At a meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 12th October there were present, Mr. J. Nichols chairman, Mrs. G. Soanes, Mr. K Wood, Mr. S. Rees, Mr. R. Leech, Mr. S. Perks, Mr. J. Blowers, Mrs. J. Browne and Mr. S. Lewis.W.D.C. P. Ahsdown, S.C.C. C. Law and 6 Parishioners also attended. Mr Nichols thanked everyone for their good wishes as he went into hospital and during his recent period of convalecence and said that they really did help in his recovery. Mr. Blowers thanked the Clerk for coping with the Chairman’s absence during a time of illness in her own family.
Apologies were received from, S.C.Councillor M. Barnard, Mrs. T. Townend, Mr. G. Wade, Ms W. Dawson, PC Stranks and PCSO Kershaw.
Minutes of previous meeting held on 14th September were approved and signed.
Declarations of Interest Mr Lewis declared an interest in both planning matters.
15 Minutes for parishioner input Mr. Ffitch asked if Councillor Law had met with Mr. Dimbleby and he confirmed that he had and that he had  taken photographs of the traffic and monitored it at the Church Road/ Peto’s Corner/ B1074 junction.
Other parish business (Councillors) Mr Lewis informed those present that the Village Hall Caretaker has repaired and treated all the seats on the Millennium Green, this had been mentioned at the Village Hall Management meeting and he would be thanked and rewarded for his trouble. Mr Lewis said that he would examine the cage on the Millennium beacon and said that he would repair and paint it. Mr Wood reported 3 minor accidents on B1074 in the past few weeks. Mrs Browne said that the traffic congestion now that school has restarted is horrendous, and she wondered if during school time Church Road could be made one way. Councillor Law said that that would take a Road traffic Act and it would take at least 18 months to get put into operation. The Chairman said that if a one way system was put in operation full time the rest of the Village population would be up in arms. This was going to become a far more serious problem when the two new classrooms were built and in use. It was felt that the School would have to get the message across to parents that those who can walk, should not drive to school. Mr Leech reported seeing a “Smiley” with a speed indicator placed at Queensway last week.
Police Report - a written report had been received - there we no reported crimes for Flixton and 4 for Blundeston in September. 1 Crime related to HMP, another related to Church Road and 2 related to Market Lane. PCSO Kershaw has monitored the Parking issues at the Play area and has spoken to 1 driver who moved his vehicle to the Village Hall Car Park. If there is any obstruction she advised that the owner of the vehicle should be found and asked to move it, failing that the Police should be called if the road is blocked. She thanked the person responsible for mending the gate to the Football field which had been smashed during the incident reported last month. Pcso Kershaw had attended the Northern Parishes meeting and given an update on the Community Speedwatch scheme and asked for volunteers and a co-ordinator, she stressed that volunteers must be over 18 years old and they do not have to be Parish Councillors. An Email had been received from Mr G. Tripp a resident of Flixton giving details of recent near misses and other traffic related problems on B1074 he also volunteered to be part of the Speed watch Scheme. Mr. Wood also put his name forward. The Police were aware of both these gentlemen being willing to be part of the official team and the Clerk told Councillors that posters had been distributed around the two Villages asking for more volunteers to come forward.
District Councillor Report  Mr. Ashdown reported that the Audit Commission have praised WDC for their work in the past year and given them a mark of 2 out of 4 which is acknowledged as a big improvement. Partnerships are being built up in certain departments of the Council. On Wednesday evening this week a public meeting is being held at Kirkley High School. All District councillors will only stand for 4 years in future but this will not come into force until 2011. The Standards Committee for Waveney is going to visit each Town and Parish Council to increase the knowledge of the Code of Conduct, to raise standards and the profile. The LTR (Local Government Review) has gone to appeal.  Waveney Campus situation has not changed and is going ahead with funding on target.
County councillor report Mr Perks asked Councillor Law if he knew what will become of the Lothingland School site when the school finally closes. Mr Law did not know but said that he would find out and report back at the next meeting. He confirmed that Lound Road has been patched in places and potholes repaired. He told those present that there will be Temporary Road closures for repairs to level crossings  1. Bridge Road is closing 10p.m. 21st and 22nd  8a.m. 2. Victoria Road on 14th and 15th . November. The safety engineers are considering the bank erosion along B1074 which was reported by Mr. Wood last month.
