SHOP LOCAL AND PARK FOR FREE THIS CHRISTMAS

If you shop local this Christmas, then you can park for free in a council run initiative aiming to encourage people to use their local high streets.

Shoppers can park for free in selected council run car parks at weekends in the run-up to Christmas, starting from this Saturday (26 November) and running up until and including Saturday 24 December (Christmas Eve).

The car parks are:

• Alpha Road, Birchington
• Vere Road, Broadstairs
• Harold Road, off Northdown Road, Cliftonville
• Mill Lane, Margate
• Cannon Road, Ramsgate

The free parking applies all day on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 December, and Saturday 24 December. There is no need to display any form of sticker to benefit from this. However, if these car parks become full and you need to park elsewhere, you will have to purchase a car parking ticket as normal.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Bob Bayford, said: “The council is doing its bit to support local traders in the all-important run-up to Christmas by offering free parking over the weekends between now and the festive period. However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t apply to all council car parks, it’s only the ones listed. If you park anywhere else in Thanet, you will still have to pay and display as normal.

He added: “There is only so much the council can do to help, given the current financial situation we find ourselves in, but we wanted to make a contribution at this busy time of year. Nearly everyone will be heading out Christmas shopping over the next few weeks and it’s the best time to think, shop local and try out your local high street.”

RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT'S HOUSING 'STRATEGY

From Councillor Iris Johnston Shadow member for Housing TDC (Tel 299207).

 

'I always view any new  'initiative' from Mr Grant Shapps with caution. This is the 127 announcement on Housing since the Conservatives came to power and as usual I will want to discuss with Senior Council Housing officers to check if there is anything of real benefit to Thanet.

 

Already I note a rehashing of old information including claiming credit for the last Labour Government's help for the building industry. The assistance for projects that were stalling due to the Global financial crises was announced before the last General election and many developers were able to avail of loans to see them through and finish house building.

 

There has been an increase of 10% in homelessness since the last General election and as someone who ran a Helpline on behalf of the Labour Party in the 1980's  I fear the massive and ill considered cuts and attacks on people who try to stay employed and save their homes from repossession will bring us back to those dreadful times.

 

We already have evidence locally of how the Labour Government supported first time buyers and also enabled Housing associations to build new homes. The Decent Homes standards and Renewal funding combined with legislation to tackle neglectful  landlords were already in place.

 

Thanet District Council also benefitted from holding much of its council tenants rents and at the same time making a low contribution to the national pot. Under Localism this may change and not to our advantage.

 

It is all well and good to encourage people to buy their Council Homes but those homes are then lost for ever to those desperately needing social housing.

 

This 'announcement' on the Right to Buy of course contradicts  a previous 'announcement' which  threatened council tenants who bettered their situation financially  with eviction after two years'.

 

I will be speaking to an officer today once she has read the fine print to see if there is actually anything of any use to Thanet residents in these latest announcements'

 

 

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

UNIONS PLAN DAY OF ACTION IN THANET

Workers are preparing for an all-out day of action in Thanet on Wednesday November 30^th.

 

Teachers, nurses, and council workers are all due to walk out of their workplaces following votes by Britain’s biggest trade unions.

 

The action is a protest against government reform of public sector pensions, but many workers see the day as a chance to protest against cuts in public services.

 

Jon Flaig of Anti-Cuts Thanet, who are organising support for the action, said: “Schools and other public services across Thanet are suffering because of the cuts and there’s much worse to come.  But we mustn’t wait for the cuts to come, we must draw a line in the sand. That is what this day of action is all about.”

 

Mr Flaig added: “Some people may complain today that a school is closed or a public service is not available, but these are tiny inconveniences compared to what we’ll see in the future if we don’t take concerted action now.”

 

The Red Hall in Broadstairs has been designated strike headquarters by Thanet’s Trades Union Council, and strikers will be offered hot drinks and cakes, shown films and discuss what happens next.

         

Mr Flaig said: “We are providing a base for all who take industrial action on November 30^th, giving strikers are chance to share their experiences and find out what’s happening in the rest of the country.

 

“Many people think the cuts are inevitable, but that isn’t true. It’s up to everyone who feels they should not happen to stand up now and support this action.”

