The Environment Committee meeting is open to press and public. If any member of the public wishes to attend, please can they notify clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk in advance. This allows us to ensure we have sufficient seats and allow reasonable spacing.
Most of our meetings will be broadcast live on our Facebook page. Recordings of the meetings will be left on Facebook for a few months after the meeting so they can be watched back later. Comments left on Facebook broadcasts during the meeting are not be monitored and are not a way of feeding back to the Council.
Minimum Notice
We issue agendas at least three clear days before a meeting. We display them on the noticeboard in the library, Parish noticeboards on the Village Green and by Enbrook Valley shops, and on our website.
The minimum three clear days for notice of a meeting does not include:
the day of issue of the agenda, or;
the day of the meeting, or;
a Sunday, or;
a day of the Christmas break, or;
a day of the Easter break, or;
of a bank holiday, or;
a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
Meeting in Public
All meetings of our Council are open to the public, except in limited defined circumstances. We can only decide, by resolution, to meet in private when discussing confidential business or for other special reasons where publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest.
Those reasons might include, for example, discussing the conduct of employees, negotiations of contracts or terms of tender, or the early stages of a legal dispute.
The agenda for the Sandgate Parish Council Planning Committee meeting, to held on 27th January at 7.00pm or at the fall of the Full Council, whichever is later.
The Planning Committee meeting is open to press and public. If any member of the public wishes to attend, please can they notify clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk in advance. This allows us to ensure we have sufficient seats and allow reasonable spacing.
Most of our meetings will be broadcast live on our Facebook page. Recordings of the meetings will be left on Facebook for a few months after the meeting so they can be watched back later. Comments left on Facebook broadcasts during the meeting are not be monitored and are not a way of feeding back to the Council.
Minimum Notice
We issue agendas at least three clear days before a meeting. We display them on the noticeboard in the library, Parish noticeboards on the Village Green and by Enbrook Valley shops, and on our website.
The minimum three clear days for notice of a meeting does not include:
the day of issue of the agenda, or;
the day of the meeting, or;
a Sunday, or;
a day of the Christmas break, or;
a day of the Easter break, or;
of a bank holiday, or;
a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
Meeting in Public
All meetings of our Council are open to the public, except in limited defined circumstances. We can only decide, by resolution, to meet in private when discussing confidential business or for other special reasons where publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest.
Those reasons might include, for example, discussing the conduct of employees, negotiations of contracts or terms of tender, or the early stages of a legal dispute.
The agenda for the Sandgate Parish Council Planning Committee meeting, to held on 20th January at 7.00pm or at the fall of the Finance Committee, whichever is later.
The Planning Committee meeting is open to press and public. If any member of the public wishes to attend, please can they notify clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk in advance. This allows us to ensure we have sufficient seats and allow reasonable spacing.
Most of our meetings will be broadcast live on our Facebook page. Recordings of the meetings will be left on Facebook for a few months after the meeting so they can be watched back later. Comments left on Facebook broadcasts during the meeting are not be monitored and are not a way of feeding back to the Council.
Minimum Notice
We issue agendas at least three clear days before a meeting. We display them on the noticeboard in the library, Parish noticeboards on the Village Green and by Enbrook Valley shops, and on our website.
The minimum three clear days for notice of a meeting does not include:
the day of issue of the agenda, or;
the day of the meeting, or;
a Sunday, or;
a day of the Christmas break, or;
a day of the Easter break, or;
of a bank holiday, or;
a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
Meeting in Public
All meetings of our Council are open to the public, except in limited defined circumstances. We can only decide, by resolution, to meet in private when discussing confidential business or for other special reasons where publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest.
Those reasons might include, for example, discussing the conduct of employees, negotiations of contracts or terms of tender, or the early stages of a legal dispute.
We have previously issued PWLB Reports quarterly alongside committee reports. We will aim to do so from now using this standalone format.
The PWLB loan reserve was formed following our receipt of a loan of £500,000 from the Public Works Loan Board in August 2018 for the purchase of land which then fell through. Despite lobbying Government, the PWLB (a branch of the Treasury) refused to cancel the loan and take the money back from us without requiring a six figure penalty fee. They did, however, confirm the money could be retained and invested by the Council.
The Council has committed that the costs of the loan will not fall on taxpayers through increased Council Tax without a consultation on doing so. We have held no such consultation to date.
As such, we placed the full loan amount in a defined PWLB Loan Reserve.
All payments for that loan (capital repayments, interest payments) come out of that reserve.
All income from that loan (currently interest payments on the loan amount) we put into that reserve. The value of the reserve is published regularly (quarterly).
For the first few years of the loan, the costs of the loan exceeded the income (due to historically low interest rates), so the value of our PWLB Loan Reserve was dropping.
As at this time (December 2024) with interest rates higher, the interest received is currently matching the cost of repayments (almost exactly) so the value of the reserve is “holding”.
Although we seek investments with the best return, we want security for the money (so it is all currently in accounts backed by guarantee up to £85,000 per account) and some investments are not open to local authorities, so there are limits on what we can do.
