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.

No interests were declared.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 November 2021 (Minute Nos. 450 – 458) and the Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting held on 8 February 2022 (Minute Nos. 575 – 578) as correct records.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 November  2021 (Minute Nos. 450 – 458) and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 8 February 2022 (Minute Nos. 575 – 578) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as correct records.

Members noted the progress on actions.

The Head of Regeneration and Economic Development gave a verbal update on the progress of the Levelling-Up Fund bid following the presentation at the Extraordinary Sheppey Area Committee Meeting on 8 February 2022. 

She advised that there had been an outstanding response to the consultation and she confirmed that the following items were recommended for inclusion in the bid:

·         Soft play;

·         town centre gateways;

·         an increased emphasis on history and heritage and natural assets, including connectivity with the sea;

·         focussing the Master’s House studios towards arts & culture; and

·         embracing, if practical, the possibility of bringing the SS Montgomery masts on shore.

She also advised that following the consultation, it was clear that residents wanted public toilets and café facilities at Beachfields and this would be included in the bid.  Although there was a lot of support for a tidal pool, it was not feasible to achieve within the timeframe of the Levelling-Up Fund.  However, a safe swimming zone at Sheerness would be supported again this summer.

The feedback had been passed to the master planners who would look at what was most desired and feasible and their report was expected within the next few weeks.

A discussion ensued and comments made included:

·         To allow residents from more remote parts of the Isle of Sheppey to access the facilities at Beachfields, public transport would need to be provided;

·         concerned about how safe the swimming zone would be for inexperienced swimmers; and

·         the tidal pool in the area was requested by many residents and East Kent College had said they would be prepared to assist with a feasibility study.  Warden, Leysdown and Queenborough would also be potential locations for a tidal pool.

The Head of Regeneration and Economic Development thanked everyone for their feedback.

Jenny Hurkett welcomed everyone to the Criterion Blue Town of which she was the founder.  She thanked the Sheppey Area Committee Members for their support with getting the lift installed which would allow more visitors to access the venue.  She added that to cater for the numbers of people who were interested in visiting The Criterion from as far away as Sussex and Essex, the area needed coach parking and asked for an update on what provision was planned.

Jenny Hurkett spoke about the walking tours the Criterion held and highlighted the appalling state of the historic area.  She asked what could be done to improve Blue Town.

Sheerness Town Councillor Brian Spoor spoke about the planning application for a cement works and the potential health risks for residents.  The Chairman responded the project was a clinker crushing facility which would not discharge dust into the air.  He advised residents to read the planning application to get a full understanding of what was planned.

A resident advised that the road markings Kent County Council (KCC) had painted at Leysdown Coastal Park were not correct.  He also asked if there was a plan to change the speed limit on the road to Shellness.  The Chairman suggested the resident contact the KCC Councillor for the area to deal with the issue.

Eastchurch Parish Councillor Mike Brown asked what was being done about the large number of lorries dumping material over Eastchurch Cliffs.  Councillor Cameron Beart advised that an Enforcement Notice had been issued for Surf Crescent and the local MP had taken the matter up with the Secretary of State.  KCC Councillor Andy Booth said that the matter was being dealt with by the Police.

Sheerness Town Councillor Linda Brinklow and Warden Parish Councillor Pat Sandle both spoke about the KCC consultation on the proposed savings for the Supported Bus Services and asked how residents living on the East of the Isle of Sheppey would be able to access facilities in Sheerness on a Sunday if the subsidy was withdrawn.  The Chairman advised that if there was demand for the service, then it would be economically viable for the bus providers to run services on Sundays.

Sheerness Town Councillor Brian Spoor commented that the blocked drains in Sheerness were not being cleared by KCC.  A Committee Member advised that if the exact location of the blocked drains was reported to KCC, they would clear them.

Warden Parish Councillor Pat Sandle thanked the Head of Environment & Leisure for arranging the site meeting with the Environment Agency.  However, she felt that the update provided in the agenda pack did not mention the effect flooding had on the road.  The road could become completely covered and it was not possible to tell the difference between the road and river as there were no warning signs.  She said that the edge of the road also needed to be marked.

Councillor Bill Tatton asked what could be done about e-scooters being used at Leysdown and Warden Bay.  The Chairman advised that each incident should be reported to the Police by calling 101.

A member of the public asked for an update on the traveller sites, she was advised that the one at Blue Town had been reported and the one at Cromwell Road was on KCC land and KCC were tolerating it.

The Sheppey Area Committee was allocated a total of £56,000.00 for the financial year 2021/22.  At the Sheppey Area Committee Meeting on Tuesday 30 November 2021, £47,951.26 of funding was awarded to bids  which met the criteria set out by the Committee.  At that meeting, Committee Members agreed that a second funding round  should take place to allocate the remaining funding of £8,048.74.

The deadline for the second round of applications was 1 February 2022 and a single bid of £8,048.74 was submitted for consideration by the Committee.  The application was assessed for eligibility by officers and a scoring process carried out.  Officers submitted 2 options for allocating funds for the Committee to vote on, as set out on pages 19 to 20 of the report.

On being put to the vote the proposal for Option 1 was agreed.

Resolved:

That the £8,048.74 funding be awarded to the Member bid submitted by Councillors Oliver Eakin and Angela Harrison to replace the lighting along Sheerness Promenade.

No issues were raised.

No issues were raised.