At a meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 14th April 2008 there were present, Mr. S. Perks (vice Chairman), Mr. J Blowers, Mrs. G. Soanes, Mrs. T. Townend, Mr. R. Leech, Mr. S. Lewis, Mrs. R. Harrowven, Mr. S. Rees and Mr. K. Wood. 9 Parishioners were also in attendance.
Apologies J. Nichols, Pc D. Boggis and PCSO Sue Kershaw, P. Ashdown, M Cherry, A Barron, W. Dawson.
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved and signed. 
Declaration of Interests (none)
15 Minutes for Parishioner Input
Accident of B1074 Mrs. Michelle Garbutt came to give her input on the accident after which she had to cut out of her vehicle two cars stopped to allow her to manoeuvre at the entrance to her driveway but a 3rd did not causing a serious accident. She has been in contact with Mr Bob Blizzard, Police and the Highways department, numerous times and told the meeting of the SID cameras which had been deployed along the Road, and the contentious issue that the 30mph repeater signs are not close enough. Mrs Garbutt was assured that the Parish Council had addressed this problem almost every month for the past few years, and will continue as the traffic along that road is sure to increase once the new housing development in Oulton is finished. Mr Oldman explained that he had the Shooting rights on Howe Heath and a few days earlier had been getting ready to shoot pigeons when a man appeared with a metal detector, the man in question said that he had asked Mr. Jermy and been given permission. Mr. Oldman said that the incident had really shaken him as he had been on the point of firing and he asked if Mr. Jermy could be approached and asked not to allow people onto the land when it has been let for shooting? Mr Perks asked the Clerk to inform the Charity Trustees who own the land in question and ask them to deal with it. 
Parish Councillors Input. Mrs. Harrowven reported that 3 Barn Owls have been found shot in the marshes area, these were found by dog walkers. The clerk was asked to report this to the Charity Trustees. Police have been informed; Mrs Harrowven said that the Police had responded quickly to Motor Bike Problems. Mr. Wood said that shooting in Flixton starts very early in the morning and seems to be emanating from Mrs. Coopers woods; he also reported another accident the week after Mrs Garbutt had her accident. Mrs. Townend reported a large pothole in Orchard Close, opposite to the hairdressers. Mrs. Button had told Mr Rees that she has been successful in raising funding for new play equipment; but as yet no liaison with the Parish Council has been made. 
Police Report Pc Boggis had sent in a written report which stated that 2 Crimes had been committed in Blundeston and Flixton during March, a pedal cycle had been stolen from the garden of a dwelling in The Street and more Graffiti had been found on the Skate Park. PCSO Kershaw had removed the graffiti and the police have one or two leads to follow up. Sue ran a tennis tournament on Friday 4th April and 8 youngsters turned up - the winner was Joe Bateley, and all participants seemed to enjoy the event. The Mud on Lound Road has been viewed by an officer from the Traffic Unit who reported that although the state of the road is not desirable, the road is clearly signed and the contractors do make an effort to the clean the road, and it does not pose a major safety threat to road users. Complaints have been received from Staff and Residents about the parking in and around Lakeside Rise, the Police have been informed that the building work will finish at the end of April and as only two new members of staff are being employed there should not be a long term parking problem. 
District Councillor Report No Councillors could attend the meeting as they were all in “Purdah” until after
County Councillor report					the forthcoming elections
Skate Park update Mrs Dawson had not been able to attend this meeting and had asked Mr Lewis to report that there are rats in the vicinity of the Skate Park. The clerk will report the problem. Mr Rees has also seen the rats running around, but there was also food rubbish around which is probably attracting the vermin. The skate park committee are going to step up their rubbish emptying, and Mr. Nichols had spoken to the organisers of the Football teams who use the field asking them to clear up after each match. Mr. Leech asked if a notice should be erected to inform the public that there are rats around and food refuse should be put into the large green bin. 
