During the public session, members of the public may make a statement, submit a petition, or ask the Chairman any question on any matters falling within the remit of the Local Engagement Forum. Questions or statements shall be read at the meeting and shall not last more than three minutes. An answer from the Chairman may take the form of a direct oral answer or be in writing. Questions submitted to the Democratic Services section in writing / email at least three working days before the meeting will be taken first.
Minutes:
873 PUBLIC SESSION
Mr Kemp, a local resident, reported that a street lamp had gone missing following highway works that had been carried out on the street where he lived and requested to know what had happened to it.
The Chairman advised that a response would be sent to him.
Democratic Services Officer
Mr Moore, a local resident, asked who had given authority for the public toilets at Beach Approach to close. He questioned why no notices had been put up and reported that there had been no prior notification.
The Chairman advised that a response would be sent to him.
Chairman
The Chairman brought the Forum's attention to the questions and responses attached the agenda. The response to Question one was considered later in the meeting under the Update from Partners.
Question 2
Councillor Worrall was not satisfied with the response from KHS. Bill Ronan (KCC Community Liaison Manager) advised that he would take the question back to KCC.
Community Liaison Manager
Question 3 and 4
Bill Ronan advised that there had been lack of space in the Kent publication for an article regarding 100 years of aviation on the Isle of Sheppey to be included. He explained that KCC supported the centenary.
The Chairman advised that there would be a fly pass, from Sheerness to Southend, on Friday 1st May 2009 as part of the centenary celebrations.
Councillor Adrian Crowther (KCC) raised concern with the amount of shops in the High Street that had been forced to close as the reduction in business rates had been withdrawn.
Councillor Harrison (KCC) advised that shop owners had been made aware that the discretionary rate for businesses had come to an end. The Chairman advised that the Budget Task Force would look at this issue next year.
Councillor Sandle reminded Members that she had requested that the works to the junction of the B2231 and Scocles Road and the junction of Rowetts Way with the B2231 be programmed into the PIPKIN bids for 2010/2011 (Minute No. 614/01/09 refers, Sheppey Local Engagement Forum). She explained that there were a lot of potholes in the area and also raised concern that Kent Highway Services (KHS) did not engage with the local community. Councillor Sandle had hoped that a meeting was going to be arranged between the Four Parishes and KHS to carry this forward, but nothing had been arranged. She raised concern that the issue would be delayed until the next meeting of the Swale Joint Transportation Board.
The Chairman advised that a letter would be written to the Chairman of the Swale Joint Transportation Board and the Community Delivery Manager to request a meeting with the Four Parishes.
Councillor Worrall asked, with regard to funding available from the Local Engagement Forums (LEF), who was responsible for paying the money out and what was the criteria for local communities to bid for the funds.
The Policy and Performance Officer responded to Councillor Worrall. He advised that £100,000 had been allotted each year to the three LEFs and that the Sheppey LEF could receive around £30,000 of that amount, although arrangements had not been finalised. He advised that the LEFs needed to decide how to prioritise the bids for the funding. Some funding would also come from KCC Members. The Policy and Performance Officer explained that there would be more details of the funding procedures at the next meeting of the Sheppey LEF on 21st July 2009.
Bill Ronan advised that the KCC Members would make recommendations for funding and these would go to the Cabinet Member for a formal decision. He stated that the LEFs would provide a sounding board for projects for the funding and that it was crucial that the public became involved in this. Elected KCC Members would also have £25,000 of funding to allocate to highway projects.
Councillor Worrall explained that members of the public were unaware of the funding from the LEFs and he suggested that it should be advertised and made public.
The Chairman raised concern with the lack of members of the public and the press in attendance at the meeting. In response to a question, the Chairman advised that there were limited members of the LEFs who were allowed to vote on issues that were raised.
Bill Ronan suggested that it be advertised that the LEFs had funding to allocate and emphasised the importance of receiving public input and engagement on how the money should be distributed.
Councillor Sturdgess suggested that a flow chart be produced for the public to show the procedure for making bids and how the funding was allocated.
Discussion ensued on the attendance at the LEF meetings and Members considered ways of increasing engagement. The Policy and Performance Officer explained that Swale Borough Council already had a presence on Twitter (a social networking and microblogging website that utilises text messaging and the internet to distribute information) and suggested that this could be utilised to promote and advertise dates of forthcoming LEFs.