WESTGATE AND WESTBROOK
RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
WESTBROOK BOWLS CLUB ON MONDAY 11th
AUGUST 2014 AT 7.15PM.
PRESENT
Tom King, chairman and councillor, twenty eight members,
and KCC Cllr Jeff Elenor.
The chairman welcomed all attending.
APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Abigail Carden,
Rosalind Morton, and John and Mavis Vaughan.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
1) Refuse and Recycling
Problems. Tom informed the meeting that
he had spoken with Cllr Mike Harrison (services) about residents who had not
had their refuse/recycling removed. The
contractor to TDC pays £120 per load but if there are incorrect contents
(contamination) this is not paid, and TDC
have had to be strict in this respect resulting in a few bins being
left.
2) West Bay Showers. This bay does not have a shower, only an old
tin sink, which can hardly be considered blue flag standard, and Tom is
pressing for the installation of a shower.
3) Marc Lawrence Memorial. The new stone was dedicated at a memorial service
on Sunday conducted by Rev Barbara Way.
MP Sir Roger Gale, KCC Cllr Jeff Elenor, Cllr Tom King and many local
residents attended.
4) No 35 Bus. This route has been taken over by Regent
Coaches, and the modern buses have been well received.
5) Seaside Children's Play
Areas. Tom had spoken to Morgan Harris
about these as there were so few around the Westgate Bays. A walk around took place to identify a site
for play equipment. £7,000 would be
required to start, but only £3,500 was available. A children's galleon type play boat would be
the first item and more added when possible.
A possible site is the green between West Bay and St Mildred's Road,
there may be some planning gain funding available from local developments.
6) Governance Review. A letter has been received from Justine
Wingate re the launch of the public consultation. There could be a division of the unparished
area into two, Margate Town Council and Westgate Parish Council. There are to be meetings to give more
information and to take questions. On 27th
August at 7.00pm at Westgate Pavilion, and on 28th August at TDC
Offices. There is more information on
line at www.thanet,gov.uk/speakup. A few paper copies are available tel
577050. Further publicity will be out
this week, and press adverts locally.
Comments and questions were then invited which
resulted in discussions as to the various suggestions of governance methods and
precepts payable for Town Councils and Parish Councils. Tom had checked a list of some of the
responsibilities that can be taken over by Parish Councils which included
sports grounds, crematoriums, clocks, common land, community centres, drainage,
war memorials, toilets etc. Tom said it
is very important that the information and meeting details are made known to
local residents. Some thought that it
would create another tier of local government administration with associated
costs, others did not want to lose TDC services who could maintain larger items
such as the FIDO, and road cleaning machines.
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (14th
July 2014), which had been circulated, were adopted on a prop by Stephanie
Sutton sec by Mercia Beach, and signed.
MATTERS ARISING
1) Litter Bin. Victoria Avenue now required one of these.
2) Westbrook Bay 1920 Style
Beach Huts. On enquiry Tom had been informed that some of these will be
retained and repaired, but others were beyond repair.
3) Double Yellow Lines. These were only partially effective due to
lack of enforcement.
COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
KCC Cllr Jeff Elenor:
1)
Jeff had had a meeting with highways dept at KCC and
raised items as requested: tree watering of new trees – contractors would be
made aware/ overhanging trees near the library in Canterbury Road to be
attended to/ weeds in Bridge Road and gully sucking to be chased up.
2)
Westgate Bay Avenue Crossing. KCC Highways at Maidstone had taken this on
board, but it would be likely to take up a substantial part or even whole of
the member's grant.
3)
Trees in Westbrook Avenue and Canterbury Road. Some had been removed, but there was not the
money available to replace them at present.
4)
Plastic Kerbstones had been observed, these can crack
under heavy weight and then have jagged edges, causing concern.
CORRESPONDENCE
1)
There is a coach
trip to Greenwich on 5th September Price £13, leaving at
8.00am and returning at 5.30pm. Optional
visits available are: Tall Ships, Maritime museum, and the Royal Observatory.
PLANNING
1)
64, Westgate Bay Avenue. Application for permission to erect a 1.8
metre high timber fence at the boundary.
2)
17/114 St Mildred's Road. Application for permission to erect a balcony
to the roof.
Chris Wyer enquired if the application for six houses on
the Westgate Bay Avenue site had been turned down as the site had now been cleared, and more of the old wall
pulled down. Tom said he would check on
the site.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Sam Secomb reported the bank account total to be £9,165.
Since 1st April the income has been £5,662, and
the expenditure £5,575.
Payments will be due when the Bake House refurbishment is
carried out according to Barbara Whitlock's bequest.
EDITOR’S REPORT
Derek apologised for the
late appearance of the magazine which has been delayed due to a number
of problems at the printers.
MEMBERSHIP
More road stewards are urgently required.
CIVIC REPORT
Westgate Heritage Centre.
Next main meeting to be held on Saturday 6th September with a
talk on the role of the civilian services at the start of the first world war.
PRESS REPORT
Richard reported sending in the W&WRA news and is
given quite good coverage.
SOCIAL
1)
East Northdown Park Nursery. Outing and tea 21st August.
2)
Quiz. The next
quiz will be on Friday 29th August at the Bake House, participants
to bring their own food.
3)
Elham Valley Trip.
This on 27th August.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Weeds in Roads. Many roads do not appear to have had
treatment for weeds, the new method of treatment from a lorry (photograph
produced by a member) may not be effective, or may not have been used on many
roads.
2) TV Reception. This is still poor in the locality, Stephanie
is waiting to hear from MP Sir Roger Gale following the investigation.
NEXT MEETING
Monday 8th
September in the conference room at the Town Hall Buildings..
There being no other business the meeting concluded
at 8.52pm.
