Parish Council Annual Report 2006/07

PARISH COUNCILS ANNUAL REPORT 2006 / 2007.

MAY I FIRST OF ALL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING TONIGHTS MEETING, ESPECIALLY OUR GUESTS JUDITH HAWKSHAW, HEAD OF SPECIAL PROJECTS SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL, LOUISE JORDAN-HALL, CORPORATE DIRECTOR WAVENEY DISTRICT COUNCIL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY GROUPS PRESENT.

BEFORE I GIVE MY ANNUAL REPORT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY VICE-CHAIRMAN, CLLR JEAN PURKIS, AND ALL MY FELLOW COUNCILLORS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND SUPPORT OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS. A SPECIAL MENTION MUST GO TO OUR PARISH CLERK, MRS LESLEY BEEVOR, SHE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND HER ASSSISTANCE AND ADVICE HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE.

IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS THE PARISH COUNCIL HAS LOST FOUR (4) PARISH COUNCILLORS, CLLR LINDA CAPON, CLLR MICHAEL HOWARD  CLLR JUSTIN DARLEY AND CLLR MICHELLE MOUZER.

ON THE PLUS SIDE WE HAVE GAINED ONE (1) NEW COUNCILLOR, MRS RUTH WOODHEAD AND THERE ARE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE SHOWN AN INTEREST AND MAY BE JOINING THE PARISH COUNCIL SHORTLY.

IT SEEMS THAT I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR IN MY ANNUAL REPORT -  THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS HAVE BEEN A BUSY TIME FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL,

WDC GRANTED PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THE MULTI GAMES ARENA TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE PLAYING FIELD AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, WORK WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 AND SINCE THAT DATE THE FACILITY HAS BEEN WELL USED ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASSIONAL INCIDENTS OF GRAFFITTI SPRAYED ON THE POSTS, BUT GENERALLY THE FACILITY IS BEING LOOKED AFTER BY THOSE THAT USE IT.

THE COMMUNITY PROJECT AT THE POLICE HOUSE IS STILL ONGOING ALBEIT SOME AGENCIES NO LONGER USE THE FACILITY DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT. CAB AND ALZEHEIMERS SUPPORT GROUP STILL USE THE FACILITY AS DO THE PARISH COUNCIL WITH THE PARISH COUNCIL SURGERIES THAT ARE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY.

WITH THE SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAMS BEING LAUNCHED BY SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY IN CONJUNCTION WITH WDC, KESSINGLAND WILL HAVE AN INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE AT THE CHURCH ROAD OFFICE.THE PLANNED NUMBER OF STAFF HAS BEEN INCREASED TO 1 INSPECTOR, 2 SERGEANTS, 10 CONSTABLES, 5 COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS, 1 SPECIAL SERGEANT AND 5 SPECIAL CONSTABLES. THESE OFFICERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICING KESSINGLAND, CARLTON, PAKEFIELD AND WHITTON.

YOU HAVE HEARD TONIGHT FROM JUDITH HAWKSHAW ABOUT THE LIBRARY / VERY SHELTERED HOUSING UNIT. I WILL ADD NOTHING TO WHAT SHE HAS SAID THAT OTHER THAN THERE IS A SMALLER SUB GROUP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF CLLR JEAN PURKIS. THIS IS WORKING WITH SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL TO FUND AND EQUIP THE COMMUNITY SIDE OF THE LIBRARY PROJECT. THIS ALSO INVOLVES GETTING SERVICES TO COME INTO KESSINGLAND AND USE THE NEW FACILITY. THERE ARE ENCOURAGING SIGNS THAT THIS FACILITY WILL BE WELL USED, WITH A NUMBER OF AGENCIES EXPRESSING AN INTEREST.

IT IS HOPED THAT SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES IN THE PARISH PLAN WILL NOW BE COMPLETED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE LIBRARY PROJECT.

THE ISSUES SURROUNDING BEACONSFIELD ROAD WHICH WERE REPORTED LAST YEAR HAS NOW ALL BEEN RESOLVED AND BEACONSGFIELD ROAD IS NOW OPEN AS A BYWAY.

