Report of Parish Council Meeting - 14th January 2004.
Before the Council Meeting started, those present were introduced to Mr. Nigel Baker-Querelle . He is employed by Suffolk County Council in Property Review and had attended to give Councillors an update on the progress of the New Library, which is to be built at the rear of Kessingland School.
He presented the first initial plans of the library showing what space was apportioned to the actual library and what space was left for use by the Community as a Resource centre. Mr Baker-Querelle asked Councillors to consider what space would be required for the various groups involved, as this was the right time early in the planning stages to get everything right.
There followed a long discussion at the conclusion of which it was left for the Council to debate at its next meeting on the 28th January and to report back to Mr Baker Querrelle with their recommendations. A report was put before the Council from the Patients Participation Group as to their needs and requirements for the Resource centre.
At the end of the presentation the Chairman thanked Mr Baker-Querelle for attending.
Wpc DEAL gave her police report for the month of December. There had been 83 events of which 28 were crimes. There was one assault, three residential burglaries and 3 non residential burglaries, there were 7 offences of Criminal Damage and a number of thefts including thefts from motor vehicles in and around the area of Church Road car park, These offences were thought to be linked, but no arrests as yet have been made.
County Councillor Tony Andrews gave his report, which included his thoughts and opinion on the new library. He stated that this was an opportunity for Kessingland, which should not be missed and should be planned correctly from the early stages so nobody in the Community misses out.
He reported that Beaconsfield Road is now before the Secretary of State regarding the appeal but he is still in dialogue with the Legal Dept of Suffolk County Council to try and get the matter resolved.
He stated that having spoken to the Environment and Transport Dept., regarding Kessingland?s Traffic plan, he was assured that the first part which involve the reduction of speed limits around the village will be under way soon, now that all the legal requirements have been met.
He added that he had also dealt with issues of Disabled Parking and drop downs at kerbside for the disabled
A member of the public, Mrs Menghello, asked Councillor Andrews if the County Council were responsible for maintaining High Path and it was very potholed and could damage resident?s vehicles. It was pointed out to Mrs Menghello that High Path was probably a private road, but anyway she was given names and telephone numbers of people who might be able to assist with her problems.
The Parish Council Meeting was then formally opened and the first item on the agenda concerned a compound, which has been erected on part of Kessingland Playing Field and was being used by the Water Board. It was erected in 1996. Since then the parties involved have been trying to get the whole issue on a legal footing by having a lease drawn up and signed. Following legal advice the Chairman stated there would be a lease drawn up and signed by the Parish Council, the Water Board concerned and the Trustees of the Playing Field. This will bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion. A vote was taken and all those present voted that a lease drawn up and should be signed.
In the Chairman?s report he reported on a number of issues. The first was Church Road Play Area / Car park. This is progressing well the matter is now in the hands of Solicitors to finalise the purchase of the additional piece of ground alongside Church Road. There was also a letter from Waveney District Council, which stated that by 2005 the Parish Council will be taking over full responsibility for the maintaining and upkeep of Church Road Play Area, this is due to a recent review in Waveney of all play areas.
There had been a letter received from Go-East, the government agency dealing with the Beaconsfield Road Appeal. The papers are with the Chairman to read and he will advise the Council at their Meeting on the 28th as to a suitable reply to be sent in answer to Suffolk County Council?s reply to the Councils Appeal.
There was a feedback from the last Area Forum Meeting on the 10th December. The Councils applications for funding towards street lighting in Clare road and at the rear of Field Lane leading to Hall Road were refused. All lighting applications are refused on the grounds of who is responsible for maintaining after installation. Other issues that arose were damaged Street signs at Rider Haggard, Dowson Way and Damerson Went and kerbside drops around the village for disabled wheelchairs.
There was a letter from SALC regarding a meeting to be set up with a number of parishes relating to grants available from the Countryside Agency. Kessingland Parish Council are hosting the meeting on the 12th February between 10.30am and 12.30pm, the venue is the Methodist Church Hall in Church Road.
The Vice Chairman reported that the portable building that the Council were looking at for use a Parish Council Office has been sold but the search continues.
The Clerks report covered a number of issues. First there was ?The Local Channel ? computer website, the Chairman agreed with the Clerk that they would set up the Home Page first before inviting other agencies and businesses to participate.
There were still two vacancies for the Parish Council and Councillors present were asked to assist to bring the Council up a full quorum.
The Clerk had been in contact with Maureen Long [Kessingland Times] and it has been agreed that the Council will have either a half or full page in the paper to report and advise the community on what is being currently undertaken by the Parish Council and any other matters, which may be of importance to Kessingland. The first `report will be in the March issue.
The Clerk then gave an update on preservation/conservation issues in respect of old buildings in Kessingland, which are seen as part of the heritage of Kessingland. The subject still remains under discussion with Waveney District Council.
The election if contested for the vacancy of District Councillor is to take place on the 26th February; all nomination papers must be with the Returning Officer at the Town Hall by noon on the 30th January.
After dealing with Correspondence and Financial matters there was a brief report from the Amenities Committee with regards to the assets in the village belonging to the Parish Council, which were due for Insurance renewal. This is an ongoing review, which should be finalised within the next week or two.
Councillor Brown, the Beach Warden, gave a report relating to the recent high tides which brought the sea closer into the shoreline have breached the shingle banks near to the sluice and pumping station. As a result of his report the Council will be writing to the Environmental Agency expressing the Councils concerns about sea defences in the Kessingland area.
There being no questions to the Chair, the dates for the next meetings are the 28th January and the 11th February. The meeting was then closed.