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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 14^th December 2009 in St Margarets Hall, Reach Road at 7.00 p.m.

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

1. Confirmation of Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held 9^th November 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/PC Advised that the “Home Improvement” scheme is due to be expanded to include persons under 60 with disabilities. PC Karen Robson provided details of crime figures – an overall increase has been seen on last period due to burglaries and vehicle crime. She advised that everything is being done to investigate these crimes and an 18 year old youth has recently been arrested. She confirmed that alarms can be obtained from herself or Gordon the Warden for fixing on garages, sheds, etc. Gordon reported new signs are to be erected in the South Foreland Valley shortly, which should help in advising visitors of illegal camping etc. The leaflet campaign for security for garages etc should be put in place soon. A vote of thanks was made from the Parish Council to Gordon and Karen for their work in the last year in St Margaret’s.
4. Clerk’s Report Oatmor Harris re tennis court resurfacing – work completed is totally inadequate – letter sent, awaiting response. Will approach Cricket Club for contribution when work completed to our satisfaction. New bins (x 3) in hand by DDC. WCCP – cheque now received for £133 payable to the Parish Council – under Finance. Re noticeboard – no discount for second board – Clerk queried whether planning permission required but as previous board was in same position, this is felt unnecessary. Clerk confirmed a place had been booked for Cllr Paul on the Chairmanship Training Day on 13^th January – cheque under Finance. Youth facility meeting – now arranged with all relevant parties for 12^th Jan at 2 p.m. at the Hall. Re Alexander Field aeration – confirmed by Councillors that this should be taken forward by C&W Groundcare, with the cheaper option at £80 to be confirmed. Clerk to check with contractors re timing. Clerk will prepare notices re Christmas Tree recycling.		Clerk to monitor Clerk to monitor Clerk now to arrange Clerk to attend Clerk to deal Clerk to deal
- 2 - 5. Planning The following decisions from previous meeting were duly ratified:- DOV/09/00677 Erection of two detached dwellings and creation of vehicular access (existing dwelling to be demolished) – Franconia, The Droveway No comment (6 Councillors in agreement/Cllr Hart objected) DOV/09/01000 Raise crown and shape one beech tree – Seaways, Bay Hill No objections/defer to Anne Russell The following decisions were made on the planning applications considered:- DOV/09/01020 Erection of a rear conservatory extension (existing conservatory to be demolished) – 7 Reach Close No comment DOV/09/01071 Fell and uproot one Sycamore tree and two Sycamore saplings – The White House, St Margarets Road Defer to Anne Russell TC/09/00075 Remove one Cypressocyparis Leylandii and two Fagus Sylvatica – Pines Garden, Beach Road Defer to Anne Russell TC/09/00079 Works to self sown Laurels and to one Sycamore, Holly and Bay tree – The Goodwins, 29 Granville Road Defer to Anne Russell The Clerk was delegated to deal with the following applications:- TC/09/00083 30% crown reduction of 4 Elms and 3 Poplars, 20% crown reduction to one Willow and works to one Elm – Pines Garden, Beach Road Defer to Anne Russell DOV/09/01121 Erection of a detached dwelling and construction of vehicular access (existing dwelling to be demolished) – Terra Vista, Lighthouse Road No comment Cllr Hart reported on notice erected re land north east of Droveway Gardens – this is essentially a protection application notice for the site raised by DDC which will appear before the Secretary of State – notice expires in six months if not adopted.
- 3 - 6. Public Conveniences, Reach Road Car Park - It was unanimously RESOLVED that the sum of £8,428 in respect of the continued provision of these conveniences be added to the Precept for 2010-2011.		Clerk to advise DDC
