Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in Ash Village Hall on
Monday 8 January 2007 at 7.30pm

246 Present: Mr Foat (Chairman), Mrs Chandler (Parish and District Councillor), Mr Darvell, Mr Gregory, Mr King, Mr Potts, Mr Pratt, Prof Swingland, Mr Whitburn.

247 Apologies for absence: Miss Bennetts, Mrs Ovenden, Mr Ridings (County Cllr)

The Chairman informed the meeting that Mrs Janet Pettman, a previous councillor of long standing had died. Prof Swingland had received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours’ List.

248 Nominate a Publicity Officer: Mr Potts agreed to write the report for the Parish Magazine.

249 Minutes of the meeting held 4 December 2006
The minutes were proposed by Mr King, seconded by Mr Potts, agreed and signed as a true record.

250 Declarations of Interest – Councillors were invited to declare items on the agenda in which they have a personal or prejudicial interest; there were no such declarations.

The meeting was adjourned.

251 Public Question Time
A parishioner spoke on the on-going matter of parking on New Street. Mrs Chandler will continue to follow this matter up. Kent Highways Department would be contacted for a timetable on the proposed gateways to the village which is intended to slow approaching traffic.

The meeting was reconvened. It was agreed to take Police Report when PC Wright was available.

252 Matters Arising from the minutes of the last meeting
There were no matters arising that were not on the agenda.

The meeting was adjourned.

253 Report from Dover District Councillor, Mrs Sue Chandler.
Dover District Council has received additional funding from WRAP to support existing re-cycling schemes. Information on parenting classes and other initiatives aimed at young people were reported. The application for the car park at the back of Lagaans was on-going. To improve liaison with Parish Councils in the Little Stour & Ashstone Ward each District Councillor has taken responsibility for particular issues: Mr Bartlett – planning, Mrs Sheridan – highways, Mrs Chandler – community and enforcement. Mrs Chandler was waiting for further information on why the plastic re-cycling had been discontinued at the Ramsgate Road Facility. Mrs Chandler would refer the correspondence (circulated) from Nos 87 and 88 New Street to the Dover Safety Unit.
254 Police Report
PC Wright joined the meeting and reported that there had been attempted theft and criminal damage reported and a domestic assault. He wanted to encourage all parishioners to report incidents as this was the basis on which visible policing was allocated. If it is an emergency ring 999, otherwise ring Maidstone Centre on 01622 690 690. Do ask for a crime reference number. You can also speak to the Community Warden or the Dover Police Station. The police presence on the school buses continues. The forward dates for the Police Mobile Unit are – Tuesdays 10 -12 in the Village Hall Car Park on January 23, February 13, March 6 and 27. This information would be placed on the Parish Council notice board and web-site.

PC Wright had been working on stopping illegal waste carriers and fly tipping. To try to prevent waste being moved commercially without the necessary licences, please pass any information to PC Wright via the Dover Police Station 01304 240 055 or his mobile number 07980 770 585.

Any concerns about dangerous dogs should be reported. The newspapers being set alight outside Alldays was discussed and the details of repeat victim procedure were covered.

PC Wright gave his full support to the Parish Council’s efforts to have a Police Community Support Office allocated to the area. The Clerk is to follow up the current position.

The meeting was reconvened.

Neighbourhood Watch Schemes are running in The Street, Chilton Place, Pudding Lane, New Street, Queens Road, Chequer Lane, Cop Street and Little Weddington and Guilton. People interested should contact Sally Coleman, Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer on 01304 218 151 or sally.coleman@kent.pnn.police.uk. The Parish Council agreed to invite Mrs Coleman to the next meeting to offer support for the schemes.

The Chairman reported on the Policing Kent 2007 /08 Survey and the responses to the survey were agreed.

The Alcohol Control Zones have been agreed, including the centre of Ash village. Police now have the authority to stop the public consumption of alcohol in these areas.

