News

Minutes of a meeting of Hawkinge Parish Council

Held at: The Village Hall, Hawkinge

Date: 14 November 2007 at 7.30pm

Present: Councillor D Callahan (Chairman), Councillors Ms J Brisley, J Heasman, G Hodgson, T Hutt, J Punnett and P Smith.

Officer Present: Mrs Tina Wiles (Clerk)

OPEN MEETING

PUBLIC QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

Mr Beere had arranged to ask a question about the buffer strip at De Havilland Close.

However, he was given a copy of the update on the issue that the Parish Council would be receiving later in the agenda. He said that he was pleased with the outcome and he therefore withdrew his question.

528. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors J Heasman and G Hodgson declared a personal interest as they were trustees of the Community Centre, in minute 541, (Christmas Tree at the Community Centre) as the discussion was in general terms, they remained in the meeting and took part in the discussion and voting on this item.

Councillor D Callahan declared a person interest in minute 542, (Planning Matters TPO 5 of 2007) as he could see one of the trees from his rear garden. He remained in the meeting and took part in the discussion but did not vote on this item.

529. MINUTES

Minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2007 were submitted, approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

530. PETITION

A petition signed by 46 residents of Blenheim Drive was considered. The petition states:

“Please support the petition to help protect children in Blenheim Drive, by putting in speed bumps to slow down traffic.”

In accordance with the Parish Council procedure it was

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor P Smith and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note the petition.

2. To refer the request Kent Highways for comments and detailed costs with a view to the traffic calming scheme being provided as part of the overall safety survey of the village and to consider signs reducing speed to 10/20 mph.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

531. SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES WORKSHOP DAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2007 – FINAL REPORT AND PRESENTATION

On 8 September 2007 the Parish Council undertook a major consultation with the assistance of a sports consultant, Penny Matkin, and Len Mayatt, Sports Development Manager from Shepway District Council.

Penny Matkin gave a presentation on the results of the consultations and all Parish Councillors received a copy of the final report. Len Mayatt added an overview and outlined how the proposals would fit in with the overall strategy of Shepway District Council.

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor P Smith and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note the presentation and the final report.

2. To ask the Finance and General Purposes Committee to take account of the findings and to progress these in accordance with its work for the provision of sports and activities in Hawkinge.

3. To arrange a presentation to One Voice, and the Hawkinge Youth Forum.

4. To thank Penny Matkin, Len Mayatt, Ed Fane and Cyril Trice for their hard work.

5. To open discussions with Edinburgh Estates regarding the proposed development on land at the back of the Community Centre.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

532. APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor J Brisley and

RESOLVED: To appoint Councillor J Heasman as Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the year.

(Voting: For 6; Against 0; Abstentions 1)

533. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Following the recent resignation of two councillors, the Council was asked to consider making the following appointments;

Finance and General Purposes Committee To continue with 3 members on the Committee until the by election in January 2008.

Community Services Advisory Committee To continue with 5 members until the by election in January 2008.

Planning and Development Group Councillor D Callahan to replace Mrs J James

Hawkinge Neighbourhood Management Partnership Board Member plus

Connecting Hawkinge Group and

Sustainability Group

To appoint 1 Councillor plus

1 named Deputy

Community Centre Working Group 2 Councillors

Youth Forum 1 named deputy for Cllr Ms Brisley

The business of the Hawkinge Sports and Recreation Sub-Committee will revert back to the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Proposed by Councillor P Smith

Seconded by Councillor T Hutt and

RESOLVED:

1. To continue with 3 councillors on the Finance and General Purposes Committee and 5 councillors on the Community Services Committee until new councillors are elected on 10 January 2007.

2. To appoint Councillor D Callahan on to the Planning and Development Group to fill the vacancy and to appoint Councillor J Heasman as Chairman of the Group.

3. To continue with 2 Councillors on the Community Centre Working Group.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor P Smith and

RESOLVED:

4. To appoint Councillor D Callahan as the Parish Council representative on the Hawkinge Partnership Board.

(Voting: For 6; Against 0; Abstentions 1)

Proposed by Councillor D Callahan

Seconded by Councillor P Smith and

RESOLVED:

5. To appoint Councillor T Hutt as the Parish Council, named deputy representative on the Hawkinge Partnership Board.

(Voting: For 6; Against 0; Abstentions 1)

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor Ms J Brisley and

RESOLVED:

6. To appoint Councillor P Smith as the Parish Council, named deputy representative on the Hawkinge Youth Forum.

(Voting: For 6; Against 0; Abstentions 1)

534. FINANCIAL MATTERS

The Clerk circulated the schedule of payments to be made following the meeting. A copy of the schedule is attached as Appendix 1.

