Agenda and minutes

SITTINGBOURNE LOCAL ENGAGEMENT FORUM

MINUTES of the Meeting held at Borden Grammar School, Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne on Tuesday 10th March 2009 from 7:00 pm to 9:28 pm.

PRESENT: Councillor Nick Williams (Chairman), Councillors Monique Bonney, Sue Gent, Nicholas Hampshire, Mike Haywood, Gerry Lewin, Elvina Lowe, Gareth Randall, Ghlin Whelan, Alan Willicombe, Jean Willicombe and John Wright. Kent County Councillors: Mr Bowles (Vice-Chairman) and Mrs Simpson. Kent Association of Local Councils Representatives: Mrs Ann Lewis and Mr Don Jordan.

OFFICERS PRESENT: James Freeman, Joanne Hammond, Ian Lewis, Bob Pullen, Bill Ronan, Barbara Thompson and Jean Wood.

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Mr Brian Horton and Ms Eileen Martin (Swale Housing Association), Mrs Christine White (Swale Council for Voluntary Services), Ms Kim Gedik (Kent County Council, Local Children's Services Partnership), Mr Mark Innes (Kent Fire and Rescue), Chief Inspector Tony Henley and Inspector Evan Jones (Kent Police), Mrs Eileen Savage, Mr Oswald-Jones and Mr Findlay MacDonald (local residents).

APOLOGIES: Councillors Simon Clark, Derek Conway, Duncan Dewar-Whalley, Adam Tolhurst and Ben Stokes and Mr Ferrin and Mr Truelove (Kent County Councillors).

731    ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

(1) That Mr Bowles (Kent County Councillor) be elected Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

732    MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 25th November 2008 (Minute Nos. 468 - 476) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

A Member referred to the action point under Minute No. 475 item (ii) (update on petitions received at the previous meeting regarding Harkness Court, Murston). The Regeneration Director undertook to ensure that an update would be circulated to all Members of the Local Engagement Forum.

Regeneration Director

733    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No interests were declared.

734    PUBLIC SESSION

No issues were raised at this meeting.

   PART B MINUTES FOR INFORMATION

735    SITTINGBOURNE TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN

Mr James Freeman (Head of Development Services, Swale Borough Council (SBC)) and Mr Ian Lewis (Project Manager, SBC) gave a presentation on the Sittingbourne Town Centre Masterplan.

The Head of Development Services outlined the proposals for Sittingbourne Town Centre as set out in the Masterplan. He explained that this would be a transformational change for Sittingbourne Town Centre and was a ten to fifteen year vision.

The Project Manager explained the transport proposals, including the closure of St. Michael's Road, the creation of a public transport interchange, the Northern Relief Road and two-way access along the High Street for buses.

The Head of Development Services advised that formal public consultation on the proposals would commence on 20th March 2009 until 27th April 2009 at 34 High Street, Sittingbourne. Newsletters and leaflets would be distributed to local residents to inform them of the dates and times.

The Chairman thanked Officers for their presentation and asked those present for comments.

A Member questioned the car parking provision for the proposed new dwellings and why the emphasis was on flats rather than houses. The Head of Development Services advised that the proportion of flats and houses was equal. Flats would be built over the retail units, whilst town-houses were planned for the Milton Creek area. He advised that, due to the central location of the new dwellings to the town centre and the proposed improvements to public transport, it was expected that there would be less parking provision for the new dwellings. Developers would be expected to provide a Transport Strategy and a Travel Plan with their planning application.

Mrs Lewis (Kent Association of Local Councils) made the following comments: what was the proposed parking provision in the town centre; was the new supermarket planned for the north or south side of the railway and would fire engines be able to access the new developments. The Head of Development Services explained that commuter car parking would be provided at the railway station and there would be car parking under the retail units. The developer could decide the location of the supermarket as part of their planning application.

A Member questioned whether the High Street would still be closed on Saturdays; where the Sittingbourne market would be located and what would happen to the carnival. The Project Manager explained that the High Street would remain open on Saturdays. The proposal was to allow buses to travel both ways along the High Street. The proposed civic square outside the station would provide a large enough area to accommodate the market and the route of the carnival could be discussed with the organisers nearer the time.