Sandgate Parish Council uses (the excellent) Scribe Accounts to manage our Council accounts and generate reports.
Sandgate Parish Council’s finances are governed by our Financial Regulations and Standing Orders. Every Town and Parish Council has similar rules. Because those rules govern our financial management, we can only amend or vary them by a Council resolution.
Our Council’s Standing Orders require quarterly reporting of receipts, payments and balances. For instance, they say at 17.c:
The Responsible Financial Officer shall supply to each councillor as soon as practicable after 30 June, 30 September and 31 December in each year a statement to summarise:
i. the council’s receipts and payments for each quarter;
ii. the council’s aggregate receipts and payments for the year to date;
iii. the balances held at the end of the quarter being reported
and which includes a comparison with the budget for the financial year and highlights any actual or potential overspends.
The agenda of Sandgate’s Parish Council Finance Committee meeting. We will hold the meeting on 20th January 2025 at 6:30pm. It will be held in Sandgate Library.
Our Finance Committee meeting is open to press and public. Please could any member of the public who wants to attend notify us via clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk in advance. This allows us to ensure we have sufficient seats and allow reasonable spacing.
We publish our financial reporting on the “in-running” budget monthly. So at this meeting we will consider the reports since the last meeting.
We use (the excellent) Scribe Accounts to manage our Council accounts and generate reports.
Sandgate Parish Council’s finances are governed by our Financial Regulations and Standing Orders, and every Town and Parish Council has similar rules. Because those rules govern our financial management, we can only amend or vary them by a Council resolution.
The Council’s Standing Orders require quarterly reporting of receipts, payments and balances. For instance, they say at 17.c:
The Responsible Financial Officer shall supply to each councillor as soon as practicable after 30 June, 30 September and 31 December in each year a statement to summarise:
i. the council’s receipts and payments for each quarter;
ii. the council’s aggregate receipts and payments for the year to date;
iii. the balances held at the end of the quarter being reported
and which includes a comparison with the budget for the financial year and highlights any actual or potential overspends.
We’re now publishing our reports monthly, exceeding that requirement. Consequently we will consider the reports at the next Parish Council Resources Committee meeting.
After many years campaigning by local residents, Kent County Council have accepted proposals for a limited size Sandgate High Street 20mph zone through the centre of Sandgate. This is subject to a positive public consultation and Sandgate Parish Council finding the funding to implement the scheme.
The Sandgate High Street 20mph zone is in response to many concerns about safety in the centre of the village. Many people have made the case that the zone could be longer, or supported by more measures, than is proposed. However this scheme is the very maximum Kent County Council will allow to be installed, now.
The maps below show the extent of the 20mph limit in the area. Essentially the restriction will run along the A259 Sandgate High Street from the junction with Saga / Enbrook Park along to the junction with Wilberforce Road nearest to Homevale House. Roads off the High Street will also be included as marked – Castle Road, Lachlan Way, Gough Road, Granville Road East, Granville Parade, The Parade, Granville Road West, The Undercliff, The Crescent, Wilberforce Road & Hillside.
We need you to express your view on the scheme to give Kent County Council confidence to proceed. The more positive responses they receive, the more likely they will accept implementation of the scheme.
Sandgate High Street 20mph zone: Good Questions
Will the 20mph zone be legally enforceable?
Yes, but as with 30mph zones, the Police time to do so is limited.
The Sandgate Speedwatch team will be able to do their volunteer sessions in the zone reminding people of their speed. With that, and the huge majority of people hopefully understanding the clear signage and need for it, will slow down traffic in itself.
How will the new limit be promoted?
There will be new and clear 20mph signs on each approach to the zone, and the current “30” roundels will be repainted to “20”. It is not proposed to add any speed bumps or width restrictions to the road (it’s loud and tight enough already).
Is a 20mph zone actually safer?
Clearly, the slower you are travelling, the more opportunity drivers have to see and react to “events” happening in front of them, and the data shows there are less accidents.
That’s not to say accidents won’t still happen. However the key point is a crash at 30mph involves twice as much energy and destructive potential as a crash at 20mph.
20mph zones do not appear to worsen air quality. They also support a shift to walking and cycling, generate less traffic noise and reduce the division of communities. In 20mph zones vehicles move more smoothly with fewer accelerations and decelerations.
That’s rather in the hands of Kent County Council, but we hope in the spring of this year if the consultation response is favourable. It will only become enforceable when the clear signage, and associated road traffic orders, are in place.
What impact will it have on parking?
No parking spaces are being lost as part of this proposal.
With luck, lower speeds may result in less wing mirrors being lost from cars at the Hythe end of Sandgate High Street, but that’s only a hope.
I support this scheme. How do I say so?
Please email clerk@sandgate-pc.gov.uk with your name and address and state you SUPPORT the 20mph scheme for Sandgate. You can give any other comments if you wish.
Alternatively you can use the form below and return to Sandgate Library. Please respond (by email or returning the form) by Noon on 31st January 2025 at the latest.
