Birchington P.A.C.T.

Panel Meeting

The Gallery, The Library, Alpha Road, Birchington

Thursday 01 July 2010
@ 18.30

Minutes

Those present

Kent Community Warden Liam DOOGAN –LD (Minutes); PCSO Phil Burnett (Chair) - PCSO; Parish Councillors Roger LATCHFORD – RL, Brian WHITE – BW, John GARLAND – JG; Jo ROBERTS – JR & Dennis COOPER – DC; Roger WALFORD-RW; Pat ORPWOOD; John HART; Pam VILTON - PV ; Mr & Mrs Page; Mr Bernard la Roche

Apologies

Don WITTS – DW; Gordon HUNT-TDC; Jayne LAWSON; Philip BENSTEAD –TDC-PB; Kirsty SMITH; Cllr Margaret SHELDRICK

1

The meeting started at 18.30

ACTION

2

Apologies were received. PCSO BURNETT proposed unless there were any objections that he would chair tonight’s discussions in the absence of the Chairman who is still recovering from illness.

3

The minutes for the last meeting were accepted.

4

PCSO BURNETT gave an update on Action Points from April Minutes:

1. Contact made with highways to review parking restrictions on Albion Road log 10764 still being processed.
2. Request SNH make written request to their landlord for removal of fence to the front of there property to facilitate off road parking. This was done and refused by landlord. Correspondence to now be collated for Parish Council to review.
3. Resurfacing of Albion Road and pavements planned for 2010 
4. Mr and Mrs Page updated with information
5. Birchington is patrolled by a dedicated parking warden responsible solely for our Parish
6. The Zebra crossing has been re-painted
7. KFRS have reviewed the parking on the approach to The Centre and are not concerned it would hamper them in an emergency.
8. Request made to Network Rail to review lighting on the bridge between Alpha Rd and Cross Rd reference number 2697694 under consideration (graffiti ref for cleaning of the same area 2698054). LD following up
9. Police computer library installation funding being reviewed by Kent Police.
10. Bierce Court double yellow lining has taken place although limited to specific areas and not blanket coverage.

PCSO/BW

LD

5

PCSO BURNETT gave an update on present Priorities from April Minutes:

1. Dog fouling/Graffiti/ Rubbish – The dog fouling issue in the Minnis area has been surveyed on a number of occasions and does not require specific TDC attention or clearance. It was noted that the access paths to the promenade seem to suffer worse from the issue and attention will be paid to these areas.
2. Canterbury Road Speeding – being policed by the Roads Policing Team who are carrying out regular operations on different days at varying times. Tickets are being issued to offenders for speeding and other infringements.
3. Station Road Parking – continues to be policed by our local officer, warden and parking attendant. Tickets are issued, loading bays cleared monitoring takes place. Concern has been raised that disabled badge use may be being abused and particular attention will now be directed at this issue
4. ASB – monitored by the local officers and the ASB dedicated patrol. The mobile police station has been utilised twice to ascertain what local concerns are around this subject. Three village youth clubs continue to offer local teenagers alternative entertainment opportunities.
5. Speeding Epple Road and Sea Road - policed as above by Roads Policing Team with further back up by local team and warden.
6. Parking Albion Road. SNH have requested that they are allowed to remove the fencing to the front of their property. This has been refused by the landlord and it was agreed this will now be revisited by the local councillors. Stringency of enforcement and ticketing was discussed but it was agreed at this point to continue reviewing the issue. An improvement in abuse of pavement parking has been noted. It was acknowledged that SNH do make an effort to control the parking and this has probably facilitated the improvement

The use of CCTV coverage in the area was ruled out. The impending road resurfacing was discussed. It was agreed this problem continues although an improvement has been noted.

PCSO/TDC wardens

RL

6

New Area Priorities – Blackberry Engagement generated
North

1. Parking in the area around the Station and Bierce Court – to be monitored and tickets issued where abuse exists ( no tickets in June issued)
2. Speeding Epple Bay Road and Sea Road- continuation of previous priority (see above)          

           South

1. Parking Albion Road – continuation of previous priority ,three tickets issued in June (see above)
2. Speeding Canterbury Road – continuation of previous priority (see above)
3.  

