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 Chairman read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

No interests were declared.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the hybrid Extraordinary Sheppey Area Committee Meeting and introduced the visiting Swale Borough Council (SBC) Councillors and Officers, both physically and remotely.

The Council Leader, Councillor Roger Truelove, gave an overview of the purpose of the meeting and explained that Swale was in a high priority position to receive funding from the central government concept Levelling-up.  He said that bids needed to be aligned to the Sittingbourne and Sheppey parliamentary seat and that MP Gordon Henderson was being kept fully updated on the progress.  He clarified that as Sittingbourne had already received regeneration funding, it was clear that Sheppey should be the main focus of the bid.  The value of the bid would be £20 million and if successful would start momentum for change and growth.  The timescales for submitting the bid were tight and community input and support was needed.

The Head of Regeneration and Economic Development gave a presentation which set out the parameters of the Fund.  The presentation was included in the agenda pack.

The Head of Environment and Leisure spoke about proposals for a new swimming pool.  Attendees were asked what they would like to see inside the new swimming pool building/refurbished leisure centre and comments made included:

·         Residents, especially the young, could not always afford to access facilities such as gyms and swimming pools;

·         rent in shops could be subsidised;

·         improvements could be made to the seafront, extending to Barton’s Point;

·         Sheppey Blue Tits requested a tidal pool be considered and suggested it be free and benefit health and wellbeing;

·         people looked for places to go wild swimming;

·         a tidal pool would put Sheppey on the map nationally;

·         children should be asked for ideas on what could be included;

·         the management group should be taken out of the Swale Leisure Centre;

·         there needed to be investment in Sheerness town centre;

·         a good quality soft play centre would be welcomed; and

·         the tennis courts were of a poor standard and not maintained.

The Head of Regeneration and Economic Development asked what residents would like to see in the wider Beachfields footprint and comments made included:

·         The issue with Neptune Terrace steps needed to be resolved;

·         the flood gates should be kept open and only shut in bad weather;

·         some beach huts and kiosks could be built into the sea wall by the church;

·         large empty shops could be used for an arts and crafts revival;

·         history boards could be made to go in empty shop windows;

·         improved cycle paths and bike hire provided;

·         improved facilities at Barton’s Point;

·         reduced speed limits;

·         markets in Sheerness High Street;

·         install bus stops behind Masters House;

·         maintain the community gardens;

·         build a bandstand in the gardens;

·         develop the Sheppey FM building so they could develop their services and provide further tourist information;

·         the groynes on the beach were in disrepair;

·         maximise sea views;

·         install sand volleyball pits;

·         an improved skatepark;

·         address general poor appearance of the area; and

·         a raised level at Beachfields so there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 577.

No issues were raised.