 

Broadstairs-based Film-maker Christine Tongue is also supporting the day of action. Christine said: “We are going to film the day of action in Thanet, visiting picket lines across the isle and interviewing workers about why they’re taking part in this national walk-out.” Christine added: “The film, I hope, will be a record of an important and historic event in this area.”

 

The Red Hall will be open for strikers and their supporters from 2pm to 6pm on Wednesday November 30^th.

 

For more information ring Christine Tongue on 01843 604253 or Jon Flaig on  07789 961744

HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND & DREAMLAND

Comment by Cllr Clive Hart - TDC Shadow Leader & Shadow Economic Development Portfolio Holder.

 

"The Heritage Lottery Funding announcement is good news for Margate and for Thanet as a whole. The Dreamland site has stood empty for far too long and as someone born, bred and living in the area concerned, I know only too well how the closure of Dreamland has blighted the town since 2004. 

 

TDC certainly does need to get the compulsory purchase order for the site confirmed to allow the Dreamland Trust to complete their project and bring the venue back into use as a major seaside attraction".

 

 

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

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 

Date Published*	Application No.	Address	Status
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0829	115 SANDWICH ROAD, RAMSGATE, CT12 5JA	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0858	11 ST CATHERINES GROVE, RAMSGATE, CT12 5BD	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0909	4 SION COURT, 3-4 SION HILL, RAMSGATE, CT11 9JA	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0916	41 HIGH STREET, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1JR	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0848	THE OLD GRANARY, SARRE WINDMILL, RAMSGATE ROAD, SARRE, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 0JU	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0884	THE PROMENADE BREWERS FAYRE, STATION ROAD, MARGATE, CT95AF	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0914	6 WELLESLEY ROAD, MARGATE, CT92UH	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0933	CHAMBERS WALL FARM, POTTEN STREET, ST NICHOLAS AT WADE, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 0QP	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0934	CUMMINS POWER GENERATION LTD COLUMBUS AVENUE MANSTON PARK MANSTON RAMSGATE CT125BF	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0902	70 ROYAL ESPLANADE, MARGATE, CT9 5ET	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0915	5 ST MAGNUS CLOSE, BIRCHINGTON, CT7 9UW	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0920	STALL SITE, MARKET PLACE, MARGATE, CT91ES	current
17 Nov 2011	L/TH/11/0875	SLIPWAYS BUILDINGS, EAST PIER, THE ROYAL HARBOUR, RAMSGATE,CT118LS	current
17 Nov 2011	OL/TH/11/0910	LAND AT, NEW HAINE ROAD, RAMSGATE	current
17 Nov 2011	L/TH/11/0921	STALL SITE, MARKET PLACE, MARGATE, CT9 1ES	current
17 Nov 2011	L/TH/11/0864	ROYAL SEA BATHING HOSPITAL, 38 CANTERBURY ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 5BQ	current
17 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0863	ROYAL SEA BATHING HOSPITAL, 38 CANTERBURY ROAD, MARGATE, CT9 5BQ	current
15 Nov 2011	CD/TH/11/0769	19 THE VALE BROADSTAIRS CT101RB	withdrawn
15 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0935	47 LANTHORNE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT103NA	current
15 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0937	THE NORTHDOWN 33 SUMMERFIELD ROAD CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT93EZ	current
15 Nov 2011	M/TH/11/0870	ST. PETER IN THANET C OF E JUNIOR SCHOOL GRANGE ROAD BROADSTAIRS CT103EP	decided
15 Nov 2011	M/TH/11/0879	SALMESTONE CP SCHOOL COLLEGE ROAD MARGATE CT94DB	decided
14 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0912	SOMALI FARM PARK ROAD BIRCHINGTON CT70HA	current
14 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0922	11 LANGLEY GARDENS CLIFTONVILLE MARGATE CT93EB	current
14 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0917	ST. BRUNO QUEENSDOWN ROAD WOODCHURCH BIRCHINGTON CT70HG	current
10 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0919	THE QUEX PARK ESTATES CO LTD QUEX PARK BIRCHINGTON CT70BH	current
10 Nov 2011	F/TH/11/0918	REAR OF 4 RAMS GATE ROAD AND 6 TO 8, VICARAGE CRESCENT, MARGATE	current

