New planning applications,

The TDC planning website is one of the most bizarre websites I have ever come across in as much as the web addresses of the pages on it change after a few hours so you can’t publish links to them. If you want to look at any of the applications you need to go to the site and enter the application reference in the search box, this link takes you to the site http://www.ukplanning.com/thanet

31 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0867	14 NORTHDOWN AVENUE MARGATE CT92NW	current
28 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0705	104 RAMSGATE ROAD MARGATE CT94BH	current
28 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0777	30 MARLBOROUGH ROAD MARGATE CT95SU	current
28 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0825	56 DUMPTON PARK DRIVE BROADSTAIRS CT101RJ	current
28 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0843	BRETT RUGBY CONCRETE DANE VALLEY ROAD ST. PETERS BROADSTAIRS CT103JJ	current
28 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0844	THE ELMS FARMHOUSE CANTERBURY ROAD SARRE BIRCHINGTON CT70JZ	current
28 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0851	2 WILLOW AVENUE BROADSTAIRS CT102LP	current
28 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0854	WALTERS HALL FARM HOUSE, 47 MONK TON STREET, MONKTON, RAMS GATE, CT12 4JF	current
28 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0857	17 CHURCHFIELDS, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 3BL	current
27 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0861	RAYMOND WIREWORKS HOO FARM UNIT 7 147 MONKTON ROAD MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124JB	current
26 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0077	30 MARLBOROUGH ROAD MARGATE CT95SU	current
25 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0823	51 GREENHILL GARDENS MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124EP	current
25 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0853	PEELERS 18 QUEEN STREET RAMSGATE CT119DR	current

New documents published by Thanet District Council,

• 31/10/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Oct 13 2011 7:00PM, Council
• 31/10/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Sep 27 2011 6:00PM, Electoral Matters Working Party
• 31/10/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Nov 9 2011 7:00PM, Standards Committee
• 26/10/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Oct 19 2011 7:00PM, Planning Committee
• 25/10/2011 - Meeting held: Oct 25 2011 7:00PM, Overview and Scrutiny Panel
• 25/10/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Sep 29 2011 6:30PM, Governance and Audit Committee

Piracy Protectionism and Tariff Barriers!

Piracy, Protectionism and Tariff barriers are to Global Trade what credit crunches are to the banking system – both represent critical blows to economic stability and a threat to the UK’s growth prospects.   So the Prime Minister is totally right in relaxing regulations to allow our trading vessels to carry armed protection – as a deterrent and also as justifiable self defence for those on board.    With an increase in piracy our global shipping lanes must be further secured and this is a measure that sends a message to pirates – stay clear of UK flagged ships. 

 

But piracy is not just isolated to Somalia.  The successful Somali pirates are merely early exponents and others in West Africa and the South East China Sea are seeing unprotected shipping as an opportunity for criminal behaviour.  While armed guards are important we also need a new international agreement on prosecution and detention. 

 

The British Chamber of Shipping has already assessed that piracy is putting 15% increase in costs of global transport and with a very high % of transport required to travel through “piracy pinch points” and the increase in commodity and energy prices, cost of security is likely to rise even further.  

 

However it is not just those dastardly pirates that will threaten the global trading system on which we are so dependent.   Protectionism had become very unfashionable until the 2008 food price crisis resulted in several countries placing food export bans in place.  Since then, as we have seen in Russia with an export ban on their grain and recently in Tanzania, countries are cushioning the costs for their domestic consumer at the expense of the liberalised global market.   This is a particular threat to the UK as we import close to 50% of our food, we are dependent on international trade for components for our industries and a liberalised free trade system is essential to the UK’s future growth prospects. 

 

Liberalised trade is not some distant theoretical concept - every time there is an export ban, any restriction on global trade, any ship hijacked by pirates - we will see food prices in the supermarket rise. 

 

The Prime Minister has been given the role by the G20 to propose measures for greater global governance in relation to trade and food security.  To build on his announcement on combating piracy we need to develop economic security measures to reduce protectionism and further promote free trade.  Emphasis must be given to the interdependence of global trading, and export bans need to be replaced by regional support programmes such as food storage that will smooth out commodity price shocks.  Within the global trading settlement we need now to accommodate the additional risks of natural disasters as we are seeing with the floods in Thailand and Cambodia that is destroying a whole year’s rice crop. 

 

Cameron’s task is not easy but as one of the only European countries that does not have to go cap in hand to sovereign funds for a financial favour, he is very well placed to put global trade at the heart of his agenda.  He could not serve this country’s fortunes better than by taking a strong lead in an increasingly fragile global trading environment.

