Report of the Parish Council December 2018
Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr John Arnold (Vice Chairman), Cllr Pam Denny, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Peter Masson, Cllr Janet Marshall, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence
Planning
Ref: 18/505139/FULL
Address: Breach Farm Bungalow Breach Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7PE
Proposal: Erection of a replacement dwelling and enlarged curtilage.
Councillors considered the application and agreed to support the proposal subject to any neighbours’ comments being taken into consideration.
Ref: 18/505524/FULL
Address: 16 Oak Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7AT
Proposal: Erection of a first floor side and rear extension. Loft conversion into habitable space with rear dormer and 2no. rooflights to front elevation. Internal and external alterations including alterations to fenestration.
Councillors considered the application and raised no objections and that neighbours comments should be taken into consideration.
Ref: 18/502771/FULL
Address: Jack Russell Place Halstow Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7AB
Prposal: Installation of a brick wall and gates to front entrance (part retrospective).
The Parish Council objected to the proposal, the Swale Planning Officer recommended refusal and the application was rejected by Swale Borough Council. The applicant has now lodged an appeal. Councillors agreed that their objections still stood.
The date of the next Planning Committee meeting has been brought forward to Tuesday 18th December at 8:00pm in the Committee Room in the Village Hall.
Battle’s Over Commemorations
There has been a very positive response from a significant number of residents regarding the Battle’s Over event which had an excellent community feel to it. £262.30 was collected on the evening and will be shared between The Royal Naval Association, The Army’s National Charity, The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and The Merchant Navy Association.
The Parish Council extends its grateful thanks to Mr Dave Neal for providing the fire tenders; the Scouts and Brownies for the refreshments Boakes Joinery for their generous gift of the oak post for the beacon; Mr Andy Corbett and EAPL for making the beacon basket at cost; Mr Elliott Fenn for playing the bugle; Mr Louis Newbery for promoting the event on Upchurch Matters; Mr Stuart Betts the sign writer and also the resident who took the wreath to Ferques on behalf of the Parish Council.
Church Clock
There has been an amazing response to the appeal for upgrading the clock and £6185 has been raised, the cost of the upgrade was £8540. The community has responded superbly to the call for donations in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the First World War and this echoes the response from villagers one hundred years ago.
The Paddock and Recreation Ground
The installation of the new play equipment has been delayed due to inclement weather.
There has been tree work carried out at the Paddock and Recreation Ground.
It has been agreed that there will be no increase in car parking fees for 2019.
Street Lighting
Detailed preliminary costings have been drawn up and the cost to replace all the lights and columns will be approximately £78,000, considerably more than was previously anticipated. It is hoped to achieve a better deal by replacing all the lights. As the Parish Council has insufficient reserves, the Council hopes to be able to take out a loan and it would also need to increase the Parish precept to ensure the project is completed. The project has turned out to be more expensive than first thought because many of the lamp posts, as well as the lights, are also in need of replacement. There will be a public consultation meeting prior to the Council meeting on 3rdJanuary 2019.
Allotments
Councillors have considered the income and expenditure for the allotment gardens and have agreed the fees should be increased by 10%. There are a few vacant plots and anyone interested in having an allotment should contact the Clerk.
Burial Ground
The Council has agreed that, over a period of time as denoted by demand, the rose beds be released to provide burial plots. The Burial Ground Policy is in the process of being revised.
Dog Fouling
Dog fouling continues to be an issue within the Parish and the Council has agreed to rent TiksPac dispensers to help address the problem. The dispensers will have bags for dog waste available if required. The dispensers will be for a two-year trial period.
Date of next meetings:
Planning Committee - 18th December at 8:00pm in the Committee Room of the Village Hall
Full Council - Thursday 3rd January 2019 at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall
The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 16th January at 7:30pm in the Committee Room of the Village Hall.
All residents are welcome to attend the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.
Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council
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