At a meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 26th February there were present, Mr. J. Nichols (Chairman), Mrs. T. Townend, Mrs. R. Herrivan, Mr. R. Leech, Mr. J. Blowers, Mrs. G. Soanes, Mr. S. Perks, Mr. S. Lewis, Mr. S. Rees, Mrs. E. Hume and Mr. K. Wood. County Councillor M. Cherry, PCSO S. Kershaw and 8 Parishioners were also in attendance.

Apologies were received from Pc D. Boggis, W.D. Councillor P. Ashdown and SCC A. Barron.

The minutes of the previous meeting on 15th January were approved and signed.

There were several declarations of interest - Mr. Leech declared a pecuniary interest in the planning application he had submitted and Mr. Lewis declared a pecuniary interest in the Tredwell Developments Planning application. Mrs. Townend declared a personal interest in the Tredwell Developments application as did Mr. Nichols. Mr. Lewis declared a personal interest in the application made by Mr. Leech and Mr. Leech declared an personal interest in the Mill House application.
Mr. Nichols read a report from Councillor Ashdown in which he reported that he had received emails with reference to the establishing of a suitable satellite site for waste disposal on the North Side of the Waveney which is still being pursued. The Chairman had read the emails and had come to the conclusion that the prohibitive cost of such a satellite would probably mean that there would never be such an amenity in the Northern Area, Councillor Cherry said that he and other members of his Party were deeply unhappy with the replies they had received from SCC and he would go ahead with his campaign and will not let the matter rest.  PCSO Kershaw gave the Police Report  - there had been two reported crimes, one of theft and the other was a domestic incident, there had also been an incident of fly tipping in Lowestoft Road.  Councillor Cherry gave his report, he said that he was not happy with the School Reorganisation review and the decision to close Middle Schools and had reported his concerns in The Lowestoft Journal, along with his exasperation over the Waste Satellite site. It had been agreed with other members of his party that the matters should also be reported in the EDP to gain more coverage on the subjects. He and Councillor Barron were still very concerned with Highways matters in the Parishes and the speeding on the B1074. Councillor Barron had left a message with the clerk to say that she had been in contact with Kurt Marnsbridge of Highways with regard to the flooding which had occurred on the A12 between Blundeston Road and the Tesco Roundabout recently. Mrs. Soanes reported on the Area Forum which was held in Blundeston on 23rd January - the meeting had been relatively quiet, Lowestoft and Oulton Broad swimming club were given a grant to buy equipment to help with training and Blundeston Village Hall Management Committee received a grant of £500 to replace the large double Fire Doors in the Hall. Mrs. Soanes thanked Mr. Blowers for presenting the case on behalf of the Village Hall Management Committee. Councillors were reminded that the next Northern Parishes Liaison meeting will be held on Thursday 15th March at Oulton.

Planning.. The Chairman closed the Parish Council meeting to allow members of the public to speak on any of the plans which were on display at the rear of the Hall. One Parishioner had several points he wanted to make on the Tredwell Development application for the site at 20 The Street, these included questions on the preservation and protection of the hedge bordering Barkis Meadow and the site, Opaque windows being on the side overlooking Barkis Meadow properties and clarification on the provision of Street Lighting, as this was felt to be most undesirable. There being no further comments the Chairman reopened the meeting and the applications were dealt with in the following order-
Mr. M. Jary, The Rookery, Pound Lane, construction of a single Storey side extension, this was approved.
Mr. S. Dix and Miss J. Dyball, The Mill House, 10 The Street, Conversion of Windmill to a single residential dwelling with double garage. There was discussion as to why this item had reappeared when the Parish Council had already agreed the application at an earlier meeting, but it was pointed out that the Approval from WDC had been granted for the Mill to be an annexe to 10 The Street and not an independent dwelling. This plan was approved. 
Mr. M. Loveridge, 42 The Street, Velux windows to front and rear extension. This was approved.
Mr. & Mrs R. Leech, 12, The Street. Mr. Leech was asked to leave the room whilst this application was discussed. The Councillors approved the application in principle but were disappointed to see houses “squashed into” spaces such as this.
Tredwell Developments Ltd Thurlton, Mr. Leech was invited back into the meeting and Mr. Lewis asked to leave. Mr. Perks (Vice Chairman) took over proceedings as Mr. Nichols had declared a personal interest earlier. During discussion it was decided that the Parish Councillors thought that insufficient car parking space was provided, the status of the hedge adjoining Barkis Meadow should be clarified, ie is there a preservation order, and if not, could one be granted? Street Lights would be out of keeping with the rest of the Village and concern was expressed over the height of the three 3 storey houses at the front of the development on The Street, it was felt that the rest of the designs of the dwellings on the site were acceptable but the 3 storey dwellings were not in keeping with the surrounding properties and the character of the rest of The Street. Mr. Perks pointed out that the plan could not be approved with provisos it could only be refused or approved, it was voted unanimously that the plan should therefore be refused. The Clerk would list the comments made by a Parishioner earlier and the Parish Council on the reply to the Planning Department. Mr. Lewis rejoined the meeting and Mr. Nichols returned to the Chair.
Kessingland Proposed Wind Farm, Environmental Statement - SLP Energy. A large loose-leaf folder document had been received with details of all the proposals regarding this development. It was available for anyone to borrow, but was far too large to consider and debate at the Parish Council meeting.

