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

Dist Cllr Anne Willshaw and Adrienne Ayres, the new Tree Warden, were also in attendance.

114 Apologies for absence Mrs Ovenden

115 Nominate a Publicity Officer Mrs Chandler agreed to write a report for the Parish Magazine

116 Minutes of the meeting held 9 May 2005
The minutes were approved and following the addition of Mr Darvell and deletion of Miss Bennetts to the list of those present they were signed as a true record.

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

At this point the meeting was adjourned to allow Adrienne Ayres (new Tree Warden) to address the meeting.
The meeting was further adjourned to allow Dist Cllr Anne Willshaw to address the meeting.

118 Matters Arising from the minutes of the last meeting
An email from a parishioner giving her view of Prof Swingland’s Onlooker article was read out and this, along with the report in last week’s Mercury, was discussed. Prof Swingland defended his expressed views, reminding cllrs that the subject of vandalism and anti-social behaviour was discussed at most council meetings, often at length. Individual members’ opinions were mixed, with some offering the view that his article exaggerated the situation and others agreeing with Prof Swingland.

The basis of the Onlooker articles and the perception of readers were considered. It was agreed that articles should add a statement that it is a report following the Parish Council Meeting held the previous month, from the personal perspective of the writer, and that the minutes are available on the notice board or website.

It was agreed that the possibility of applying for a Community Warden, shared with Wingham, would be investigated. Mr Whitburn is to draft a letter to be sent to Supt Brandon asking for help to tackle the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers and querying PC Wright’s deployment to Whitstable.

119 Planning Report

Considered by the Parish Council:
i) Overland Cottage, Overland Lane, Hoaden – erection of a two storey side extension (DOV/05/00588) – there were no objections to the proposals
ii) Uphousden Farm, Westmarsh – erection of swimming pool enclosure (DOV/05/00608 and 00609 LISTED) – there were no objections to the proposals
iii) 60 Chequer Lane – erection of a single storey side extension (DOV/05/00521) – there were no objections to the proposals
iv) Springtime, 71 New Street – erection of a rear dormer window extension (DOV/05/00637) – there were no objections to the proposals

Granted by DDC:
i) Site at Little Weddington Farm, Weddington – construction of winter storage reservoir for irrigation purposes (DOV/04 01263A)

Refused by DDC:
i) East Street Farm – removal of agricultural occupancy condition (3) of DOV/96/170

Pre-application Consultation:
Land within the verge adjacent to Sandwich Road at the corner of Chequer Lane – Proposed H3G Base Station for mobile phones. Four other locations have been discounted for various reasons given. The Council is to query whether this mast could be sited with others at Molland Farm.

Village Confines:
A parishioner has notified that he is applying to DDC for the village confines to be extended and has asked for the Council’s support. The Council agreed that it could not support and individual’s application for the confines to be extended but that the issue of the confines should be addressed in the Local Development Framework with input from the Parish Council.

Planning Focus Group:
Miss Bennetts gave a report from the meeting held on 19th May.

120 Recreation Ground Report, including the Environment Assistant’s Report:
i) Mr Foat gave a report from the Annual Inspection and the Recreation Ground Committee meeting held prior to this meeting:
ii) Two allotments are very overgrown and letters are to be written to the holders.
iii) Dog Warden – a schedule of visits/details of fines is awaited.
iv) The teen shelter is covered in graffiti, but it was agreed to only clean off the windows.
v) The second goal post has not yet been repaired.
vi) The stopcock cover near the pavilion is loose. The PMC are to deal with it.
vii) A seat at the bottom end is to have some slats refixed.
viii) Areas at the end of the track onto the field and adjacent to the pavilion are to be considered for grass-crete at the November Finance Committee Meeeting.
ix) Moles continue to be a problem, but the Environment Assistant will use whatever means he can to reduce them.
x) The Sports Clubs have now removed their equipment from the container.
xi) Youths were noted playing football inside the fenced off play area. They also had a dog in there. They were asked to take the dog out and complied with the request.
xii) The Annual Safety Inspector indicated that the multi-play unit and the see-saw fail
current safety standards. In addition, the self-closer on the gate into the play area is inefficient and there should be a sign giving safety information. A Risk Assessment of these items is to be carried out prior to the August Recreation Ground Committee meeting at 6.45pm in the Play Area.
xiii) A new path and gate from the existing grass-crete is to be considered, to provide disabled access to the play equipment.
xiv) An occasion when a person was seen operating a remote controlled aeroplane in the field was reported. It was agreed that this was against the Byelaws and would not be tolerated.
xv) As there have been no incidents of vandalism in the toilet block since April, toilet paper has been re-instated.
xvi) The seat from the aerial slide has been removed for repair.
xvii) It was agreed that a ‘No Golf’ sign should be purchased and displayed.

