Upchurch Parish Council Report - July 2020

Report of the Parish Council July 2020

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.

Paddock and Recreation Ground

Adult Exercise Equipment

The Parish Council is going to install adult gym equipment in the village and Councillors are keen to hear the views of residents for the best site and layout. There will be five or six different items of adult fitness equipment and this will be installed either in a cluster in The Paddock or Recreation Ground or as a fitness trail around the Recreation Ground. The project will be funded by Section 106 money from the development at Kent Terrace and must be used in The Paddock or the Recreation Ground. A copy of the consultation document can be found on the Council’s website and paper copies are available in the Co-op and Post Office for those without internet access, to vote for your preferred location and layout. A copy is also attached to this report.

Two new bins have been ordered to replace the bins at the Recreation Ground, these will be dual purpose bins for litter and bagged dog waste.

Environment

The cascade planter has been sited at the centre of the village opposite the church and barrier baskets have been put along the Recreation Ground fence. Councillors thanked Cllr Rosewell for making the A frames for the barrier baskets.

Church Clock

The clock has been serviced, it is keeping good time and is working well. It was thought that a repair was needed for a rider on a cam but it appears to be a design fault and no action is required.

Planning

i. Ref: 20/501183/FULL 

Address: Caravan Storage Area Otterham Quay Industrial Estate Otterham Quay Lane Upchurch ME8 7UX

Proposal: Change of use of land for the siting of up to 36no. specialist residential mobile homes with associated services, access, parking and turning area.

Councillors considered the application and were minded to accept the revised details and requested that the S106 contribution go towards the village lighting project.

ii. Ref: 20/501701/FULL 

Address: 116 Oak Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7AY

Proposal: Minor material amendment to 16/506986/FULL (Demolition of no. 116 Oak Lane and construction of 2 no. three bedroom houses and 1 no. four bedroom with associated garages and parking.) to allow amendments to the proposed road widening and traffic calming measures.

Councillors considered the revised traffic scheme and noted that comments posted on the planning portal were all objecting to access from Oak Lane.

iii. Ref: 20/502319/SUB Submission of details pursuant to conditions 3 (sustainable construction techniques), 4 (details of external finishing materials), 5 (landscaping details), and 9 (dust suppression), of application 16/506986/FULL.

Address: 116 Oak Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7AY

Councillors considered the landscaping details and felt there should not be a tree on the corner of Wallbridge Lane. The proposed silver birch between 115 and 111 would not be suitable due to the height of the tree, shrubs might be more suitable than trees.

iv. Ref: 18/501667/FULL Address: New Acres Spade Lane Hartlip Kent ME9 7TT

Application to extend the time limit to submit a site development scheme required by condition 4 of the planning permission granted on a ground A appeal against notice ref 17/500054/CHANGE APP/V2255/W/20/3244340

Councillors considered the matter which has now gone to appeal. The impact of the development is much wider and has implications for Upchurch residents.

v. Ref: 19/502283/FULL Address: Land Adjacent to Crescent House Otterham Quay Lane Upchurch ME8 7UY

Proposal: Erection of a block of 7 no. dwellings with parking, refuse and cycle store

Application permitted.

This is a precis of Council business, full minutes of all meetings can be found on the website when ratified.

Date of next meetings:

The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 19^th August at 7:30pm 

Full Council - Thursday 3^rd September 2020 at 7:30pm

The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Meetings) Regulations 2020 now gives Local Councils the power to meet remotely during this COVID-19 pandemic and Upchurch Parish Council is now holding meetings virtually. Please check the website for details of the meetings.

All residents are welcome to view the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions. 

Please contact the Clerk, clerkupc@outlook.com to obtain login details for the meeting.

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council

Tel: 01622 739324

Email: clerkupc@outlook.com

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Swale Borough Council - Discretionary Grant Scheme Now Open for Micro Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Micro businesses who have been severely impacted by COVID-19 could now be eligible for a discretionary grant from Swale Borough Council.

