PRESENT:

Cllr Rod Morrad

Chairman

Cllr Mark Colyer

Items 8-11c, 11e-16, 17b-21, 22b-26

Cllr Mrs Yvonne Forrest

Cllr Mrs Lynda George

Items 11d, 20, 22a, 17a, 7-11c, 11e-16, 17b-21, 22b-26

Cllr John Luck

Cllr Alan Marsh

Cllr Mark Skudder

Items 1-6, 11d, 20, 22a, 17a, 7-11c, 11e-13

Mrs Roxana Brammer

Clerk

In attendance

Cllr Mrs Maureen Stanney

Chairman, St Mary Hoo Parish Council

Ms Catherine Smith

Rural Strategy Manager, Medway Council

Item no

Minute no 06/07

Action point

1

129

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for late arrival were received from Cllrs Mrs George and Colyer and for early departure from Cllr Skudder.

2

130

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND MEMBERS' REGISTER OF INTERESTS

Cllr Luck declared a personal interest in item 12f as working for the contractor.

3

131

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 9 MAY 2006

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Forrest, seconded by Cllr Luck and agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 May 2006 be signed as a true record.

4

MATTERS ARISING

132

a

C/05/06/13a(80): Dog Bins

Cllr Marsh said he would be dealing directly with Cllr Filmer and he would be speaking to him later in the week.

5

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 23 MAY 2006

133

It was proposed by Cllr Marsh, seconded by Cllr Mrs Forrest and agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 23 May be signed as a true record.

6

CASUAL VACANCY

134

The resignation of Mrs Pam Burrows was reported to the Council. The Clerk had informed Medway Council and had put up the statutory notice.

11

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT

135

d

Transport

ii  “The Villager”. The Chairman suspended the meeting to enable Catherine Smith to speak.

Ms Smith gave Tom Calvert's apologies. She also apologised that the bus could not come out that evening, but most councillors had already seen it. She explained the ways in which the bus could be booked and used by community groups and agreed to write an article for the magazine. Publicity would generally be by means of the information stations.

The Chairman thanked Ms Smith and reconvened the meeting.

20

VITAL VILLAGES

136

Cllr Marsh said no meeting had been held recently. It was understood Cllr Beckey had been working in Scotland and Catherine Smith indicated she would contact him on his return.

22

CORRESPONDENCE

137

a

Funding for Parks and Play

The Chairman suspended the meeting so that Catherine Smith could expand on her letter.

Ms Smith explained Big Lottery funding was available that could be used by parish councils and the seminar would help with this and other funding streams.

The Chairman thanked Ms Smith and reconvened the meeting.

Cllrs Marsh and Mrs George would attend.

17

COMMUNICATIONS

138

a

Villagers' Life Magazine

The Chairman suspended the meeting to allow Cllr Mrs Stanney to speak.

Cllr Mrs Stanney said she had not proofed the last issue but had approved it for content and layout. She thought the temporary editor had done a good job. She asked that an

article be put in the next issue about the bus shelter, asking residents to send their opinions direct to Geoff Walters at Medway Council.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Mrs Stanney and reconvened the meeting.

Cllr Marsh said a resident of Jutland Close had volunteered to deliver to Jutland Close and Binney Road. He thought the print quality was good.

7

PLANNING

139

a

Applications

None received.

140

b

Decisions

None notified.

c

Appeals and Other Matters

141

i

Garage Site

The Clerk had reported the rubbish to the developer's agent. He said he was having difficulty with Bourne Leisure over the covenant and said he had not received support from the Council. The Chairman said he had sent off the pro forma letter.

142

ii

Matthew Homes Development and Section 106 Agreements

The Clerk had established there was no Section 106 agreement, but had been told this could be done on the reserved matters application. She had raised the issue of Section 106 agreements at a seminar on planning held by Medway Council and parishes were told that they should request these with their comments following consultation and should have a list of items ready for such eventualities. Chris Butler was now the Senior Planning Officer for the western part of Medway and he had taken note of the Council's difficulties in seeking a meeting with Matthew Homes.

143

iii

KCC Development Plan– Core Minerals Strategy; General Development Control Policies; Construction aggregates DPD

Received.

144

d

Licensing Applications

None

8

FINANCE

145

b

Bank Balances

The bank balances as listed on Appendix A were noted.

146

b

Cheques signed since last meeting

None.

143

c

Accounts for Payment

It was proposed by Cllr Marsh, seconded by Cllr Luck and agreed that the accounts as listed on Appendix A be paid (cheques 102146 – 102154).

9

144

GRANT APPLICATIONS

No applications received.

10

YOUTH COMMITTEE

145

a

Chairman's Report

The next meeting was on 17 July.

146

b

Mothers and Toddlers

Cllr Mrs George reported storage space was needed and equipment could not be obtained until this was resolved. She and Cllr Mrs Forrest would meet the Village Hall Chairman.

11

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT

147

a

Footpaths

Cllr Marsh had attended a seminar organised by Vivienne Kent. He had been the only parish council representative present, others had been from the Ramblers' Association. The wardens had also attended. Mrs Kent hoped to reclaim the old Avery Way. The path by the surgery was overgrown. Cllr Marsh had taken the strimmer for servicing.