Proposed by Councillor G Hodgson

Seconded by Councillor Ms J Brisley and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and adopt the schedule of payments attached at Appendix 1.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

535. APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE – FUSION AND CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

1. Fusion is an after school club for children from 7-11 years. It invites local school children to join in games, music and a variety of other activities. The Club is run by The Revd. Rob Grinsell, of St Luke’s Anglican Church, Church. It will take place on the second Monday of each month between 3.15 – 4.30pm in the Community Centre, details attached.

2. The Councillors also considered an application from Tanya Clerk, Community Warden for a donation of £50 in support of a Children’s Christmas Party to be held on 15 December 2007. The party will aim to bring together 7-11 year olds from all parts of Hawkinge and will be held in the Churchill School Hall.

Proposed by Councillor D Callahan

Seconded by Councillor T Hutt and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note the report.

2. To make a donation of £100 to Fusion.

3. To make a donation of £50 to the Children’s Christmas Party to be held on 15 December 2007.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

536. HAWKINGE NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP – FUTURE FUNDING

On 11 April 2007, minute 450, the Parish Council resolved to endorse the 2007/08 Action Plan and 5 Year Strategy set out by the Hawkinge Neighbourhood Management Partnership. Funding is currently being sough to allow the Neighbourhood Partnership to continue for the full seven year of the project which is due to come to an end in 2012.

The Parish Council is working with the Hawkinge Neighbourhood Partnership Officers and other partners to ensure the sustainability of services which are currently being offered.

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor J Heasman and

RESOLVED:

1. To support the continuation of the Hawkinge Neighbourhood Management Partnership and to offer support where possible to ensure that funding for the Pathfinder Project continues for the duration of the seven year project.

2. To send a copy of this resolution to the local Member of Parliament, Kent County Council and Shepway District Council.

3. To ask Councillor David Callahan to attend a meeting of Shepway District Council and ask a public question about the funding issues and giving support to the Pathfinder Project in Hawkinge.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

537. MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE – 17 OCTOBER 2007

To receive the minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee of 17 October 2007 which had been circulated with the agenda.

Proposed by Councillor P Smith

Seconded by Councillor Ms J Brisley and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note the minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee of 17 October 2007.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

538. PARISH PLAN – APPOINTMENT OF STEERING COMMITTEE

On 1 November 2007, councillors Tony Hutt and Dave Callahan attended a meeting with members of the public who had registered interest in the Parish Planning process. Officers from the Hawkinge Neighbourhood Management Partnership and Action with Communities in Rural Kent also attended and undertook to provide support to the Committee. The meeting was well attended and a Parish Plan Steering Committee was appointed.

Councillor Tony Hutt was appointed Chairman. The Committee considered how it wishes to progress and the next meeting has been scheduled for 15 November 2007 at the conclusion of a series of information gathering sessions which are being held at the Community Centre.

Councillor Hutt gave an update and said that the public sessions being held 12-15 November in the Community Centre and the Village Hall had highlighted issues which had not yet been identified and these would be addressed as part of the Parish Plan process.

Proposed by Councillor P Smith

Seconded by Councillor J Heasman and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note the report.

2. To note that the Steering Group has been appointed and that expenses such as the hiring of venues for meetings and postage and stationary costs will be paid for by the Parish Council.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

539. PROVISION OF SALT BINS

A need for the provision of three salt bins has been identified. These will be placed in Canterbury Road, close to Hawkinge Primary School, Swann Way/Haven Drive, and Mill Lane, Hawkinge.

The cost of the bins is approximately £553, Kent Highway Services will be responsible for filling the bins on a regular basis. There is no allocation in the budget for this item and the money will be taken from reserves.

Proposed by Councillor P Smith

Seconded by Councillor J Heasman and

RESOLVED:

1. To provide three salt bins in the locations identified.

2. To ask the Connecting Hawkinge Group and the Canterbury Road Project Group to include the provision of further salt bins as required.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

540. DEHAVILLAND CLOSE BUFFER STRIP - UPDATE

On 24 July 2007, the Parish Council resolved to ask Shepway District Council to provide a properly marked out footpath, away from the rear boundary fences of the properties in De-Havilland Close, for the whole length of path from Swann Way to Killing Wood, having due regard to the privacy of residents.

