MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
BAKE HOUSE ON MONDAY 9th OCTOBER 2017 AT 7.15PM.
PRESENT
Mick Tomlinson (Chair)
thirty five members, and TDC Cllr Ash Ashbee, and WTC Cllrs Joanna
Cornford and Tom King.
The chairman welcomed all to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Bob Loxley, Sam
Secomb, Christina and Ray Taylor and KCC Warden Laura Bungard.
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (11/09/17), which had
been circulated were agreed as a correct record on a prop. by Chris Wyer sec.
by Pat Sawyer-Jones, and adopted, and signed.
MATTERS ARISING
1) TV Interference. Information is still awaited.
2) Barnes Car Park. The current notice still reads the same as
before.
3) Road Speed Limits. Some 20mph maximum speed areas have been
introduced outside schools and at other spots.
4) Defibrillator. This has been obtained by the Town Council,
and the location for it is to be
announced shortly. Tony Sykes pointed
out that there is information on the TDC website regarding the location of
defibrillators in Thanet.
REPORTS: Councillors-KCC, TDC, WTC. PCSOs and Wardens.
TDC Cllr Ash Ashbee:
1) Manston. The DCO will be submitted in November, when
there will be twenty eight days for the government to take it forward.
2) Draft Local Plan. This goes to scrutiny next month, and there will be four workshop
meetings. The final plan will go to full
council in January 2018.
3) Local Issues. Councillors are aware of parking issues. Advice from the consultant (formerly the
asset manager) regarding Westbrook shelters is for local councillors to “adopt”
them, for which there is a process. It
would now be an appropriate time for the KCC to reconsider installation of a
zebra crossing in Westgate Bay Avenue.
Netting repairs are needed for part of the St Mildred's Bay tennis
courts.
It was noted that further accidents had taken place
in Westbrook Avenue where speed was often a factor. A question from the floor enquired if meters
were to be introduced in Westbrook, this would be up to KCC. There are twelve parking enforcement officers
in Thanet.
WTC Cllr Tom King:
1) Town Clerk. Tom reported with regret the resignation of
the Town Clerk, and said that it may
prove difficult to obtain a replacement.
2) Local Items achieved and
ongoing include entertainment on the green for bank holiday, litter equipment
and insurance obtained for Westgate against litter group, funding of Westgate
youth project, planting tubs and flowers, responsibility for the allotment
gardens, contribution and support for Christmas lighting, restoration of
shelter at West Bay, provision of defibrillator, responsibility and maintenance
of Lymington Road recreation ground and changing facilities.
3) Future work would include the
neighbourhood plan, provision of a beacon, St Mildred's Bay children's
playground if grants available, “Westgate in Bloom”, and the remembrance day
parade.
4) Civic Society. A complaint had been made by Cllr King to the
chair of the society that the newsletter had been used as a political platform,
as the charities commission require a non political basis.
Questions arising included some knot holes in the
shelter wood, litter in roads and the dual carriageway. The litter problem was being tackled by Westgate
TC supplementing the cleaning of roads already covered by TDC. The question of dog walkers on the St
Mildred's green was raised should a playground be installed. Cllr King pointed out that there were no
children's recreation facilities north of the Canterbury Road.
KCC Warden Laura Bungard:
Laura had sent in a report which was read out. Issues dealt with included highways,
potholes, lines for repainting, blocked drains, untaxed vehicles, flytipping,
elderly vulnerable residents, and parking.
Laura is available by phone or message on 07969583922. This number is also available at the Bake
House.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT TDC Cllr Mick Tomlinson:
1) Scam Phone Calls. A particular one to avoid engaging with shows
the first three numerals 011. Residents
are advised not to answer as the call time proves extremely expensive.
2) W&WRA MacMillan Coffee
Morning. This had raised £330, and all
the helpers were warmly thanked.
3) The Foreshore. Residents are asked to report anything
strange, particularly if people are coming ashore in the dark hours. The police number is 101.
4) Barnes Car Park. Issues and comments from local residents re
motor caravans have been noted, the signs are back up and the situation is
being monitored. Officers (not councillors) have to deal with this.
5) Bridge Road. This is in a disgraceful state, KCC and
Railtrack are supposed to be responsible for upkeep. This is being followed up.
6) Remembrance Day
Parades. New regulations make organising
these events very difficult.
7) Children's Play Area St
Mildred's. Previous applications for
this have been refused. The nearby road
was thought dangerous for children.
8) Margate Charter
Trustees. In dividing the
finances/assets owned by the Charter Trustees between Margate and Westgate
Thanet Finance Dept advice had been that £22,000 was to be paid to Westgate
plus a further £30,000, and two trophies.
Following a complaint by a member of the public, an investigation by a
clerk and others had been made at some length, and a meeting was held to come
to an agreement as to the correct figures to be agreed between Margate and
Westgate. The Charter Trustees produced
a “public interest report” (available on the website), which was given
consideration and agreed and a letter sent to Westgate-on-Sea Town Council requesting
return of the overpayment of £18,382.
Questions/Comments:
Cllr King said that with the division of assets £50,000 had been
offered, accepted and banked, and had understood that the Charter Trustees
meeting had decided to draw a line under the matter. Cllr King also alleged that the newsletter of
the Civic Society had been political in nature.
Member James Brazier said the newsletter had only reported the facts. Cllr Ashbee told the meeting that no
solitor's or auditor's letter had been produced which lead to the decision
change. Cllr Tomlinson said this was as
advised by TDC officers.
