MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STOKE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2009 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE VILLAGE HALL MALLARD WAY LOWER STOKE. PUBLIC SESSION NOT PART OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING. The chairman welcomed both Mrs Acott the neighbourhood watch co-ordinator and Paul Pearce of the Kent Wildlife Trust. As Mrs Acott is leaving the village soon she asked if a request for her replacement could be put in the next newsletter. Paul said that he had been given a project by Medway Council to improve green spaces over the next year in Allhallows, Stoke, St Mary's Hoo, and Grain. He said that projects were underway in both Grain and Allhallows. He asked if Stoke would be interested in perhaps joining up with Medway Council in June/July for its week long walking festival and asked if Stoke would advertise a walk in the Stoke area. He will be contacting Stoke school to talk to them about its wild life area project. The meeting commenced at 7.10 pm. PRESENT: Councillors: Cllr B Stone Chairman, Cllr Mrs P Wade, Cllr G Blackman, Cllr G Barron, Cllr Mrs M Elmes, Cllr J Luck, Mr R Morrad Clerk. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Min 427.09: None received. Cllr J Peters, Vice Chairman was not in attendance. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA EITHER PERSONAL OR PREJUDICIAL. Min 428.09: None declared. 3. MINUTES. Min 429.09: The Minutes of the Meeting 407.09 to 426.09 held on 7th January 2009, copies of which had been previously circulated to members, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman. An update from the minutes was given by the clerk to members questions. 4. PLANNING APPLICATIONS REGISTERED FOR DECISION, AND DECISION REPORTS FROM MEDWAY COUNCIL RECEIVED. Min 430.09: Planning Appendix A; copies of which had been previously circulated was noted. Members noted that MC2008/1972: Two new storage/workshop units as replacements: Location The Shant, Grain Road. This has been withdrawn. 5. CORRESPONDENCE. Min 431.09: Appendix B. copies of which had been previously circulated, listed all reports and circulars received. The clerk read out items from the list highlighting various issues and answered members' questions. It was agreed that a request for support from Medway Council regarding a Rural Housing Survey that is to go out in all the peninsula villages would be supported by Stoke Parish Council. The clerk was asked to seek more information regarding possible costs. Members did feel that the copy which had gone to Grain was too long and complicated. Clerk to inform Medway Council. Action Clerk. 6. MONTHLY ACCOUNTS & BANK RECONCILLIATION. Min 432.09: Proposed by Cllr Mrs M Elmes, seconded by Cllr G Barron and resolved that the Accounts, a copy of which had been previously circulated to Members, as set out at Appendix C be approved for payment. Action: Clerk. 7. REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS ON OUTSIDE BODIES Min 433.09: A verbal report was given regarding the last Rural Liaison meeting. Issues raised at the meeting were: E.O.N funding to villages; Stoke Road A228 railway crossing - works are due to start in 2010; The new roundabout at Fenn corner is due to start soon; The lack of public transport to the Peninsula in the evening; a number of buses still do not have wheelchair access - It was stated that they do not have to until 2017. Police Liaison Report was given. Issues raised were the problem of youths congregating outside the Memorial Hall in Frindsbury. They also discussed the number of children of school age seen just walking about in the streets during school times. 8. PLAY PARKS WORKS & CONTRACTS. Min 434.09: The clerk reported that no further damage had been found in the parks. 9. WEB SITE/IT. Min 435.09: The number of hits on the web site for December was 183 visits with 505 page views. 10. HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION Min 436.09: It was reported that the 8 inspection hatches made by B T in Stoke Road, Upper Stoke, that have the lids raised to the highway surface level reported last month still have not been repaired yet. The clerk was requested to progress: Action Clerk. Min 437.09: The hole at the side of the road on the (A228) by the St Mary's Hoo sign has still not been repaired. Clerk asked to progress: Action Clerk. Min 438.09: One bag of rubbish has still to be collected from North Street, Upper Stoke. Clerk to progress: Action Clerk. Min 439.09: Medway Council are to be asked what action following their inspection of Newhall Farm Road which is covered in thick mud and water on a bend and dip they intend to take. Action Clerk. Min 440.09: Only one of the holes in the road by Tuffs Cottages has been repaired the clerk was asked to progress the repair on the other: Action Clerk. Min 441.09: The damage to Allhallows road, Lower Stoke where the new pipeline crossed still has not been repaired by AMEC. The clerk was requested to write to Medway Council and ask for urgent action by AMEC or Medway Council as the road edge in particular is in a dangerous condition now. Action Clerk. 11. CAR PARK WORKS WALL DAMAGE UPDATE. Min 441.09: The clerk reported the re-pointing of the wall had now been completed, and that the insurance company had been informed. Min 442.09: It was resolved that a small hole in the car park surface should be repaired soon. 12. NEWSLETTER. Min 443.09: Items for inclusion are from the meeting minutes and a request for a new neighbourhood co-ordinator together with information about the proposed walk in June/July. If anyone has a local historic interest in Stoke area perhaps they would like to join the walk or lead such a walk? 13. MEETING DATES FINANCIAL YEAR 2009/10. Min 444.09: A copy of suggested meeting dates which had previously been circulated to all members were agreed without any alterations and signed by the chairman. 14. CLERKS REPORT. Min 445.09: The clerk reported that it remains Government policy to modernise rules relating to the method of payment by Parish Councils. i.e. every cheque or order for payment shall be signed by two members. 15. KENT WILDLIFE TRUST. Min 446.09: It was agreed that the Parish Council would support the possibility of being part of Medway Council walking festival in June/July of this year. The clerk will keep in contact with Paul Pearce. 16. ITEMS DELEGATED TO THE CLERK FOR ACTION (STANDING ORDER No 30) Min 447.09: None. 17. 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 448.09: None. The next meeting will be held on 4th March 2009. There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.35 pm Signed..................................................Chairman On the.............Day of......................2009 1 1