PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - MAY 2007
Unfortunately there has been some confusion over the Annual Parish Meeting (AGM) date, whereby the impression was given that the meeting was on the 21st of May, but in fact it was held on the 30th of April, as reported in the Mar/Apr News Sheet.
The meeting held on the 21st of May was the Annual Parish Council Meeting when the new chairman etc is elected for the coming year.
If parishioners have any questions or query that they would like answered please contact me on 598410 or Shirley on 598882 or alternatively attend the next Parish Council meeting when parishioners have 15 minutes when they can address the Parish Council.

At this meeting (AGM) reports from the clubs/groups in the village have just been on display for the last 2 years and haven't been read out by the respective club/group member as previously.
We would like your views on this as we have been asked to revert back to the old way, i.e. readout. Could members of the various clubs/groups or parishioners let the Parish Council know your views on this matter, preferably in writing or email to the Clerk, Shirley Chapman, Briarley Lodge, Stubb Rd, email; Shirley@briarleylodge.fsnet.co.uk or telephone me on 598410.

As we only had eight people nominated for election, there was no election held and they were automatically elected.
These were, V Tallowin, G Smith, K Moody, B Noye, H Purnell, D Pugh, A Rich and M Butcher.
So on 21st May we co-opted three more to make the eleven councillors required.
We had five applicants apply for the three positions.
The successful applicants duly co-opted were, I Watton, Mrs M Elliott and R Cook.
We would like to thank the unsuccessful applicants and hope they will apply again when a vacancy occurs.

CHILDRENS PLAY AREA CLOSED for the unforeseeable future due to vandalism
The Parish Council was informed that the new fence panels installed for the children's safety had been broken after only one week, at a cost of £250.
On inspection of this damage it revealed broken glass, vodka bottles and beer cans strewn across the whole plot, and the entrance gate broken off its hinges.
If anyone sees anything suspicious or know who the culprits are could they please either contact me on 598410, Shirley on 598882, anonymously if necessary, or the local Community Police Officer on 0845 456 4567.

The Parish Council has received a planning application for a 70m mast for wind & weather monitoring adjacent to Sherwood Cottage, Sutton Road, Catfield.
This will eventually be a Wind Turbine as in Martham & Swaffham.
There is a public meeting on the 8th of June in Catfield Village Hall at 7pm.
There is a website for further information, www.powerrenewable.co.

In response to Catfield Parish Council's request we wrote to the Highways Department about the dangers of the bend in Heath Road, passing Catfield Staithe, where some nasty car accidents have happened. The reply was that 'it is usually locals who think they know the road, that have the accidents, but they have put up two new bend signs.
We urge all parishioners to be extra careful on this piece of road.

It was bought to the council's attention that people may be clearing up after their dogs have fouled but then are just throwing the bags away ! Please take it home with you as this is more hygienic than leaving the bag to rot away on the verges or in the hedges
Also there has been glass left in boxes/bags around the bottle banks. Although we do want parishioners to recycle all their glass, if the banks are full please either use the Pleasure Boat bottle bank or take it home with you and contact me on 598410 or Shirley on 598882 and we will arrange for them to be emptied. It is dangerous to leave glass lying around this area.

Future Dates for Parish Council meetings in the Community hall at 7.15pm are on the
18th of June, the 16th of July, and the 3rd of September.

Viv Tallowin, 598410