THE TRANSPORT PLAN THAT I REPORTED ON LAST YEAR IS ONE OF THE YEARS DISAPPOINTMENTS. HAVING BEEN PROMISED BY SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL THAT THE LOCAL ACTION TRANSPORT PLAN WOULD BE PUBLISHED AT THE END OF 2006, WHICH WOULD DETAIL ALL THE WORKS TO BE COMPLETED IN KESSINGLAND, THE PARISH COUNCIL WERE INFORMED BY SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL HIGHWAYS THAT THE PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT HAD BEEN SHELVED DUE TO LACK OF FINANCE AND PRIORITY HAVING TO BE GIVEN TO PROJECTS THAT WERE DETERMINED BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL STOP PURSUING SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL TO MAKE KESSINGLAND A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE, IT JUST MEANS THAT THIS MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO GET WHAT WE WANT FOR THE COMMUNITY

I SPOKE LAST YEAR ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL SETTING UP AN EMERGENCY COMMITTEE WITH A VIEW OF ESTABLISHING AN EMERGENCY STRATEGY FOR KESSINGLAND. AFTER MAKING A REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WORK IS NOW UNDERWAY TO COME UP WITHAN EMERGENCY STRATEGY FOR KESSINGLAND.THIS IS NOT JUST TO COVER COASTAL FLOODING AND OTHE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, BUT TO BE A GENERAL STRATEGY TO BE ADOPTED IN ALL EMERGENCIES. IN RECENT MONTHS WE HAVE SEEN ISSUES OF FLOODING, BIRD FLU AND PROPERTIES BEING EVACUATED BECAUSE OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD. HAPPILY NOT IN KESSINGLAND BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL OCCUR IN THE FUTURE. THE COMMUNITY WILL BE KEPT INFORMED IF THE PROGRESS MADE AND THERE WILL BE A NEWSLETTER LATER IN THE YEAR SETING OUT THE FINAL PLAN.

I SAID LAST YEAR THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL ISSUES THAT THIS PARISH COUNCIL CAME INTO CONFLICT WITH WHEN DEALING WITH WDC. IT WAS MAINLY AROUND PLANNING.

THE PARISH COUNCIL HAVE WORKED HARD, NOT JUST OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS BUT FOR SOME TIME NOW, TO TRY AND GET WDC TO BECOME MORE " USER FRIENDLY" WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES RELATING TO KESSINGLAND. I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT THIS HARD WORK AND ALSO THE INTERVENTION OF LOUISE JORDAN-HALL IN SOME AREAS, HAS IMPROVED THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN WDC AND THE PARISH COUNCIL. THE PARISH COUNCIL GETS MORE INVITATIONS TO ATTEND SEMINARS AND CONSULTATION GROUPS WHERE THE ISSUES AFFECT KESSINGLAND. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE WHEN DEALING RECENTLY WITH THE SITE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS, WHICH IS PART OF THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK. ALL RESIDENTS AND THE PARISH COUNCIL WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNTITY TO COMMENT AND GIVE THEIR OPINIONS  WHICH THE PARISH COUNCIL DID FIRMLY OBJECTING TO ALL THE SITES PROPOSED EXCEPT THE ASHLEY NURSERIES SITE WHERE IT WAS FELT THAT SOMETHING COULD BE DONE THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE WDC RECOGNISED THE VALUE OF THE PARISH COUNCILS INPUT WAS THE CONSULTATION PROCESS SURROUNDING THE WAVENEY PROSPECTUS.

THE PROSPECTUS WHICH WAS COMMISSIONED BY WDC IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EAST OF ENGLAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WAVENEY COMMUNITY FORUM AND WAVENEY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP WAS CARRIED OUT BY PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPER AND AIMED TO ESTABLISH AN INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNTIY REGENERATION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND BEYOND, IT SETS OUT A DELIVERY PLAN THAT MUST BE SHARED BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS - PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY - AND EFFECTIVELY RESPONDS TO THE AREAS KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.

THE DRAFT REPORT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT KESSINGLAND FEATURES IN THE REPORT ALONG WITH LOWESTOFT AND THE 4 MARKET TOWNS OF SOUTHWOLD, BECCLES, BUNGAY AND HALESWORTH.

IT HIGHLIGHTS THAT KESSINGLAND PERHAPS NEEDS DEVELOPMENT  OF NEW BUSINESSES AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN EXPANSION OF EXISTING PROGRAMMES AROUND INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPING THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT SUGGESTS THAT MOBILE MULTI AGENCY TEAMS SHOULD REACH OUT TO AREAS AND MAKE USE OF THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRES AND THAT THE SUFFOLK LEARNING NETWORK COULD PROVIDE TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS IN KESSINGLAND.

