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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 13th July 2009 in St Margarets Hall, Reach Road at 7.00 p.m.

 

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

 

 

1.      Confirmation of Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held 8th June 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.  Clerk’s Report

 

  • Clerk confirmed she had arranged a parking permit for Mr Miller for use in the Bay Car Park when on Parish Council business.
  • Clerk confirmed she had written to Planning Enforcement Officer at DDC re Fireside Cottage.
  • Cllr Hart had spoken to Mr David Hall re trees in Kingsdown Road – these are too big for him to deal with and Clerk now to seek a quotation from tree surgeon.
  • Nothing heard following David Gasking’s (Kent Highways) meeting with Cllrs Paul and Rayner.
  • Spoke to Jane Phillips at The Bay Trust re Glebe Field – will return with proposed lease.
  • The Bay Trust were to seek further quote re buttressing OF KGV wall but are now happy to accept quote for £1,238 from B Claringbould – IT WAS RESOLVED that Clerk contact from Claringbould to instruct.
  • Re car park entrance – Clerk had written to Highways (15th Jun) re holes in car park entrance (filled) and bollards – yet to hear reply.
  • Re metal “spike” outside shop – Highways would not deal as on Parish land – asked Mr Miller to deal – he had sought help from Mr Steve Clark and this was undertaken for £25 – in Mr Miller’s invoice.
  • Mike West, Architect - still no response from Planners re enquiry for Bowls Club building.
  • No reply from KCC re proposed footpath at Portal House School.
  • Highways will place sign re Alexandra Road in due course.

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to follow up

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

Clerk to follow up

 

Clerk to follow up

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

Clerk to follow up

 

 

 

Clerk to see if Mr West has had contact

4.  Planning  

 

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

 

TC/09/00041             Reduction of overhanging branches to one Conifer –

                                    Seascape, 38 Granville Road                        No comment/defer to

                                                                                                      Anne Russell at DDC

 

DOV/09/00217          Erection of a front porch and two storey side extension (seeking

                                 variation of condition 4 of planning permission DOV/07/965) –

                                    21 Royston Gardens                                       No comment

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DOV/09/00506          Erection of two storey side and single storey rear extensions –

                                    Chalk Garden, Salisbury Road                        No comment

                                 (6 Councillors for “no comment”, Cllr Paul objected to proposal)

 

DOV/09/00519          Erection of a single storey side extension –

                                    Sea Purse, The Bay                                        No comment

 

DOV/09/00587          Erection of a detached building incorporating 6 flats and 1 end of

                                 terrace dwelling, construction of a vehicular access and associated

                                 car parking (existing building to be demolished) –

                                    St Margarets Lodge, Sea Street

 

                                       As the Parish Council is in consultation with Kent Highways,

                                       KCC Education Department  together with all interested parties

                                       because the junction between Chapel Lane and Sea Street

                                       presents considerable danger to parents and children

                                       attending/leaving St Margarets at Cliffe Primary School

                                      (a school with over 200 pupils), we strongly object to the

                                      application.  The proposal would also be intrusive

                                      to Queensland Cottage (not shown on map).  School also not

                                      on map.  No mention of what  level of Code for Sustainable

                                     Housing application would meet.

 

 

5.  Finance and Accounts

 

The following cheques were passed for payment (Cllrs Harris and Ford):

 

BTCV – contribution to Pond Warden Scheme

St Margarets Hall – re Footpath Walk

Lynne Hopwood – re cleaning at KGV Pavilion

British Telecom – office telephone

Audit Commission – audit fee

English Landscapes Maintenance Ltd – grasscutting

Jane Cook – June 09 salary

Jane Cook – expenses

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

Mr I Miller – labour charge + expenses for June 09

R Dunkley – garage account re Mr Miller

BioBags (Scotland) Ltd – bags for dog bins

Mr D E Hart – expenses re South Foreland Valley equipment

 

Receipts

Credit Interest – Instant Access A/c                    £1.96

Credit Interest – Youth Fund                               £0.77

Cheque from Bradleys reclaimed from EDF       £272.76

 

 

 

 

 

£50.00

£23.25

£112.50

£61.86

£460.00

£286.41

£643.36

£36.04

£85.31

£903.50

£30.45

£132.72

£74.69

£2,900.09

 

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Cheque for £356.50 made to Wincheap Tools for heavy-duty strimmer in relation to Valley clearance since last meeting – this payment was duly ratified.

 

Annual Return – Clerk confirmed that external auditor had completed his report and nothing had been found in the Annual Return which had been found to be prepared in accordance with the Audit Commission’s requirements and no matters had come to attention giving cause for concern that relevant legislation and regularly requirements had not been met.