255 Planning
New Applications:
i) 397: 94 The Street, Ash TC/06/00077/TC. Remove on plum and one laburnum tree. On a majority vote with one dissention, it was agreed that there would be no objection to the proposal.
ii) 398: 2 Hoaden Row, Hoaden, Ash DOV/06001427. Erection of rear first floor extension and conservatory extension. There were no objections to the proposal
iii) 399: Housemartins, Westmarsh, Ash DOV/06/01445. Erection of front and rear dormer roof extensions. There were no objections to the proposal
iv) 400: Clampits Farm, Westmarsh, Ash DOV/06/01439. Erection of two story side extension. This application was not supported on the following grounds: the extension was inappropriate for the location, the size was disproportionate to the plot and there could be a possible increase in traffic.
v) 401: 87 New Street, Ash DOV/06/01460. Erection of single story rear extension and construction of vehicular access. The proposal was positively supported and there were no objections to the proposal.
vi) 402: 54 The Street, Ash TC/06/00079/TC. Thinning and shaping one sycamore. There were no objections to the proposal
vii) 403: Former Brown & Mason Yard, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich. PAG/ DO/03/477/R20. Amendment to approved landscaping scheme and Nature Conservation Mitigation Scheme. There were no objections to the proposal
viii) 404: Sedges, Cooper Street, Ash DOV/06/01189. Erection of garage (existing garage to be demolished). There were no objections to the proposal.
ix) 391: Junction of A257 Sandwich Road & Chequer Lane, Ash. Erection of 11.7m telecommunications monopole installation incorporating 3 antennas and siting of associated equipment. DOV/06/01423. An extension was applied for and not granted. It was noted that the work already carried out on the site had been for an electricity company. The same objections were agreed that the Parish Council had made at the pre-consultation stage ie the impact on the landscape due to the proliferation of installations and that if the proposal does go ahead, that highway site lines are not impaired.

Granted by DDC:
378: Little Nash Farmhouse, Nash DOV/06/00703. Change of use of land for the keeping of grazing of horses, together with erection of detached stable block with tack room.

Refused by DDC: None; Granted by KCC: None

Agricultural Prior Determination
Information had been received from the Dover District Planning Department. It is upto the Planning Department to decide if prior determination is applicable although it is not clear if poly tunnels are buildings. District Cllr Chandler confirmed that individual planning departments make judgements on whether or not poly tunnels are buildings. The structures should not be erected for more than six months in a year. The judgement in the recent High Court case specifically noted that it could not be used as a precedent and the matter was subjective and in the remit of the individual planning authorities. The Planning Department will keep in communication with the Councillor and the Parish Council on this matter. The parishioner who had contacted the Council should be updated.

Athelstan Green
The letter to Mr N Sharpe of Wimpey South East from residents at Athelstan Green, copied to the Parish Council had been distributed. The Clerk confirmed that the residents had to date received no offer of a meeting. The Parish Council referred back to the contact it had had with Kent Highways and Dover District Council over the street lighting and dog bins; with Mr Bending over the proposed handover to the management company Meadfleet and the maintenance and upkeep of the green and the play park. It was agreed to write to the residents and to ask to continue to be included in any correspondence.

South East Plan Examination in Public
The letter of support had been sent to Whitfield Action Group.

KCC Countryside Access Improvement Plan
Information was given on a booklet with 41 objectives to deliver improvements in the public rights of way network and wider countryside access. Public consultation is underway to reach the preferred 15 objectives. Download from www.kent.gov.uk/countrysideaccess. The hard copy available for circulation was passed to Mr Gregory for comments to the next meeting.

256 Parish Plan – there were no updates

257 Recreation Ground
i) Roundabout – the quotes were noted and it was agreed a traditional style would be in keeping with the other equipment. Mrs Chandler and the Clerk were to make a recommendation to the Council.
ii) Sports Clubs Responsibilities – it was agreed to raise these at the next Recreation Committee meeting. It was noted that the stopcock cover had been repaired and that the Sports Club had agreed new arrangements to clear away any rubbish. The Rugby Club had agreed to make good the grass around the pavilion.
iii) Rat poison at the Pavilion had been put down by the Dover District Council’s contractor and the Parish Council would be charged.
iv) Over Christmas the aerial seat had been stolen. This had been reported to the police. Replacement parts would cost approximately £150. It was agreed to replace the seat.
v) It was noted that a small tree had come down on the Recreation Ground. A replacement would be looked at in the Spring.
vi) Report from Environmental Assistant
- metal panels for the Youth Shelter now installed
- a large fireworks display box had been left on the Recreation Ground. The bye-laws prohibit the use of fireworks on the Recreation Ground
- there were three mole holes between the toilet block and the tennis courts. It was agreed that traps should be set.

258 Parish Council Property and Environment
i) Bus Shelters – Mr Whitburn will look at the styles of shelters available and advise
- The Street, west of existing bus stop, opposite Burford’s Alley is in a conservation area
- letters are to be sent to the residents that would be affected by the proposed shelter next to Collar Makers Green
ii) Dog Bin sites. It was agreed to site the next two bins as follows: Chequer Lane at the entrance to the footpath to the school with letters sent to adjoining properties to check on their views and secondly on the New Street Lay-bye. In the new financial year, three more bins are to be put in place and letters are to be sent to the residents of Goodban Square. Other suggestions are welcomed.
iii) The quote for cutting back the silver birch in The Street Car Park was discussed. It was noted that this is in a conservation area and permission will be required before work can be carried out. It was agreed to get a second quote.
iv) It was agreed that as the Parish Council Safe was no longer used, it could be given to the people who had been storing it.
v) Ash – an East Kent Village – more copies had been supplied to the Post Office on a sale or return basis and one copy had been sold after a postal enquiry.
vi) The Dover District Council men’s toilets at the car park on The Street had been closed due to a broken pan and the repair should be carried out within the next fortnight. It had been requested that the door to ladies toilet be opened and not just unlocked.
vii) The report from Environmental Assistant was noted and that holiday cover would be needed for February.
viii) It was agreed to invite the Tree Warden to the February meeting to update the situation. It was suggested that the priority list of important trees be updated following on from the report circulated from Kent Men of Trees.

