BIRCHINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Annual Assembly Meeting

held on 12^th May 2008

Present:- Cllr. B White (Chairman); Cllr’s. M Sheldrick, J Fleming, I Bedwell, R Latchford, J Francis, J Worrow, and J Cohen.

Apologies for absence:- Cllr J Garland, Cllr D Cooper, District Cllr S Day.

Also in Attendance:- Mrs Colette Coleman (Clerk). Tammy Stewart-Jones – Chairman of Thanet Fairtrade. District Cllrs J Roberts and A Bruce, PC Tim Weston, PC Simon Rolfe, Community Warden Liam Doogan. KCC Cllr Charles Hibberd. 6 members of public.

128.0 MINUTES

The minutes of the last Parish Assembly meeting held on 30^th April 2007 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

129. GUEST SPEAKER – Tammy Stewart-Jones – Chairman Thanet Fairtrade Initiative.

The Chairman welcomed Tammy and thanked her for stepping in at the last minute as a guest speaker. Ms Stewart-Jones gave a summary of her background and experience and how she came to be involved in Fair Trade. She was a member of the Fairtrade Foundation Board and has promoted Fair Trade throughout the UK. As Chairman of the Thanet Steering Group, Tammy is now concentrating on making Thanet a Fair Trade island, and has the support of Thanet District Council. Ms Stewart-Jones outlined the objectives of Fair Trade and explained how it worked, helping farmers get a fair price, fair conditions and a fair income. Banana growers were given as an example and how Fair Trade has helped them establish improved living conditions including better schools.

Thanet now has an annual Fair Trade Fortnight promoting its’ merits and next years Fortnight will be held 23^rd February to 8^th March. Ideas are being collated to make the Fortnight a success with numerous promotions being considered and a concert is to be held in July this year to further promote Fair Trade.

The Parish Council agreed to support the Fair Trade initiative and thanked Ms Stewart-Jones for her enlightening talk.

130.0 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The Chairman read the Parish Council Annual Report which has been printed in Newsletter form and distributed throughout the Village.

131. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS

Cllr. Jo Roberts

Cllr Roberts said that the year had been busy but enjoyable, with the Remembrance Service a particularly moving experience and the Christmas festivities another highlight. Cllr Roberts was pleased her Member Grant had helped towards the Christmas lights. Workload has included planning issues and the parking congestion at the Primary School which is an ongoing concern involving Cllr Roberts, KCC Cllr Hibberd and Highways. Cllr Roberts and Cllr Sheldrick are in touch with the nursery school helping with their problems and thanks to the use of the Parish Office a charity coffee morning was held. Cllr Roberts concluded her report with a summary of the Committees and Working Parties she is involved with as District Councillor.

Cllr. Margaret Sheldrick

Cllr Sheldrick began by outlining her role as Vice Chairman of Thanet Council and the civic duties attended. Cllr Sheldrick gave praise to the volunteer sector for their dedication and hard work fund raising and helping others.

Licensing has also played a major role during the year and explained the new pricing structure and abolition of zones for hackney carriages and drivers. Licensing has also had to revoke several liquor licenses, not always with the support of magistrates. Cllr Sheldrick praised her fellow Board members and Officers for their hard work and dedication. Underage drinking continues to be a challenge for Licensing.

Cllr Sheldrick has also served on the Constitutional Reform committee and the Thanet Community Voluntary Forum and is a trustee for the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Cllr Alistair Bruce

Cllr Bruce has been involved in several local issues including the Taplin Court parking issues which appears to need KCC resolution. Cllr Bruce has enjoyed his first year and praised his co-workers for their support. He also appreciated attending a public surgery with Roger Gale MP but was shocked at the plight of local residents. Cllr Bruce has also been involved in the Shoreline Management Plan Project looking at the effect of sea levels etc. and future flooding concerns. Planning has had to consider several large projects effecting Thanet and ultimately Birchington and Cllr Bruce hopes these will be completed to everyone’s satisfaction.