121 Parish Council Property and Environment, including the Environment Assistant’s Report:
i) The summer planters are now in place. It was agreed that a bark mulch should be used on the flower beds at Pound Corner.
ii) Lights at Lawson Park – Details of who is affected by the lights are to be passed to the Environmental Health Officer for him to follow up the complaint.
iii) It was reported that the Tulip tree in 10 Acres looks as if it may be diseased. Cllrs are to look at it and report back to the next meeting.
iv) The Environment Assistant reported various acts of vandalism and that the litter bin in Pound Corner needs emptying up to three times per week..

122 Highway Report
i) Management of Bypass verges – a copy of a plan and survey of the plants were given to cllrs. As Prof Swingland had to leave early, discussion was deferred till the next meeting.
ii) DDC Future Parking Strategy – Following KCC terminating the Highway Partnership, DDC remain responsible for the regulation and management of on-street parking.
iii) KCC – County Lengthsmen – a letter explaining this new initiative was read out.
iv) A burnt out car along the bypass is to be reported.
v) The installation of the new bollards at Chequer Lane is to be queried with Highways.

123 Police Report and Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy Report
PC Wright is working on tracing the culprits of vandalism at the Recreation Ground.

124 KAPC Report
Nothing to report.

125 Footpaths Report
i) Eight volunteers have come forward to help with monitoring footpaths and Mrs Chandler will be contacting them all in due course.
ii) Diversion of EE79a (part) Ware – A site meeting has been arranged with PROW Officer, Maria Lamb, on 8th June.

126 Website Report
Nothing to report.

127 Finance Report and Payments to be approved
Pat Hume has performed the internal audit and is satisfied.
The required documentation has now been sent to the External Auditors.
It was agreed that Mrs Hume should be presented with six bottles of wine as a thank you for performing the internal audit.

The following payments were approved:
Employment costs 1,157.06
Administration 186.94
Maintenance 550.83
VAT 96.56

Receipts:
Book sales 104.50

Balances:
Current account 8,105.14
Capital Reserve account 47,641.84

128 STARR Initiative
Nothing to report.

129 Parish Plan
Victoria Lawson of ACRK will be attending the July Meeting to talk to the Council about Parish Plans.

130 Correspondence
i) ARCK – details of two training sessions:
a) An explanation of and consultation on Defra’s new Rural Social Community Programme Lenham Thurs 23rd June.
b) Filling in the Forms (a briefing about the new Licencing Act) Lenham Tues 5th July – Mr Potts and Mr King are to attend.
ii) DDC – Renewal of Public Entertainment Licence for Ash VH
iii) KCC – invitation to Overview and Scrutiny of the NHS Induction Day – Weds 15 June at County Hall Maidstone 2pm - Mr Darvell is to attend.
iv) Draft Kent Design Guide – available to view online (www.kent.gov.uk/kent_design). A comments form is available there too and responses are requested by 1st July.
v) DDC – Draft Housing Strategy 2005-2009 – responses by 24th June. The document was taken by Mr Gregory. Mrs Willshaw is to complain to DDC on the Parish Council’s behalf about the length of time allowed for responses.
vi) WaterVoice Southern – invitation to a meeting 16th June at Paddock Wood.
Circulated:
i) DDC - Statement of Community Involvement
ii) DDC - Dover District Guide
iii) ARCK – Rural News 66
iv) DDC – Crime and Disorder Strategy
v) Dover District Guide
vi) DDC – Standards Board minutes and agenda
vii) DDC Housing Newsletter

131 Parish Council Newsletter
Nothing to report.

132 Press Release
None

133 Any other business
It was reported that there has been a low-flying helicopter near Each End House, which has been scaring horses. The owners of the horses will be advised that they should contact the C.A.A.