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THE PARISH COUNCIL OF ST MARGARETS-AT-CLIFFE
Minutes of the Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the above Parish Council held on Monday 10 th February 2014 in St Margarets Hall, Reach Road at 7.00 p.m.
Present: Cllrs D Hart (in the Chair), S Little, M Haslam, C Little, A Fielding, T Porter, S Bayliss-Stranks,
T Purchase., B Paul.
Following issues raised during Public Question Time:-
Mrs Liggins asked if overflowing bin in car park could be reported – Community Warden advised this had been sent to DDC this afternoon.
Mr Heyworth of Seaview Road noted that PC letter sent to Kent Planning re planning application for
Palmerston referred to emergent Neighbourhood Plan
– asked if this had been finalised. Cllr Hart confirmed that Plan was yet to be finalised although DDC had referred applicant to the Parish Council in view of the emergent Plan. Mr Heyworth also raised question of status of Seaview Road – Cllr Hart advised that in his view this was a Private Road as determined by Kent Highways, which allowed full public access but was not maintained at public expense.
1. Confirmation of Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held 13 th January 2014.
The minutes, having been circulated to all members, were confirmed as a correct
record.
2. Declarations of Interest – Cllr Hart declared an interest in grant application for the
Amy Temple Charity (as a Trustee); Cllr Purchase declared an interest in grant application for the Nursery and After School Club, also in planning application for
Palmerston.
3. Community Warden / PCSO

Written report received from PCSO – details as follows:- o Since last PC meeting 98 calls made under the beat code for St
Margaret’s at surrounding villages – only small percentage relates directly to St Margaret’s. o Most calls were weather-related for A258 and Reach Road. o A number of reports whereby people are receiving bogus telephone calls Clerk to place alleging fraudulent activity on bank accounts. This type of call needs to be item in magazine reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. o Vehicle crime reported for January re theft of vehicle number plate. o Police contact surgeries at Village Hall Car Park – 12-1 p.m. 21 st February and 7 th March. Kerry surgeries 13 th February at Village Hall and 10 th
March at library.

Community Warden – new boundaries for him cover Ripple, Guston, Burgoyne
Heights, Castle Ward and St Margaret’s. Main issues recently surround flooding and blocked drains, especially in Reach Road.

Flytipping remains a small issue, with domestic refuse being placed in public litter bins.

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
After speaking to Chair and Clerk, Gordon had advised resident of The Freedown that hedge behind them adjoining Alexander Playing Field remain residents’ responsibility.

3 outstanding parking issues – Royston Gardens at junction with Reach Road;
Reach Close following contact from Kent Fire & Rescue Service re poor access; parking on pavement near Old Well House, Station Road.

Reported incidences of inappropriate letters and phone calls received by female residents
– Police have been informed.
4. Clerk’s Report

Replies re Old Well House Colebrook & Sturrock
– tenants claim the Russian
Vine is not on their land. Re parked cars – not seen as an obstruction although Clerk to speak to
Community Warden and PCSO will investigate. Chief Environmental Officer reports no sign of rodent infestation. Mr Miller has been asked to cut back vine on road side of fence.

2 missing bins in The Bay – reported.

Date for annual litter pick – Cllr Sara Little will consider.

Date for Annual Parish Meeting – Councillors to consider and advise, also re
Mr Miller
Councillors to possible speakers.

Cllr Haslam booked on ROSPA course on 12 th Feb -
£36 cheque paid.
 Re slipway in St Margaret’s Bay – DDC have paperwork/drawings showing this consider may be the property of PC.

Dog Control Order form returned to DDC.

Letter sent to Management committee of Old Vicarage re proposed perimeter netting – reply under correspondence.

Still heard nothing from DDC/Denise Roffey re trees at Church steps.

CCTV literature only seen by 3 Councillors
– circulate round!

