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THE PARISH COUNCIL OF ST MARGARETS-AT-CLIFFE

 

Minutes of the Monthly meeting of the above Parish Council held on Monday 12th October 2009 in St Margarets Hall, Reach Road at 7.00 p.m.

 

Present:   B Paul, J Harris,  J Rayner, A Fielding, S Ford, T Purchase, S Liggins and G Rapley.  Apologies for absence received from D Hart.

 

1.      Confirmation of Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held 14th September 2009.
The minutes, having been circulated to all members, were confirmed as a correct record and signed as such by the Chairman. 

 

 

2.  Declarations of Interest – None declared on agenda items.

 

 

3.  Community Warden

 

  • Gordon reported continued problems with vehicles parking on Bay Hill, particularly during busy/bank holiday weekends.  Idea of continuous double yellow lines mooted, but enforcement may be difficult..
  • Noted a general increase in dog fouling in the village.
  • Plans are under way for the security initiative in respect of sheds and garages – next stage is to provide a plan for layout of documents.

 

 

 

Clerk to write to Highways

3.  Clerk’s Report

 

  • Invoice received re PAT testing – to come up under Finance.
  • David Hart has spoken to Barry Claringbould re wall at KGV to instruct. Re buttressing.
  • Quotes re tree removal to come up under Finance.
  • Liaised with Oatmor-Harris re tennis courts – should have minimum life of 15 years – have instructed to start – they will telephone when ready to begin.
  • Met with Ian Miller at play area re ROSPA report – several “niggly” items each year – Clerk to seek site visit from Wickstead to see if some of these can be ironed out.
  • Quotes received for gate from Browns but nothing yet from Vurleys – under Finance (agreed that once further quote received, Councillors to be contacted).
  • Ian Miller confirmed he would tighten spring on play area gate.
  • WCCP – invoiced £133  re strimmer/cutter training – cheque to come.
  • CCTV reported not working by Gordon – Gordon will arrange to meet with Philip Smye-Rumsby re an inspection visit.
  • Phone call from Dog Warden – 7 incidents of fouling observed on “courtesy” visit – agreed that a six month short term contract be instigated for visits by Warden.
  • Clerk has agreed with DDC that Community Warden can be provided with a supply of orange sacks for litter collection.
  • Alexander Field – cars (x 4) parked alongside pavilion yesterday during match, when sufficient car parking available.  Clerk to contact Club to ask that they discourage visiting players from this, also to arrange “no parking beyond this point” sign.
  • Subjects for next month’s agenda – Clerk’s salary and new noticeboards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to liaise

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

Clerk to place on agenda

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5.  Planning  

 

The following decisions were made on the planning applications considered:-

 

DOV/09/00217          Retrospective installation of window to South-East elevation and

                                 Erection of 2.1m high boundary fence –

                                    21 Royston Gardens                                                      No comment

 

DOV/09/00697          Erection of a single storey rear extension and decking –

                                    Shiralee, Hardy Road                   Object on the grounds that the

                                                                                     proposal represents an over-

                                                                                     large development in respect of

                                                                                     its bulk, scale and appearance

                                                                                    impacting on neighbouring

                                                                                    semi-detached property

 

DOV/09/00857          Erection of a rear dormer roof extension with balcony

                                 and  balustrade –

                                    The Cottage, 31 Granville Road                                   No comment

 

DOV/09/00865          Erection of single and two storey side extensions,

                                 single storey rear extension, enlargement to rear

                                 and side balconies and to hipped roof, together with

                                 the insertion of 3 dormer roof extensions and the

                                 enlargement of terrace incorporating decking

                                 and staircase –

                                    Seaways, Bay Hill                                                        No comment

 

DOV/09/00869          Erection of a car port –

                                    Ambleside, Nelson Park Road                                     No comment

 

DOV/09/00871          Erection of a rear conservatory, extension

                                (existing extension to be demolished) –

                                    3 Churchill Close                                                          No comment

 

DOV/09/00567          Erection of a building incorporation 6 flats and

                                1 link detached bungalow, construction of a

                                 vehicular access and associated car parking

                                 (existing building to be demolished) –

                                    St Margarets Lodge, Sea Street.  (amended plans).

 

As the Parish Council is in consultation with Kent Highways and KCC Education Department together with all interested parties and because the junction between Chapel Lane and Sea Street presents considerable danger to parents and children attending/leaving St Margarets Primary School (a school with over 200 pupils), we strongly object to the application.  The proposal would also mean intrusion to Queensland Cottage, also no mention of the School is made.  We would also like to comment that no mention is made of what level of the Code for Sustainable Housing the proposal would meet.  Sightlines are at present difficult and would be far worse with buildings being closer to Chapel Lane boundary.

