Minutes:
THANET LOCAL BOARD – THANET TOURISM
Minster Village Hall – 25 November 2008
Present: Cllr Bill Hayton (Chairman) Apologies:
Cllr John Fullarton Cllr Robert Burgess
Cllr Elizabeth Green
Cllr Clive Hart
Cllr Charles Hibberd
Cllr Alan Poole
Cllr Chris Wells
Emma Carey, Community Liaison Manager, KCC
Heather Batt, Administrative Support, CLM Team, KCC
1. Introductions: All County Councillors present introduced themselves.
Declaration of Interest:
Clive Hart declared an interest in the SCCP grant application from The Royal School for Deaf Children, Margate, where he is the KCC appointed Member on the Committee of Management.
Elizabeth Green declared an interest in the application from The Bandstand Group (Eastcliffe, Ramsgate) as she is a Committee Member.
2. Actions Outstanding from Previous Minutes: No actions outstanding.
3. Visit Kent – Ruth Wood – Tourism Development and Research Officer
Ruth Wood from Visit Kent discussed how the organisation can be instrumental in promoting local businesses through various sources and demonstrated how the public can obtain information on local events. Visit Kent are currently promoting the area through advertising with organisations such as South Eastern Railway which encourages tourists from South London and East Sussex.
Q: Olympics – what is your marketing pitch?
A: A fantastic opportunity as 70% of visitors will be from the UK. We encourage local people and businesses to be ambassadors and promote the activities, excellent transport with Ebbsfleet and the Park & Ride. Visit Kent are working closely with various tour operators in the UK, France and other close European countries to promote visitors to visit Thanet.
Q: Is Thanet too far away?
A: No the rail link is quick and efficient.
Q: Are you working with Language Schools?
A: Yes, working with Action Committee for Thanet Students
Thanet Greeters – Peter Shaw – Director of Operations
David Wills – Director of Volunteers
Peter and David talked about the role of a Thanet Greeter, how they match
the right person to complement a particular request. Always looking for
volunteers and in particular for Minster as they have no one to cover this area
at present.
Quex House & Gardens, The Powell Cotton Collection –
Anthony Curwen
Based in Birchington and one of Kent’s best kept secrets. Built in the
Regency period and owned by a Victorian explorer Major Powell-Cotton and
still home to the Powell-Cotton family. Has many attractions including the
museum which houses authentic treasures gathered by the family during their
explorations. There is a walled garden, maze, a barn, craft shop, Jungle Jims
to keep the kids occupied and wedding and conference facilities. It has easy
access being near major motorways and rail links.
A member of the public stated that they had taken visitors from France to visit Quex and were very impressed. It is important to publicise as much as possible. When we go to other places of interest we should use the opportunity to promote our own local interests. This would be complimentary and help to promote each other.
4. Thanet District Council – Second Homes Money – Peter Thomas,
Cleansing Manager
Peter Thomas explained that TDC wished to obtain agreement from the Local Board on proposed adjustments to the previously agreed 2005/06 Second Homes allocation. The 2 adjustments to the 2005/06 Second Homes funding are:
1) The original Turner Street project (major overhaul of footpaths and roads) was fully undertaken by KCC, the original intention was that TDC made a £10k contribution to this project, but no contribution was made, therefore the original £10k allocation was unused and it is proposed this is reused for the Alleyway Cleanup project. This project is to clean 15 to 20 unadopted alleyways of the 800 within Thanet.
2) It is proposed to reduce the original project of Oval Bandstand works, by £2k and put £2k towards decorative lighting within Margate. This project is already underway and is due for completion before Christmas.
Q: Cllr Green – concerned that 10k of funding was allocated to Ramsgate which is still unspent. If the funds were originally designated to be spent in Ramsgate it should stay in Ramsgate.
A: Unable to answer as the question needs to be aimed at the people
running the
project.
Action: Clive Bowen, Finance Officer (External Funding) TDC to
provide further explanation to Members.
Q: Cllr Bill Hayton – the Board would have liked to have been consulted 6
months ago about this.
A: Mr Thomas – There is no rush and they are happy to be advised by the
board.
Q: Cllr Hart – Queried the 2k funding from KCC for a Band Stand
A: No comment, no knowledge of the project in question, this needs a response from the officers responsible.
Action: Clive Bowen, Finance Officer (External Funding) TDC to provide response.
Q: How much rubbish found is fly tipped and is it local?
A: The majority is local, often from some of the more challenging areas. There are some people that still rely on alleys for access, so keeping the alleys clean is essential.
Q: What about the problem with large amounts of seaweed on the
beaches?
A: Environmental Agency state that seaweed can only be disposed of in a legal manor with a license. TDC want to dispose of the seaweed as they see fit. The two organisations are still in discussions over this.
Q: Garlinge has a piece of green which is a tip which residents try to keep clean without help from TDC.
A: This is an un-adopted site, we are obliged to clean adopted sites, and we clean un-adopted sites where possible.
Small Community Capital Projects Fund and Local Schemes Grants – Allocations Announced
Small Community Capital Projects Fund
|
Organisation |
Project |
Amount Given |
|
Kenward Trust
|
Lighthouse Project |
£5,000 |
|
The Royal School for Deaf Children, Margate
|
Multi-use games room |
£5,476 |
|
HOPE (Kent) Ltd
|
CCTV HOPE, Ramsgate |
£4,864 |
|
St Pauls (Community) Trust Company Ltd
|
St Pauls Welfare Project |
£16,360 |
|
Acol Parish Council
|
Refurbishment of Kitchen |
£4,500 |
|
Maritime Volunteer Service
|
Equipment Purchase |
£2,500 |
|
The Bandstand Group
|
Wellington Crescent Bandstand |
£8,000 |
|
Total |
|
£46,700 |
Local Schemes Grant
|
Organisation |
Project |
Amount Given |
|
Broadstairs & St Peter’s Town Council |
Broadstairs Viking Bay Floodlighting |
£4,125 |
|
The Broadstairs Events Support Trust (BEST) |
The Broadstairs October Fayre |
£5,000 |
|
Thanet District Scout Council |
New Toilet/shower block |
£9,000 |
|
Thanet Rural Regeneration Group |
Thanet Rural Speed Watch |
£5,000 |
|
Manston Parish Council |
Installation of replacement safety surfacing for play-unit. |
£4,000 |
|
Thanet Voluntary & Community Sector Forum (TVCSF) |
Part-time Specialist Key Worker Post |
£8,062.50 |
|
Margate Youth Football Club |
Level 1 & 2 FA Coaching Certificates |
£1,000 |
|
The Pipeline |
Hang 10 – Garlinge, Margate – funding for additional worker |
£5,000 |
|
Lymington Road Park Project
|
Provision of Fencing for playground area |
£2,000 |
|
The Bandstand Group |
Wellington Crescent Bandstand |
£18,125 |
|
St James’s Church, Westgate |
Work to re-shingle spire |
£2,125 |
|
Kent Refugee Action Group |
“Step-out” dance project for girls aged 12-18 |
£9,062.50 |
|
Total |
|
£72,500 |
5. Close – Cllr Bill Hayton
A written question submitted to the board relating to the District Council is not for KCC to answer, it needs to be directed to the council concerned.
Cllr Hayton paid compliment to the venue’s keepers, how well maintained and festive the hall was and wished everyone a good Christmas and Happy New Year.
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