Cllr Roger Latchford

Cllr Latchford gave thanks for being re-elected and made Deputy Leader of Thanet Council and Cabinet Member for Culture. Regeneration is within Cllr Latchford’ portfolio and includes the China Gateway project, Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous development, Pleasurama Site in Ramsgate and Dreamland. The London Array project is currently on hold due to a sponsor pulling out. Cllr Latchford gave more detailed information on the China Gateway plans.

Cllr Latchford gave thanks to the Parish Council for allowing a Parish Court, for which three girls have been selected to represent the Village.

Anti Social Behaviour particularly graffiti continues to cause problems but by working closely with the police, several people have appeared in Court. The closure of the Minnis Bay Post Office was another disappointing decision but plans are in place to keep some services going.

The Christmas festivities were a great success with the help of Member Grants allowing the purchase of Christmas lights, trader’s donations for festivities and the Parish Council purchase of lights for the tree in Dog Acre. It is hoped additional lights can be purchased for this year and a repeat of similar festivities held in the Village.

Cllr Latchford concluded his report by giving thanks to his fellow Councillors and the Parish Clerk.

131. KCC COUNCILLOR REPORT

KCC Cllr Charles Hibberd began his report with financial data and with the news that the Council has retained its four star authority status following Audit Commission examination. All surplus funds have been directed into Highways with a purge on potholes being a priority.

Future concerns about flooding are being considered with the coast and river Stour identified. Government grants will be applied for to enable flood defences.

European lorries using Kent roads is another priority, including operation stack and it is hoped tax increments could help with Kent road maintenance.

Care for the elderly is another KCC concern with more Government money needed for resources.

The Local Government and Public Health Act dictate the need for public consultation which is ongoing throughout Kent, including on a proposal to build a new large GP practice in Thanet. The County now has a Director of Primary Health.

131. COMMUNITY WARDEN REPORT

Mr Liam Doogan summed up his main priorities as being: teenagers, dogs and dog mess, drug use, rogue traders and support to the young to reduce the risk of offending. Mr Doogan then took each subject in turn and gave an update. He commented that ASB in the Square from teenagers has reduced for a number of reasons including the use of CCTV but there have been a number of fights outside the pubs. There have been a number of problems with noisy and potentially vicious dog and the dog mess situation has not improved but got worse in some areas. There has been one drug raid in the Village during the year. Public awareness needs to continue alerting people of rogue traders, particularly those that operate door to door and publicity needs to be raised on this issue. Mr Doogan also has close associations with the schools and youth organisations such as Beavers, giving support.

Other main items during the year have included the purchase of purse alarms. Crime remains a priority and increased uniform presence makes a large difference. Community welfare is another task undertaken, and Wardens help support Social Services and Kent Fire & Rescue. Graffiti continues to be a challenge.

Mr Doogan gave thanks to Council and KCC Cllr Hibberd for their support.

131. POLICE REPORT

PC Tim Weston stated most areas had been covered by Mr Doogan but expanded on some points. He reported that there had been two serious assaults in the Village during the year and one offender is in prison as a result. Shopsafe continues to operate with some success. PC Weston announced that he is to move to a different area and introduced PC Simon Rolfe who will be taking over in the Village. PC Rolfe introduced himself and Council welcomed him.

Cllr Latchford proposed a vote of thanks to PC Weston for his outstanding work and was given well wishes for the future.

135.0 PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Parking at Minnis Bay was raised and a request was made for more disabled parking spaces. Cllr Latchford agreed to pass the request to TDC.

Congestion on the Promenade was also raised due to the placing of new beach huts and concerns with cyclists.

A member of public gave thanks to Tammy Stewart-Jones for her talk which was ‘educational’. Support was also expressed to Cllr Latchford for his work done in halting graffiti and subsequent arrests.

The Chairman thanked Tammy and the public for attending and thanked fellow Councillors.

Meeting Closed 9.10pm