News

CHAIRMAN`S REPORT  25/04/06

People often remark to me of how quickly we get through our meetings. My answer is always, `Well that’s because usually our Councillors usually know what they are doing, don’t keep repeating themselves, keep to the subject and we have an efficient Clerk`.

I recently had to attend another Parish Council Meeting, and after 2½hrs. of incoherent wrangling, another observer and myself were at a loss as to what had been achieved or the perpose of what had been discussed.

The reason I am recounting this tale is to say, `Thank-you to the Councillors and the Clerk for making the job of Chairman a pleasure.

For me nothing more typifies what I have just said than how you dealt with the highly controversial planning application for the Black-horse meadow, and o­n top of that, got Shepway`s Cabinet to remove some of the permitted development rights, thus for the time being, effectively blocking any development o­n this land. Seven minutes those decisions took, in front of 75 parishioners. And our electors left that meeting with the knowledge that those they had entrusted to be Councillors knew what they were doing.

At this time may I take the opportunity to o­nce again record the Councils` thanks to Cllr.R.Curd, the previous Chairman for all the work he had done over the last 5½ years.

Last year saw the unfortunate spoiling of part of the village green, which was quickly repaired with no long-lasting damage, when necessary works were being carried out to the church and church-yard to try and give it a long term future, rather than watch it fall down. For many years we have maintained the church-yard with the assistance of the concurrent services grant from SDC, however since its removal, with the advent of The Friends of Swingfield Church and with the fact that this is now administered by an other PPC(Acrise) I feel the time should be taken between now and the next budget to carefully review the situation. The new PPC has contacted me and when I have something to report, I will do so. Incidentally we did get £2000 for an Easement across the Village Green for the laying o­n of essential services which was most welcome to the Council coffers.

Although it is like watching paint dry, progress is being made o­n the Council`s Affordable Housing Scheme with negotiations currently o­ngoing with the landowner and a site investigation shortly to be done. Last January I attended a seminar in Newchurch organized by the Rural housing Trust in the presence of HRH Princess Anne. It was refreshing to note Shepway`s new co-operative stance o­n this issue especially in the light of hurdles put in our way last year.

The A260 is as always a problem with regards to the speed of the traffic and its associated footpath problems between the Selsted bends and Densole. Nothing as usual has happened. Even in January as Councillors are aware, we received an offer of co-operation from the Chairman of Hawkinge PC, but as yet nothing has materialized from Hawkinge.

In the past the KAPC has always been good for a yawn. I don’t believe that is true anymore. More and more I begin to see how by co-operating we can begin to have an effect o­n Shepway Council policy and indeed o­n policies elsewhere in the county.

When not a single member of the Cabinet showed up at the Joint Consultative Meeting for the second time last December, such was the strength of the letter that was sent to them ,it produced a very quick apology from both the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council, and the Deputy Leader was given the task of always attending.

Anyway, what has been discussed and progressed?

Shepway will resume the collection of refuse from Village halls again after it was terminated by an Officer without the authority to do so.

Parish/Town Councils will have a greater say in the selection of their Standards Board Representatives, or so we thought and with good reason, because both Cllr. Monk and Mr. Wignal indicated that they thought their would be NO problems. However last Wednesday their was, because the proposals where voted down.

The inequity of Sandgate PC contributing equally per household to the Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Ground Charity has been aired and hopefully will be resolved by 2008.

More clarity to be given to Planning Applicants o­n ALL the procedures.

The larger Authorities like Folkestone are to pay more for membership of the KAPC rather than be subsidized by the smaller Authorities like Swingfield.

I believe that due to continual pressure over the last 3 years. The standard of the reports written by the Planning Officers has dramatically improved. o­n top of that, the public are now getting responses to telephone calls and enquires. However we have recently discovered  that Planning Authorities are supposed to give Parish Councils 21 days to respond to Planning Applications, and not the current 14, and that where the District council makes a decision contrary to the wishes of the Parish Council it `SHALL NOTIFY THE `PARISH` COUNCIL OF THE TERMS OF THE DECISION`.

It has now been fairly well established that Planning Officers do not have the right to refer any application to GOSE if granted by the Development Control Committee.

As Members will recall last year I was elected to the KAPC Executive. It turns out to be a very useful source of information about changes to legislation and regulations, which eventually will eventually have an impact o­n our own Council. It is also a place where o­ne can learn how other Council’s (District and Parish) conduct themselves. Let’s just say, it has its advantages.

A Council can be as proactive as it likes and to this end we decided back in1997 to twin with Aviron, France. To this end it set up a twinning committee to administer its policy.

Last year there were 4 main areas of activity.

Last summer pupils and staff from our school spent 5 days o­n an exchange visit to Aviron Primary School. By any criteria all judged it to be a resounding success. This year pupils from Aviron are scheduled to come to Swingfield.

July saw us pay host to a party from Aviron, whilst in September a 20+ party went to Aviron, Saturday being spent in Amblois, and o­n the Sunday English culture was seen at their village fete in the form of a light hearted cricket match.

In November I attended their Armistice Day commemorations at the invitation of the Major of Aviron, deputising for Cllr R.Curd.

This year plans are already in hand for them to attend our Remembrance services, as well as us spending 3 days in Aviron in June, whilst they will visit us in September.

Last year financially the Village Hall held its own, leaving it with reserves of about £2K.A far cry from the days when it was dependant o­n a subsidy from this Council, or indeed in receipt of loans. The Trustees had hoped to be able to replace the  windows with the help of a KCC grant thanks to our County Councillor. That unfortunately fell through as. But very recently we have just been asked to apply for funds through the KCC Second Homes Community Charge Scheme. this we will be doing, again my thanks to Cllr. Carey.

Cllr Colin Tearle - Chairman Swingfield Parish Council