CRANBROOK PARISH PLAN CONSULTATION DOCUMENT
Second Draft
(April 2002)
Foreword
This is a consultation document, which sets out the Parish Council’s vision of how the Parish should develop in the medium term. It is based, in part, on the results of the Parish Appraisal undertaken in the summer of 2000, the results of which were published in June 2001. The Appraisal has given us the strongest indication yet as to what local people think about key issues and these views are incorporated in this document. Once consultation is complete, a Parish Plan will be produced which will give focus to the future development of the Parish. The Plan will make it clear to the Borough Council and other policymakers what local people want. It will be unambiguous and make for more effective lobbying on the issues that matter.
The Consultation Process
The first draft of this plan was published in the autumn of 2001. Eleven written responses were received, a public meeting was convened in November attended by more than 80 people and two focus groups have been held in February 2002. This consultation provided some useful feedback for the Parish Council, much of which has been incorporated into this second draft.
Further consultation is now being undertaken:
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shops in Cranbrook and Sissinghurst.
Once again, everyone is encouraged to join in the debate and express their views about how the Parish should develop.
Comments, in writing please, to:
The Clerk of the Council
Council Chamber
Vestry Hall
Stone Street
TN17 3HA,
by
31st May 2002.
Executive Summary
Cranbrook Parish Council welcomes Government proposals to strengthen the role of parishes. We particularly support the concept of Quality Parish Councils, as outlined in the white paper: Our Countryside: the future, a fair deal for rural England (November 2000). One of the central features is to free parishes to play a key role in leading and empowering their communities: a concept, which acknowledges that parishes can be more responsive to local needs. If Cranbrook Parish Council is to take on more of a leading role in the community it is important to set out its plans for all to see. The Council intends to review its committee structure and procedures to ensure best value is achieved.
We are fortunate in Cranbrook to have carried out a Parish Appraisal during 2000, which gave local people the chance to air their views on many subjects. We therefore have the substance of what matters to people and through this process of public consultation we have refined a plan of action designed to make a difference.
This plan sets out how we intend to safeguard and enhance the natural environment and character of Cranbrook Parish. At the same time it acknowledges there is a great deal to be done to enhance Cranbrook’s long-term sustainability as a market town. We need more shops and offices to ensure there is a critical mass to attract visitors, shoppers and small companies: we need to boost the economy and provide more jobs. We need more affordable housing for local people so everyone has the chance to stay and work locally. We need to boost tourism and to co-ordinate effort with surrounding areas to sell the area as a good place to visit. That means rethinking transport links, signage, car parking arrangements and facilities for parking coaches.
There is also a need to promote community spirit. Many people in Cranbrook are community minded with some volunteering their time for community work. Yet the Parish Appraisal found many ranked ‘community spirit’ low in their list of things they appreciate in the Parish. A strong sense of community is perhaps one of the gifts a rural community can enjoy and the Plan not only recognises this but also contains proactive proposals for enhancing it. Support for the long-awaited community centre is unequivocal.
With so much work to do it is important to ensure we maintain the right balance between competing needs. The policies and aims for the future are therefore arranged in the plan under three main headings to reflect their equal importance to local people.
Cranbrook needs:
The following paragraphs describe how the Parish intends to achieve these three goals over the medium term with short-term actions identified in Appendix 1. It is intended that the Plan should be updated annually and this will allow us to incorporate the lessons learned in future versions. Local people should continue to contribute to the development of the Plan.
Introduction
CRANBROOK PARISH
The Parish is situated in part of the Weald designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has three designated Conservation Areas – Cranbrook (principally the High Street, Stone Street, The Hill and Waterloo Road), Wilsley Green and Sissinghurst (principally the older areas of the Street). The older buildings and their various traditional materials are one of the main reasons why the Parish is such an attractive place to live, work and shop as well as encouraging tourists to shop and browse. The old-fashioned Market Town atmosphere is quintessentially England and all that is good about it. The quality of life, expressed in the Parish Appraisal, is a reflection of the open rolling countryside, listed buildings and agricultural history: it is simply, a nice place to live,
Cranbrook, the centre of Parish economic activity, has a mixed economy, with education, agriculture, and many small businesses interlocking to create a rich fabric of employment and interdependence. Importantly, outlying villages look to Cranbrook for shops and services.