 

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DOV/09/00893          Erection of a side and rear conservatory extension,

                                 side car port and erection of a detached garage

                                 and construction of vehicular access –

                                    Laurel House, The Rise                                               No comment

 

Clerk was delegated to deal with the following applications:-

 

DOV/09/00907          Erection of a single storey rear extension and

                                  installation of railings (existing porch to be

                                  demolished) –

                                  Hogs Bush, Kingsdown Road                                    No comment

 

DOV/09/00923          Erection of a garage (existing extension and garage

                                  to be demolished) –

                                  Moorings, 18 Salisbury Road                                     No comment

 

 

6.  Finance and Accounts

 

-         IT WAS RESOLVED to accept quotation from A & D trees in the sum of £340 re removal of two ash trees in Kingsdown Road.

-         Only one quote received from Browns Fencing re new gate in play – agreed that Clerk could email Councillors when second quote received from Vurley Fencing.

-         IT WAS RESOLVED to ratify payment of £378.50 re new Bowls Club gas fire – cheque received from Club in sum of £329.13)

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

The following cheques were passed for payment (Cllrs Harris/Fielding):

 

Mrs S A Liggins – expenses re Welcome Packs

E J Ditton & Co Ltd – PAT testing for pavilions

BioBags (Scotland) Ltd – dog bags

British Telecom – office telephone

Mrs S M Ford – expenses re litter picking day

CAD Solutions (Dover) – re Bowls Club

Lynne Hopwood – KGV cleaning

CPRE – annual subs

Mr I Miller – monthly invoice for September

Jane Cook – salary September

Jane Cook – expenses

H M Revenue & Customs – Clerk PAYE/NIC + Council NIC

English Landscapes Maintenance Ltd - grasscutting

 

 

Receipts:

Credit Interest – Instant Gold A/c           £1.72

Credit Interest – Youth Fund                  £1.09

Bowls Club cheque                                £329.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

£10.50

£194.35

£126.24

£57.51

£75.00

£379.50

£90.00

£29.00

£705.00

£643.36

£19.40

£85.31

£160.79

£2,575.96

 

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7.  Correspondence

 

  • Mr J Stone – copy letter sent to KCC re helicopter use at Walletts Court.
  • DDC Democratic Services – re Parish Council reps on Standards Committee – no Councillors wish to stand.
  • DDC Democratic Services – re Declarations of Office forms – Clerk had already provided these.
  • Mr Colin Sumner – re Alexandra Road – reiterating his wish that road name plate be placed at Alexandra Road.
  • Mr Colin Sumner – re South Foreland Valley – re wish to see increased clearance of the Valley with possible mechanical cutting.  Josie Newman at WCCP had replied to Mr Colin stating why cutting could not be undertaken at present.
  • St Margarets Football Club – update on Club activities etc.
  • Kent Downs & Marshes Leader Programme – grant funding available which may be of use for South Foreland Valley work.
  • Active Dover – Sports Development Seminar.
  • Action with Communities in Rural Kent – Rural News.
  • English Rural Housing Association – re allocation of ERHA properties.
  • KCC Community Safety Newsletter.
  • Parish News – Issue No. 342.
  • KCC Clean Kent – re SmartWater for use in identifying flytippers.
  • Copy of press article from Football Club re new junior team.
  • KALC Dover Area Committee – agenda for meeting 15th October – passed to Cllrs Harris and Ford.
  • Annaliese Mortlock – email advising of Parish Seminar to be held on 25th November at Ashford International Hotel – Clerk had provided names of Cllrs Hart and Paul as attendees.

 

 

 

 

Clerk to acknowledge

 

Clerk to advise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to liaise with Cllr Hart

 

 

Clerk to copy for Cllr Harris

 

 

 

 

 

Cllrs Hart and Paul to attend

8.  Reports from Councillors/Advisers

 

  • District Cllr Watkins advised of the stringent budget constraints which DDC will be under for the next few years, with £400k reduction this year in funding from Government, £1.2m next year.  He advised that a pay freeze had been imposed on staff for this year.  He advised that Core Strategy Examination re LDF hearings will commence next week

  • County Cllr Manion advised of similar budget cuts for KCC – they will be looking at sharing services to cut costs.  Advised of Highways “portal” re reporting of Highway problems where individual reported incidents can be tracked on line.  Cllr Liggins asked whether the village library was likely to be at risk – both Cllr Manion and Watkins confirmed their support for keeping the library open.

  • Cllr Paul reported a successful clearance day held in the South Foreland Valley, with thanks extended to Mr Geoff Purchase.  Next clearance day is set for 24th October, to commence from 10 a.m. at the car park at the end of Sea View Road.  Clerk to prepared notices for display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Bowls Club – Cllr Paul read letter from Mr Rob Wilkie re the possible purchase of land at Collingwood Road for proposed new Bowls Club building.  IT WAS RESOLVED to ask Mr Mike West of CAD Solutions to approach Dover District Council on an informal basis as regards planning merits, and idea of outline planning permission for such a project.  Cllr Harris pointed out that Section 106 route may need to be followed as regards covenants on the land.

