C/07/2008/1-24

PRESENT:

Cllr David Coomber

Chairman

Cllr Trevor Archer

Cllr Mrs Valerie Archer

Cllr Mrs Pam Coomber

Cllr Peter Hicks

Cllr Tom Mason

Cllr David Miller

Cllr Geoff Moore

Mrs Roxana Brammer

Clerk

In attendance

Cllr Les Wicks

Medway Council

Item

Minute number 2009/10

Action point

1

204

APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from

Cllr Gary Etheridge

On holiday

Cllr Jane Etheridge

On holiday

Cllr Mrs Brenda Hoskin

Family commitment

It was proposed by Cllr Coomber, seconded by Cllr Moore and carried unanimously that thes3 apologies be accepted by the Council.

2

CODE OF CONDUCT

205

a

Declarations of Interest and Alterations to the Register

None.

206

b

Standards Committee

The Chairman reported on the meeting held on 12 August. The Committee had considered the new 2009 regulations and a dispensation had been given to 3 members of St Mary Hoo Parish Council for a major highways planning application near their homes.

3

207

ANY OTHER BUSINESS OF AN URGENT NATURE

None.

4

208

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 23 JULY 2009

It was proposed by Cllr Archer, seconded by Cllr Mason and agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 2009 be signed as a true record, subject to the following amendments:

Add Cllr Mrs Hoskin to those present.

Minute 193 to read:  “Cllr Mrs Archer said she had been elected Vice-chairman.”

5

209

MATTERS ARISING

No matters were raised.

6

210

RESIGNATION OF PAUL RIBBONS

The resignation of Paul Ribbons was recorded. The statutory notice had been displayed and the time period had expired. No election had been called. Mrs Georgina Revell had expressed interest and it was agreed she be co-opted at the next meeting.

7

211

FOOTPATHS

In the absence of both the Footpath Officer and Assistant Footpaths Officer, there was no report.

8

UPNOR

212

a

Upnor Residents Association

Cllr Moore reported on the last meeting. The Chairman and Secretary were continuing in office. They had mainly discussed social events. They were aiming to appoint a representative from each street. The boot fair had been mentioned, but it appeared there were no longer any problems.

213

b

Lower Upnor Riverside Project

Cllr Hicks reported on the presentation by Shiels Flynn of a project profile that would be of help for raising funding for the project. The quotation by Green Acre Landscapes for the soft landscaping element of the village green phase was discussed. The Clerk would speak to the contractor about the possibility of the Council’s purchasing the plants which would save VAT. A hard landscaper had seen the site and had given a verbal quote of £22,000 but no breakdown and nothing in writing had been received.

214

c

Frog Island Pond

The Dickens Country Protection Society wanted to restore the pond and was seeking financial contributions. They would be asked to submit quotations as part of a grant application.

9

PLANNING

a

Applications

215

i

MC2009/1192: Crest Nicholson Development, Wainscott: Approval of reserved matters (external appearance and landscaping) of outline planning permission MC2005/0671 for residential development, health centre, retail facilities, parking facilities, open spaces, acoustic barrier, new access and landscaping.

No objection

216

ii

MC2009/1244: Land adjacent to 1 Benenden Road, Wainscott: Construction of a 3 bedroomed detached house and provision of 2 off road parking spaces

After discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Mason, seconded by Cllr Archer and agreed to object as follows:

Frindsbury Extra Parish Council objected to an earlier application to build on this site:

"Frindsbury Extra Parish Council objects to this application on highway and access grounds. The site is in an elevated position, at the top of a steep bank. Pedestrian access would have to be created by means of steps and access would be unsuitable or impossible for a disabled person. For a parking space to be created, the bank would have to be excavated. Access from the road would be on a distinct bend in the road, created by the alteration to the road by the roadworks undertaken in the last 10 years at the junction of the A228 and the Medway Tunnel approach road. Parked cars on this new stretch are already of aggravation to local residents due to the enforced narrowing of the road by the parked cars. A vehicle leaving such a parking space on the bend would cause added difficulty. The parking space shown on the plans at 1 Benenden Road does not exist, therefore no precedent has been set."

The Parish Council reiterates those comments. Members consider the construction of a house in such a prominent position would be detrimental to the street scene. Additionally, one of the ward councillors has informed the Parish Council that there is a possibility of reconstructing the junction of Benenden Road so that it runs directly onto the A228 at Frindsbury Hill. If this takes place, the parking spaces would be directly onto a major road junction.

217

iii

MC2009/1249: Land between Frittenden Road and Wainscott Road, Wainscott: Village sign

No comment, as the Parish Council’s own application

218

Out of Time

The response to the out of time application as listed on Appendix A was ratified.

219

b

Decisions

The decisions as listed on Appendix A were noted.

c

Appeals and Other Matters

220

i

Manor Farm

Mr Roberts asked councillors to contact him direct as private individuals if they had any further thoughts or suggestions.

221

ii

LDF Core Strategy Issues & options Report consultation

Received.

