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LYNSTED with KINGSDOWN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting held on 4th October 2005 at the Belle Friday Centre from 7.30 pm
Present:
Councillors: Baxter, Champion, Bowling, Darling and Disney. Ward Councillors S Butt, R Barnicott. Mrs Madden
Julia Kitt (Clerk)
1 Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Jones, English, Barrett and Ward Councillor Bowles
2 Public Speaking
Mrs Madden used the opportunity to make a statement asking what Cllr Darling felt she could contribute to the Council. Cllr Darling stated she would like to take part in the local community and put something back into Lynsted.
3 Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest
4 Minutes of the last meeting
Approval of the minutes of the meeting of the 23rd august was proposed by Cllr Darling and seconded by Cllr Disney. This was agreed
5 Matters arising
There was no date as yet for the installation of the interactive speed sign on London Road A letter had been received from Mr Thomas, querying the exact position of this device. Cllr Barnicott suggested it would be installed before the end of the fiscal year.
After the correspondence relating to the water problem at Loyterton Cottages it was agreed that nothing further could be done by the Parish Council. The Clerk to inform Mr Clayton at the above address.
K.A.P.C. were asked if a husband and wife team could be on the same Parish Council. Their response was that this was allowed. A cllr., however, could not take part in the consideration of, or voting for, a candidate who was his/her spouse.
A meeting had been held with Robin Colyer, Andew Bowles, Frank Champion and John Disney regarding the bus layby at the school. The Headmistress was keen and had also drawn up plans for further reduction in congestion during peak times. The feeling at the end of the meeting was that the financial issue would not be a constraint. The new build at the school was already underway.
The Footway on Lynsted Lane from Harnets Bogle to the School was still difficult to pass and had not been cleared. This would continue to be chased.
The Secretary of the LDS Core Team had responded to our letter about the Supplementary Planning Status of the Parish Design Statement and its relationship to the emerging Parish Plan. It was agreed that the Council should liaise with the Core Team once the formal views of Mr Bessant were know.
It was noted that a Sustainability Appraisal of the Draft Local Plan for Swale was now available on the internet
6 Consultation on the Draft South East Regional Plan
This strategic plan was quite wide reaching and would replace the last Structure Plan for Kent and Medway by 2008. Copies were distributed. If Cllrs wished to comment they should let Cllr Baxter know as soon as possible
7 Parish Plan
The steering committee were to meet shortly to agree a strategy, prioritise the points and see if any more analysing is required. See attached Report. Cllr Disney would present a more formal report for the next meeting.
8 Village of the Year 2005 Competition
Lynsted had done well this year and under the category ‘Environment Action’ had been Highly commended. Copies of the certificate would be displayed on the notice boards
Mr Heriz-Smith had independently entered Lynsted under the category ’Information Technology’ and had been commended.
Correspondence from the sponsors, Action with Communities in Rural Kent’, suggested we enter again for 2005/6 and under more categories. They felt Lynsted had more to offer. After some discussion it was agreed to put this on the agenda for the next meeting. An effective entry would take much work by many parish groups.
Many thanks were due to Cllrs Baxter and Disney for achieving this year’s success.
9 Casual Vacancy
There were no applications as yet. There would be a meeting on the 8th November at the Belle Friday Centre at 7.30pm should there be more than one application. The clerk would notify members of the situation as soon as the deadline of November 1st was past.
10 Affordable Housing
EHRA claimed to have had a successful presentation on the 20th September concerning their proposed scheme to contrast 11 affordable houses at Vigo Farm. 60 people had attended with three ‘interest’ forms being returned completed.
However, this site still had to be approved by the authorities; planning permission had not yet been sought or given. The 3 affordable units at St Pauls Court were not being considered by ERHA. Eleven units was felt to be excess to needs
It was agreed that matters needed to be clarified with ERHA and Swale Borough Council. A meeting with the Housing development Officer would be organised by the Clerk.