  • Football Club – Cllr Fielding had been unable so far to arrange a meeting with Club reps although this will be pursued.  The Club has asked to be provided with the specifications from quotation from Oatmor Harris in respect of a disabled access path.  Cllr Rayner cited visiting the field after this weekend’s match to discover orange peel, water bottles and general litter strewn around.  Also the gate is left padlocked on many occasions.  Clerk to provide Club with copy of quote and write polite letter asking for site to be kept in a suitable manner.

  • Energy Group – Cllr Fielding reported that the Group had met earlier this week.  They have been made aware of a central Government grant funding stream, UK wide – 20 projects will be selected to receive grants, with any money having to be spent next year.  They are to apply within the next month.

  • Youth facilities – Cllr Liggins confirmed she had arranged with Gordon the Community Warden to host an afternoon event at the hall to encourage young people aged 8-14 to come along and provide their own ideas of facilities they would like to see in the village. 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to liaise with Mr West

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr Liggins to deal, Clerk to place in magazine

9.  Village Maintenance/Matters affecting the Parish

 

  • Playing Field Inspection unable to be completed; Cllrs Liggins and Ford to undertake next month.

  • Cllr Paul spoke regarding recent mailshot housing survey exercise by Action with Communities in Rural Kent concerning affordable housing.  She confirmed that a meeting had been arranged with the Housing Enabler on 19th November to discuss this further.

  • Kent Free Tree Scheme – an initiative being run by KCC.  It was agreed that Clerk and Chair could investigate the scheme further with prospect of providing trees in various locations in the village.

  • Cllr Paul asked that more bulbs be purchased for planting in the village.  Gardeners Society are to plant the turning circle at the top of Bay Hill – cost of bulbs for PC to be around £40 – agreed.

  • Cllr Purchase and family together with volunteers will be undertaking tidying work at Chapel Lane Pond this weekend.

 

 

 

Cllrs Ford and Liggins to deal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk and Chair to deal

 

Cllr Paul to deal

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Clerk to ask Mr Miller if the footpath leading down alongside Bay Hill can be cut back.

  • Subject of litter/dog waste bins discussed again.  DDC still have no bins available and Clerk to investigate buying one dog bin for KGV field, with another to replace the litter bin near the layby in the High Street.  Cllr Purchase provided Mr Chris Greenfield 07771507841 as a contact for purchasing bins.

 

  • Clerk advised that in future she will hold folders for Cllrs Rapley and Ford at the office of all relevant emails received, as Cllrs are not available on line.  Cllrs can then call at the office to collect this information.

  • Cllr Rayner asked if a letter could be sent to Mr Doug Collings of Droveway Gardens advising of the status of Knotts Lane, i.e. an unadopted road, could be advised to him.

  • Clerk asked to investigate if a “free car park” sign could be erected in the village car park so that people are aware you do not need to pay to park here.

  • Bay toilets – Cllr Rayner reported that this last weekend the toilets were closed at 4.45, earlier than publicised.  During footpath walk, it was reported that lighting was not working.

  • Footpath walk proved a great success with 76 people attending.

  • Clerk asked to write to Highways once again re the state of Chapel Lane, also to ask whether the bollards at the layby in the High Street can be replaced.

  • Clerk to write asking Highways if a speed limiter sign can be placed in Reach Road near the Holiday Camp.

  • Clerk to liaise with Mr Miller re Mr David Hall helping with tree/shrub cutting at the Burial Ground.

  • Re flower container near village shop – Clerk to investigate owner and write asking if they can please maintain/tidy this.

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

Clerk to write

 

 

 

Clerk to investigate

 

Clerk to report to DDC again

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.10 p.m.

 

Confirmed:                                                     Chairman                                           9th November 2009


 

 

Correspondence received prior to meeting

9th November 2009

 

 

 

  • Cascade (Mr C Begeman) re Sea Street planning proposal, requesting a meeting with Councillors.
  • DDC Chief Executive – re DDC’s Financial Plans.
  • The Bay Trust – confirmatory letter re lease of Glebe Field by Parish Council.
  • Kent Highway Services – re double yellow lining request for Bay Hill.
  • Kent Highway Services – re Flashing Speed Limit sign request.
  • Kent Police Authority – re Policing Kent 2010/13 Survey.
  • BTCV – Kent Heritage Trees Project.
  • KALC – Notice of AGM/voting papers for 14th November 2009.
  • Emails:
    • Paul Francis re Fireside Cottage.
    • Tony Falluto, St Margarets Football Club.
    • Stephen Oliver re Parsonage Road.
    • Mr A Burford, Manager, Holiday Park.
    • Mr C Sumner re village footpaths.