At the meeting last year, Chairman Len Claisse reported on the publication of the Parish Plan and its proposed Action Plan.  During the year the Parish Council has been looking into the issues raised in the Action Plan, and I am pleased to report that some of the issues raised have been progressed already, whilst others are currently still under consideration as to the best way forward.

One of the chief issues raised under Policing and Security was the perceived need for a more visible policing of the parish, and action taken against anti-social behaviour.  Councillor Sue Shillam has been our representative on the Police Parish Forum meetings, and you may be aware of changes in which the Police locally are to operate, with the Neighbourhood Team covering the whole of Whitstable, and the Policing And Community Together (PACT) scheme.  I don’t want to steal Michael Brock’s piece he will be giving later, but thanks are recorded to Sue for all her valuable work in this connection.  The Parish Council has decided to match fund, with Kent Police, a Police Community Support Officer for Chestfield, in order to raise the policing profile and to be pro-active in measures which will encourage closer co-operation and priority led work in the parish.  At this point I should also like to record thanks to our Community Wardens, Caroline Brown and Natasha Griffiths, backed up by Sarah Longley, who are also to give a report later.  They will be with us until the end of June, and we look forward to working with them until then.

The lack of activities, particularly for children, was highlighted in the Action Plan.  The Parish Council, along with other organisations, has funded the setting up of the Chestfield Youth Club, and the Chestfield Table Tennis Club, which run on alternate Thursdays in this hall.  Councillor Linda Wickings, ably assisted by her husband John and a team of volunteers, runs these two Clubs; they all give freely of many hours of time to provide these facilities, and the Parish Council is very pleased that both Clubs have been welcomed in the community and are well-attended.

The Parish Council has been in discussions with the Outdoor Leisure Manager of Canterbury City Council, in connection with providing other facilities on the Play Park.  That Council provided the two junior goal posts on the Play Park for a trial period – their overwhelming success proved the need for such equipment, and the Parish Council has agreed to buy the goal posts, with the City Council providing maintenance.  There have been similar discussions regarding the Radfall Recreation Ground, also owned and managed by the City Council, particularly in connection with parking difficulties at weekends when the Ground is leased to football clubs.  A current proposal, to provide additional off-street parking, to alleviate the difficulties experienced by local residents, is at an early stage, but being considered.

Chestfield is, I think we would all agree, a very pleasant place to live in, and this brings other pressures, such as the number of planning applications received for consideration by the Parish Council.  Since the last annual meeting 62 applications have been received, and thanks are given to Planning Councillors Len Claisse, John Finch and Pearl Freeman who have spent considerable time, visiting all the sites, liaising with the applicants and neighbours, and when necessary attending the Development Control Committee of the City Council to put the Parish Council’s views.

Monitoring the local environment is a matter for us all, and several issues were raised in the Action Plan.  Councillors Peter Goldsack and Pearl Freeman have recently undertaken a survey, in co-operation with the City Council, on the dog and litter bin provision in the parish, and the Parish Council has put forward suggestions for additional bin sites where there are great distance gaps currently.  Pearl has also acted as the parish Tree Warden, and deals with all applications to pollard or replace trees.  In co-operation with the City Council a survey was undertaken by the majority of Councillors to do a pedestrian count under the Chestfield Halt railway bridge, to put pressure on Rail Track to provide netting under the bridge to prevent pigeons nesting.  I think we were all surprised at the large number of people who use the route!

Highways and transport issues have dominated meetings of the Parish Council recently, particularly with the many months of disruption to residents during the closure of Chestfield Road for drainage works.  Unfortunately the road is due to be closed for up to three weeks from 10th April so that the very long project may be completed finally.  We also have the current closure of Molehill Road, again for drainage works.  I have acted as the liaison representative of the Parish Council with Kent Highways and the contractors during these difficult times.  This work of course affected the work of the Speedwatch Project, led firstly by John Finch, and now by Peter Goldsack.  Following the re-opening of the road the team of volunteers have restarted their work to encourage vehicles to travel through the village within the speed limits, and our thanks are recorded to the team.  On public rights of way the small, but active, team of volunteers, led by Councillors Len Claisse and Mick Shorter, have worked, alongside Kent County Council, to keep the public rights of way clear.  Inevitably, they have had to set priorities on the number of paths they can cover, so could I put in a plea here for anyone who walks the paths, or anyone else for that matter, to come forward and swell the ranks of the footpath volunteers, so that more regular clearance days can be undertaken. 
Communication with residents has continued, mainly through the village magazine, under the editorship of Councillor John Finch.  Unfortunately ill health interrupted his sterling work, and we are very glad to have him with us again; he and Len also work behind the scenes delivering all the counted bundles of magazines to the volunteers, nearly 30 of them, who kindly deliver them and ensure that every household may read what is happening in the parish.  For those who have broadband access, we have the Parish Council website.  There have been a few teething problems with updating the site – spotted by eagle eyed residents – and we are hoping to resolve this.  We have to move with the times, and web communication is with us – alongside the magazine, and the 8 notice boards in the parish. 

Linda Livingstone, Clerk to the Council, is currently looking for office accommodation, and we hope that a suitable location may be found, preferably within or near the parish.  We will have to let you know on this one!

This report may have seemed like a litany of thanks – to Parish Councillors, and to the volunteer residents who help us in their own way.  This partnership enables a better provision of services to all residents.  Parish Council meetings are held every month, except August, and we welcome attendance by residents, so that we are aware of any concerns, and that we can be of assistance.  Our headed paper says at the bottom “Serving the Local Community” – and that’s what the Parish Council is here to do.

DAVID FITZPATRICK
EX-CHAIRMAN,