IN RESPECT OF TRANSPORT IT STATES THAT KESSINGLAND URGENTLY NEEDS AN IMPROVED TRANSPORT LINK BETWEEN THE VILLAGE AND THE NEAREST MAJOR MEDICAL CENTRE , JAMES PAGET HOSPITAL GORLESTON.

LASTLY IT RECOMMENDS THAT ALL TOWNS AND KESSINGLAND SHOULD AIM TO DEVELOP CROSS SECTOR TOWN/VILLAGE PARTNERSHIPS TO PLAY A STRATEGIC AND SERVICE DELIVERY ROLE FOR KEY TOWN/ TOWN CENTRE NEEDS.

IN ANOTHER MOVE A MEMBER OF THE PARISH COUNCIL ATTENDS MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH WDC AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE 4 TOWNS. THIS IS TO HAVE AN INPUT INTO THE FUTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SURROUNDING THE RESTRUCTURE OF COUNTY, DISTRICT TOWN AND PARISH COUNCILS.

I MENTIONED LAST YEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD IT IN MIND TO DEVOLVE SOME POWERS FROM COUNTY COUNCIL AND DISTRICT COUNCIL DOWN TO PARISH COUNCIL LEVEL. THERE WILL BE LEGISLATION AT THE END OF THIS YEAR THAT WILL CREATE THE MECHANISM FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE AND IN THIS AREA KESSINGLAND PARISH COUNCIL ARE BEING ASKED TO WORK WITH WDC AND THE LEADERS OF BECCLES, SOUTHWOLD, BUNGAY AND HALESWORTH TOWN COUNCILS TO ACHIEVE  POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIPS ON  DELEGATED POWERS AND SERVICES,.

THAT KESSINGLAND IS BEING ASKED TO PARTICIATE IN THESE CONSULTATIONS IS A BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WDC WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING ISSUES AND MONETARY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLANNING PROCESS. BUT IN GENERAL TERMS AFTER A NUMBER OF YEARS WHERE THE PARISH COUNCIL HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET RECOGNITION FROM WDC, SOME REWARD IS NOW BEING SEEN AND WE ARE A FAST BECOMING A VOICE TO BE LISTENED TO IN RESPECT OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS STILL THE PARISH COUNCIL POLICY THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT ISSUES EFFECT KESSINGLAND AND HOW THE PARISH COUNCIL PROPOSE TO DEAL WITH THEM, BE IT TO DO WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AT DISTRICT OR COUNTY LEVEL OR PURELY LOCAL ISSUES.

THE NEWSLETTER IS ONE WAY OF PASSING ON THIS INFORMATION, THERE IS THE PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE FOR THOSE WITH ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, AND THERE IS THE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES AT THE COMMUNITY POLICE HOUSE IN CHURCH ROAD.

LAST YEAR THE COMMUNITY WERE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE USE OF THEM AS A WAY OF MAKING THEIR CONCERNS KNOWN TO THE PARISH COUNCIL. IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE WE CANNOT UNDERTAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION OR SEEK THE CORRECT ADVICE, WHICH WOULD ALLAY ANY SENSE OF GRIEVANCE OR CONCERN. SO PLEASE USE THE SURGERY FACILITY, THE DATES ARE PUBLISHED AND DISPLAYED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND THE VILLAGE

I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF MAKING THIS REPORT THAT THE LAST YEAR HAD BEEN A BUSY TIME FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL, OVER THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS THE TREND IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE. ALL PARISH COUNCILLORS WHO WORK VOLUNTARILY ON YOUR BEHALF, WILL HAVE MORE CONSULTATION DOCUMENTS AND MORE LEGISLATION TO CONSIDER,

THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL ALSO BE CONTINUING WITH ITS WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, BEING INVOLVED WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS AND OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT NOW COME INTO THE VILLAGE. IT IS HOPED THAT MORE WILL FOLLOW

I CONCLUDE THIS REPORT BY THANKING YOU ALL AND OUR GUESTS FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT AND I HOPE I HAVE GIVEN YOU ALL SOME IDEA OF THE WORK THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL UNDERTAKES ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.