Parish Council Annual Report 2007/08

CHAIRMANS ANNUAL REPORT 2007/2008.

MAY I FIRST OF ALL AS CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING TONIGHTS MEETING.

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 12MONTHS THE PARISH COUNCIL GAINED 5 NEW COUNCILLORS, CLLR BRIAN BROWN, CLLR BARRY BURDEN, CLLR LES CROSSLAND, CLLR CAROLE BAISDEN MBE, AND CLLR JOHN POWELL.  UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO ILLNESS CLLR BRIAN BROWN STEPPED DOWN IN MARCH 2008.

DURING THE PAST 12MONTHS THE PARISH COUNCIL HAS HAD TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF ISSUES EFFECTING THE COMMUNITY OF KESSINGLAND, SOME OF WHICH WERE CONTROVERSIAL.

THE MAIN ISSUE SURROUNDED THE LIBRARY/VERYSHELTERED HOUSING/COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE, AND ITS USE OF OPEN SPACE OFF HALL ROAD.

AT LAST YEARS ANNUAL PARISH MEETING, THOSE PRESENT WERE GIVEN A PRESENTATION BY SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCILS SPECIAL PROJECTS OFFICER, JUDITH HAWKSHAW, THERE WAS A POSITIVE RESPONSE AND ISSUES WERE RAISED. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THAT PRESENTATION A ‘ CONSULTATION OPEN DAY' WAS HELD AT ST.EDMUNDS CHURCH HALL ON THE 17^TH JULY. THIS FOLLOWED A PUBLIC MEETING AT KESSINGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL ON THE 12^TH JULY WHERE THE SUBJECT WAS THE SEWERAGE AND SURFACE WATER PROBLEMS IN TURRELL DRIVE, SMITHS CRESCENT, AND THE AREA SURROUNDING THE NORDALLS. THE BUILDING OF THE NEW COMPLEX WAS OF CONCERN TO THE RESIDENTS LIVING IN THAT AREA.

BOTH THE CONSULTATION DAY AND THE PUBLIC MEETING WERE WELL ATTENDED.

IN RESPECT OF THE PUBLIC MEETING THOSE ATTENDING ON BEHALF OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES INVOLVED WERE GIVEN A LOT TO THINK ABOUT BY THE RESIDENTS. COUNTY COUNCILLOR JOHN GOLDSMITH WAS ABLE TO TAKE UP WITH THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THE PROBLEMS RIGHT, THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE RESIDENTS, AND ALL THE AGENCIES ARE NOW AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND HAVE AGREED TO TAKE STEPS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEMS.

AT THE CONSULTATION DAY RESIDENTS WERE PRESENTED WITH ALL THE FACTS RELATING TO THE SCHEME, INCLUDING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE VSH, THE DESIGN AND HOW ISSUES OF SURFACE WATER AND SEWERAGE WERE GOING TO BE DEALT WITH, THEY WERE ALSO TOLD OF THE BENEFITS SUCH A SCHEME

WOULD BRING TO KESSINGLAND.

EVER SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE PARISH PLAN IN 2004, THE PARISH COUNCIL HAVE BEEN STRIVING TO GET SOME FORM OF INFRASTRUCTURE BACK INTO THE VILLAGE; THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ISSUES SURROUNDING HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. THROUGH THIS PROJECT AND THE SPACE THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PARISH COUNCIL THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE VILLAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. EARLY INDICATIONS ARE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SUPPORT AND WELFARE AGENCIES CONSIDERING USING THE RESOURCE CENTRE, PLUS THE DOCTORS SURGERY HAVING SOMEWHERE TO EXTEND SOME OF THEIR OWN SERVICES. THERE IS ALSO CONSIDERABLE INTEREST FROM COMMUNITY EDUCATION, INCLUDING LOWESTOFT COLLEGE AND MAYBE LINKS THROUGH TO U.E.A.

AS WE ALL KNOW THIS COMES AT A PRICE, IN THIS CASE THE LOSS OF PART OF ONE OF THE REMAINING OPEN SPACES IN THE VILLAGE.

WHEN THE PLANNING PERMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY APPROVED IN NOVEMBER 2007 ONE OF THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED UNDER A SECTION 106 AGREEMENT, WAS THAT THE DEVELOPERS WOULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF £50,000 FOR THE LOSS OF THE OPEN SPACE AMENITY. IT WILL BE WAVENEY DISTRICT COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEND AT LEAST 50% OF THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE LOSS OF OPEN SPACE AND THE REMAINDER TO IMPROVE THE ADJACENT PLAY AREA.

