Agenda and draft minutes

Mr Leslie Christie, Cllr Michael Wenban, Cllr Derek Sales, Cllr Tony Pritchard

None

Introduction by Ben Turner, Policy Officer, Gravesham Borough Council

Table discussions and feedback

a) Environment

• Weekly refuse collections
• Reasonable job especially recycling centre
• Pleased with the weekly collection – one for recycling and one for black sacks

Community Safety

• Petition over 90% of residents for school signs
• Traffic calming Colyer Road
• More alcohol dispersal free zones!!
• School being refurbished; gate not safe as a child being hurt

Litter

• Lids not educated on the importance of trying to keep the neighbourhood clean
• How to dispose of it – PCSO to educate, work in partnership for the schools

Recycling – currently do not collect glass!

No dog bins to dispose of dog faeces

Penalty notices; 44 last year increase from last year, 38

Prioritising Air quality

• Fuel efficient vehicles?!  Walking/cycling instead of driving

Cigarette ends

• Smoking within the town
• Alcohol bottles                    Litter
• Drinking in public places

Street cleaners

Carbon footprint

• Lorries using Colyer Road as a shortcut
• Encouraging public transport

No rubbish bins in St Andrew’s Gardens – residents picking up the litter

People hanging out in Lord Street car park

• Skateboarders/cyclises not anti social
• Drinking

Alcohol free zones are not policed

• PCSOs do not have the same authority as the police
• Liaising with the correct people

Safety

• Council officers not out at the weekends/bank holidays/evenings
• Wardens not available to private residents

PACT meetings

• Supposed to be community led; no documented minutes; nothing to refer back to; no agenda

People putting their household waste in the bins on the streets

• Building debris /smells/tarmac
• Due to building flats
• Cul-de-sacs not dealt with – KCC functions

b) Communities

• Cultural strategy – do we have an issue?– not perceived to be an issue - focus is more on arts etc
• Sports – clubs promote themselves – no priority used to be on the council
• Sport – motivational which is good – not just for game sake but development of character
• Outdoor events/culture – don’t do enough, feel we should do more
• We should have a local museum – very interesting
• Olympics – financially good for the borough but issues potentially in relation to admission accessing tickets – could the council help?
• People have to want to be healthy – has to be something they want to do – council should have encouraging role – not just finance to reward them – should have cooking etc in schools – relationships with education
• Should engage with the public – difficult but need to work at it – important as they fund the council – essential
• Equalities – important to relate to all groups – education is a key element of this through schools but also outside of schools to older people.  Better understanding of cultural differences
• Marketing/Trading Standards re advertising which influences young people
• Obesity – levels of activity have fallen over the years – computers vs outdoor activities
• Litter – is this an issue relating to different types of communities
• Difficult for council not to seem to be imposing – would be better for residents to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Need for shared services between councils to save money – e.g. in Surrey

Cllr Warburton explained how GBC are working with T&M BC

Councils required premium from developers – GBC tell them how much to pay.  If public object does this affect the infrastructure payment?

Kevin Burbidge answered

Traffic calming in Colyer Road

Speeding vehicles – Calming promised over 18 months ago and promised white lines by 99 Colyer Road and slow signs.  Nothing has happened.

New gates erected over the bank holiday weekend by contractor in School rebuilding project, Colyer Road. Young lad hurt himself on these and not in keeping with residential area.

Cllr Harold Craske to follow up and look at both these issues.

Concerned that KCC officer was given big payout.

Cllr Harold Craske believes that contracts need looking at.

Ideas for future forum agenda items

• Traffic calming for Colyer road
• Residential properties becoming business units and being a nuisance
• Ebbsfleet Rainbow centre – what is happening
• Tilbury ferry – future of
• Policing