C/12/2006/1-26

PRESENT:

Cllr Rod Morrad

Chairman

Cllr Mrs Yvonne Forrest

Cllr Mrs Lynda George

From item 10

Cllr John Luck

Cllr Alan Marsh

Mrs Roxana Brammer

Clerk

In attendance

Cllr Mrs Maureen Stanney

Chairman, St Mary Hoo Parish Council

1 member of the public

Item no

Minute no 06/07

Action point

1

396

APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from

Cllr Mark Colyer

At work

Cllr Mark Skudder

At work

It was proposed by Cllr Marsh, seconded by Cllr Morrad and carried unanimously that these apologies be accepted by the Council.

2

397

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND MEMBERS' REGISTER OF INTERESTS

Cllr Luck declared a personal interest in item 11f as working for the contractor.

3

398

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 14 NOVEMBER 2006

It was proposed by Cllr Marsh, seconded by Cllr Luck and agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2006 be signed as a true record.

4

MATTERS ARISING

399

a

C/11/06/4a(349): Dog Bins

Cllr Marsh said he expected the matter to be finalised by January.

5

PLANNING

400

a

Applications

No applications had been received.

401

b

Decisions

The decisions as listed on Appendix A were received.

c

Appeals and Other Matters

402

i

Kent Minerals Development Framework Development Plan documents: Submission of Core Minerals Strategy

Received.

403

ii

Medway Local Development Framework: Strategic Location Representations

Received.

404

d

Licensing Applications

None

6

FINANCE

405

b

Bank Balances

The bank balances as listed on Appendix A were noted.

406

b

Cheques signed since last meeting

None.

407

c

Accounts for Payment

It was proposed by Cllr Luck, seconded by Cllr Mrs Forrest and agreed that the accounts as listed on Appendix B be paid (cheques 102198, 102205 – 102209), with the addition of £563.75 to Cousins Print & Design (cheque 102210) and £129.50 to Mrs C Beckey (cheque 102211).

408

d

Budget and Precept 2007/8

The members of the Finance Committee and the Clerk had met to draft a proposed budget for the year 1 April 2007 – 31 March 2008, which had been circulated. It was proposed by Cllr Morrad, seconded by Cllr Marsh and agreed unanimously that the budget be adopted. It was then proposed by Cllr Morrad, seconded by Cllr Marsh and agreed unanimously that the precept for the year 1 April 2007 – 31 March 2008 be £35,000.

409

e

Training & Seminars

i  Progressive Council, KAPC 24 January, £50. It was agreed this would be attended by Cllr Marsh and the Clerk. (cheque 102213)

7

GRANT APPLICATIONS

410

a

Physical Disability Team, Community Services

The applicant had been unable to confirm that patients from the parish were using the equipment and it was decided not to make a grant.

411

b

Victim Support

The Clerk reported that over the previous 12 months about 30 people of the parish had been helped by the service. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Forrest, seconded by Cllr Marsh and agreed that a grant of £100 be made under S 137 of the LGA 1972 (cheque 102212).

8

PERSONNEL

412

a

Staffing Committee

Members of the committee would be Cllrs Marsh, Luck and Mrs Forrest.

413

b

Disciplinary Appeal Committee

Members of the committee would be Cllrs Skudder, Colyer and Mrs George.

414

c

The Green Book

It was agreed a copy of the Scheme of Conditions of Service of the National Joint Council for Local Government Service (the Green Book) be obtained.

9

YOUTH COMMITTEE

415

a

Chairman's Report

In Cllr Skudder's absence there was no report.

416

b

Mothers and Toddlers

Cllr Mrs Forrest said numbers were increasing.

417

c

Football

Use of the football pitch was discussed. It was agreed that a formal team using the pitch would be asked to pay caretaking costs of £12 per match.

10

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT

418

a

Footpaths

Cllr Marsh reported that Vivienne Kent had now retired. Outstanding issues were the insurance cover and the provision of protective clothing for volunteers. The status of the old Avery Way was being investigated, it was not part of the Government's green lanes scheme. Medway Council was undertaking a survey of bridle paths and the like. The stile on the sea wall was too high for most walkers and Cllr Marsh would report this again.

AM

419

b

Tree Warden's Report

In Cllr Colyer's absence, there was no report.

420

c

Lighting

It was reported that the light on the corner of Stoke Road and Binney Road was on permanently.

421

d

Transport

Cllr Marsh said that Roger Rayner was questioning the legality of a fixed pricing structure for “The Villager”. A letter had been sent to the other parishes about the last bus and replies were awaited. He outlined the problems for buses arising out of cars parking at the end of Avery Way. He had been advised double yellow lines would have been installed by the end of February.

