Resolved:  That Councillor Steve Davey be elected Chairman for the Municipal Year 2020/21.

Resolved:  That Councillor Derek Carnell be elected Vice-Chairman for the Municipal Year 2020/21.

There were no apologies for absence. 

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 (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 room 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. 

The purpose of this agenda item is to enable members of the public to

direct questions to the Chairman or suggest agenda items for future

meetings

The Chairman explained the purpose of the agenda item and invited members of the public present to ask a question or suggest an agenda item for a future meeting.  No one present wished to speak. 

A Member suggested that the Committee might wish to consider discussing primary, secondary and further education provision in Sittingbourne at the next meeting. 

The Chairman said that he was aiming to spend time with Members in other wards within the Sittingbourne area to explore what issues they faced and would be contacting them prior to the next scheduled meeting. 

-       Brown tourism signs

-       Heritage issues

-       Conservation issues – including ponds

Report to follow. 

Report added 1 September 2020. 

Brown tourism signs

The short paper for this item described the process for obtaining and siting of brown tourism signs.  It was noted that there were many demands for more brown signs to support the leisure and tourism offer across Swale.  However, it was not straightforward and cheap to get these signs put up.  Cabinet would like to see area committees provide a prioritised list of sites they would be interested in funding signage for, and an indication where they would like those signs to go.

Heritage issues

The tabled paper explained that Swale had around 50 Conservation Areas (CA) many of which have not been reviewed for several decades.  Earlier this year the Council launched a new Heritage Strategy, part of which included  reviewing these Conservation Areas over the period of the Strategy.   While it was recognized that CAs were less of an issue for Sittingbourne than other areas of Swale, the Committee could consider whether they would like to promote the placing of blue plaques to recognise notable men and women who have lived or worked in the area. 

Conservation issues – including ponds

The paper explained that it was important that the Council has an up-to-date and accurate picture of the ponds in our Swale, their current condition, and ownership details.  This did not include private ponds in peoples’ gardens.

There was both a strategic need for this information and also a heritage,

conservation and tourism aspect.  Ponds were often signifiers of underground

waterways which we need to be aware of, and were also strong promoters of

biodiversity.  They could also be used in promotional material encouraging

visitors to our rural areas.

Discussion ensued on: 

-        Number of underground streams and rivers in Sittingbourne flowing out into Milton Creek;

-        the Fire Service had comprehensive knowledge of ponds and other amenities as part of their water planning. 

Other local issues

A member of the public suggested that the regeneration of Sittingbourne Town Centre be considered as a future agenda item. 

The poor state of the entrance to the Sittingbourne skate park was mentioned which had an impact on access to the Dolphin Barge Museum.  The Cabinet Member for Economy and Property said that the skate park was in the process of being transferred to a trust which would be a prelude to work to clear the site commencing. 

A Member suggested that the underground bomb shelter at Trotts Hall Gardens, Sittingbourne could possibly be opened as a tourist attraction.