A Member commented on the impact of the proposals on Milton Regis High Street. The Head of Development Services confirmed that a Retail Impact Study had been completed and the Masterplan set out improved links to Milton Regis, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

734    PUBLIC SESSION

No issues were raised at this meeting.

   PART B MINUTES FOR INFORMATION

735    SITTINGBOURNE TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN

Mr James Freeman (Head of Development Services, Swale Borough Council (SBC)) and Mr Ian Lewis (Project Manager, SBC) gave a presentation on the Sittingbourne Town Centre Masterplan.

The Head of Development Services outlined the proposals for Sittingbourne Town Centre as set out in the Masterplan. He explained that this would be a transformational change for Sittingbourne Town Centre and was a ten to fifteen year vision.

The Project Manager explained the transport proposals, including the closure of St. Michael's Road, the creation of a public transport interchange, the Northern Relief Road and two-way access along the High Street for buses.

The Head of Development Services advised that formal public consultation on the proposals would commence on 20th March 2009 until 27th April 2009 at 34 High Street, Sittingbourne. Newsletters and leaflets would be distributed to local residents to inform them of the dates and times.

The Chairman thanked Officers for their presentation and asked those present for comments.

A Member questioned the car parking provision for the proposed new dwellings and why the emphasis was on flats rather than houses. The Head of Development Services advised that the proportion of flats and houses was equal. Flats would be built over the retail units, whilst town-houses were planned for the Milton Creek area. He advised that, due to the central location of the new dwellings to the town centre and the proposed improvements to public transport, it was expected that there would be less parking provision for the new dwellings. Developers would be expected to provide a Transport Strategy and a Travel Plan with their planning application.

Mrs Lewis (Kent Association of Local Councils) made the following comments: what was the proposed parking provision in the town centre; was the new supermarket planned for the north or south side of the railway and would fire engines be able to access the new developments. The Head of Development Services explained that commuter car parking would be provided at the railway station and there would be car parking under the retail units. The developer could decide the location of the supermarket as part of their planning application.

A Member questioned whether the High Street would still be closed on Saturdays; where the Sittingbourne market would be located and what would happen to the carnival. The Project Manager explained that the High Street would remain open on Saturdays. The proposal was to allow buses to travel both ways along the High Street. The proposed civic square outside the station would provide a large enough area to accommodate the market and the route of the carnival could be discussed with the organisers nearer the time.

A Member commented on the impact of the proposals on Milton Regis High Street. The Head of Development Services confirmed that a Retail Impact Study had been completed and the Masterplan set out improved links to Milton Regis, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

736    UPDATE FROM PARTNERS

Inspector Evan Jones (Kent Police) provided an update on the Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings in Sittingbourne and surrounding areas, as attached as Appendix A to these Minutes.

Mrs Savage spoke as the Chair of Grove Ward PACT meeting. She considered that as PACT meetings were multi-agency they should be funded by each organisation involved. She raised concern that Kent Highway Services (KHS) had not responded to requests to attend their PACT meeting.

The Community Liaison Manager advised that due to the number of PACT meetings across Kent, KHS had taken a policy decision not to attend PACT meetings.

Members raised concern regarding the number of PACT priorities relating to highways issues and the lack of feedback from KHS. The Community Liaison Manager undertook to report the comments back to KHS and request a response for the Forum.

A Member suggested that if Officers and Members were unable to attend the PACT meeting they could communicate their comments via e-mail.

In response to a comment, the Community Liaison Manager also agreed to look into venues for PACT meetings with the Police and would report back to the Forum.

Community Liaison Manager

Appendix 

737    FUTURE MEETINGS

The Forum agreed the following arrangements for future meetings:

Tuesday 7th July 2009, 7pm, Borden Grammar School

Tuesday 24th November 2009, 7pm, venue to be confirmed

Tuesday 9th March 2010, 7pm, venue to be confirmed