Agenda and minutes

FAVERSHAM LOCAL ENGAGEMENT FORUM

MINUTES of the Meeting held in Selling Village Hall, Selling on Tuesday 22nd September 2009 from 7:00 pm to 10:07 pm.

PRESENT: Councillor Anita Walker (Vice-Chairman), Councillors Cindy Davis, Mike Henderson and David Simmons. Kent County Councillors: Mr Bowles and Mr Tom Gates (Chairman). Kent Association of Local Councils Representatives: Councillor Duncan (Selling Parish Council) and Councillor Vaight (Oare Parish Council).

OFFICERS PRESENT: Philippa Davies, Eric Fisher, Louise Matthews, Mark Radford, Peter Speakman and Jean Wood (all Swale Borough Council (SBC)) and Caroline Hooper and Bill Ronan (both Kent County Council (KCC)).

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Ms Eileen Martin (Swale Housing Association), Inspector Kevin Swinney (Kent Police), Susan Wilson (Swale Community Empowerment Network), Councillor Purssord (Selling Parish Council), Mr Addy, Mr Castle, Mrs Gibson, Mr and Mrs Holdstock, Dr and Mrs Hutton, Mr Kay, Mr King, Mr Lawrie, Mr and Mrs Levermore, Mrs Regan-Mears, Ms Salvatori, Mrs Stephenson, Mrs Todd and Mr Webb (local residents).

APOLOGIES: Councillors Barnicott, Bobbin, Mike Cosgrove, Trevor Fentiman, Bryan Mulhern and Prescott and Chief Inspector Tony Henley (Kent Police).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th June 2009 as a correct record.

354    MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9th June 2009 (Minute Nos. 42 - 50) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the amendment to Minute No. 48/06/09 to move the sentence 'the Chairman returned to the Chair', to the end of that minute, rather than the beginning.

Members who have an interest to declare must declare the existence and nature at the start of the meeting.

355    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No interests were declared.

356    PUBLIC SESSION

The Chairman brought Members' attention to the tabled papers which included questions and statements that had been submitted prior to the meeting. Responses to the questions were also tabled and these would be added to the online agenda for this meeting.

In the absence of one of the members of the public who had submitted questions, the Chairman confirmed that responses to his questions would be forwarded on to him.

Democratic Services Officer

   Members discussed the responses to the questions.

Refuse Bins

Councillor Davis advised that she would report back to the Head of Environment and Amenities requesting some flexibility when bins were left out for some time due to commuters being away from their property for a large part of the day.

Councillor Cindy Davis

   The Warren, Selling

With regard to the questions and responses relating to The Warren, Selling, Mr Bowles reported that there would be a Parish walk-about in Selling on 23rd September 2009 where local problems could be looked at by Members, Parish Councillors and local residents.

Mrs Regan-Mears considered that although The Warren was a private road, it did come to a junction with a Highway Authority road. The KALC representative for Selling explained that there were unresolved land ownership issues relating to the verge and the matter would be further discussed at the next Selling Parish Council meeting.

Train Services at Selling Station

The KALC representative emphasised the importance of joint pressure to the rail network in order to ensure the service was not reduced.

Sluice at Stonebridge allotments

Mr Addy, a local resident, asked who was responsible for the sluice at the Stonebridge allotment. Councillor Davis confirmed that it was SBC's responsibility and contractors had recently commenced working on the sluice repairs.

Speeds limits

Mr Levermore, a local resident, raised concern over the speed limit on Lees Court Road and considered it should be reduced. Mr Bowles acknowledged that changes to the speed limit in this area had been confusing and needed to be more logical. The Forum was reminded that a national speed review was currently being carried out.

Gas works in West Street, Faversham

Mr Addy asked whether the gas works in West Street, Faversham were overdue in contract time. Mr Gates outlined reasons for the delay. A Member considered that local residents and businesses had suffered and KHS should be in discussion with the contractors on the delays. Mr Gates explained that new legislation would require contractors to give a time limit of how long they expected work to be carried out. He also confirmed that he would contact KHS for an update on the progress of the works.

Mr Gates

   Play area in Selling

Mrs Gibson, a local resident, stated that a play area for children was needed in the Neames Forstal area of Selling and requested assistance from the Forum. The KALC representative confirmed that this had previously been considered by Selling Parish Council, but that a lack of available land was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

360    UPDATE FROM PARTNERS

Inspector Swinney updated the Forum on Police matters in the Faversham area. He brought the Forum's attention to the tabled paper which recorded crime statistics for Faversham and the rural wards.

He considered the figures were encouraging and things were improving. He reported that 'have your say' meetings had been held which gave people a chance to raise community issues. Times and locations of local PACT meetings could be seen on the Kent Police website and the Faversham.org website.

To receive a report on funding arrangements for the Faversham Local Engagement Forum for community projects from Swale Borough Council’s Policy and Performance Officer.

361    FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS

The Community Liaison Manager introduced the report which outlined funding available from the LEF for community projects. Each Borough Councillor had £2,000 to allocate.

Members debated the paper and made various comments and observations. They considered the four week bidding timescale was too short.

RESOLVED:

(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 Member's allocation.

(2) That a bidding round for the resources be launched by the end of September 2009 until the end of November 2009.

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

To receive information on the consultation process for Swale Borough Council’s 2010 – 2011 budget.

362    2010/2011 BUDGET CONSULTATION

The Head of Policy introduced her report which outlined the budget consultation with members of the public, local businesses and key partners to find out what peoples' opinion was on SBC's priorities for spending for the 2010/2011 budget. She distributed paper copies and explained that the consultation would also be available on the Council website at www.swale.gov.uk.

The Interim Head of Finance advised that findings from the consultation would go to SBC's Executive in November 2009.

Members debated the paper and made various comments and observations.

Members of the public were encouraged to respond to the consultation.

To receive information, following the report submitted to the LEF at its last meeting on 9^th June 2009, with regard to raising the height barrier at household waste recycling centres.

363    RECYCLING

The Community Liaison Manager bought the Forum's attention to the tabled paper which provided an update on raising the height barrier at household waste recycling centres.

Members discussed the paper and made various comments and observations. Mr Gates confirmed that he would request that the Cabinet Member considers raising the height barrier on Sundays.

Mr Gates

357    ORDER OF BUSINESS

The Chairman altered the order of business, as minuted.

358    KENT CREDIT UNION

The Chief Community Services Officer introduced this item and explained that KCC were committed to a Credit Union, rolled across the county and explained that he was the local contact in Swale.

Caroline Hooper gave a presentation on the Kent Credit Union and explained that it was a peoples' bank where the members had a common bond; they either lived or worked in Kent. Its aims were to support people who were unable to obtain loans or did not have bank accounts. The Credit Union was separate to KCC and would be run by a board of directors. Loans and savings products would be on offer. People would be encouraged to save.

Caroline explained that access to the Credit Union could be by telephone or the internet. She answered questions from the Forum. A member of the public raised concern that the Credit Union could encourage people to go into debt. Caroline emphasised that the Union should offer a service that would give people more of a choice, rather than going to loan sharks. Another resident considered it was a good alternative.

The Chief Community Services Officer explained that local support was needed for the Kent Credit Union.

359    ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 pm and reconvened at 8:57 pm.

To agree a venue for the meeting: 8^th December 2009

364    VENUE FOR THE NEXT MEETING

RESOLVED:

(1) That the next meeting of the Faversham LEF on 8th December 2009 be held in Faversham.