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

New documents published by Thanet District Council,

• 17/11/2011 - Meeting held: Nov 17 2011 7:00PM, Cabinet
• 16/11/2011 - Meeting held: Nov 16 2011 7:00PM, Planning Committee
• 16/11/2011 - Publication of plan: Forward Plan for period from 1 December 2011 to 1 June 2012; Cabinet
• 15/11/2011 - Agenda published: Meeting of Nov 23 2011 7:00PM, Joint Transportation Board
• 09/11/2011 - Meeting held: Nov 9 2011 7:00PM, Standards Committee

RAMSGATE PORT & HARBOUR - THE FACTS

PORT AND HARBOUR NEGLECT CONTINUES UNDER TORIES
By Cllr Clive Hart - Labour Shadow Leader of the Council.

 

At the TDC Cabinet meeting on Thursday 17th November, Tory Cabinet member Cllr Martin Wise announced "A Ramsgate Port and Harbour draft master plan has been developed and presented to Scrutiny". 

Now I'm used to ambiguous language coming from our local Tory party but this statement was quite simply 'a fudge too far'.

I have spoken with the Chairman of the Ramsgate Port and Harbour Scrutiny working party and he says he would dearly like to have sight of the document he has been promised for such a very long time now. He waits and waits but despite his constant requests it never comes.

For clarification - the actual facts are: at the earlier September TDC Cabinet meeting the Commercial Services Manager explained that the initial draft Master plan for Ramsgate Port and Harbour was considered to need additional work and that the plan itself had not been circulated to the members as it was considered to need 'further development'. 

It was also decided that a Cabinet Advisory Group would be needed for this 'further development' and on the 6th October I met with Conservative leader Cllr Bayford to agree the make-up of the group. We agreed the cabinet advisory group would consist of three Labour members and three Conservative members. On the 12th October I informed Cllr Bayford and the council that our Labour members would be Cllr Poole, Cllr Huxley and Cllr Fenner.

Yet another month has passed in this sorry saga and my members are all still eager and waiting. As with every other step taken on this elusive master plan project, procrastination and navel gazing appear to be the order of the day and to date no meetings have been planned.

Ramsgate Port and Harbour should be our islands 'jewel in the crown'. Instead we've had eight years of Tory rule at TDC and eight years of neglect.

SHADOW UPDATE

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Cllr Clive Hart - Labour Leader of the Opposition at TDC.

 

"Varied matters such as Thanet's local development framework, air quality across our island, the council's risk management, corporate plan, budget monitoring and scrutiny arrangements were all discussed at Thursday evenings TDC Cabinet meeting. As always, Labour members were present to comment on proceedings and to ask searching questions of Cabinet members". 

 

Cllr Clive Hart - 01843 298770.

 

ITEM 4 - LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK ADVISORY GROUP

 

Cllr Alan Poole - Shadow Spokesperson for 'Place' portfolio.

 

I have two concerns that I would like to raise:

1) The purpose of a Cabinet Advisory Group is presumably to advise Cabinet – why then are there two cabinet members, including the Leader, in the Cabinet Advisory Group……….are they advising themselves or doesn’t the Leader trust the members come up with the right decisions. In my experience the Leader normally ignores any recommendations he doesn’t like anyway………..is the whole process just a waste of time and energy?

 

2) Decisions by Consensus……….at the first meeting of the CAG the Leader unilaterally decided that there would be no votes………there is already a built-in majority - three Tories, two Labour and an Independent, so much for being politically balanced - it seems to me that the Leader is predetermining the outcome.

 

Cllr Alan Poole - 01843 602594.

 

Cllr Clive Hart - Shadow Leader & Shadow Spokesperson for 'Prosperity' portfolio .

 

Speaking on the same issue:

Firstly, at paragraph 1.2 in the report before us it says that at the first meeting of the LDFAG on 6^th October ‘it was decided that it would be

appropriate to refer the matter of Terms of Reference back to Cabinet for consideration and agreement’.

I’m sorry but it wasn’t quite like that. We actually started to discuss terms of reference at that meeting and when you Cllr Bayford were unable to get your own way over your demand for ‘decisions to be made by consensus’ you simply overruled the Chairman and very abruptly called the meeting to a close.

