Report Parish Council Meeting 8th June 2005.
Before the meeting started the Chairman presented Mrs Lesley Beevor, the Parish Clerk, with a bouquet of flowers from the Parish Council in recognition of her attaining a university degree.
The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming Tracy Mason and Brian Sinfield; both had attended the meeting because they had shown interest in joining the Parish Council. Also Andrew Wilson-Sutter Waveney District Council who had attended to give the Parish Council information on the ?In Bloom? competition.
After the Clerk had read out the apologies for absence, the Chairman read out a letter from Cllr. Ian Real, who had tendered his resignation because of ill health. The Clerk was asked to write to Cllr Real thanking him for his support and work in the short time he was a Councillor, and wish him well for the future.
After approving and signing the minutes of the meeting held on the 11th May, the meeting was adjourned for public presentation.
Pc. Mike Finlayson gave the Police report for the month of May, there had been 23 crimes and the breakdown was as follows: 2 burglary dwelling, 4 assaults, 5 thefts, 5 criminal damage, 1 arson, 3 domestic disputes, 1 arrest for malicious communication, 1 arrest for affray and 1 arrest for excess alcohol.
The Parish Team Meeting will be held on the 27th June at the Methodist Church Hall starting at 7.30pm.
There then followed a presentation by Mr Andrew Wilson-Sutter, Waveney District Council, on the ?Anglia In Bloom ? competition. He informed those present of the various categories within the competition and that there are at least five entries each year from Kessingland that enter the ?Lowestoft In Bloom ? competition, one of which is Livingstones PH, entries are then forwarded onto the ?Anglia In Bloom?
Mr Wilson-Sutter also stated that part of his job was to ensure that the grass verges and other open spaces like the beach promenade are kept tidy. There was some discussion over the state of Kessingland?s verges and assurances were given that this would be looked into. After answering questions from those present, the Chairman thanked Mr Wilson-Sutter for his attendance and the Parish Council would be discussing the ?In Bloom? competition at the next Parish Council meeting
The report from Cllr. Goldsmith, Suffolk County Council, included progress he had made with regards Mr and Mrs Birch?s complaint about the bus stop in Field Lane and the discussions he has had with Cllr Brown and County Council officials about the state of the drains in Bethel Drive.
Cllr Purkis in her capacity as Chairman of the Footpaths Committee mentioned to Cllr Goldsmith that there had been a large number of complaints from members of the public about the state of the public footpaths outside the village. She explained that last year because Suffolk County Council had received complaints about the way the footpaths were maintained by the Parish Council, Suffolk County Council had appointed their own contractor to cut the footpaths, leaving the Parish Council with a reduced sum of funding to take care of those public footpaths inside the village. The state of these footpaths indicate that Suffolk County Council have not given any footpaths now under their control any attention at all, to the extent that some are now impassable. Cllr Goldsmith said he would look into the issues, the Clerk on behalf of the Parish Council will be contacting Suffolk County Council to re-enforce the complaint.
The meeting reopened with the Chairman giving his report. This included appointing a representative for the Suffolk Association of Local Councils. Cllrs Morgan and Mouzer stated they would be the Councils representatives.
There was a discussion about the Code of Practice for dealing with Complaints relating to Parish Council Administration and Procedures, The draft document which had been sent to Councillors together with the suggestion that the Chairman of the Committee should be independent of the Parish Council was agreed way of resolution. The Clerk was asked to write to the names that had been suggested to see if they would be prepared to go on a short list to be called upon to act as Chairman as and when required.
The Chairman then asked for suggestions in respect of the opening of the new children?s playground in Church Road and the Community facility at the Old Police House. Cllr Mouzer stated that she had already made some progress in respect of the children?s playground, it was suggested and agreed that the official opening should be in September after the school holidays and should be in the form of a ?fun day?. With regards to the opening of the Community facility, the view was to wait for the date to be known. It was proposed that this be by way of an ?open day? in line with the suggestion put forward by Claire Taylor-Crisp. (Waveney Community Forum).
With regards to Councillor Surgeries it was agreed that Councillors would be ready to discuss this in detail at the next Parish Council meeting when it is hoped to form a small working group to finalise how and when such surgeries would operate and define their terms of reference.
The Chairman then gave an update on the meeting he attended at Waveney Forum in regards to the community services and agencies to be brought into the village when the Old Police House becomes available. These issues are still ongoing.
The Council was then shown the design of the Multi Use Games Arena that had been chosen by representatives of the Youth Club and Football Team. This was a Parish Plan initiative, which will now move forward with the provision of Lottery funding. The site chosen is on Parish Council land at the Community Centre.
With the resignation of Cllr Ian Real, the Chairman said that there were now 3 vacancies on the Parish Council, but if Tracy Mason and Brian Sinfield take up their intention to join the Council, the Council will only have I vacancy.
On the subject of Beaconsfield Road, the Chairman informed the Parish Council that the closing date for objections would be the 22nd June, after that date should there be any complaints or objections the Parish Council will be given the details by Suffolk County Council and providing the objections are based on new facts that were not included in the original case, then the Parish council will be given the opportunity to respond.
The Chairman then read out a letter he had received from Dr. Drane at Field Lane surgery. This dealt with building on the momentum of the Parish Plan and Library Project, developing services in Kessingland involving the Primary Care Trust, Waveney District Council and Suffolk County Council, addressing ?needs? issues and how they can be addressed in the next ten years. The Council gave Dr. Drane?s suggestion their full support. The Chairman stated that he had acknowledged Dr. Drane?s letter.
The last item on the Chairman?s report concerned the Local Transport Action Plan for Kessingland, a draft of which had been circulated to all Councillors. On this issue an extra-ordinary meeting has been set for the 22nd June, all Councillors were expected to attend. This meeting will be for Parish councillors only and will also be attended by Cllr. Goldsmith Suffolk County Council.
Cllr Purkis gave her Vice-Chairmans report. She stated that apart from the Footpaths issues already discussed she had attended a meeting with the management at Kessingland Beach Holiday Park and the rights of way issue near the main gate had been resolved. With regards to access by the fishermen who still use the beach to moor their boats on, after a short discussion Cllr Goldsmith stated he would obtain a second key for the gate on the promenade, from the Environment Agency, which was agreed would be left in the Boatshed.
The Clerks Report included confirmation that the Flag Day will be the 15th June; former County Councillor Tony Andrews stated he would attend as will a number of children from Kessingland Primary School. Enquiries relating to the re-furbishment of the Village War Memorial are still ongoing.
After the Finance issues had been resolved, Cllr Mouzer agreed to replace Cllr Real as a signatory for the Councils bank account.
Apart from Cllr Lawson reporting on the Community Centre meeting in May and Cllr Mouzer updating the Parish Council on the progress of the Youth Council, there were no other reports, the Chairman closed the meeting