The Policy and Engagement Officer introduced this item and explained that although there was no longer funding available for Area Committees to allocate to support their priorities, it was still possible for areas to agree priorities and work towards achieving them without funding.  

One of the first tasks for the new Council was to create a Corporate Plan which would set out what the Council wanted to achieve over the next four years.  This would help to make sure Council resources were allocated in an accountable and effective way.

Area Committees were being asked to have an input into the Corporate Plan at an early stage by outlining their own aspirations for their individual areas.

The aspirations of this Area Committee could be issues that were the responsibility of SBC to achieve, or things that were the responsibility of external organisations which the Council could try to influence.  They could also be ambitions the Area Committee would like to work towards in the future.

When considering what these aspirations should be, the Policy and Engagement Officer said it was important to bear in mind the challenging budget position which was likely to continue over the next few years and the capacity of SBC to deliver them on top of the previously agreed workloads.

A discussion activity took place with everyone in attendance splitting into groups to discuss what the priorities for the Sheppey Area were. Four questions were asked, and a summary of ideas included the following:

What issues affected residents in your Ward that fell within the responsibility of SBC?

·         Fly tipping including industrial waste;

·         littering, more bins were needed (recycling and dog waste);

·         use of CCTV and tackling anti-social behaviour especially in Queenborough and Thistle Hill, Minster;

·         youth issues, addressing anti-social behaviour;

·         the Planning application process, ensuring there was an opportunity for residents to respond;

·         the cleaner and greener agenda; and

·         refuse collection.

What issues affected residents in your Ward that fell within the responsibility of external partners?

·         Education, Health and Care Plans for children with special educational needs;

·         GP/health coverage across the Isle of Sheppey, in particular Leysdown;

·         street-lighting;

·         roads and transport links across the Isle of Sheppey;

·         increased Police presence;

·         employment;

·         leisure;

·         road safety including lack of routes for emergency services when roads are blocked by accidents;

·         highway maintenance (potholes, drains);

·         bus services, lack of services affected employment opportunities;

·         cycle paths (new and improved existing);

·         traffic calming/road humps;

·         schools – lack of choice; and

·         air quality affecting health – farmers burning plastics.

What changes would you like to see that could improve the life of residents in the future?

·         Improved links from Lower Road to East Sheppey;

·         improved transport links across the Isle of Sheppey;

·         improved healthcare; and

·         railings along Warden and Leysdown roads to protect pedestrians.

What were the top three issues you would like the Area Committee to take forward in the coming year?

·         Transport;

·         bus companies needed to improve services;

·         youth/education;

·         community maintenance (CCTV, lighting and roads);

·         planning application process;

·         healthcare, lack of services;

·         environment;

·         road safety; and

·         providing an emergency access route to the eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey.