MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STOKE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 8 MARCH 2007 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE VILLAGE HALL 

MALLARD WAY LOWER STOKE. 

The Chair welcomed two members of the public and Michael OSullivan and Jim O`Kane who are Medway Council Supervisors for Medway's Community Safety Office, to the meeting. 

PRESENT: Councillors: Cllr B Stone Chair, Cllr J Peters, Vice Chairman Cllr Mrs P Burrows, Cllr Mrs P Wade, Cllr G Barron, Cllr P Hicks, Cllr Mr J Luck, Mr R Morrad Clerk. 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. 

Min 358.07. All members present. 

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA EITHER PERSONAL OR PREJUDICIAL. 

Min 359.07. None. 

The Chair suspended the meeting at 7.02 to allow a member of the public to speak. The two community safety officers introduced themselves and gave a brief talk about their duties and hours of work which is 2.30-10.30pm Tuesday to Saturday. They currently have between 180 to 200 tasks per week with an 89% success clear up rate. They fully accept that anti social behaviour is a big problem in some of the villages. 

The meeting recommenced at 7.09pm. 

3. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 7 FEBRUARY 2007. 

Min 360.07.: Cllr Mrs P Wade proposed the minutes 340.07 to 357.07 of the previous meeting as a true record Seconded by Cllr Mrs P Burrows. Agreed by all present. 

4. PLANNING APPLICATIONS REGISTERED FOR DECISION, AND DECISION REPORTS FROM MEDWAY COUNCIL RECEIVED 

Min 361.07. Planning Appendix A was noted. Application MC2007/0131 Construction of a new bungalow at Chapel Rise. It was resolved that the Parish Council raises no objection to the proposed development. Action Clerk. 

Min 362.07.A letter has been received from a person requesting if the Parish Council have any views on the possible residential development on industrial land next to the Shant bungalow on the A228 Grain Road. The clerk was requested to acknowledge the receipt of the correspondence and point out that under the Code of Conduct it precludes any member from commenting on any planning issues in advance of an official planning application being received. Action Clerk. 

5. CORRESPONDENCE 

Min 363.07.: Appendix B. Listed all reports and circulars received. The clerk read out items from the list highlighting various issues. 

6. MONTHLY ACCOUNTS. 

Min 364.07.: The monthly accounts as listed on Appendix C & C1 (cheques 101382.101383. 101384. 101385.) and the Bank Reconciliation were proposed by Cllr Mrs P Burrows and seconded by Cllr J Luck for payment. In addition it was agreed that next financial years KAPC subs be also paid in April. All members present agreed. Action Clerk. 

7. REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS ON OUTSIDE BODIES. 

Min 365.07: Cllr Hicks reported on the last Rural Liaison open meeting, among the items discussed were from Sean Carter of Kent Association of Rural Retailers on the work of the Kent Association of Rural Retailers with particular regard to village shops, pubs and post offices. Alan Jarrett, Chair of the Medway Swale Estuary Partnership on the work of the Medway Swale Estuary Partnership, and Paul Outhwaite from the RSPB mostly talking about the plans for Cliffe pools. 

8. PLAY PARKS WORKS & CONTRACTS 

Min 366.07: The clerk reported that the locks on the refuse bins in Heron Way parks need attention. The clerk was requested to see if he can release them. Action Clerk. 

Min 367.07. The Chair reported that an emergency repair to the fence in Heron Way Park had to be attended to as a matter of urgency on safety grounds. This had been attended to within 24 hours. 

Min 368.07 The clerk informed members that he had received a specification and price for the proposed fencing of Button Drive play park area. It was agreed that the clerk should now go out to competitive tender. Action Clerk. 

9. WEB SITE/IT 

Min 369.07: The clerk reported that the numbers of site hits for February were 230 visits with 505 page views. Also that Gatwick Airport had requested a link to our web site. Members agreed that it should be kept to local government sites. Request was denied. 

Min 370.07. Next financial years web hosting agreement has been received from Medway Council. Medway Council have requested that the web site licence/contract for the next financial year be authorised by the Parish Council the cost still remains at £100 per year. Members felt that this was good value for money and it was proposed by Cllr Barron seconded by Cllr Mrs Wade that the Chair signs the agreement. All present agreed. Action Chair & Clerk. 

10. HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION 

Min 371.07: Members raised again the fact that the road drain reported last month still has not been cleared clerk to progress again. Not all of the tyres have been removed from the ditch, the clerk did explain that he had been informed by Medway that two were tyres were in deep water and too dangerous at present to remove safely. Two vacuum cleaners have now been dumped further up Cuckolds Green Road. Clerk to check and report to Medway Council. Action Clerk. 

11. STOKE SCHOOL WALKING BUS ROAD SCHEME 

Min 372.07: Cllr Stone gave a report on the recent meeting held at Stoke school regarding a proposed walking bus initiative and general road safety issues relating to children who walk to and from school with no footpath provision. Medway Council are proposing to place a single sided road barrier by the Methodist Chapel which would be under the direct control of the school. This would be lowered at set times twice a day to allow an escorted walking bus of both parents and children to walk to school without two way traffic to contend with. A fully trained person would walk in front with one bringing up the rear. The public car park would be the assembly area to start out from. A flashing light box warning of children walking would operate from the Allhallows direction; this would be by Button Drive. Traffic flow would not be interrupted from the Allhallows direction. Cllr Stone said that this would be the first trial of it kind in the country and we owe it to our children's safety to go along with the scheme. The road in one direction will only be closed for the time it takes for the walking bus to walk from the Methodist Chapel to school not much more than 5 minutes. 

12. NEWSLETTER. 

Min 373.07: It was resolved that the next newsletter carries a prominent article about the proposed walking bus project, publicity relating to the two new Safety Community Officers of Medway Council, and highlight the person or persons who seem to be making a compost heap at the side of the main road. Composting bins are very cheap now so please keep your composting in your own garden and not the Highway. Although this is organic it is still fly tipping and carries a fine if caught. Action Clerk. 

13 SPEEDWATCH 

Min 374.07: A meeting is still trying to be set up with all interested parties. 

14 CLERK REPORT 

Min375.07: The clerk reported on a meeting which he had attended with the Monitoring Officer and all Parish Clerks on the 5 th March. Items discussed were the new Code of Conduct soon to be introduced by the Government which all Parish Councils will have to sign up to. A visit has been arranged to view the central control room at the Civic Centre and view the latest CCTV. General Policing on the Peninsular was a very topical highlighting some of the anti social behaviour issues in most of the villages. 

Cllr Hicks has requested a key to the new lockable notice board in Upper Stoke. All members agreed and requested the clerk to give Cllr Hicks a key. Action Clerk. 

15. ITEMS DELEGATED TO THE CLERK FOR ACTION (STANDING ORDER No 30) 

Min 376.07: None. 

16. A O B. AT THE CHAIMANS DISCRETION. NO MOTIONS MAY BE PROPOSED NOR DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER THIS ITEM BUT IF MEMBERS WISH THEY MAY BE AGENDERED AT THE NEXT MEETING. 

Min 377.07: None. 

The Chair thanked the two members of the public who had stayed to the end of the meting. 

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 4 th April 2007. 

There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.20 pm