MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
UNITED SERVICES CLUB ON MONDAY 13th JUNE 2016 AT 7.15PM.
PRESENT
Mick Tomlinson (chair), twenty four members, Thanet
District Cllrs Ash Ashbee Bertie
Braidwood, and Mick Tomlinson, Westgate Town Cllr Ash Ashbee and KCC Warden
Laura Bungard.
The chairman welcomed all to the meeting.
APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Dee Hooper, Mike
Linder, and Pam O'Toole.
CHAIRMAN
1) Committee. Mick thanked members of the committee for
making him welcome and for the updating of information.
2) Items Owned by the
W&WRA. Following discussions at the
committee Mick has produced agreement forms both for hiring out the Bake House,
and for lending equipment. Such items will be required to be kept safe and in
good order.
3) Issues with Keys. A number of keys are out, and members views
were requested. Pat Sawyer-Jones pointed
out these were required by members staffing the morning refreshments, and by
regular hirers such as the AA. A list of
names of key holders is required.
4) Funds for Westgate
Flowers. Mick confirmed that the TDC
cheque for £1,500 is about to be sent out, this in line with most council
expenditure has had to be cut, and is not sufficient to pay in full for the
usual displays. Cllr Ash Ashbee
suggested an application for funding should be made to the Westgate-on-Sea Town
Council to make up the difference, and this was agreed.
5) First Honorary Freeman to be
Conferred by the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council.
On behalf of the meeting Mick congratulated Dr Dawn Crouch who is due to
receive this honour.
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (16th
May 2016), which had been circulated, were
adopted on a prop. by Pat Sawyer-Jones seconded by Jane Welch.
MATTERS ARISING
1) Westgate Bay Avenue House
Perimeter Fence. Following inspection by
a council officer this matter will not be pursued.
2) Royal Seabathing Hospital
Roof. Chris Wyer also reported that the
new storey on the roof will cover the unsightly lift shaft.
3) A vehicle had been
encountered travelling in the wrong direction on the dual carriageway when
coming from Hengist Road, and Chris Wyer wondered if the signs were
sufficiently clear. Cllr Ash Ashbee said
she would take the matter to the next Joint Transport meeting.
4) House Conversion to Flats in
Westbrook Road. This house had been
closed as an HMO, and the new application, though called in had gone
through. Developments would be carefully
watched.
COUNCILLORS' / WARDEN'S / PCSOS' REPORTS
TDC Cllr Ash Ashbee:
1) Street Cleaning. Cllr Ashbee had met with those in charge of
street cleaning, the early shift that starts at 6.30am had been put back to
9.30am due to covering beach cleaning, but it was now agreed that Station Road
and St Mildred's road were priority for the early clean.
2) Barns car Park. The new larger bin requested has finally
arrived.
3) Graffiti. This is appearing again and was discussed at
the recent NEM. There is a TDC app for
recording and posting this and rubbish tipping.
4) Bridge Road. Ash has met with KCC, and the community pay
back group may be able to refurbish the rails on the bridge.
James Brazier commentated that as yet the W&WRA
meetings had not had a report from the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council in the
fifteen months it had been in existence.
Cllr Ash Ashbee agreed to find out where the minutes may be accessed.
KCC Warden Laura Bungard:
1) Volunteer Charity Shop. Elain Mount has visited this and it is now
registered with the charity commission.
The stone slabs near to the building belong to them and goods may be
displayed there.
2) Wardens have been working
with social services to help during the cuts.
3) Miscellaneous. 101 calls are taking longer due to the cuts,
prevention of terrorism training has been carried out. Cards have been placed in the Bake House
concerning smoke alarms. Graffiti being
monitored (TDC do not remove this from private property). DVLA tax checks carried out. Stolen cycles, the police do not take these
now, they are placed at the library hopefully awaiting return to their owners.