Tree behind tennis court
– Cllr Hart confirmed he had spoken to Mr Miller and will
Clerk to chase again
Cllr Hart to deal ask Hart Lee Tree Surgeons to quote when they next visit re Village Hall trees.

Dusty reports some success with latest ferreters at Burial Ground.

Re parking problems at High Street layby – any solutions to overnight parking / poor parking across the bays – no prohibition of overnight parking and unlikely that Parking Services will attend re poor parking.

Could we buy approx. 6 litter bag hoops at c£7 each? Designed to hold bag open whilst litter pickers used – Community Warden may be able to acquire some
Cllr S Little to liaise equipment.

Notices placed
–re War Memorial meeting on 25 th Feb, to commence 7 p.m. at
Village Hall. Apologies from Cllr S Little, C Little and M Haslam.

Various emails back and forth re Chapel Lane Pond litter bin – not yet in place
Clerk to deal and Clerk will chase.

Note placed in magazine re Wirsol website.
 Precept set at £64,253.

Letters sent to both Football Clubs re continued use of facilities.

Bowls Club re woodworm treatment
– kitchen ceiling not included in quote –
Swiftcure to inspect and return to PC.

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5. Planning
The following comments were made on the applications considered:-
DOV/14/00021
– Erection of detached dwelling and construction of vehicular
access – (Cllr Purchase declared an interest and abstained)
Land rear of Palmerston, Lighthouse Road No objections provided
residents' concerns re over-looking/privacy are taken
into account by Planning Officer
DOV/14/00043 – Erection of a detached dwelling and associated parking –
Land rear of Cherry Tree Cottage, Well Lane
–
Strongly object – this is overdevelopment of a very
small site with poor access, inadequate parking
provision given traffic issues in this road. Provision
for construction plant activity would be impossible
DOV/14/00065
– Erection of two storey side extension (existing extension to
be demolished
–
Littledown, 36 Granville Road No objections
6. Finance
Cheques for £155.23 to Affinity Water and £36 to Minster Parish Council, paid since last meeting, were duly ratified.
Quotation received from English Landscapes re grasscutting for 2014, at
£2,264.67, an increase of 1.975%. IT WAS RESOLVED that this be accepted.
The following cheques were passed for payment (Cllrs Fielding/Purchase):
Jane Cook – January salary
Jane Cook
– expenses
H M Revenue & Customs
– PAYE/NIC
Petty Cash
Mr I Miller – labour re January/extra hours/Registrar fees/fuel
Matt Gerrard
– tree works at Chapel Lane Pond
Receipts:-
Burial Ground fees -
£430 and £60
Credit interest - £1.59
Retirement Fund
IT WAS RESOLVED to make provision of £2,000 to Retirement Fund for
Clerk who has completed 12 years of service.
£1,004.59
£56.60
£194.79
£22.32
£1,504.06
£300.00
£3,082.36
Clerk to deal
Clerk to deal

7, Grants to Local Organisations
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The following Section 137 Grants were agreed:-
St Margaret’s History Society
St Margaret’s Nursery and After School Club (Cllr Purchase declared an
interest and abstained)
Pegasus Playscheme
5 th Dover St Margaret’s Scout Group
St Margaret’s Bowls and Social Club
The Charity of Amy Temple
St Margaret’s Football Club
Parochial Church Council re Churchyard volunteers
(Council approached by an individual re sponsorship but Section 137 Grants not legally permitted for this purpose).
£500
£150
£300
£800
£500
£1,000
£500
£70
Clerk to advise and prepare cheques
8. Correspondence

Mr and Mrs W Clague
– re Dover Road, Westcliffe. Emails of 21/1/14 and original email of 13/1/14. Councillors discussed and agreed that PC has little power to help these residents but Clerk asked to forward correspondence to Kent County Clerk to deal
Member Steve Manion and also to Kent Highways, advising Mr and Mrs Clague accordingly.

Mrs Viv Verren – re Tea Party of Promises Sunday 16 th March.

