NONINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

Report of a meeting held in the Dolphins Hall on Wednesday14^th November, 2007

The new code of conduct was publicly adopted by the council in July. However it was officially ratified at this meeting, there are several items in the new code that the Parish Council finds unacceptable but we have no choice but to accept it as a whole. The public have always had a voice in Council affairs, this would have normally been heard at the end of the meeting. However, the code requires this to be a right and therefore a standing order was proposed that parishioners at the meeting may contribute to the discussions during the meeting, at the Chairman’s discretion, or on any subject at the end of the meeting.

Roads. It has been agreed by Highways that we can have the vehicle monitoring leads across the road to assess the speed and amount of vehicles passing through the village, this would hopefully be done before the New Year. Unfortunately the prediction of traffic volume cannot be assessed for the future. Certainly after 1200 houses are built at Aylesham and, hopefully the Snowdown Regeneration is complete the traffic would realistically increase significantly. This is why it is so important to consider now what can be done to slow traffic through the village. A request was made to those present asking if anyone would be prepared to set up a committee to help the parish council. Two parishioners have decided to help with the roads problem and will be arranging a meeting with our District Councillor, Linda Keen and our County Councillor Eileen Rowbothom in the next few weeks. If anyone else could help them could they contact the Clerk.

RHT. Earlier in the year two sites were being considered for Affordable Housing but this now seems to have just become the site at Church Street owned by Mr A Ovenden. The Council are waiting to hear from the Rural Housing Trust and D.D.C. as to whether this will be accepted for development.

Village Hall. Now that the grant has been received from Awards for All the money is in place for Mike Parker to commence work in the New Year on the disabled toilet and to refurbish the men’s toilet, thereafter to decorate the hall inside and out. The flooring needs to be taken up in one corner as it has sunk, to see what the problem is. The Village Hall accounts show a balance of about £12,000 and some of this will be used for a new cooker and some crockery.

The Snowdown Regeneration Forum now has outline planning permission, although there are some 60 conditions attached to it. The Coal Board has admitted that the pit has a history of burning. The feasibility study has now been produced and we are awaiting comments from interested parties.

Precept 2008-09. After some discussion it was decided, unanimously, to increase the precept to £7,000 for next year.

The new footpath through Beauchamps Wood is now complete and is excellent, with a kissing gate on the other side into the field, which allows easy access. Mr Peter Hobbs who has arranged for this to be done stated that the remaining bluebells would be moved away from the path in the Spring and he plans more tree and bush planting to improve the views. Over time, and with the advice of the Woodland Trust, more work will be carried out within the wood to improve the stock of trees, but this will be a long term programme and taken forward as resources permit.

Playground Maintenance. A new stock fence needs to be put up in the playground but the quote from Dales is £750, other quotes are to be secured to see if the price can be reduced. The palings fence also needs to be replaced, quotes will be acquired for this also.

The Bruderhof Community invites all of you to a Carol Concert on 16^th December at 7.30 p.m, refreshments will be served.

Mr Geoff Stradling has agreed to become a new Parish Councillor, he will be very welcome. We still have vacancies for 2 further Councillors should anyone wish to give a few hours of their time each week to make a contribution to their village.

The next Parish Council Meeting will be held in the Dolphins Hall on Wednesday 9th January at 7.30 p.m.

Mrs Linda Player, Clerk 01304 840410

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