The people in the town and hinterland have many opportunities for recreation, either organised (rugby, cricket, football) or individual (golf, riding, walking, or in the play spaces provided for the young). The recently built Weald Sports Centre attracts people from other parishes to swim and take part in other sports. There are well-attended music societies, a theatre, galleries and arts events throughout the year.
Cranbrook is a centre for tourism, with its museum, the Union Mill and St Dunstan’s Church, known as the ‘Cathedral of the Weald’. The architecture and historic buildings in the town centre are an asset; The Weald Gallery in the Library attracts 1200 visitors each year. Sissinghurst Castle, arguably the most famous garden in England and one of the most visited National Trust properties (approximately 150,000 visitors in 2000) lies in the Parish and acts as a focus for visitors to the region.
The major ‘industry’ in the Parish is education. Around 3,000 pupils are educated at 3 pre-school, 3 primary schools, 2 secondary schools and 1 private school. All schools in the Parish, both in the public and private sector, are very much sought after and are a source of great pride. This has major implications on house prices, with an effect on staff retention, and considerable impact on traffic movements at peak times.
Cranbrook Parish lies within the administrative district of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Two of the 48 seats on the Council are allocated to Cranbrook, and Sissinghurst shares a third seat with the neighbouring parish of Frittenden. Cranbrook’s parliamentary representation is through the Maidstone and the Weald Member of Parliament. The Parish and neighbouring villages are represented by one of Kent County Council’s 84 elected members.
Cranbrook Parish Council consists of 15 elected members, four of which represent the ward of Sissinghurst. The Council has a statutory responsibility for the Parish’s recreation grounds, footway lighting, the allotments, burial grounds and the Parish property portfolio. The Council welcomes government proposals to encourage closer working relationships between the tiers of local government by establishing Quality Parish Councils. One aim is to give local communities a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their lives and for Quality Parish Councils to provide local leadership in shaping the things that matter. This Plan details how the Parish Council will go about providing that leadership over the medium term.
Towards The Future
We will safeguard and enhance the natural environment and character of Cranbrook Parish, which the local community value so much. However, we also intend to resist any further decline in retail and leisure services and ensure the critical mass of shops, offices and leisure facilities are right for the long-term sustainability of the community. The key areas for development to achieve these aims are:-
A Thriving Community
A Healthy Environment
A Strong Economy
The following paragraphs describe how the Parish Council will develop policies and focus on meeting these needs.
A Thriving Community
A thriving community is essential to the long-term sustainability of the Parish. Social harmony and a strong sense of community spirit are essential ingredients along with policies, which ensure adequate provision for all social and age groups and people with disabilities. Community spirit makes for a safer and more productive environment. Community pride can often be measured by cleaner streets and the absence of graffiti and vandalism.
The results of the Parish Appraisal suggest effort to build community spirit is needed. A ‘Sense of Community’ was well down the list of things people most value about living in Cranbrook, scoring lower than the open countryside, geographic location, shops, amenities and historic buildings. This view contrasts with the pent-up demand for neighbourhood watch schemes. Only 15% of households belong to one, yet another 35% say they would like to join. Over 200 people report doing 3 hours per week or more of voluntary work for the community. The Council acknowledges and supports the enormous amount of good work done by the many voluntary organisations and individuals in the Parish. The Council has a role to play in facilitating initiatives which seek to strengthen our sense of community still further.
For many years the Parish Council has recognised the need for a community centre as a focal point to bring people together. The Appraisal measured 78% in favour of such a building and the draft Tunbridge Wells Local Plan has identified a site for a community building on the existing library site. The aim of the Parish Council is to facilitate the provision a modern Community Centre, whose running costs are met, at least in part, through the rental income from the Community Centre itself, together with shops, offices and affordable housing. The Council is committed to ensuring adequate provision for young people, the elderly and people with disabilities. The Parish Council will therefore adopt the following policy:-
CPC Community Policy CP1 To support the Community Centre Trust Fund in raising funds for a Community Centre.
Aims:
Young People
Our children are our future and the Parish Council intends to work with others to promote policies, which recognise the right to a safe and enjoyable childhood along with the responsibility to learn the fundamentals of good citizenship. This means more organised ‘out-of-school’ activities for the young, more facilities and more involvement of young people themselves in shaping policies that affect them.
