21 Present: Mr Whitburn (Chairman), Miss Bennetts, Mr Foat, Mr King, Mrs Ovenden,
Mr Potts, Mr Darvell, Mr Pratt, Mrs Chandler and Mr Gregory

Dist Cllr Trevor Bartlett and six members of the public were present for the early part of the meeting.

22 Apologies for absence Prof Swingland

23 Nominate a Publicity Officer Mr Darvell agreed to write a report for the Parish Magazine.

24 Minutes of the meeting held 9 January 2006
The minutes were approved and were signed as a true record.

25 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.

26 Matters Arising from the minutes of the last meeting
None that were not covered in the Agenda.

At this point the meeting was adjourned to allow Dist Cllr Bartlett to address the Council.
It was further adjourned to allow members of the public to address the Council.
Agenda items 31 and 32 were brought forward on the agenda, but are reported in numerical order here.

27 Planning Report

Considered by the Parish Council:
i) None

Granted by DDC:
i) None

Refused by DDC:
i) Old Rectory Residential Home – erection of a two storey rear extension to provide four self-contained dwelling houses (amended details) (DOV/05/00712)

Withdrawn:
KCC – Land at former Richborough Power Station – Windrow composting of green waste, wood waste and fruit and vegetable waste. Sorting of wood for use off site, chipping of wood for use off site. (PAG/TH/05/745)

For information – copy of a letter from Mr A Redding to DDC Planning Dept regarding the installation of the slide at C & K School

Dover District Local Development Framework (LDF) – Rural Settlements
Report from meeting held to consider the options – the Council’s response to this consultation document was reported.

Kent and Medway Structure Plan
Report from meeting held to consider this consultation document – no response was considered necessary.

Caravans at Ware and Westmarsh – the Enforcement Officer is investigating.

28 Parish Plan
It was reported that the current deadline for funding is 17.2.06, so it will be necessary to find an alternative source of funds.

29 Recreation Ground Report
i) Mr Foat gave a report from the Recreation Ground Meeting held immediately prior to this meeting
• A new seat and fittings have been ordered for the aerial slide at a cost of £90
• Confirmation is awaited from Park Leisure about the safety of the see-saw, as it is loose still in the ground.
• Mr Foat is to ascertain from the Environment Assistant what parts are needed to replace the missing swings.
• A leaflet for a recycled material ground reinforcement system is to be passed to the Environment Assistant in order for him to assess whether he can install it.
• Allotments – a complaint has been received about an un-worked allotment. The holder of this and one other allotment are to be contacted.
• The water supply to the cricket square has been completed and the stop-cock cover improved.
• Mr Foat is to arrange for the second goal post to be repaired and charged to the Council.
• Dr Humphrey reported on grants received and dates for the works to the tennis courts and asked for confirmation of the Council’s contribution. He was informed that he should arrange for the Council to be invoiced for a £7,000 portion of the work.. Once a start date is known, he will contact the Clerk to arrange a site meeting.
• It was suggested that the youth group who use the pavilion could store their equipment in the container, to save having to take it away each week. If they want to do so, then some space can be cleared.
• The Pavilion Management Committee has yet to pay the December 05 instalment on the loan.
ii) Report from Environment Assistant:
• The toilet block is closed for the winter until mid-late February. Painting is almost finished.
• On 17th Jan a firework was set off in a bottle spraying glass over a fifteen foot radius. As much as possible has been cleared up.
• Several sacks of rubbish have been left by the pavilion.
• The satellite aerial on the pavilion was vandalised.
• Safety surfacing by the roundabout is showing signs of wear and tear.
• Some benches have been repaired.
• A dead Oak tree will be replaced at the end of February.
• Parts for repairing the aerial slide are awaited.
iii) The Clerk was asked to check when the Tennis Clubs lease is due for renewal and to schedule in a discussion about the terms.

30 Parish Council Property and Environment
i) A dog bin in on order for attaching to the footpath sign at the end New Street end of Langdon Ave.
ii) Public toilets – the contractors were not opening the doors properly some days, but it was reported and appears to be resolved.
iii) DDC – Green waste recycling to begin in Ash from late March – leaflets and green sacks will be delivered to households from 6th March..
iv) Cllr Bennetts reported that she and her father are still carrying out repairs to the Brooke Street fingerpost.
v) Report from Environment Assistant:
Some incidents of vandalism were reported.

