OARE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 16th March 2015
Present: Cllr I Fidge (Chair)
Cllr C Relf
Cllr B Ferrell
Cllr R Friar
Cllr T Fentiman
1. Apologies for Absence – Cllr J Richardson, Cllr L Bowen, Cllr A Bowles, Cllr R Barnicott
2. Declaration of Interests – Cllr I Fidge and Cllr Relf - the Village Hall.
3. Public Speaking Time – Bob and Andrew from Cuddy Munts off-road club attended the meeting. Members of the public made the following complaints:
· Large quanitites of mud left on the road by vehicles attending the club
· Vehicles not cleaned, so poor vision through front and rear windscreens and side windows, cannot read number plates due to mud
· Some drivers are inconsiderate towards pedestrians, who may be walking dogs or have children with them, making people feel unsafe (it was acknowledged that many of the drivers are courteous to other road users)
· Often drive in convoy, five or six at once. There are few passing places, making it difficult for other vehicles travelling the opposite way. Off-road vehicles have been seen driving across the farmer’s field, and driving up the bank – tilting alarmingly -to pass other cars
· Some vehicles drive to Harty Ferry after the off-road club session, in convoy, and some drive too fast
Bob stated that Cuddy Munts has been using the site for almost eighteen months. They started with a trial in November 2013, and as this was successful they started to rent the site officially about a year ago. In summer there may be 10-12 4x4s using the site, while in winter there may be 20-25 vehicles. The club has a membership of about 900. It is not a business – all proceeds are donated to various charities, for example for disabled children. Although there is no running water on the site, since November 2014 they make every effort to ensure that cars are jet-washed before they leave the site, especially lights and windscreens, but also the undercarriage. Some cars may leave early or unofficially, without being jet-washed. They are investigating getting a road sweeping machine to clean up the mud. There has been mud from other vehicles involved in moleing work at Harty Ferry.
The road to the site, owned by the angling club, is badly pot-holed. The road itself and the holes fill with water at times. Bob will talk to the angling club about repairing the road.
The land owner told Bob that planning permission for paint-balling covered off-road vehicles, but Swale told him that it does not. The club can run up to 14 events per annum without planning permission, but to run 28, as they hope to do, will require permission. The Swale enforcement officer, Jo Millard, has been in contact with him.
Bob proposed to take the following actions:
· Put a note on the website and Facebook to advise members that they must behave considerately to other road users, both drivers and pedestrians; they must not drive in convoy either towards Harty Ferry or back towards Oare, and must drive at a suitably slow speed for the road and its other users; they must use the designated passing places, not drive on verges or fields. (The Clerk pointed out that the verges are the responsibility of Kent Wildlife Trust, and it is unfair to expect them to pay for repairs done by the Cuddy Munts drivers)
· Remind drivers that they must clean their vehicles properly before leaving the site, both underneath and the glass, mirrors, lights and number plates. A pump and container of water are provided for this purpose.
· Bob will investigate buying a road sweeping machine to clean the roadway after events - only possible if the club can use the site for 28 days a year
· The Councillors requested that an officer of the club should be on hand to inspect vehicles before they leave the site, to make sure they are sufficiently clean.
The Chair thanked Bob and Andrew for coming to the meeting, and thanked all the people of Cuddy Munts in advance for taking the requested actions. He asked residents to take the registrations of vehicles not complying with these requests – although at present the number plates often cannot be read. These can be reported to the PCSO for Oare, PCSO Joshua Marshall, tel: 07583 630308. He asked Bob to keep the Council informed of the actions they take to reduce the nuisance, and especially to contact the Council before submitting any planning application.
OPC Meeting 3 16 March 2015
OPC Meeting 3 16 March 2015
4. Minutes of the Meeting held on 16th February 2015
4.1. The minutes were approved and signed by the Chair.
4.2. Matters Arising
Noise from EK Recycling – The Clerk read an email from Ky Campion, outlining efforts he is making to reduce the noise and nuisance from machinery and skip lorries. All will continue to monitor the noise. Sometimes at 7 am there can be four skip lorries waiting to enter the road, causing a nuisance. Cll Vaight reported that recently there has been a hum, a vibration, which can be heard as late as 9 pm. There are lights visible. It is not certain where the hum comes from – it could be the Transport Yard in John Hall Close.