MANSTON - PROPOSED NIGHT-TIME FLYING POLICY

From Thanet Labour Group Leader - Cllr Clive Hart.

"The proposed night-time flying policy for Manston International Airport has now been published by Infratil.

Over the coming weeks and months members of the Labour group will scrutinise the proposed night-flying document carefully and thoroughly. Our District councillors will then make their individual views known at the appropriate points in the process, having taken account of all the information available".

 

Note: The proposed night-time flying policy may well become the subject of a planning application and therefore it would be inappropriate for any councillor to comment further at this time.

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office, 44 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2RW.

NEW NIGHT TIME FLYING APPLICATION

Thanet District Council has received a formal application for night time
flying from Manston Airport.

The documents submitted by Infratil, owners of the airport, detail
proposals for a new night-time flying policy and also include an
aircraft noise assessment report and economic assessment, which are
technical reports, explaining the implications of the proposal.  The
documents were submitted to the council late yesterday (Thursday 27
October).

This application follows on from previous proposals for night time
flying which were submitted to the council by the airport in September
2010.

The council will now seek an independent assessment of the proposals
and technical reports by an external company before public consultation
on the proposal can begin.

A full consultation process is proposed to run for a minimum of 12
weeks to ensure that people have the chance to have their say.  The
starting date of the consultation will be announced on completion of the
independent report.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Bob Bayford, said: “The council is
committed to ensuring that local people have plenty of opportunity to
comment on these proposals.  We know this is a hugely important issue,
especially for those living under the flight path, so will be providing
a minimum consultation period of 12 weeks for people to have their say. 
Before this process begins we will be seeking an independent assessment
of Infratil’s supporting reports, and will publish the findings. 
I’d like to encourage everyone with a view to ensure they take the
time to participate”.

Full details of the consultation will be published on the council’s
website on completion of the independent assessment.

Changes to council services in the Gateway on Saturdays

Council services provided at Thanet’s Gateway Plus will be changing
from Saturday 29 October 2011. 

From this date, the Council service desks, which deal with specific
council enquiries, will be open from a revised time of 9.00am to
1.00pm.
 
Matthew Munson, Front of House Coordinator, said; “We’ve found that
customer footfall on Saturday afternoons was far more targeted towards
library services, with only two or three customers coming in for council
services.”

“We always strive to be customer driven,” Matthew added, “and by
not staffing the Saturday afternoon, we’ll be able to increase staff
at peak times, both in the Gateway and in our Contact Centre.”

The Meet and Greet desk at the entrance of the Gateway will remain open
every Saturday until
5.00 pm.  At this desk customers will still be able to make payments,
submit any documents and receive general advice over the counter.

The Gateway itself will remain open from 9-00am to 5-00pm on Saturdays
so library hours will remain unchanged.  Opening hours during the week
will also stay the same with the Gateway open from 9.00am to 6.00pm
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 9.00am to 8.00pm on a
Thursday.

Thanet’s Gateway Plus Services

Thanet’s Gateway Plus provide a wide range of services for customers.
This includes Benefits, Council Tax, Housing, Taxi Licensing, Community
Safety, Civil Enforcement enquiries & payments, plus much more.

The Gateway also holds Margate Library and a wide range of partners,
from drop-in services such as Connexions, Deaf Services and Disability
Drop-In Centre through to pre-booked sessions as the Stop Smoking
Service, Richmond Fellowship and Blue Badge Assessments.

For more information on Thanet’s Gateway Plus services please go to
www.thanet.gov.uk/gateway or drop into the Gateway in Cecil Square to
collect a leaflet

Government e-petition

Thanet District Council has voted to support a Government e-petition
which calls on Parliament to reform laws regulating the export of live
farm animals.  

The motion, which was passed at a meeting of Full Council on Thursday
13 October, stated that the council would publish a link to this
petition on the homepage of its website, and would publish a statement
and press release which encourages citizens of Thanet and elsewhere to
sign the Government e-petition. 

As such, the council is encouraging local people to sign the petition
which can be found by visiting www.thanet.gov.uk 

The Port of Ramsgate has been used for live animal exports since May
2011 and these shipments continue on a regular basis.  The council has
sought legal advice on whether it could lawfully ban the shipments but
was told it could not as Ramsgate is an ‘open port’.  

Requests from the council to instate a maximum journey time of eight
hours for live animal shipments have been sent to the government’s
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the
Council Leader has also met with the Minister of State Jim Paice to
discuss the issue.

