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Before commencing the meeting, the Chairman opened the public session.

Matters raised were:

Policing. Mrs George asked when the police would attend a meeting. The Chairman read a letter received from Superintendent Stella Mercer.

No other matters were raised..

The Chairman introduced Tom Calvert, Rural Transport Officer, Medway Council. Mr Calvert spoke about his role and agreed to write an article for inclusion in the next issue of the magazine.

As the Webmaster, Clive Stanley was present, the Chairman invited him to speak in advance of the item on the agenda. Mr Stanley said that the website had received over 3,000 hits since its launch in October, although some o these would have been access by himself and the Clerk. He reminded councillors that he was still waiting for material.

The Chairman thanked Mr Calvert, Mr Stanley and the members of the public and opened the meeting.

Item no
(Minute no 04/05)

1
389

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from

Cllr Mrs Pam Burrows -- indisposed

Cllr John Luck -- Attending another meeting on behalf of the Council

and were accepted by the Council.

2
390

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND MEMBERS’ REGISTER OF INTERESTS

Cllr Colyer declared a personal interest in item 9c as the caretaker’s husband. Cllr Swaby declared a personal interest should any item refer to the Bourne Leisure Park chalets and a prejudicial interest in item 17b, consultation about rate relief on holiday homes.

3
391
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 14 DECEMBER 2004

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Forrest, seconded by Cllr Morrad and agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2004 be signed as a true record.

4 MATTERS ARISING
392

C/12/04/17a(386): Environment Agency Floodscape Meeting, 20 December

Mr Sam Barnes had attended on behalf of the Council and the Chairman suspended the meeting to allow Mr Barnes to give a verbal report.

Mr Barnes said that at the meeting, two barriers across the estuary had been mentioned but on the news that evening it appeared one barrier from Sheerness to Shoeburyness was being put forward by architects Terry Farrell and Partners. It was felt there was something going on that not enough was known about. The Environment Agency staff had not known about the Richard Montgomery or the presence of underwater pipelines.

He Chairman thanked Mr Barnes and reconvened the meeting. A brief discussion followed.

5 POLICE MATTERS
393 a Parish Constable’s Report

In PC Bateup’s absence, there was no report.

394 b Police Liaison Representative’s Report

Cllr Luck was attending the meeting that evening.

395 c Visit by Area Commander

A letter had been received from Superintendent Stella Mercer, who apologised for not being able to attend either the last meeting or that meeting and asked when the next meeting was. The Clerk had responded.

396 d Private Purchase of Speed Cameras

The Clerk had received some information from Sevenoaks District Council and had put PC Bateup in touch with a colleague at North West Kent Police. PC Bateup had left a message that the cameras could still be used and was finding out more.

6
PLANNING
a Applications

397 i MC2004/2802: 144 Avery Way: Loft conversion

No objection.

398 Out of Time

None

399 b Decisions

None notified.

c Appeals and Other Matters

400 i MC2004/1914: Allhallows Place, Stoke Road: Change of use of land to caravan and camping site with siting of an amenity block: revised drawings

This had been considered by Medway Council’s Development Control Committee and it had been agreed to hold a site meeting. No date had been notified.

401 ii SEERA: S E Plan, Pre-consultation

The pre-consultation leaflet was received.

402 iii E-ON: Grain Power Station

The environmental statements were received.

7 FINANCE
403 a Bank Balances

The bank balances as listed on Appendix B were noted.

404 b Cheques signed since last meeting

None.

405 c Accounts for Payment

It was proposed by Cllr Marsh, seconded by Cllr Mrs Forrest and agreed that the accounts as listed on Appendix B be paid (cheques 101974 – 101977) with the addition of £10.00 to Medway Council (101978).

406 d Review of Budget 2005/6 and Precept 2005/6

Further information about the funding of the PCSO had been received, he would now be funded by top slicing ward improvement money and the rural liaison grant. When this had been made known, the Chairman had asked the Clerk to speak to members of the Finance Committee, with a view to recommending the removal of the £1,500 allocation from the budget and reducing the precept. The Clerk had first spoken to Cllr Mrs Burrows, who had firmly been of the opinion that if the rural liaison grant was to be top sliced, projects might be compromised and wished the budget and precept to remain as agreed. The matter was thoroughly discussed and it was proposed by Cllr Festorazzi, seconded by Cllr Marsh and agreed the budget and precept remain as previously adopted.

8
407 GRANT APPLICATIONS

None.

