Minutes of Previous Meeting

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee

 

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 13 July 2015

 

Present:

Councillor Newton (Chairman), and

Councillors Ash, Ells, Fort, Hemsley, Newton, Paine, Paterson, Pickett and Mrs Wilson

 

 

Also Present:

Councillors Naghi, Perry and Sargeant

 

 

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7.           Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hinder and Fissenden.

 

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8.           Notification of Substitute Members

 

The following Substitute Members were noted:

 

Councillor Paine for Councillor Hinder;

Councillor Mrs Wilson for Councillor Fissenden.

 

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9.           Urgent Items

 

There were no Urgent items.

 

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10.        Notification of Visiting Members

 

Councillor Perry was in attendance to address the Committee on items 11, Destination Management Plan and item 12 Parking Charges in Mote Park.

 

Councillor Naghi was in attendance to address the Committee on item 11.

 

Councillor Sargeant was in attendance as an observer.

 

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11.        Disclosures by Members and Officers

 

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

 

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12.        Disclosures of Lobbying

 

Councillors Mrs Wilson and Ells declared they had been lobbied on item 12 Parking Charges at Mote Park.

 

Councillor Paine declared he had been lobbied in the past on the introduction of parking charges at Mote Park.

 

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13.        To consider whether any items should be taken in private because of the possible disclosure of exempt information

 

RESOLVED:  That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

 

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14.        Minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2015

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.

 

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15.        Presentation of Petitions (if any)

 

There were no petitions.

 

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16.        Question and Answer Session for Members of the Public

 

There were no questions from members of the public.

 

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17.        Destination Management Plan

 

The Head of Commercial and Economic Development and Ruth Wood from Visit Kent addressed the Committee providing a presentation on the contents of the report and the process taken for the development of the Destination Management Plan (DMP).  It was explained that with a DMP in place it would unlock sources of funding for the Council and businesses within the borough.

 

The Committee noted that members of the DMP Steering Group would include two Officers, a nominated representative from this Committee and various stakeholders from across the borough.  Linking the plan with other departments across the Council (i.e Street Cleaning) would be picked up through Task and Finish Groups which would include relevant Officers.  The Task and Finish Group subjects would be identified early on and prioritised.

 

The Committee agreed it was important to ensure all Council service areas were fully included in the development of the plan and this could be achieved by including a representative from each Service Committee on Task and Finish Groups looking at areas relevant to their terms of reference.

 

The Committee also agreed there needed to be a balance between promoting events and protecting heritage when moving the plan forward.

 

Voting

 

That the Committee approve and adopt the Destination Management Plan for the Borough of Maidstone and endorse the Action Plan accompanying the Destination Management Plan provided a member representative from each Service Committee is included in the membership of relevant Task and Finish Groups:

 

For: 9

That Councillor David Pickett be nominated as a member of the Destination Management Plan Steering Group:

 

For: 9          Against: 0   Abstentions: 0

 

 

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18.        Parking Charges in Mote Park

 

Marcus Lawler, Commercial Projects Manager delivered a presentation explaining the background to charging for parking at Mote Park and other plans for the park.

 

The Committee noted any future increase in the charge for parking at Mote Park would be decided by this committee.

 

Concern was raised that residents living immediately outside of Mote Park, who may be affected by displaced parking, had not been consulted on the plans.  The Committee were informed that 1500 park users from across the borough and beyond had been surveyed about the plans.  The Traffic Management Order (TMO) which is a statutory process before parking charges can be enforced, will consult with residents living close to the park.  Any concerns raised by through this process would have to be addressed before the TMO could be agreed.

 

The Committee noted the budget required for the delivery of the project was £87,000 and not £77,000 as stated in the report.

 

Voting:

 

That parking charges of £1.00 for stays of up to six hours (with no return within two hours) be introduced to Mote Park from 10am every morning;

 

For: 6          Against: 2   Abstentions: 1

 

Councillor F Wilson asked for her dissent to be noted.

That delegated authority be given to the Parking Services Manager to issue concessions and free parking permits to volunteers of Mote Park Fellowship, community and special interest groups that already pay to use the park (such as Maidstone Victory Angling Club; Big Bang Productions, Cygnet Model Boat club; etc.); park residents; and charitable or community groups (such as Mencap) based on an agreed criteria;

 

For: 6          Against: 1   Abstentions: 2

That a budget of £87,000 be earmarked for the delivery of the Mote Park parking charges project from the capital programme funding for commercial projects;

 

For: 6          Against:0    Abstentions:          3

That delegated authority be given to the Head of Commercial and Economic Development to spend the budget to implement the proposal to introduce parking charges at Mote Park:

 

For: 6          Against: 0   Abstentions: 3

 

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