The Community Centre, High Street, Lower Halling, Rochester, Kent ME2 1BS
Telephone
& Fax (01634) 241551 Clerk:
Mr W R Swan
Halling Parish Council
AL05/01
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Welcome to Halling On-Line | |
The Community Centre, High Street, Lower Halling, Rochester, Kent ME2 1BS Telephone
& Fax (01634) 241551 Clerk:
Mr W R Swan |
||
Halling Parish Council AL05/01 |
Present: Chairman, Councillors L Hitchcock, B Smith, R Swain, and R Underdown.
15 members of the public.
5. Co-option of New Members
Members agreed to take this item out of order to enable the new Parish Councillors
to participate in the whole meeting. An informal meeting of the Parish Council
had recently interviewed three candidates for the two vacancies, and recommended
that Mr F Howard and Mr T Reynolds be co-opted on to the Parish Council at the
next full meeting. It was noted that a further vacancy had arisen following
the resignation of Councillor A Goodger and that it was anticipated that another
new Councillor would be co-opted at the next meeting.
It was unanimously agreed that Messrs Howard and Reynolds be co-opted on to
Halling Parish Council with immediate effect. They signed the appropriate declarations
and the Chairman thanked them for their interest and welcomed them to the Parish
Council.
1. Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from the Vice-Chairman (family illness)
and from Councillor Mrs Weaver (prior engagement)
2. Minutes of last meeting
It was proposed by Councillor Underdown, seconded by Councillor Hitchcock that
the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 10th March 2005 were a true record,
subject to:- (a) the third line of Item 6 being amended to read “The Parish
Council will push for FP319 to be reopened across the railway line”, and
(b) the first line of Item 22 being amended to read “Councillor B Smith
asked if the Bishops Palace was owned by the Parish Council”. This was
agreed unanimously and the minutes were signed by the Chairman
3. Matters arising
In respect of Item 6, “Footpaths Committee”, the Chairman advised
that FP320, routed across the marsh, would need to be re-registered as a public
right of way before it could be made available for public use.
4. Notification of Any Other Business
Councillor Swain – 1 item and the Chairman – 2 items
5. Estates Committee
Councillor Hitchcock gave a brief resume of estates issues within the parish
which had arisen since the last meeting, including action taken to secure the
removal of a caravan from the Jubilee Hall car park, action proposed to be taken
following an inspection with the handyman and contact to be made with Medway
Council concerning the question of cutting back foliage and, in particular,
brambles from land abutting the highway.
6. Footpaths Committee
The Chairman referred to the discussion earlier in the meeting concerning footpaths
across the marsh and stressed the Parish Council’s determination to bring
about a satisfactory and early resolution to the issue.
7. Planning & Development Committee
Councillor Underdown gave details of the Parish Council’s response to
Medway Council’s consultation on the recent planning application in respect
of proposed development at Trechmann’s Wharf. Despite the fact that only
3 days, instead of the usual 28 had been allowed for reply, this Council had
registered its strong objections to the proposals on grounds of increased traffic
pressure on the A228, encroachment into the Green Belt, adverse effect within
a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and increased light and noise pollution.
The Chairman indicated that a meeting would be held shortly with interested
parties to discuss the various issues involved with proposals to develop Trechmann’s
Wharf.
Councillor Underdown reported briefly on other planning applications upon which
the Parish Council had been invited to comment, including an extension to 15
Vicarage Road to enlarge it from a 3 to a 5 bedroomed property. No objection
had been raised to the original application, subject to the retention of the
garage space, but objections had been raised to the latest application, which
proposed the erection of an additional 5 bedroomed property and the loss of
the aforementioned garage space.
An objection had also been made in respect of an application at Chalgrove Mews,
on the grounds of overdevelopment and highway issues concerning access on to
Vicarage Road.
8. Harris House
Following on from the report to the last meeting, the Chairman confirmed that
Medway Council had now approved a second planning application, this time, in
respect of a mixed development comprising two blocks of flats with a family
homes element. The Parish Council would be meeting shortly with the developer
to discuss their proposals for the future of the site.
9. Halling Association
The Chairman reported that a full and frank discussion had been held between
representatives of the Association, the Parish Council, Medway Council and Mr
Patel, the owner of the newsagents adjacent to Forge Green, concerning his objections
to the Association’s proposed environmental improvements to Forge Green..
Mr Patel had felt, in particular, that a general improvement to the area might
encourage even more anti-social behaviour by local youths. The Association would
report back more fully on the meeting at a later date. It was noted that the
Association’s other projects were in hand and its next meeting would be
held on 4th May 2005.
