MINUTES OF A GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
BAKE HOUSE ON MONDAY 8th
APRIL 2019 AT 7.15PM.
PRESENT
Ray Taylor (chair), thirty members, TDC Cllrs Ash Ashbee,
Sam Bambridge, and Carol Messenger, and WTC Cllrs Joanna Cornford, and Matthew
Scott. PCSO Susie Temple-White, and guest speakers from Save our Stroke Units
and Community Life Savers.
GUEST SPEAKERS
1. Save Our Stroke
Units. The chairman introduced Pauline
Barratt and Dr Coral Jones campaigning to save four local stroke units, and not
reducing East Kent to three only which would exclude the unit at the QEQM Hospital, thereby causing a road
journey of over an hour for patients to be taken to Ashford, when fast treatment
for the condition is so essential. The
idea has come about due to budgets, and could even lead to the A&E unit
being downgraded. It has now been
referred back to the Secretary of Health and the vote has been delayed until
after 2nd May (when elections for councillors takes place).
A question from the
floor asked about the “staff shortages” referred to, but it appeared
that there has not been a proactive policy for recruiting staff, in fact some
members present had had members of staff in their family being told that their
jobs would not be there in the future.
Residents were asked to be active in contacting their KCC
Councillors, (details may be found on the website). The speakers were warmly thanked.
2. Community Life
Savers. The chairman then introduced
Petra and Nicky, who are keen to see more defibrillators and trained local
residents available. Access to
defibrillators needs to be quick as the ambulance service is stretched and may
take some time to arrive. A question
from the floor, how do we get one? This
is by calling 999 when you will be informed where the nearest one is, for
Westbrook it was thought that the Bowls Club would make a good position if a
cabinet could be put up on the
perimeter.
Two hours of training is offered free of charge. This is a Thanet initiative.
APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Pat Castle, Pam
O'Toole, Pat Sawyer-Jones, Sylvia and Tony Sykes, Mavis Vaughan and TDC Cllr
Mick Tomlinson, and WTC Cllr Hannah Scott.
MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting, (11/03/19), which
had been circulated, were agreed as a correct record on a prop. by James
Brazier sec. by Cllr Carol Messenger, and adopted, and signed.
MATTERS ARISING
1) The Sunken Gardens.
Cllr Ash Ashbee was warmly thanked for seeing that the gardens were
quickly and thoroughly cleaned up after the travellers had left considerable
rubbish and mess behind. There is now a
campaign to raise £2000 to continue the improvements already started by the
volunteer group co-ordinated by Peter Hasted.
The gardens are already looking better.
REPORTS: Councillors-KCC, TDC, WTC. PCSOs and
Wardens.
PCSO Susie Temple-White:
1. Theft of Car Number
Plates. This has been taking place in
the area recently, and residents are advised to be vigilant.
2. Rough Sleepers. There are still some in the area, and locals
are advised to call in with the details.
3. Cold Call Scams. There are scams being received about income
tax, council tax, etc. On receipt of
such calls they should be reported to action fraud, and also the police on 101,
or by using the Kent Police website chat line.
TDC Cllr Carol Messenger:
1) Thank You. Cllr Carol thanked all the residents for
their support during her four years in office.
2) Lymington Road Recreation
Ground. Following recent antisocial
behaviour the area has been visited by the PCSO and the ASB unit and the
problem has reduced.
TDC Cllr Ash Ashbee:
1) Thank You. Cllr Ash thanked residents for their support,
and said she had learnt a great deal during her time in office re council
procedures etc.
2) Old Westbrook Phone
Box. This has at last been removed.
3) Travellers. These had moved on due to prompt action. In
the long term a “no stop” policy was being looked at, but the council would
have to provide two sites, one permanent, and one temporary (for 28 days).
WTC Cllr Matthew Scott:
1) Community Meeting re 2000
Houses Proposal. Matthew thanked all who
had attended.
2) WTC Annual Meeting. This is to take place on 17th
April at the Community Centre. There is
a ramp for use by those disabled.
3) Saturday Surgeries. These continue on the third Saturday in
the month at the library 10.00am to
11.30am.
4) Westgate in Bloom. Volunteers are welcome for tree planting on
Friday 12th April at Lymington Road.
South East Rail are working hard on their area. Bulbs that had been planted in an area that
was subsequently mowed by contractors, but it was hoped not much damage was
done as they had not grown much at this time.
Don Eacott pointed out that packs of seeds for wild flowers for bees
were available from Aldi for £1.50.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
1) The AGM. This will be held at the Westbrook Bowls Club
on 13th May.
