The Accounts for the year ended 31^st March 2006 were made available for inspection.

Chairman’s Report

This is second year as Chairman of this meeting and as usual I will report the year from the parish council’s perspective and then we will receive reports from all the other village organisations.

The need for an additional councillor which was reported at the last meeting, was filled by Cllr Kaye unfortunately he has now had to resign due to time constraints, and so we are still in need of another volunteer.

The last year started with the unpleasant knowledge that we had to plan to replace the swings and slide in the playground over the next four years and this required a substantial rise in the precept. I am pleased to be able to report that we have managed to achieve two grants during the course of the year. The first with the help of the Council for Voluntary Services at Dover was for a grant for £4277 from Awards For All for the swings to be replaced. The second was for £2479 from Bridging the Gap awards funded by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. The Parish Council added £1000 and this met the cost of the slide being replaced. The result was the new equipment was available this year and the precept was reduced.

Trafalgar Day was commemorated by the village and these events were organised by the Jubilee Committee and involved most of the village organisations. The PC was responsible for the fireworks display. Money for this was raised from the entrance monies, holding a raffle and receiving a donation from the Jubilee Committee auction profit. The PC hope that further village events can be held this year and this will be addressed later this evening.

Fly tipping is still a problem and the pond and playground group are still trying to keep up with the nuisance. The annual Green Day was organized by Cllr Craggy and held on 25^th March, this was again very successful and was achieved by a small percentage of the village. Hopefully others will see the improvement in the village and join us next year.

Prima Glass has now asked DDC Planning to consider allowing a car park on their paddock, this was supported in writing by the PC.

Footpaths are generally in good order and continue to be monitored by the group of volunteer’s. The Footpath Department has suggested that the Ash Path EE314 could be upgraded and repaired in one by using specialised grants, which are available. The PC is hopeful that we may be able to achieve a very good path with grants and donations within the next few months.

Snowdown Regeneration Forum - this is probably going to achieve the start of the pit site regeneration this year. The outline plan for the site is agreed and will consist of industrial 7.5 Ha and a 35 Ha country park, an exhibition in Aylesham Project Centre will be held over 8 days in May, for parishioners to discuss the proposals with members of the SRF and SEEDA and then give their opinions. The main areas of concern is the roads, where the new traffic will go and if any roads are to be improved they could lead to new "rat runs" possibly through Nonington. Traffic schemes of various sorts will be on offer together with a new footpath from Butter Street to the Station, the village residents will be able to decide which ones are implemented and in the end these considerations could make or break the whole plan. The consultation will be well advertised and I hope everyone will take part, as this is a very big event for Nonington

Rural Housing Trust A number of sites have been proposed and the field opposite Prima Glass was considered the best however DDC planning have raised a number of points that will need to be addressed. The RHT has now appointed a new officer for our area, Jane Davis. A meeting was held with her and Cllrs Knight and Barnett today to re-examine all the sites that have been considered in the village. The project has now received funding within the RHT, however it will have to be used over the next 2 years or be lost.

I would like to thank the Council and Vice Chairman for their support over the year. In addition I would like to give special thanks to our Clerk who has managed to maintain a high level of service over a personally difficult year.

Tony Barnett

Chairman 5^th April 2006

6 Reports from local organisations

Tuesday Group Dolphins Cricket Club

Nonington Website Badminton Club

St Mary’s Church Table Tennis Club

Baptist Chapel Village Hall Committee

Report not received from Nonington School

The Parish Council is looking into organising a Village Day this summer and a meeting will be held as soon as possible with all the interested organisations in the parish to discuss this in more detail. The Clerk will contact all the groups and hopefully a plan to suit everyone can be achieve. It is an objective to hold a Fete before the school summer holiday if possible and then a BarBQ with a fireworks display in September. This we hope will provide a good time for everyone and some extra money for the village organisations.

A Report was received from Kaleidascope Childcare but unfortunately if came to late to be included in this meeting.

The Village Hall on 3^rd May 2006 at 7.30 p.m.

The next Annual Parish Meeting is on 4^th April 2007.

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