Jenny Bowles, Milton Regis Society asked the following questions:

When were the toilets going to be re-opened? One shopkeeper is often being asked by the public for permission to use his toilet although they are not a customer.  Response provided - Public conveniences were being discussed by Members at the Environmental Services and Climate Change Committee on the evening of Thursday 10 July 2025. After the meeting it was hoped that the future of such facilities would be determined.

The High Street was plagued with waste bins permanently left out. Having spoken to residents, they thought it was their right to do so.  The bins spilled over onto the pavement and in the summer they smelled foul. This had only occurred in recent years.  Would it be possible for them to be collected from the back of the property (where possible e.g. the Post Office) which was probably what happened in the past? The Milton Regis Society did understand that there was a difference between Council owned bins and contract bins. Response provided - The question suggested that these bins are commercial contract bins that have been provided privately. A friendly word from a concerned party was often enough to resolve the issue. However, if the bins were left out all week and were causing issues such as blocking pavements/ odours/ litter etc then the council had powers to act. Environmental issues may be reported to the council online www.swale.gov.uk  or via the call centre 01795 417850. SBC Councillors for the area agreed to do a ward walkabout to understand where the problems were and to identify possible solutions.

In recent months, the Milton Regis Society had been outraged by the over-sized shop signs and the lurid colours that some shop keepers had used to paint their shop-fronts.  Some blatantly flout the Conservation Area rules but some were unaware.  Would it be possible to have a standardised set of rules, "dos and don'ts", to be given to all on a yearly basis? This would save a lot of work for the Council and a lot of anxiety in general. Response provided – The Council had an adopted SPG (Supplementary Planning Guidance) on shopfronts, any new shopfronts within a conservation area should have relevant planning permissions in place. https://swale.gov.uk/your-council/publications/planning-and-planning-policy/the-design-of-shopfront-signs-and-advertisements . Submit an online form for reporting a planning breach if concerned about non-compliance. Further details could be found here: https://swale.gov.uk/planning-and-regeneration/planning-breaches-and-enforcement/report-a-breach-of-planning-consent. It was agreed to explore providing a “dos and don’ts” list with the Heritage Officer.

Roger Harris asked if the following question could be raised in his absence:

Some time ago the twinning boards were removed from the Town Welcome Signs. Why were the signs removed and did the Council intend to replace them in the very near future. Response provided - In 2011 Sittingbourne and Milton Twinning Association decided to call an end to the town's association with the Belgium city of Ypres after more than 45 years of ties between the two communities. However, there was still a relationship and a civic commitment as part of the Civic Journey of Remembrance. The signs were replaced under a previous administration’s ‘Delivering for You’ scheme which aimed at basic tidying up of the infrastructure across the Borough – signs, benches, bins. At the time Cabinet discussed and agreed designs and opted to move away from ‘civic’ style signs for preference over more modern styles. It was at that point that the twinning signs were removed. The signs and posts had been designed in a way that subsequent panels could be added. If it was found that it was permissible to have a sign reflecting an informal relationship with Ypres and the resident was to suggest to Councillors that they want them replaced, Councillors from the committee could refer it to Policy and Resources to consider earmarking funds for the signs.

Mr Jackie Davidson gave updates on the following issues:

·       The re-establishment of a local public transport group;

·       the recent increase in price of bus tickets were not being passed onto bus operators;

·       the need for a bus depot in Swale; and

·       the lack of a railway service between Sheerness and Dover.

The Chair said that the Sittingbourne Area Committee representatives on the Swale Local Bus Forum would take Mr Davidson’s comments to the next meeting. He also confirmed that representatives from Chalkwell, Stagecoach and Southeastern Railway would be attending the September Sittingbourne Area Committee meeting.