At a meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 23rd February 2005 there were present Mr. J. Nichols (Chairman), Mr. G. Alderton, Mr. J. Blowers, Mr. P. Offord, Mrs G. Soanes, Mrs E. Hilton, Mrs. T. Townend, Mr. S. Lewis and Mr. S. Perks. Councillor Brian Hunter and 8 Parishioners also attended.
Apologies were received from Pc D. Boggis.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 10th January were approved and signed.
Mr. Hunter declared an interest in any Planning Matters; there were no other declarations of interest.
Mrs. Soanes gave a report on the Parish Council Workshop meeting held on 26th January, she said that 3 representatives from Waveney District Council and 9 Parish Council representatives attended what she described as a very informative evening. Overall it would appear that the District Council would like Parish Councils to have more input into affairs in their areas, each representative was given a copy of W.D.C. Budget for the present financial year, and those attending were informed that the next meeting which will be held on 11th May at Oulton Community Centre will deal with planning issues. Although the clerk had received a telephone reply to her letter regarding the unsatisfactory state of Market Lane, which had recently been resurfaced, nothing further appears to have happened. The Parish Council were assured that the chippings which have piled up along the length of the lane would be swept up as soon as possible and remedial work carried out on the bare patches. The Chairman proposed and it was agreed that the Clerk should write to the Highways Department once again informing the Department that the Parish Council are of the opinion that the standard of the work is a disgrace, and that the council tax payers have been robbed if the contractor has been paid for this job. Lowestoft Road has recently been resurfaced but although this is stated to only be a temporary road surface it is blatantly obvious that the standing water problem is not going to be addressed by the application of a further layer of tarmac, as the drainage gully is uphill of the problem site. During the past week the water flooded right across the carriageway and during freezing weather this could be major hazard. Councillor Hunter said that he would arrange a site meeting with a member of Highways, himself and one or two Parish Councillors and visit all the Highway problem areas in the two Villages. Mr. Wood reported that he had now finished the repairs to the Carousel and it was agreed that this piece of equipment would be replaced in a few weeks time once the weather was better, it was also suggested that the safety surface could be attended to before the equipment was replaced. The improvements to the other pieces of equipment would be carried out in the near future. The Parish Council had had news that S.C.C. had agreed to pay a grant for the upgrading of the Play equipment from the Locality Fund. 
Planning.  The Chairman temporarily closed the Parish Council meeting to allow the members of the public a chance to comment on either of the two plans for consideration. A Parishioner did make an objection to the Proposed single storey front extension at 7, Orchard Lane, as the plan showed a side window which he felt would overlook his garden and even his lounge window, he was also concerned by the fact that the shared drains from his property and the one in question were close to the proposed building, but it was pointed out that Building Control would deal with any problem with the drains. The Chairman then closed the meeting to the members of the Public and the following two plans were considered.
Mr. & Mrs. Harrowven Decoy Farm, Marsh Lane, - Granny Annex extension.
This was approved.
Mr. & Mrs. Tall, 7 Orchard Lane,  - Single storey front extension.
This was approved subject to the window on the south side being removed from the building, as the loss of privacy if such a window was sited in this position was totally unacceptable.  
Accounts The following accounts were proposed for payment by Mr. Lewis and seconded by Mrs Townend.
Blundeston School –Photocopying for Parish Plans		£217.  75
J. M. Clayton stationery etc. for Parish Plans			    45.  16
Suffolk Acre – Annual subscription				    20.  00
Correspondence
A Draft Statement of Community Involvement had been received from S.C.C. The Next Area Forum would be held in Blundeston Village Hall on 17th March at 7.30p.m. A document from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with regard to the Freedom of Information Act had arrived, the Chairman stated that Blundeston and Flixton Parish Council already complied with the regulations as the Parish Council meeting minutes were published each month on the P.C.’s own web site and in the Local newspaper. W.D.C. had forwarded details of the changes to Election Procedures, in future Parish Council elections would no longer be able to be held in conjunction with National or District Elections and therefore the entire cost for these would have to be born by Parish Councils. A document giving details of the Local Development Frameworks Community Involvement Regulation 25 had been received. Details of the Transitional arrangements because of the change in the Licensing Act 2003 had arrived; in future the Local Council will deal with applications for liquor licences not the Magistrates Courts. Details of new powers in future for Parish and Town Councils had been received from Defra regarding Clean Neighbourhoods. SALC sent details of the Waveney Area Committee Meeting and a Draft East of England Plan Consultation. Information had arrived from South Norfolk and also Great Yarmouth Planning Authorities. A series of brochures giving details of Vibrant Local Leadership had been received from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Suffolk Preservation Society had sent an invitation to attend a seminar on 9th April. The Broads Authority is looking for a volunteer Parish Councillor to join the Broads Forum.