WORK WAS DUE TO START ON THE 21^ST APRIL 2008 WITH COMPLETION IN SEPTEMBER 2009. THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD KESSINGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL AND THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WILL BE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE  - ONE IDEA IS THAT THE SCHOOL WILL MAKE THIS A SCHOOL PROJECT FOR THE CHILDREN TO BE INVOLVED WITH.

ANOTHER ISSUE AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY WAS THE PROPOSED SITING OF A ‘T' MOBILE PHONE MAST AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE IN FRANCIS ROAD.  THIS GENERATED A LOT OF OPPOSITION PARTICULARLY FROM THE TODDLER/INFANT GROUPS THAT USE THE COMMUNITY CENTRE.

IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE PARISH COUNCIL WERE NOT AGAINST THE PROPOSALS MADE BY T MOBILE, BUT THAT THE MATTER WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED TO KESSINGLAND COMMUNITY CENTRE AND WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PLANNING PERMISSION. UPON FINDING OUT THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE CHANGES TO THE T MOBILE SPECIFICATION, THE PARISH COUNCIL INFORMED T MOBILE IT WOULD SUPPORT THE VILLAGE IN THEIR CONCERNS AND REFUSE SUPPORT FOR THE MOBILE PHONE MAST.

LAST YEAR I REPORTED THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL WERE WORKING WITH WDC AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 4 TOWNS ( SOUTHWOLD, BECCLES, BUNGAY AND HALESWORTH ) OVER ISSUES SURROUNDING THE GOVERNMENTS PLANS TOM DEVOLVE POWERS DOWN FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILS TO PARISH COUNCIL LEVEL. THIS WAS TO BE THE RESTRUCTURING OF FUTURE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR KESSINGLAND AND OTHER PARISH COUNCILS ACROSS THE UK.

HOWEVER WITH THE FAILURE OF IPSWICH TO GET ITS UNITARY STATUS, THE WHOLE SITUATION REGARDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS IT AFFECTS SUFFOLK AND WAVENEY HAS CHANGED.

THERE IS NOW A REVIEW TAKING PLACE BY THE BOUNDARY COMMITTEE ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THIS IS TO PROVIDE ADVICE BY 31/12/08 ON POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS TO THE ONE MADE BY IPSWICH.

THIS HAS ALREADY PROMPTED STORIES IN THE PRESS AND MEDIA OF A COMBINED GREAT YARMOUTH/WAVENEY UNITARY COUNCIL UNDER THE NAME OF ‘YARTOFT' . THIS IS ONLY ONE OF THE OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE BOUNDARY COMMITTEE.

BY JULY 2008 THE BOUNDARY COMMITTEE WILL HAVE PUBLISHED THEIR DRAFT PROPOSALS, WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION ENDING AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

IT IS THE PARISH COUNCILS INTENTION THAT AS SOON AS THE CONSULATION DOCUMENT IS PUBLISHED AND THE FULL FACTS ARE KNOWN, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN KESSINGLAND TO OBTAIN THE COMMUNITIES VIEWS. THIS MAY BE THROUGH A PUBLIC MEETING OR BY QUESTIONNAIRE, BUT WHICHEVER METHOD IS USED THE COMMUNITY WILL BE URGED TO SUPPORT THE PARISH COUNCILS INITATIVE AS IT WILL HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF KESSINGLAND AND WHERE IT STANDS IN THE RE-DRAWN MAP OF SUFFOLK.

WITH REGARDS TO THE PARISH PLAN AT THE END OF 2007 A FULL

REVIEW WAS UNDERTAKEN OF THE PARISH PLAN 2004 TO SEE WHAT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED AND WHAT ISSUES STILL NEED TO BE DEALT WITH. A COPY OF THE REVIEW HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO SUFFOLK ACRE, WHO ADVISED THE PARISH COUNCIL ON THE 2004 PLAN, TO OBTAIN THEIR OPINION ON HOW THE PARISH COUNCIL SHOULD PROCEED.  THERE WILL BE ANOTHER COMMUNITY CONSULTATION WITH A VIEW OF PREPARING A NEW PLAN. AS WITH THE 2004 PLAN THERE WILL BE THE FORMING OF A WORKING PARTY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COUNCILLORS TO TAKE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.

