MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF GUSTON PARISH COUNCIL
held on Tuesday 15th September 2026 at Guston Village Hall- 6.30pm
PRESENT: Parish Councillors: Acting Chair Cllr. Keith Gowland, Cllr. Matt Sweetman, Cllr. Angela Surendorff,
KCC/DDC Members -Cllr. Oliver Richardson
Parish Clerk: Mrs Glynis Farthing.
ABSENT:
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS/PUBLIC:
4
4777 Apologies for absence:
Cllr. Bridget Porter, Cllr Claire Gurraj, Cllr Ingrid Dodd (DDC), Cllr Tracey Creed
4778 Declarations of Interest
As in previous Minutes.
4779 Minutes of the last meeting
Proposed for acceptance by Cllr. Gowland, seconded Cllr. Sweetman.
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2026 be accepted, proposed by Cllr. Surendorff and seconded by Cllr. Sweetman signed by the Vice-Chairman.
4780 Planning
- Proposal: Erection of a warehouse (Class B8) with ancillary office, associated vehicle parking, van storage, plant, ancillary structures, lighting, landscaping and infrastructure works
- Location: White Cliffs Business Park – Phase 4 , Land Off Dover Road , CT15 5EJ
We have no further information to report at this time. Clerk has emailed the planning officers for an update on the current progress. Comments from National Highways and Public Rights of Way are worth reading.
- Proposal: Guston House – KCC/DO/0112/2026 – change of use to Children’s Home.
An application has been made by KCC to use Guston House as a Children’s Home in Guston for 3 children between the ages of 8-18. There will be supervision at all times. The PC has received comprehensive details of the proposal. They have no objections to the change of use .
Clerk received notification of a request from developers for new signage related to Guston Heights development on the Dover Road. This looks unlikely to be agreed since the development has been operational for some time now.
4781 Public Participation
Chairman closed the meeting for public participation.
Resident has sent in representations from Burgoyne Heights with a number of points, these have been circulated to the Cllrs for their consideration. There is a new Welfare Officer at Burgoyne Heights.
Residents raised continued concerns regarding the Phase 4 planning application and in particular the traffic movements.
Neighbourhood Watch is working well.
Chairman reopened the meeting
4782 Solar Park
This development is expected to begin generating electricity imminently. The replanting of the hedgerows will also be completed.
4782 Farmstead Way (Fastrack)/Burgoyne Heights
Bus Shelter at Burgoyne Heights –Clerk emailed for an update as the shelter was due to be installed at the end of August.
This has been delayed pending other agreements being finalized. We will continue to update residents once we have more details .
Report from Burgoyne Heights – full details forwarded to Cllrs ahead of this meeting:
- Taxi Parking – waiting for updates
- Littering
- Driving and parking issues – these have been reported to both Kent police and Military (Clerk has forwarded the comments to local officer PC Bramble
- Dog waste and replacement bins – Clerk has contacted Lauren Baker regarding the bin on the footpath onto the estate from the Dover Road. They have the bin and it will be installed by the volunteers, however it has been too hot and the ground too hard to do the necessary work for installation. Hopefully within the next couple of months.
- Rats – mainly around the military controlled areas, bait boxes have been placed but have been damaged. This is a matter for DDC Environmental Health. Sewage coming through drains.
- DDC Planning – connected to erection of workshop/double garage. The occupant has been advised that land has to be made good before any sale can be made. Clerk to investigate the planning application.
- Bus shelter – see note above
- History information board -clarification of what area of the noticeboard can be used, front or back?
- Soldier silhouettes – can some be placed at the entrance to the estate given the military connections? Clerk advised that these can be purchased from the Royal British Legion website (they are a reasonable price) permission will need to be sought from the Land Trust . Concerns raised about how these could be vandalized.
- Anti-social behaviour. Verbal abuse of the lady who runs the shop. Youths climbing on the roof of the Community Centre and throwing objects from the top. This should be reported to the police.
- Pick-up truck /car owned by resident in Guston village – using a resident bay in Gibraltar area to park.
- Street sign -Gibraltar/Tangier still awaiting replacement.
