General Meeting - Live - Speaker

Thursday, October 21^st – Steve Bailey

Steve is Chairman of Chestfield Parish Council and will tell us about the activities of the council and his ten years as Chairman.

ROTARY CLUB OF CHESTFIELD

Breakfast Meeting 07.15am, Thursday 21st October 2021 @ the Golf Club

Present:          Dave C, Nick, Maureen, Lesley, Andrew & Jean M, Margaret, Godfrey, David K, Pete, Sue, Marian, David M, Paul, Robert, David B.  Kathy on Zoom.

Apologies:       Andrew B, Elaine, Hilary, Iain, Jackie, Myfanwy, Pat, Pippa & Spyros, Trevor, Reggie.

Guests:           Lesley welcomed Steve Bailey, Chairperson of the Chestfield Parish Council who will be our speaker today.

Grace:                         Said by Paul

BREAKFAST

Almoner:         Jackie not here today, but says that everyone is OK.  Birthday greetings to Pippa.

Upcoming Events:  Gardening at the Whit & Tank 23rd October.  Filled shoe boxes need to be brought along to next week’s meeting, when Kathy will be present to collect them.  Also, please bring old mascara brushes, which Pippa is collecting.

Speaker:         Steve said that the parish council is the first tier of government - but also independent of government.  Chestfield PC was formed in 1988.  Steve has been its chair for 10 years.  Continuity has been important; there have only been 56 councillors, 12 chairs, and 2 clerks in its history.  One of its most important functions is producing the parish magazine which costs £2.5K, but is free to residents.  Steve emphasised that there are real responsibilities, it’s not the Vicar of Dibley!  One recent challenge for him was overcoming his nervousness, speaking at the Guildhall in Canterbury to the planning committee.  Steve has recently been on local radio and TV about the problem of fly tipping.  Not all areas have a parish council or it’s equivalent, a town council.  Neither Whitstable nor Herne Bay has one. 

            In response to questions, Steve confirmed there are plans to create a wild flower and bug hotel area in the parish.  However, it is not always straightforward finding out who owns or administers a particular parcel of land.  Bureaucracy has surprising depths; it was Medway police who said no to positioning a local speed camera.

Any Other Business:  Godfrey confirmed that we seem to have enough people to cover car parking on Saturday and Tuesday coming.

            There were no greetings from other clubs.

            Paul said thanks for the flowers which the club sent to his wife Lynn.

            Lesley reminded everyone that it will be a Business Meeting next Thursday.

Raffle:  This was won by Margaret.

Master-at-Arms:  According to Nick, today is Apple Awareness Day, Reptile Awareness Day, and also Trafalgar Day.

Final Toast:     Was said by Dave.

Next Meeting:

Thursday 28th October, 07.15am @ the Golf Club