THE COMMUNITY WILL BE KEPT INFORMED THROUGH THE PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER AND WEBSITE, PLUS THE KESSINGLAND BROADLAND TIMES AND THE KESSINGLAND LOCAL.

LAST YEAR SAW THE FORMATION OF THE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE AND IN NOVEMBER 2007 THE EMERGENCY PLAN AND PROTOCOL DOCUMENT WAS PUBLISHED. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF HARD WORK WAS PUT IN BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND A GROUP OF PARISH COUNCILLORS TO ARRIVE AT THE FINAL DOCUMENT.

IN NOVEMBER 2007 WHEN THE EAST COAST WAS HIT BY EXCEPTIONAL SURGE TIDES, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE FLOODING IS SOME AREAS OF NORFOLK/SUFFOLK, USING THE EMERGENCY PLAN FOR KESSINGLAND; MEMBERS OF THE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE WERE ABLE TO BE ON STAND BY SHOULD THERE HAVE BEEN ANY PROBLEMS IN THE VILLAGE. ON THE 11^TH MARCH 2008 A ‘DESK TOP' EXERCISE WAS ORGANISED BY WDC/SCC EMERGENCY PLANNING OFFICER TO TEST KESSINGLAND'S EMERGENCY PLAN. I AM HAPPY TO SAY IT WAS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT.

IT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY A NUMBER OF AGENCIES INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND IS BEING RECOMMENDED BY WDC/SCC EMERGENCY PLANNING OFFICERS AS A MODEL FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO PREPARE THEIR OWN EMERGENCY PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

THE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE WILL PUBLISH PERIODICALLY A NEWSLETTER AND THE FULL EMERGENCY PLAN IS AVAILABLE FOR READING ON THE PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE.

LAST YEAR I MENTIONED THE WAVENEY PROSPECTUS, WHICH DEALT WITH THE INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY REGENERATION.

IN JANUARY 2008 WDC PUBLISHED THEIR CORE STRATEGY, WHICH SETS OUT THE COUNCILS OVERALL APPROACH TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, WHERE IT SHOULD TAKE PLACE AND FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

ONE OF THE DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED WAS THE ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES TO THE CORE STRATEGY PREFERRED OPTIONS. SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TOOK PART AND THEIR CONCERNS COVERED PLANNING, LACK OF OPEN SPACES, DRAINAGE AND FLOODING ISSUES, LACK OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES.

IN THAT DOCUMENT WDC HAVE GONE ON RECORD STATING THAT THEY RECOGNISE THAT KESSINGLAND HAS A LACK OF OPEN SPACE AND THAT THERE ARE DRAINAGE AND FLOODING ISSUES. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THOSE ISSUES WILL FORM PART OF THEIR CORE STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE.

IN RESPECT OF PLANNING ISSUES WDC ARE ON RECORD SAYING THAT "KESSINGLAND HAD EXPERIENCED CONSIDERABLE HOUSING GROWTH OVER THE PAST TWO OR THREE DECADES AND REQUIRES A PERIOD OF SOCIAL CONSOLIDATION, DURING WHICH EFFORTS CAN SHIFT TOWARDS ADDRESSING SERVICE AND FACILITY SHORTFALLS. SOME DEVELOPMENT WILL CONTINUE, BUT IT IS ONLY EXPECTED TO BE SMALL SITES OF FEW DWELLINGS."

IF THESE COMMENTS ARE ADOPTED AS PLANNING POLICIES THEN THERE SHOULD BE A SLOW DOWN IN FUTURE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE VILLAGEAND OTHER ISSUES LIKE LACK OF OPEN SPACE AND DRAINAGE/FLOODING ISSUES SHOULD TAKE CENTRE STAGE, TO THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

MOVING ON TO OTHER ISSUES, WHICH HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE PARISH COUNCIL.

RECENTLY A GROUP OF PARISH COUNCILLORS AND THE PARISH CLERK MET WITH WDC PLANNING TO DISCUSS LOOKING AT WAYS S106 MONEY IS ALLOCATED TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS. THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING ISSUE AND UPDATES WILL BE REPORTED BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER.