148

b

Tree Warden's Report

Cllr Colyer said that some trees that he had planted in the winter had been pulled out and he had replanted them on private land near the Fenn Bell.

149

c

Lighting

The light out on St Luke's Way had been repaired. Cllr Marsh said that the light by the Binney Road garages had been repaired again. It was now a legal requirement for lighting authorities to have a computerised system whereby histories of street lamps could be tracked.

150

151

e

Other Matters

i  Binney Road. It was reported that the area needed spraying for mosquitos. The path to the garages was also overgrown.

ii  Ratcliffe Highway. The storm drain near 2 Avery Way needed attention.

12

MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S LAND AND PROPERTY

152

a

Caretaking

Cllr Colyer declared a personal interest as the husband of the caretaker.

Graffiti had appeared on the village hall and the caretaker had scrubbed it off.

Cllr Colyer was reminded to contact the Clerk over suitable risk assessment sheets.

153

154

155

b

Village Hall

i General Matters. Cllr Mrs Forrest said the next meeting was the following month.

ii Roof. Cllr Mrs Forrest reported there had been a significant leak the previous night and that water had poured into the meter cupboard. This had been relayed to Alistair Martin who was informing Alltask.

iii Hardstanding area. The Clerk had spoken to Cllr Filmer. He was waiting for the go-ahead for a ward improvement project in another parish. If this failed he could assist financially but would not be able to give advice. If he was not using his ward improvement money his company could quote for supply of materials and give advice. He would keep the Clerk informed.

156

157

c

Recreation Ground

i Youth shelter. Bolts had been loosened. Cllr Mrs Forrest offered to approach someone who would be able to weld them. The Clerk would order a suitable litter bin.

ii Permanent tennis nets. The Clerk would ask Medway Council if they knew of a supplier.

158

159

d

Woodland, Avery Way

i General Maintenance. Nothing to report.

ii Boundary of southern section with development site. This had now been staked out.

160

e

All Saints Allotments

The site had been sprayed for weeds. The Clerk would ask the contractor for a date for the site clearance.

161

162

163

f

Cross Park

i  General maintenance. Nothing to report

ii Association committee meeting. Cllr Marsh reported on the committee meeting held on 17 May. A further meeting had been arranged for 6 June but this had been inquorate. Cllr Colyer had resigned as chairman due to pressure of work. It was suggested Cllr Mrs George take on the role of acting chairman until a meeting could be convened.

iii  Sign. There had been no further communication from the sign writer. The Clerk would seek an alternative.

13

164

GRASS CUTTING

Simon Swift had e-mailed that they were currently undertaking technical assessments of the short-listed tenderers. When there was an agreed list of sites he would then be able to project what the funding arrangements would be.

14

RURAL LIAISON COMMITTEE

165

a

Representative's Report

Cllr Marsh reported on the last meeting, which had been hosted by the Council. He had asked for a fund that could be used to help parish councils for the cost of clearing fly-tipping and for an early evening bus service to help young workers.

166

167

b

Rural Liaison Grant Projects

i   Recreation Ground Hedge. Cllr Colyer was storing the hedging plants but some had died. The Clerk had received a quotation of over £400 for the supply and installation of a stock fence. This was considered expensive for something that would be temporary. She would try to find an alternative contractor.

ii  Picket fence phase II, village hall. The hardstanding would have to be done first.

15

KAPC/MEDWAY AREA COMMITTEE

168

a

Representative's Report

Cllr Morrad reported that Shaun Carter of the ACRK had spoken at the last meeting. His subject had been loss of post offices and support for rural retailers.

16

POLICE MATTERS

169

a

Police Liaison Representative's Report

Cllr Luck said he had not heard anything. The Clerk said there had been a meeting on 9 May that had clashed with the last parish council meeting. Cllr Luck would get in touch with PC Tim Harris.

170

b

Speedwatch

A letter had been sent to Isle of Grain PC but it had missed their meeting and would not be discussed until their next meeting at the end of June.

17

COMMUNICATION

171

b

Website

The Clerk had asked if the Chairman could have a redirected address so that his personal e-mail address was not public. Cllr Morrad would speak to the Webmaster about this.

18

172

QUALITY PARISH COUNCIL STATUS

On-going. The surgery would be continued on a monthly basis until September, when its frequency would be reviewed. Cllrs Mrs George and Mrs Forrest would attend the July surgery.

19

173

CLERK'S REPORT

The Clerk had attended a branch meeting of the Society of Local Council Clerks It had been announced that Rodney Williamson of KAPC had had an accident and was likely to be off work for some time.

21

174

CONSULTATION

 No documents received.

22

CORRESPONDENCE

175

a

Letter from the Brownies

The invitation to the farewell to Chris Jackson was received. The Clerk had asked for a tribute to be written for the magazine.

23

176

REPORTS AND CIRCULARS

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

24

177

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

No matters were raised.

25

178

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE PRESS AND PUBLIC

It was proposed by Cllr Morrad, seconded by Cllr Colyer and agreed the press and public be excluded from the following item as it was a legal matter.

26

179

THE BRIMP

The Council's solicitor still had not had a response to his letter from the Scouts.