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Welcome to the WEB site of Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Parish Council.
The site aims to let you know more about the council - the most local level of government for the villages of Cliffe, Cliffe Woods and the Cooling Street hamlet.
LATEST NEWS
There have been concerns in parts of Cliffe Woods in recent days regarding tree clearance in the woods behind their houses and fears that this could be the start of development. However there are no plans for development of any kind in the woods and this work is part of regular woodland management. It does look severe when it is carried out, but is normal coppicing which lets light in to the wood base and promotes new fresh growth over the following years. This has already been done on several sites throught the woods over many years. At no time was development planned and the Parish Council would resist this if it was ever proposed as this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and part of an area of Area of Local Landscape Importance (ALLI). This will also provide a buffer zone between Cliffe Woods and any developments at Chattenden/Lodge Hill
Click here for information about Coppicing
There are two vacancies one in Cliffe and one in Cliffe Woods. If you are interested contact the Clerk, Chair, Vice Chair or any other Parish Councillor. We are particularly interested in people with financial backgrounds.
Each year the Parish Council have to file an Annual Return to the Audit Commission and then display the information and Audit Commission response on our noticeboards for at least two weeks. That time is now up but the information remains on this WEB site. See FINANCE.
Exciting times on the Parish Council, just some highlights of our meeting on the 5th August :
Laura Farrelly of Cliffe was appointed as our Joint Clerk (Responsible Finance Officer), alongside Mrs Alex Jack of Cliffe Woods Joint Clerk (Proper Officer role and primary contact). They will also cover for each other when they have settled in.
We approved the construction of a £50,000 Skateboard Park (also BMX) at the Cliffe Recreation Ground. It will be installed by a company called Gravity who come with a wealth of experience. The design was chosen by local youth. It will be suited for all skill levels. Construction could start by early September. It has been made possible by grants from Youth Opportunities Fund, The Veolia Environment Trust, and Medway Council’s Rural Liaison Grant.
We are also talking to the local football club about constructing changing rooms on the rec. Planning permission is required and we will need some grant funding to add to the parish contribution, so it is not likely to be completed until February/March/April next year.
There is also a further £5,000 available via a grant from COMMA for improvements to the Cliffe Woods Recreation Ground, young children’s play area. We will be discussing options with the site owner Medway Council, in the coming weeks.
We are also looking to modernise the administration of the council with new computer software for payroll, accounts, Allotment and Planning Management.
Cllrs Lisa Mills and Julie Moss have also been working with allotment holders to understand their issues and requirements. New agreements will be issued, with improved clarity on allotment holders responsibilities and procedures to be followed if they are not met. There has been an increase in the number of people wanting a plot and we are trying to fit in as many as possible. If you are interested in a plot, contact the Clerk.
THAMES LOWER CROSSING - PLANS FOR MAJOR ROAD THROUGH CLIFFE AND CLIFFE WOODS
(More Info) (Click here for map)
Thamesside Terminal - the seven year battle :
click here for the Planning Inspectors Report
BBC Report (Click here)
Under the Freedom of Information Act we have also added our Publication Scheme as required by the act. It contains details about the Parish, how it operates and how to request information
Agenda for September 2nd Meeting
Draft Minutes August 5th 2010 meetings now online
Committee Membership Updated following August meeting
New style update 24/7/10 - Links Added, Photos uploaded
The Parish area borders on the River Thames to the north and west, Higham andWainscott to the south and Chattenden, Cooling and High Halstow to the east. It is part of the unitary authority of Medway in North Kent.
The Parish Council is elected every four years (the last was in 2007, the next in May 2011). Up to eight councillors are elected for Cliffe Village ward and eight from the Cliffe Woods ward. If there are vacancies and no nominations, the parish can co-opt additional councillors to make up the numbers.
The full Parish Council meets in public on most first Thursdays of the month, alternately in Cliffe Memorial Hall (Small Hall) and Cliffe Woods Primary School - see meetings for details.
A number of committees take on some of the work between meetings - see committees.Minutes and Agendas will also be available on this site.
The Parish keep in contact with residents via the Cliffe Clarion, current and past editions are stored here.
Let us know what you would like to see on this site and we will see what can be done.
The Parish is paid for by a local precept which is added to the Council Tax. This amounts to £34,390 which works out at just over £17 per year, 33p per week (Average Council Tax based on 2,000 properties - 2010/2011
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