Report of a meeting held in the Dolphins Hall on Wednesday 7^th January 2009 at 7.30 p.m.

• Roads. Statistics on the speed of traffic through the village awaited – now outstanding for the past 6 months.
• A meeting was held early December between the roads sub-committee, the PC Clerk and the Highways Department. The speed of traffic along Holt Street and potential improvements that could be made to signage throughout the village together with all the outstanding actions from previous meeting were all discussed. It was agreed that the outstanding actions would be dealt with by Highways asap and that improvements to signage, particularly around the playground/duck pond area would be investigated and improved by a Highways Engineer. Various ways of tackling excess speed through the village were discussed and the option seen as being most effective by the Highways Department would be gated signs at both ends of the village coupled with red coloured tarmac depicting the speed limit/slow signs, costing around £2000 total. The issue of funding was discussed and the Council voted to pay this cost to ensure the work is carried out quickly, the decision will be confirmed at the next meeting. In addition, planted display boxes will be installed next to the new gates funded by a donation from the NVE.
• Snowdown Footpath. All interested parties have been contacted regarding permission – the next step is to convene an on-site meeting to discuss specific design and ways to fund the scheme.
• Vicarage Lane Footpath. Still on hold awaiting a solution to the land ownership issue.
• Rural Housing Trust. DDC have now looked at the pre-planning application for the proposed Church Street site and were unhappy with a number of issues icluding potential access, lack of pedestrian walkways, increased traffic congestion and the detrimental impact on the landscape. It was also commented that with the provision of affordable housing as part of the new development in Aylesham the need for further housing in the village was questionable. A meeting with DDC Planning Dept will be arranged asap to see if there is a way forward for the project.
• 2009 Precept. The precept for next year in outline and budget costs for the potental projects for this year were discussed. The council agreed that all potential projects should be progressed and that this could be achieved without raising the precept from last years level assuming correct phasing of the various schemes. This was formally agreed at the meeting. It was also agreed that the specifics of the funding should be publicised on the village website and in the Nonington Parish Magazine.
• Allotments. The option of converting the Church Street plot of land owned by the PC to allotments was favourably received by councillors and parishioners alike. It was agreed that planning requirements re change of land use and provision of a water supply should be investigated by the PC Clerk.
• Community Waste Action Fund. The Kent Waste Partnership has made a fund available for Community Groups aimed at schemes to reduce waste. The option of purchasing an industrial wood chipper/shredder for use in the village was discussed. It was agreed that this was a good idea – the Clerk will put forward a formal Project Proposal Note for consideration by KWP.
• It was noted that the rubbish bins around the village are not being emptied as frequently as they were in the past. The Clerk will contact DDC and get this actioned.

Tel: 01304 840602