9 HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT
408
a Footpaths

Cllr Marsh said he wished to look at the St Mary Hoo paths with Cllr Budd. The strimmer had been recalled by the manufacturer for a safety check. Cllr Morrad said that the road that went through the golf course was a RUPP and he understood the Government would be bringing in legislation for closure. Cllrs Marsh and Festorazzi agreed to request the path be established as a byway.

409 b Tree Warden’s Report

Cllr Colyer said he there had been no damage by the recent high winds.

410 c Litter Picking

The caretaker would log the number of bags she filled. Cllr Swaby had received a compliment from a resident about the area by the shops. The Clerk said she had spoken to Cllr Mrs Bamber and they had agreed to monitor the situation and meet with the caretaker if it deteriorated.

411 d Lighting

Cllr Colyer would report two lights out by the school and one in Queensway.

412 e Transport

Cllr Marsh had nothing to add to the talk given by Mr Calvert.

10 MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL’S LAND AND PROPERTY
a Village Hall

413  i Cllr Mrs Forrest said the next meeting was the following Monday.

414  ii Roof. The Clerk had sent the report to Trading Standards. They had confirmed there was a case but suggested they put pressure on Alltask to put the roof right and to have it inspected by the Building Control Officer. This course of action had been agreed.

415   iii Garden Area. Cllr Colyer reported the work would start soon, depending upon the weather.

416 b Woodland, Avery Way

The Clerk and Cllr Colyer would arrange a date when Cllr Colyer would be available to escort tree surgeons.

417 c Recreation Ground

i General Maintenance. Nothing to report.
ii Lease. Cllr Swaby reported on a meeting he and the Clerk had had with David Howe of Medway Council. A new lease would be drafted and would include the woodland between Avery Way and the development site. Rent would be £400 pa, payable in advance in one payment and there would be a charge for the legal work entailed. Medway Council would inspect the trees and carry out any remedial work before the new lease was signed. Access through the development site was also discussed and it had been agreed that the Council should be involved at an early stage with any planning application.
iii Youth shelter. The discussion with David Howe had included the siting of a youth shelter. It would be ordered when the new lease was signed.

418 d All Saints Playground

The Clerk was asked to contact David Wallace of the Stoke Allotments Association.

11
419 VITAL VILLAGES PARISH PLAN

The draft questionnaire had been circulated to members of the Steering Group.

12 RURAL LIAISON COMMITTEE
420 a Representative’s Report

Cllr Swaby reported on the last meeting. Tom Calvert had given a presentation. Discussion on the Environment Agency Floodscape proposals had taken up some time. In future there would be 6 meetings a year.

13 KAPC/MEDWAY AREA COMMITTEE
421 a Representative’s Report

Neither Cllr Morrad nor Cllr Festorazzi had been able to attend the last meeting.

14 COMMUNICATION
422 a Villagers’ Life Magazine

Some advertisements would be removed due to non-payment. Quotations would be obtained from alternative printers. Cllr Mrs Burrows suggested approaching Alan Taylor Printing Services.

423 b Web Site

John Burrows’s photographs were now on the website. Cllr Marsh was reminded to write a winter walk for the site.

15
424 CLERK’S REPORT

Nothing to report.

16
CONSULTATION

425 a Allhallows Golf Club Transfer of Justices’ Licence

The hearing was due to take place the following morning. Under the circumstances the matter had been dealt with by the Clerk with the advice of the Chairman between meetings and the letter of objection was tabled. Its contents were ratified.

426 b Rate Relief for Holiday Homes

The Chairman, who had declared a prejudicial interest as an occupier of a time-limited property, left the room and Cllr Morrad took the chair.

In 2004 Medway Council had decided to keep the holiday rate relief to 50%, although the Government permitted raising this to 90%, but the decision had to be reviewed. They were now consulting the Council as part of that review. Cllr Morrad said that permanent residence was taking place even in the of-season. It was believed that about 30 chalets were being occupied illegally at that moment. Cllr Colyer said that even if the relief was raised to 90%, no extra facilities would be provided. After discussion it was agreed that it was unfair that genuine holiday accommodation should be charged virtually the same as ordinary homes.

The Chairman returned and resumed the chair.

17 CORRESPONDENCE
427 a Kent and Medway Funding Fair – Catherine Smith

The Clerk would attend the fair on 3 February.

18
428 REPORTS AND CIRCULARS

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

20 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

429 a Freedom of Information Act

It was suggested to members that, should they be approached to provide information under the Act, members of the public be referred to the Clerk.

430 b IT Evening

Cllrs Swaby and Mrs Burrows had attended an evening on IT access to the public. A public access point would be installed at the top of Avery Way.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.45 pm.

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