PRESENT:

Cllr Rod Morrad

Chairman

Cllr Mark Colyer

Cllr Mrs Yvonne Forrest

Cllr John Luck

Cllr Alan Marsh

Mrs Roxana Brammer

Clerk

In attendance

Cllr Mrs Maureen Stanney

Chairman, St Mary Hoo Parish Council

2 members of the public

Item no

Minute no 06/07

Action point

1

500

APOLOGIES

All present

2

CODE OF CONDUCT

501

a

Declarations of Interest and Members' Register of Interests

Cllr Luck declared a personal interest in item 11f as working for the contractor. Cllr Colyer declared a personal interest in item 11a as being related to the caretaker.

502

b

Standards Committee

Cllr Marsh said the next meeting would be held on 23 February.

3

503

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 9 JANUARY 2007

It was proposed by Cllr Colyer, seconded by Cllr Mrs Forrest and agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2007 be signed as a true record.

4

MATTERS ARISING

504

a

C/01/06/4a(455): Dog Bins

Cllr Filmer had discussed this with the Clerk and Cllr Marsh would send Cllr Filmer the location map.

5

PLANNING

505

a

Applications

No applications had been received.

506

Out of Time

The response to the out of time application as listed on Appendix A was ratified.

b

Decisions

506

i

MC2006/1382: Land at Avery Way: reserved matters pursuant to an outline consent for 36 dwellings.

The decision of approval and conditions were noted. Cllr Morrad reported on a meeting with Matthew Homes. The matter of the tenancy at will of the woodland was raised and the Clerk was asked to agenda the item for the next meeting. Cllr Marsh said he and the Clerk would be meeting the site manager the following morning. It was known they would soon be clearing the section of woodland that was needed for the access road.

507

c

Appeals and Other Matters

No matters were raised.

508

d

Licensing Applications

None

6

FINANCE

509

b

Bank Balances

The bank balances as listed on Appendix A were noted.

510

b

Cheques signed since last meeting

It was proposed by Cllr Colyer, seconded by Cllr Mrs Forrest and agreed the cheques signed since the last meeting be ratified.

511

c

Accounts for Payment

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Forrest, seconded by Cllr Colyer and agreed that the accounts as listed on Appendix B be paid (cheques 102221 – 102225), with the addition of £399.50 to D& S Tarpaulins (cheque 102226).

7

GRANT APPLICATIONS

512

a

All Saints Church

This item was deferred until a decision on grass cutting had been made.

513

b

1st Allhallows Brownies

It was proposed by Cllr Skudder, seconded by Cllr Mrs George and agreed a grant of £50 be given under S19 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (cheque 102227). It was proposed by Cllr Marsh, seconded by Cllr Skudder and agreed a grant of £50 under S19 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 be pledged to assist with a trip in May.

8

PERSONNEL

514

a

Adoption of Documents

All relevant documents for the recruitment and direct employment of a clerk had been circulated. Cllr Marsh queried the hours as being five per week and after discussion it was agreed to amend this to seven. It was proposed by Cllr Skudder, seconded by Cllr Luck and agreed unanimously these documents be adopted from 1 April.

515

b

Recruitment

It was agreed to advertise the post on the noticeboards, on the website and in a local newspaper. The closing date would be 12 March and interviews would be held on Saturday 17 March The interview panel would consist of Cllrs Morrad, Marsh and Skudder..

9

YOUTH COMMITTEE

516

a

Chairman's Report

Cllr Skudder said he would be contacting Bill Budd of the Golf Club. Dave Wallace was indisposed and the idea of holding a mini-marathon had had to be dropped. Mr Turner had attended the last committee meeting and football on both the recreation ground and Cross Park had been discussed. Mr Turner would be talking to the committee of his football club, but had indicated that should they not wish to move, he would be interested in starting up a club locally.

517

b

Mothers and Toddlers

Cllr Mrs Forrest said the group was running well.

10

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT

518

a

Footpaths

Cllr Marsh said the new Rights of Way officer at Medway Council was Anne-Marie Behn. He would contact her about insurance for the volunteers and the fact that the volunteers needed equipment. With reference to the old Avery Way, there had been a change in the law concerning reclaiming footpaths and the green lanes scheme but Medway was not involved.

519

b

Tree Warden's Report

Cllr Colyer would check the trees following the recent storm.

520

c

Lighting

Cllr Colyer had reported lights out in Binney Road and St Luke's Way. The light outside 12 Avery Way needed replacing.

521

d

Transport

Cllr Marsh reported on the on-going issue with the last 191 bus. The General Manager of Arriva would be invited to attend a meeting of the Rural Liaison Committee. St Mary Hoo Parish Council had asked him to raise the issue of Grain buses being full with passengers for Strood and the possibility of the 191 bus not stopping at all town centre stops. There was a late bus run by ASD Coaches that left Chatham at 22.40.

