MINUTES
MEETING OF THANET DISTRICT CPRE

31 January 2003

Dunkeld House, Leslie Road, Birchington

1a. Members present: Mr Mairs, Chairman; Dr Cohen, Vice-chairman; Mr Bridge, Mrs Cohen, Dr Cooper, Mrs Harding, Miss Meakins, Dr and Mrs Neden, Dr Quested and Mrs Randall.

1b. Also present: Mr Clayson and CPRE Kent Director Dr Hilary Newport.

2. Apologies: None were received.

3. Minutes of the last meeting: These were accepted as a true and accurate record.

4. CPRE Kent Director: The meeting was notable for the presence of new CPRE Kent Director Dr Hilary Newport for the first hour, so here was a chance to ask her about CPRE’s situation at county level.

Dr Newport went into some detail concerning the large legacy inherited by CPRE Kent via the will of Ivor Read, who had left £15-16 million to four beneficiaries. Other than ourselves, these comprise the National Trust, Star and Garter Homes and a trust for Canterbury and Winchester Cathedrals.

Some £1 million worth of shareholdings has already been received at county HQ, but things are not going smoothly as CPRE Kent is contesting (alone of the beneficiaries) solicitors’ costs in dealing with the estate; the ‘value element’ charged is of particular concern. Trustees are currently being asked asked to approve a bill of £180,000.

It is hoped that CPRE Kent will receive the bulk of the estate this calendar year, but much of it is bound up in property, for example a builders’ yard in Westgate. It is anticipated that the total value of the legacy will amount to some £4 million, but it might be 10 years before all the property issues are resolved.

CPRE Kent’s lease on its Coldharbour Farm headquarters expires soon, so decisions will have to be made in that department. It had been hoped to buy the farmhouse from Imperial College, but that appears to be a non-runner.

Dr Newport said that much of the Read legacy would be invested and CPRE Kent would effectively live off the interest there would be some investment in property.

Mr Mairs said he thought county would be wise to develop its staff/ personnel strength, while Mrs Randall thought it needed more publicity. Mr Bridge pondered things CPRE Thanet could do that would tie us in more with what goes on across the county, for example the problems of urban sprawl and changing farming practices. Dr Newport was told by several members that we needed to go somewhere for advice, and it would be productive to have a planning expert like Dan Clay working full-time at Wye (or wherever the new headquarters will be).

Before leaving, Dr Newport cheered members by informing them that the meeting had been "the most involved, engaged and interested" she had been been to across the county. Indeed, it had been the most well attended you can only feel for the other districts!

Other matters: Mr Clayson informed members that the CPRE Kent local plans workshop at Wye had been "one of the best days of instruction" he’d had for a long time. He said the CPRE local plans booklet was a godsend, but it was difficult to act as legislation was changing so fast. He did, however, point out that the number of individual representations received by an authority was important, as group representations were treated as just single offerings.

It was suggested to Dr Newport that a similar event be held in ‘east east’ Kent, with Dr Cohen thinking Sandwich would be an ideal location.

Mention was made of the whereabouts of the Thanet Nature Conservation Strategy. It transpired that this had been produced by LA 21 Officer Phil Singleton and passed on to the Thanet Nature Conservation Umbrella Group but it had yet to make Thanet District Council.

Back to the Thanet local plan, and the council cabinet has apparently enquired if Cliffsend Farm can be included within the village boundary, ie can it be built on? This will doubtless have to contested through the plan inspectorate, and a judgement made as to whether it qualifies as brownfield or greenfield land.

Treasurer: Mr Bridge has offered to take on the post of CPRE Thanet Treasurer, so Mr Mairs gratefully proposed him for the position. Dr Cooper seconded the proposal, which was unanimously accepted by the meeting.

INDEX