At a meeting of the Parish council held on Monday 12th April 2010 there were present, Mr J Nichols (Chairman) Mr.S. Perks, Mr. J. Blowers, Mr. S. Lewis, Mr. S. Rees, Mrs. G Soanes, & Mr. G Wade. SCC Mr M Barnard, PSCO Sue Kershaw , and 6 Parishioners were also present.
Apologies were received from Mrs J Browne, Mr R Leech, Mrs T Townend, WDC Mr P Ashdown & SCC Mr C Law  
The minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 8th March were approved and signed.
Declaration of Interests. No Interests were declared
Clerks Report Following the previous parish Council meeting. A parishioner reported the 30mph road sign in Lound Road (opposite Raglan Cottage) had been knocked over. This was reported to the highways department on 9th March and has since been reinstated. Mr Ffitch reported the water level on the Barkis Meadow pond was very high & above the outlet pipe & was concerned there may be another blockage. This was reported to Anglian water on 9th March & they responded within 2 hours. Mr Ffitch & Mr Beane met with Anglian water onsite & were advised there was no blockage and no sign of sewerage leaking into the pond. Mrs Townend reported a large pothole had opened up in Orchard close ( by the entrance to the car park behind the hairdressers) This was reported to the highways department on 9th March and the pot hole and surrounding area of road has now been re-surfaced. The white railings around Peto’s Pond had still not been repaired despite being reported to SCC as high risk on 11th February. This was subsequently chased up on 9th March and the railings have now been replaced.
15 minutes for Parishioner input. Mr Ffitch followed up clerk’s report regarding Barkis Meadow pond. Mr Ffitch & Mr Beane had visited site when Anglian water were present. They were advised the pipes were not blocked and that water was clear. Mr Ffitch reported he is still concerned that there may still be a blockage as the water rises above the outlet and in addition he has seen water of a ‘milky’ colour still running into the pond. There are still reports of flooding on Market lane following heavy rain with the manhole cover in the  driveway of ‘Avoca’ being lifted by a back up of water. This issue was previously raised in November when a  site meeting took place with The Chairman, Anglian Water and Bob Blizzard in relation to the sewage leakage into the pond. At the same time the unsatisfactory situation of the storm water drain from the pond and along Market Lane was discussed. Ownership and responsibility for the outlet and the drain could not be established at the time and both parties agreed to report back. To date we have heard nothing either from Anglian Water or from Bob Blizzards office. The clerk will once again try and find out who is responsible for this pipework and then hopefully responsibility for the work to renew / repair the drainage system along Market Lane can be agreed. Mr Beane reported a ‘trip hazard’ along the path outside Seymore House on Market lane. This looks to be due to the footpath not being satisfactorily completed after installation of a dropped kerb. Cllr Barnard will follow this up. A parishioner reported there is a dead sycamore tree leaning onto his fence at a property in Meadowlands. This backs onto the footpath between The Street & The Pippins and could cause injury or destruction if it fell down. The parishioner and clerk will both report. 
Other Parish Business (Parish Councillors) Mr Blowers gave an update on the school parking situation along Church Road. A case is being put together and they have been advised to attend a meeting with SCC on 12th May. Mr Blowers reported that Mrs Browne counted 57 cars parked on church Road on one particular occasion. Mrs Browne is intending to start a petition in the near future. Mrs Soanes enquired if dogs are permitted on the playground. It was confirmed that they are not but there is no sign stating this. The clerk will request a new sign from WDC. It was reported that a young person had been seen riding a motorcycle across the football pitch and down to the skatepark. Unfortunately the witness had not been able to take the registration number so no action can be taken. Mr Perks requested possibility of Parish Council purchasing a lap top for the clerk to use. The laptop would be strictly for Parish business and would remain the property of Blundeston and Flixton Parish Council. It was agreed the clerk will obtain quotes and present to the council for approval. Mr Rees thanked WDC and all who participated in the village litter pick. The turn out was very good with representation from the scouts and skatepark group along with several parishioners. Altogether over 30 bags of rubbish were collected along with various larger items. Mr Rees also reported what looked to be asbestos that had been dumped along Flixton Road. The clerk will report urgently to WDC. Mr Wade reported the slow sign had still not been repainted after the resurfacing of Lound Road. This is at the junction with Flixton Road. The clerk will report. Also two motocycles were seen riding along footpath between Lound Road & Church Road. Again registration numbers were not reported so no action can be taken at present. 			
