Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in Ash Village Hall on
Monday 7 August 2006 at 7.30pm

152 Present: Mr Foat (Chairman), Mr Potts, Miss Bennetts, Mrs Ovenden, Mr Pratt, Mr Whitburn.

153 Apologies for absence: Mrs Chandler, Mr Darvell, Mr Gregory, Mr King, Prof Swingland.

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

155 Minutes of the meeting held 3 July 2006
The minutes were approved and signed as a true record.

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

157 Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting
i) Item 144: ‘Local Council Administration’ 7th Edition, received.
ii) Item 137: Wimpeys – a letter was received from Paul Bending on 6 July 2006 – explaining that on completion of the site (June 2006) management of the open spaces will be handed to Meadfleet Ltd.
iii) Meeting on the proposed new bus shelters took place on 10 July 2006 and the following sites were agreed for recommendation to Kent County Council:
- The Street, west of existing bus stop, opposite the village side of Burford’s Alley
- East of Collar Makers Green entrance, on land possibly belonging to KCC
- remove two stops – one near 83 Sandwich Road and one near Sandwich
iv) Items 140, 142, 145: KCC Highways (Paul Hubbard) replied on 13 July 2006:
- white lines will be done within the next month at Knell Lane /Paramour St and Cherry Garden Lane
- the instruction has been given to the District Council to cut the overgrown footpath (EE53 near Europa Nurseries) and along the pavements out of Cherry Garden Lane and Saunders Lane which had been done
- the area between the gate and the road at the entrance to the Recreation Ground toilet block is not the responsibility of the Kent County Council Highways Department.

158 Planning Report
Considered by the Parish Council:
381 - Land east of Paramour St, Ash – erection of storage building to house farm machinery (DOV/06/00718) – there were no objections to the proposals.

Granted by DDC:
i) 374: 65 The Street – to fell one Cypress tress (TC/00031/TC). Works as notified may proceed.
ii) 368: Hills Court, Hills Court Road – amendments to approved scheme (DOV/06/00614A)
iii) 375: Belvoir Cottage. Overland Lane, Overland – outline application for the erection of a detached dwelling (existing bungalow to be demolished) (DOV/06/00665)
iv) 376: 91 Sandwich Road – erection of a two storey rear extension and rear conservatory extension (DOV/06/00634)
v) 369: Cook’s Farmhouse, Westmarsh, Ash – erection of single storey conservatory extension (DOV/06/00567) Listed.

Refused by DDC:
i) 371: Land north of A257 at Guilton Farm – erection of a storage barn and formation of hard standing (DOV/06/00604). Unduly obtrusive.
ii) 370: Southmede, Sheerwater – erection of a replacement dwelling. Inappropriate dwelling.

Notice of Appeal:
347: The Grange, Weddington, Ash - erection of a detached annex which was refused planning permission as intrusive. (DOV/06/00199) Dates for appeal: 21 July until 4 Sept 2006 - there were no objections by the Parish Council to the appeal.

Enforcement:
Access way to the footpath from New Street to Sandwich Road, Ash (EE108A) – complies with planning permission for the site.

KCC Waste Development framework starts 26 July, ends 4 October 2006. It was agreed to register to participate in the consultation at www.kentwaste.dialoguebvdesign.net. It was agreed that the Clerk would provide more information on the report and the item would be on the agenda of the next meeting.

Kent Design
The new Kent Design Guide has been launched and was circulated to the councillors.

Planning Focus Group
Sandwich Group – the Parish Council had nominated S Shevde from Eastry Parish Council.

159 Finance Report and Payments to be approved
It was necessary to update the NatWestBank Mandate and the following motion was agreed:
“It is resolved that the National Westminster Bank mandate be completed to authorise all councillors and the Clerk as signatories of the account and that the Clerk is given the authority to obtain balances and transfer funds between the accounts in person, in writing or by telephone and to release items held in security. All cheques must be signed by any three signatories. Statements should be sent to the Clerk.”

It was agreed that all councillors should sign the mandate.

The Financial Report and the following payments were approved:
Employment expenses £1,449.51
Administration £808.36
Maintenance £245.91
VAT £156.62

Income:
Distribution / royalties 49.62
Outstanding Invoices:
PMC Loan instalment 2,000.00

Balances:
Current account £1,930.02
Capital Reserve account £55,394.84

Mr Whitburn would follow up the outstanding invoice.

Future financial reports would show the section of the relevant statute under which the expenditure was permitted.

It was proposed by Mr Pratt, seconded by Mr Whitburn, and agreed that the top and bottom bearings on the roundabout in the Recreation Ground would be replaced by Park Leisure for the quoted cost of £650.

160 Beating the Bounds
The draft letter was agreed and would be sent in August to land owners and Parish Councils who bordered or were adjacent to the route that would be taken for the Beating of the Bounds. The list of land owners to be notified was updated. Names of new attendees were passed to Mr Pratt.
The poster advertising the Beating of the Bounds for the notice board and web-site was provided by Mrs Ovenden and agreed by the meeting.

