WESTGATE AND WESTBROOK
RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
TOWN HALL BUILDING MONDAY 13th
APRIL 2015 AT 7.15PM.
PRESENT
Tom King, chairman and councillor, forty three members,
Cllr Simon Moores, and KCC Community Warden Laura Bungard.
The chairman welcomed all to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Derek and Christine
Smith.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
1) Parish Council
Westgate-on-Sea. This is to come into
effect from 1st April 2015, there will be elections on 7th
May, but the new PC is to have ten councillors and there have been ten
applications so that no ballot will be necessary. The chairman then read out the names: Ash Ashbee, Richard
Charlton, Joanna Cornford, Tom King, Dave Morrish, Roy Nightingale, Martyn
Pennington, Graham Rickett, Ron Rolfe, and Hannah Scott. Following a meeting at TDC Rosalind Morton
agreed to be temporary Parish Clerk, and will help set up the necessary
administration for the new PC to function.
A new permanent Parish Clerk will be sought by advertisement. There had been a misunderstanding concerning
the name of the parish which was referred to as Westgate Parish, but it is
within the remit of the new PC to name it as it sees fit, and at the first
meeting will be changed to Westgate-on-Sea Parish Council.
Tom then invited questions and comments.
Qu
Accounts. Cllr Simon Moores
reminded the meeting that accounts will need to be promptly and properly
submitted.
Qu For how
long are the parish councillors elected?
Ans For four years.
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (9th
March 2015), which had been circulated, were adopted on a prop by Don Eacott
sec by Richard Charlton, and signed.
MATTERS ARISING
1) Superfast (4G) Broadband
Masts. It was reported that these can
affect TV reception, and there is a phone number, which Don Eacott offered to
supply to the Bake House, and Abigail Carden had also seen this number on the
mast, through which requests for reimbursement of expenses for restoring the TV
signal may be made.
2) Westgate Library. The graffiti has been removed.
3) Trees Adjacent to Canterbury
Road. Chris Wyer reported that one of
the trees in “Questeds” may have to come down as it posed a danger to the road
users.
4) Libraries' Management. The system is due to change to that of a
charitable trust. This usually means
that they will be run like a business and Tom agreed to keep an eye on
developments.
COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS
Cllr Simon Moores:
1)
The new Parish Council should give exciting opportunities
too do things.
2)
St Mildred's Bay Tennis Courts. Cllr Moores has managed to secure funding to
replace the surrounding fences.
3)
Westleigh Road Development. This has been refused.
4)
Kent Police Problems.
20% of their workload has been spent with mental health cases, and this
has stretched resources.
5)
Westgate-on-Sea, the Future. There will be challenges ahead as the
character of the town could change.
Decisions will have to be made by all councillors regarding
housing. Cllr Moores wished new
councillors well and hoped they will use their opportunities to protect
Westgate.
Laura Bungard KCC Community Warden:
1)
Duster Seller. A
notorious seller with a forged licence is in the area. Do not make any purchases, and contact the
police.
2)
Garden Shed Thefts. It is recommended that sheds are
kept locked.
3)
Graffiti on Sea Road and the library have been removed.
4)
Highways.
Potholes, drains etc are receiving attention.
5)
St Mildred's Road/library Area. Rat infestation is being dealt with.
6)
Smashed bottles.
There have been quite a number, and any incidences should be reported to
the police.
7)
Pick Pockets. Be
aware of this there are three east europeans suspected.
8)
Roads. Following
a bad accident speeds are to be recorded.
Speeding and use of mobile phones when driving are being targeted.
9)
Other matters ongoing are: Overflowing bins, cold callers at care homes,
a break in at St Mildred's beach cafe, school parking, and youths gathering at
the station.
10) A
scam when “Home Choice Promotions”offer free work on the outside of property,
and then try to get work inside.
Don Eacott reported seeing youths in Ethelbert Square
prior to this meeting.
Cllr Simon Moores reminded the meeting of the incidences
of high speeding around Westgate last year.
Tom King said that a forty eight hour dispersal zone can
be brought in with immediate effect.
There appears to be no enforcement of the alcohol free
area in the town.
CORRESPONDENCE
1)
Illustrated talk on Westagate Parish Councils Old and
New. This will be given by James Brazier
at Christ Church URC on Wednesday 15th April at 7.30pm.
2)
Police Information by Emails. Sheds and Garages should be kept locked to
prevent thefts. Email scams are being
received, do not click on links especially if easy money is offered. Cllr Moores particularly advised residents to
beware of one called Cryptolocker which encrypts computer hard drives and
people are then held to ransom for large sums of money.
3)
Sea Front Bins.
A good number have now been put in place ready for the season.
4)
Harold Road/St Mildred's Road Junction. Tom reported to the Joint transport Board that the double yellow lines are not
long enough and consequently this junction near the bridge is still
dangerous.
5)
St Mildred's Road Surface. This will be completed by the cinema at the
end of the month, and white lines and markings reinstated.
6)
AGM. Tom
reminded the meeting the AGM is next month, and the nomination form for
committee positions for the coming year is up in the Bake House.
7)
St Mildred's Bay Foot Bridge Railings. In answer to a question Tom said that TDC
officer Mike Humber had agreed on the requested improvement but no action had
been taken as yet, so Tom agreed to chase this up.
PLANNING
1)
8, Westleigh Road.
Application refused.
2)
36, Westgate Bay Avenue. An application for this site had
been refused, but it was thought that a second application might be made, and
this would be watched for.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Sam gave the report: The bank balance stood at £4,111
which will rise to £4,585 when incoming money is deposited. Bills are paid up to date, and a summary of
the accounts up to the third quarter is shown in the Record.
EDITOR’S REPORT
No Report
MEMBERSHIP
No report.
PRESS REPORT
Richard told the meeting that condensed reports had been
sent to the local press.
SOCIAL
1)
Quiz Night. To
be arranged.
2)
A trip to East Northdown Farm will be arranged.
3)
St George's Eve Social. This was now fully booked.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Westgate Community Centre
Easter Extravaganza. Abigail Carden
reported this had been very successful and enjoyed by one hundred and twenty
children, and £250 had been raised for the building and maintenance fund. On Sunday 13th September the
Family Fun day takes place, and more volunteers are needed to help with the
stalls etc morning and evening.
2) Walmer Castle Pub. This is due to close at the end of the month,
and Tom agreed to watch for any planning applications.
3) Local Plan Discussion. A meeting is to take place in the Pavilion on
Tuesday.
4) W&WRA Allotment. A
member asked how this is administered.
Tom said this had been started by the W&WRA for people to meet and
work together, originally four plots it is now just two plots, any member wishing
to participate should contact Tom, and it was agreed to put this information in
the next magazine.
NEXT MEETING
Monday 11th
May, in the Town Hall Buildings, Westgate, when the AGM will be held,
followed by a short general monthly meeting.
There being no other business the meeting concluded
at 8.30pm.
