Minutes:
665 WELCOME TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS
RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS UPLOADED 9TH FEBRUARY 2010.
Potholes
A local resident raised concern that completion of repairs to potholes was not being supervised.
The Chairman advised that Kent Highway Services (KHS) were aware of the problem and were seeking to address the situation.
Salting and Clearing of Roads
Mr Webster, local resident, raised concern that roads and pavements at the eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey had not been cleared during the recent heavy snow. He added there were no salt bins at either end of Eastchurch village.
A representative of Eastchurch Parish Council raised concern that they had forwarded KHS a list of bins that needed replacing and had been assured action would be taken. They had also asked KHS for salt bins to be filled five times and still no salt arrived. She considered it unacceptable that KHS were not able to provide them with the basics.
A Member advised Sheerness had experienced similar problems. A proposition that KCC be informed that in future roads on the Isle of Sheppey be salted (including pavements and sideways) was made and seconded, but no vote was taken.
Mr Purssord, Leysdown Parish Council advised that Leysdown had their own contract and arranged their own salt. He thanked the Police for their assistance during the bad snow when motorists had become stuck at Jenkins Hill.
A Member raised concern that the Sheppey Bridge had been closed for two days, and there appeared to be no attempts to clear it.
A Member advised that she was aware that KCC would pay farmers to attach ploughs to tractors to clear roads. She requested that a report raising the concerns in respect of the lack of salting and clearing of roads during the recent heavy snowfall on the Isle of Sheppey be included on the agenda for the next Swale Joint Transportation Board meeting.
The Chief Executive advised that nationally there had been a shortage of salt and that lessons needed to be learned to ensure it did not happen again.
Coastal erosion
Mr Peter MacDonald drew attention to the concerns of Mr Tim Bell regarding coastal erosion at Pelicans Wall, Sheerness since the removal of the groynes.
A Member advised that Mr Bell had spoken to the Member of Parliament who would raise the issue with the relevant Government Minister.
Proposed gypsy site at Leysdown
Mr Purssord, Vice-Chairman of Leysdown Parish Council, asked for the Forum’s views on the proposed gypsy site at Leysdown and asked whether it should have been considered bearing in mind the proposals for the regeneration of Leysdown.
A response from Development Services was read out at the meeting.
Leysdown Parish Council - Aid for Haiti
Mr Purssord, Leysdown Parish Council, advised that Leysdown Parish Council wished to raise funds for the earthquake victims in Haiti, but had been advised that Parish Councils did not have the necessary powers to enable them to do so. He asked why this was the case. These comments were forwarded to SBC’s Legal section for a response.
Tourism on Sheppey
Mrs Jenny Hurkett informed Members that she had recently formed Sheppey Tourism Alliance and they were currently looking to produce a visitor/resident brochure. She asked that anyone wishing to include any information in the brochure to contact her at j.hurkett@btconnect.com
Jenny advised that it was the 50th Anniversary of the closing of Sheerness Dockyard and a festival marking the anniversary was to be held weekend of 26th June 2010. Jenny explained that funding was sought for the festival. She raised concern that she had been advised they could only seek £1,000 funding from SBC, whilst Sittingbourne was to be awarded £36,000 funding for a similar festival.
The Chief Executive suggested the £36,000 for Sittingbourne was probably not for a single festival. He added that Councillors had identified Sittingbourne as the number one priority for regeneration in Swale but this was not to say that other areas would not be receiving Council support.
Youth Provision
A Member raised concern with the lack of youth provision on the eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey. She requested that the Head of Service for youth provision at KCC be invited to attend the next meeting.
Bill Ronan, Community Liaison Manager for Swale
Business Rates
Mr Read, a local resident asked what the increase in business rate was likely to be. The Chief Executive suggested that this may not yet have been set by Government but he would seek to find out further information on this issue.