161 Correspondence
i) It was agreed to agenda the request from the BTCV regarding the Kent Pond Warden and Tree Warden Scheme. The existing wardens would be contacted and the request for financial support for the running costs of the scheme would be taken at the next meeting
ii) A parishioner had e-mailed the Parish Council about nuisance in the St Nicholas churchyard. It was agreed to reply explaining that the Parochial Church Council had responsibility for the management of the churchyard and to pass on contact details for the Community Warden, Mr Priestly, who would be able to speak to the parishioner about what action could be taken.
iii) Further to the letter from Ash Lawn Tennis Club, it was agreed to trim overhanging branches from the Lime Tree at the allotments end of the courts when the tree surgeon was next required to carry out work in the Parish and to request an update on agreed shrub removal along the east side of the courts.
iv) Further to the letter re Pfizer’s Monk’s Wall Reserve and the mooring of two vessels, the Clerk was asked to reply explaining that this was outside of the Parish.
v) Further to the letter on the consultation on the Provision and Operation of Bus Services in DDC area by Jacobs Babtie, the following response was agreed:
- a Dover Area Public Transport Forum would be supported by the Parish Council which would send a representative
- the Forum should meet three or four times a year at the Council Offices in Dover Town, early evening around 5pm, unless visitors from outside the District required an afternoon meeting.
vi) Declaration of Result of Poll for Little Stour and Ashstone Ward – Mrs Sue Chandler and Mrs Jane Sheridan were duly elected.
vii) Dover District Council Free Outdoor Cinema Event Fri 25 Aug 2006, at sunset at Connaught Park. Five tickets per person. It was agreed that this notice should be placed on the Parish Council notice board.
viii) Whitfield Action Group Papers for meeting on 21 July – sent to Mr Whitburn
ix) KAPC Agenda 27 July 2006 – sent to Mr Potts and Mr Whitburn.

Circulated:
i) Kent Trails Issue 12 Summer 2006; Kids Trails Summer 2006
ii) KCC Dover Local Board Meeting 24 July 2006 Agenda
iii) KCC Annual Plan 2006/2007
iv) Kent Policing Plan 2006
v) DDC Close to Home Magazine

162 Any other business
i) Footpaths Report – the following was reported
- EE113 overgrown between Holness Road and the Scout Hut
- EE90A overgrown on LHS at Chequer Lane entrance and on the section between FP’s EE128 and EE113
- The steps to the footpath by the churchyard gate had been done.
- It was agreed that the Environmental Assistant, should trim the large bushes at the War Memorial Garden.

ii) Highways Report:
The following items would be added to the agenda for the next meeting:
- concerns about parking, visibility on approaches to corners / bends and safe access to properties on New Street and in particular the concerns about safety on the approach to the bend at the Eastern end of New Street where the ex public house, the Crooked Billet, was situated.
- concerns about kerb obstructions to the access to the houses at 19-35 New Street.
- the Bus Stop Notice Posts recently installed by KCC on New Street, Cherry Garden Lane.

Dover District Council is to be told that the road name sign for Pippin Close (CT3 2AU) had been spelt incorrectly (Pippen).

iii) The Local Development Framework Consultation was expected to be available for public consultation in September 2006. It was understood that the site of JR Cowan, New Street, had been put forward by a developer as a preferred site.

iv) The Whitfield Action Group meeting on 21 July was attended by Mr Whitburn. It was reported that an additional 2,000 houses over the 6,100 required by the South East Plan were being proposed for the District. The Kent Association of Parish Councils will be arranging a meeting for Parish and Town Councils to look at the consequences for the District. This matter may require a special meeting of the Parish Council.

v) The Restricted Alcohol Zones applications are progressing.

vi) The Environment Assistant’s Report for July was tabled.
a) The Dog Warden should be contacted about the dumping of dog waste on the Footpath EE90A.
b) Kent County Council should be contacted about removing a dead cherry tree on Chequer Lane.

vii) The Recreation Report for July 2006 was tabled.
a) A quote for the replacement ladder for the Assault Course was needed and this would be added to the agenda for the next meeting.
b) A plumber was needed to check the Men’s Public Toilets. A request for the provision of toilet paper and paper towels for the Public Toilets is to be on the agenda for the next meeting.

c) An abandoned car had been removed.
d) There was wear and tear on the play area safety surfaces. The Clerk would provide costings and information on safety surfaces to the November Finance Committee meeting.

viii) An inspection plate on the pavement at the junction of The Street and 1 New Street had dropped and may be a possible hazard. This is to be reported to KCC Highways.

ix) Mr Whitburn reported that he had been asked by young people in the Parish to approach the Parish Council to see about opening up discussions again about a skateboard park.

x) The area behind Mill Field is being used as a rubbish dumping ground and is very overgrown. The Clerk was asked to contact Mr D Downs of the Jack Foat Trust.

xi) The hatch at Lagaan Restaurant had been repaired.

xi) The Contract of Employment for the new Clerk had been signed.

xii) The consultation on the Kent Rural Delivery Framework Report ends on 26 September. Further information is available from the Rural Regeneration Team at Kent County Council.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.40pm.