PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - JUNE 2007
The Children's Play Area is now open as the gate has been repaired. The vandalism is being dealt with by Police Community Support Officer Jeanette Hawes on 0845 4564567, so for any information concerning this vandalism or any other police matter, please ring her. If there is an emergency, then ring 999. The Parish Council are looking into the possibility of any grants that may be available to refurbish the play area, but we are looking at £10,000 or more to do this. If anyone is willing to be involved in this task, please ring me on 598410 or Shirley on 598882.

We have obtained a grant from Broads & Rivers LEADER+ and a top-up grant from the North Norfolk Rural Community Council, totaling£1400, to improve the Chapel Pit area. A bench, picnic table, an information board, nest boxes, suitable shrubs and gravel will be installed, all of which will enhance the whole area and hopefully encourage more wildlife to visit.

The Parish Council has been approached by the Catfield Parish Council about joining a scheme of hand-held speed cameras operated by volunteers. The scheme involves some training for the volunteers to report the findings to the local Safer Neighbourhood Team administrator, who will monitor and respond with the appropriate resources when required. The volunteers do not approach the drivers or are involved in any way, apart from using the equipment and always in parties of 2 or 3 people.
A leaflet has been put on the GAM board at the Staithe with more information about this. If anyone would like to volunteer for this project, please contact me or Shirley.

The Parish Council require a volunteer who would be willing to take on grass-strimming jobs at various points around the village. This position would be for a few hours per month, at their convenience, and equipment would be supplied. Also 2 or 3 more volunteers are required for the grass-cutting rota, ready for next season. Please contact either me, Shirley on 598882, or David Pugh on 598691.

St Mary's PCC have taken on the responsibility for cutting the grass in the used part of the new churchyard, with a donation towards costs from the Parish Council. The volunteers still cut the old churchyard and the unused area of the new churchyard, together with the field used as a car park.

We would like to remind parishioners about the importance of keeping any ditches around their property clear of debris, as the recent weather has highlighted the fact that these ditches do a very good - and important - job of collecting excess water.

North Norfolk District council has opened up their print room for the public to use the facilities. For more information, please phone Paul Turner on 01263 516015, e-mail him at paul.turner@north-norfolk.gov.uk, or call in to see him in person at the Print Room, First Floor (through the canteen) at the Council's offices, Holt Road, Cromer, NR27 9EN.

There is a new Broads Authority Navigation Officer for the Thurne and Lower Bure Rivers,
He is Tony Risebrow and is contactable on his mobile: 07768 086159,
e-mail: tony.risebrow@broads-authority.gov.uk, or via River Control on 01692 678459 for any queries relating to the waterways or boats in our immediate area.

Future Dates for Parish Council Meetings in the Community Hall at 7.15pm are on
Monday the 16th of July and Monday the 3rd of September.

Viv Tallowin, Chairman