At this point Cllr King left the meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE
1) Neighbourhood Engagement
Meeting (NEM). Next meeting to be held
on 1st November at 6.30pm at Garlinge Junior School.
2) Police Email Messages. Beware of bogus phone calls, at present the
caller pretends to be from the government and must test the durability of
double glazing for which a charge will be made.
Do not engage with caller or give personal details. Also door sellers with smoke alarms and fire
extinguishers of dubious quality, beware.
PLANNING
1)
4, Tyson Avenue.
Erection of two storey pitched roof side and rear extension with balcony
at first floor rear elevation. GRANTED.
2)
8, Royal Esplanade.
Variation of condition 2 attached to planning permission for erection of
dormer window with french doors and installation of balcony to front elevation
to allow for the design of the dormer window to be changed. GRANTED.
3)
161, Westbrook Avenue.
Erection of single storey side and rear extension. GRANTED.
4)
33, Norman Road.
Erection of two storey side extension.
GRANTED.
5)
20, Wesdtcliff Gardens.
Erection of ground first and second floor rear extensions with balconies
at first and second floor levels, additional side windows, and insertion of
full length dormer window to to front. GRANTED
6)
21, Westcliff Gardens.
Erection of ground, first, and second floor rear extensions with
balconies at first and second floor levels, additional windows, and insertion
of full length dormer window. GRANTED.
7)
10, Carlton Road West.
Erection of porch to front elevation.
GRANTED.
8)
160, Canterbury Road.
Alterations to roof to rear from hip to gable, erection of two dormer
windows GRANTED.
9)
29, Domneva road.
Variation of condition 2 attached to planning permission for erection of
single storey side and rear extensions and installation of balcony to first
floor front elevation following demolition of existing garage to allow
alteration to fenestration within the ground floor rear elevation. GRANTED.
10) 1,
Sussex Mansions. Retrospective
application for the installation of wooden stairs and decking platform to rear
extension.
11) Jurrasic
Jungle, 174, Canterbury Road, Margate.
Application for erection of attached two storey dwelling together with
installation of replacement shop front.
12) 14,
Domneva Road. Application to replace
existing timber sliding sash windows with white UPVC sliding sash windows and
replace existing facia, sofit, gutter and downpipes to UPVC.
13) Royal
Seabathing Hosp. West Wing. Application
for variation of condition 36 of planning permission, change of use and
conversion of hospital to residential units together with extensions and the
erection of a five storey wing, to enable alterations to the design of the
approved car park to serve the west wing to provide an 86 space ground level
car park with pantechnicon turning area.
14) 4
and 5 Beach Houses, Royal Crescent.
Application for change of use of No 4 from single dwelling house to 2
self contained flats including conversion of roof space of No 5 together with
alterations to roof, installation of balcony to first floor front elevation of
No 5 and to ground floor front elevation of Nos 4 and 5, and installation of
external staircase to rear garden of No 4.
15) Land
North West of Former Seabathing Hosp.
Erection of ten 2 bed dwellings with associated parking, landscaping and
access. REFUSED.
16) 32,
Bowes Avenue. Erection of two storey
rear extension, single storey side extension, porch to front elevation and
first floor front extensions together with alterations to front bay
window. GRANTED.
17) 11,
Westonville Avenue. Erection of part
single, part two storey rear extension and single storey side extension to
existing garage. GRANTED.
18) Land
Adjacent to 36, Westgate Bay Avenue. Variation
of condition 2 of planning permission for the erection of of three terraced
dwellings to allow for the reposition and enlargement of two dormer windows to
front elevation, and three dormer windows to the rear elevation, and
alterations to internal layout to increase the number of bedrooms. GRANTED.
Mick reminded members that details may be seen on line
using the “Thanet Planning” search box.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Sam's report was read out by the minute secretary:
The bank balance at 30th August stood at
£6,723. As at end of August nine of the
twenty four advertisers in The Record had paid their invoices for the year,
A request for the buildings insurance premium to cover the
period to 28th September 2017 has been received and is for £230.54.
All bills are paid up to date.
EDITOR'S REPORT
No report.
SUNSHINE REPORT
No report.
MEMBERSHIP
No report.
CIVIC REPORT
Westgate Heritage Centre:
Saturday 4th November at 10.30am at St Saviour's Church,
“Westgate Bay”, an illustrated talk by Dr Dawn Crouch.
Margate Civic Society: Thursday 2nd November at
7.30pm at The Walpole Bay Hotel, “The Vikings are Coming” a talk by Imogen
Corrigan.
PRESS REPORT
Pat Castle reported that she had sent details of W&WRA
meetings and the MacMillan coffee morning to the local press.
W&WRA DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY 2018
Due to the length of this meeting and the time, it was
agreed to hold over discussion of
details until the next general meeting.
SOCIAL
1)
Quizes. Mick
offered to run another quiz either one afternoon or evening in
October/November.
2)
Sunday Lunches.
A good number of members enjoyed the lunch on Sunday. The next one to be held is on 5th
November at The Swan, list for names will be in the Bake House.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) New Cable Laying. Members had noted that maintenance hatch
covers over junction boxes were bright yellow and therefore not always in
keeping with the local area. Also some
of the trenches were sinking and could become a trip hazard. It is understood that in these instances
further surface material will be added to keep the ground level.
2) Alleyway by Margate
Station. Chris Wyer
reported this to be very dirty.
3) Bottle Banks in St Mildred's
Car Park. Members reported that two of
these have been removed.
NEXT MEETING
Monday 13th
November, at the Bowls Club.
