At the Annual Parish Council meeting held on Monday 9th June 2008 there were present, Mr. J. Nichols, Mr. S. Rees, Mr. S. Lewis, Mr. R. Leech, Mrs. T. Townend, Mrs. G. Soanes, Mr. K. Wood, Mrs. R. Herrivan, Mr. S. Perks and Mr. J. Blowers, SCC A. Barron. 11 Parishioners also attended.
Apologies were presented by Mr. M. Cherry, Pc D Boggis, PCSO S. Kershaw and Councillor P Ashdown had sent word that he had an earlier meeting but would make every effort to attend. (After the meeting the Clerk found an email from Mrs. Hume giving her apologies).
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 12th May were approved and signed, apart from the fact that the clerk had failed to report that Mr. Lewis had proffered his apologies for the May Meeting. 
Election of Chairman. The Clerk took over proceedings and Mr. Blowers nominated and Mrs. Herrivan seconded that Mr. Nichols should remain Chairman, there were no other nominations and this proposal was carried unanimously. 
Election of Vice Chairman. Mr. Blowers nominated Mr. Perks to be Vice Chairman, there were no other nominations and the proposal was carried unanimously. 
Village Hall Representatives. Mrs. Townend and Mr. Perks agreed to be re-elected to be representatives of the Parish Council on the Village Hall Management Committee.
Declaration of Interests Mr. Leech declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the Wilem extension to 12 The Street and the proposal to build two houses at the rear of 12 The Street. He was told that he would have to leave the meeting while these items were discussed. Mr. Lewis declared an interest in the Wilem development of an extension to 12 The Street.
15 Minutes for Parishioner Input, Mr. Ffitch said that the nettles still had not been cut on the footpath from Market Lane to The Street. Mr. Perks said that the Parish Council should pay to have the footpath cut whenever necessary and not just rely on the twice a year cut provided by SCC. Mr. Howard informed the meeting that a Trench across the road in Lound Road, is dangerous, clerk to contact the Highways Department. Water on road had been a major problem during the recent flash flooding and Mr. Oldman asked when something could be done by the relevant Authorities, who do not seem to be able to cope with these incidents. A lot of the trouble is that surface water is going into the sewerage system which should not happen. Mr. Blowers contacted Anglian Water during the recent flash flooding, when sewage was coming up from a raised manhole in a residents driveway. He informed the meeting that their response time was fairly quick and the immediate problem was quickly resolved.  
Other Parish Council Business.
Footpath from The Street to Market Lane - Mr. Lewis proposed that we should pay to have the nettles cut by Mr Jones provided that Mr. Foster was not about to do it on behalf of SCC. Mr. Jones should also be asked to cut the footpath from the Pippins to the Street, and through to Meadowlands. Grups and ditches, particularly down Market Lane, badly need cleaning out and this would immediately resolve the problem of regular flooding of parts of this road during heavy rainfall.. Clerk to contact Highways regarding this problem, and also the flooding outside the Village Hall and the junction at the bottom of Pound Lane and Hall Road. Anglian Water should be contacted again regarding the problem of the sewage pipe along Market Lane. The Parish council consider that the 6 inch pipe is no longer able to cope with the additional developments it serves. A representative of Anglian Water will be asked to attend a Parish Council meeting to discuss the general problems throughout the village. Mr. Blowers informed the meeting that the manhole at Queensway is now repaired. A notice-board has been erected on the playing field banning football being played by over 8 years old. Two other notices have been placed on the Millennium Green gates informing dog owners to keep dogs on a lead and clean up after them. This rule has been irresponsibly ignored by a few dog owners. Mr Perks reported that the kerb stone in Church Road is still loose. 
Police Report. In the absence of a Police officer a written report was read out by the Chairman. During May a car was stopped in Hall Lane, and the passenger found to be in possession of cannabis for which he received a formal warning. A visitor to HMP was caught smoking the same drug and was dealt with. A male was arrested for theft of a pedal cycle in Blundeston in February, and during the interview he informed on his friend for stealing another bike in Orchard Lane on the same night, the offence was subsequently denied but the Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the crime. Whilst interviewing a local teenager for theft from a shop in Lowestoft the child admitted a further theft from Holly Garden Centre, the child has since reimbursed the Garden Centre for a quantity of sweets. Speed enforcement has been carried out on the B1074 3 drivers were cautioned and 2 received fixed penalty notices for speeding (both 40mph) a lady driver stopped and spoke to the officers and asked where the accident was as oncoming motorists kept flashing her. What innocence was the Police response. Updates on questions raised in previous month. Of the three owls found dead on the Somerleyton Estate, the one retrieved by the wildlife officer had died of natural causes, enquiries are continuing into the deaths of the other two. Lakeside Rise parking has been dealt with by PCSO Kershaw, who has liaised with the Governor. As work has now been completed on the new accommodation block the situation should be resolved. Horses are not permitted on public footpaths. It is an offence to light a bonfire within 25ft of the centre of a highway, other than that it is an environmental issue regarding smoke and smells. The Pippins development - there are no laws prohibiting lorries from using the Pippins. PCSO Kershaw believes that the contractors are liaising with the residents. It would be appreciated if, when the work commences, everyone would park considerately, Police will be patrolling the area.
