AFFORDABLE HOUSING. A special meeting was held on 2nd December in the Dolphins Hall where the Parish Council agreed to continue the programme to the next stage. Two landowners have offered land and these are now being investigated. A request for more landowners to come forward had been placed on the web and the notice board but none had been forthcoming. These points were briefly discussed at the meeting on 4th January and ratified.

THE TRAFALGAR WEEKEND was also discussed on the 2nd December and it was decided to continue the discussion at the January meeting. 'The Parish Council will be responsible for the fireworks display that will take place on the 22nd October as part of the 'Trafalgar¹ celebrations. The council will appoint a subcommittee to raise money during the course of 2005 that will cover the cost of the event. They will also determine where the display takes place, purchase the fireworks and insurance cover and carryout the display only using trained personnel. The money will be kept in the PC account but accounted for separately in the same way as the Pond and Playground. All the events that will be held over the weekend will be co-ordinated by the Jubilee Committee'. The Parish Council will only spend money which is raised specifically for this event and will endeavour to recover the VAT. It was pointed out that the expected cost was fireworks (approx £1000), send Councillors on a course regarding firework safety (approx £50) and pay for insurance (approx £300). The quality of the display would depend on the money raised over the next 8 months.

PRECEPT. Excerpt from 2nd December meeting - 'This was discussed at some length and it was finally agreed that the precept would have to increase from £5000 per year to £6500 for 2005/6 in order to meet the considerable costs involved in replacing the equipment in the playground.

PRIMA GLASS PARKING. Planning is now completed and the access to the paddock is being cleared. Hopefully this will mean that completion would be in March, depending on the weather and finding suitable contractors.

GRANTS Five organisations had applied for grants from the Parish Council but it had been agreed that because of the money needed for the new playground equipment grants would be limited to £750 in total this year.

POND AND PLAYGROUND. Trees have now be felled and a general clean up has taken place (17 adults and children were involved) about half from the Bruderhof community. The Parish Council would like to thank everyone for their help. The new fence has been put up by Dales who were paid from the SRB grant.

DOG WASTE BIN IN VICARAGE LANE. Four replied had been received by email and 3 verbally, all were in favour, although the site for another bin must be chosen with care and a proposal would be required. Mrs R Sutton stated that since the signs were erected regarding dog mess this had been less than before and the bin at the top of Vicarage Lane was being used for disposal of same. It was agreed to have another discussion regarding this in 6 months.

a) The leaves along the path by the cricket ground were reported to DDC and were cleared within days.

b) A request by a parishioner tor the 30 mph signs to be moved back towards Butter Street was forwarded to DDC. The Clerk was subsequently informed that when a member of the Highways Dept was in the area it would be looked into. c) White lines and junction signs. An email was received from DDC regarding this stating that a signs order was in the process of being completed and any junction signs needed would be added to it. Also that the Highways Dept had just been given extra funds for white lining and they could not see why Nonington could not be covered by these.

AYLESHAM AND RURAL AREA TRANSPORT MEETING. It was suggested that the bus companies which take the children to school could, perhaps, do a later run to collect children who stay after school. This would of course depend on how many children would be involved.

SUNDAY SUMMER VINTAGE BUS SERVICE - If more interest is not shown in this service than Nonington will be taken out of the loop.

K10 bus service is now operating as the 51 Island Hoppa Service. For Nonington Residents wishing to visit QEQM hospital a twice-daily return bus service is available from Aylesham, full timetable can be obtained at www.eastonways.co.uk.