Mr William Phillips – re Kingsdown Road Freedown (with Cllr Hart’s response).
Clerk to place notices
Cllr Hart will liaise with Mr Phillips on his reply.

KALC
– re Kent Men of the Trees “Trees in the Village Competition 2014”.

KALC
– re final draft of Kent Minerals & Waste Local Plan.

Mr M van Dijke
– re visiting Hope Point – Cllr Hart will liaise.

Mr C Sumer
– copy email re Footpath ER37 sent to Denise Roffey PROW Officer.

Mr C Sumner
– re Solar Farm application for East Langdon.

Brian Gibson, Senior Environmental Protector Officer DDC – re alleged rodent evidence – cites no rodent activity.

Ann Barnes, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner – re Meet the Commissioner event
– Mrs Barnes did not attend most recent event – no attendees to be
Cllr Hart to deal
Cllr Hart to deal advised.

Cllr Keen, Councillor for Aylesham Ward – re meeting 25 th Feb re PC bid to buy local youth centre from KCC.

Mike Phillips, Landscape Heritage and Grants Officer, Up on the Downs
Partnership Scheme
–re grant funding.

KALC
– re KCC Safe and Sensible Street Lighting Plan.

KALC – re South East Coast Ambulance Service / Membership Zone.

Mr H Jones – reply to PC letter re proposed perimeter netting at KGV Field.

Mr C Sumner – re proposed solar farm between Duke of York roundabout and
Swingate.

Mr M Thron, Wirsol Ltd
– email following PC meeting 13 th Jan.

KALC re KCC Draft Road Casualty Reduction Strategy.

KALC re Council Tax Support / Parish tax base.

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9. Reports from Councillors/Advisers

Cllr Purchase advised that she has spoken to Mr Lamb re Chapel Lane Pond and will arrange a meeting with him.

Cllr Bayliss-Stranks advised that he is meeting with Kirk Alexander this week re
WW2 memorials (had to cancel previous meeting). Cllr Porter raised question of
PC’s liability in respect of Health and Safety issues. Clerk asked to place this on agenda for March.
Clerk to place on agenda

Councillors to meet Monday 24 th Feb to look at site allocations for Neighbourhood
Plan at Cllr Fielding’s request.
Clerk to note
10. Village Maintenance / matters affecting the Parish

Cllr Hart raised question of hole in wall created by builder working at property next to Kingsdown Pavilion – this apparently to help with access. Permission for this Clerk to write was given by Bowls Club. Clerk asked to write to Club advising that such permission can only come from the Parish Council as owner and landlord.

Clerk advised that Mr Miller is to deal with sinking of graves following recent very heavy rain – he will fill in and may have to purchase some turfs for this purpose.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.
Confirmed: Chairman 10 th February 2014

Correspondence received prior to meeting
10 th March 2014

Clive Powell, Adviser KALC, re Section 137 grants.

Steve Bass, Football Club re meeting with Walletts Court.

Email re Police Contact Points.

KALC re Sustainable Communities Act + proposal from Sevenoaks Town Council re proposal for return of Business Rates to Town and Parish Councils.

Email re Britain in Bloom.

KALC
– events re Kent Police and the Ambulance Service.

Matthew Munson, EK Services
– email re meetings with community groups.

Ann Barnes
– re February newsletter.

Email re Tea Party of Promises event.

Letter expressing concern re decline in appearance of Reach Close.

Gordon, Community Warden – re potential of rock fall in The Bay.
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Thank you letter from Sue Clark at Pegasus re grant.

Maureen Leppard, Capel PC re Speed Watch Indicator Device.

Ray Clayton, re planning application for land off Cherry Garden Cottage, Well Lane.
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Thank you letter from History Society re grant.

Thank you letter from The Charity of Amy Temple re grant.

St Margarets Bowls and Social Club Ltd
– reply to our letter.