Local schools have a significant impact on the social, environmental and economic life of the community. Around 3,000 children daily attend the following local schools:
Pupils Core Teaching All
Staff Staff
Cranbrook School 698 54 115
Angley School 1,052 70 50
Colliers Green Primary School 108 5 9
Cranbrook Primary School 322 17 24
Sissinghurst Primary School 140 9 12
Dulwich Preparatory School 535 81 57
Woodpecker Pre-School 35 - 6
Rainbow Pre-School 44 - 7
The Learning Tree Pre-School 23 - 6
School Sizes, Pupils and Staff Numbers (September 2001)
Young people from the Parish also attend the following schools in other areas:-
Benenden Pre-School Harpers Pre-School, Goudhurst
Benenden Primary School Homewood Secondary School, Tenterden
Benenden School for Girls Marlborough House, Hawkhurst
Bethany School, Goudhurst Noah’s Pre-School, Iden Green
Goudhurst Pre-School St. Ronan’s School, Hawkhurst
Goudhurst Primary School Sutton Valence School
The Council supports the good work which goes on in our schools and will continue to work closely with staff and pupils on matters affecting young people and the wider community. The Council acknowledges the views of young people expressed in the Appraisal and accepts a leading role in facilitating improvements in ‘out of school hours’ facilities.
The Council supports the Cranbrook Rural Outreach Projects for young people, and the valuable work done by the churches and other youth groups in the Parish. The Parish Appraisal indicates many young people feel they have little say in things that affect them and more provision is needed in terms of ‘places to go’ and ‘things to do’. The Parish Council will therefore adopt the following policy in relation to young people:
CBC Community Policy CP2 To support and encourage the formation of new youth groups or activities such as homework clubs, youth clubs and sporting groups to give young people greater choice.
Aim:
Security
The Appraisal identified that 35% of households would like to join a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. The Parish Council supports such schemes not only as an effective crime prevention measure but also as a means of enhancing social cohesion. Whilst most people (66%) report they feel safe when out and about, a significant number (22%) do not. There is considerable demand for more police foot patrols to provide a greater sense of security, thus enhancing the quality of life.
Aims:
Housing
On the face of it, Cranbrook is an affluent area where unemployment is low. The apparent prosperity masks many social and economic divisions and none is so dramatic as the prohibitive cost of housing for local people. There is demand locally for more single unit housing to satisfy changing social trends of separation, divorce and an ageing population. Only 13% of respondents to the Parish Appraisal live in Cranbrook because they were born here, which suggests a great deal of movement in and out of the area. Such movement is beneficial to the community but so too is stability and continuity, brought about by generations from the same families, and there is a danger that these competing demands are out of balance. There is a clear indication of a shortage of affordable housing for local people as highlighted by the figures in the Tunbridge Wells Housing Strategy Statement 2001 – 2006.
The TWBC Housing Needs Housing Survey carried out in 2000, indicated that in June 2000 the minimum house prices across the Borough as a whole were:
Property Size Minimum Price Minimum Weekly Rent
1 bedroom £53,000 £99
2 bedroom £84,000 £124
3 bedroom £112,000 £160
4 bedroom £171,000 £268
The survey also concluded the average household income in Cranbrook was £25,022 p.a. (p88). Mortgages based on three times annual income (£75,000) would exclude many households from the local property market.
House Prices in Cranbrook compared to the National Average (Dec 2000)
Cranbrook National
Detached £238,026 £167,080
Semi detached £149,083 £91,397
Terraced £125,564 £80,196
Suitability of the local housing stock
The total number of households in the Parish for the year 2000 was estimated at 2617 and 141 of these were in unsuitable accommodation for one reason or another: this is 5.4% of all households.
Waiting list
The waiting list for housing in Cranbrook and the surrounding area in January 2002 stood at
1 bedroom need 127 (20 sheltered)
2 bedroom need 62 (1 sheltered)
3 bedroom need 36
4 bedroom need 10
5 bedroom need 6
Total 241
The Parish Council will adopt the following policies to help bring about the overall aim of increasing affordable and sheltered housing provision whilst maintaining our open spaces. In general, the Council does not support any large-scale housing development within the Parish. In-fill and brown field development are the preferred methods of increasing provision.
CPC Community Policy CP3 To encourage developers to provide a proportion of small, affordable dwellings for rental and/or purchase by local people.