This petition now calls on the government to amend the law to allow
port owners to refuse, on animal welfare grounds, the export of live
farm animals.  The Harbours, Docks & Piers Clauses Act 1847 currently
makes it illegal to refuse a ship the use of a port if it is carrying
out lawful trade.  In addition Port owners cannot refuse the trade on
ethical grounds.

If the petition passes the 100,000 signature threshold, it will be
eligible for debate in the House of Commons. 

Leader of Thanet District Council, Cllr Bob Bayford, said: “We have
looked at legal ways of preventing this use of the port, but none of
these have worked.  We know that, in the past, other organisations have
taken legal action against the live animal export trade, but they have
lost, leaving them with huge costs and damages.  I am lobbying central
government as this is the best legal way to bring about change and would
encourage people to sign the petition in support.”

New planning applications,

The TDC planning website is one of the most bizarre websites I have ever come across in as much as the web addresses of the pages on it change after a few hours so you can’t publish links to them. If you want to look at any of the applications you need to go to the site and enter the application reference in the search box, this link takes you to the site http://www.ukplanning.com/thanet

25 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0823	51 GREENHILL GARDENS MINSTER RAMSGATE CT124EP	current
25 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0853	PEELERS 18 QUEEN STREET RAMSGATE CT119DR	current
24 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0859	GARAGE BLOCK REAR OF 39-49 LUTON AVENUE BROADSTAIRS	current
24 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0798	LAND ADJACENT TO 3 ROSE COTTAGES, THE LENGTH, ST NICHOLAS AT WADE, BIRCHINGTON	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0795	2 MCKINLAY COURT, THE PARADE, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9QG	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0816	61 COLLEGE ROAD, MARGATE, CT94AR	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0820	OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA CHURCH, BROADSTAIRS ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2RH	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0836	55 SWINBURNE AVENUE, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2DP	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0837	GARAGES VICTORIA ROAD, VICTORIA ROAD, BROADSTAIRS	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0838	UNITS 2 TO 4, OZENGELL PLACE, EUROKENT BUSINESS PARK, RAMSGATE	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0841	ST PETERS PRESTBYTERY, 117 CANTERBURY ROAD, WESTGATE ON SEA, CT8 8NW	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0845	1-5 SUMMERFIELD ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 3EZ	current
21 Oct 2011	A/TH/11/0826	OUR LADY AND ST BENEDICT ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE PRESBYTERY, MINNIS ROAD, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9SF	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0846	TESCO STORES LTD MANSTON ROAD RAMSGATE CT126NT	current

New documents published by Thanet District Council,

• 25/10/2011 - Meeting held: Oct 25 2011 7:00PM, Overview and Scrutiny Panel
• 25/10/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Sep 29 2011 6:30PM, Governance and Audit Committee
• 20/10/2011 - Minutes published: Meeting of Oct 18 2011 10:00AM, Licensing Board
• 20/10/2011 - Meeting held: Oct 20 2011 9:30AM, Constitutional Review Working Party

"Outrageous" Animal Exports Put to Minister by Thanet MPs and Leader of the Council

Laura Sandys MP for Ramsgate has secured an adjournment debate in Parliament on Monday 24^th October to urge the Government to do all they can to stop animal exports from the Port of Ramsgate.

 

The debate follows a productive meeting that was held with Agriculture Minister, Jim Paice, the Leader of the Council, Bob Bayford, and Roger Gale, North Thanet’s MP. The meeting was called by Laura to convey – in the strongest of terms – Thanet’s residents’ condemnation of the trade.

 

Laura said: “Animals are sentient beings and deserve to be treated with care and compassion – exporting them on long, cramped journeys is barbaric and totally unnecessary. Live exports are a thing of the past.

 

“We are working extremely hard to pursue any legal means to prevent the trade from Ramsgate. However, just as the last Labour Government found it was unable to put a stop to the trade due to EU Regulations, so too the Coalition is finding it impossible to unilaterally prevent what, at present, is a legal trade.

 

“However, the meeting with the Minister did reveal that there are some opportunities to be pursued in partnership with Government which would make exporting livestock more difficult and more importantly significantly more expensive.

 

“Firstly, a new labelling system that was passed 2 weeks ago will ban producers from labelling the country of origin as the place of slaughter. If an animal is reared in the UK this must be declared – this could make people think twice about purchasing exported meat and kill off the trade. Secondly, the cost of inspections of live export shipments could soon be passed onto the businesses which could damage the trade. Finally, the EU is soon to publish a report into the transportation conditions of animals that will reflect the considerable cost to the environment of transporting livestock. This Commission report should provide an opportunity for the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to address and further regulate the trade. Every avenue is being pursued. The Minister, Roger Gale MP, the Leader of! the Council, Bob Bayford and I are keen to put an end to live exports for good and are working tirelessly to find a solution.”

