Minutes of the Marden Community Plan Working Group Meeting held on Thursday 16 November 2006 at 8 pm at The Memorial Hall, Goudhurst Road, Marden

 Present: J Verrall, G Tippen, K Tippen, E Davis, J Banks, C & S Turner, R Adam, K Kershaw, I Balmer Apologies: M Lutener, C Gosling, E Doswell

Min. 65:  MINUTES of the MCP meeting held on21 September 2006 were agreed and signed as a true record. 

Min. 66:               MATTERS ARISING: Min 62 – G Tippen had sent 4 documents. – Min 64 –the Treasurer had received the MBC cheque value £1000  

Min 67:  DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ACTION POINTS - SWOT

This wide-ranging discussion filled the whole of the remainder of the Agenda. The Workstream Leaders discussed the following important points. 

(A) TRANSPORT: R Adam stated it is necessary that the complaints about Rail services should be in the Draft Action Plan. K Kershaw thought that Footpaths should be incorporated with the Environment Draft.  (G Tippen will complete the Draft Plan.) 

(B) ENVIRONMENT: K Kershaw said that there is a gap in sustainability. The Parish Council is looking at acquiring more land for public use. The ponds close to the built areas could be brought under local control. There is concern about noise and traffic in the Pattenden Lane area. 

(C) ECONOMY:  I Balmer saw a necessity for jobs in the village for local people. IT training is a must as is a business mix. (see Environment – The Future of Marden). The village shops etc. need more support. 

(D) SOCIAL & COMMUNITY:  G Tippen stated that major issues linked what could be done to present venues where there are lots of opportunities to improve. i.e. the provision of a Heritage Centre/ bringing businesses together and to improve communications across the community, e.g. villagers finding out ‘what’s on’, etc. Another ‘key issue’ is anti-social behaviour. We had tried to contact the youth of the village for their views but, so far, without success. Other wishes noted from the Open Days are for, another Marden Festival and the revival of the Village Fête. 

Min. 68: NEXT STEPS: G Tippen, the Co-ordinator undertook to pull everything together to form a pre-Draft by 31 December 2006 for comments by this Group and to then send to all stakeholders by the end of January 2007. He asked for any changes to proposed Action Plans to be with him by the end of November ’06. It was agreed that the December ’06 Working Group Meeting be cancelled.

 Min. 69: Next Working Group Meeting – Thursday 11 January 2007. 

This ended the business and the meeting closed at 9.45 pm