A Meeting of the Parish Council was held in Ash Village Hall on
Monday 5 June 2006 at 7.30pm

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

112 Apologies for absence Prof Swingland and Mrs Chandler

113 Nominate a Publicity Officer Mr Darvell agreed to write a report for the Parish Magazine.
Mrs Ovenden reported that she had written a piece last month, but had accidentally put it in the wrong letter box and it did not get passed on.

114 Minutes of the meeting held 8 May 2006
The minutes were approved and signed as a true record.

115 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.

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

117 Planning Report
Considered by the Parish Council:
i) 55 Guilton – removal of one Blue Spruce tree (close to house, very tall and still growing) TC/06/00027/TC – there were no objections to the proposals
ii) Hills Court, Hills Court Road – renewal of planning permission DOV/01/614 for the erection of a two storey extension and garage (DOV/06/00552) – there were no objections to the proposals
iii) Cooks Farmhouse, Westmarsh – erection of a single storey conservatory extension (DOV/06/00567 LISTED) – there were no objections to the proposal, but concern that the circular features are retained on the exterior wall is to be passed on to DDC
iv) Southmede, Sheerwater – erection of a replacement detached dwelling and construction of vehicular access (existing dwelling to be demolished) (DOV/06/00479) – there were no objections to the proposals

Granted by DDC:
i) Cape House, The Street – removal of one Catalpa tree (TC/06/00024/TC)
ii) Goss Hall Farmhouse – internal and external alterations including alterations to fenestration and formation of raised terrace together with demolition of adjoining timber structure (DOV/006/00347)
iii) 2 Chapel Cottages, Cooper Street – erection of a first floor side extension (DOV/06/00290)
iv) 61-63 The Street – conversion to 3 dwellings together with erection of first floor rear extension and alterations to fenestration arrangement (DOV/06/00313 and 314 LISTED) –
v) Old Radar Station, Saunders Lane – renewal of planning permission DOV/03/472 for the installation of a mobile unit to be used as a canteen (DOV/06/00327)
vi) 41 Chequer Lane – erection of a single storey side and rear extensions (DOV/06/00412)
vii) The School House, Ware – erection of a single storey side extension (DOV/06/00356)

Granted by KCC:
i) Former Brown and Mason Yard Proposed Waster Recycling Facility – details submitted pursant to conditions (2), (8), (13) and (19) in respect of final site layout, external finished and surface water/foul water drainage (PAU/MC/DO/03/477)

Refused by DDC:
i) Ash Coombe Vineyard, Coombe Lane – change of use and conversion of winery into 2no. holiday lets, together with erection of first floor extensions to increase height of building (DOV06/00351)

Withdrawn
i) Guston Court, Guston – internal and external alterations to facilitate conversion to a holiday let unit (DOV/06/00304 and 305 LISTED)

Planning Focus Group – Nominations were invited to fill vacancies, but Cllr Bennetts will remain in post.

Kent & Medway Structure Plan – Notice of intention to adopt the Plan. It is available for inspection at DDC offices.

Overland Farm – A Planning Investigation Officer has looked into the complaint and it is now resolved.

118 Parish Plan - Nothing to report.

119 Recreation Ground Report
Report from Recreation Ground Annual Meeting, where Mr Foat was elected Chairman for another year. Maggie Vennart was welcomed to the committee as Tennis Club representative.
i) The springy motorbike is on order and is due to be installed within the next two weeks.
ii) The plastic ‘Grasscrete’ has been delivered.
iii) The nets for the climbing frame have been installed
iv) Teen shelter and toilet block windows - quotes for replacing with anti-vandal panels from Spacemaster were excessively high, but the Environment Assistant suggested alternatives which could be sourced locally at a cost of under £300 for both. It was agreed that he should proceed with this option. One of the toilet doors is awaiting renewal, but is not a stock size.
v) The aerial slide – another part failed and as a consequence Park Leisure are making up a new part.
vi) The tennis courts have been resurfaced and are due to be painted and have new nets fitted within the next two weeks.
vii) The Annual Safety Inspection is booked for July.
viii) The loan instalment of £2,000 is due and the Pavilion Management Committee has been invoiced.
ix) The Junior Football was reported as going well and Junior Cricket has restarted.
x) Concern was expressed about the Thursday evening youth meetings in the pavilion, as each Friday the Environment Assistant reports things left outside the building and it was thought that the young people are not always adequately supervised.
xi) It was reported that the marquee hired for the Rugby Club’s event was vandalised again this year, with the cost to them of all the profits from the event.
xii) The allotments were noted to be in reasonable condition apart from no. 3, which has been transferred to two new holders who will hopefully soon be able to bring it back to order.
xiii) The problem with moles was discussed and it was agreed that the Environment Assistant should obtain and use10-12 traps on a regular basis to keep numbers down during the breeding season.