222

iii

MC2009/0036: APP/A2280/A/09/2103669: 47 Wainscott Road

It was noted that the appeal against refusal of planning consent had been dismissed.

223

d

Licensing Applications

None.

224

e

Planning Committee Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10 August were received.

10

FINANCE

225

a

Bank Balances

The bank balances as listed on appendix B were noted.

226

b

Cheques Signed Since the Last Meeting

The cheques signed since the last meeting as listed on Appendix B were ratified.

227

c

Accounts for Payment

It was proposed by Cllr Hicks, seconded by Cllr Miller and agreed the accounts for payment (cheques 101251 – 101258) as listed in Appendix B be approved.

228

d

Training

KALC Finance Information Day. Noted.

11

229

GRANT APPLICATIONS

None.

12

MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL’S LAND AND PROPERTY

230

a

Recreation Ground

Cllr Miller asked if the notice saying that dogs were not allowed in the playpark could be replaced.

231

b

Allotments

Nothing to report

232

c

Woodland

The Clerk reported that the arboriculturalist would be surveying the trees at the rear of 8 Margetts Place the following day. The copy letter from Mr Butler to the Monitoring Officer was received.

233

d

Hedges

The Chairman said that the Brompton Farm Road hedge needed trimming.

13

234

YOUTH

Nothing to report.

14

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT

235

a

Upchat Road and Upnor Road

The e-mail sent by a resident of Lower Upnor had been forwarded to the Highways Manager.

236

b

Stonehorse Lane

The Chairman reported that part of the hedge had been removed and had been replaced by a fence.  Cllr Hicks said he would investigate.

PH

237

c

B2000/BROMPTON FARM ROAD

It was reported that the B2108 sign on the mini roundabout at this junction had been knocked askew.

238

d

Traffic Calming

The Chairman reported he had not heard anything further about the S 106 agreement for the Crest Nicholson development and traffic calming in Hollywood Lane and Brompton Farm Road. He had written to Medway Council  about this and had sent a copy to Cllr Filmer.

239

e

Higham Road

Cllr Hicks reported that the residents’ petition had been presented to a meeting of Medway Council. A preliminary report from Robin Cooper stated that traffic calming was not necessary. Mrs Hughes would be attending a meeting of the regeneration committee and Cllr Mason would be supporting her.

15

240

LIGHTING

Nothing to report.

16

POLICE MATTERS

241

a

Police Liaison Committee representative’s report

Cllr Miller reported on the last Police Liaison meeting. The speaker had been Insp. Simon Alland. Cllr Miller had raised the matter of the boot fair. PCSO Brooks had moved to Hoo.

242

b

Neighbourhood Watch

Cllr Miller reported on burglaries in Cliffe Woods and Povey Avenue. It was reported a youth had been seen with an air rifle on the Arethusa Venture Centre playing field, shooting rabbits. Youths had been caught on the site of a derelict house with copper pipes and an arrest had been made. A new neighbourhood watch was being set up in Chattenden. The theft of car number plates continued and tamper proof screws were available. Cllr Miller had attended the AGM. PC Andy McCormack was the new drugs liaison officer. He had provided information on how drug use could be recognised and suggested something be put on the website.

17

RURAL LIAISON COMMITTEE

243

a

Representative’s Report

The Chairman reported on the meetings held on 28 July and 22 September. At the July meeting Brian McCutcheon had given a presentation on the LDF consultation and Catherine Smith on the rural housing needs survey. This would only cover Upnor within our parish. The September meeting had been hosted by Hoo St Werburgh Parish Council at Deangate Ridge. Sue Skelton of the SE Coast Ambulance Service had spoken about the Community First Responder scheme, Groundwork on the Future Jobs Fund and Damian Fleming on the RSPB. Brian McCutcheon had given an update on Chattenden. Scottish Power had submitted a planning application for a gas fired power station at Damhead Creek with carbon capture and there would be a planning application for industrial development at Isle of Grain.

244

245

246

b

Projects

i   Wainscott Village sign. The planning application had been submitted.

ii   Seat, Frittenden Road. On order.

iii  Memorial Hall. The Chairman had obtained a more detailed quotation from the surveyor. Three options had been provided. After discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Hicks, seconded by Cllr Mason and agreed to proceed with the full scheme. The additional amount needed above the S 106 monies was within the year’s rural liaison grant allocation.

18

KALC/MAC 

247

a

Representatives’ Report

The next meeting would be on 30 September, when a representative from Land Securities would be speaking about the Chattenden Development.

19

HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

248

a

Representative’s Report

Nothing to report.

249

b

Hall Improvements/Extension

This had already been discussed under item 17b(iii).

20

250

WEBSITE

Nothing to report.

21

251

CONSULTATION

No documents received.

22

CORRESPONDENCE

.

252

a

Copy of Fouling of Land by Dogs (Medway Council Area) Order 2009

Received.

23

253

DECEMBER MEETING 2009

As the fourth Thursday in the month was Christmas Eve, it was agreed to hold the December meeting on Wednesday 16 December.

24

254

REPORTS AND CIRCULARS

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