522

e

Road Name for Matthew Homes Development

Names for the new development were discussed and it was agreed St Mark's Way or St Mark's Drive be put forward.

523

f

Bay Tree Cottage, Stoke Road

Cllr Mrs George raised the matter of the appearance of yellow bollards on Stoke Road outside Bay Tree Cottage.

524

g

Slough Road and Homeward Road

Cllr Luck reported areas of dumped rubbish, one in Slough Road and two in Homeward Road.

11

MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S LAND AND PROPERTY

525

a

Caretaking

A skip was needed to clear the rubbish on the recreation ground.

526

527

b

Village Hall

i   General Matters. Cllr Mrs Forrest reported the boiler flue had been repaired. The tarpaulin had been repaired and reinstalled after the recent storm.

ii   Hardstanding area. The allotments would need some hardstanding and it was agreed to seek quotes for both jobs together.

528

c

Recreation Ground

Cllr Colyer reported horses were being ridden on the field. Cllr Mrs George said she had spoken to some riders and told them they were not allowed.

529

d

All Saints Allotments

Paul Schmoeger had been in touch with Cllr Marsh. Unfortunately the lock had been removed yet again and had been replaced. No one knew who had done this and no one had been given a key. A discussion followed on whether or not to leave the site open once allotment holders were using the site.

530

e

Woodland, Avery Way

Nothing to report.

531

532

533

f

Cross Park

i   General maintenance. Nothing to report.

ii  Grant funding. The architects had surveyed the pavilion and drawings were expected.

iii Sports. Cllr Mrs George was of the opinion that riders should be members of the British Horse Society. Horses would not be able to use part of the park if Mr Turner wanted to use it for football. It was suggested that a site meeting be held of potential users and Cllr Mrs George was asked to set this up.

LG

12

534

GRASS CUTTING

The figures provided by Medway council were tabled. No job specification had been received and there was still a query over the recreation ground. The matter was deferred to the next meeting, when a decision would have to be taken.

13

RURAL LIAISON COMMITTEE

535

a

Representative's Report

Cllr Marsh reported on the meeting held on 30 January. Speakers had been Jenny Bradbury of the Action for Communities in Rural Kent and Kate MacGowan of the Physical Disabilities Team. Hosts were required for 2007/8 and it was agreed to offer to host the June meeting.

536

537

b

Rural Liaison Grant Projects

i  Noticeboards. These still needed sign writing.

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

14

KAPC/MEDWAY AREA COMMITTEE

538

a

Representative's Report

No meeting had been held.

15

POLICE MATTERS

539

a

Police Liaison Representative's Report

Cllr Luck reported on the meeting held on 6 February. There had been a talk by an officer dealing with ASBOs. PC Harris had not been present. Cllr Luck had asked if the minutes of the liaison meetings were circulated to superior officers. After discussion it was suggested by Cllr Mrs Forrest that a letter be sent to the Chief Constable, with copies to the MP and leader of Medway Council, informing him of the lack of confidence by residents in policing.

540

b

Speedwatch

The Clerk had had contact with the PC who would be responsible for Speedwatch. It was likely one meeting would be held for councillors and volunteers of all participating parishes. Frindsbury Extra Parish Council was about to put out the notice asking for volunteers.

16

541

ALLHALLOWS GROUNDS REDEVELOPMENT ACTION TEAM

No meeting had been held.

17

COMMUNICATIONS

542

a

Villagers' Life Magazine

Cllr Marsh reported the issue had been late because three promised articles had either been late or had never materialised. He would write another article on the Medway Queen for the next issue. The Clerk asked Cllr Colyer if Mrs Colyer could write an article about control of dogs.

543

b

Website

The Clerk read out statistics provided by the Webmaster.

18

544

QUALITY PARISH COUNCIL STATUS

The next surgery would be on 3 March and Cllr Mrs Forrest would be in attendance.

19

545

CLERK'S REPORT

Nothing to report.

20

VITAL VILLAGES

546

Nothing to report.

21

CONSULTATION

547

a

Revised Code of Conduct

Cllr Skudder would read the document.

22

CORRESPONDENCE

548

None.

23

549

REPORTS AND CIRCULARS

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

24

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

550

a

Biffa Site

Cllr Colyer reported that he had seen two vehicles waiting to enter the site at 6.45 am.

25

551

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.

26

552

THE BRIMP

Nothing to report

26

553

VILLAGE HALL ROOF

Cllr Mrs Forrest reported she had met the building surveyor on site.