- SLOW CHILDREN PLAYING sign – no update from DDC/KCC
4783 Highways Improvement Plan
Still waiting for the new gates. Clerk has email for an update and this continues to be in the system waiting for action.
4784 Dover District Council –Cllr. Oliver Richardson
A by-election was held to replace Cllr Bates. Cllr Ingrid Dodds has now been elected and we will welcome her formally to our next meeting as she is unable to be present this evening.
Local Matters:
- Cllr Ingrid Dodd was elected as your new Ward Councillor in the recent Bye-election following the resignation of Martin Bates.
- Safety issues concerning Swingate: St Margaret’s Parish Council are concerned that this bus stop is unsafe. Joel Mitchell replied on the 7th Sept “Our safety advisor has given her subjective views on the stop. We’ve given those thoughts to KCC as the provider of the stop, given we’re not the infrastructure owner nor the authority on bus stops. We need to see what they decide to do in terms of next steps, and Danny is leading on the conversation to see what we need to do next.”
St Margaret’s PC are not happy with “subjective views” and wait to hear back from KCC
DDC Matters
- Unitary Councils
Last week the Government paused the local government reorganisation programme for review. As a result, the planned transition to the new Kent unitary councils is no longer proceeding on the original timetable – they are on hold.
At present, the DDC Local Elections will now happen in May 2027, as will Town & Parishies.
- Planning Committee
A reminder that as of the 31st October the way Planning decisions are made are changing.
New Government rules will change how planning applications are decided. The aim is for Planning Committees to focus on larger or more significant developments, while planning officers make decisions on smaller and more routine applications.
Most householder applications, small commercial developments and minor residential proposals will be decided by planning officers rather than Planning Committee. Other applications will usually also be decided by officers unless senior planning staff and the Chair of the Planning Committee agree that the proposal raises significant economic, social, environmental or planning issues for the local area.
Under the new system, planning applications will no longer automatically go to Planning Committee because a certain number of objections have been received, nor will councillors be able to refer applications to committee through the current Member call-in process.
The changes will apply to all planning applications determined on or after 31 October 2026, regardless of when they were submitted. The council will update its Constitution and inform planning applicants, agents, and town and parish councils about the new arrangements.
- Free Christmas parking:
Firstly, three free hours parking on the localised planned Christmas events from 3pm – one event each for Dover, Deal and Sandwich.
Secondly, free parking for the first 2 hours on “Small business Saturday” which will be on 5 December.
- Dover District Town & Parish Charter
This was approved by The Cabinet on Monday 7th September
- Heritage Days
Residents and visitors are being invited to explore the district’s most treasured historic attractions for free from 11 to 20 September – as part of Heritage Open Days – England’s largest annual festival of history and culture.
Dover District Council’s three heritage venues, the Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall), Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery and the Roman Painted House will be taking part, offering free admission alongside a programme of special events, talks, tours and family activities.
Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall) – open weekdays: 9.30am to 3.30pm, and weekends: 10am to 4pm.
Roman Painted House – open for specially extended hours for Heritage Open Days from 11 to 20 September, 10am to 4pm.
Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery – open Monday to Saturday: 9.30am to 5pm, and Sundays: 10am to 3pm.
Some talks and tours require advance booking. Explore the history on your doorstep for free!
- Job Fair
The Dover Jobs, Skills and Training Fair is coming to the Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall) on Wednesday, 23 September from 10am to 2.30pm.
More than 30 employers, volunteer groups, recruitment agencies and skills support organisations are expected to exhibit, offering local job vacancies, volunteering opportunities, training courses, careers advice and information about future career pathways.
Visitors will have the chance to speak directly with employers and training providers, learn about apprenticeships and ways to develop their skills, and receive advice and support to help them take their next step.
The event also offers an opportunity to visit the newly restored Maison Dieu, one of Dover’s most significant historic buildings.
Organisations already confirmed as attending the Jobs Fair include Port of Dover, Briggs Marine, Veolia, Kent Police, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, British Army, Viking Recruitment, English Heritage Volunteering, Kent Coast Volunteering, East Kent College, Dover Big Local, Future Skills and more to follow.
- Merchant Navy Day
Merchant Navy Day was held on Thursday 3rd August in Dover.
