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Latest News: During the evening of Monday 11th August travellers broke the lock on the gate to the village green and started to set up camp. Thanks to the very fast action of residents contacting the clerk and councillors the matter was dealt with extremely quickly with the expert help of the police. The travellers left about an hour and a half after arriving and without any damage except the lock.

This is a good example of our Parish Council being able to take immediate action because we own the village green. On a previous occasion when we had travellers camp in Hextable we had to wait patiently for many days by which time damage was done and it became an expensive matter.

Thank you to all residents who responded so quick and please for the rest of the Summer continue to be vigilant if you live near any of Hextable's green spaces. The District Council did keep us informed that travellers were in the vicinity and their movements but it is extremely difficult to keep track of them as they normally set up camp of a night and once established it is more difficult to remove them. Well Done Everyone

Hextable Parish Council

The first meeting of Hextable Parish Council was held in May and was very well attended. Residents signed a book with their good wishes to the new council, the book will be kept at the Heritage Centre in College Rd. A big cheer went up when the Chairman welcomed everyone to the first meeting of Hextable Parish Council. The Chief Executive of Sevenoaks District Council attended the meeting where the District Council were thanked for their assistance in setting up the Parish Council.

Roger Neaves was elected as Chairman and Darren Kitchener elected Deputy.

Details of Council Meetings are put on the notice board outside the Post Office. A meeting is held every month except August and December. There is always an agenda item for questions from members of the public and everyone is very welcome to come along. The venue may change as we do not have a permanent home just yet so please check.

Planning application plans may be viewed at the Heritage Centre. You can speak regarding Hextable planning applications at Council Meetings.

Councillors' Surgery

A Surgery is held for Hextable residents every first Saturday in the Month at the Heritage Centre in College Road between 12-1pm, no appointment is necessary. Please come along and ask any questions, tell us your views or consult us regarding any problems.

Complaints:

We have received a lot of complaints about how badly the verges have been cut, that is if they have been cut at all. Hextable do not cut these as they are owned by the District and County Councils and contracted out to Swanley Town Council. This was mentioned at the first council meeting in the village and at subsequent meetings. We have complained to the contractors and have now complained directly to the District and County Councils. Hextable would make a better job of cutting our own verges.

Hextable Parish Council Tax - Latest

This year's local Council Tax for Hextable (2008/9) has been set by Sevenoaks District Council at just under £87 for a band D property, this is about 15%, or £1 a month, more than last year. It is the same as Swanley's council tax for this year. Hextable Parish Council is now formed and the new councillors were elected on the 1st May 2008. They will make the decisions for Hextable and in January 2009 set the Council Tax for next year.

The Swanley Council increase this year is mainly because the money they get from Swanley Banqueting was over £100,000 short, and it is not expected to get any better. Hextable Independents and the Swanley Conservative councillors warned Swanley Council last year about the looming financial problems, but the Swanley Labour councillors decided to do nothing about the problem until they got a shock with the final figures for the year. This is why Council Tax went up 15% in Swanley and in Hextable for this year 2008/9. Swanley's Council Tax will remain high for some years to come.

Hextable Independent councillors do not consider the Hextable tax should be as high as this even allowing for start up costs and look forward to setting our own rate later this year ready for the year starting April 2009.

Election Results: Hextable Parish Council 1st May 2008

Austin Anthony Hextable Independent 1064 elected

Ayres Barbara Hextable Independent 1042 elected

Coates David Labour Party Candidate 173

Coates Kathleen Labour Party Candidate 173

Fittock Mark Labour Party Candidate 190

Goodall Sarah Labour Party Candidate 278

Gray Patricia Labour Party Candidate 235

Hills Godfrey Labour Party Candidate 237

Hogg Michael Labour Party Candidate 162

Kitchener Darren Hextable Independent 1037 elected

McInnes Roger Hextable Independent 1069 elected

Morris Dee Hextable Independent 1056 elected

Neaves Roger Hextable Independent 1049 elected

Rashbrook Ian Walden Labour Party Candidate 155

Russell David Hextable Independent 1042 elected

Searles Tony Independent 384

Smith Elizabeth Hextable Independent 1021 elected

Theobald Carol Labour Party Candidate 157

Varnham Ken Hextable Independent 997 elected

The total votes recorded represents 42.16% of registered electors.

Staff Transfer from Swanley

After all the posturing, we now know that Swanley Council has only transferred 3 staff, rather than the 5 they originally said. We have two groundsmen, John and Lewis. If you see them working around the village please have a chat to them and make them welcome as we think they are doing a good job. Tracy is admin and you can contact her at the Heritage Centre.

Flower Beds in Swanley

We hope you like the Spring flowers in the large concrete planter outside the Church and opposite the Post Office. We intend to plant Summer bedding in all the planters.

Hextable Post Office

We are very pleased that following representations by Hextable councillors early last year that Hextable Post Office did not appear on the list of those targeted for closure. A submission was sent making the case that as Hextable is a separate village the Post Office is a vital 'Village Support'.

We would like to see if our new parish council could use the Post Office to help protect the vital part the Post Office plays in the village.

Unfortunately it seems that Post Offices at Wilmington, Farningham and Eynsford are closing. The Post Office in Swanley's Manse Parade has already closed.

We were disappointed to be informed that another round of closures may be announced by the Post Office and we are obtaining more information on these proposals so we will be working on this in the very near future.