Aims:
A Healthy Environment
The Council is committed to safeguarding and enhancing the natural environment and character of Cranbrook Parish. Open spaces within the Conservation Areas should be retained, hedgerows maintained and replaced and tree planting should be encouraged. The Parish has over 40 miles of public footpaths for people to enjoy. The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Plan indicates that Cranbrook has a poor play space per population compared to the average (0.23 vs 0.43 ha/1000 people) therefore the retention of open space will be a priority. The recreational area in the Crane Valley should be improved and new approaches to tackling litter and vandalism will be sought to improve the aesthetic appearance of the area.
Overwhelmingly, the car is the main means of transport in the Parish and the Appraisal showed that there was little desire for car sharing. The large school population (3000 pupils) results in surges of traffic movements throughout the school day. Safety issues and the environmental impact of all this requires special attention. There needs to be more use made of public transport links but services at the moment do not encourage people out of their cars. There are Parish Transport Grants (PTGs) available for providing specialist transport services and the Council intends to work with others to seek improvements in provision. The Appraisal also indicates that over 2,000 parishioners have a bicycle which they could be encouraged to use if there were more cycle paths.
The Appraisal indicates that parishioners are conscientious recyclers, and would do more if they had the opportunity. Along with the Post Office, the recycling centre is the most visited local facility in the town! The community is keen to maximise the products for recycling, thus minimising the number of lorry movements.
The Parish Council provides the following recreation grounds:
Tomlin Ground Rugby and Cricket pitches
The Ball Field Open space with football pitches and playground facilities for the under 11s.
The Crane Valley Playground facilities and skate ramp.
Board Walk and Wildlife Area.
Jubilee Field, Sissinghurst Playground facilities for the under 11s, open space and football pitch.
The Housing Associations provide the following playground facilities:
Campion Crescent (Town and Country Housing Association)
Goddards Close (Town and Country Housing Association)
Turner Avenue (Hyde Housing Association)
The Council will adopt the following environmental policies:
CPC Environmental Policy ENP1 The Parish Council has a strong and active policy, to pursue all available avenues, to enhance the beauty of the open countryside.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP2 Wildlife and their habitats are important to the community and therefore, every opportunity to preserve and increase hedgerows, trees, woodlands, streams, lakes and ponds, with wildflower verges and meadow sites being identified for special protection and enhancement, will be taken.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP3 The Parish Council will promote the maintenance, way marking and use of Public Rights of Way footpaths.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP4 To resist any playing field being used as in-fill, and oppose any proposals to build on them.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP5 Where major development is sought, examples of the materials to be used should be provided at a Parish Council Planning meeting, so that the public can voice their opinions.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP6 To hold regular meetings between the Parish Council and Kent County Council Highways Department to discuss maintenance. The Parish Appraisal highlighted numerous complaints on the state of roads and pavements.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP7 The Parish Council will regularly monitor the state of pavements and bring defects to the early notice of TWBC.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP8 To support proposals for environmental enhancement on farms in the Parish (eg Kent High Weald Projects, and DEFRA Countryside Stewardship Schemes).
CPC Environmental Policy ENP9 Safe cycling: With over 3,000 children educated each day in the Parish, local roads currently get congested at school times. The Parish Council will support proposed initiatives to separate cyclists from cars and encourage children to cycle to school.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP10
CPC Environmental Policy ENP11 Bridleways: To encourage the linking of bridleways around Cranbrook, to enable riders to travel safely, and to encourage toll rides to develop a more comprehensive network.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP12 Signage: The Council wishes to see improved signing of cycle routes and footpaths, from main roads to the centre of Cranbrook. This will encourage tourism and discourage unnecessary lorry journeys through Cranbrook and Sissinghurst.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP13 The Council supports proposals to change the right of way at the Wilsley A229/Waterloo Road junction - change of priority so that through traffic avoids the town.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP14 Traffic Calming: The Council supports traffic calming measurers throughout the Parish, particularly focusing on the A262, Chapel Lane, Common Road and Angley Road.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP15 The Council supports a 20-mph zone in High Street and Stone Street with at least one pedestrian crossing in the centre of town.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP16 The Council recognises the need off street parking in Sissinghurst, with land adjacent to the road on the Jubilee Field (to the line of trees) as a possible site.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP17 Coach Parking: The Council supports proposals to create and sign coach-parking facility at the Co-op (Regal) car park when completed, at Cranbrook School and at Angley School.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP18 Pick-up points: The Council supports proposals to designate a pick up and set down point by the Post Office or the Market Cross for coach parties.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP19 Cycle Tracks: The Council will encourage the proposal for new cycle tracks to link the Frythe Estate to Angley School, and Sissinghurst to Cranbrook. The current Borough Council proposals will need to be reconsidered, as many of the proposed cycle paths do not appear to be viable options.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP20 The Council would like to see more lockable cycle racks in car parks and other appropriate areas.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP21 The Council will support proposals for the green footway at Bakers Cross to be extended to the Cemetery. And a ‘green’ footway from Sissinghurst Village towards the Castle on the A262.