More importantly, the very wording of paragraph 1.2 in this report very clearly outlines the dangers of decisions that are ‘apparently’ made by consensus. Anyone reading paragraph 1.2 would assume the group all agreed that cabinet should write the terms of reference and that clearly was not the case!

I therefore repeat my request, made at that first meeting, for LDFAG members to have proper voting rights as part of the terms of reference.

As for membership of the group, I still find it very difficult to understand how the leader of the council, who is also a Kent County Councillor and a Director of EKO can be a member. With regards to councillors standards we are told over and over again that it is ‘how things look to the man or woman in the street’ that should dictate matters and I believe most people would be absolutely appalled to learn that members are allowed to influence long term financial issues affecting two organisations that they are so closely involved with.

Cllr Clive Hart - 01843 298770.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE - The LDFAG Chairman Cllr Jack Cohen (Independent councillor) also spoke on this item and asked for the wording of paragraph 1.2 in the report (which included the wording - it was decided that it would be appropriate to refer the matter of Terms of Reference back to Cabinet for consideration and agreement) to be corrected. Cllr Cohen confirmed that it was Cllr Bayford who had actually overruled the Chairman, closed the first meeting prematurely and walked out. 

 

ITEM 5 - AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT AREA & DRAFT AIR QUALITY ACTION PLAN

 

Cllr Michelle Fenner - Shadow Spokesperson for 'Shared Services' portfolio.

 

Looking at the map of the urban area on page 20 of Annexe 2, I cannot picture Westwood Cross, nor the airport.

Is this idea of having an urban area taken into account future major sources of pollution such as flights?

It is stated (in para 1.2, page 10, bottom of the page) that it will reduce the financial burden on the Council as less reporting will be required if additional exceedence areas are identified in the future. Isn’t there a risk therefore that more air pollution will go unreported because the areas involved are already included in the urban area?

Isn’t there a risk of spreading the load over a wider area, thus not addressing the real issues, but putting the priority on reducing the costs of reporting.

I was surprised to read (on page 34) that “the LTP3 will not be formally assessed by the Department of Transport and that there are fewer mandatory targets to report against. There is also no requirement to renew every 5 years”.

I hope this is not going to lead to local authorities reducing the management of air quality but I was pleased to read the 5 main themes adopted by KCC (page 35).

Considering these 5 themes I’d like to make a few suggestions regarding the action plan:

Air quality management throughout this document is linked to geographical locations but what about the time element, what about certain periods of time such as week-ends in the summer with an influx of day trippers?

Should we not consider setting up, albeit temporary, Park and Ride facilities just outside the urban area to bring the visitors into the town centres? It is a well known fact that successful tourism implies good parking facilities, toilets and bins. Why not try this option which would have many advantages?

Another point is to do with HGVs driving in residential areas. In my own ward, we have a small industrial estate in Cecilia Road which causes numerous traffic problems and a lot of air pollution with HGVs having to execute very complex manoeuvres to get in and out of the site, and to negotiate very narrow streets because the businesses are not located outside urban areas on designated industrial land. Why not give businesses incentives to re-locate?

As for the bus services, the action plan mentions the improvements in terms of reliability and punctuality. What about the fares? Should we not look at ways of reducing bus fares, so that residents are more likely to use the bus rather than their cars?

My final point concerns the consultees for the action plan: I can see the Federation of Small Businesses in the list, but what about large businesses, such as Tesco’s as they are answerable for a big increase in air pollution, because of the increase in traffic they generate and the increase in HGV movements?

 

Cllr Michelle Fenner - 07766 452 552.

 

ITEM 6 - RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

 

Cllr Michelle Fenner - Shadow Spokesperson for 'Shared Services' portfolio.

 

This is a point I made at the meeting of Governance and Audit:

Looking at the wheel on page 77, the 2^nd bubble in the top right says: “avoid the impact of failure”.I think it should say “to minimise” the impact. This is about the whole essence of risk management because things do go wrong. To think that we can get rid of the impact of failure shows a level of certainty that goes against the principle of risk management.To think that it is possible through a risk management strategy to avoid the impact of failure may prevent the Council from being sufficiently prepared in the face of unforeseen events.

 

I understand that a project management toolkit has been established, will this be made public, can the elected members have a copy of it?

 

I also noticed that TDC intends to maintain a register of risks linked to the council’s business, corporate and operational objectives, and risks linked to working in partnership. Will the elected members have access to this register of risks?