I support this scheme but wish the zone was bigger / longer / covered other areas. How do I say so?
Please email clerk@sandgate-pc.gov.uk with your name and address and state you SUPPORT the 20mph scheme for Sandgate. Make sure you add comments as to what else you would like to see. You can give any other comments if you wish.
Alternatively you can use the form below and return to Sandgate Library. Please respond (by email or returning the form) by Noon on 31st January 2025 at the latest.
I oppose this scheme. How do I say so?
Please email clerk@sandgate-pc.gov.uk with your name and address and state you OPPOSE the 20mph scheme for Sandgate. You can give any other comments if you wish.
Alternatively you can use the form below and return to Sandgate Library. Please respond (by email or returning the form) by Noon on 31st January 2025 at the latest.
The Sandgate High Street 20mph zone scheme we are consulting on is that which Kent Highways would accept being put in place: Sandgate Parish Council have no ability to change it. The scheme is either supported, and implemented as is, and then evaluated, or not. We’ve not been offered “options”.
The Pensioner Just Missing Out scheme supports Kent pensioners in need of help with significantly rising living costs. The scheme is available for pension-aged residents on lower incomes who are not eligible for Pension Credit or the government’s Winter Fuel Payment.
The scheme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the UK government.
Please note – you will need to provide an email address and have online access for energy support activation. Food vouchers will not require online activation and can be issued by email or post.
This scheme provides eligible residents with £200 towards energy, food, or both. The scheme will close on 28 February 2025, or when all funds are spent.
The Environment Committee meeting is open to press and public. If any member of the public wishes to attend, please can they notify clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk in advance. This allows us to ensure we have sufficient seats and allow reasonable spacing.
Most of our meetings will be broadcast live on our Facebook page. Recordings of the meetings will be left on Facebook for a few months after the meeting so they can be watched back later. Comments left on Facebook broadcasts during the meeting are not be monitored and are not a way of feeding back to the Council.
Minimum Notice
We issue agendas at least three clear days before a meeting. We display them on the noticeboard in the library, Parish noticeboards on the Village Green and by Enbrook Valley shops, and on our website.
The minimum three clear days for notice of a meeting does not include:
the day of issue of the agenda, or;
the day of the meeting, or;
a Sunday, or;
a day of the Christmas break, or;
a day of the Easter break, or;
of a bank holiday, or;
a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
Meeting in Public
All meetings of our Council are open to the public, except in limited defined circumstances. We can only decide, by resolution, to meet in private when discussing confidential business or for other special reasons where publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest.
Those reasons might include, for example, discussing the conduct of employees, negotiations of contracts or terms of tender, or the early stages of a legal dispute.
Most of our meetings are also broadcast live on our Facebook page. Those recordings are left on Facebook for a few months after the meeting so can be watched back later.
We broadcast our meetings live on our Facebook page (although we’re sorry: this one was not). Those meeting recordings are then left live for a few months after the meeting, giving you the chance to watch it back later!
The next suitable meeting will formally approve the draft minutes of this meeting. When approved, the Chairman of that meeting then signs them.
The signed minutes of the meeting serve as the legal record of what has taken place at the meeting. Before a meeting approves the draft minutes of a preceding meeting, the meeting may, by resolution, correct any inaccuracies in the draft minutes. The attendance (or otherwise) of the Chairman or those voting in favour to amend or approve of the minutes is irrelevant.
Only if meeting minutes are found to be inaccurate after they have been signed can they then be altered. Inaccuracies in signed minutes can only be amended by resolution at a subsequent meeting.
Sandgate Community Garden Team Diary Entry for 15th December: We wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.
The stormy weather seems to have subsided for now, leaving us with dreary gloomy days with little or no sunshine until it decided to make a surprise appearance on Saturday afternoon. It did mean that we could get to the garden on both of our working mornings, which was a bonus.
With the passing of storm Darragh, we took stock of the damage. The poor banana tree was shredded even more than it was before, the nets were off and it seems the pigeons had taken advantage and moved in, stripping many of the purple sprouting leaves. So we set about covering the plants again. Fortunately the pigeons are not interested in the broad beans, and although their warm fleece coverings were missing, they were still all present and correct.
Two of our gardeners are currently out in Australia for a few weeks and will be spending Christmas there. It is hard to imagine a Christmas in the summertime, which it currently is over there. They got in touch to say that they had stumbled across an amazing community garden they found where they are staying, and forwarded some pictures. It was evident that their banana trees were in the same state as our own, with shredded leaves, but really interesting to see so many different plants there which you would probably not see in a community garden here. We look forward to hearing all about it on their return.
This is the last newsletter for a while. We will be returning in January with the latest news. We will be making visits to the gardens, checking on the plants and of course the state of the netting. The hot composter at the Folkestone College will continue to be fed with food waste over the Christmas period.
We wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Poor brassicas suffered from storm Darragh and pigeon attacksThe broad beans are fine!Australian community garden
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![Environment Committee Agenda 27-01-2025 [Deferred from 13-01-2025]](/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2018/08/agenda-e1535539675493-1568x596.png)
