Allhallows Parish Council - March 2007 Minutes

PRESENT:	Cllr Rod Morrad	Chairman
	Cllr Mark Colyer
	Cllr Mrs Yvonne Forrest
	Cllr Mrs Linda George
	Cllr John Luck
	Cllr Alan Marsh
	Cllr Mark Skudder

	Mrs Roxana Brammer	Clerk

In attendance	Cllr Mrs Maureen Stanney	Chairman, St Mary Hoo Parish Council
	Inspector Robin Wharfe	Rural Inspector, Kent Police
	WPC Ann Jeffery	Local Beat Officer, Kent Police
	Mr Michael O'Sullivan	Community Safety Warden, Medway Council
	Mr John O'Kane	Community Safety Warden, Medway Council
	Mr Clive Stanley	Webmaster
	30 members of the public

Before commencing the meeting, the Chairman welcomed Cllr Mrs Stanney, the police officers, community safety wardens, webmaster and the members of the public to the meeting and opened the public session.

A long discussion took place about the difficulties for ordinary residents with youth in the village and a positive way forward was sought. A replacement youth shelter was offered free of charge. In response to a question about why a kick wall had not yet been provided, an explanation was given about the cost, budgeting for a capital project and the lead time following an order for such an item. The young people present were reminded they had been asked to seek opinions from other young people, including girls, of what they would like incorporated with the kick wall and that they had not responded to this request. The Community Safety Wardens were informed of the Parish Council's request to Medway Council to remove the bus shelter on Avery Way near its junction with St David's Road and they said they would follow this up. Following the discussion it was agreed it had been positive and a way forward was possible.

It was reported that delivery vans to the shops were mounting the pavement and driving off between the bus shelter and the wall. This was dangerous and damaging the pavement. Medway Council had said there was nothing they could do.

The Chairman thanked the police, community safety wardens and members of the public for their attendance and opened the meeting.

Item no

Minute no 06/07

Action point

554

APOLOGIES

All present

2		CODE OF CONDUCT
555	a	Declarations of Interest and Members' Register of Interests Cllr Morrad declared a personal and prejudicial interest in items 5a (ii) and (iii), planning applications for Allhallows Primary School, as a governor of the school. He referred to item 6c, accounts for payment and said he would not remain in the room for items 5, Planning and 6, Finance. Cllr Skudder declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 8a, grant application by All Saints church, as a member of the Parochial Church Council. Cllr Luck declared a personal interest in item 12f as working for the contractor. Cllr Colyer declared a personal interest in item 12a as being related to the caretaker.
556	b	Standards Committee Cllr Marsh said that at the last meeting they had been briefed on the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct.
3 557		MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13 FEBRUARY 2007 It was proposed by Cllr Luck, seconded by Cllr Colyer and agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2007 be signed as a true record.
4		MATTERS ARISING
558	a	C/02/07/4a(504): Dog Bins Cllr said that he had spoken to Cllr Filmer but for personal reasons he had not been able to progress the matter.

As Mr Stanley was present, it was agreed to vary the order of the agenda.

17		COMMUNICATIONS
	b	Website The Chairman suspended the meeting to allow Mr Stanley to give his report. Mr Stanley said there had been 15,25 hits in the past 12 months and 1,477 in February. The link directory, magazine and minutes pages continued to be the most popular. The Chairman thanked Mr Stanley and reconvened the meeting.
5		PLANNING Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest, Cllr Morrad left the room and Cllr Marsh took the chair.
	A	Applications
559	I	MC2007/0401: 7 Queensway: Construction of a two storey side/single storey rear extension and porch to front (demolition of existing porch, conservatory and rear extension)

		It was agreed to delegate the response to the Clerk, with the assistance of Clls Mrs Forrest and Marsh.
560	ii	MC2007/0394: Allhallows Primary School, Avery Way: Construction of a 2.1m Palisade fence along the northern perimeter of the school field No objection
561	iii	MC2007/0395: Allhallows Primary School, Avery Way: Construction of three canopies to provide shelter in the playground No objection
562		Out of Time None.
563	b	Decisions None notified
564	c	Appeals and Other Matters No matters were raised.
565	d	Licensing Applications None
6		FINANCE
566	b	Bank Balances The bank balances as listed on Appendix A were noted.
567	b	Cheques signed since last meeting None
568	c	Accounts for Payment It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Forrest, seconded by Cllr Mrs George and agreed that the accounts as listed on Appendix B be paid (cheques 102228 – 102236), with the addition of £136.50 to Allhallows Primary School (cheque 102237) and £54.00 to Allhallows Village Hall Committee (102239). An invoice for £600 had been submitted by Robert Emby for his fee as architect for the Cross Park pavilion. He had not completed the work and it was proposed by Cllr Skudder, seconded by Cllr Colyer and agreed he be paid £500 on account (cheque 102241). Cllr Morrad returned to the meeting and resumed the chair.
7 569		GRASS CUTTING The specification and payment figures had been circulated. The recreation ground had to be added but no information on area and price had been received. After discussion it

