At a meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 18th July 2005 there were present, Mr. J. Blowers (Vice-Chairman), Mr. G. Alderton, Mr. P. Offord, Mrs. G. Soanes, Mrs. T. Townend, Mrs. E. Hilton, Mr.S. Lewis, Mr. S. Perks and Mr. K. Wood. County Councillors A. Barron and M. Cherry and 6 Parishioners also attended.
Apologies were received from Mr. J. Nichols, Pc Boggis and District Councillor B. Hunter.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13th June were approved and signed.
Mrs. Townend declared an interest in a Planning application; there were no other declarations of interest.
The Clerk read out the Police report which stated that 10 crimes were reported in June for the Parish of Blundeston and none for Flixton, of these 2 were non crimes and three of the remaining 8 crimes related to HMP, of the remaining 5 crimes 2 relate to possession of cannabis at the rear of the Village Hall, 2 were assaults, one was criminal damage and the final was a mobile phone theft. Pc Boggis reported that the Roads Traffic Policing Unit had contacted him, after receiving a call from Mr. Wood regarding the speeding traffic along the B1074, to ask for Pc Boggis’ observations. He stated in his reply that he suggested that Suffolk Police had a more visible presence on the road to deter or prosecute the serious offenders, and he will be interested to see if  Mr Wood’s complaint makes a difference. Councillor Cherry reported that he had requested a site meeting with members of Suffolk Highways department to discuss such problems as flooding, heavy traffic ploughing up lane edges, on Wednesday 27th July at 10a.m., meeting initially in Lound Village Hall and then visiting specific problem areas. He invited Parish councillors to attend and provide the officers with local knowledge and he asked those councillors unable to be there to convey any areas of concern which they had to him or other councillors who would be in attendance. Mr.Offord said that he felt we should include the piles of chippings, which still lay around the sides of Market Lane despite several requests by the Parish Council for these to be removed.
Mr. Wood, Mr. Alderton, Mrs Soanes and Mr. Blowers agreed to attend the meeting with the Highways representatives. A brief report was given on the Parish Plans meeting held on 4th July, the minutes of which had been published in the Lowestoft Journal. Mr. Wood reported that the repaired roundabout was now in position on the play area, he has still not heard from the department at W.D.C. regarding training for him to inspect the play area in the manner they recommend. The clerk was asked to write again regarding this matter. Mr. Blowers reported that he had been offered a quantity of safety matting tiles and asked if the Councillors would like to accept this offer. It was agreed that these should be accepted and stored until work could be carried out to install these under some of the play equipment. Mrs. Hilton reminded the councillors that there was still an outstanding amount to be spent on purchasing a seat for the play area, it had been hoped to approach HMP to build some picnic benches but this does not seem viable at present. Mr. Lewis gave a report on The Party in the Park, he said that it went very well generally and it would definitely go ahead again next year, although the organisers were disappointed at the number of underage people who arrived with their own alcohol and then caused a nuisance. The police had been called but it was felt that a Police presence sooner may have stopped the trouble escalating; it was felt that Special Constables could have been deployed around the site.
Planning - the following plans had already been agreed before the meeting by the approved sub committee, as they had arrived the day after the previous Parish Council meeting and were non-controversial.
Ms A.M. Hyde, 34, Lakeside Rise, - single storey rear extension.
Mr. & Mrs. D. Townend, 15 Orchard Close, proposed garage and front porch extension.
Accounts.
The following account was proposed for payment by Mrs. Hilton and seconded by Mr. Perks.
Allianz Cornhill- Insurance for marquee for Village Festival- £26. 25.
Correspondence. The date of the next Area Forum meeting was announced as 2nd August and it will be held in Lound Village Hall. Defra had forwarded information regarding Clean Neighbourhoods and the Environment Act 2005. NALC had sent two copies of the “Pointers to Good Practice” booklets.
Information regarding the Public Transport Area reviews had been received from Suffolk County Council. The Broads Authority had sent details of the Local Development Framework: Draft statement of Community Involvement Regulation 26 Consultation. Correspondence regarding W.D.C. Local Lettings Policy had arrived. The Broads Authority was doing a Moorings Survey, but it was established that Blundeston and Flixton had no moorings. Notice of the revised Draft Statement of Community Involvement in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act with regard to Town and Country Planning Regulations had arrived from Great Yarmouth Borough Council. Suffolk Preservation Society had written to say that they have an opportunity to appear at the Examination in Public for the Draft Regional Plan for the East of England and they welcome any comments, which Councils would like them to put forward by the end of July. W.D.C. had sent a letter regarding Involving the Community in the Plan Making Process of Waveney Local Development Framework and its consultation period from 29th June - 10th August. They also sent details of an Open Space Stakeholder Workshop at 6p.m. on August 16th to assess parks and open spaces in the district.
Other Parish Business. Mr. afford said that the ditch from white House Farm to Market Lane needs clearing out and Malcolm Cherry said that he would put this on his notes to be raised at the Highways meeting next week. Mrs Hilton asked if the owners of the hedges overgrowing along Church Road had been contacted yet? It was reported that the piles of hedge trimmings were still at either end of Barkis Meadow, even after the Clerk contacting W.D.C. asking for them to be cleared, Mr. Perks suggested that as he had proposed at the previous meeting the Parish Council should have these removed and then charge the District Council for the work, it was unanimously agreed that this should be done. Mr. Wood reported that several of the 30mph repeater signs along the BI074 had been removed or turned round, this would be reported to the meeting on Wednesday 27th. Mr.Ffitch and Mr. Edwards were thanked for painting the black and white bollards around both the village ponds.
The meeting was then opened for Parishioner input.
Mr Ffitch reported a dead fish in the Barkis Meadow pond and he wondered if the vast amount of soapsuds running into the pond from the underground pipe had anything to do with the fatality. He congratulated the Party in The Park Committee and it was agreed by those parishioners present that it was very difficult to control outsiders bringing their own drink to the function. Mr. Aldman asked if a letter could be sent to the owners of Pear Tree Cottage as their laurel hedge is obstructing motorists’ view when turning left out of Short Road. It was suggested that as the Parish Council did not always receive a reply from certain departments of W.D.C. that in future all correspondence should be addressed to Mr. Glyn Garrod the Chief Executive. The next meeting will be held at 7.30 on 15th August.
There being no further business the meeting closed.