Bench Seat – the seat is now in place and the plaque has been ordered. The Clerk will notify Mrs Horswill when the plaque has been fixed to the seat and all invoices are in
Traffic Island on Western Link – the Clerk spoke to Terry Young. If yellow lines are painted opposite the Western Link, he wants them extended down the private road towards Youngboats, and also the private road on the Oare side of the Creek, as vehicles often park across the corners, making it difficult for larger vehicles to drive in.
Neighbourhood Watch – Members of the Neighbourhood Watch group attended the meeting. Their most serious issue is dog mess. They have put up signs along The Street. They request that people tell the Neighbourhood Watch if they see people not cleaning up after their dogs. They also noted that people in The Street on early and late shifts have seen strangers trying people’s car doors, entering gardens and going to sheds. There are twelve households in the Neighbourhood Watch now, and they are trying to expand the number of people involved.
Youngboats Lease – renewed for a further five years.
Playground Repairs – the Clerk walked the playground again with Andrew Douglas of Safeplay, and agreed the work to be done. There are extra costs due to deterioration during the winter. The additional repairs include: replace and reinforce the back board for the baseball hoop, replace the second flat swing seat, and supply and install one hand rail on the wooden play set.
NOTE: Following the meeting, the Clerk received the quotation, which is for £4,093.50 (compared with £3,109.50, an extra £984.) The individual costs are £700 for the back board, £188 for the hand rail and £96 for the additional swing seat. These are net prices.
The Clerk reported that she has at last received a quotation from a second supplier who quoted £5,732 + VAT. The two quotes are not identical, but it is clear that Maylow Construction is considerably more expensive than Safeplay.
Harty Ferry Road – KWT are aware of the problems with the verges and passing places, and are dealing with them. The large pot hole at the car park has been filled.
5. Finance
5.1. The following payments and receipts were approved. Bank Balances as at 25/02/15 are £14,231.11 in the current account, £6,641.92 in the reserve account.
16/02/2015 / Faversham Glass - stage payment for Village Hall renovations / 1,666.67 / 333.33 / 2,000.00
17/02/2015 / David Beaumont - landscaping cut 13 / 87.00 / 0.00 / 87.00
19/02/2015 / Faversham Glass - installation of bench / 150.00 / 30.00 / 180.00
22/02/2015 / Clerk's salary February / 186.62 / 0.00 / 186.62
16/03/2015 / Clerk's expenses / 316.39 / 3.95 / 320.34
16/03/2015 / Parish Newsletter photocopying costs - Abbey Print / 50.40 / 0.00 / 50.40
16/03/2015 / Parish Newsletter photocopying costs - To Selling School / 37.98 / 0.00 / 37.98
Total / £2,495.06 / £367.28 / £2,862.34
5.2. Budget for 2015–16 – the Chair proposed the budget , approved unanimously.
5.3. Cancel Direct Debit to Haven Power – Done
5.4. Sign direct debit to E-on – done
5.5. Village Hall – additional S106 funding of £444.91 – Clerk gave Cllr Relf a brochure showing possible ramps, for discussion with the Rambling Roses.
6. Village Hall Improvements
Faversham Glass is liaising with Linda Kennett to agree dates.
7. Election on 7 May 2015
Councillors were given the forms for completion. They must be submitted by hand to Swale Borough Council before 4 pm on 9 April. The Clerk will take them in if submitted to her in good time. Some councillors are considering standing down.
8. Correspondence
The pack was circulated..
9. Any Other Business
Audit – The Clerk has received the audit documents.
Bottom track below Castle – Cllr Ferrell reported that Brett’s have been clearing the brambles and cutting back trees. The Clerk will speak to Noel Beamish at Brett’s.
School Pool – Cllr Friar reported that the hedge has been cut back and a new fence erected, to make the lake more secure.
10. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will take place on Monday 13 April 2015 at 7.45 pm. Cllr Fentiman gave his apologies in advance. The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.
OPC Meeting 3 16 March 2015