Proposed new Footpath meeting Mr. Lewis met with a representative of WDC who was in agreement that there was a risk to road safety at the present, and he agreed that the footpath would be better run on the opposite of the road to the Village Hall, and finish opposite to the corner of Short Road. Mr Lewis reported that if match funding could be found the work could be carried out this year be if the funding were not available it would be done in 2009 with no cost to the Parish Council. Allyson Barron also attended the site meeting and was confident that the match funding could be obtained. Mr Lewis would pursue the matter and report back to the next parish Council meeting. 
Village Hall Floor repairs have been discussed at the Hall Management Meeting and the Parish Councilors were informed that the job has been awarded to Total Build, it is hoped that the work will start at the end of July.  Mr. Ffitch asked to be informed of the actual date of the work as the Holiday Club has got the Hall booked for a week in August for Saint Mary‘s Children’s Holiday Club and another venue will have to be sought.  Mr. Ayers had provided Quotation for new handrails to the emergency exit at the Village Hall, Mr Wood proposed and it was agreed that the £350 should be paid and new galvanised rails and uprights should be installed. As requested last month the Chairman had carried out a Review of the Clerks Salary he had calculated that based on a 3% per annum increase since the last review in 2001 the new figure would be £1203.00 and it was agreed that this would be £100 per month, backdated to January 2008. On the present salary scale advised by SALC this is equivalent to 12 hours work per month. Further discussion took place on the proposal of a proposed Yartoft Unitary Authority. The Clerk had attended the Northern parishes Liaison meeting held on the previous Monday evening in Corton, and this matter was discussed then, the views put forward were relayed to the Parish Council and it was decided to put the item on next months agenda  as the matter has several months before comments have to be made. 
PLANNING 
Mr & Mrs Austin, Cockshoot, Lowestoft Road, Construction of a single storey side extension. Approved previously 
Mr Dockree and Miss Wilson, Seymour House, Market Lane, construction of single storey front and rear and two storey side and rear extensions.	Already approved. Mrs. Townend was concerned that the Plans previously approved had not been approved by the whole Planning sub-Committee; several councilors felt that the proposed work was overdevelopment of the site and they were not happy about the rendering.  The clerk was asked to write to the Planning Department and explain that the Parish Councilors had discussed this application and would like to point out these decisions. Mr. Wood suggested that in future the planning sub committee are consulted on all planning issues. 
Mr & Mrs A Jackson, Pantiles, Market Lane, Construction of 1 house and garage at rear.           Approved.
Suffolk County Council Installation of 2 no. Transmission dishes as Blundeston Primary School.  Approved.
Accounts the following accounts were approved for payment.
Allianz Insurance plc Annual Premium				£1,783. 16
Suffolk Association of Local Councils Annual Subscription		     315. 00
W.J. Jermy and sons Playing-field Rent				     300. 00
Clerks Salary						300. 00
1/3 telephone      					9. 16		     309. 16
Correspondence
Accident on B1074 correspondence already dealt with. Corton Playing-field committee are having a Cows day, Blundeston are invited to take part in July. Mr. Lewis suggested that the Chairman should mention this at the Annual Meeting next month. A letter from Steven George re affordable homes off Pickwick Drive. He questioned the fact that the houses were being offered for sale to anyone, not as when the application was put before the Parish Council and the Council had said that the houses should be available for people with ties with the Village first, then surrounding Villagers, and then anyone and this was one of the stipulations for passing the application in the first instance. Mr Rees asked if the letter from Mr. George could be placed on the next month’s agenda. A reply should thank Mr. George for his letter and say how disappointed the Councillors are about this predicament.  WDC Local Government review, offered to come and talk to a meeting.   Minerals and Waste Local Development Framework Consultation.  Mrs Hume had discovered that permission was granted to hard surface Wood Lane and a deed of covenant dated 2nd April 1953 was shown to Parish councillors. Suffolk Waste Partnership; Annual Report. Suffolk Preservation Society, Structural review of Local Government. Highways Agency Helping you Plan your Route leaflets. SALC two copies of The Local Councillor. Suffolk CC Schools reorganisation. Suffolk PCT Head and neck Cancer Consultation. WDC Validation of Planning Applications List of Validation requirements.  
There being no further business the meeting closed.
The Annual Parish meeting will take place on 12thMay at 7pm at Blundeston Village Hall.