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Highlights from the meeting of 10th April, 2007
Chairman’s End of Term Report. In commenting on the Council’s activities over the four-year term that ends in May, Tom English paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of his fellow parish councillors. He was pleased to note that , unusually for a what is often regarded as a ‘thankless task’, the Council had received praise from high quarters. Lynsted with Kingsdown was regarded as one of the better Councils in the area. He had a special word for his Vice Chairman as a steadying influence at times!
He was pleased to record the provision of Part One of the long-awaited footway on Lynsted Lane, during the Term – although completion of the footway with Phase Two remains a highest priority.
He noted that the creation of a Community Cherry Orchard at Park Farm had been an outstanding success, with parishioners enjoying the many events, from blossom picnics to opera. He recorded his appreciation to orchard owners Pip and Sue Neaves, for their sustained support.
A Parish Plan had been produced. This had involved a survey of parishioners’ aspirations, which had evoked a fantastic response. The resulting Action Plan includes the commissioning of a Design Study for the environmental improvement of Greenstreet.
The Standards Committee’ work load had increased markedly in response to Government legislation that has placed more responsibility on parish councils.
During the Term, the Council lost the services of Julia Kitt, and Tom paid tribute to her seven years of dedicated work as the Council’s Clerk. The Council was fortunate in securing a new clerk: Liz Attwood had shown a quick and enthusiastic grasp of the work. The role of Clerk position is so important to the smooth running of the Council.
Tom regretted to have to report something of a ‘negative’: the receipt of a formal Complaint about how the Council operated. This had required the formation of a Complaints Committee to deal with the matter. Members of this Committee, and other councillors, subsequently devoted many hours that could have been spent servicing the needs of the community, seeking guidance, analysing the issue and communicating with the Complainant. The outcome of the process the Council was obliged to go through was that there appeared to be no case to answer.
The Chairman concluded by thanking members of the Council for their support, and wishing candidates all success in the forthcoming election.
Local elections. Cllr English announced that there were 10 candidates confirmed for the 9 Parish Council positions. There would therefore need to be an election. The following councillors were seeking election: Julie Barrett, Bob Baxter, Yvonne Bowling, Frank Champion, Angela Darling, Anne Dawes, John Disney and Tom English. The other candidates were Bernard Broughton and Mark Jones. Voting would occur at the time of the local elections: Thursday 3rd May.
Parish Plan. Greenstreet. Following some difficulty that Teynham PC had about forming a joint committee, a proposal for Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council to lead the improvement of Greenstreet initiative, with Teynham P C invited to provide observers, was accepted. This was not unanimous: there was a minority view that funding acquired by Lynsted P C should not be applied to Teynham parish. So far, £2000 had been committed to the scheme by KCC.
Environment Working Group. Teynham Parochial Primary School had carried out a successful ‘litter-pick‘ in and around the school grounds. The subsequent anti-litter posted designing competition had been judged by Cllrs, Sharman, Butt and Baxter, and the prize awarded to 9-year-old Jessica Jenner by Teynham Parish Council chairman Brian Sharman. Publicity and equipment had been arranged through KCC’s Clean Kent Campaign. Lynsted and Norton Primary School had yet to complete its poster campaign.
Lynsted Lane footway, Phase 2. Recent communications from KCC were contrary to previous messages. Clarification would be pursued.
Subsidiarity funding. This was funding held by Swale B C , but distributed to community projects through the Parish Council. Allocation for 2007-8 would probably be £3,500, and there was ‘roll-over’ from previous years. The newly elected Parish Council would be calling for requests for funding in a future edition of the News Letter.
Planning.The following applications were considered at the Planning Committee meeting on 29th March:
- SW/07/0287. Conversion of pub to 4 flats. The Fox ,London Road. No objection.
- SW/07/0289. Reserved matters. Amethyst Nurseries, Lynsted Lane. No objection.
- SW/07/0254. Garage conversion to 4 bedrooms. The George pub, London Road, Lynsted. No objection.
SBC determinations:
Development at No 9, the Vallance. Allowed.
Report from KAPC Planning Information Day, 17th March. Cllr Baxter considered the Day to have been a useful revision and update. Forecast loss of county level strategic planning to regional level was unfortunate, as was predicted loosening of countryside protection, loss of traditional boundaries, and downturn in the quality of planning application assessment, as substance was sacrificed for speed of throughput. A copy of the speakers’ slides was available.
Request for street lighting at Tickham Lane. The request had been received on behalf of a disabled resident, via KCC. Although sympathetic to the resident’s problem, the Council resolved that it could not support the idea, on the grounds that such lighting was not appropriate in the countryside, and would represent a precedent in terms of light pollution.
Alleged abandoned vehicle. The Council had received a complaint about a vehicle in Cellar Hill. It had been left on the verge for at least a year. The Council resolved to report the matter to Swale B C.
Website. Visitor numbers remained very satisfactory. A Google search facility had been added, to aid navigation.
Orchard Committee. All was in place for Blossom Day on Sunday 29th April. National newspapers and magazines were now showing an interest in the Park Farm Community Orchard Project (see separate article).
The next meeting would need to be arranged by the new Council, after the elections. It would probably be held at the Belle Friday Centre on Tuesday 15th May.
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