Dover Town Council

DOVER TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the TOWN & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE held on Tuesday 8th January 2008 at 6.00pm in the Town Council Offices, Maison Dieu House, Biggin Street, Dover.

PRESENT

Councillor Mrs L D Young (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs S J Jones
Councillor R R Markham (Town Mayor)
Councillor Mrs V L Philpott (Vice-Chairman)
Councillor N T Rix
Councillor P Verrill

Councillor C Precious was also in attendance but did not speak on any item.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D J Lloyd and Cllr Mrs J F Tranter.


513. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members present made no declarations of either personal or prejudicial interest.


514. MINUTES

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Town and Environment Committee held on the 13th November 2007 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.


515. BUDGET

The Committee noted the latest out-turns against the Committee’s 2007/08 budget.


516. WESTERN HEIGHTS SPORTS PAVILION AND FIELD

The Committee noted the Project Development Officer’s report of the 17th December 2007 regarding the Sale of land at Knights Templar, Western Heights, Dover.

The Committee considered English Landscapes letter received 27th November 2007 regarding works carried out to the Senior Football Pitch at the Western Heights Sports Ground.

The Committee considered the progress to date regarding the proposed Western Heights Sports Pavilion.

The Committee considered the Project Development Officer’s report of the 18th December 2007 regarding a review of the Western Heights Project.

RESOLVED: (A) That a letter be sent to English Landscapes advising that £300 would be paid for the works carried out to the Senior Football Pitch at the Western Heights Sports Ground, costs to be met from the Western Heights Maintenance provision in the Committee’s 2007/08 budget;

(B) That an opinion survey be carried out with the Residents of Braddon regarding the proposed Western Heights Pavilion and ground improvements;

(C) That the Project Development Officer’s reports of the 18th December 2007 and 8th January 2008 regarding the review of the Western Heights Project and the meeting with the residents of Braddon held on the 7th January 2008 be considered at the next meeting of the Committee, in the pink after the exclusion of the public.


517. PENCESTER GARDENS PLAY AREA & PENCESTER PAVILION

The Committee noted Dover District Council’s letter of the 30th November 2007 regarding Pencester Gardens Play Area.

The Committee considered requests of the use of the Pencester Pavilion, from the following:
A) The Hellfire Corner Association.
B) Thanet Concert Band.
C) Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Concert Band

RESOLVED: (A) That permission be granted to the Hellfire Corner Association for the use of Pencester Pavilion from the 13th to the 15th June 2008;

(B) That all applications for the use of the Performing Arts Platform in Pencester Gardens be granted permission by the Proper Officer in Consultation with the Chairman of the Committee as long as the use fits the criteria (non Political) and the date is available, details to be reported back to future meetings of the Committee;

(C) That a letter be sent to the Thanet Concert Band and the Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Concert Band advising that the Town Council will not be holding a summer concert programme for the Pencester Pavilion this year but the Pavilion will be provided free of charge for their charity performances if required, and if date available.


518. ORDER OF BUSINESS

RESOLVED: That, in accordance with Standing Order 20(d), the order of business be changed so that Agenda Item 7 be considered with Agenda Item 14.


519. CHRISTMAS 2007 & FESTIVAL LIGHTS

The Committee noted Dover Town Centre Management’s letter of thanks dated the 3rd December 2007 regarding the Christmas Lights Switch on Event.

RESOLVED: That the agreed tender be sent to a list of electrical contractors for a 4 Year Festival Lights contract, notices to be attached to Town Council Notice Board for public tender. Quotes to be considered at the next meeting of the Committee.


520. RIVER DOUR

The Committee noted an update regarding the Agreement between Netto Foodstores and Dover Town Council for improvements to be made to the Charlton Green area of the River Dour.

The Committee noted Dover Town Centre Management’s e-mail of the 6th December 2007 regarding Sustrans Big Lottery Fund bid.

The Committee considered CAD Solutions e-mail of the 4th December 2007 showing a draft sketch of proposed improvements to the Charlton Green area of the River Dour, also including a blank area design outlining the area concerned.

RESOLVED: (A) That a meeting be arranged with the Environment Agency, White Cliffs Countryside Project, a River Dour Steering Group representative, Dover District Council, the Police Architectural liaison Group to discuss the improvements to be made to the Charlton Green area of the River Dour.

(B) That all Town Councillors be invited to attend the meeting, once a confirmed date has been arranged.


521. DOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL STRATEGIES

The Committee considered the Project Development Officer’s report of the 20th November 2007 regarding a possible response to Dover District Council draft strategies on Sport and Recreation and Parks and Open Spaces.