Police Report. The police report was read out by PSCO Sue Kershaw. There were two recorded crimes for the month of March for Blundeston & none for Flixton. One related to HMP and the other was a theft from a shed on Copperfield terrace. The SNT North Lowestoft & WDC representatives will be in the village hall Tuesday 13th April at 10am to discuss any issues or concerns the public may have. Community speedwatch has taken another step forward. The equipment has been received and observation sites have been checked and confirmed. There are still spaces for anyone wishing to volunteer. Mr Lewis enquired if tax and insurance would also be checked on vehicles which were reported speeding. PSCO Kershaw reported these details would also be checked and would be dealt with separately.
District Councillor report  No report was available 
County Councillor Report.Cllr Barnard reported the following. The flooding problem on the B1074 at Flixton has now been rectified. There were two blockages which have now been cleared and a contact  
name was given in case of future problems. Herringfleet Smock Mill will be holding an open day on Sunday 9th May 1-5pm. The Junction of B1074 & Church Road is still being looked at as no solution has yet been 
identified and Highways are hoping to find a cheaper solution than the installation of a roundabout.. Lothingland Middle school site is being looked at for alternative uses by SCC. Suggestions have been to use as sporting facility although no firm decisions have been made. Cllr Barnard was looking for suggestions prior to a meeting of officers at SCC at a later date. The Chairman advised this site was not marked for any development and certainly not for housing in the Waveney Local development framework plan received last month. 
Skate Park update The following was reported by Mrs Wendy Dawson. Phase 2 ramps have now been fully installed and the completed skate park was officially opened by Bob Blizzard on 3rd April. The EDP was there to photograph the event, and she provided a draft article for the paper. The article was published in last Tuesday's EDP and is also in this weeks Journal. Unfortunately the weather was bad and it was not possible to get action shots because of the wet conditions. However, Ryan George, one of the founder member of the group of youngsters who initiated the skate park to be built, was there and was photographed with Bob. All the users I have spoken to since the completion of Phase 2 are very pleased with the finalised skate park and it is already getting heavily used. We also now have our lockable cupboard built into the ramps which stores the broom, etc. Litter is an ongoing problem and during the Phase 2 build the old litter bin disappeared. I think it's best if we now just get a black wheelie bin and put down there and maybe chain it to the equipment so it doesn't disappear. Parish Councillors expressed some concern that building site fences had been left on site and also that the damage, by the contractors, to the Pre-School group’s fence at the back of the Village Hall had still not been repaired.
Accounts The following accounts were approved for payment.
Mrs K Rees	(clerk’s salary) Jan/Feb/Mar			£300.00
			Plus 1/3 telephone rental				£ 30.00
			Plus receipt for 1st class stamps/envelopes	£   7.67 = total £337.67
SALC           -  	Renewal of subscription				£341.00
Suffolk Acre -	Renewal of membership				£  25.00
W.J.Jermy	Rent for playing field				£300.00
	
Planning Mr Wix. ‘Kondinin’, Church Road – Construction of detached bungalow & garage at the rear of the property.
After discussion Mr Blowers proposed approval Mr Lewis seconded this. Mr Rees proposed the application was refused this was seconded by Mr Perks. Refusal was based on the affect of privacy of neighbouring properties & concern about the number of backland developments within the village causing a blot on the rural landscape. Voting was four against and two for. Resulting in a recommendation for refusal of the application. The Chairman recommended that the application comes before the planning committee at WDC. The clerk will contact Cllr Ashdown to request this.
Correspondence Highways Agency ‘ Helping you with journeys’ leaflet given out for all attendees
Broads Authority – Planning Parish Forum. Meeting on 28th April
SALC – Annual parish meeting information & training programme received
WDC – Purdah requirements letter received. 

The next meeting will be the annual meeting to be held Monday 10th May 2010 at 7.30p.m. There being no further business the meeting closed at 9:15p.m.									

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