TDC Cllr Bertie Braidwood:
1) Bin Collections. Some have been missed due to lack of access,
but TDC will be using a smaller vehicle.
2) Parking Issues. In St Jeans and other roads the double yellow
lines are not being observed.
3) Westgate Community
Centre. Abigail had reported vandalism,
and the new security cente in Westgate has very kindly supplied and installed a
new security system.
TDC Cllr Mick Tomlinson:
1) Old Nayland Rock Cafe
Site. This has been purchased by Mr
Connington of the Sands Hotel, and now has a cafe, ice creams, bar, and tidy
fencing. It is hoped to further improve
this site.
2) Westbrook Cafe. The toilets have been refurbished to a good
standard.
3) Round-a-bout just into
Westbrook. With forthcoming road changes
this has not been looked after.
4)
Old
Toilets by “Strokes”. This was sold off
by TDC but subsequently found to require support to hold up the road.
PLANNING
1)
51, George V Avenue.
Application for erection of a single
storey side extension.
2)
37, Sea Road, (Royal School for Deaf Children). Application for erection of four storey
building comprising seven 2 bed flats, plus erection of first and second floor
rear extension, and vehicular access to Sea Road.
3)
9, Orchard Road, Margate. Retrospective application for erection of
single storey rear extension.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Sam Secomb gave out copies of the audited accounts, and
thanked Dennis Jarvis for auditing them.
The subscriptions have been collected by the road stewards
so the bank balance stands at a healthy £5,809.
The insurance premium has been renewed (£594).
Sam has located a computer firm which helps communities
and charities, and we are on their waiting list for help for the data
base. This should then enable better reconciliation of the subscriptions.
Questions arising:
1)
Flowers. £3,000
shown received but £2,228 spent. These
funds are also to cover the Christmas tree, and any over to carry forward.
2)
Rates. Are any
rates still paid? Answer No.
EDITOR'S REPORT
Members suggested that the new editor be asked to contact
Derek concerning magazine advertisement fees.
SUNSHINE REPORT
Mavis reported six cards were sent out this month.
MEMBERSHIP
Christina warmly thanked all the road stewards for their
work in delivering the magazines and collecting the year's subscriptions.
CIVIC REPORT
Westgate Heritage Centre:
Next meeting is Saturday 2nd July 10.30am in St Saviour's
Church, when Dr Dawn crouch will give a talk on “The Mitfords in Westgate”.
Mick Tomlinson informed the meeting the top prize in the
Civic Society awards went to the scenic
railway. Also entry to Dreamland becomes
free from Saturday, payment being made for rides individually.
SOCIAL
Muriel reported:
1)
Sunday Lunch at the Swan had been much enjoyed by all.
2)
Trips being arranged to Southend/Romford.
3)
Visit Planned to the Cherry Festival at Brogdale.
4)
New Year Lunch.
This will take place at St Augustines on 15th January 2017.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Cutting of Grass
Verges. These had been allowed to grow tall and members were concerned
that the grass seeds presented a danger to dogs. Mick explained that there was a severe lack
of money and it was difficult to get these jobs done as the council was in
debt. Cllr Ashbee did not think the
contractors did a very good job, and Chris Wyer noticed that the dual
carriageway had flooded due to long grass blocking the drains. However the weed killing had improved this
year.
2) Council Officers. In answer to a question Cllr Ashbee said that
the councillors do not appoint the officers.
A select panel does, (this may contain one or two councillors).
3) General Meeting Venue. It was suggested that the Westgate Community
Centre would make an alternative venue if needed.
4) Monthly General
Meetings. It was agreed to hold these
through the summer as in previous years.
5) Committee. To complete this year's committee a
vice-chairman and a press officer are required.
Present members of the committee were warmly thanked for their continued
work.
NEXT MEETING
Monday 11th
July, at the Westbrook Bowls Club, 7.00pm for 7.15pm.
There being no other business the meeting concluded
at 9.01pm.
