to both Dartford and Kent on previous occasions. It was confirmed that as a road safety issue, Kent County Council would be responsible for any decision to install safety measures.
Kent County Council’s Highway Information Pack was included for members’ information, clarifying the process around the Highway Improvement Plan (HIP) and the requirements/cost for a zebra crossing.
Members resolved to include this stretch of road as part of the development of the Council’s Highway Improvement Plan.
12 – Staffing Update
Members were requested to note the appointment of Richard Cavanagh as the council’s new Community Strategy & Engagement Officer. Richard was due to commence his post on Monday 22nd September 2025.
Members commented that it was good to see that the post had been filled and that they look forward to working alongside Richard in his new role.
Members resolved to note the appointment of the new Community Strategy & Engagement Officer.
There being no further business, the Mayor closed the meeting at 20:37.