The Chair will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures. The Chair will inform the meeting that: there is no scheduled test of the fire alarm during this meeting. If the alarm does sound, please leave the building quickly without collecting any of your possessions, using the doors signed as fire escapes, and assemble outside where directed. Await instructions before re-entering the building. Should anyone require assistance in evacuating the building, please make the Swale Borough Council officers aware of any special needs so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chair read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or

other material benefits for themselves or their spouse, civil partner or

person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner. They

must declare and resolve any interests and relationships. The Chairman

will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items

on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a) Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.

The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be

declared. After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and

not take part in the discussion or vote. This applies even if there is

provision for public speaking.

(b) Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interests (DNPI) under the Code of

Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012. The nature as well as the

existence of any such interest must be declared. After declaring a DNPI

interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

(c) Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having

considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that

the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should

declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the meeting while

that item is considered.

Advice to Members: If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence

or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this

agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Head

of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible,

and in advance of the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To approve the Minutes  of the Meeting held on 9 June 2022 (Minute Nos. 66 - 77) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2022 (Minute Nos. 66 – 77) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Mike Baldock said that the Western Area Committee were keen to raise awareness of pond management issues and introduced David Carey, the Chair of the Kent Tree and Pond Partnership, who had been invited to give a presentation.

Mr Carey spoke about the work of the wardens who had been trained by Southern Water.  He said that ponds were important in this part of Kent but they had been under pressure due to pollution and other factors since the 1930s and he added that when thinking about pond maintenance, it was important to consider historical and archaeological factors and to get the input of a wide range of the community to see what they would want from their local pond.  Mr Carey said that some visions may not be compatible, for example a wildlife pond would not be suited to being a home to ducks and fish as they would stir up the mud.

In response to questions Mr Carey stated that:

·         The Kent Tree and Pond Partnership was a voluntary organisation and did not have the resources to engage with farmers to find old ponds.  However, the Kent Wildlife Trust had links with farmers countywide and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty were keen to set up a Kent ponds rescue project;

·         he would be happy to advise Rodmersham Parish Council about dealing with run off from roads and interceptors; and

·         The Kent Tree and Pond Partnership were able to signpost where there were enquiries about creating new ponds and managing existing ponds.

Councillor Baldock said that the Western Area Committee would like to provide some funding for the Kent Tree and Pond Partnership to continue their valuable work.  The Chair suggested that the Policy & Engagement Officer liaised with Mr Carey to put a proposal together to bring back to the December 2022 meeting for the Area Committee to consider.

The Area Committee Members considered the report which explained that as Kent County Council (KCC) had rejected the applications for three brown tourism signs to be installed in the Parish of Bobbing, the allocation of funding reference WAC004 allocated in 2020/21 for £1,200.00 be reversed and added to the Western Area Committee allocation for 2022/23.

Councillor Richard Palmer moved the following motion:  that the allocation reference WAC004 allocated in 2020/21 for £1,200.00 be reversed and added to the Western Area Committee allocation for 2022/23.  This was seconded by Councillor James Hunt and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Councillor Mike Baldock moved the following motion:  that the Chair of the Western Area Committee write to Kent County Council expressing Members’ disappointment about the rejection of the applications and explained that the Committee felt the criteria was unhelpful.  This was seconded by Councillor Monique Bonney and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Resolved:

1)    That the allocation reference WAC004 allocated in 2020/21 for £1,200.00 be reversed and added to the Western Area Committee allocation for 2022/23.

2)    That the Chair of the Western Area Committee write to Kent County Council expressing the Western Area Committee Members’ disappointment about the rejection of the applications and that the  criteria was unhelpful. 

At the June 2022 Western Area Committee Meeting, Members requested proposals for funding be brought back to the September meeting for consideration.  The Chair reminded Members that the Constitution stated that “Any amount for which an allocation has not been agreed by the Area Committee by the end of the financial year will be forfeited, and no rollovers will be permitted.  Any funding allocation agreed by the Committee but unspent by the end of each electoral cycle (ie May 2023) will also be forfeited).”