After the first round of grants were given to businesses earlier this month, the council extended the criteria to include businesses that support the borough’s visitor economy, and although remaining funds are now very limited, micro businesses in commercial premises that haven’t been eligible for government funding yet may also apply.

Micro businesses include those who have a turnover of £632,000 or less, £316,000 or less on its balance sheet, 10 employees or less and who occupy commercial premises with a rateable value of up to £51,000.

Discretionary grants are designed to help specific types of micro and small businesses who were not eligible for the small business grant scheme or the retail, leisure and hospitality grant schemes offered by the government.

Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy and property at Swale Borough Council, said:

“We’ve been doing everything we can to support our local businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The government guidelines on who should receive discretionary grants in the first instance were very strict, limited to businesses that had flexible workspaces, market trader’s, B&Bs and charities.

“We gave out more than £1 million to 130 businesses in this first round of grants, which then allowed us to expand the criteria to include businesses that specifically support our visitor economy and now micro businesses who haven’t yet received any government funding to help them get back on their feet.

“Local businesses are important to the community and we’re doing everything we can to support them. As well as the discretionary grants, we’ve also paid more than £27 million in small business and retail grants.

“The grant scheme opens today (31st Jul) for one week and funds are very limited, so we urge anybody requiring business support to sign up for our business emails to stay up to date on what’s available.”

Now that the first five categories have received support, a sixth and final category has been added:

1. Small businesses in shared premises or other flexible workspaces, e.g. industrial parks, science parks, incubators etc, which do not have their own business rates assessment.

2. Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment.

3. B&B’s that pay council tax instead of business rates.

4. Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief that could otherwise have been eligible for small business rates relief or rural rate relief.

5. Businesses that directly support Swale’s visitor economy; this can include tourism, hospitality & leisure service providers including supply chain businesses.

6. Micro entities who have been severely impacted by COVID-19 and occupy commercial premises with a rateable value of up to £51,000. Micro entities will have a turnover of £632,000 or less, £316,000 or less on its balance sheet, and 10 employees or less.

For more information about what help is available for businesses visit: www.swale.gov.uk/advice-for-businesses

Businesses wanting to sign up for updates from the council should Email: edu@swale.gov.uk

Swale Borough Council

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Extended Poolside Bar Opening Times at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course - Eat Out to Help Out

We are extending our food menu and service times from Monday 3rd August and will be participating in the Government's ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ discount scheme.

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

Please Leave The Recreation Ground Tidy for Others

Photos taken on Wednesday morning, 29th July 2020.

It appears someone sits on the Memorial Bench in the Recreation Ground, Oak Lane and grooms their dog (or dogs) which as you can see is very unpleasant for other residents who wish to sit here.

We feel this is unacceptable and the hair should be put in the bin beside the bench or preferably taken home and disposed of properly there.

The bench area is lovely with the new flower baskets to give pleasure to all residents.

It is not the first time this has happened, unfortunately.

Please leave the Recreation Ground tidy for others.

Thank you

Cllr Pam Denny

Upchurch Parish Council

St Mary's Church Fundraiser

During Lockdown, St Mary’s Church has suffered internal damage from birds and rodents and is in need of urgent repairs and deep cleaning.

As we have been unable to hold our Church Porch Sales for several months and are still not allowed to enter the Church, we propose to have a SALE.

Mary Stone

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UPDATED - Gill Gay Will Be Collecting For Swale Foodbank in Church Farm Road This Month

Hi everyone,

We would like to thank you all for the wonderful support we have received on behalf of Swale Foodbank so far.

I and my husband Ron will be at a different collection point this month, on the driveway of Number 7 Church Farm Road on Wednesday 5th, August between 10:30am and 11.30am.

Please come along with your donations (in carrier bags would be helpful) and put them into our open car boot while we remain at a safe distance.

We will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

The items most in need at the moment are:

Fish - Mackerel, Sardines etc (They have lots of Tuna so any other tinned Fish)
Rice Pudding
Custard
Sponge Puddings
Shampoo/Conditioner
Deodorants
Laundry Detergent

Please tell your friends and family.

Thank you

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

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