FREE SPEECH MATTERS

I was one of 62 MPs who signed an amendment to the Protections of Freedoms Bill and voted for the Government to allow a full debate on the need for a change to legislation to protect free speech.

Having served as the Chairman of Open Democracy, worked on Cameron’s Democracy Taskforce, and campaigned against the human rights violations across Iraq, I have a real interest and passion in the need for the restoration of our civil liberties. From the number of emails and letters I have received, I know that constituents across Thanet care too. Even Ed Milliband has admitted that the Labour government was “draconian” on civil liberties. The breadth of support shows the strength of the case for change – the amendment was backed by the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the National Secular Society, the Christian Institute and civil liberties campaigner, Justice.

For centuries around the world, people have fought for the right to express themselves and articulate what they believe. Yet many feel that the right to free speech has been eroded leaving many exposed to absurd legal challenges. The Public Order Act made it a criminal offence to use “threatening, abusive or insulting” words or behaviour.  Of course, threats and abuse should be covered by public order law but, at present, legitimate debate is being silenced as a result of political correctness gone mad. Abuse is one thing, but we should not be prevented from having lively debate and a lively exchange of ideas. All of us have a right to voice opinions without fear of punishment or censorship.

You only have to watch the news to see how this Act as been abused. The Christian hoteliers in Liverpool who were prosecuted after a Muslim guest complained she had been offended during a discussion on Islam. The t-shirts on sale at a country fair which were less than complimentary about the former Labour Prime Minister. What a waste of police time and energy!

I voted with 61 others for a full debate on this matter. Although the measure did not pass, the widespread backing has resulted in the Minister, James Brockenshire MP, admitting the Government will need to carefully examine the need for change. I have been personally assured that provisions to safeguard free speech will be resolved once the Bill returns to the House of Lords. 

New planning applications,

The TDC planning website is one of the most bizarre websites I have ever come across in as much as the web addresses of the pages on it change after a few hours so you can’t publish links to them. If you want to look at any of the applications you need to go to the site and enter the application reference in the search box, this link takes you to the site http://www.ukplanning.com/thanet

21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0795	2 MCKINLAY COURT, THE PARADE, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9QG	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0816	61 COLLEGE ROAD, MARGATE, CT94AR	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0820	OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA CHURCH, BROADSTAIRS ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2RH	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0836	55 SWINBURNE AVENUE, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2DP	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0837	GARAGES VICTORIA ROAD, VICTORIA ROAD, BROADSTAIRS	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0838	UNITS 2 TO 4, OZENGELL PLACE, EUROKENT BUSINESS PARK, RAMSGATE	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0841	ST PETERS PRESTBYTERY, 117 CANTERBURY ROAD, WESTGATE ON SEA, CT8 8NW	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0845	1-5 SUMMERFIELD ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 3EZ	current
21 Oct 2011	A/TH/11/0826	OUR LADY AND ST BENEDICT ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE PRESBYTERY, MINNIS ROAD, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9SF	current
21 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0846	TESCO STORES LTD MANSTON ROAD RAMSGATE CT126NT	current
20 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0839	14 BEACON ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 3DF	current
20 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0842	46-48 HIGH STREET, ST PETERS, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2TD	current
18 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0716	23 WESTERN ESPLANADE, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1TD	current
18 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0742	WESTFIELD LODGE, GRANVILLE AVENUE, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1WL	current
18 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0821	LAND ADJACENT 15, DANE HILL ROW, MARGATE	current
18 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0831	PLOT 1 FORMER CASTLEMERE HOTEL SITE, WESTERN ESPLANADE, BROADSTAIRS	current
18 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0833	CALLIS GRANGE, BROADLEY ROAD, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 2QX	current
18 Oct 2011	L/TH/11/0830	12A ALBION PLACE, RAMSGATE, CT11 8HQ	current
18 Oct 2011	L/TH/11/0832	PEGWELL BAY HOTEL, 81 PEGWELL ROAD, RAMSGATE, CT11 0NJ	current
18 Oct 2011	A/TH/11/0733	19 RAMSGATE ROAD MARGATE CT95RT	current
14 Oct 2011	F/TH/11/0822	WHITE GATES CANTERBURY ROAD ST. NICHOLAS AT WADE BIRCHINGTON CT70PG	current
14 Oct 2011	L/TH/11/0707	28-30 KING STREET MARGATE CT91DA	current

* This date is when Thanet District Council first published this case file.