259 Highways Report
i) Two lights broken at Chilton Place had been reported (Ref: 119860).
ii) The light out at corner of Chequer Lane and The Street was reported again on the 15 Dec. (Ref: 107490 this light was repaired in November and was referred back on same reference number).
iii) 12 New Street (Ref: 93306) – it has now been found that this light requires a new column.
iv) The loose bricks on the steps upto the Church off The Street had been referred to the Church Warden.
v) It was reported that lights at Ware Court and Queens Road were not working.
vi) Some of the white lines at Ware had been done but not those north of Knell Lane.
v) Mr Whitburn updated the meeting on the Draft School Travel Plan and that the main points of note for the Council were: - to encourage parents and children to walk to school it is important to keep the footpaths clear of dog waste and providing dog litter bins would be helpful, that there needed to be traffic calming on Chequer Lane and safe crossing points at Chequer Lane and Glebelands; bollards around the school to prevent vehicles mounting the footpath and improved signage.

260 Footpaths Report
i) The EE118 (Durlock Road) which had been damaged by Southern Water would be re-instated.
ii) EE90A and EE117: it was confirmed that if the Parish Council cleared these rights of way it would become liable for the safe maintenance of the footpath. The Parish Council was advised by their insurers to refer the matter back to the district and county councils. The Rights of Way Officer has confirmed that KCC will not clear leaves but she will check if DDC will.
iii) The Footpaths Committee meeting had been useful with five footpath volunteers attending. The monitoring form was revised. The mis-use of the footpath at the end of Saunders Lane, EE96 / EE469 was discussed. The Rights of Way Officer would renew signage about the illegal use of motorbikes and the matter would also be passed to the Community Warden. The matter of restricting access was raised and it would be looked at. The matter of keeping footpaths clear was discussed and it was confirmed that the residents along the footpaths in the centre of Ash had been contacted about overhanging hedges / trees.

261 Website Report
It was agreed to put information about the success of the local football team on the web-site.

262 Finance Report
Mr King proposed, Prof Swingland seconded, and it was agreed that the Financial Report be accepted and the following payments approved:
Employment Expenses £1,546.18
Administration – Room Hire, Dec Newsletter, Domain Reg £160.95
Maintenance £74.71
Notice Board Repairs £360.00
Maintenance Equipment £177.80
VAT £144.02

Deposits – Wayleave Fee, Book Sales, Allotment Income £22.68
Interest Earned on Reserve Account £224.37

Balances after £2,000 transferred from the Capital Reserves to the Current Account:
Current Account £2,003.04
Capital reserve Account £40,076.63

Correction: Viking Direct Payment cancelled £302.50; corrected payment £298.97.

263 Correspondence
i) The invitation to Civic Service at All Saints Church Maidstone 20 March 11am by Lord Lieutenant of Kent was declined.
ii) Dover District Youth Projects Fund application for upto £800 was noted. The closing date was the 30 January 2007.

Circulated:
i) Local Council Review – January 2007
ii) Clerks & Councils Direct January 2007
iii) Parish News No 321 Dec 06
iv) Oast to Coast Winter 2006
v) Action with Communities in Rural Kent No 79 Dec 06
vi) Kent & Medway Funding Fair 2007 1 Feb 2007
vii) Connections Autumn 06
viii) Kent & Medway Structure Plan 2006
ix) White Cliffs Countryside Project Volunteer Newsletter Winter 2007

264 Parish Council Newsletter
There were no new matters.

265 Press Releases
There had been no press releases.

266 Any Other Business
i) Employee’s Holiday & Training
- It was noted that the Clerk took 4 days holiday on Dec 22, 27, 28 and Jan 2.
- The Parish Council agreed the Clerk could attend the SLCC Conference for Practitioners on the 2nd and 3rd of March. The cost of £190 plus VAT for the conference and accommodation, and the cost of train travel to Stafford would be covered by the Council.

ii) Police Community Support Officer
It was agreed to put this item on the agenda of the next meeting – information would be sought from the police on when a decision is to be made and what would be involved in full funding for the post. Other points for discussion included approaching other parish councils to share costs and parish consultation if projected costs increase.

iii) Street Cleaning
Glass needed clearing away in the Village Hall Car Park and in Chilton Place.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.55pm.