minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 17th June 2010 (Minute Nos. 124 - 132) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

declarations of interest

No interests were declared.

public session

(i) Extension of chalet opening season in Leysdown

Mr Purssord (Leysdown Parish Council) requested that Swale Borough Council (SBC) consider extending the chalet opening period in Leysdown as he considered it would benefit local businesses.

The Executive Member for Regeneration advised that he had been involved in meetings with chalet site owners and requested they submit evidence as part of the Core Strategy process to enable policy to be changed. To-date no evidence had been provided.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Planning advised that a written response would be sent to Mr Purssord.

Executive Member for Sustainable Planning

(ii) Regeneration at Shellness

Mr Purssord (Leysdown Parish Council) thanked SBC for the £50,000 funds granted towards provision of changing rooms at Leysdown Football Club. He explained that the scheme had demonstrated what could be achieved when the Borough Council worked closely with Parishes.

(iii) Cycle Routes

Mrs Brenda Hardman, local resident, asked whether KCC would consider including a cycle route within the planned new road at the new Leysdown/Warden School, Leysdown Road, Leysdown.

The Chairman advised that the request would be forwarded to KCC.

Democratic Services Officer

appointment of a representative from the council for the protection of rural england to sit on the swale rural forum

Members' welcomed Mr Blandon (Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) to the meeting.

Members raised concern that only two representatives from external organisations were present at the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(1) That Mr Peter Blandon (CPRE) be appointed to sit on the Swale Rural Forum. Democratic Services Officer

part b minutes for information

rural affordable housing

The Chairman welcomed Kerry Newbury (Strategic Housing Manager, SBC), Tessa O'Sullivan (Rural Housing Enabler from Actions in Communities in Rural Kent) and Alison Thompson (Regional Development Manager, English Rural Housing Association) to the meeting.

The Strategic Housing Manager stated that affordable rural housing was extremely important to both Members and Officers of SBC and played a key part in SBC's Housing Strategy. She explained that it was imperative that SBC understood the need for affordable housing in rural areas and that a Task and Finish group had been formed to move the Rural Affordable Housing agenda forward. The group was currently seeking to identify six parishes to work with to carry out surveys to establish the housing need within them, with a view to providing affordable housing should the need be identified. Currently only two parishes had come forward for the first years programme, therefore, SBC would be looking to identify a further four parishes using the SBC housing register for the following two years. The task and finish group would also be looking to engage closely with parishes to develop a communications plan around rural housing and also a rural housing sub-strategy.

The Rural Housing Enabler from Actions in Communities in Rural Kent outlined her role. She explained that to assess the need for affordable rural housing in a particular area, a Housing Needs Survey was undertaken. This entailed a Housing Needs Survey form being posted out to every property in each village. Once a need had been established, an appropriate site would be found and a consultation event held.

The Regional Development Manager, English Rural Housing Association, gave a presentation on rural affordable housing schemes already completed. She explained that only residents with a connection to the area would be eligible for a property and they could not be sold on the open market. She showed some examples of completed schemes at Smiths Orchard Bredgar and Glebe Field, Rolvenden and Cherry Fields, Lynsted.

In response to queries, the Regional Development Manager explained that at the present time it was harder for people to obtain mortgage's as usually deposits of 10 to 20 per cent were required by lenders. However, all properties built to-date had been sold. She stated that if once completed properties were not able to be sold to persons with a connection to a particular village they would then liaise with the three neighbouring parishes, if agreeable with the original parish. She stated that there was always a greater need so properties not being sold and remaining empty was not an issue.

A Member considered that SBC needed to change its planning culture as it currently failed its ten per cent affordable housing target. The Regional Development Manager stated that Members of the Planning Committee had always been very supportive of the affordable housing schemes put forward.

The Chairman thanked the Strategic Housing Manager, Regional Development Manager and Rural Housing Enabler for attending the meeting.

kent adult social services consultation on the future of its older person's service provision in swale

Mr Bill Ronan (Community Engagement Manager, KCC) drew attention to the briefing note which provided information on proposed changes about the way some residential care is provided by KCC in Swale.

The Community Engagement Manager advised that Officers from KCC would be holding a formal presentation on the proposals at the Sheppey Local Engagement Forum on Tuesday 19th October 2010 at Eastchurch Village Hall and encouraged Members to attend.

information items

action plan

Members referred to the Action Plan.

The following points were raised:
1. Invite Charlotte Hudson or Inspector Kevin Swinney (Kent Police) to explain the process of Local Engagement and Partners and Communities Together (PACT);
2. Need to boost promotion of Swale Rural Forum on website.

item for the next meeting

A Member raised concern that tractors and other agricultural vehicles were speeding through villages. Members agreed that the issue needed to be looked into and suggested inviting a representative from Kent Highway Services to the next meeting.

venue for next meeting

Suggestions included Milstead and Newington.