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 as directed. Await instructions from the Fire Marshal before entering the building. Should anyone require assistance in evacuating the building, please make the Swale Borough Council Democratic Services Officers aware of any special needs so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman 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.

Councillor Steve Davey disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as a Trustee of Diversity House.

Councillor Mike Dendor disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as a Trustee of Kemsley Hall.

Councillors Derek Carnell, Mike Dendor, Steve Davey and Tony Winckless all disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as Trustees of Milton Creek Country Park.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 December 2021 (Minute Nos. 473 – 484) and the Minutes of Extraordinary Meeting held on 1 February 2022 (Minute Nos. 559 – 562) as correct records

The Minutes of the Meetings held on 7 December 2021 (Minute Nos. 473 – 484) and 1 February 2022 (Minute Nos. 559 – 562) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as correct records.

Members noted the progress on actions.

Sittingbourne town centre regeneration scheme:

·         The Chairman advised that there were some issues with the Swale Safe System that needed to be resolved;

·         discussions were ongoing regarding the shared entrance of the High Street, Sittingbourne;

·         the Kent County Council (KCC) Town Centre Greening review had been discussed and funding was an issue; and

·         High Street repairs - KCC had suggested putting 20 roundels on the High Street. This was rejected by Swale Borough Council (SBC). Also, where the raised speed bump areas needed repairing, KCC suggested replacing the granite sets with tarmac as a cost cutting exercise. This was also rejected. An SBC officer was pursuing KCC at officer level to get the repairs carried out.

Entrance to the Skatepark and Dolphin Barge Museum – the Head of Housing and Community Services advised that conversations had taken place between SBC and the organisations regarding widening the access so everyone could have appropriate access.  A meeting was scheduled to discuss further.

Conservation Area Review updates – the Senior Conservation & Design Officer advised the Sittingbourne Conservation Area (CA) Review had been recommended for adoption by Cabinet and once the document was finished it would be published.  There had been delays with the Milton Regis CA Review due to other CA reviews taking priority.  However, once completed it would be taken to public consultation.

Bomb shelter at Trotts Hall Gardens – the Chairman was still chasing regarding the ground resistivity examination.

Improvements to lighting in Milton Regis – the Chairman and the Milton Regis Society were looking to resolve this with KCC as soon as possible.

Periwinkle Water Mill Site – the Senior Conservation & Design Officer advised that a mid-range cost option was being considered for the remedial works for the structural concerns.  There were still issues with the clearing of greenery due to land ownership issues.

Bus services – the Chairman made those in attendance aware of the KCC Supported Bus Services consultation and reminded everyone the deadline for responding was 20 April 2022.

Anti-social behaviour in Sittingbourne Town Centre, Eden Village and Kemsley – the Chairman advised that he had a very productive meeting with the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who advised that if issues with e-scooters were reported via 101, schemes could be arranged to deal with the problems, but evidence was needed.  A Committee Member challenged the wording in the report on education by the Police on the ‘correct use of e-scooters’ as legally e-scooters should not be used.  The Head of Housing & Community Services agreed to raise this with the Police.

Kemsley Arms – a Committee Member referred to the excessive planning delays in getting the site developed.  The Head of Housing & Community Services agreed to raise this with officers.

Staplehurst Road left turn – the Chairman advised that the Community Warden would look into the matter of motorists turning right when it was left turn only.

Creekside plan  - the Head of Housing & Community Services advised there had been a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 659.

The Senior Conservation & Design Officer explained that a process and timeline for making nominations to the Local Heritage List was being finalised.  It was hoped to publish the nomination process on the website by early May 2022.

A member of the public, Jackie Davidson, brought two petitions on bus services to the attention of the Committee.

Following a question from a Committee Member, the KCC Divisional Member for Sittingbourne North advised on the process for the KCC Bus Consultation.

Committee Members noted the written update provided by Councillor James Hall on the provision of a memorial bench and the work of the charity Ellie’s Angels.

Councillor Roger Truelove advised that half of the Sittingbourne High Street makeover was complete.  However, the project could not be completed at present due to delays in obtaining the correct paint.

Councillor Tony Winckless commented that the Conservation & Design Manager had advised he was reluctant to install bollards in Milton High Street as it would spoil the appearance of the area.  The Chairman agreed to follow up on this.

The Sittingbourne Area Committee was allocated a total of £44,000.00 for the financial year 2021/22.  At the Extraordinary Sittingbourne Area Committee Meeting on Tuesday 1 February 2022, £34,361.33 of funding was awarded to external applicants whose bids met the criteria set-out by the Committee.  At that meeting, Committee Members agreed that the unallocated funding of £9,638.67 should be made available for external organisations via a second funding round.

The deadline for the second round of applications was Thursday 17 February 2022 and £29,351.29 of bids were received for consideration by the Committee.  This meant that there was £19,712.62 worth of bids in excess of the remaining allocation.  All applications were assessed for eligibility by officers and a scoring process carried out.  Officers submitted 4 options for allocating funds for the Committee to vote on, as set out on pages 15 to 17 of the report.

On being put to the vote the proposal for Option 3 was agreed.

Resolved:

(1) That the £9,638.67 funding be awarded to projects in the following proportions:

(a)  Diversity House - £2,697.82;

(b)  Milton Creek Country Park Trust - £2,955.15;

(c)  SATEDA - £2,994.55; and

(d)  New Leaf Support - £989.97.

No issues were raised.

No issues were raised.