2) Period of Uncertainty. During the closure of the Bake House members had been enjoying meeting
in other organisations' coffee mornings, and the ones in the Bake house had now
resumed on Wednesdays. Unfortunately there
had been a low level of attendance and for a rental of £17 only now averaging
takings of £4. An additional coffee
morning had been started in the United Services Club by a local councillor
under the name of the W&WRA, but this would not have been covered by our
public liability. Our name is not now
used so there is now no objection.
As there is now nowhere to store the donated and lent pictures that were
on the walls, it was hoped to return any where that was the owner's wish or
could possibly be donated to the WTC or Westgate Heritage Centre.
3) Easter Egg Hunt. This will take place on Easter Saturday 20th
April.
4) Proposed Beach Party. On contacting the TDC events team an
exceedingly large amount of paper work was required, the chairman had done this
only to receive a further large quantity requiring more information and was
difficult to understand.
5) Repairs Cafe. The chairman put out this idea as many
retired residents have skills to make repairs, thereby saving landfill and
providing a social forum. Cllr Ash asked if there was any site in mind, and the
chairman said there were two possible.
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
Cllr Joanna Cornford said she hopes the Bake House
will be used at times when the W&WRA was not using it and had hoped that it
would work out less expensive for the W&WRA.
CORRESPONDENCE
Save Thanet Coast Project. An email had been received via member Tony
Sykes concerning the proposal to cut (Tony Child) the organiser's post. It asked that this be brought to the
attention of all councillors. There are
one hundred volunteers and one paid co-ordinator who look after the coast,
report on conditions, and bring to the public awareness of the beaches and environmental matters.
PLANNING
APPLICATIONS
1)
6, Carlton Road East.
Application to change existing windows to front and rear from UPVC to
aluminium and replacement of UPVC door to rear with aluminium bi-folding doors.
2)
7, Hundreds Farm Stables. Conversion of garages into habitable rooms.
GRANTED.
3)
16, Seymour Avenue.
First floor side extension over existing garage conversion. GRANTED.
4)
78, Canterbury Road, Margate. Change of use of garden land to nursery use
with existing nursery, with erection of single storey building for additional
classroom and play space. GRANTED.
TREASURER'S REPORT
The bank balance stands at £4,888 as at 28th
February. Refunds from credits owed to
the W&WRA by the water and electricity companies are still awaited, as they
say they require proof that the contract had ended, and they are still
deducting money from the credits as the direct debits have been cancelled.
The accounts have been audited by Mr Jarvis, and agreed
and are ready for the AGM.
Our treasurer Sam Secomb has had to stand down as she will
be very busy for the next two years and was warmly thanked for her excellent
work.
EDITOR'S REPORT
Ray Taylor informed the meeting that the magazine is now
going out with the road stewards.
SUNSHINE REPORT
No report.
MEMBERSHIP
Christina reported that the subscriptions will be coming
in as the magazines go out.
CIVIC REPORT
Westgate Heritage Centre:
Next meeting Saturday 4th May at 10.30am at St Saviour's
Church, when there will be an illustrated
talk by Dr Graham Field - “Kent Lodge, Westgate Bay Avenue, Home of the
Meyer Family”.
Civic Society: Thursday 9th May at the Walpole
Bay Hotel at 7.30pm, when the Town pride
awards will be made followed by refreshments, (guests £4.50). James Brazier pointed out that there are two
buildings selected for entry that are in Westgate, namely Brompton Villas, 34,
Westgate Bay Avenue, and Sandy Villas near the Knot.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1) Twiddle Muffs for those with
Dementia. Lorraine Hambidge requested
pieces of old materials and buttons which will be sewn into muffs that will go
to the QEQM Hospital. The materials are
also used to make mastectomy cushions.
2) Local Tennis for
Adults. New member Mr Derek Heptinstall,
having recently moved to Westgate said he is hoping to start a group at the
courts at St Mildred's Bay. The first
session will start on Sunday afternoon 21st April.
3) Broken Wheelie Bin
Lids. Cllr Ash pointed out that if a bin
is damaged during collection the TDC will repair or replace this.
4) Memorial Benches from
Westgate Heritage Centre. Two are available thanks to the Co-op local
community fund, but Dr Dawn Crouch has had problems with the councils as to
obtaining approval for the siting of these and would be grateful for help from
councillors.
5) Committee. Lorraine Hambidge thanked the committee for
their hard work over the year.
NEXT MEETING
Monday 13th May, will be the AGM at
the Bowls Club 7.00pm for 7.15pm.
There being no other business the meeting concluded
at 8.50pm.
