Agenda and minutes

1a. Apologies

1b. Matters arising and notes from previous meeting

1c. Any declarations of interest

Notes of the meeting of the DOVER WEST Neighbourhood Forum held on 2 April 2009 at Lydden Village Hall, Lydden at 6.30pm

Present:

Parish Councillors                 Jeff Goodsell    Chairman

                                                Jenny Miles    Vice-Chairman

Kent County Councillor         Bryan Cope

Other councillors, officers and members of the public.

Apologies:   Cllr Peter Woodsford, Capel-le-Ferne Parish Council

1.         Chairman’s welcome           

The Chairman welcomed representatives and facilitators to the meeting.

2.         Notes of the previous meeting        

Notes of the Forum meeting held on 19 January 2009 had been circulated and there were no matters arising.

3.         Kent Association of Rural Retailers (KARR)

Sean Carter, Rural Retail Adviser gave a presentation on the role of KARR, which was set up 5 years ago to support the village shops, pubs, garages and post offices which provided a service to rural Kent:

·        The average profile of a rural retail shop: open 77 hours a week, 6 hours are spent on paperwork and 2 visits to the cash & carry a week. Therefore the shop owner works around a 90 hour week. It is a hard life but a way of life.

·        KARR establishes support groups where influential people can focus on what is happening within rural Kent. The groups consist of retailers and ACRK, Business Link Kent, KCC, Medway Council and SEEDA. The group meets quarterly and brings people together to make decisions on what needs to be done. Kent is the first in the country to have such groups.

·        KARR are holding a competition ‘Rural Community Retailer of the Year’ which aims to get Parish Councils involved by inviting them to enter their local retailers into the competition. The retail outlet doesn’t have to be the biggest or best but instead has to be seen as getting involved within the community. KARR found that Parish Councils were not getting involved with their local shops and felt that they had a larger part to play. The deadline for entries is 3 weeks away. Anyone who required a form was encouraged to contact Sean Carter at ACRK.

·        This competition is in addition to another competition: Village of the Year for which there is a cash prize. This competition is publicised more widely as Radio Kent and the Kent on Sunday are involved. Would like more entries.

·        The Rural Access Services Programme (RASP) runs a Community Shop Scheme which encourages villages without shops to set one up such as in Littlebourne and Cliffsend. To promote this there would be an open day on April 22 in Lenham between 6pm - 8pm. Officers from ACRK can come along and talk to Parish Councils about how to open up a shop if a community is interested.

·        Have set up three trade associations in the county. This is easier if in a village with several shops – getting retailers to sit around the table. Sean Carter will attend the first meeting and help them elect a chair and will then take a step back, this is an opportunity for retailers to share ideas and experiences.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Sean Carter, Rural Retail Adviser

Derek Garrity will share information about good practice within his area and how the Trust serves the local community.

Trevor Skelton, Rural Officer East Kent, will talk about the two funding streams they deliver on behalf of the Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust – Parish Plan Grants and Small Project Grants.

Brief feedback on what was discussed and the priorities identified to be taken away.

What do you want to discuss? (Community Suggestions).