11

MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S LAND AND PROPERTY

422

a

Caretaking

Nothing to report.

423

424

b

Village Hall

i  General Matters. The tree was still overhanging the garden of 28 Stoke Road. Cllr Marsh would speak to the tree warden again, if it could not be done the Clerk would instruct Baker & Son to do the work.

ii  Hardstanding area. £500 had been received from Cllr Filmer's ward improvement fund. This meant that Cllr Filmer's company could no longer be considered to advise on the work and the Clerk would seek alternatives.

AM

RB

425

c

Recreation Ground

The football nets had been delivered to Cllr Marsh and Cllr Mrs George would arrange their collection by the parents who had volunteered to be responsible for them.

LG

426

d

All Saints Allotments

Cllr Marsh reported he and the Clerk had a meeting arranged with Medway Council's Allotments Officer. He would ask the caretaker to spray the weeds, weather permitting.

AM

427

e

Woodland, Avery Way

In Cllr Colyer's absence, there was no report.

428

429

430

f

Cross Park

i  General maintenance. Nothing to report.

ii  Grant funding. The Clerk had spoken with architects. Brian Emby, former architect with Rochester City Council had the right qualifications and she would arrange a meeting with him and his son Robert who was also an architect to progress the matter.

iii Football. Cllr Mrs George said she had been trying to get hold of the couple who had enquired about bringing a junior football team on site.

RB

12

431

GRASS CUTTING

Nothing to report.

13

RURAL LIAISON COMMITTEE

432

a

Representative's Report

No meeting.

433

434

b

Rural Liaison Grant Projects

i  Noticeboards. Cllr Marsh reported they were now stained but needed signwriting. It was suggested a template be purchased that could be used for many projects. The Clerk to investigate.

ii  Picket fence phase II, village hall. No progress could be made until the hardstanding had been done.

RB

14

KAPC/MEDWAY AREA COMMITTEE

435

a

Representative's Report

Cllr Morrad reported that Cliffe had arranged a meeting with the police about vandalism and that about 100 people had attended. Clarkes Coaches had withdrawn their London service through the village. Cabling and lead had been stripped off the pub roof in Cuxton. Peter Curran was retiring as their clerk. Frindsbury Extra was leading a riverside project in Lower Upnor and there would be a public consultation exhibition on 13 January.

15

POLICE MATTERS

436

a

Police Liaison Representative's Report

Cllr Luck said he had not yet received the minutes from the last meeting.

437

b

Speedwatch

The questionnaire had gone out in the magazine. There would be a collection box for responses in the post office. It was understood there had been 14 offers to volunteer from High Halstow and 12 from Stoke.

16

COMMUNICATIONS

438

a

Villagers' Life Magazine

The Chairman suspended the meeting to allow Cllr Mrs Stanney to join in the discussion.

Cllr Marsh reported that all copies had now been delivered, with the exception of the chalets as it was closed season. Unpaid advertisements had been withdrawn but there were a couple of new ones.

The Chairman reconvened the meeting.

439

b

Website

The Clerk said that the Webmaster would like the Chairman to write a seasonal message.

RM

17

440

QUALITY PARISH COUNCIL STATUS

The next surgery would be on 6 January and Cllr Marsh would be in attendance.

18

441

CLERK'S REPORT

Nothing to report.

19

VITAL VILLAGES

442

Nothing to report

20

443

CONSULTATION

No documents received.

21

444

CORRESPONDENCE

None

22

445

REPORTS AND CIRCULARS

The reports and circulars as listed on the agenda were received.

23

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

446

a

Standards Committee

Cllr Marsh had attended a meeting of the Standards Committee. It had been decided with the Monitoring Officer that training be given to councillors and clerks on planning law and the frontline exercise.

447

b

Allhallows Grounds Redevelopment Action Team

Cllr Marsh said he had attended the second meeting of this group, which had been set up by the School Secretary. He asked that this be a regular agenda item.

24

448

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE PRESS AND PUBLIC

It was proposed by Cllr Morrad, seconded by Cllr Marsh and agreed the press and public be excluded from the following items on the grounds that they referred to matters sub judice.

25

449

THE BRIMP

The Clerk was working on the business plan.

26

450

VILLAGE HALL ROOF

Cllr Mrs Forrest reported instructions had been signed by the Village Hall Committee Chairman and delivered to the solicitor. The solicitor had recommended the employment of a professional as project manager and the Clerk had approached the building surveyor. He would act for a fee of 10% of the lowest quote and it was proposed by Cllr Mrs Forrest, seconded by Cllr Mrs George and agreed unanimously that he be engaged.