Accounts. The following accounts were approved for payment by Mr. Blowers and seconded by Mr. Rees.
Nicholsons Solicitors	Land Registry fees etc				£190. 00
Wendy Dawson		Fees re planning etc for Skate Park		   311.00
Suffolk Acre 		Membership fees				     20.00

Correspondence
Postwatch had sent a questionnaire regarding the Post Office Network. SALC  had forwarded details of a Model Code of Conduct consultation paper, information regarding the Bird flu outbreak, details on the consultation of the Commons Act 2006 protection of Common Land in England and a paper on Caring about Healthcare. WDC had forwarded information about the Rural Community Cohesions Officer, Jo Archer, a letter outlining the amount of Section 106 Funds which could be used towards the Skate Park,  and details of the Local Government Electoral Cycle Amendment Order, which would then lead to the cancellation of Elections on 3rd May this year. SCC had sent an update on the School Organisation Review, the Annual report of Suffolk Waste Partnership and more information on the Bird Flu outbreak. NALC had forwarded a review of the Quality Town and Parish Council Scheme. The Highways Agency sent Stakeholder News and copies of details of planned road works in the Eastern region. Eastern Area Police sent an initiation to a Safer Neighbourhoods Launch event in Beccles on 21st March.
A copy of the Consultation on Amendments to the Model Code of Conduct for Local Authority Members had been received from the Communities and Local Government Minister.  Details of training days and other events had been received from SALC and SCC announced a  new booklet launch. Suffolk Acre sent details of Specialist Village Hall Advice and Specialist Community Development advice for parishes. A letter had been received from an individual who had signed the letter but there was no other identification available to allow the Parish Council to reply, the letter was expressing concern over the proximity of a large wooden building in the garden of a property on The Street to the Electricity Substation in Orchard Lane in view of a recent fire in this vicinity.  An Invitation from the Local History Society to attend the launch of its publication “Blundeston” at the Village Hall on Sunday 1st April at 2.30p.m. had been received, the presentation will include a slide show.

Other Parish Business. Mrs. Townend reported that the large hole which had been repaired recently in Lound Road opposite to “Greentrees”, was just as bad again and in need of urgent repair, she also reported the bad state of the road surface at the junction of Church Road and B1074, this had been reported to the Highways department several months ago along with the similar state of the road right through to St. Olaves, the Clerk was asked to contact the Highways department again regarding these matters. Due to the heavy rain experienced recently several reports of deep water laying on the carriageways in various places in the two Parishes had been received, especially in Lowestoft Road, Lound Road, Market Lane, Pound Lane/Hall Road and in Flixton near the Prison Lake and at the point of the fatal accident several years ago. Water had also laid in Hall Lane outside the Village Hall and the Parish Council had suggested in the past that a gully to drain the water into the Millennium Green Pond could alleviate this problem, which the Highways department had agreed to consider, but as yet nothing has been done. The Chairman reported that he had had notification that Barkis Meadow is going to be resurfaced shortly with a new type of micro surfacing, it was also reported that The Pippins residents have been informed that that area will be resurfaced with the same material, Councillor Cherry said that the surfacing is undergoing trials and the Council are hoping to discover what wear and tear the material can withstand. Mrs. Herrivan reported that young boys on motorcycles are using private land and causing damage to the land and noise nuisance with their activities, she also reported the fact that the floodlights at Rookery Park Golf Club are polluting the night sky and ruining the Marsh environment at Blundeston, Flixton and Somerleyton with their dazzling brilliance, the Clerk was asked to write to the Department of the Environment with this complaint. Mrs. Herrivan also complained that the drivers of several of the school buses which drive along the road to Lound are sometimes driving in an inconsiderate way, PCSO Kershaw agreed to monitor the situation. Mr. Blowers reported that he had found that youths were congregating on the Play Area in the corner nearest to the Village Hall on a regular basis on Friday nights and afterwards broken glass bottles and empty lager cans have been found discarded around the area, as this is close to the Play equipment, Mr. Blowers has been taking responsibility for clearing the litter up. He also reported the fact that youths on motorcycles had been illegally riding on land in Market Lane on Sunday 25th, he also said that some of these boys were riding these motorcycles on the road with no tax or insurance and without helmets. Mrs. Soanes and Mr. Rees informed those present that a car owner was still parking half on the footpath in The Street, PCSO Kershaw would look into the matter.  Mr. Perks added his concern to that of Mrs. Herrivan, as he had also been amazed at the brightness of the lights from the Golf Club, he was also unhappy about the flooding in Lowestoft Road. Mr. Lewis reported that the Picnic in the Park Committee would be holding a Barn Dance in the Village Hall on 14th April, tickets were £7.50, profits to the Picnic in the Park fund. The date of the Festival this year is June 16th the format for the afternoons activities would remain the same as the last few years, but events will finish at 7p.m. There would be no marquee as in previous years, but the licensee of the Plough has agreed to stage an event that evening with the Atomic Playboys band playing at the Plough Inn. Mr. Wood said that now that the 30mph signs were clearly visible on the B1074 the traffic seemed to be going even faster, it was agreed that the traffic did seem much heavier as people were using that road to get to Norwich rather than trying to get through Lowestoft at the moment. Ms Dawson was invited to give the meeting an update on the Skate Park project. Unfortunately the application to Biffaward Funding was too late for consideration at the March meeting, so will not be considered until June, so the earliest that work could start would be late June or early July, the sum of £2,685 is available from the section 106 funding and this will be needed to make up a shortfall, the clerk was asked to write to WDC and inform them of this. Mrs. Soanes explained that a professional cleaner had been employed to spring clean the Village Hall and this work had been carried out earlier in the Month, the Village Hall Management Committee had proposed that once the day-long clean had been finished and was satisfactory the contractor should be employed to clean through 1 morning a month to keep the standard up, those members of the VHM Committee present agreed that this system should be instigated. 
There was no parishioner input. 
The date of the next meeting was confirmed as March 19th which will also be a Management Committee meeting and the Annual Parish Meeting will be held on April 16th