Skate park update It was reported that a grant for £13,500 has been obtained to cover stage 2 of the development and that a 10% third party funding would be required so that phase 2 can be progressed without any delays. It was agreed that a cheque to cover this should be approved and made out in order not to hold up proceedings 
Old Playground equipment report and report on damage to new equipment, Mr Rees said that he had consulted the appropriate people regarding the safety base under the old play equipment and he was told that topping up the sand under the swings and the roundabout would be the best solution. Mr Perks offered to top up the sand. A bolt had sheared off the carriage on the Zip wire but this has been replaced by the installer, the only way this could probably have happened is if several youngsters had been hanging on and swinging from side to side which is not how the equipment is designed to be used.
Millennium Green update and Village Pond Maintenance.  The Chairman had had a meeting with a Suffolk Wildlife Trust representative at the wildflower meadow and he suggested that next year green hay should be put on our green from another wildflower meadow this would then spread the seeds into our meadow. The copses need thinning, as when the trees were originally planted in the depth of winter as "twigs" it was not expected that they would all survive, but the success rate has been exceptional, some of the silver birches need removing and the hazels need coppicing. The Chairman would get a working party organised. Village Pond maintenance was discussed, it was decided that once the work party was on the Millennium Green some of the bushes on the Green edge of the pond will be removed. Mr Perks also said that he felt that the trees along the road edge of the Peto’s corner pond should be removed so that the pond is visible from Church Road. Mr Wood offered to remove some of the trees, Mr. Perks would liaise with Mr. Pawson who keeps the pond in a manageable condition on a voluntary basis and decide which trees to remove.
Clerks Position. The Chairman had received a letter from the Clerk giving her resignation owing to family circumstances. It was decided that the position of Clerk to the Village Hall Management Committee and Clerk to the Parish Council should be kept as one as the two posts have traditionally gone together. Two other local Parishes have just gone through the process of recruiting a new clerk and could be helpful in getting information on how to proceed. Advertising the post will begin as soon as possible. The chairman announced that he would be standing down from the Chair at the next Annual Meeting due to his recent ill health.
Northern Parishes Liason Meeting, Mrs. Soanes attended the latest meeting and reported that most of the issues had already been discussed and that the new Speedwatch Initative was being set up. Franky Sayer has announced her retirement from the Clerk to the Northern Parishes Liaison Committee.
Accounts.
	Moores Fencing and Timber Products					240. 00
	J. Nichols Chairman’s Broadband Allowance			  	25. 00
	BM Shaw Clerks salary July Aug Sept		300. 00
	Plus 1/3 telephone rental			    9. 16			309. 16
	Viridor Waste Management Ltd. (Skate Park)			        £1,350. 00
Planning 
Mr. & Mrs. P. Turner, 14, The Street, Construction of two houses at rear of Property.  The previous proposal was turned down because the entrance and exit was felt to be far too narrow and close to the original building, this issue has been satisfactorily addressed and the proposal now has the entrance and exit coming through the new development on the old Walton Garage site. Mr. Wood raised the matter of the drainage and sewerage being inadequate and he felt that further building should not be permitted because of this. A condition should be made that the old Walton Garage site should not be used as a builders site and it is at present considered to be an eyesore in the centre of the Village. Mr. Blowers proposed that the application be accepted with the above conditions, Mrs Browne seconded passed by a vote of 6 for and 1 against. 
Appeal by Mr. G. Lewis, Valley House, Market Lane, town and country planning act 1990 section 78 for construction of 1 no 1 ½ storey House. It was felt that our previous comments, relating to the proposal being outside the village development envelops, would be sufficient and these would be forwarded to the Inspector by the WDC Planning Department.
Correspondence 
Suffolk constabulary Chief Inspector Paul Sharp, New district commander, had sent a letter introducing himself.
	Plus Public meeting “Make your views count” 14th October.  
SALC Invitation to AGM 9th November and various other information.
Active Wellbeing Fit Villages
EDF Energy certificate of Un-metered supplies for telephone kiosks
Email from G. Tripp in Flixton re speeding on B1074 this letter had also been reported under the Police report earlier in the meeting.
Village Quiz 2nd November in Blundeston Village Hall 3 people were needed and John Nichols, Glenis Soanes, Simon Lewis agreed to form the Parish Council team
Letter from Plough Football Club stating that there has been no proper maintenance carried out on the Football pitch, in the past 10 years. They feel that the pitch would benefit greatly by having professional work done and have contacted a ground maintenance company Colin Law suggested that the Parks manager for Waveney Norse be contacted for advice and he would send details to the Chairman. 
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.45.
Speed-watch volunteers to be discussed at the next meeting which is to take place on Monday 9th November at 7.30pm