Minutes 21st July 2010
Minutes 2010/11 page 17
C07/2010/1-26
HIGH HALSTOW PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 21 JULY 2010 AT
THE MEMORIAL HALL, THE STREET, HIGH HALSTOW AT 8.00 pm
PRESENT: Cllr Gary Thomas Vice-chairman
Cllr Martin Andrews
Cllr Mrs Angela Bostock
Cllr Ray Collins Except item 9e(ii)
Cllr Carl Mitchell Except items 6a(v), 9e(ii)
Cllr Martin Mitchell
Cllr Mrs Lesley Munday
Mrs Roxana Brammer Clerk
In attendance 5 members of the public
Item no
Minute no 2010/11/
Action point
1
127
APOLOGIES
An apology for absence was received from
Cllr George Crozer Family commitment
It was proposed by Cllr Thomas, seconded by Cllr Collins and carried unanimously that
this apology be accepted.
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128
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND MEMBERS’ REGISTER OF
INTERESTS
Cllrs Collin and Carl Mitchell declared personal and prejudicial interest in item 9e (ii)
as owners of properties adjoining Forge Common. Cllrs Thomas, Carl Mitchell and Mrs
Munday declared personal interests in item 10a, Recreation Hall, as members of the
Management Committee. Cllrs Thomas and Mrs Bostock declared personal interests in
item 10b, Memorial Hall, as members of the Management Committee. Cllr Carl
Mitchell declared a personal interest in item 15a High Halstow Times as working for
the contracted printing firm. Cllr Mrs Munday declared a personal interest in item 18,
Relief in Need, as a trustee.
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129
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 9 JUNE 2010
It was proposed by Cllr Carl Mitchell, seconded by Cllr Mrs Bostock and agreed that
the minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2010 be signed as a true record.
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130
MATTERS ARISING
No matters were raised.
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131
CASUAL VACANCY
The Clerk reported that Pat Hillman had resigned from the Parish Council and that the
statuary notice had been put up. The editor of the High Halstow Times was asked to
promote the vacancy.
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Minutes 2010/11 page 18
6 PLANNING
a Applications
132 i MC/10/2263: 11 Eden Road: two storey extension to front.
No objection
133 ii MC/10/1989: 30 Christmas Lane: two storey rear extension
No objection
134 iii MC/10/2305: 2 Medway Avenue: first floor side extension
No objection, subject to no objections from neighbours.
135 iv MC/10/2071: Buckhole Farm, Cooling Road. Change of use of land from agricultural to
equestrian use including the use mobile shelters.
High Halstow Parish Council objects to this application.
The Parish Council has consistently objected to change of use of land at Buckhole Farm
from agricultural to any other use. The land is Grade 1 agricultural and should remain in
agriculture.
The lane to Buckhole Farm (Buckhole Farm Road) is narrow and unsuitable for traffic.
It serves few properties. The additional traffic that would be generated, including
potential horse trailers and lorries would be unacceptable additions to the traffic already
using the lane. The Parish Council is concerned over the proliferation of equine
buildings being erected in this area.
The site lies wholly within The North Kent Marshes an area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty. The siting of field shelters would have a detrimental impact on the natural
beauty of the area and is contrary to Local Plan Policy BNE 33.
136 v MC/10/2477: 30 Longfield Avenue: two storey side and single storey rear extensions.
Cllr Carl Mitchell declared a personal and prejudicial interest as the applicant was a
family member and left the meeting.
No objection provided there were no drainage issues.
Cllr Carl Mitchell returned to the meeting.
137 vi MC/10/2495: Bonera Platt, The Street: two storey front extension
No objection
138 Out of Time
The response to the out of time application as listed on Appendix A was ratified.
139 b Decisions
The decisions as listed on Appendix A were noted.
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c Appeals and Other Matters
140 i Buckhole Farm
Cllr Collins reported that there were now two caravans on one of the plots and he would
contact the Enforcement Officer.
RC
141 ii Extension of gardens in Topley Drive
Cllr Filmer had asked Planning to liaise with the Parish Council. There had been no
response from them about the extension of gardens at 7 and 9 Topley Drive into the
land at the rear of the property and interference to the drain.
142 d Licensing Applications
None.
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FINANCE
143 a Bank Balances
The bank balances as listed in Appendix B were noted.
144 b Cheques Signed since the Last Meeting
None.
145 c Accounts for Payment
It was proposed by Cllr Collins, seconded by Cllr Mrs Bostock and agreed that the
accounts for payment as listed on Appendix B be paid (cheques 100285-100289).
146 d Audit 2009/10
The audit for 2009/10 had been successfully concluded with no comments from the
external auditor and the statutory notice had been placed on the notice board.
8 GRANT APPLICATIONS
147 a BTCV Tree and Pond Warden Scheme
Proposed by Cllr Thomas seconded by Cllr Andrews and agreed a grant of £50 be made
under S 111 of the LGA 1972 (cheque 100290)
9 MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL’S LAND AND PROPERTY
148
149
a Recreation Ground
i. General Matters. Nothing to report.
ii. Drainage Ditch. It as agreed to authorise the contractor to proceed provided that he
would agree to remove the spoil. Cllr Martin Mitchell was asked to deal with this as the
Clerk was about to go on holiday.
MM
150 b Playpark
The official opening would be held on Saturday 31 July at 10:30 am. Cllr Thomas said
he had asked the contractor to quote for the repainting of the fence, replacement of the.
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Minutes 2010/11 page 20
old equipment and for a football cage. He also reported that in a few years time there
would be a problem with the tree near the swings
At this point the Chairman suspended the meeting to allow members of the public to
speak.
