MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STOKE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2008 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE VILLAGE HALL MALLARD WAY LOWER STOKE.



PUBLIC SESSION NOT PART OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING.

Before the commencement of the Parish Council meeting the chairman welcomed the members of the public and invited them to speak. A large number of residents raised the following issues: The village has become very noisy recently especially around the High Street, Car Park, and Public House. Very young children are congregating outside the shop opposite this area after 9.30pm at night. Vehicles are still being vandalized on a regular basis and residents said that they are appalled that Medway Council has refused to put an additional street light in the High Street as requested by the Parish Council following previous problems. The question of CCTV was asked about. Cllr B Stone said that if residents would keep an incident book with dates and times of the problems and present it to the next Parish Council meeting they would take all of the complaints on board and pass to the relevant people. All criminal activities should be reported by residents to the Police and they should be sure to obtain a incident report number. Also for more minor noise type problems General anti social behaviour, Medway Councils Community Safety Officer on 01634 333333 should be contacted, who will in turn come out and discuss the problem and take any necessary actions. The Parish Council agreed that they would try to get Inspector Wharfe, Medway Councils' Community Safety Officer, Mick O'Sullivan, and the 3 Ward Councillors to attend a public meeting on 22 October at 7.00pm in Stoke Village Hall to discuss the various issues raised.

 Meeting started at 7.50 pm.

PRESENT: Councillors: Cllr B Stone Chairman, Cllr Mrs P Wade, Cllr G Blackman, Cllr G Barron, Cllr Mrs M Elmes, Mr R Morrad Clerk.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
 
Min 329.08. Cllr J Peters, Vice Chairman, Personal reasons. Cllr J Luck, on holiday. These were resolved to accept.

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

Min 330.08. None received.

3. MINUTES. 

      Min 331.08: The Minutes of the Meeting 308.08 to 328.08 held on 2nd July 2008, 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 332.08: Planning Appendix A copies of which had been previously circulated were noted. No new Planning applications have been received. 

Decisions taken by Medway Council since last meeting.

MC2008/0935 Construction of attached garage to side (demolition of greenhouse). Clacket View, Vicarage Lane, Upper Stoke. Approval with Conditions has been made.

Information received.

MC2008/0416 Outline application for development at Stoke Garage. High Street. Lower Stoke. A decision of Refusal has been made.

5. CORRESPONDENCE.

Min 333.08: 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. Following a letter from the St Werburgh Medical Practice expressing their concern that proposed new legislation as a result of the White Paper on pharmaceutical services in England, will remove their ability to dispense medicines to Patients of Lower Stoke. Resolved. A letter explaining the difficulties residents in Rural areas would have in obtaining prescriptions if this is to become legislation should be sent to our M.P. Bob Marshall-Andrews.

6. MONTHLY ACCOUNTS & BANK RECONCILLIATION.

Min 334.08: Proposed by Cllr Mrs P Wade, seconded by Cllr G Blackman 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. Resolved, that the request for funding of an outside light by the Village Hall Committee be agreed. Quotes were submitted for member's approval. Action Clerk.

7. REPRESENTATIVES REPORTS ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Min 335.08: Cllr B Stone gave a report from the last Rural Liaison meeting. He stated that an interesting item regarding affordable housing was discussed. He said that a special meeting is to be held on 30 October at Chattenden Community Centre at 6.00pm regarding a presentation from Land Securities on the Chattenden Project.
Cllr G Blackman gave a report from the Medway Police Quarterly Consultative Meeting. He gave a copy of the Terms of Reference to the clerk for filing. The Stoke car park incident was discussed i.e. the damage to the boundary wall.  The speed of some coaches through the village was also discussed. Cllr G Blackman said that he had been elected as vice chair of the committee with John Haddaway as chair for the ensuing year.


8. PLAY PARKS WORKS & CONTRACTS.

Min 336.08: The clerk reported that all the refurbishment works had now been completed and that the Rural Liaison fund will be used to pay for the works. Tree works are due to start on the 4th September. A further request to help pay for this will be made upon the Rural Liaison fund. Action Clerk.

Min 337.08: Further damage to the fence in Mallard Way play park has occurred and this was repaired, as it was a safety issue. A crime number was obtained for the criminal damage.

Min 338.08: A small hole in the fence of Button Drive play park has been repaired by the clerk.

Min 339.08: Further to a request for a seat in Button Drive play park small children's section. The clerk obtained a price and obtained a number of petitions completed by residents. An application form for a grant has been made to EON community investment fund. The residents requested that the pigeon mess be cleaned off on a weekly basis as children are unable to sit on the swing seats, also it is unhealthy. Resolved, that the clerk's cleaning hours be increased by 2 hours per month to wash the seats. Action Clerk. 

9. WEB SITE/IT.

Min 340.08: The clerk reported that the web site hits for July were 212 page views with 198 visits. 

10. HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Min 341.08: The clerk was requested to write to Medway Council reporting 2 pot holes in the road at Middle Stoke; these are in Grain Road by Tuff Cottages. Action Clerk.

Min 342.08: Members were pleased that some Unsuitable for HGV's signs had been put up and requested the clerk to ask if further ones could be placed at the following locations. Brick House Lane. Both end of Cuckolds Green Road. Newhall Farm Road. Action clerk.

11. CAR PARK WORKS WALL DAMAGE UPDATE/TENDER.

Min 343.08: The damaged height barrier works have now been completed. Quotations for the repairs to the wall, damaged by a vehicle recently, have been received and passed onto the person who caused the damage for payment. Clerk to progress. 

12. NEWSLETTER.

Min 344.08: Members agreed that the newsletter should always have all the police and PCSO phone numbers including non urgent out of hour's numbers. A reminder about the role of the Medway Safety Partnership Community Officers of Medway Council and the phone number should also be included. Action clerk.

13. CLERKS REPORT.
 
Min 345.08: The clerk reported that a crime number had been obtained for the criminal damage to the fence in Heron Way Park. 

14. COMPLETION OF THE ANNUAL AUDIT.

Min 346: The clerk reported that no actions were requested by the District Auditor and that the account have all been cleared and the necessary notices were posted.

15. REQUEST FOR A BUS STOP BY BUTTON DRIVE.

Min 347.08: Following a request from residents in Button Drive/John Cooper House for a bus stop at the top of Button Drive on the park side members resolved to ask Arriva if they would look into the feasibility. Action Clerk.

16. CONCERNS REGUARDING NOISE.

Min 348.08: Following a large number of general complaints relating in the main to noise late at night, vehicle damage, and anti social behaviour in general around the village, members resolved to invite a senior police officer, (Inspector Wharfe) PCSO, Medway Councils Community Safety Officer, and the 3 ward council members to attend the next meeting on the 22 October, to help address the residents concerns. Action clerk.   

17. WASTE DISPOSAL.

Min 349.08: As Cllr J Peters had requested this item but was not in attendance it was agreed to hold it over to the next meeting.

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

Min 350.08: The clerk was requested to write again to Medway Council regarding the request for an additional street light in the High Street as further reports of problems are still happening in this area of the village. Action clerk.

19. 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 351.08: None.

The next meeting will be held on 22nd October 2008. 
There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.50 pm


Signed..................................................Chairman
On the.............Day of......................2008   



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