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Highlights from a Parish Council meeting of 4th March, 2008.
1. Annual Parish Meeting. March 18th. The APM is a meeting for the benefit of parishioners. This year, a different style of meeting would be attempted: the work of the Parish Council would be explained. Each of four sections would be followed by a question and answer session. The intention was to increase awareness of the tasks, aims and future plans of the Parish Council.
2. Footpath map at Kingsdown. This map was out of date and difficult to interpret. It would be removed for refurbishment/replacement.
3. Finance update (estimates): Savings account: £2,723 ; current account: £5,288 ; Community Orchard account: £2,800.
4. Parish councillors’ allowances. It was decided to continue not to claim expense allowances.
5. New arrangements for managing the Community Orchard. With the end of the Heritage Lottery funding, it was necessary to move the management closer to Parish Council control and devise a means of sustaining the orchard as a community resource into the future. Terms for a new Community Orchard Committee, consisting of parish councillors as well members of the community, were agreed.
6. Planning. The following planning applications were discussed at Planning Committee meetings on 28th January and 3rd March:
- SW/07/1492. Eleven ‘Affordable’ houses, etc. Land next to Vigo Farm, Lynsted Lane. This was one of the sites in Teynham and Lynsted identified as suitable for this type of housing during a survey carried out by the Parish Council and Teynham Parish, in association with Swale Borough Council and Action for Communities in Rural Kent (ex KRCC). No objection, but concerns expressed about the position of the traffic exit, retention of the bus shelter/stop, parking design and extent of environmental measures.
- SW/08/0138. Redevelopment of Mill Cottage, Mill Lane. No objection.
- SW/08/0154. Extension, 3 Orchard Cottage, Norton Lane, Norton. (Reapplication). No objection.
Swale BC determinations:
- SW/08/1354. Extension, 3 Orchard Cottages, Norton Lane, Norton. Refused. (Parish Council had not objected).
- SW/07/0099. Farm Access Road, Hole Street Farm, Kingsdown. Granted. (PC had not objected).
- TP/07/0110. Tree pruning, Five Oaks, the Vallance. Allowed. (the PC had not objected).
7. Bring-sites. The SBC Recycling Officer had asked the Parish Council about the activity with respect to bottle banks in the parish, since yield had dropped substantially since the introduction of the blue bin kerbside collection.
A check with the landlords at the Swan and the Black Lion revealed satisfaction with the current arrangements: they benefited the pubs and community. This ‘no change required’ view a was fed back to SBC.
8. Joint Playing Fields. Vandalism and trespass continued to be a problem, causing a needless financial drain. The police were involved in tackling the problem.
NOTE. Full minutes, once signed and adopted, are available for inspection at Teynham Library, on the Parish Council website www.lkpc.org.uk, or by arrangement with the Clerk (phone 476 606).
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 15th April, at the Belle Friday Centre, London Road, starting at 7.30pm.
Parish Council meetings are open to the public, who are warmly welcome. Parishioners may make a brief statement at the start of the meeting, if they wish.
R Baxter,
Chairman.
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