11 Finance
The following cheques were proposed for payment, by Cllrs Disney and Darling and agreed
- ‘535£141.00 Audit Commission
- ‘536£17.00 Faversham Trophies, Greenstreet in Bloom
- ‘537 £30.00 Royal British Legion, Wreath for Remembrance Sunday
- ‘538£23.04 J Kitt expenses
*Note Cllr Baxter offered to lay the wreath on behalf of the Parish Council
12 Planning
As from May 2005 a Planning Progress Table has been prepared for circulation at full Parish Council meetings. For this reason the planning applications will no longer be listed here
Millwood had responded to the Council stating that there were no funds available for contribution to a footway from Berkeley corner to the cemetery extension although they would keep the issue under review. Cllr Disney agreed to draft a response to this.
There would be another planning meeting on the 10th October at the Belle Friday Centre from 7.30pm
Cllrs Butt and Barnicott left the meeting. They mentioned that all Ward Councillors had a meeting at Swale on the 15th November and they would be unable to attend the next Parish Council meeting.
13 Reports
- KAPC Cllrs Disney and Baxter attended the last meeting of the Swale Area on September 5th. Mr Bessant had stated that he would complete his letter to the Parish Council about SPG status of Design Statements. See attached report.
- Playing Fields Cluttons have yet to contribute to the cost of repairing the cabins, many copy invoices have been sent. A Health and Safety notice warning of uneven ground did not last long at the field. This would not be set up again; it would merely litter the ground.
John Kemp was Chairman of the Sports Association.
Cllr Bowling would provide the finance information for the clerk in time for the Finance Committees Precept meeting on the 22nd November
- Lighting The globe at no 2 Lynsted Lane required repair. This had been reported to edf.
- Footpaths Cllr Barrett had already reported ZR269 was impassable on the approach from Lynsted Street. This had been reported. One of the points from the Parish plan questionnaire was that some footpaths were not maintained. The clerk was to put a notice in the Newsletter such that any impassable footpaths should be notified to the clerk so that she can get the item on the works schedule.
- Tree Warden Concerned parishioners had informed the Tree Ward (Cllr Baxter) that a magnificent mature silver birch had been felled in Cellar Hill. The Parish Council asked Cllr Baxter to seek clarification from the Tree Officer at Swale Borough Council. The site was in a conservation area.
- Transport and Highways The clerk had received a ‘County Lengthsmen’ schedule and she would add a number of repairs needed in the parish. Any further repairs should be notified to the clerk as soon as possible so that the works can be submitted. The Lengthsmen apparently, will visit each area every six months.
- Police Liaison Graham Mart would be asked whether it was against the law to park on a curve in the road making it dangerous for vehicles to pass. The particular place where this was a problem was opposite Vigo Terrace where owners had been warned not to park with wheels on the footways, preventing passage of pedestrians.
- Standards Committee The Parish Council asked the Standards Committee, at their next meeting, to consider a standard and objective method of assessing and rating candidates who have applied to be a councillor
- Properties and allotments J & Y Systems had tendered for a number of small repairs to properties. The total cost of £232 was deemed to be reasonable and they would be asked to start the repairs.
Several allotments were untidy at the moment and the landowner, Mr Fox, had told Cllr Champion that they would not be available for rent should they remain in a poor state.
The Properties and Allotment Committee agreed to decide on a strategy for dealing with this situation and report at the next Parish Council meeting. One of the problems appeared to be the size of the plots, perhaps they were too large.
The salt bin on Lynsted Lane would shortly have the foliage removed.
- Orchard Committee A report was submitted to the Committee. A Halloween Event was to be held on Sunday 30th October. The Lynsted with Kingsdown Society’s ‘Fungus Foray’ will start at the Orchard on 9th October.
- Website It was important to keep the information fresh as minutes and agendas are popular.
14 Clerk’s Correspondence
Sheila Buttle ,had report the latest good, news on the resurfacing of the M2 through the parish.
A Phipps had written to ask the Parish Council to support his bid to retain his position in the Fire and Rescue Service, despite the regulation requiring him to retire. It was decided that the Parish Council could not interfere with Fire Service personnel matters, but should register concern that loss of staff might result in reduced fire and rescue service delivery. The Clerk would write to Mr Phipps and to the Fire and Rescue Management
15 Any Other Business
The next meeting would be on the 15th November 2005 at the Community Room, Lynsted. As the following meeting would normally fall on the 27th December, it was agreed that this would be brought forward to the 20th December, to avoid the holiday period.
The meeting was closed at 9.35 pm.
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