A Meeting of the Parish Council was held in Ash Village Hall on
Monday 3 July 2006 at 7.30pm

132 Present: Mr Foat (Chairman), Mr Potts, Miss Bennetts, Mr Whitburn, Mrs Ovenden,
Mr Darvell, Mr Pratt, Mr Gregory, Prof Swingland and Mrs Chandler

Dist Cllr Bartlett, Mrs Jean Hands and Community Warden Bob Priestley were also in attendance for part of the meeting. Christine Haggart, the newly appointed clerk, was also in attendance throughout.

133 Apologies for absence: Mr King.

134 Nominate a Publicity Officer: Mr Pratt agreed to write a report for the Parish Magazine.

135 Minutes of the meeting held 5 June 2006
The minutes were approved and signed as a true record.

136 Declarations of Interest
Cllrs were invited to declare items on the agenda in which they have a personal or prejudicial interest; no such interests were declared.

137 Matters Arising from the minutes of the last meeting
i) Christine Haggart has been selected by the panel. She has accepted the post and handover has begun. An equipment list submitted by her was approved for purchase.
ii) Heidi Golden, Community Development Officer at DDC will be attending the September Meeting to introduce herself.
iii) Village Hall hiring agreement – the committee was informed about the Council’s misgivings with the form and advised to seek advice from ARCK’s Community Halls Advisor. An information booklet was passed to Mr Darvell for him to forward to the committee.
iv) Wimpeys – there is still no response to the letter asking about responsibility for the Play Area and contacts details for a representative of the home owners. This is to be followed up with a letter to DDC.
v) The Environment Assistant now has a mobile phone and the number is 07784 728828

138 Planning Report
Considered by the Parish Council:
i) Land north of A257 at Guilton Farm – erection of a storage barn and formation of hard standing (DOV/06/00604) – there were no objections as long as thought is given to allowing sufficient room for large articulated trailers to get in and out.
ii) The Grange, Weddington – erection of detached garages and workshop (DOV/06/00684) – there were no objections to the proposals.
iii) Guston Court, Guston – change of use and conversion of barn to 3 bedroom holiday let together with alterations to external fenestration (DOV /06/00675) – there were no objections to the proposals.
iv) 65 The Street – to fell one Cypress tress (TC/00031/TC) – there were no objections to the proposals but the Council would like to see it replaced with another tree of a more suitable species.
v) Belvoir Cottage. Overland Lane, Overland – outline application for the erection of a detached dwelling (existing bungalow to be demolished) (DOV/06/00665)– there were no objections to the proposals.
vi) 91 Sandwich Road – erection of a two storey rear extension and rear conservatory extension (DOV/06/00634) ) – there were no objections to the proposals.
vii) Hills Court, Hills Court Road – amendments to approved scheme (DOV/06/00614A)– there were no objections to the proposals.
viii) Little Nash Farmhouse, Nash – erection of a detached stable block with tack room (DOV/06/.00703) ) – there were no objections to the proposals.
ix) 52 New Street – outline application for residential development (DOV/06/00606)
The council objects strongly to the proposals on the following grounds:
• The site lies outside the village confines
• With an already large development adjacent these proposals would result in overdevelopment of the area
• The Parish Council did not want any development at that end of the village, but has been saddled with the Sandwich Road estate
• The Parish Council is opposed to any further large scale development for the life of the new Local Plan (LDF)
• Bates of Ash would end up in the middle of a very large number of houses surrounded on all sides. This is potentially hazardous, due the nature of products stored on site by Bates.
x) 12 Chequer Lane – outline application for the erection of a detached bungalow and construction of vehicular access (DOV/06/00641)
The Parish Council objects to the proposals on the following grounds:
• The proposed access is not clearly shown on the plans
• DDC should be aware that the houses rise steeply from the road at this location
• Consideration will need to given to providing a cut away section
• However, this could interfere with the landing area from the footway and could undermine the stability of it.

Granted by DDC:
i) Molland House, Molland Lane – works to one tree (DOV/06/00481)
ii) 55 Guilton – removal of one Spruce tree (TC/06/00027TC)
iii) 42 Glebelands – erection of rear conservatory extension and extension to existing garage (DOV/06/00388)

Refused by DDC:
None notified

Notice of Appeal:
Land adjoining 41 New Street – outline application for the erection of a pair of semi-detached dwellings, the erection of a detached double garage and construction of vehicular access (DOV/05/01424)

KCC Minerals Development Framework (One of the Development Plan Documents) - an opportunity to register as a participant in the consultation process.

Kent Design
The new Kent Design Guide has been launched – it is intended that it will be adopted by all Kent’s local authorities as a supplementary planning document. A free copy is to be ordered.

Enforcement - A footway has been created from the Wimpey development through to public footpath EE108A. This deviates from the approved plans which showed a seating area in this location. It is to be reported to the Enforcement Officer.

