Held On Thursday 10th August 2006 in the Village Hall, Newnham
Present
Cllrs J. Llewellin, C. Dartnell, J. Kirby, A. St Clair Baker, Swale Cllr C. Prescott and two members of the public. Cllr Gunner joined the meeting at 9pm.
Cllr Llewellin opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.
Val Buckett
Minutes were approved with one minor spelling change.
Cllrs requested that it should be formally minuted that Val Buckett was co-opted as a Newnham Parish Councillor. Cllr Llewellin advised that he had read the Swale Regeneration Framework. He noted that Swale is one of the highest areas of deprivation and lowest educational attainment nationwide.
The Parish Council agreed to write to Mid Kent Water on behalf of residents about the persistent water leak on Newnham Lane. Cllr Kirby agreed to clear up the broken glass on the green at Wineycock.
Jennifer Shaw of Action with Communities in Kent presented findings of Newnham Housing Needs Survey. She reported a high 41% response rate, with just over 50% of respondents having lived in the village for 11+ years. A need for affordable housing for younger people was identified. Whilst a majority of respondents recognised that a small amount of development to meet a specific need would be acceptable, concerns were expressed about increased traffic movements or impact upon the AONB environment. The survey showed that those in need already resided in the parish and would therefore not bring additional traffic or pressure on services. Specifically, the survey showed 8 people who were seeking homes in the village – 4 now and 4 in the next few years. The recommendation was that up to 4 1-2 bed homes might require to be built in the short term. Cllr Dartnell asked what specific guarantee could be offered that these homes would only be let to local people. Jenny advised that the Housing Act identifies exception sites in certain small villages (including Newnham) which are protected in perpetuity against future resale or letting to people who do not have evidence of long-term residency in the parish. The Parish Council would have an opportunity to influence the terms of tenancy / local connection criteria with the local Housing Association. With regard to identification of sites, Jennifer Shaw proposed a walk-about for Cllrs with Swale Borough Council planner Graham Thomas. If any suitable sites were identified, landowners would need to be approached for their willingness to sell. The next step would then be to find a Housing Association partner, which could either be Swale Housing or The English Rural Housing Association, which would be Swale Borough Council’s preferred partner. Both organisations have a track history of developing good schemes and are regulated by the Housing Corporation, though the English Rural Housing only focuses on rural development. Cllrs agreed that, given the need shown by the survey, it would be worth considering if there are any suitable sites in the village. If any sites were identified, they agreed that a further consultation with villagers would be required before any final decision is made to proceed to development stage.
SBC – Planning Application ref: SW/06/0738 HVM Case 08880 Foxwood End – application for rear porch – no objections
SBC Planning Application ref: SW/06/0920 HVM Case 17365 No 3 The Street – application for 2 storey development – no objections
Nothing to report
Nothing to report
Cllrs Gunner and Kirby met with Doddington PC representatives and the Civil Engineer and agreed minor changes to the design. Quotations will now be sought from contractors, including from 2 large companies which might have charitable funds to support the renovation works.
www.twokentvillages.org website – Cllr Llewellin advised that he was still awaiting responses from some Newnham businesses. Cllr St Clair Baker advised that she had been trained to update website and had leafleted those properties in village for which photos already appeared on the website, requesting any information. Over time, more properties will naturally be added. It was suggested that Vi Neave (who is in a retirement home in Faversham) might be interviewed so that her memories of the village can be put up on the website. Cllr Gunner advised that she was updating the Neighbourhood Watch, Doctor’s and Village Hall notices, together with PC minutes once they were agreed at each following meeting.
00.07.06 KCC – Kent Waste Development Framework – two related public consultations to start on 26.07.06 end 04.10.06 available on the web at www.kentwaste.dialogueby design.net PC comments requested.
11.07.06 Kent Fire & Rescue Service – Service Performance Plant for 2006/7 now available at www.kent.fire-uk-org. Explains last year’s performance and plans for next 3 years
13.07.06 KCC – confirmation of Kent Parish Council Website Training for Chairman on ` 04.11.06 at Sittingbourne AEC (in lieu of Clerk if not recruited by then).
13.07.06 SBC – Planning Application List
13.07.06 SBC – Local Plan First Review – Consultation on Preferred Additional Housing Site – Land at Stones Farm, Sittingbourne. Comments requested by 25.08.06.
17.07.06 SBC – Planning Application List
18.07.06 Audit Commission – reminder for return of annual audit (email reply sent 22.07.06)
22.07.06 Mary Golder-Hayes – notification of her re-submitted planning application for house on plot adjacent to No. 3 The Street.
24.07.06 Kent Police – enclosing 3 copies of summary of this year’s policing plan for our reference – with targets and contact numbers.
24.07.06 SBC – Planning Application List
25.07.06 Glasdon – Local Councils News Sheets (Seating, wastebins & planters)
25.07.06 Jennifer Mazzocchi – email – suggestions on minutes wording.
26.07.06 SBC Planning Application ref: SW/06/0920 HVM Case 17365 – Land adjacent to No. 3 The Street. 2nd application to allow car parking at side of house.
27.07.06 Kent Police – Notification of Parish/Town Councils Meeting on 10.08.06 at 18.15hrs
27.07.06 Wicksteed Leisure – brochure – Playground Inspirations
27.07.06 KCC – Kent Goes Wild – letter with posters (put on noticeboards and website)
27.07.06 Mid Kent Downs Steering Group – draft minutes of 08.06.06 and notification of next meeting on Thursday 07.09.06 at Wormshill VH.
29.07.06 KCC – Annual Plant 2006/7 – explaining overall priorities and objectives. Last page is for comments and suggestions.
02.08.06 Rural Housing Enabler, Acation with Communites in Rural Kent – email from Jennifer Shaw – confirming her attendance at the August meeting.
02.08.06 Fitzpatrick Woolmer – brochure for Creative Sign Solutions
04.08.06 SBC – Planning Application ref: SW/06/0738 HVM Case 08880 – Foxwood End, 93 The Street – alter or extend listed building – construction of rear porch.
04.08.06 Glasdon – Letter introducing new seating collection
13. Report from Police/Parish Meeting 10.08.06
Cllr Gunner advised that it had been a constructive meeting and will provide a fuller written report to Cllrs shortly.
Cllr Dartnell felt that the state of the field behind The George pub was very poor and asked for it to be put on the agenda for the next meeting. Cllr Gunner agreed to approach the landlord of the pub for a view.
The open letter from Mr Morton was discussed. Cllrs confirmed that none of them had advised Swale Borough Council about this matter and Cllr Llewellin agreed to put this in writing to Mr Morton.
OPEN FORUM ADJOURNMENT
The Public Right of Way at the far south western end of the village up into the woods was being used by horses and was both dangerous for the horses and potentially for other footpath users, given that it is not a bridleway. Cllr Dartnell agreed to write to KCC PROW team about this along with two other footpath issues in the parish.
15. Date of Next Meeting – Next meeting on 14th September 2006 at 8pm in the Village Hall.
There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.45pm.