Other Parish Business.
Mr. Blowers reported that a property in Flixton which had applied to have an artist’s “studio” built at the end of it’s garden several years ago is now for sale advertising the property as having a detached Cottage annexe!  He also reported that water is flowing in a constant stream across the B1074 near the permanent ICE sign. The clerk was asked to report this in the letter to the Highways Department. Mr. Lewis reminded everyone that a Hawaiian Disco was being held on Saturday night (26th Feb.) to raise funds for the annual Party in the Park on June 18th.  Mr. Perks reported that 2 full 3-piece suites, 15 car tyres and several rims had been dumped in Marsh Lane in the past few weeks, and he was totally disgusted that a. people dump things out in the countryside, when the stuff could just as easily be taken to the council tip and b. that the offenders always seemed to get away with it. The Chairman pointed out that the penalties for fly tipping are to be increased but the main difficulty was catching the culprit and having enough evidence to lead to a prosecution. The Clerk had not yet found the cost of flashing 30mph lights and was asked to do so before the next meeting. Mr. Wood and the Clerk reported that the 30mph signs at the beginning of the North end of Flixton had been turned completely round. The clerk was asked to include this in the letter to the Highways department. Councillor Hunter gave his report next, he said that he had written to Suffolk Constabulary after the retirement from beat duties of Pc Hill and he had been assured that the vacancy would be filled in the spring. Councillor Hunter also asked for volunteers to become School Governors to contact him, as there are several vacancies in the district. He went on to inform the meeting that Oulton Parish Council were applying to make a Bridleway from Oulton to Flixton, there will be an information meeting and Blundeston and Flixton Parish Council will be invited to attend. This bridleway will be made from the present footpath and will allow disabled horse-riders to enjoy access to the countryside in safety. The next Northern Parishes Liaison meeting will be held on 10th March at Corton.
Parishioner Input. The meeting was then opened for 15 minutes Parishioner input. Mr. Oldman was vociferous in his condemnation of the length of time taken to kerb and resurface Lowestoft Road, and the state at present of the surface seemed to be a complete waste of Public money. It was pointed out that the work was not yet complete as “Temporary Surface” signs were in still place, Mr. Oldman said that if the surface was only temporary, the drain covers would have to be raised again to accommodate the extra level of tarmac and he could not understand why the white lines had been reinstated there when the council had been asking for the ones in Market Lane to be reinstated for two years now. Mr. Ffitch said that he would like to echo the words of the Chairman and Mr. Oldman with regard to the road surfaces in Market Lane and Lowestoft Road. He also reported that the signpost at the bottom of Pound Lane had been turned round and although he had tried to rectify this he had been unable to do so, the Clerk was asked to include this item in the letter to the Highways Department. He also asked if the Highways Department could be prevailed upon to furnish the sign for Pickwick Drive with a “leading to Micawber Mews” addition as residents had experienced difficulty when having goods delivered. The dire state of the footpath leading from The Street to Market Lane was raised, ongoing work by the footpath department of Waveney District Council has meant that there is debris from hedge trimming left along the area and the footpath itself is practically impassable because of mud etc. Further work was due to be started in January, but this has not materialised. Mr. Alderton agreed to contact the person concerned. The Clerk was asked to contact the refuse department and ask for Dog Mess bins to be placed at each end of this footpath and possibly one in the centre where Orchard Lane meets the footpath; Mrs. Wells has agreed to see to the removal of the contents.
The next meeting will be held on Monday 21st March.
There being no further business the meeting closed.