IN RELATION TO THE VILLAGE SIGN THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE HIGH STREET OPPOSITE THE KINGS HEAD PH, BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS BEHIND A HEDGE THE SIGN HAS NOW BEEN TAKEN DOWN TO BE RENOVATED AND WILL BE ERECTED ON A NEW SITE AT THE CORNER OF THE HIGH STREET AND WHITES LANE, OPPOSITE LIVINGSTONES FACING THE A12 ROUNDABOUT.

ON THE 4^TH MARCH, PARISH COUNCILLORS MET WITH THE YOUTH AT THE VILLAGE HANG OUT; THIS WAS TO DISCUSS ISSUES SURROUNDING THE YOUTH OF THE VILLAGE AND THE LACK OF FACILITIES FOR THEM. THE MAIN COMPLAINT WAS FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED FOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN AND THE OLDER AGE GROUPS AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE FOR THE AGE GROUP 13 - 19, AND WHY WAS THE OPEN SPACE AT HALL ROAD BEING BUILT ON WHEN THERE IS A LACK OF SPACE WITHING THE VILLAGE. AMONGNTHE FACILITIES THEY WANTED TO SEE WAS A SKATEBOARD PARK AND TEEN SHELTERS.

THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSION; THE YOUTH PRESENT PUT THEIR CASE FORWARD ALBEIT IN SOME WAYS THEY HAD NOT THOUGHT THINGS THROUGH. THEY WERE TOLD THAT WITH REGARDS THE SKATEBOARD FACILITY; THIS MAY NOT BE A VIABLE PROJECT AS THERE MAY BE PROBLEMS SURROUNDING COST-INSURANCE - SOMEWHERE TO PLACE THE FACILITY. HOWEVER THE TEEN SHELTERS WERE A VIABLE PROJECT AND THEY WOULD BE LOOKED INTO.

AT THE END OF THE MEETING IT WAS AGREED BY THE YOUTH AND THE PARISH COUNCIL THAT A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL SHOULD BE KEPT OPEN, AND AN INVITATION WAS EXTENDED TO THE YOUTH THAT THEY COULD IF THEY WISHED TO DO SO ATTEND PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS.

WITH REGARDS TO THE MUGA (MULTI USE GAMES ARENA) AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE THIS HAS KNOW BEEN FITTED WITH FLOODLIGHTS, SEATS AND A LITTER BIN. THE INSTALLATION OF FLOODLIGHTS MEANS THAT NOW IT CAN BE USED ALL THE YEAR ROUND. THE LIGHTS WILL RUN OFF OF A METER FOR WHICH THERE WILL BE A CHARGE AND THERE WILL ALSO BE A SMALL DEPOSIT TO COVER THE RETURN OF THE KEY. IT WILL OPERATE ON A BOOKING SYSTEM THAT WILL BE CONTROLLED BY THE PARISH COUNCIL.  A VOTE OF THANKS MUST GO TO CLLR PURKIS FOR ARRANGING TO GET THE WORK CARRIED OUT. THE FINANCE CAME FROM THE LOTTERY FUNDING. THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY LEFT IN THE POT AND THIS WILL GO TOWARDS PAYING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF BICYCLE RACKS, SOMETHING PICKED UP ON THE LATEST ROSPA REPORT.

ALLOTMENTS CONTINUE TO BE WELL SUPPORTED AND CLLR LAWSON IS TO BE THANKED FOR ALL HER HARD WORK SHE HAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.

IN RESPECT OF QUALITY PARISH STATUS, THE PARISH COUNCIL ARE STILL CONTINUING TO WORK TOWARDS GAINING QPS AND MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED. A LOT OF WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY THE COUNCIL AND THE PARISH CLERK, AND HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR WILL SEE A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN A BUSY TIME FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL AND THE TREND IN THE COMING YEAR IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE MANY CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ORGANISED AND RUN ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. THE BOUNDARY COMMITTEE'S ADVICE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE DECISION FINALLY TAKEN WILL DETERMINE HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS RESTRUCTURED IN SUFFOLK AND WHERE THE FUTURE OF KESSINGLAND LIES AND THE WHOLE QUESTION OF DEVOLVEMENT OF POWER TO PARISH COUNCILS IN GENERAL. WHATEVER HAPPENS WHEREVER POSSIBLE THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL KEEP THE COMMUNITY INFORMED.

I CONCLUDE THIS REPORT BY THANKING YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT AND I HOPE I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN INSIGHT INTO THE HOW THIS PARISH COUNCIL WORKS FOR THE COMMUNITY OF KESSINGLAND