139 Parish Plan - Nothing to report.

140 Recreation Ground Report
i) The springy motorbike has been installed, but faulty handlebars are to receive attention from Wicksteeds.
ii) The aerial slide is now back in use. The Environment Assistant queried the repair with Park Leisure but they assured him it would hold and be safe.
iii) A car has been abandoned in the Recreation Ground car park. The Community Warden has reported it and it should be removed soon.
iv) The area between the road and the gate into the field at the toilet block end is badly potholed. Highways will be asked to repair it.
v) Report from Environment Assistant:
• Some success has been achieved with the mole traps.
• The toilet block windows are now repaired, but the teen shelter is still to be repaired.
• The plastic ‘Grasscrete’ is almost completed – a request for some to be laid at the gate near the toilet block has been received.
• Graffiti to the teen shelter and rear of pavilion has been cleaned off.
• Nappies are being left in the litter bins.
• The recent H & S Course highlighted problems with storage of certain items in the container. The Environment Assistant has completed a COSHH assessment and problem items have been removed to storage off site. He is to make research possible safety lockers for flammable materials. The Sports Clubs are to be asked to remove their items from the container and given a time limit to do so.

141 Parish Council Property and Environment
i) Cllrs are to meet on Monday 10th July to consider locations for proposed two new bus shelters.
ii) Dog waste bins – Claire Pitts from DDC has confirmed that she will liaise with the parish in August re provision of extra bins. She says she will also look at DDC emptying the bins that the parish owns as well if this helps. A resident of The Street has suggested that it may help to have ‘No dog fouling’ signs along The Street.

142 Highway Report
i) The road at Durlock – reported to Highways as works not finished. Highways say they have not carried out any road works in Durlock Road recently. Road cones were placed along vulnerable sections of the road whilst Staple Road in Wingham was closed and this may be what was thought to be road works.
ii) DDC – Street nameplate consultation. The Council is of the opinion that the criteria for nameplates should be: the most environmentally friendly materials, the cheapest, easily readable and no logos. None should be replaced until redundant.
iii) White lining at Knell Lane/ Paramour St junction – Highways agree that it is badly in need of re-doing and it will be completed as soon as possible.
iv) The white lines at the end of Cheery Garden Lane need to be repainted and these will be reported.
iv) Mr Whitburn reported from the KCC Highways Parish Meeting:
• The existing contractors will continue but with new contracts.
• The County Lengthsmen scheme will not continue as it has not been successful, but two vehicles in each area will respond to calls in a similar way.
• A free number (08458 247800) is being advertised for the public to report faults and clerks can email them.

143 Police Report and Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy Report
i) Speedwatch – Wingham PC have not purchased equipment and have no immediate plans to do so.
ii) Wingham cllrs have decided not to proceed with an application for a PCSO at the moment.
iii) A report from PC Wright was read out and details of his annual leave given.

144 KAPC Report
i) i) Minutes of AGM and Dover Area Meeting passed to reps.
ii) Parish News 317 distributed.
iii) Councillors’ Information Day – Sat 22 July 2006.
iv) The latest version of ‘Local Council Administration’ is to be ordered.

145 Footpaths Report
i) The overgrowth of hedges on footpaths from Chequer Lane was reported to Paul Hubbard of Highways who said he would write to owners.
ii) The following are to be reported to the Footpaths Officer or Kent Highways, respectively
• Footpath EE53 near Westland Nurseries is overgrown.
• Pavements with overgrown foliage right to Sandwich out of Cherry Garden Lane and left to Woodnesborough out of Saunders Lane.
iii) Miss Bennetts reported on further volunteers that have come forward to monitor footpaths.
iv) Beating the Bounds – Mrs Ovenden is to draw up a poster to advertise the event, which will also go on the website.

146 Website Report
Web access for editing has been given to Mr Whitburn and the new Clerk. The email address will be transferred to the new Clerk on 7th July.

147 Finance Report and Payments to be approved
External Audit – the Audit has now been completed without comment from the Auditors and the necessary notice posted. All cheque and paying in books have been passed to the Chairman till the new clerk starts work formally.

The following payments were approved:
Employment expenses £2,362.24
Administration £292.46
Maintenance £837.85
VAT £108.09
Innovations – from their own funds deposited with the PC £11.96

Outstanding Invoices:
PMC Loan instalment £2,000.00

Balances
Current account £2,514.29
Capital Reserve account £60,394.84

148 Correspondence
i) KCC – Towards 2010 Consultation – taken by Mr Potts.
ii) Whitfield Action Group –a meeting about SE Plan 21st July – Mr Whitburn may go.
iii) Stagecoach – Invitation to launch of Diamond Bus Service - Mrs Chandler will attend.
Circulated
i) Kent Police – The Relay and Neighbourhood Watch News
ii) ACRK – Oast to Coast mag
iii) DDC – Corporate Plan 2006-2012 ‘The Bigger Picture’

149 Parish Council Newsletter
Mr Whitburn is still to draft the next issue which will include an introduction to the new Clerk.

150 Press release
None

151 Any other business
i) Cllrs were warned that the lanes around Westmarsh and Ware can be dangerous to drive, due to summer foliage and often dangerous driving by some workers employed locally.
ii) The Council was asked to support a call for the ticket machine to be returned to Adisham Station. This was agreed and a letter will be sent.

There being no further business the meeting closed.