Here are the minutes of the meeting:
MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
TOWN HALL BUILDING MONDAY 10th AUGUST 2015 AT 7.15PM.
PRESENT
Richard Charlton, (chair), thirty two members, KCC Cllr
Jeff Elenor, District Cllrs Ash Ashbee, Bertie Braidwood, and Carol
Partington, Westgate-on-Sea Town Cllrs
Ash Ashbee, Richard Charlton, Tom King,
and Ron Rolfe, and Peter Ellis from Kent Community Health Trust.
The chairman welcomed all to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Cllr Sam Bambridge
and KCC Warden Laura Bungard.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The chairman then introduced Peter Ellis, Senior
Postural Stability Instructor who spoke about his work and the twelve week
exercise classes he organises, in order to reduce the risk of falls. Numbers
required to form classes are minimum 10 – 12 maximum 15 – 18. Leaflets were given out and there will be a
notice put up in the Bake House.
Richard had arranged to receive planning application
information by email although the system is changing and Cllr Carol Partington
offered to make sure copies are forwarded to Richard.
St Saviour's Church invited members of the W&WRA
to the service to be held on Sunday 16th August to commemorate the
ending of WW2.
Members' Monday.
Jane Welch had been able to arrange 10% discount for W&WRA members
in five local businesses on Mondays on production of their membership
card.
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (13th
July 2015), which had been circulated, were adopted on a prop by Don Eacott sec
by Janet Smith, and signed.
MATTERS ARISING
1) Emptying of Bins at the
Seafront. Some of the problems were
reported as being caused by beach hut users not leaving sufficient room for the
refuse trucks to access the required areas.
COUNCILLORS’/PCSO/WARDEN REPORTS
Cllr Ash Ashbee:
1)
Seaweed Problems.
One lorry load had been removed from St
Mildred's Bay. On enquiry flat bottomed barges could be used for removal
from most of the beaches but would be somewhat costly.
2)
Royal Esplanade Drop Kerb. A “dog bone” white line marking is required
to prevent parking across this, and a written request or an application form,
available to download from the KCC website could be used to request a grant
towards this. KCC Cllr Jeff Elenor could
then set the wheels in motion.
3)
Coastal Car Parks.
Barnes car park needed a sign, there was still a car that had been left
there, and a member pointed out that St Mildred's car park was little used as
this required payment of parking fees by mobile phone and credit card. As a result people at the beach parked in the
roads instead.
4)
Westbrook Toilets.
These had been out of action, ward Cllr Mick Tomlinson was aware.
Cllr Bertie Braidwood:
1)
Royal Esplanade Pavements. There had been complaints about these and the
whole length will now be resurfaced.
2)
Speeding Motorists.
Local support and a crash history help to get things done. There is a scheme (Rural Speedwatch), which
can be used following training and the log of results sent into Maidstone. From information received the offending
driver may receive a letter or visit. Members were asked which roads were the
most urgent for this attention. Westgate
Bay Avenue, Royal Esplanade, Lymington Road, and Sea Road were suggested.
3)
Seaweed. This
was at present only removed when it was sufficient to fill a tipper lorry.
4)
Barnes Crescent/Westgate Bay Avenue. The
hedge had now been cutback for a safe siteline.
Cllr Carol Partington:
1)
Seaweed. In the
past there seems to have been lack of connection between beach officers and
TDC, hopefully this will now improve.
2)
Refuse Collections.
Some of the lorries have not
always been able to gain access to streets.
There is now a strategy looking at the possible use of smaller trucks to
overcome this problem.
3)
Dog Excrement.
There is a new and more robust vehicle coming into service to deal with
this problem, as well as educational information for dog owners.
4)
Keep Britain Tidy and TDC at Margate High Street. Charity wrapped bins indicating increase in
use of these will result in in money going to charity are to be deployed.
KCC Cllr Jeff Elenor:
1)
Margate Area Improvements. Some of the grey railings have been removed
and flowers put in.
2)
Westgate Bay Avenue Crossing. This has taken some time and was held up due
to the elections, the next stage is for power to be put in at the site, and hopefully the crossing will go in
during November.
Questions from members: Should there be yellow lines at
the bus stop in Roxburgh Road? Cars park here which prevents the use of the bus
drop platform to the pavement. Jeff said the contact for this is Robin
Chantril-Smith, and Richard agreed to contact him.
Canterbury Road resurfacing had been promised near the BP
garage but no further news to date?
KCC Community Warden Laura Bungard: July report read out by Richard:
Items dealt with include Flytips/rubbish, social service,
drug dealing, ASB, parking, burglary,
and vulnerable children.
The next neighbourhood engagement meeting is on this
Wednesday at 6.30 pm at Birchington.
CORRESPONDENCE
None received.
PLANNING
See below under CAAG report.
TREASURER'S REPORT
The accounts have now been audited.
EDITOR’S REPORT
Road stewards are requested to collect and distribute
their magazines.
MEMBERSHIP
Richard reported that Rosalind had resigned from this
position, and it will be necessary to find a replacement.
CIVIC REPORT
Civic Society.
James Brazier reported that the new programme for 2015/2016 will start
in October. There is an outing to the
Imperial War Museum on Tuesday 22nd September.
Westgate Heritage Centre.
Next meeting is on Saturday 5th September from 10.00am with
the talk “End of an Era”, about Sir William Ingram at 10.30am.
CAAG Report, Chris Wyer said there had been some planning
issues concerning bungalows for which application had been made on the
boundary of flats in Egbert Road in
there conservation area. Also at
Westcliff House applications to build flats in order to raise funds to
refurbish and bring Westcliff House back to use have been made. The CAAG would also like to see the new owner
proceed with work on the PEJ House, the roof has now been made weather proof.
Re Westcliff House information from Cllrs was that there
is to be a site meeting with the John Townsend Trust who want to build the
apartments on land which is near to a listed building behind, the planning
committee will then meet for consideration.
SOCIAL
Jane reported on recent events much enjoyed by all, Visit
to Minster Abbey, Westbrook Bowls Club, Westgate Golf Club, and a Sunday lunch
at the Swan Hotel.
Future events/trips.
Ramsgate Tunnels 19th August, Quiz 11th September,
Sunday lunch at the Golf Club 20th Sept (list in the Bake
House). Also later on shopping trips,
lunch at the Swan, and a provisional date for the new year lunch is 10th
January 2016.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Westgate Art and Craft
Group. Exhibition at St Saviour's Church
this week and next.
2) Town Green near Barnes Car
Park. Tony Sykes was concerned about the
annual grass cut which helps to encourage wild flowers, this used to be
arranged with Paul Verrall who has now retired.
Cllr Carol Partington said she would be happy to take this up.
3) Fly Posting. Many posters were left in the area after
events had finished. TDC staff are assisting
with their removal.
4) Defibrillator. There does not appear to be one in the town, and Jane Welch
informed the meeting that if £600 could be raised, a further £600 grant would
be made.
5) Vehicles for sale in
Canterbury Road. This is not permitted
and requires enforcement notices from the PCSOs. Richard thought that notices should be up to
make the prohibition quite clear.
6) Children's Playground in
Linksfield. Bottles and papers and
rubbish appeared here, Cllr Carol Partington agreed to deal with the problem.
7) Seagull Proof Bins. These are required in Westgate.
8) Town Council Issues. Residents may attend but not speak at TC meetings. Anyone requiring an issue discussed should
speak to one of the councillors in good time.
NEXT MEETING
Monday 14th
September, at the Westbrook Bowls Club..
There being no other business the meeting concluded
at 8.40pm.
