Annual Parish Meeting - 2008

MINUTES OF THE MEETING (Draft only - to be agreed in AGM 2009)

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Ladies and Gentlemen: welcome to our Annual Parish Meeting it is pleasing to see so many people present. This is the first annual meeting of our new Council. I would like to welcome two new members Sid Newbery and Gavin Davie also Simon Hodges who has returned for a second term of office.

Obviously the highlight of our year has been winning the Best Kept Village competition, in the large village section. We would like to thank all residents in helping to keep Kilmington clean and tidy without your efforts it would be a waste of time entering this competition. I would also personally like to thank Robin Gundry for the excellent work he does in keeping Kilmington’s green areas and various banks etc. tidy and well mown. Also Angela Miller for tending the garden by the village sign on the bank of the car park outside this hall. Everyone’s efforts are appreciated and needed to win a competition of this sort. The winning money is to be spent on a new chain link fence incorporating a new access gate at the rear of this hall. Also preservative for the shed in the allotments.

Planning Applications once again has taken up a great deal of our time. This year we have dealt with over 50 applications of various degrees. Some of which are amended plans. The plans are very variable from Tree Surgery, House Extensions, even Wind Turbines; some cause a lot more interest and controversy than others. Again we probably feel that planning decisions are not always consistent. Reports and decisions by the conservation officer are sometimes difficult to understand and follow and plans turned down because of minor technicalities, which we feel have no major impact on the application.

We seem to have been talking about the Parish Plan for some considerable time but at last I think we have completed this task. It has taken a great deal of time and effort by many people in all 60 different people has helped in someway to put this plan together. A final draft has been approved and quotes for printing are now being considered so we hope the finished product will arrive on your doorstep very shortly. On hind sight if any person takes on a similar project in the future it needs someone with a great deal of time to spare. The plus factor of the plan is that some of the problems highlighted in the questionnaire have already started. The need of affordable homes, which we have already heard about tonight, is well underway. Peoples request for dog bins to be placed in various parts of the village has been recognised. They have been ordered and paid for but we are still awaiting delivery. Also the provisions of the green re-cycling boxes for the many people who did not receive this service have now been put in place.

Our very successful and informative web site has now been running for a year. It keeps us up to date of what is happening in Kilmington and future events that will take place. It is a very professional and efficient site and for those who have not used it you must make the effort to see what is happening in Kilmington past and future. We are indebted to Alison Vickers for successfully creating and running this site for us and we will hear from her later in this meeting.

The A35 is still causing great concern because of the danger of the traffic travelling at great speed. The A35 action group as well as the Parish Council have been trying to get a 40mph speed limit on this stretch of road until now with very little success. Since Christmas there has been accidents on almost a weekly basis so the fight must continue and hopefully a successful result can be achieved.

Many of you may have read in the press the Government is trying to create unitary authorities the discussions are at an early stage and many different solutions have been put forward until now no decision has been made the idea is to reduce running costs and create a more efficient authority. We will believe this when we see it.

On behalf of the Council I would like to thank many people who help to keep our Council ticking over and running successfully.

Chris Bolton our Vice Chairman for all the hard work and assistance he gives me.  Our clerk Hilary Kirkcaldie for keeping us in order and briefing us of legislation we need to know. Sally Huscroft for over-seeing the Play Area. Sid Newbery for contacting Brian Hoare reporting any work that need to take place in the village pot holes etc.  Gerry Hurford for representing us on the D.A.P.C.  Also all other members of the council for their help and support.

Our District Councillor Ian Chubb who helps us with enquiries and information we require from EDDC.  Also County Councillor Douglas Hull.

Other members of the public who help the Council.  Ken Wilcox our tree surgeon, Bill Kerslake for looking after the allotments, Sandra Ward for representing us on the Ring and Ride, Barbara Woodsford for looking after our Bus Shelters and Elaine Penzer for looking after our footpaths.

I would like to thank the Ladies for providing the refreshments to night and apologise if I have forgotten anyone who has assisted the Council and I hope we can have as much success for 2008-2009.

Back to Top of Page