- Queen of the Waves Exhibition
An exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of Gertrude Ederle’s historic achievement as the first woman to swim the English Channel opens today – with the swimmer’s family attending a special preview event at Dover Museum.
A century after Ederle’s remarkable crossing in 1926, this exhibition celebrates her courage, determination and enduring influence on women’s sport and the history of open-water swimming.
Known as the “Queen of the Waves” in newspaper reports of the day, and as Trudy or Gertie to family and friends, Ederle remains one of the most celebrated female figures in the history of channel swimming.
The exhibition runs from 6 August to 7 November 2026.
- Community Grants
Community groups in the district have been given a summer boost – as a total of £50k has been awarded to 48 different groups as part of Dover District Council’s Community Grants Scheme.
There were many successful applicants to the DDC Community Grants summer funding 2026 , list available.
4785 Kent County Council – Cllr. Bridget Porter
No report available as no meetings took place at KCC during August.
4786 Feedback from Council Representatives and Matters arising from previously circulated material.
There are no reports at the present time. LGR has been paused by the Government for the foreseeable future.
4787 Financial Reports/Accounts/Payments
- The Financial statement for July and August have been prepared and circulated to Cllrs.
The balance on current account as of 15th September 2026 = £103,313.50
- Items for payment: to be made by electronic payment.
MSCAPE August Maintenance £763.42 (SO)
Glynis Farthing – August £1055.05 + £12 exp = £1067.05
Home Heroes (Village Hall Cleaning) £100.00
Home Heroes (Village Hall Cleaning) £125.00
MSCAPE -Sept Maintenance £763.42 (SO)
Total: £2,818.89
Above payments all made
Glynis Farthing – *September £1264.15+ £12 Exp = £1276.15
Total: £1,276.15
Payments proposed for acceptance by Cllr. Sweetman, seconded by Cllr. Surendorff
Audit Completion 2025/26.
The completion letter and audited accounts have been received by the Clerk. These documents have been circulated to the Cllrs in advance of this meeting. The audited accounts have been added to the website and the Notice of Conclusion will be advertised on 17th September. The Auditors advised there were no matters to raise in respect of the 2025/26 Annual Return.
RESOLVED: (b) To approve payments, and Clerk to raise electronic transfers for dual authorization.
RESOLVED: (c) *To approve increase of Clerk’s salary to point 28 from 1 April 2026 and include backpay to April
RESOLVED: (d) To publish audited AGAR for 2025/26 and Notice of Conclusion of Annual Return
4788 Roads, Footpaths and other Parish Matters
- Community Engagement meetings, – Thursday September 24th 1pm-3pm with PC Sophie Bramble. The next meeting is scheduled for: Saturday October 31st 5pm-7pm.
- Display boards for the village hall. Clerk had emailed Cllrs with details of boards which are a reasonable price. These have not yet been ordered.
- Tree survey –Cllr Creed has received a report from Gavin Coles, we need an estimate for the most urgent work. This will be considered at the next meeting.
- Guston Green – Mscape currently repairing the summer house roof.
- Church burglary- this was reported to the police – St Peter’s Whitfield and St Andrew’s at Shepherdswell were also targeted. The police now have a man in custody – he was identified on CCTV and from a fingerprint. Clerk is meeting with Matt Curtis who installs CCTV to get an estimate for St Martin’s.
- Clerk has received an email requesting permission to erect a ‘cake shed’ next to the bus shelter – this was forwarded to Cllrs for their consideration. This will be held over to the next meeting.
- Removal of bollard on Dover Road – Clerk has reported that a resident of Brompton Villas has removed one of the wooden bollards in order to park his vehicle on the grass beside his house. He has been informed that this is not acceptable and the bollard has been reported to Highways to be reinstated.
4789 Items for consultation and other correspondence received
All email correspondence and consultation documents forwarded to Cllrs. All consultation items and news articles have been added to the parish website for information.
4790 Dates and venues for future meetings
Parish Council Meeting: Tuesday 3rd November, 15th December 2026, Tuesday January 26th 2027
This meeting closed at 20.00pm
CHAIRMAN DATE