Notice Board

The monthly meeting of the Parish Council took place on Thursday 4^th August 2016 in the Village Hall and 8 Councillors were in attendance. Also present were Kent County Cllr Mike Baldock, Ward Cllr John Wright, Mr Mike Whiting (representative for Gordon Henderson MP and thirty four members of the public.

Cllr Tucker welcomed Mrs Licence who has taken over the role of Clerk to the Council.

Public Time

i) The Paddock Project

Councillors heard about a project which has been set up to improve The Paddock and Swale Borough Cllr Lewin has been approached for funding. The group would like to put two picnic benches, one at either end of The Paddock and they are also looking for volunteers to help with the project.

Cllr Tucker said that The Paddock is being targeted by vandals and drunks and any problems must be reported to the Parish Council.

ii) Affordable Housing

A resident expressed concern that all planning applications are for four and five bedroomed houses asked if the Parish Council can adopt a policy so that developers build two and three bedroomed houses.

The Parish Council raised this issue at the Four Gun development but was ignored. The Parish Council is a consultee on planning applications and Swale Borough Council is the planning authority.

iii) Traffic problems

Residents raised concerns about speeding vehicles and parking problems in the village however most of the people who speed through the village are residents. The Parish Council has requested a pinch point in the area but KCC will not do this. The parking problems are thought to be contributed to by cars being left by the car dealers, the police are aware and are monitoring the situation.

PLANNING MATTERS

16/505738/OUT - Land at Forge Lane Upchurch

Outline planning permission for up to 110 residential dwellings (including up to 30% affordable housing), land for a potential car park for Holywell Primary School for approximately 40 spaces, introduction of structural planting and landscaping, informal public open space and children's play area, surface water flood mitigation and attenuation, vehicular access point from Forge Lane and associated ancillary works. All matters to be reserved with the exception of the main site access.

A large number of residents had attended to object to the proposal. Concern was raised about the impact it would have on the village; the infrastructure would not be able to cope; insufficient amenities; inadequate drainage system in the village; the school has not been contacted about the land for a potential car park for forty spaces.

Mr Whiting informed the meeting that MP Gordon Henderson will not support any development on land which is not in the Local Plan.

Swale Borough Cllr Wright explained it is an outline application detailing access to the site with an indicative number of houses for the site. It is important for everyone to comment on the application. There are high ways constraints; it is unsustainable; the site falls outside the Bearing Fruits Local Plan; there are insufficient facilities in the village; insufficient infrastructure; it will impact on the conservation area; loss of grade 1 agricultural land; it will impact the heritage coastal path; it will affect the views towards the church and conservation area; and it will also impact on the open farmland. The application at Moor Street has been turned down at appeal by the Planning Inspector and this has set a precedent.

Concerns were expressed that the sewers cannot cope at peak times. Councillors considered the application and the comments made in the Public Time and agreed unanimously to object to the application.

Cllr Lewin had sent a report informing Members that he has asked an officer from the Environmental Team at Swale Borough Council to consider whether there are any Health and Safety issues not dealt with by Planning at the Gypsy and Traveller site next to the Three Sisters. Cllr Lewin has asked Planners to investigate whether the recent occupancy of the Gypsy and Traveller site next to the above site should be subject to planning permission as is a designated Gypsy and Traveller site but has conditions of occupancy. Cllr Lewin has asked officers to investigate the recent additional caravan at the Gypsy and Traveller site at Ridgedale Stables, Halstow Lane and its siting in the flood plain. Cllr Lewin has asked officers to advise their next steps on Gypsy and Traveller site Holywell Lane, Upchurch (15/500107/ENF) following the appeal decision earlier this year; there is a planning application in this location but it is not this site. Following Cllr Lewin’s pressure last year on Medway and Swale to co-operate on consultation responses of mutual interest, Swale Borough Council have sent a letter of objection to Land at Otterham Quay Lane (MC/16/2051).

Finance

The internal auditor is retiring and quotes will be obtained from other auditors for their services.

Allotments

There have been complaints about the state of the allotments. Unfortunately the undergrowth is full of rubbish and parts of the site are overgrown. Some plots have not been worked for over a year which exasperates the untidy appearance. The low rental income is not sufficient to cover extra work on the allotments so a meeting will be arranged with the allotment holders to find a solution to the problem.

Burial Ground and Churchyard

The Parish Council has received a request from a non-resident to pre-purchase a burial plot. Councillors considered that current residents have been refused permission to pre-purchase plots due to the shortage of space in the burial gorund and agreed they could not make an exception in this case.

Councillors agreed to a request for a memorial bench in the burial ground.

Best Kept Garden Competition

The Best Kept Garden Competition has been highly successful.

The winners were:

Category: Mixed Flowers/Shrubs

15 The Poles

Category: Small/Hanging/Troughs

97 Beckenham Park

Category: Flowers

Orchard Cottage, Poot Lane

Overall WINNER 1st Prize awarded to

15 The Poles

Highly commended:

21 Drakes Close

90 Oak Lane

11 Chaffes Lane

Yew Tree Cottage, Poot Lane

Highways

There has been a serious case of fly tipping in Canterbury Lane, part of which comes under Medway Council, and Seymour Road which has closed the roads. This has been reported but the contractors are given ten days in which to clear the area.

Bus Shelter

The Council is still waiting for confirmation of a date for installation of the bus shelter.

Date of next meeting Thursday 1^st September 2016 at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.

Wendy Licence

Clerk to the Parish Council

Tel: 01634 363906
Email: clerk@upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk
Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk
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