A discussion took place on each proposal:

Youth Provision Project – Rebecca O’Neill, the Commissioned Provider of Youth Provision for KCC confirmed that The Meads could be added to the list of areas to be visited by the Vibe youth workers to engage with young people.  She also confirmed that the project could be repeated two further times.  Councillor Richard Palmer moved the following motion:  that the Youth Provision Project should be carried out three times and include The Meads.  The amount allocated for this project was £6,930.00.  This was seconded by Councillor Roger Clark and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Bredgar and Hartlip Conservation Area Reviews – Councillor Mike Baldock spoke about the proposal which had been highlighted in 2021 as a priority of Western Area Committee.  The proposal set out officer comments about the workload of the Conservation & Design Team but Councillor Baldock said the Area Committee should not be put off agreeing the proposal as the Consultant would be carrying out the reviews and the Graphics Officer would be producing the documents.  There was general agreement that Peter Bell should be appointed to carry out the work.  Councillor Richard Palmer moved the following motion: that Western Area Committee allocate £8,400.00 for Peter Bell to carry out Conservation Area Reviews at Bredgar and Hartlip.  This was seconded by Councillor Monique Bonney and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

King George V Toilet Refurbishment – Councillor Sarah Stephen explained that the toilet at King George V Playing Field was in need of renovation and officers had obtained a quote to complete the work.  Members were supportive of the proposal but questioned if there was an alternative hard wearing wall covering which would have an improved appearance to white roc.  Councillor Sarah Stephen moved the following motion:  That Western Area Committee allocate £5,054.00 to refurbish the King George V toilet and officers look for an alternative wall covering.  This was seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Donation to Foodbank – Councillor Corrie Woodford spoke about the proposal that stated the Swale Foodbank was the appropriate Foodbank for the Western Area.  Members commented that some residents would find it difficult to travel to the Foodbank centres due to lack of public transport.  It was suggested that the Bus Shelter Foodbank would also be able to support residents in the Western Area.  Members would want any funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 266.

Members noted the progress on actions.

Councillor Mike Baldock advised that with reference to looking into where the Section 106 funding was spent, he was waiting for a complete list and he would report back at the December 2022 meeting.

The Friends of Rose Hill Woods and The Meads Woodland Groups should provide the Policy & Engagement Officer with their bank account details so the suggested funding could be transferred to them.  It was agreed that they should provide the Western Area Committee with annual updates and a Borough Councillor should sit on each group.

A resident of Bredgar, raised an issue about reduced funding for bus services and how this impacted residents in villages.  She said that there was no incentive for residents to use buses which would reduce the number of cars on the roads. 

Councillor Mike Baldock responded that it was important to hear how cuts affected people and it should be fed back to those who made the decisions at KCC. 

Councillor Monique Bonney said that was fair for the resident to raise the issue in this forum and the option of using the Kent Carrier service costs £3 a time which was an extra cost to residents.  She added that KCC did not take the opportunity to use the Kent Science Park Section 106 funding to make a subsidised bus service viable by providing a timetable that would have benefitted the residents in the villages.  Councillor Bonney moved the following motion:  that the Chair of the Western Area Committee write to KCC about the effect the cuts to bus services would have on residents living in villages in the Western Area and request that the timetabling and routes of remaining services were reviewed as they were not viable.  This was seconded by Councillor Richard Palmer and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Resolved:

1)    That the Chair of the Western Area Committee write to KCC about the effect the cuts to bus services would have on residents living in villages in the Western Area and request that the timetabling and routes of remaining services were reviewed as they were not currently viable. 

No issues were raised.

No issues were raised.

The letter that the Chair of the Western Area Committee sent to KCC about bus services in rural areas, should be copied to the Chair of the Planning & Transport Policy Working Group.