7. Finance The following cheques were passed for payment (Cllrs Liggins/Ford):- Viking Direct – stationery Dover District Council – Dog Warden B Claringbould – re KGV Wall W Purdy – re gate into KGV Play Area KALC – re training day R Wilkie – professional fees re Bowls Club Mr I Miller – labour re Nov 09/materials R Dunkley – re I Miller garage account Jane Cook – expenses Blackhurst Wade – re safety gloves Jane Cook – Nov 09 salary + backdated to 1/4/09 H M Revenue & Customs – Clerk PAYE/NIC + Council NIC E J Clough – Christmas tree Receipts: WCCP re equipment training £133.00 - Payment of cheque for £813.99 to Classic Laws re cutter for South Foreland Valley duly ratified. - Cllr Hart provided quotation from AMS re metal fencing in South Foreland Valley – this had been sought following advice from DDC Health and Safety to fence off the steep section in the South Foreland Valley considered to be a considerable danger and a priority. Cllr Hart agreed to seek a second quotation which to be placed on next agenda. - IT WAS RESOLVED to set the Precept for 2010-2011 at £51,428 – this to include the sum of £8,428 re the Reach Road Car Park conveniences and a sum of £3,000 in respect of the Valley. This would effectively mean an increase of around £9 per year on an Average Band D property. - IT WAS RESOLVED that Clerk could set up a Petty Cash system in order that such expenses as those incurred for the South Foreland Valley can be met – float of £50 to be established.	£119.32 £299.90 £940.00 £250.00 £70.50 £250.00 £942.08 £31.50 £33.95 £12.00 £761.13 £160.15 £161.00 £4,031.53	Clerk to seek 50% contribution from Bay Trust re wall Cllr Hart to deal, Clerk to place on agenda Clerk to advise DDC and place in magazine at the end of financial year as a separate page Clerk to deal
- 4 - 8. Correspondence Kent Downs AONB Unit re village sign – confirmed at £200 as previously agreed. Kent Wildlife Trust – re Local Wildlife Site – Cllr Hart will investigate whether the site noted falls within the Parish Council land. Ian Ward-Dutton, Chair of Governors, St Margarets CP School re status of Droveway Gardens – it was agreed that the Parish Council would seek re-classification of this right of way, to include bicycles but not horses. Clerk will await forms from KCC Definitions Team and take forward as necessary. Annaliese Mortlock, Kent Highway Services, re Knotts Lane – Clerk confirmed she had asked for a site visit for inspection of the road which is considered dangerous for pedestrians and vehicles. Lord Lieutenant of Kent – invitation to Civic Service at All Saints Church, Maidstone – 22 April 2010 – Chair not able to attend. Email – Mr Maurice Doyle re “Five Acre Field” – it was agreed that Clerk should write to DDC Planning Department to determine the status of this area, and whether any planning rules are being contravened. Christine Waterman, DDC re 100^th anniversary of cross Channel flight by C G Rolls. – it was agreed in principle that the Parish Council would have no objection to the erection of a memorial tribute on the Madge Field, but with the Council to be involved in the nature of any such erection. Rural Payments Agency re Rural Land Register Mapping Update – Cllr Hart agreed to check maps as it is felt that an exclusion still exists. Paul Francis, DDC Planning - copy letter sent to Mr J Stone re aircraft movements at Wallets Court. Kent Fire & Rescue Service – Risk Management Plan 2010/13 – Clerk to hold. Mr M Shepherd re public conveniences, Reach Road Car Park – letter had been acknowledged and since superseded by holding of public meeting. DDC Democratic Services re changes to Housing and Council Tax Pension Credit – Clerk had placed suitable notices. Kent Highway Services – advice re change in assessment criteria for provision of salt bins. Richard Heaps, Kent Highway Services – request re parking restriction lines on Bay Hill referred to Parking Services – will refer to us shortly. Richard Heaps – re flashing speed line in Reach Road – a temporary speed indicator sign will be erected in Reach Road – Clerk asked to request that such a sign is located nearer Langdon Close rather than St Georges Place as per Mr Heaps’ email. Jacobs Babtie – letter advising of services which can be offered to Parish Councils – Clerk to hold.		Cllr Hart to deal Clerk to deal Clerk to monitor Clerk to advise Clerk to deal Clerk to advise Cllr Hart to deal Clerk to monitor Clerk to deal
9. Bowls Club letter - Letter received from Club Secretary raising over 15 questions as regards the possible relocation of the Club premises to the site at Nelson Park. It was agreed that none of these questions can be answered until the Parish Council has a definitive response from Dover District Council as regards planning permission at the Nelson Park site. Chair Brenda Paul had spoken to Architect Mike West today (14^th Dec) – his advice was that the Parish Council pay a fee of £160 (amount to be checked) in order to obtain pre-application advice from Rachel Elwood, Planning Officer as regards the relocation. This was agreed.		Clerk to respond to Bowls Club letter and liaise with Chair re planning site visit
