Parish Council Meeting- 10th November 2004.
The Chairman opened the Meeting. After apologies for absence and approval of the minutes of the last Meeting on the 13th October 2004, the Chairman welcomed 4 members of the Youth Club who had attended.
Wpc DEAL gave a report on the preceding months crime figures. There had been 77 incidents of which there were 29 reported crimes. There were 5 assaults, 2 Burglaries, 7 Thefts, 5 Criminal Damage, 2 cases of Drink/Drive and 2 domestic incidents. Wpc Deal was asked by the Chairman what the latest position was regarding the reforming of the Parish Team as the Parish plan Working Party wished to have a member on the team. Wpc Deal stated that plans are in hand to get it up and running again as soon as they had formulated a list of people to write to and invite to the first meeting. The Officer was also informed that complaints had been received about two youths in the village who are using a quad bike and motorcycle on the beach and at the Church Road car park, The officer stated that they are looking into the matter and would urge members of the public to ring the police when they know this is occurring. Councillor Lawson stated that there had been damaged caused at the allotment site in Church Road again, this time a fire had been started and some of the allotment holders had lost some of their produce. The Officer again asked for the public to help if they know or see this occurring again.
County Councillor Tony ANDREWS gave his apologies for not being at the meeting, but the Chairman stated that he had been in contact with Mr Andrews and they had discussed the way forward with regards the issue of Beaconsfield Road. As a result of this the Parish Council agreed to adopt the proposal of the Chairman and Mr. Andrews.
A report was then received from District Councillor Jamie Starling, among the issues he discussed were the removal of the old wartime defences on the beach, the positioning of the safety buoys on the beach, the maintenance of the path surface running south from Church Road past the caravan site, the provision of signs at the beach and the re-positioning of the village sign in the High Street.
There was no report from Kessingland Youth Council.
The Chairman?s report gave an update of what was taking place with regards to the Parish Plan. There had been a meeting of the Working Party on the 20th October, which had been encouraging. Eight Working Parties had been set up which covered all but 4 of the 21 Issues raised in the published Plan. Martyn BURNSIDE [WDC] who was present at the meeting agreed to allocate the £40,000 that was left out of the Lottery funding for Play areas and Open Spaces to the initiative put forward by the Youth Project to have a ? all weather enclosed sports area? which accommodate 5 a side football, tennis, basketball, netball etc. There were also arrangements being set up to have a meeting with Bob BLIZZARD MP and the local Bus Company with regards to the James Paget Link. Among other issues discussed were the publication of the monthly Parish Council Newsletter, the siting of the spare Parish Council Notice Board, the siting of a new Post Box to serve those people living at the Beach end of the village, and the request from the local Scout group to have a storage facility at the Francis Road site.
With regards to the Church Road Play Area and Car Park there had been progress on this issue and the Council were awaiting confirmation from the Councils solicitors over the purchase of the extra piece of land required to get the scheme underway.
The Chairman also stated that due to recent guidelines with regards to Crime and Disorder, under the Police Reform Act 2002, the Parish Council did have certain responsibilities. The Chairman stated he would research the matter and provide the Parish Councillors with some form of briefing note by the time of the next Parish Council Meeting.
There was also an update on the Library Project, there had been coverage in the Journal, which was part of the Public Consultation, and assuming that nothing was heard then at the next meeting of the Library Working Forum plans will be made to have at least 2 public exhibitions days so that people can see the plans in detail.
There was no Vice-Chairman?s report.
The Clerk reported on the Remembrance Day Service, the Chairman would attend on behalf of the Parish Council and Councillor ABEL will read the lesson. Other matters mentioned by the Clerk included Finance matters and the date set for the annual Finance meeting when the precept for the year 2005/2006 would be discussed.
There were reports from the Beach Warden, Councillor Brown and Councillor Lawson for the allotments and the newly formed Gardening Club ?[Parish Plan issue 15(1)].
The next meting of the Parish Council is on the 8th December 2004. The meeting of the Finance Committee and Planning Committee is on the 24th November 2004