Newnham Parish Council

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Minutes Of The Annual General Meeting and Ordinary Meeting Of Newnham Parish Council
held On Thursday 13th July 2006 in the Village Hall, Newnham

 

Present
Cllrs S. Gunner, J. Llewellin, C. Dartnell, J. Kirby, A. St Clair Baker, V. Buckett, Swale Cllr C. Prescott and one member of the public.

Annual General Meeting

1. Cllr Gunner welcomed all and opened the meeting

2. Apologies for absence
Cllr Monk and County Cllr A. Bowles (SBC) tendered his apology

3. Election of Officers & Declaration of Acceptances
All Councillors agreed to stand for a further term and Cllrs Gunner, Llwellin and Dartnell signed declarations of acceptance for Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer respectively. Cllr St Clair Baker acted as Clerk for the meeting and countersigned the declarations.

4. Year End Accounts
This item is considered under item 5. of the Ordinary Parish Council meeting below.

There were no matters arising or questions from the floor and this part of the meeting closed at 8.15pm.


Ordinary Meeting

1. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Minutes were approved subject to a planning application number being inserted.

2. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Previous Meeting
www.twokentvillages.org website
- Cllr Llwellin reported that website training is underway for Cllrs who are helping populate the new Doddington and Newnham website. Cllrs were reminded that all work must be completed by the end of September in order to claim funds from Leader Plus (Cllr time being eligible as in-kind match funding). Newnham businesses will be able to advertise free on the website for the first year. A charge of £25 per annum is envisaged thereafter.
Land at Lady's Wood, Newnham Lane - Graham Thomas, Faversham Planning Officer at Swale Borough Council was unable to attend the meeting to discuss planning law for woodland plots development due to a family bereavement.
Kent Highway Services meeting 26th July - was attended by Cllr Gunner
Village Clean Up Day - went well though not quite as much was collected as last year. Cllrs agreed that this is an excellent service and should be continued on an annual collection basis.
Swale Youth Strategy - Cllr Buckett had reviewed the document which sets out Swale youth's priorities for the coming year - transport is a particular issue and a youth bus service for Sittingbourne and Faversham rural areas is due to be piloted summer 2006.

3. Reports - Planning Applications
SW/06/0550 HVM Case 17365 New dwelling house - plot adjacent to 3 The Street - application has been withdrawn
SW/06/0664 DRC Case 21448 106-108 The Street Demolition of toilet block - no objection.

4. Report from the Village Hall Representative - No update since last Newnham Parish Council meeting. Village Hall Committee AGM is on 17th July, at which John Davies will be stepping down as Trustee. Cllr Gunner advised that a request had been received from Kent Police to use the village hall to provide a local police presence in the village when the village hall was not in use. Cllrs agreed this was an excellent idea. Cllr Kirby will take forward to Village Hall Committee meeting on 17th July. Cllr Prescott commented that a similar scheme operates at Eastchurch Village Hall and Cllr Gunner agreed to obtain further information on how it works.

5. Report from Treasurer & Matters Arising - Cllr Dartnell advised that the annual audit of the Parish Council's accounts had been completed by Duncan Hempstock. The Audit Commission's Annual Return and Statement of Assurance was agreed and signed by the Chair, Treasurer and Acting Clerk.

6. War Memorial - Update - Cllrs discussed revisions to plans for the war memorial restoration. It was agreed that a further site meeting should be arranged with Doddington Representatives, Dave Buckett and Cllrs Kirby and Gunner to expedite matters. *

7. Housing Needs Survey - Update - the final version of the report is still awaited from Action for Rural Communities. The final return rate still has to be confirmed. A total of 10 households expressed a housing need.

8. Correspondence Received
06.06.13 SBC Planning Application - 106-108 The Street - demolish 20th C toilet block
06.06.14 Swale Forward - Swale Regeneration Framework: Consultation Draft - Cllr Llwellin to review and provide comments by 21st July *
06.06.15 KCC - Towards 2010 Consultation - reply by 31.07.06 (2 copies) - Kent County Council's vision document for the next 4 years - Cllrs Buckett and Dartnell to review and provide comments to reply by end July
06.06.19 SBC - Agenda for meeting of Faversham & Swale East Area Forum 27.06.06
06.06.20 Gala Lights - brochures and newsletter
06.06.23 SBC - Planning application withdrawn for plot adjacent to 3 The Street
06.06.24 Kent Design Guide - has been adopted as supplementary planning guidance - offering free issue - requested by email on 24.06.06 and received 29.06.06.
06.06.26 Applause (Rural Touring) - Menu of Events for spring 2007
06.06.26 SBC - Planning List
06.06.28 SBC - Swale Economic Development Strategy 2005-2008 ) final versions for
07.06.03 SBC - Swale Tourism Development Strategy 2005-2008 ) information
07.06.03 SBC - Planning List
07.06.09 Kent & Medway Structure Plan 2006 - Notice of Adoption
07.06.09 KAPC - Parish News (June issue) & enclosures, incl. Cllrs information day booking
form plus subscription receipt and minutes of meeting held 05.06.06 - Information day booking form passed to Cllr Buckett who will check her availability.*
07.06.09 Vitalise - request for donation (disabled people and their carers). In line with current policy, Cllrs decided not to fund
07.06.09 Bago - catalogue for hand tools for litter
07.06.09 Local Council Review Journal July issue, requesting subscription - Cllrs decided not to subscribe
07.06.09 SBC Minutes & additional papers - Faversham & Swale Est Area Forum Meeting 27.06.06
07.06.11 Clerks & Councils Direct Newsletter July issue
07.06.12 Dave Buckett - note on latest War Memorial Plans
07.06.12 Newnham Neighbourhood Watch (via email) Latest messages, including request for residents to report £20 notes with red markings to police

07.06.13 Gerry Cassell - email re ex-Ladyswood land being used as gardens with copy of email sent to Mr. Graham Thomas at SBC Planning Dept..
Letter from Dave the Postman - thanking residents for his gift - posted up on village notice board for all to read. (£425.00 had been collected and a card signed by all donors and handed to Dave Perrin when he opened the Fete on 17th June)

9. Police Request for Use of Village Hall
Dealt with under item 4 above.

10. Any Other Business
Cllr Prescott advised that the new Chief Executive of Swale Borough Council, Mark Bilsborough will be conducting a tour of rural Swale on 17th July. Cllrs asked for the issue of inadequate and non working drains to be raised during his visit.
Cllr Gunner advised that a follow up meeting was held on 6th July regarding Bankside. The community is encouraged to continue their good work in reporting incidents to the police to bring about convictions and then possible evictions. Swale Housing have confirmed that one option they have, once empty, is to sell on Bankside for private redevelopment.

OPEN FORUM ADJOURNMENT - no questions

CLOSED SESSION

11. Date of Next Meeting - Next meeting on 10th August 2006 at 8pm in the Village Hall.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.27pm.

N.B. * items requiring action.