Freshwater Parish Council Annual Report, April 2007 - March 2008

Freshwater Bay

Attendance: The Chairman congratulated Councillor Stephen Gray on his 100% attendance.

Library: At the beginning of the year there was some suggestion that the Library would be moved and that we could well have a “Hub” in the Sports Centre. There has been no further movement on either the Library or “Hub”. Time will tell just what the future holds in this direction, but at the moment, no news to report.

Freshwater Parish Council Plan: Which encompasses Safer and Strong Communities, Children & Young People, Healthier Communities and Economic Regeneration and was adopted by the Parish Council. From this plan grew our Delivery Plan, this is updated on a regular basis, the results of which can be seen around the village and is on going. (Both Plans were displayed at the Annual Parish Meeting.)

Moa Place Works: That have been completed in this past year are: Black Hut Green Fencing. War Memorial, Moa Place Million Blooms Project (Photo), Footbridge opposite Library, Allotments; signs, gate, and water contamination problems.

Consultation: Public meetings with the police will continue to be held twice yearly. It is intended to widen the scope of these meeting to enable us to include issues which are of concern to the Public. Each meeting will have an Agenda. The Police and PCSO’s are working with the local youths and appear to be having some success. We were delighted to purchase a complete cycling kit for one of the mounted policemen. Bob Nelson, the Town Centre Manager, attended our November meeting at which he introduced himself and outlined his duties and proposals for the coming year. The Police, PCSO’s and the Town Centre Manager are to be congratulated on their efforts to make Freshwater a nicer place to live and work. They regularly attend our monthly meetings, not only giving a report on local issues, but listening to and advising the Parish Council on any item that may be of concern.

Land Registry: Work to register manorial land is nearing completion.

Tree Planting Tree Heaven 2007: Has now been completed we had seven trees planted in Granny’s Meade and at West Green, Middleton. It is hoped that we can do something similar in 2008.

Safe Routes to School is ongoing; it is intended to have an article giving an update in the June Beacon.

Freedom of the Parish: When Peter Plucknett retired from the Council, he was given a framed certificate proclaiming he had been given the Freedom of the Parish. Peter was Chairman from 1986 to 2002.

Elections: John Belcher and Neil Edmundson were voted in as Parish Councillors in the election held in September 2007. This was required to bring the Parish Council up to strength and will assist us to achieve Quality Status.

Speakers at our Monthly Meetings included:
Cllr Jilly Woods Member for Resources, Town and Parish Empowerment
Mr. Stuart Love IWC Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
Trading Standards Officers - “No Cold Calling Zones”.
Mr. Marsden of the Coastal Protection Team has been invited to attend a meeting with ourselves, Yarmouth and Totland Councils. We would like an update on “Points of reference Policy Options arising from the West Wight Coastal Defence Strategy Study” this takes account of climate change and sea level guidance. We hope that the meeting will be held sometime this year.

Training: A number Councillors have undertaken the following training:
Code of Conduct, Chairman’s Skills, Finance, Finance and Writing bids, Planning, Emergency Planning, Managing Products, Engaging with your Community, Quality Status Workshops and we are about to have a Parish Masterclass workshop.

Clerk has achieved her Quality Status and the Council is now required to do the same, which we hope to achieve by early Summer.

Afton Marsh Committee: This has been reinstated, and had its first meeting in October. It took sometime to persuade the powers to be that this committee was necessary, but we got there in the end.

Boundary signs: Are work in progress. We are actively seeking funds for this project.

MUGA: Has been recently installed and is proving a great success.
Skate Board Park: Repair works have been carried out and new fencing erected.
Both these facilities are in great demand by all age groups.

It’s been a busy year. I am sure that 2008 will be just as busy and just as interesting.

You can contact your Parish Councillors as follows:
Val Ottway 07833 903154 Linda Barnes linjim19@btinternet.com
Brenda Hobbs 01983 752457 John Belcher 01983 755271
Gill Kennett 01983 755036 George Cameron 01983 752060
Colin Lillywhite Tel:07518 347998 David Eccles 01983 759691
John Medland jcmedland@turboweb.org Neil Edmundson 01983 752383
Margaret Gray margaretgrayiow@aol.com Caroline Reed-Sampson 01983 755025
Stephen Gray gswgray@aol.com Andy Sutton 01983 754661
Parish Clerk
Sally Woods		 01983 752000

Don’t forget you can view the Parish Council Minutes on this website by clicking menu item Documents/Minutes.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2007:
INCOME EXPENDITURE
£ £
Precept 50450 General Admin. Inc. Salaries 24846
Allotment Rents 749 S.137 Payments 1217
Grants 6175 Bank Charges 143
Rent & Wayleaves 378 Subsriptions & Donations 624
Miscellaneous 339 Parish Plan 4647
Bank Interest 731 Memorial Hall 9503
Parks & Open Spaces 11356
Highways & Footpaths 3615
Seats 566
TOTAL INCOME 58822 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 56517
BALANCES AT 31ST MARCH 2007
Current Account 9624
Deposit Account 8656
TOTAL 18280