C/03/2007/1-23

PRESENT:

Cllr David Coomber

Chairman

Cllr Gordon Bird

Cllr Mrs Nancy Bird

Cllr Mrs Pam Coomber

Cllr Peter Hicks

From item 4

Cllr Tom Mason

Cllr David Miller

Cllr Geoff Moore

Mrs Roxana Brammer

Clerk

In attendance

Mr David Levy

Footpaths Officer

Items 1-5, 19, 6

Mr Clive Stanley

Webmaster

Items 1-5, 19, 6

Item

Minute number 2007/8

Action point

1

1

APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from

Cllr Ken Bamber

Indisposed

Cllr Gary Etheridge

At work

Cllr Mrs Jane Etheridge

At another meeting

Cllr Mrs Brenda Hoskin

Indisposed

It was proposed by Cllr Coomber, seconded by Cllr Moore and carried unanimously that these apologies be accepted by the Council.

An apology for late arrival was received from Cllr Hicks.

2

CODE OF CONDUCT

2

a

Declarations of Interest and Alterations to the Register

None.

3

b

Standards Committee

No meeting had been held.

3

4

ANY OTHER BUSINESS OF AN URGENT NATURE

None.

4

5

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22 MARCH 2007

It was proposed by Cllr Bird, seconded by Cllr Mrs Coomber and agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2007 be signed as a true record.

5

6

MATTERS ARISING

No matters were raised.

19

7

WEBSITE

The Chairman suspended the meeting to allow Mr Stanley to present his report.

Mr Stanley thanked the Council for their continuing support. The site had had 1,762 visitors during March, the highest monthly figure. He had been contacted by a lady from Chattenden asking if there was a local Rainbows group and by a resident of Hoo asking about old maps. He had put some local events on the site, mainly at Upnor Castle . The two most used search terms were “school buildings” and “Upper Upnor”.

The Chairman thanked Mr Stanley and reconvened the meeting.

6

FOOTPATHS

8

a

Representative's Report

The Chairman suspended the meeting to allow Mr Levy to give his report.

Mr Levy said the strimmers had been serviced and he would recommence strimming. The work on the ditches on the footpath from Four Elms Hill to Islingham Farm had been done because the ditches were not draining away. Notices had been place in Chattenden Woods banning motorcycles and action was being taken by the MoD and police.

The Chairman thanked Mr Levy and reconvened the meeting.

7

UPNOR

9

a

Upnor Society

The minutes of the Society's AGM held on 13 March were received. The next meeting was on 30 April.

10

b

Environmental Enhancement Project

The Chairman reported on a further meeting with the Arethusa Venture Centre and the Commodore of Medway Yacht Club, together with Emma Powell of Groundwork. Alistair Bayford had now left. Miss Powell would draw up the final plans ready for submission for planning consent

11

c

Yellow Lines, Lower Upnor

Correspondence and copy correspondence from Roger Bishop had been circulated. Since the preparation of the agenda, the yellow lines had been extended. The Clerk would follow this up.

8

PLANNING

a

Applications

12

i

MC2007/0577: land rear of 48 Hollywood Lane , Wainscott: Development of detached four bedroom chalet style house with integral garage

No objection in principle to a dwelling on this site. The Parish Council supports the representation made by its Footpaths Officer, Mr David Levy and would add that if it proves that the fencing off of the public right of way is not feasible, a turning circle is constructed and that the provision of this and/or the separation of the right of way from the vehicular access is a condition of any consent.

13

ii

MC2007/0578: 29 Hawkenbury Rise, Frindsbury Extra: Conversion of garage to habitable room

No objection.

14

iii

MC2007/0706: Land at Hollywood Lane/Brompton Farm Road: Application under Part 24 of the Town and Country planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) for a determination in respect of prior approval of development proposed by O2 consisting of installation of a 15m replica telegraph pole and associated equipment cabinet mobile telephone base station)

It was agreed the Council object to the use of this site for the phone mast. The Council was attempting to tidy up the site and problems constantly arose with the parking of BT vans when BT engineers needed to access the telephone cabinet already on the land. The intention of the mast was to provide better coverage for Wainscott and it was considered it should be sited closer to Wainscott in order to achieve this objective. The mobile phone company should also bear in mind the Wainscott development in siting the mast for the best coverage of Wainscott and it was felt the proposed site of the corner of Brompton Farm Road and Cooling Road would probably be unsuitable. The planning authority's attention would be drawn to the objections of neighbouring residents.

15

b

Decisions

The decisions as listed on Appendix A were noted.

16

c

Appeals and Other Matters

None.

17

d

Licensing Applications

None.

18

e

Minutes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on 12 April 2007

Noted.

9

FINANCE

19

a

Bank Balances

The bank balances as listed on appendix B were noted.

20

b

Cheques Signed Since the Last Meeting

None

21

c

Accounts for Payment

It was proposed by Cllr Hicks, seconded by Cllr Moore and agreed the accounts for payment (cheques 101041 – 101046) as listed in Appendix B be approved, together with £106.86 David Levy, reimbursement for strimmer service (101047).

10

22

GRANT APPLICATIONS

None.

11

MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S LAND AND PROPERTY

23

a

Recreation Ground

i   General Maintenance. Medway Council's new contractor had strimmed the perimeter and the bank. The hall fence needed pegging down.

ii  Playground Engineering Inspection. The Clerk had yet to go through the report with Daniel Godden.

iii Goal posts. Rochester Rangers had not installed the new goal posts.

12

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT

24

a

Traffic Scheme, Brompton Farm Road/Hollywood Lane

The Chairman reported the post for the speed indicator device had now been installed.

25

b

Roundabouts, Medway City Estate

The poor standard of maintenance of the roundabouts on the Medway City Estate was raised. The Clerk to approach the Highways Manager.

13

26

LIGHTING

Nothing to report.

14

27

YOUTH

Nothing to report.

15

RURAL LIAISON COMMITTEE

28

a

Representative's Report

No meeting.

 29

30

31

b

Projects

i   Seats, Lower Upnor. On-going.

ii  Wainscott Village sign. On-going..

iii  Kick wall. On order.

iv  Cooling Road/Brompton Farm Road corner. On-going.

16

KAPC/MAC

32

a

Representatives' Report

No meeting.

17

HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

33

a

Representative's Report

No meeting.

34

b

Hall Improvements/Extension

Cllr Mrs Coomber said the cord on the new curtain track was unsatisfactory and the supplier had been asked to rectify it.

18

POLICE MATTERS

35

a

Police Liaison Committee representative's report

Cllr Miller said the next meeting was on 1 May and he would not be attending, but he would appreciate it if someone could deputise for him. The Chairman reported on the meeting that he and Cllr Mrs Bamber had had with Chief Inspector Peter Wedlake. He had accepted his letter should not have been sent to Cllr Miller and offered to apologise personally. Inspector Robin Wharfe had also been present at the meeting. It was agreed there was no structure to the liaison meetings. Robin Wharfe had drawn up terms of reference and the Cllr Coomber had suggested that a Chairman should be appointed from among the parish representatives.

36

b

Neighbourhood Watch

Cllr Miller reported he had no crime reports.

37

c

Speed Watch

The Clerk reported that Robin Wharfe had informed her there was a new police liaison officer, who would be in touch shortly.

20

38

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Alastair Martin of Trading Standards had accepted the invitation to be the guest speaker. The Clerk would ask Jill Todd to promote the meeting in the local papers.

21

39

CONSULTATION

No documents received.

22

40

CORRESPONDENCE

None.

23

41

REPORTS AND CIRCULARS

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