		was agreed not to proceed.
8		GRANT APPLICATIONS
570	a	All Saints Church Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest, Cllr Skudder left the room. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Forrest, seconded by Cllr Mrs George and agreed unanimously that a grant of £400 be made under S 137 of the LGA 1972 (cheque 102248)
571	b	1st Allhallows Guides, Brownies and Rainbows It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Forrest, seconded by Cllr Mrs George and agreed a grant of £162 be given under S19 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (cheque 102239).
9		PERSONNEL
572	a	Vacancy for Clerk Cllr Morrad reported that there were two applicants, both of whom would be interviewed on 17 March. Cllr Skudder proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Brammer.
10		YOUTH COMMITTEE
573	a	Chairman's Report Cllr Skudder said he would follow up the matters discussed during the public session. He proposed the offer of a youth shelter was accepted. This was seconded by Cllr Marsh and agreed. He reiterated the need for a drop-in centre, premises remained the difficulty. Cllr Mrs Forrest suggested placing a temporary building in the village hall grounds. Cllr Mrs George raised the matter of a playpark for very young children. Cllr Skudder reported there was a Youth Festival at Detling in the summer.
574	b	Mothers and Toddlers Cllr Mrs Forrest said the group was running well and new people had attended the last session. Cllr Skudder proposed that £20 be spent to enable the group to run an Easter egg hunt. This was seconded by Cllr Colyer and agreed.
11		HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT
575	a	Footpaths Cllr Marsh had nothing to report.
576	b	Tree Warden's Report Cllr Colyer had nothing to report..
577	c	Lighting The actual light outside 12 Avery Way needed replacing. The problem was not with the

		bulb.
578	d	Transport Cllr Marsh had nothing to report.
579	f	Bay Tree Cottage, Stoke Road The yellow bollards on Stoke Road outside Bay Tree Cottage were on private land. It was agreed they needed reflectors.
580	g	Binney Lane The potholes had not been repaired.
12		MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S LAND AND PROPERTY
581	a	Caretaking A further skip was needed to finish clearing the rubbish on the recreation ground.
582 583 584	b	Village Hall i General Matters. Nothing to report ii Cleaner. Cllr Mrs Forrest said the cleaner had left. She suggested that the Council's caretaker be put forward to do the cleaning, with a recharge made to the Village Hall Committee. This would ensure proper employment and control. After discussion it was agreed the employment of a cleaner was the responsibility of the Village Hall Committee and they should advertise or approach Mrs Colyer direct. iii Hardstanding area. ongoing
585	c	Recreation Ground The rent for this under the tenancy at will was due from 1 April and it was agreed a formal 99 year lease be sought.
586	d	All Saints Allotments The Clerk was asked to contact EDF about the key. Cllr Luck suggested having two locks on one chain so that either party could gain access without cutting off a lock.
587 588	e	Woodland, Avery Way i General Maintenance. Nothing to report. ii Tenancy at Will. It was agreed that since Medway Council had allowed the road to the new development through the middle of the southern section of woodland, a nature trail could no longer be contemplated. It was further agreed to hand responsibility for the southern section back to Medway Council.
589 590 591	f	Cross Park i General maintenance. Nothing to report. ii Sports. Cllr Mrs George had not had a site meeting with interested sports people. iii Pavilion. The architects' drawings were tabled and small amendments suggested.

13		RURAL LIAISON COMMITTEE
592	a	Representative's Report Cllr Marsh reported on the open meeting held on 6 March. There had been speakers on rural retail, the RSPB and Nort5h kent marshes and on the Medway Swale Estuary partnership.
593 594	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
595	a	Representative's Report Cllr Morrad reported the last meeting had been short and was the final meeting before the elections. Neither the Chairman nor Secretary were standing for re-election.
15		POLICE MATTERS
596	a	Police Liaison Representative's Report Cllr Luck said no meeting had been held.
597	b	Letter from Chief Inspector Peter Wedlake The letter from Chief Inspector Wedlake was discussed. Cllr Luck said he had taken it personally. Cllr Marsh said other parish representatives had also taken it personally and the matter was being taken up by the Rural Liaison Committee.
599	c	Speedwatch The Clerk reported Frindsbury Extra Parish Council had put out the notice asking for volunteers. Cliffe and Cliffe Woods PC had withdrawn and there would be one scheme for the entire Peninsula.
16 600		ALLHALLOWS GROUNDS REDEVELOPMENT ACTION TEAM No meeting had been held.
17		COMMUNICATIONS
601	a	Villagers' Life Magazine Cllr Marsh reported there were problems delays in delivery by some of the delivery team.
18 602		QUALITY PARISH COUNCIL STATUS The May surgery would not take place because of the elections on 3 May.

19 603		CLERK'S REPORT The Clerk outlined the procedures for the elections and gave a report on the Clerks' Meeting held on 5 March. The Clerks to both Cuxton and to Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Parish Councils were retiring.
20		VITAL VILLAGES
604		Nothing to report.
21 605		CONSULTATION No documents received.
22		CORRESPONDENCE
606	a	E-mail from Vanessa Wise The matters raised in this e-mail had been fully discussed during the public session, at which Ms Wise had been present.
607	b	Trading Standards The letter from Alastair Martin was noted. He would be approached to speak at the Annual Parish Meeting if Chief Superintendent Stephens was unable to attend.
23 608		ANNUAL PARISH MEETING & NEXT ORDINARY MEETING Th e Annual Parish Meeting would be held on 24 April. The Clerk would write again to Chief Superintendent Stephens. A buffet would be arranged. The next ordinary meeting of the Council was due to be held on Tuesday 10 April. The chairman requested this be changed as otherwise he would not be able to attend. It was agreed to hold the meeting on Thursday 12 April.
24 609		REPORTS AND CIRCULARS The reports and circulars as listed on the agenda were received.
25 610		ANY OTHER BUSINESS No matters were raised.
26 611		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.
27 612		THE BRIMP Ongoing.

613

VILLAGE HALL ROOF

Ongoing.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.59 pm.

C/02/2007/1-27

APOLOGIES

Appeals and Other Matters

Footpaths

Representative's Report

CLERK'S REPORT