CPC Environmental Policy ENP22 The Council would like to see improved public lavatories, re-sited in Cranbrook town centre.
Aims:
A Strong Economy
Cranbrook has a good mix of shops and a supermarket which attract visitors from a wide area. The Parish Appraisal indicated that people shop in Cranbrook because it is convenient, because they want to support their local shops, and it gives an opportunity for social contact. This also applied to the Mace Shop in Sissinghurst. Most respondents would like to see an extension to the range and variety of shops, with more restaurants and eating places where more people can come together informally.
Cranbrook School ceased teaching on Saturday mornings in September 2000 and this means the number of parents coming into Cranbrook on Saturdays has reduced considerably. No longer do parents do their shopping while their children are at school and this has had a negative impact on trade.
With home working becoming more common, and start-up business being encouraged by central government, Cranbrook has to make strenuous efforts to ensure there is flexible office accommodation, small enough for start-ups, but with the opportunity to grow without relocating out of the area. The qualified workforces such companies will employ will expect a greater choice of services than currently on offer, thus driving innovation in other businesses in the town.
Tourism has become the lifeblood of many rural communities, and Cranbrook and the surrounding districts have a great deal to offer. The wide diversity of attractions for different age and interest groups means that we should be on everyone’s itinerary in West Kent. The attractions include:
Sissinghurst Castle Garden Scotney Castle Great Dixter
Cranbrook Museum Bodiam Castle Bewl Water
The Union Mill Leeds Castle Bayham Abbey
St Dunstan’s Church Bedgebury Pinetum Finchcocks
Gardens of Gaia Owl House Garden Smallhythe Place
It is important that the Parish develops tourism, which can give real economic benefit to the area as well as ensuring the future of our tourist attractions. The Parish Council will work with others to secure an integrated approach to tourism marketing and development.
The Council welcomes the government’s vision to modernise the way the whole public sector delivers policies, programmes and services. The aim is to look at how services can be built around customer needs, not the organisations of government. All levels of government are being encouraged to make full use of the potential for electronic service delivery to improve the speed, responsiveness, quality and coherence of services, breaking down barriers between services and organisations where these slow progress. This will enable different parts of the public sector to work together more efficiently, effectively and economically, to improve people’s quality of life and to meet their real needs. New technology does not do away with the need for personal contact but it should make it better supported.
CPC Economic Policy ECP1 The Parish Council will support initiatives which will contribute to maintaining the critical mass and mix of shops.
CPC Economic Policy ECP2 The Parish Council will critically examine planning permission for any change of use of existing shops.
CPC Economic Policy ECP3 To support initiatives which promote office space in the town.
CPC Economic Policy ECP4 The Parish Council will support government policy for the light industrial use of farm buildings.
CPC Economic Policy ECP5 The newly designated site at Gills Green is destined to become a hub of light industrial activity, alongside existing units in Turnden Road, Hartley Dyke, Flishinghurst, Colliers Green and Cranbrook Common. The Council will encourage light industrial use in areas that have the infrastructure to support it.
CPC Economic Policy ECP6 To support proposals that will improve the viability of farming businesses in the Parish within the guidelines of Planning Policy Guidance 7 (PPG7)
CPC Economic Policy ECP7 To support the marketing of local farm produce through local outlets in the Parish (including the Farmers Market in the Vestry Hall).
CPC Economic Policy ECP8 To support initiatives to promote tourism including the marketing of bed & breakfast and hotel guides, and local attractions.
CPC Economic Policy ECP9 The Parish Council will support the Cranbrook Website to encourage tourists to visit the town with links to and from local attractions. Projects to ‘put Cranbrook on the map’ will be encouraged.
