Report of Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 8th February 2006.
After receiving apologies for absence and declarations of interest, the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting 11th January 2006 were approved and signed.
Wpc Deal gave the Police Report: -
In the month of January 2006 there were 36 crimes recorded for Kessingland they were 10 Criminal Damage, 14 Thefts, 3 Burglaries, 2 Assaults and 3 motor vehicle interference. There had been a high incidence of vehicle crime in the village for the month of January and vehicle owners are being asked to more vigilant.
District Councillor Bruce Provan stated that Councillor Starling was still in negotiation with a local landowner over the possible purchase of land behind the Community Centre and as soon as he has news of progress he would be back in touch with the Parish Council.
Two members of the public that were present raised the issue of dog owners not clearing up after their dogs, one area was Field Lane near to the school and the other was Kessingland Beach. Councillor Provan stated that since Waveney District Council withdrew the Dog Warden scheme, there wasn't much the District Council could do. The Chairman stated that he would put something in the next issue of the newsletter asking that dog owners be more responsible and clear up after their dogs.
A new councillor Michael Howard was co-opted onto the Council. Two other members of the community present at the meeting also showed an interest in joining the Parish Council.
The Chairman reported that the Councillor Surgeries were still slow, it was hoped that as time went on people would become more aware and then there would be a better response. Citizens Advice Bureau had added their name to the agencies that are now making use of the Community Office in Church Road, details of their dates and the dates of the other agencies were available on posters around the village.
Re the Church Road Play Area and Car Park the Chairman stated that Waveney District Council are still waiting to complete their work on the Play Area and that it would remain closed until that work had been completed. As soon as it is possible to open the play area it will be and there will be an official opening on Monday 1st May, which will consist of a fun day for the children, full details of which will be circulated once preparations are complete.
The Multi Use Games Area in Francis Road, the plans for this are now with WDC Planning and as soon as approval is received work will commence.
There had been very little response for volunteers to come forward to finish of projects under the Parish Plan. The Chairman said that everybody in the village should have now had a summary of where we are in respect of Parish plan issues. A lot of work had been done but there were still issues to be resolved, adult education was one, there were others. Anybody interested should contact the Parish Clerk.
With regard the Community Office there had been a request to have the notice board moved from the side of the building to out on the front by the street. For this a new notice board would have to be made, Cllr Mouzer stated that providing the materials were paid for could an approach be made to HMP Blundeston. The Clerk was asked to write to The Governor and Cllr brown was asked to supply measurement details from one of the existing notice boards.
Those Councillors present were informed by the Chairman that the Parish Council had been asked by The Local Channel to give a response to the plans from Central Government to devolve more services down to grass roots level with Parish Councils having more say as to how those services are controlled for the benefit of the Community. This response to the " white paper " will be included in the overall response of Parish Councils that will be forwarded to the Local Government and Communities Minister.
The Chairman then read out a letter from The Planning Inspectorate in Bristol regarding the Modification Order in respect of Footpath 15. Its main content stated, " The Inspector found it was appropriate to recognise the Order route as a Byway Open to All Traffic".
Cllr Sinfield then gave a briefing to those Councillors present about the meeting that had taken place earlier in the day with Louise Jordan Hall, Waveney District Council and Parish Councillors. Having taken her around the village it was felt that a lot of progress had been made in getting across to WDC the Parish Councils views and that of the Community, Some of the areas looked at included the play areas, the Nordalls development, the Community Centre, the sea wall by the beach, Marsh Lane and Coopers Lane. Cllr Sinfield asked that the Clerk write to Louise Jordan Hall and thank her for attending, all Councillors agreed.
There was no Vice Chairmans report, but the Chairman stated that Cllr Purkis had the nameplates for the replaced seats and they would be fixed soon.
Among the Committee reports Cllr Mason on behalf of the Crime and Disorder Committee stated that they had made a good start in establishing what the main problems were within the Community and how it was hoped they would be resolved. One of the most important issues was the young people in the village and the lack of facilities that they had. A grant had been obtained and it was proposed to have an open day at the Community Office in Church Road, which will be a drop in day where young people can attend and make known their ideas. This would form the basis of a way forward in helping them achieve their goals. There was then a discussion about the young people in general; Cllr Mouzer stated that she was still hopeful that a Youth Council could be formed. Cllr Mason also mentioned that they were also looking at the provision of CCTV especially in and around Budgens Supermarket. She added that WDC were looking at using Kessingland as a pilot for the district in the use of infrared CCTV that could be moved around the village.
The Chairman stated that following Mike Topliss WDC, visiting and talking to the Parish Council in January, there was quite a lot of work to be undertaken by the Emergency Committee. Mike Topliss had given a list of things that should be incorporated into the Emergency Plan. Besides coastal flooding wider emergency issue were discussed. The next meeting of the Emergency Committee was set for the 21st February.
The Clerks report included an update on the Bus Shelter cleaning and painting, the cleaning of the war memorial, archiving parish records, setting a date for the Annual Parish Meeting, which will be the 26th April and the flooding issue at the corner of Beach Road.
After dealing with correspondence and financial issues the Parish Council Meeting closed at 9,45pm. The next Parish Council Meeting is the 8th March 2006 and there is a Planning Meeting on the 22nd February 2006