Councillors received an addendum to the agenda item giving details of a meeting which the Parish Council and other interested groups were invited to attend, called by Jeff Stack, Corporate Director of Shepway District Council and Councillor Rory Love, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Environmental Services. The meeting was held on 14 November 2007, at the buffer strip and representatives from the footpath user group and the residents group also attended.

The conclusion reached was that the fence currently running along the edge of the 6 meter buffer strip could be moved closer to the rear garden fences of the houses in De Havilland Close, making the buffer strip 4 meters wide and making 2 meters of it available to the public.

This would mean that the buffer strip would become completely enclosed, would be densely planted and the purpose of the fence would be to provide a protection for the planting.

All parties agreed to this arrangement in principle. There are details which require further consideration. Shepway have undertaken to pursue this solution and have asked that certain details are clarified and on receipt of the information, will write to all parties with its proposals.

It was suggested that Section 106 monies available in Hawkinge will be used to pay for the costs involved.

Proposed by Councillor D Callahan

Seconded by Councillor J Punnett and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note the update.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

541. PROVISION OF VILLAGE CHRISTMAS TREE AND CHRISTMAS CONCERT - UPDATE

On 10 October 2007, minute 519, the Parish Council resolved to provide a Christmas tree on the green outside the National Westminster Bank. £500 was approved from the Council’s reserves to provide the tree and lighting.

Councillor Hutt said that he would arrange for the tree to be situated on the grass verge to the right of the Village Hall as this was in the ownership of the Parish Council and would allow a safe connection to the electricity supply from the Village Hall. The National Westminster Bank had been contacted about the use of the green but a decision from them would not be made in time.

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor J Punnett and

RESOLVED:

1. To receive and note the update.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Councillor John Heasman said that he was arranging the Christmas Carol Concern for Sunday 2 December 2007 from 2.30-4.30pm at the Community Centre. The Hythe Town Band had been booked and the three local primary schools had been invited. He also asked for the Parish Council to provide a Christmas tree in the Community Centre.

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor D Callahan and

RESOLVED:

2. To receive and note the update.

3. To provide a Christmas Tree in the Community Centre.

(Voting: For 5; Against 0; Abstentions 2)

542. PLANNING MATTERS

1. The list of planning applications received since the last meeting is attached. A report will be circulated at the meeting giving details of the responses sent to the District Council by the Planning and Development Group for endorsement.

2. To consider the Parish Council’s response to a major application at London Ashford Airport, Lydd Romney Marsh, details attached.

The Clerk reported that Tree Preservation Order number 5 of 2007 (Land at 32-34 Canterbury Road, has been confirmed.

Proposed by Councillor J Punnett

Seconded by Councillor P Smith and

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. To receive and endorse the responses of the Planning and Development Group detailed appendix 2.

2. To decline to comment in respect of the major planning application at London Ashford Airport, Lydd, Romney Marsh on the grounds that it is too far away.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

543. CODE OF CONDUCT TRAINING – 5 DECEMBER 2007, 6PM

On 13 June 2007, the Parish Council resolved to adopt a revised code of Conduct set out by the Standards Board for England.

Training on the new Code of Conduct has been arranged for Parish Councillors in conjunction with Folkestone Town Councillors on Wednesday 5 December at 6pm in the Boulogne Room at the Civic Centre Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone. All councillors were asked to attend.

Proposed by Councillor T Hutt

Seconded by Councillor D Callahan and

RESOLVED: To receive and note the date and time of the training.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

544. CORRESPONDENCE

The Clerk reported a letter of thanks from Art at Hawkinge, for the donation of £100 towards the Hawkinge Arts and Crafts Festival held on 27 October 2007.

A letter from Kent County Council regarding subsidised local bus services.

Report of the Community Warden dated 14 November 2007.

Two further letters were received since the publication of the agenda and these were referred to the confidential section.

545. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

Proposed by Councillor D Callahan

Seconded by Councillor J Heasman and

RESOLVED: To exclude the public from the meeting for the following item of business pursuant to the provision of sub section 100 & 102 of the Local Government Act, 1972 because publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of business to be transacted.

The Council considered a quotation in connection with painting of the bollards and handrail outside the village hall, identified in the risk assessment.

The Council considered a further quotation for two additional outside lights at the Village Hall.

Proposed by Councillor P Smith

Seconded by Councillor J Punnett and

RESOLVED:

1. To proceed with the quotation for the painting of the bollards and handrail at the village hall.

2. To not accept the quotation for the two additional outside lights at the village hall and to seek further tenders.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)