 

Tennis Court – Clerk had sourced a further quotation from Chiltern Sports Contractors for relaying and painting the tennis court – this had come in at £7,993.  Clerk asked to speak to highway contractors Ringway to ascertain if this is work they could undertake, and obtain a quotation.

 

It was agreed that Councillor Hart could investigate relevant training for use of the strimmer at around £400 for one day – White Cliffs Country Project had expressed a willingness to meet half of this cost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

 

 

Cllr Hart to deal

6.  Correspondence

 

·        DDC Forward Planning – re LDF – Submission of Dover District Core Strategy – copies given to all Councillors denoting web link.

·        Bradleys – re Freedown EDF Agreement – cheque returned for fees reclaimed from EDF at £272.76.

·        The National Trust – reply to our letter re Dover Patrol Memorial – Trust not prepared to meet cost for dog bin.

·        Kent Downs AONB Unit – invitation to Countryside Day on 31st July – Cllr Hart to attend.

·        Kent Police Authority – re Policing Kent 2009/12.

·        Folkestone & Dover Water Services re change of name.

·        Southern Water – South East Water Resources Update.

·        Rural Payments Agency – re Land Register Mapping Update – Cllr Hart taken map, to liaise with Clerk

·        South East England Partnership Board re partial review for Travellers accommodation.

·        KCC Environment and Waste – enquiry re guided footpath walks – none undertaken by PC, although WCCP do such walks.

·        KALC – re Dover Area Committee meeting – passed to Cllrs Harris and Ford.

·        Parish News Issue 340.

·        Emails re footpaths – Mr Sumner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to complete forms

 

 

 

Clerk and Cllr Hart to deal

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

7.  Reports from Councillors/Advisers

 

·        KCC Cllr Steve Mannion advised that Members will have grants of £25k each this year, together with participatory budgeting (maybe £2-3,000).  Cllr Hart will liaise re temporary “pinch point” proposal for High Street.  Cllr Mannion stressed importance of reporting all Highway issues in order to get priority.

·        Cllr Harris is liaising re First Light Tourism and new leaflets to be prepared.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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·        Cllr Hart advised that land may be available through Mr Alistair Lyon for use for new Bowls Club building.  Clerk was asked to write to Mr Lyon asking for confirmation in this respect.

 

·        Following meeting between Cllrs Paul and Rayner with Highway Liaison Officer David Gasking, nothing heard;  believed that Mr Gasking presently in hospital and Clerk asked to contact Annelise Mortlock at Kent Highways who is dealing in his absence – also check what is happing re Kingsdown Road resurfacing.

·        Cllr Fielding advised that a meeting had been arranged with Football Club representatives tomorrow evening.

 

·        Cllr Hart advised that several of the cattle grids in the South Foreland need clearing and asked Councillors for assistance.

 

·        Cllr Rayner advised that the bench sited in the Village Hall grounds needed some attention – Cllr Hart to take forward as Hall representative.

 

·        Cllr Rapley advised that she is still pursuing Holiday Camp Manager re used of the pool by local children and will keep in liaison.

 

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to write

 

 

Cllr Fielding to deal

 

Volunteer Cllrs to deal

 

Cllr Hart to take up with Hall reps

 

8.  Presentation by Energy Group

 

  • Cllr Fielding introduced Group, 4 members attending meeting, to discuss recent feasibility study prepared for local energy supply.
  • Group has looked mainly at biomass generator - highest size plant at 4 megawatts would cost in region of £10m with very high rate of return achievable.
  • Smaller size plant would see cost of around £1m.
  • Such a plant could not work within village envelope owing to number of traffic movements to plant.
  • Idea of “community energy centre” sited perhaps at Dover mooted where cost could be shared.
  • Looked at crop of elephant grass – rhizomes would need to be planted which could then give a 10-20 year crop  Other crops also a possibility – perhaps straw – in both cases artificial drying would probably be required.
  • Further investigations will be undertaken of study, and Group will report back in due course.

 

 

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9.  Village Maintenance/Matters affecting the Parish

 

  • Clerk had undertaken Land Registry searches to determine owners of land abutting the footpath at the end of The Avenue.  Clerk now to write to owners (x 2) to advise them that the Parish Council considers the build-up of garden debris/bracken etc to be a fire risk.

  • It was agreed to place Community Warden/Police rep in separate slot on agenda with effect from next meeting.

  • Playing Field inspection undertaken by Cllrs Rayner and Purchase – following reported:
    • New matting required at Alexander Field.
    • Shed at Alexander Field broken into – Clerk advised by Club who had reported to Police.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk to write

 

 

 

Clerk to deal

 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 10.20 p.m.

 

Confirmed:                                                     Chairman                                           14th September 2009


 

 

Correspondence received prior to meeting

14th September 2009