A resident of The Street whose garden backed on to the recreation ground complained
they had not been consulted about the installation of the play equipment. They were
now experiencing noise and disturbance from youths. The various consultations were
described to them and but it was conceded that Medway Council who had handled the
consultation could have written individual letters to the residents of properties
surrounding the recreation ground. One resident asked if CCTV would act as a deterrent
and was informed that this had been considered but would be expensive and of
insufficient quality to allow prosecutions. Cllr Martin Mitchell advised that incidents
should be reported to the Police and eventually this would show that there was a
problem.
The Chairman thanked members of the public for their views and re-convened the
meeting.
151
152
153
c Car Park
i. Recycling bins. There was no further news on Medway Council’s investigation of
an alternative site. The editor of High Halstow Times reported that three letters had
been received, two asking for the bins to be removed and the third saying that the
alternative site should not be by the veterinary surgery.
ii. Overnight parking. Nothing further to report.
iii. CCTV. Cllr Thomas said he had spoken to Medway Council about the possibility of
their providing the facility.
154 d Allotments
Cllr Mrs Bostock requested that the greenspaces contractor cut back the corner of the
site. Cllr Martin Mitchell would obtain a price.
MM
155
156
157
e Forge Common
i. General matters. Cllr Collins reported that the field had been cut free of charge.
Cllrs Collins and Martin Mitchell would speak to the greenspaces contractor about
cutting down the brambles. It was reported that residents of 18 Marsh Crescent had cut
down vegetation on the Common but had not removed the arisings and were now
constructing a path. It was agreed that Cllrs Thomas and Collins would draft a letter for
the Chairman to sign. The Common was the property of the Council and not of the
residents. Requests for work should be made in writing to the Parish Council.
ii. Letter from Mr and Mrs Coomber. The letter from Mr and Mrs Coomber, which had
been circulated to all Councillors prior to the meeting, was discussed. After a general
discussion Cllrs Collins and Carl Mitchell declared personal and prejudicial interests as
their properties adjoined the Common and left the meeting. Cllr Martin Mitchell
proposed that the Parish Council should never dispose of any of its land. This was
seconded by Cllr Munday and agreed unanimously. Cllrs Collins and Carl Mitchell
returned to the meeting.
iii. Access for mobility scooters. Cllr Mrs Bostock had been approached about access
for mobility scooters. Cllr Martin Mitchell said the gate should be investigated to see if
it was suitable.
RC
MM
GT
RC
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158
f Village Grounds Maintenance
Cllr Martin Mitchell reported that a window had been broken on a property at
Heronsbank. The Clerk had researched ownership of the land in question and also asked
for confirmation of the exact date when the incident had occurred. Cllr Mitchell would
pursue the matter with Turfsoil.
MM
10 HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORT
159 a Public Rights of Way
Nothing to report.
160
b Street Cleaning
Nothing to report.
161 c Tree Warden
Cllr Collins reported that one new tree on Forge Common had died and another had
been vandalised.
162 d Speed Limits
The Clerk reported she had taken the matter up with Medway Council and had asked
that the entire length of Christmas Lane become a 30 mph limit. There had been no
response to the Speedwatch article in High Halstow Times.
11 HALLS
163 a Recreation Hall
Cllr Mrs Munday said that the PAT testing had been successful. Planning permission
for the refurbishment had been granted and they were proceeding with quotations for
the new roof and were seeking building regulations. Cllr Thomas would be speaking to
the architects about materials and grants.
164 b Memorial Hall
It was reported that the Committee had queried why Parish Council had two nominees.
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165
166
YOUTH
i. General matters. The Youth Club had closed for the summer break.
ii. Football cage. Cllr Thomas had asked for a quotation.
13 RURAL LIAISON COMMITTEE
167 a Representative’s Report
In Cllr Crozer’s absence there was no report.
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14
168
KALC/MEDWAY AREA COMMITTEE
No meeting.
15
POLICE LIAISON
169 a Police Liaison Representative’s Report
Cllr Martin Mitchell had nothing further to add to his earlier comments during the
discussion on the playpark.
16 COMMUNICATION
170 a High Halstow Times
Cllr Carl Mitchell had nothing to report.
171 b Web Site
Cllr Thomas said he would shortly be updating the website.
17 COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
172 a Project 90
Project 90 would take place on Saturday 24 July and would largely consist of litter
picking.
18
173
RELIEF IN NEED
Nothing to report.
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174
HIGH HALSTOW PRIMARY SCHOOL
Cllr Martin Mitchell reported that a new teacher had been appointed. The School
Development Plan findings had been published and the school was trying out
Parentmail.
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175
CONSULTATION
No documents received.
21 CORRESPONDENCE
176 a Sainsburys
The letter from Sainbury’s about their proposed new store on the Medway City Estate
was received.
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177
REPORTS & CIRCULARS
The reports and circulars as listed on the agenda were received.
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23 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
178 a Village Shop
Cllr Andrews said he had been approached about forming a co-operative.
The Chairman suspended the meeting for the public session.
One member of the public asked if there was any news about the Red Dog public house and was informed
there was not.
The Chairman thanked members of the public for their attendance and reconvened the meeting.
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179
RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PRESS & PUBLIC
It was proposed by Cllr Thomas, seconded by Cllr Andrews and agreed the press and
public be excluded from the following item on the grounds it concerned a commercial
contract.
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180
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE – REVIEW OF CONTRACT FEE
The relevant information had not yet been supplied by Medway Council and the
payment had not yet been made. Cllr Thomas agreed to investigate.
GT
The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.35 pm.
Signed ………………………………………………………..Chairman
On the ………day of ……………………..2010
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