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Warden Report
Since last meeting

1. I have been on Domestic Abuse and Disability and Diversity training in Maidstone
2. Led an engagement day for Trading Standards at the gateway in Margate
3. Took two sessions of Birchington YC and two more planed for this week and last one before holidays
4. Attended various village meetings such as Parish Council Assy meeting; Youth Club Committee; Intergenerational Project; SureStart etc
5. Working with Leslie GREEN at the school to source approx £25k of funding for playground equipment
6. We have had one grafitti attack – last week – of about 20 huts in Minnis with markers and some paint, and Coleman Stairs bridge. It’s all been logged with Gordon HUNT and Network Rail and should be cleaned soon. PCSO was given some suspect names and these have been fed up the line.
7. Minnis is fully open for business and we have started patrolling down there on a fairly regular basis. Beach manager is same as last year and we already had a good working relationship with her and its continuing this year. So far I can report that seaweed is being cleared.
8. We have had the Police trailer in the village twice – Quex and Station Road and was well received both times. We have plans for more during the summer – probably concentrating more on Minnis area.
9. We continue or close relationship with the local schools and King Ethelbert’s relationship gets better and better. Can’t recall any complaints about lunch time activities from Ethelbert’s kids since last meeting which is a good sign. I have also been engaged by them when they see me in village at lunchtime which is another good sign that we are getting through to them.
10. We have a small group of 5 or 6 10 – 12 year olds that I talked about last time. They are still on the scene but a bit quieter. We are specifically targeting them as we believe they have potential for causing us work over the next few years. Neame Wood is our primary target area for the summer months and we will be concentrating a lot of our late shifts on it.
11. Loads of engagement tools available over the summer and publicity material is coming through weekly. We are distributing to the best of out ability especially to targeted households.
12. Yew Tree Gardens is just about finished – road and pavements. We recognise that the new pavements, whilst really pretty and nice, are not as robust as the old slab ones. We have started scheduling patrols there on a regular basis with a view to educating drivers about parking on the pavements. We won’t be able to fix the parking complaints of the residents but we hope to keep the area nice. We are trying for enforcement action to follow up our education process. We also had a neighbour dispute in YTG over some fly tipping at rear alley. Phil sorted that out with his super diplomatic powers. Unfortunately I have been unable so far to get rubbish removed.
13. I have reported at least 4 major litter issues to TDC from the Rec' following the football on a Sunday. On two occasions I have asked that as well as action the call be escalated to the highest authority with a view to cross charging the football association or whatever for the clean-up. Maybe hitting them in their pockets might have an effect.
14. It’s a major annoyance to me that I weekly have to phone TDC to come clean the rubbish that gets left at the recycling centres in Albion Road and Minnis Bay. I don’t know what the solution is but it doesn’t happen on the continent. We have had to get removed everything from plastic bags to black sacks to a mattress, a couch and even some asbestos corrugated sheeting

RL

8

1. PCSO BURNETT told the meeting that a replacement officer would be coming through shortly. BW asked that it be minuted PACT’s strong protest that PC WESTON was removed and had not been replaced during that time. He also extended thanks to PCSO BURNETT and Warden DOOGAN for “holding the fort during a high crime time”
2. A discussion ensued regarding SNH and parking on Albion Road. PV stated that whilst it has got better there were still regular traffic jams especially in mornings and Taplin Court residents were still experiencing problems.  Mrs PAGE suggested safety railings along one side installed during upcoming resurfacing work – it was agreed that street was too narrow to facilitate this. JG said that making Albion Road a one way street was suggested as part of the anti-pollution plan for The Square – there has been no report back regarding this review. It was agreed that the Parish Council would lend their support to get landlord to allow removal of fencing. It was suggested that CCTV be used to temporarily monitor parking especially during times when Traffic Warden was not around – to be investigated.
3. RL agreed to contact TDC parking enforcement regarding the possible abuse of Blue Badge Parking in relation to parking issues on Station Road.
4. It was agreed to look into possibility of CCTV temporary cameras on Albion Road recycling centre for enforcement purposes
5. A short discussion then followed about local news and issues

RL/Parish Council/All

RL

RL

9

The meeting ended at 20.00

The date of the next meeting was agreed as
07 October 2010
The venue will be The Gallery at The Library, Alpha Road, Birchington