RESOLVED: That the report be accepted and the contents of the report be sent to Dover District Council as the Town Council’s response to the strategies.


522. BRITISH HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION

The Committee considered Crabble Corn Mill’s e-mail of the 6th December 2007 regarding a British Hydropower Association Seminar.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs S J Jones and Councillor N T Rix attend the British Hydropower Association Seminar on Thursday 24th January 2008 at Crabble Corn Mill, any attendance costs to be paid from the Community Development Project provision in the Committees 2007/08 budget.


523. TOWN ISSUES

The Committee noted Eythorne Parish Council’s letter of the 21st November 2007 regarding support for a fully equipped hospital.

The Committee considered Wildest Dreams letter of the 30th October 2007 regarding a proposal for “Dazzleville” in Dover.

RESOLVED: That Wildest Dreams be asked to do a presentation at the next meeting of the Committee to show the Town Council what they could offer for the people of Dover.





524. FESTIVAL OF DOVER 2008

The Committee noted Urgent Decision No: UD 07/08 – 071 regarding payment to Adams Printers for amending a spelling mistake on a printing plate for the Festival of Dover 2008 calendar.

The Committee considered notes of the meeting held on the 6th December 2007.

The Committee considered the Project development Officer’s report of the 19th December 2007 regarding an Agreement for the Chess Tournament.

RESOLVED: (A) That all recipients that located balloons, from the balloon launch be passed to the Mayor’s Secretary for the Mayor to reply to them;

(B) That the 31st January 2008 be the cut-off date for receiving replies to balloons that have been found;

(C) That the draft agreement for the Chess Tournament be accepted and the Project Development Officer be asked to send it to the representative of the Chess Federation to approve;

(D) That Mr Matcham’s offer of sponsoring first prize for the balloon that has travelled the furthest, of £50 and runner up of £30 be accepted.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That the Town Council consider the £144 collected for the sponsoring of the balloons, at the balloon launch be granted to the Mayor of Dover’s Goodwill Fund.


525. ALLOTMENTS AND GRAZING LAND

The Committee noted a full report from the Special Responsibility Group concerning Allotments and Grazing Land, including Dover District Council’s letter of the 6th December 2007 regarding the former George Street Allotments.

The Committee noted Urgent Decision No: UD 07/08 – 069 regarding the supply and erection of a new security gate to the newly erected security fencing at the Pretoria Allotment Site.

The Committee considered White Cliffs Countryside Project’s letter of the 15th November 2007 regarding budget allocation for High Meadow and Citadel Battery Site and a report regarding a summary of the Management Plan Objectives’ for High Meadow.

The Committee considered the progress to date of the Regeneration project, at the Maxton Allotment site.

RESOLVED: (A) That the Technical Support Officer maintain communications with White Cliffs Countryside project to ensure a new management plan is submitted to the Town Council by February 2008, for 2008/09;

(B) That further progress be reported back to the next meeting of the Committee, following a further discussion meeting on the 17th January 2008, with GPM Partnership on the way forward for the Regeneration project of the Maxton Allotments.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That the Full Town Council be requested to consider a virement of £1000 from the Citadel Battery site provision to the High Meadow Maintenance provision, both in the Town & Environment Committee’s 2007/08 budget, if works have not been carried out to the Citadel Battery Site within 2007/08 Financial Year.


526. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

RESOLVED: That in view of the confidential nature of business about to be transacted it would be advisable in the public interest that the public be temporarily excluded and they be requested to withdraw.


527. ALLOTMENTS

The Committee considered the Allotment rental and water charges for 2008/09.

The Committee considered the Grazing Licence charges for 2008/09.

RESOLVED: (A) That the rental and water charges for 2008/09 should be increased as follows:

The charges for the 2008/09 Financial Year would therefore be:

Up to 125 m sq: £28.00
125 – 249 m sq: £45.00
250 – 400 m sq: £62.00

Each additional 150 m sq over 400 m sq: £29.00

Water Charges: £12.00

(B) That the early payment discount of 25% remain the same as per 2007/08;

(C) That the Grazing Licence charges for the 2008/09 Financial Year remain as per 2007/08 charges for Plot A&B of £212.18 for the full year’s rent, all other plots previously agreed in past Committee meetings;

(D) That Councillor N T Rix contact grazers of plot H to ask for the pony to be taken off plot area for 3 months to allow the ground to rest, from the 1st April 2008, if not removed the tenancy would need to be re-considered.

The meeting closed at 7.50 pm.

















CHAIRMAN
Mrs L D Young