- 5 - 10. Reports from Councillors/Advisers Cllr Hart reported another successful clearance day in the Valley with around 35 people attending. New equipment had proved very successful, with far greater amount of clearance enabled. Next clearance day set for 23^rd January at 10 a.m. Cllr Hart congratulated County Councillor Manion on the success of the participatory budgeting meeting held re the allocation of his £20k community grant funding. Cllrs Harris and Fielding had undertaken further meeting with Football Club reps – the Club members claim they are aware of problems such as littering etc and will do their best to resolve. Advised that as from Christmas HM Customs will no longer be using the pitch. Idea of Mr Miller acting as Club groundsman, being paid by the Parish Council, was discussed and this would need further discussion. An estimate had been sought for disabled access path and surfacing of parking area – these from Mr Tony Manley of TRM Groundworks came in at £13,800 but Mr Manley had stated a further inspection of site etc would be needed. It was agreed that Cllr Fielding would report again at next PC meeting. Cllrs Hart and Paul had attended a presentation meeting by Kent Highway Services at Ashford, where they had asked Annaliese Mortlock to undertake a visit to St Margarets in the New Year. Mr Colin Sumner advised that he had requested Denise Roffey, PROW, to check ER39 starting in Goodwin Road at the side of the drive of Dawn Cliff, asking that a waymarker be put in place. Mr Colin Sumner asked that it be borne in mind that is aeration is to be undertaken on the Alexander Field, this should be done in March/April, i.e. the beginning of the grass-growing season. Cllr Paul reported on meeting with Tessa O’Sullivan, Rural Housing Enabler from Action with Communities in Rural Kent, together with Housing Enabler from DDC. This had proved a useful meeting in terms of DDC contact, and Brenda reported that an apology had been received from Tessa with regard to the planning application recently undertaken for affordable housing by the Cascade housing group. Cllr Fielding reported re the Energy Group – several recent meetings had been undertaken, the most recent including local MP Gwyn Prosser – Mr Prosser had agreed to add his support to the Group’s grant application for £500,000 which should be sent off at the end of the month. A further presentation by the Group is to be held this week at the Pines Calyx. Cllr Rapley reported on her findings re battery recycling/collection, providing prices for various dimensions of collection boxes. Cllrs Hart and Liggins agreed that they would investigate the idea of having boxes for collection in the village hall and possibly other locations.		Clerk to place on agenda for January Cllrs Paul and Hart to deal Clerk to seek advice from Andy Chapman when dealing Cllrs Liggins and Hart to deal
- 6 - 11. Village Maintenance/Matters affecting the Parish Playing Field Inspection – litter from black bag spread around at Alexander Field. Poor tarmac surface at the end of climbing frame in the KGV Play Area. The Well Lane gate entrance needs oiling. Dog fouling in both locations very bad. Chapel Lane dog bin – appears not to have been replaced properly after emptying. Clerk was asked to write to Kent Highway Services asking that the entire length of Reach Road from Upper Road be gritted during the winter months. Clerk asked to report missing tops from bollards at High Street layby.		Clerk to contact Wickstead re possible repair Clerk to report Clerk to write Clerk to report

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.

Confirmed: Chairman 11^th January 2010

Correspondence received prior to meeting

11^th January 2010

• Copy letters (Tim Ingleton, DDC) and Gwyn Prosser re Low Carbon Communities Challenge.
• Emails – Bob Wainwright re salt bins.
• Rural Payments Agency – re Single Payment Scheme and changes to cross compliance.
• Email – PS Jamie Sadler, Kent Police.
• Colin Sumner – emails – re ER39 and ER42; mechanical cutting of SFV
• Julie Burville – email re St Margarets Bowls and Social Club.
• Email – Nick Chard, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste – re winter gritting.
• Parish News – Issue No. 344
• KCC Community Safety Unit Newsletter – October 2009.
• Kent Downs AONB Management Plan 2009-2014.
• English Rural Housing Association – Annual Report.
• Copy email from Mr P Larsen re road traffic accident in Chapel Lane.
• Action with Communities in Rural Kent – newsletter NO 93.
• Oast to Coast magazine – Winter 2009l
• Copy article from Mr C Knight re wind turbine.