 

Cllr Michelle Fenner - 07766 452 552.

 

ITEM 7 - SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION

 

Cllr Alan Poole - Shadow Spokesperson for 'Place' portfolio.

 

Would the Leader update me on the new rules applying to the feed-in tariff for new solar panel installations as I’m under the impression that the Government has recently changed the rules and we may already have missed the boat on this one?

Some discussion took place and it was accepted that the government had indeed recently changed the rules. However, the Cabinet Member explained that he still wanted to continue with the project to install solar panels on the roofs of Margate Crematorium and the Cecil Street offices.

 

Cllr Alan Poole - 01843 602594.

 

ITEM 9 - REPORT ON PROGRESS AGAINST THE INTERIM CORPORATE PLAN 2011-2012

 

Cllr Clive Hart - Shadow Leader & Shadow Spokesperson for 'Prosperity' portfolio .

 

At paragraph 3.1 in the report before us it says ‘A draft master plan has been developed and presented in outline to the Scrutiny working party’.

This is just playing with words.

I have spoken with the Chairman of the Scrutiny working party today and he said he would dearly like to have sight of the document he has been promised for such a very long time.

For clarification, at the September Cabinet the Commercial Services Manager explained that the initial draft Master plan for Ramsgate Port and Harbour was considered to need additional work and that the plan itself had not been circulated to the members as it was considered to need further development.

Furthermore, on the 6^th October I met with you Cllr Bayford to agree the make-up of a cabinet advisory group to do this work and we agreed it

should consist of 3 Labour members and 3 Conservative members.

Subsequently, on the 12th October I informed you Cllr Bayford and Democratic Services that our Labour members would be Cllr Poole, Cllr Huxley and Cllr Fenner.

Yet another month has passed and my members are still eager and waiting, but still ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Cllr Clive Hart - 01843 298770.

 

 

ITEM 10 - BUDGET MONITORING REPORT QUARTER 2 - 2011-2012

 

Cllr Alan Poole - Shadow Spokesperson for 'Place' portfolio.

 

I am very concerned to learn that the major works anticipated on public conveniences in the draft capital programme has been down scaled – the budget has been cut by 40% (from £100k to £60k). I believe that this is a very important area of our services; already the public perception is that most of our public conveniences need attention and this is not going to help much.

Which public conveniences have been removed from the list?

Cllr Alan Poole - 01843 602594.

ITEM 12 - OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL RECOMMENDATION TO CABINET - SCRUTINY ARRANGEMENTS

 

Cllr Rick Everitt - Shadow Spokesperson for 'Performance' portfolio.

I would like to support the recommendation from the overview and scrutiny committee that more resources be allocated to their work.

Clearly any such decision has to be made in the context of the overall financial position of the council and also by the council as a whole - not just because council agrees the final budget but because part of the role is scrutiny is to challenge cabinet.

Overview and scrutiny is an opportunity for non-executive members to engage with some of the biggest issues affecting Thanet and while at times that may be inconvenient for cabinet it’s clearly not the case that executive members have a monopoly of wisdom.

As the report to scrutiny made clear there is a mismatch between the work the panel wishes to do and the resources available to it. In staffing terms the figure I have been given for Thanet is 0.4-0.5 FTE, which compares with the reported average for a district council of 1.3FTE.

When you look at the sub-committees and work groups established by the panel it is clear that they are covering topics of significant importance to residents. Yet the officer resource level suggests their work is marginal.

If the panel’s recommendations are coming forward when not fully developed, as was argued in relation to the airport working party and is again tonight in relation to resources, then I would expect officers to have the time to advise and support the panel in overcoming that before they are presented.

Personally, I find the scrutiny structure within this authority disappointing, with too few members involved and two many of the sub-committees consisting of the same people sitting in different places around the table.

This doesn’t allow the council to utilise the knowledge and insights of a wide enough pool of members. And if it is the case that remaining members don’t wish to participate in scrutiny I don’t know why most of them are here.

Like all authorities we are under pressure to make better use of the resources that remain available to us. Giving scrutiny greater priority, including increased officer support and member participation, is one way to do this.

Cllr Rick Everitt - 01843 590461

Further items regarding Margate Cemetery were discussed in closed session.

 

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