CPC Economic Policy ECP10 The Council will work with others towards providing the technological infrastructure to encourage growth in ‘new economy’ businesses and e-commerce to give Cranbrook a real competitive advantage.
Aims:
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POTENTIAL FUTURE PROJECT FOR THE PARISH
A Day Care Centre for the Elderly – To provide therapeutic respite care for elderly people who still live at home. The elderly, or infirm, who live at home or in sheltered accommodation can be cared for during the day while their relatives, or those who care for them, go to work. This will be the first in the Weald and would require specialist nursing staff, appropriate disabled access for wheelchairs and vehicular access for ambulance type public vehicles.
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A Thriving Community |
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Aim |
Action |
Committee |
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C1. Community Centre: To identify a suitable site or sites, which would incorporate a community centre, shops, offices and small apartments to produce an income stream. |
1. Conduct an audit of possible sites in Cranbrook and critically examine those the Council would actively support for development to meet this aim.2. Consider the feedback from the focus group held in February 2002 on the subject of the community centre and recommend which observations should be taken forward. |
Planning |
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C2. To act as an enabling body providing low cost meeting places for clubs and societies to ensure the best use is made of existing capacity. |
1. Actively market the Vestry Hall with a view to achieving a higher level of usage by the community. The target is 15% increase in lettings by the end of 2002/3 |
Properties |
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C3. To support and encourage others to promote events on Parish Council grounds and to facilitate the introduction of a Cranbrook Carnival as an annual event local groups can contribute to. |
1. Actively market use of the Tomlin Ground, the Ball Field, the Crane Valley and the Jubilee Field, Sissinghurst with a view to achieving a higher level of usage by community groups.2. To actively facilitate the formation of a Cranbrook Carnival Committee before the end of 2002/3 with a view to launching a carnival during the summer of 2003. |
Recreation & Environment |
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C4. To promote and encourage greater use of all facilities in the Parish including halls, art galleries, theatres, etc. |
1. Formulate a list of facilities available in the Parish and promote them in the Parish Newsletter.2. Review the circulation of the Parish Newsletter with a view to it reaching more people. |
Clerk |
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C5. To promote greater access to community services (eg Housing Advice, Citizens Advice, Age Concern) in the centre of town. |
1. Explore opportunities for using Parish Council owned premises to provide greater access to community advice and information services. |
Properties |
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C6. Young People: To establish a Youth Parish Council (a) to ensure young people have more of a say in matters, which affect them, and (b) to strengthen the Council’s links with the schools and young people. |
1. Form a steering group to manage the introduction of an elected Youth Parish Council before the end of 2002/3.2. Make arrangements for £1,000 to be made available for use by the Youth Parish Council during 2002/3. 3. Arrange for the Youth Parish Council to be supported by the professional services of the Council Clerk. |
Main Council |
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C7. Neighbourhood Watch: The Council will work with others to promote Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the Parish. |
1. To raise with the Weald Police and Parish Forum and the Crime Reduction Committee, the demand for more Neighbourhood Watch schemes and to seek support in establishing new ones.2. To raise the profile of Neighbourhood Watch in the Parish Newsletter. |
Council Representative
Clerk |
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C8. Security: The Council will work with the police and others to explore ways of promoting greater uniformed presence in both the town and in Sissinghurst in order to provide reassurance. |
1. To raise with the Weald Police and Parish Forum and the Crime Reduction Committee, the need for a greater uniform presence. Lobby for improvements.2. To bring the need for a greater uniform presence to the attention of the Area Police Commander. Lobby for improvements. |
Council Representative Full Council |
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C9. Housing Needs Survey: To commission a local housing needs survey to provide up-to-date information on local needs. |
1. Request the co-operation of the Countryside Agency and KRCC in undertaking the Housing Needs Survey during 2002/3.2. Request the co-operation of TWBC Housing Strategy and Enabling Manager in undertaking the Housing Needs Survey during 2002/3. 3. Organise local volunteers to deliver questionnaires to every household in the Parish to enable the survey to go ahead. |
Housing |
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C10. Affordable Housing: To discuss with housing associations and other appropriate organisations ways of increasing local provision of affordable housing. |
1. Arrange a meeting with local housing associations to explore ways of achieving this aim.2. Develop a strategic approach to affordable housing need once the results of the Housing Needs Survey (C9) are known |
Housing |
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Aim |
Action |
Committee |