District Councillor Report Paul Ashdown had let the Clerk know that he had reported the state of the Bungalow in Orchard Lane and the owner has been made to begin a clear up operation which is being monitored by the enforcement officer at WDC. He also reported that the Planning Department have been in contact with the Contractors regarding the use of The Pippins as access for Lorries during the construction work in that area.
County Councillor Report Allyson Barron is investigating whether any locality funding is available to enable the new footpath from opposite to the Village Hall to Short Road to be constructed as soon as possible. It is hoped that the work can be done within the school holidays. As a part of the construction two gully pipes will be put under the path to carry water from Hall Lane into the pond and it is hoped that this will alleviate the flooding outside the Village Hall. The School re-organisation is moving onto next phase, Lowestoft and Haverhill are earmarked to take part in the first stage. 
Skate Park update. No report was available, but Mr Rees reported that he had been told that a successful prosecution had been made in respect of the graffiti which was daubed over the equipment earlier in the year. Mr Lewis reported that a quote has been received by the skate Park committee for the 2nd phase of ramps which has been very favourable and once the funding has been acquired this equipment will be put in place - hopefully in the autumn. 
Village Hall floor update the repairs will be started on 4th August. And will take 3 to 4 weeks. 
Planning Mr R Leech left the room for the next two items.
Wilem Limited, Construction of 2 houses with garages at rear of 12, The Street. 
 After general discussion regarding the entrance to the properties and the sewerage problems with regard to the low lying aspect of the land. Mr Wood announced that he was going to vote against any planning applications from now on until the problems with the sewerage have been rectified.  It was suggested that the sewer in The Street cannot cope and it would be useful if all new houses in Blundeston were built with septic tanks. The vote was 3 against, 3 for and 2 abstentions. This result would be passed on to WDC Development Control Committee
Wilem Limited, Construction of two storey side extension with integral Garage at 12 The Street. Approved. 
Mr Leech returned to the meeting.
Mr. Paul Baxter HMP Blundeston Construction of a two storey sectional unit. Approved.
Mr. Stuart Dockree, Seymour House, replace main roof structure and increase pitch of roof from approximately 32.5 degrees to 42.5 degrees to allow increased headroom within roof space. It was suggested that this application should be refused as it would be totally out of character with the rest of the properties in the area, this was carried.   
Mr. Brooks 10, Orchard Lane, Construction of rear extension and erection of garage to side. Approved.
Accounts Neville Painter - signs for Play area and Millennium Gree  £138. 00. Approved
Correspondence was received regarding the following - WDC World of planning events, Lowestoft session cancelled. SCC Information on the Town and parish Council briefing from the Standards Board for England Standards. Of the allegations referred to the Standards Board last year there were 3,624 nationally and 50% of those were Parish and Town Councillors who had been reported to the Standards Board. Workshops 13th August. Allyson Barron will investigate the letter re Rural Deprivation. Advice on when to hold Annual Council meetings in order to avoid clashes with WDC elections.  
Other matters Pre School requested a fenced area at the rear of the Village Hall to allow children to have the option to play outside if they would like. This would be built and maintained by the Pre School. Mr Lewis recommended that weld mesh, with a solid top rail should be used to make a sturdy enough fence, there would need to be double gates in each fence to allow for grass cutting and vehicular access to the kitchen door for events with outside caterers. Mr Mel Buck (Scout leader) would like to know how many Parish Councillors will be attending the ceremony on Saturday July 5th at 9am at Herringfleet. 4 councillors agreed to go. Highways to be contacted re central reservation at Market Lane, Kevin Jones to be asked to strim around the base of the Village Sign.  Mr. Rees informed the Council that two large vans are parked half on and half off the pavement down Lound Road not allowing room for pushchairs to negotiate the footpath.
Mr. Roberston reported that the contractors will be commencing work in the next few days on the site at the adjacent to Meadowlands and The Pippins, and will be uprooting trees and hedges, the Clerk was asked to report this matter in view of the problem with nesting birds described recently when the hedge was cut at the back of Micawber Mews. (subsequent enquiries found that only ground work was being carried out and that no trees or hedges were affected)
There being no further business the meeting closed. The next meeting will be held on 14th July at 7.30pm and the one after that will be on 8th September which will be preceded by a Village Hall management meeting.