31 Highway Report
i) To consider the petition for reduced traffic speeds through the village – the breakdown/analysis of the petition, along with a sketch plan of proposals for an ‘island’ near the Post Office and parking at the rear of the houses opposite, with an explanation of the problems that it attempts to address, are to be passed to KCC Highways for them to assess the feasibility of such a scheme.
ii) Light at Pound Corner – The Lighting Engineer reports that this light is due to be replaced with a Victorian style lantern, finished in black, which he says will improve the look of area whilst still providing a decent level of lighting.
iii) Sandwich Rd/Collar Makers Green – two lights that were out have been reported and are scheduled for attention.
iv) A Town & Country Paving van was reported to KCC and the Police during January for parking at the junction of Chequer Lane with the bypass and obstructing sightlines.

32 Police Report and Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy Report
i) Community Warden – nothing to report.
ii) Police Community Support Officer – Mr Whitburn is to liaise with Bryan Curtis from Wingham.
iii) Speedwatch – nothing to report.
iv) Youth Consultation – a meeting at C & K School on 18th January was organised by Yvonne Holder, but disappointingly yielded no adult volunteers. Fifteen to twenty young people were at the meeting and Ms Holder is to continue attempting to recruit some adults by holding monthly meetings, for which the Council agreed to pay for the hire of the Village Hall. It was reported that on the Thursday evening youth sessions in the pavilion there are two paid KCC youth workers, but that in addition one volunteer is needed. Two cllrs have participated and they asked for other volunteers to come forward to do an evening now and then.
v) PC Wright informed the Council that the Mobile Police Station will be in the VH car park on Tuesday 21st February 10am – 12 and every three weeks thereafter. Councillors took some leaflets to distribute.
vi) It was reported that a mobile CCTV camera has been at New Street/The Street, but that this has just moved to School Road, viewing The School grounds, Glebelands etc.

33 KAPC Report
Mr Whitburn gave a report from the Area Meeting held 26th Jan, which included information about a proposed bus service to QEQM Hospital from Dover, via Sandwich. It was noted that bus timetables in the village are out of date, which Mr Whitburn will report to Stagecoach.

34 Footpaths Report
i) EE112A (Queen’s Rd end) – the vandalised barrier has not yet been repaired.
ii) Request for a barrier at the exit of EE130 onto New Street - it is to be suggested that a barrier part way along to deter motorcyclists is what is needed.
iii) To set a date for Beating the Bounds – the Clerk is to contact the Boatman used last time to establish which Saturday in October would have high tide around 1pm.
iv) Public Rights of Way Annual Liaison Meeting – Monday 6th March 7pm Eastry VH – Mrs Chandler is to attend and gave apologies for the Council meeting on the same evening.

35 Website Report
Councillors were asked to check the Contacts page as it was thought some details may need updating.

36 Finance Report and Payments to be approved
The following payments were approved:
Employment expenses 1,522.85
Insurance 2,413.15 Administration 370.37
Maintenance 149.22
VAT 78.72

Receipts:
Allotment rent 110.75

Outstanding Invoices:
PMC – ¼ly payment of loan 2,000.00

Balances
Current account 3,246.95
Capital Reserve account 31,271.54

37 Correspondence
i) DDC – Budget consultation – the Council is to ask that the Bulk Waste vehicle continue visting Ash, as it is well used for all manner of waste.
ii) Recycle Kent – offer of an exhibition unit – passed to Mrs Chandler for the School.
iii) Forwarded from Sandwich TC – email from a German man who was a POW in Ash.
iv) DDC – Inspection of waste services – invitation to a meeting on 1st Feb (forwarded to cllrs prior to meeting).
v) DDC Regeneration Unit – invitation to an event at Dover Town Hall on Tues 7th March.
vi) KCC Dover Local Board Meeting – 7th February at Aylesham Conference Centre.
Circulated
i) Rural News no 70
ii) DDC – Standards Committee minutes/agenda
iii) DDC Close to Home mag
iv) Stour View Newsletters

38 Parish Council Newsletter
The next issue will be in April and will include the Agenda for the Annual Parish Meeting. It was suggested that an item clarifying responsibilities regarding the cleaning of dog waste and litter should be included.

39 Press release
The traffic petition and the letter from the German POW are to be reported on.

40 Any other business
i) The listed house, retained when the Puma site was developed, is deteriorating and causing concern. The Planning Department at DDC is to be notified of concerns.
ii) The Planning Focus Group meetings have not yet been restarted and this is to be queried.
iii) A letter about buses stopping outside 85 New Street was read out and is to be followed up.
iv) Mr Whitburn informed the Council about government plans to replace District and County Councils with larger Unitary Councils (3-4 in Kent). Because of this district elections will not be held next year, but will be postponed till 2008. The effect of this on Parish Council elections is unsure. It was noted that should they still take place next year the full cost would have to be borne by the Parish.