10. Community Centre
Councillor Hitchcock gave a resume of the varied activities regularly taking
place at the Community Centre and he praised the efforts of the many volunteers
who gave their time freely to help out. While the number of volunteers was most
encouraging, he reminded those present at the meeting that any offers of additional
help would be most welcome.
11.
HVRA
No report
12. Annual Parish Meeting
The Chairman reminded the meeting that the Annual Parish Meeting would be held
at the Community Centre on Monday 25th April at 7:30pm when parishioners would
receive reports on and have the opportunity to ask questions concerning a variety
of local issues.
13.Correspondence
(a) Mr & Mrs R Bain – objections re Trechmanns Wharf
(b) Medway Council – planning application for 22 Meadow Crescent –
refused
(c) Medway Council – planning application for 36 Howlesmere Close –
approved
(d) Audit Commission – notice of audit for 2004/5 – by 13 June 2005
(e) Alan Goodger – resignation from Parish Council
(f) Land Use Consultants – stakeholder group 25 April 2005 Medway Council
(g) FWAG – workshop on environmental stewardship – various venues/dates
(h) CEMEX – Agenda for liaison committee – 13 April 2005
(i) Craigdene Ltd – report on safety surfaces – possibility of funding
(j) Medway Council – Viv Kent PROW re RS320
(k) DEFRA – quality parishes and parish planning
(l) Malling Holiday Playscheme – request for donation
(m) D W Filmer – copy letter re wall at 2 Howlesmere Close planning application
(n) Royal British Legion – Poppy Appeal roadshows
(o) Medway Council – renewal of Lottery Licence
(p) Kent Downs AONB – Landscape Design Handbook
(q) KAPC –newsletter
(r) Park Leisure Ltd - brochure
Receipts
(s) Little Uns day nursery £40 advert in Halling View
(t) HALARA £12.12 photocopying
Payments
( £ Vat£ Total£)
(a) KAPC – renewal of subs 524.75 85.18
609.93
(b) J Sutherland – padlock
13.95 13.95
(c) Craigdene Ltd – risk survey 80.00 14.00 94.00
(d) P Wilkins Smith – printing 40.00
40.00
It was proposed by Councillor Swain and seconded by Councillor Hitchcock that
the above payments be ratified. Unanimously agreed.
17.Any Other Business
(a)
Trechmann’s Wharf
Councillor Swain expressed his concern that the present proposals concerning
upgrading to the operation at Trechmann’s Wharf, should they, for any
reason, not come to fruition, might be substituted in future, by plans for a
housing development.
The Chairman shared Councillor Swain’s concern and suggested that the
existing proposals for the wharf could increase HGV movements by up to 21,000
per annum.
Councillor Underdown felt that, although future planning applications could
not be pre-empted, the possibility of additional housing was also a worry in
respect of the extra pressure it would place on an already over burdened A228,
a situation soon to be exacerbated by substantial housing developments at Snodland
and at Peter’s Pit, Wouldham.
(b) Traffic and Parking Issues in Halling Village
The Chairman referred to his extreme concern in respect of a number of issues
in the village centre. Some parking practices, such as parking on the pavement
were illegal, anti-social and dangerous. In addition, the condition of many
roads in the Village had deteriorated considerably and now needed urgent attention.
The Chairman had contacted Medway Councillor Maisey,who was arranging a meeting
with that Council’s Highways portfolio holder, and the Chairman was also
proposing to attend that meeting.
In the meantime, the Parish Council would carry out its own parking survey and
send the results, including photographic evidence, to Medway Council and Kent
Police in order to galvanise some urgent action to improve the situation. A
report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Parish Council.
18. Parishioners’ Questions
The issues raised by parishioners included the following:-
Parking of caravan in public car park
The future of the car park in The Street
Cutting back of foliage from the base of trees in “The Circle” at
Vicarage Close (Clerk to ask Medway Council to clear)
Proposed development to provide affordable housing on land at Chapel Lane/Pilgrims
Way
Footpaths on the marsh
Vandalism and general condition of Halling Station. Item raised during informal
questions after the meeting, but it was agreed to ask the Clerk to arrange a
meeting with Network South-East, Network Rail and, if appropriate, British Transport
Police, as soon as possible, to look at how to improve the situation.
Where questions were unable to be fully answered due to the need for further
investigation, a response would be reported to the next appropriate meeting.
Last updated 13 June 2005.
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