Agenda and minutes

SITTINGBOURNE LOCAL ENGAGEMENT FORUM

MINUTES of the Meeting held in Borden Grammar School, Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne on Tuesday 7th July 2009 from 7:00 pm to 9:15 pm.

PRESENT: Swale Borough Councillors: Councillor Derek Conway (Vice-Chairman), Councillors Simon Clark, Sue Gent, Mike Haywood, Elvina Lowe, Gareth Randall, Brenda Simpson, Ben Stokes, Adam Tolhurst, Roger Truelove, Ghlin Whelan, Nick Williams and John Wright. Kent County Councillors: Mr Bowles (Chairman). Kent Association of Local Councils Representative: Mr Paige.

OFFICERS PRESENT: Barbara Cooper, Ian Lewis, Kellie Mackenzie, Bob Pullen, James Wilson and Jean Wood (Swale Borough Council) and Bill Ronan and Andrew Rourk (Kent County Council).

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Mr Neil Fisher and Perpetua Egan (Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust), Ms Eileen Martin (Swale Housing Association), Mr Mark Innes (Kent Fire and Rescue), Chief Inspector Tony Henley and Sergeant Daniel Worthington (Kent Police), Mrs Ann Lewis, Mr and Mrs Epsley, John Hughes, Mrs Eileen Savage, Mrs Elaine Nappey and Mr Vic Wise (local residents).

APOLOGIES: Swale Borough Councillors Monique Bonney, Duncan Dewar-Whalley, Gerry Lewin and Jean Willicombe. Kent County Councillors Mr Whiting and Mr Willicombe.

157    MINUTES SILENCE

A minutes silence was held in memory of PC Phillip Pratt (Kent Police).

158    ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

(1) That Mr Bowles be elected Chairman for the Municipal Year 2009/2010.

159    ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

(1) That Councillor Derek Conway be elected Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2009/2010.

APOLOGIES: Swale Borough Councillors Monique Bonney, Duncan Dewar-Whalley, Gerry Lewin and Jean Willicombe. Kent County Councillors Mr Whiting and Mr Willicombe.

160    MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 10th March 2009 (Minute Nos. 731 – 737) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

Minute No. 736 Update from Partners – Mrs Savage had asked that Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings be multi-agency funded and the relevant partners explore whether this was possible.

Chairman

   The Chairman drew attention to the tabled paper, which provided updates on the actions from the meeting held on 10th March 2009.

Mrs Savage (local resident) asked that in relation to Minute No. 736, Update from Partners, all eleven Sittingbourne PACT meetings should be held at the same venue.

Chief Inspector Henley advised that they had found it very challenging finding suitable venues for PACT meetings and identifying the areas where attendance had been low.

Mr Paige (KALC), reported that Borden Parish Council were currently liaising with Kent Police to obtain a suitable venue for their PACT meeting.

161    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No interests were declared.

162    PUBLIC SESSION

A local resident drew attention to the recent public exhibition held at M-Real, Kemsley on their plans for recycling at the site. He stated that the proposals had huge implications for local residents and suggested it be included as a future agenda item.

John Hughes (Planning Aid), noted the application would be dealt with by KCC. He considered it would be interesting to see how KCC dealt with the public consultation for the application, as they were currently reviewing how long public consultations should be.

Mr Wise (local resident), asked that given the present economic depression, high paid Council officials should not receive an annual pay increase. He drew attention to the recent eight per cent increase awarded to Councillors by KCC.

The Chairman advised that the eight per cent increase had been suggested by an outside organisation. He further advised that it was well below the rate of inflation and would not be reviewed until four years time.

163    UPDATE FROM PARTNERS

Kent Police

Sergeant Daniel Worthington introduced himself as the newly appointed Community Sergeant. He reported that inconsiderate parking in towns and villages had been identified as a priority through the PACT process. Both Iwade and Kemsley had been identified as particular problem areas. Residents were concerned that double parking would obstruct emergency vehicles from gaining access to some areas. The Sittingbourne neighbourhood policing team had therefore conducted an operation in Iwade whereby any car inappropriately parked had been issued with a warning notice. He stated that few tickets had been served and generally on speaking to the offenders, they only had to move their vehicles a small distance, to remove the obstruction. He hoped that the scheme could be rolled-out to other areas such as Kemsley.

In response to a query, Sergeant Worthington did not consider the problem was being created particularly within new developments, it was just a case of slightly improving parking to improve safety for residents.

A Member raised concern that it appeared four separate partners were doing the same job.

Chief Inspector Henley reported that, Police Community Support Officers provided a valuable service as did both the KCC and SBC Wardens as they all had various enforcement powers. He explained that they met on a monthly basis to look at various anti-social behaviour issues. He further explained that they were currently in the process of creating a Community Safety Unit on the Eurolink Estate, Sittingbourne which would assist the multi-agency working and help to identify problem areas.

A Member believed there were a number of shops in Sittingbourne High Street not aware of the Swale Safe scheme. He asked if there was any way to, re-engage with those businesses to ensure they were involved in the scheme. He suggested advertising in SBC’s ‘Your Swale’ newsletter.

Chief Inspector Henley explained that the Swale Safe scheme had been set-up four years ago and was a private scheme supported by Kent Police. He explained that the website for the scheme had now been launched and prolific offenders’ photos would be displayed on the website. He hoped that shops would be putting up posters to advertise the service but stressed that currently only two part-time persons operated the scheme.

Mrs Lewis a local resident, raised concern that many HGV lorry drivers were using their mobile phones whilst driving. Sergeant Worthington agreed that it was a problem and that convictions and endorsements for offenders was a high priority.