120 Parish Council Property and Environment
i) Dog waste bins – research into prices and people’s opinions about positioning of bins, carried out by the clerk since the last meeting, were discussed and an email from Claire Pitts at DDC was read out. It was agreed to wait for Ms Pitts to carry out her survey in August and to liaise with her at that time.
ii) Environment Assistant’s mobile phone - it was agreed that a camera phone on pay as you go standard tariff should be obtained from Tescos at a cost of approximately £60 for the phone.
iii) Provision of Bus Shelters – some prices were obtained, to give an indication of costs, and a proposal to provide two shelters is to be put on the next agenda.
iv) Maps and timetables for the new Diamond Bus Service have been received. A link is to be added from the Parish website to the Bus Company’s site.
vi) Report from Environment Assistant:
The hedge on footpath EE90A is overgrown and the Chequer Lane end and a complaint has been made about the hedge on the property at the corner of Chequer Lane and Holness Road as it is encroaching across the footpath. Damage to the telephone box near the village hall was reported to BT.

121 Highway Report
i) Nash Road – confirmation of the continuation of the name of the road from the junction with Elmstone to the A257 as Nash Road received from DDC.
ii) The road at Durlock leading to Staple was reported to have had some work carried out which was not completed. Highways are to be asked when this will be finished off.

122 Police Report and Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy Report
i) Speedwatch – Wingham PC has not purchased equipment and has no immediate plans to do so. The Wingham Clerk is to add to their next agenda a suggestion that Ash and Wingham purchase it jointly.
ii) Funding for PCSO’s – official information about the proposed costs and timescales has been received. It was agreed to pursue obtaining a PCSO based on this information.
iii) Mrs Ovenden reported on two assaults carried out in the village recently, which were dealt with by the police.

123 KAPC Report
Minutes of the AGM and the Ordinary Meeting of the Dover Area Committee were passed to the representatives. Mr Whitburn gave a short report from the meeting.

124 Footpaths Report
i) Beating the Bounds - quotes for the boards were considered, but due to the costs and the difficulties in getting them put out, it was agreed not to have boards. This will add about a half a mile diversion to the walk. The boat capacity was confirmed as 24. Mr Pratt has started drawing up a list of participants. It was noted that landowners will need to be notified in advance.
ii) Mr Foat reported that some footpaths have now been cut through local fields.

125 Website Report - nothing to report.

126 Recrutiment
A short list of applicants will be drawn up and interviews are to be held on Thursday 15th June from 5.30pm. Following a suggestion from Mr Foat it was agreed that the August meeting, which will be the new clerk’s first meeting, should have a reduced agenda of just Planning and Payments (plus the visitor being invited – 128 ii).

127 Finance Report and Payments to be approved
The Internal Audit has been completed and the documents sent off for External Audit.

Filing cabinets and notice board – it was agreed to write off these items as they are fitted in the current clerk’s office.

The following payments were approved:
Employment expenses 1,550.52
Administration 871.70
Capital expenditure 1,915.00
Grant to Tennis Club 7,000.00
Maintenance 524.07
VAT 1,778.14

Balances
Current account 3,135.04
Capital Reserve account 60,394.84

128 Correspondence
i) Ash VH Management Committee – a new revised Hiring Agreement was considered but several queries are to be raised before it can be signed. It is to be suggested that the committee contact the Community Halls Officer, Jenny Bradbury, at ACRK, if they have not already done so.
ii) The DDC Community Development Officer would like an opportunity to meet the Council. It was agreed to invite her to the August meeting.
iii) KCC Highways – Invitation to Beer Cart Lane for a presentation on 27 June 3.30pm, 5pm or 6pm. Also cards for distribution. Mr Whitburn will attend the 5pm session.
iv) M Southwell, M West and A Groombridge – objecting to the closure of Goodnestone School. The objections were noted, but it was agreed that Ash PC is unable to influence this.
v) Action with Communities in Rural Kent – Invitation to 1/4ly Council Meeting. Mr Foat will attend and Mr Whitburn will be there in his employment capacity.
vi) Anne Willshaw – informing that she has resigned from the District Council due to her moving away. It was reported that Paul Southgate has also resigned.
vii) District of Dover Crime Reduction Partnership – details of capital grants available and a copy of the Crime and Disorder Strategy 2005-08, which was added to the circulation envelope.
viii) A letter to Mr Whitburn from Hazel Kendrick about the Village Arts and Crafts Initiative was read out.
Circulated:
i) Voluntary Infrastructure Consortium Kent
ii) The Playing Field Newsletter
iii) Kent Police The Relay Newsletter
iv) ACRK News no. 75
v) Kent Police – Newsletter from the Chief Constable

129 Parish Council Newsletter
Mr Whitburn will produce a draft for the next meeting.

130 Press release
None

131 Any other business
Mr Gregory raised the issue again of the problems with the land behind the houses at Mill Field.
He is to advise the residents to write to the Jack Foat Trust with their complaints and to provide a copy of the letter to the Parish Council.