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C11. Sheltered Housing: To discuss with housing associations and other appropriate organisations the issue of sheltered housing for the elderly at affordable cost. |
1. Arrange a meeting with local housing associations with to explore ways of achieving this aim.2. In conjunction with Social Services and TWBC Housing Strategy and Enabling Manager, develop a strategic approach to sheltered housing need once the results of the Housing Needs Survey (C9) are known |
Housing |
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C12. Pointing: Actively lobby to change the requirements relating to the ‘pointing’ of local families for renting housing association properties. |
1. Write to the TWBC Housing Strategy and enabling Manager identifying the needs of the Parish.2. Lobby TWBC councillors 3. Explore ways of providing affordable housing for local people, which do not rely on the TWBC pointing system. |
Housing |
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C13. Identify possible Brown Field Site building opportunities. |
1. Undertake an audit of possible sites, which could be used for affordable housing. |
Planning |
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C14. To establish a Parish Council Web Site to provide more communication opportunities with the public
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1. Commission the creation of a web site.2. Train the Parish Clerk as webmaster to keep the site updated 3. Measure the public response and respond to feedback received |
Finance |
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A Healthy Environment |
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Aim |
Action |
Committee |
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EN1 Design Statement: The Parish Council, in conjunction with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, the Cranbrook Area Conservation Committee and other interested groups, aim to issue a design statement which will ensure developers use traditional materials for tile hanging, weatherboarding and roofing when building infill and other developments. Planting of indigenous species hedging will be encouraged instead of featherboard fencing in rural locations. |
1. Initiate a meeting with all relevant parties with a view to developing a design statement. |
Planning |
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EN2 Disability Audit: To commission a disability audit so that the needs of people with a physical disabilities or sensory impairment can be taken into account. |
General Purposes |
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EN3 Litter: To reduce litter and improve the aesthetic view of the town and surrounding countryside and lanes. |
1. Work with schools to educate young people about their social responsibilities.2. Review the provision of litter bins to ensure they are in the right place and emptied at the right frequency. |
General Purposes |
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EN4 Street Cleaning: To ensure that best value is received from the contractors. The Council will consider employing a dedicated town centre cleaner (to include The Street, Sissinghurst) who will be given the use of modern equipment. |
1. Establish an ‘informed’ approach to street cleaning and litter picking which is responsive to seasonal needs.2. Set up systems to monitor the quality of street cleaning and report the results quarterly in the Parish Newsletter and to TWBC. 3. Introduce systems to enable local people to input ideas for keeping our streets clean. 4. Consider directly employed staff to undertake street cleaning. |
General Purposes |
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EN5 Recycling: To take a lead in encouraging new recycling systems and collections. |
1. Lobby TWBC for recycling systems for plastics.2. Review the position of recycling facilities in the Parish |
General Purposes |
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EN6 Bus Services: To promote greater co-operation with other Parish Councils associated with school traffic, facilitating bus services that are more cost effective and minimising the number of vehicle movements. |
1. To host a meeting with surrounding Parish Councils to explore areas of common interest. |
General Purposes |
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EN7 Parking: A thorough review of parking will be undertaken to produce a strategic approach which gives priority to tourism, shopping and social contact. |
1. To plan and undertake a review of parking arrangements by the end of 2002/3. |
General Purposes |
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EN8 Transport Grants: To consult with other Parish Councils and interest groups to formulate bids for Parish Transport Grants (PTGs). |
1. To support Kent High Weald Transport Projects initiative in producing a public transport survey (to include Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, Benenden and Sandhurst) |
General Purposes |
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EN9 To encourage children to walk to school with initiatives with the primary schools, such as ‘walking buses’. |
1. To explore ways of the Parish Council providing leadership and encouragement to develop ‘walking buses’. |
General Purposes |
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A Strong Economy |
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Aim |
Action |
Committee |
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EC2 To work with the Local History Society, the Windmill Association and others to increase visitor numbers by any appropriate means, including heritage signposting, longer opening times and promotion initiatives, seeking funding where necessary. |
1. To provide a lead in developing and progressing the findings of the TWBC Cranbrook Tourism Development Study entitled: Building on Partnership: A Sustainable Approach to Developing Tourism in Cranbrook (published March 2002) |
General Purposes |