In response to a question, Chief Inspector Tony Henley understood concerns that crime was often unreported, but believed the role of neighbourhood policing was vital in reassuring people and the PACT process also helped.

Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust

Neil Fisher (Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust) provided the latest information on Swine Flu. He reported that 106 cases had been confirmed in Kent. To help reduce the spread of the virus, people with the symptoms were asked not to visit their local GP, but  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

164    SITTINGBOURNE TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN

The Project Manager introduced his report which provided an update on progress with the Sittingbourne Town Centre Masterplan.

The Regeneration Director drew attention to the disappointing news that funding of the Learning Campus was no longer available. She reported however, that SBC were involved in talks with the Learning and Skills Council to discuss future funding.

A Member drew attention to the latest newsletter distributed by SBC, and asked whether the timescales quoted related to completion of the whole route of the Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road (SNRR). The Project Manager confirmed that the section to be constructed was between Kemsley Paper Mill and Castle Road within the Eurolink Industrial Estate.

The Project Manager explained that the update did not refer to the final stage of the SNRR to Bapchild. In response to a query, he advised that funding for the central section of the SNRR had been committed to for some time.

In response to a query regarding Tesco, the Regeneration Director advised that the current economic situation had led to Tesco making a number of key staff in their development team redundant. However, they were still in discussions with SBC, and were committed to providing a store south of the railway line, and hoped to submit a planning application in October 2009.

Mrs Savage (local resident), reported that she had written in March 2009 raising 13 points on the Masterplan. She had received a response from SBC, which she did not consider addressed the points she had made. She also raised concern that, as a proactive member of the community, she had not received the newsletter referred to by the Member.

The Regeneration Director advised that the points raised by Mrs Savage would be used to shape the final version of the masterplan which would be considered at the Local Development Framework Panel meeting on 1st September 2009.

The Project Manager advised that the newsletter had been widely distributed and included with free newspapers, included in the local press and published on the Swale website.

Discussions ensued and it was agreed that the Project Manager forward copies one, two and three of the newsletter to Mrs Savage and all Parish Councils. An e-mail database should also be created.

Project Manager

165    SECTION 106 - SWANSTREE AVENUE ROAD LINK TO HIGHSTED ROAD, SITTINGBOURNE

A petition was presented to the Chairman.

Democratic Services Officer

   The Chairman welcomed Mr Andrew Rourk (Community Delivery Team Leader (Kent Highway Services)) and Mr James Wilson (Major Projects Officer, SBC) to the meeting.

Mr Rourk read out a statement from Mr Robert Mowl (KHS) which outlined the history and detail of the Section 106 planning agreement approved in 2002. The agreement had stated that within completion of the 201st dwelling or after the Swanstree Avenue Extension had been open for 12 months, the Highway Authority should use all reasonable endeavours to carry out the closure of Highsted Road.

As the 201st residential unit had been completed some time ago, the process to close Highsted Road should now commence. The closure would take the form of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) restricting the use of motor vehicles, although pedestrians, cyclists and the emergency services would still have access. The TRO required formal consultation and this would be extended to include local residents, Parish Councils etc.

The Swanstree Avenue extension would be completed by August 2009, although not open to traffic until September 2009. To allow time for drivers to get used to the new road and avoiding the Christmas period it was anticipated that the associated Public Consultation would take place in the New Year.

The safe and efficient operation of the proposed traffic signal junction of Swanstree Avenue with the A2, would require parking restrictions. A second TRO would therefore be required in order that double yellow lines could be provided in the junction. It was hoped that the Order would be presented to the Swale Joint Transportation Board on 7th September 2009.

Mrs Lewis raised the following concerns: the proposed expansion of Kent Science Park (KSP) would have an adverse effect on traffic flows in the area and the proposal would lead to problems at Cromers Road junction with Ruins Barn Road.

The Major Projects Officer advised that the KSP was important for the economic growth of Swale, and that the adopted Swale Borough Local Plan 2008 was supportive of the principle of expansion at the site. He further advised that KHS were liaising with KSP and SBC with regard to the highway/traffic flow implications of the proposed development. He also advised that the development proposal would need to avoid adverse implications for traffic flow on local roads, including the junction of Ruins Barn Road and Cromers Road.

Ward Members for Roman Ward raised the following concerns: considered the whole Swanstree Avenue link application had demonstrated a lack of joint working between KCC and SBC; concern with the number of houses allowed, without the appropriate checks and balances being made; lack of record keeping and transparency by both SBC and KCC during the whole application process; how far would the double yellow lines extend along Swanstree Avenue; problems likely at the Community College and Meadow Fields if to be used as main  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

166    FUNDING FOR SITTINGBOURNE LEF

The Policy and Performance Officer introduced his report, which advised that SBC had allocated £100,000 per annum across the three Local Engagement Forums in Swale. He advised that each Borough Councillor would have an indicative allocation of £2,000, and Members were asked to consider whether a limit of £500 should be set for each project.

Members debated the paper and made various comments and observations.

RECOMMENDED:

(1) That the principles for disbursing the resources available to the LEF as outlined in the report be agreed, but that no cap be placed on the maximum a project can receive from any one Members’ allocation.

(2) That a bidding round for the resources by the end of July be launched.

(3) That the proposals for publicising the bidding round be agreed.

(4) That the Policy and Performance Officer be delegated to establish how funding available to KCC Members of the LEF could be included.

167    FUTURE MEETINGS

The following items were requested for future meetings:

Public Transport – an expert on public transport to be invited.

Report on safety of the A249 (between Staplehurst Road and Grovehurst Road)

Parking – Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne