PARISH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

PARISH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

1:54pm Friday 25th April 2008 in Tollesbury

The Annual Assembly meeting will be on Wednesday 23 April in the Pavilion, Victory Recreation Ground and commence at 8pm.

This meeting is you opportunity to raise any matters of concern about the village.

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP

Mrs Knopp is the speaker at the meeting this week, Thursday 24th, in the Congregational Church at 2.30pm. Next week it's Mixed Blessings.

FRIDAY WALKS

The Group are back from their annual holiday taken this year in the Isle of Wight. Now the walk programme resumes with a five mile Walton wander, taking in the Naze and marshes on Friday 25th. Either meet in the Tollesbury Square at 9am or at 10am in the Sea front car park opposite the Leisure Pool.

Take a walk in the Bluebell Woods at Birch for the first of the May meetings.

For enquiries about walking with the Friday Group please contact Margaret on 869539.

GREEN WASTE

The collection vehicle will be on Woodrolfe Green this Saturday between 8.00am till 8.45am. It is an offence to leave any rubbish unattended at the site - please cooperate.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROJECT GO along to the Tollesbury Community Centre on Saturday, 27 April, between 10.30am and 4pm and spend as long as you like and splodge, stick, draw, hand print, paint and generally have fun painting a full size sail which is to form part of the final exhibition at the Village Celebration Weekend over June 6 to 8, arranged to celebrate the diversity of talent that we have in the village with a programme of events, workshops and exhibitions.

Have you collected your calico shape from Lorraine for the pennant/ flag decorations?

If more shapes are needed give her a call on 860570 but to form part of the final exhibition they do need to be returned to her by 24th May.

Those who have already have a boat in 3D or 2D form must also remember to return them to Lorraine by the 24th May. Help Tollesbury provide a stunning flotilla of small boats to display at the June exhibition.

Plus A Day In The Life Of Tollesbury' - please take time to record any day or an aspect of a day in any way that you want: maybe take a picture, write a story, paint, sketch, make a video.

Your work will then form a presentation on the web site and posting to YOU TUBE. The idea is to have a permanent record of what happens, or doesn't happen in Tollesbury. All work needs to be with Lorraine, who will also be glad to offer any assistance, or posted to the web site by 12 May.

ST MARY'S CHURCH

At the recent Annual Meeting of St. Mary's Church reports were received from the vicar, Reverend Keith Lovell who emphasised that everyone must work together as a whole as we move towards the time of his retirement in 2009.

The Secretary, Treasurer and Flower group also gave their reports. The following were elected to office to serve for the next year - Churchwardens are Denise Davidson and Daniel Evans; Deanery Synod Representatives are John Golding and Clive Notley. Church Council Members to be Jilly Chalk, Sarah Clare, Eleanor Frost, Sylvia Halford, Ed Heigham, Jeremy Heigham, Angela Legerton, Judy Lewington and Margaret Smith.

PARISH COUNCIL

Report on the monthly meeting held on Tuesday 1st April 2008 kindly prepared by the Parish Clerk Michelle Curtis.

This report is a summary only of the business conducted at a Parish Council Meeting; it is not the detailed Minutes of the meeting.

The Minutes may be viewed by arrangement with the Clerk of the Council.

Minutes of the meetings held on 4 March and 18 March.

Monthly policing report: PCSO Butler informed the Parish Council of the recent policing activity and advised that 20 calls had been received from Tollesbury.

PCSO Butler introduced PCSO Richard Stott who would be working alongside him until his training was complete and PCSO Stott would then be working in the five part-funded villages.

Internal auditor: The Clerk explained that she had made enquiries for an Internal Auditor to Audit the accounts for 2007/08.

The Clerk informed the Parish Council that Mr. R. Laurie and herself had met with Mr. Maurice Howard, who currently audits accounts for other Parish Councils, and confirmed he would be happy to carry out the audit at a rate of £100 per day.

The estimated time to complete the audit was 2 days.

Councillors resolved to appoint Mr. Howard to carry out the internal audit for 2007/08.

The Clerk was asked to respond and asked that the Clerk reply as follows: The reason for the increase in Parish Council tax is due to the following reasons: 1.

Increase in Maintenance Contract Costs; 2. Increase in Vandalism Costs; 3. Increases in statutory rates; 4. Increase in electricity and water costs; 5. Litter Collection; 6. Significant project works for the Recreation Ground.

The Clerk informed the Parish Council that Maldon District Council are carrying out a Maldon District Housing Needs Survey.

The Clerk advised that following the last meeting of the Parish Council she had made further enquiries with regards to the proposed holding pattern for the London City Airport. The consultation document was too large to download and further information had been requested from NATS. The Clerk also advised that she had created a link to the NATS website on the Parish Council website under the Notice Board heading for people to view the consultation document if required.

NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION PANEL

To find our what action has been taken and to help identify future priorities for future action, please come along on: Tuesday 6th May 2008 - 7pm at Great Totham Village Hall

A BIT OF FUN

Quiz is a four-letter word! That's the latest quiz complied by our Ed and has just been released.

The sheets are available for £1.50 from Fred's Stores in Mell Road, The Lighthouse in East Street, 87, East Street or Palmers Garage in West Street. + there's plenty of time to research the answers as the sheets are to be returned to Ed by May 7th. Pick one up now and you'll be helping the fund raising for the 1st Blackwater Beaver Colony.

COMING UP

There is to be a Household Effects Sale' on Saturday May 24th - the idea being that tables are hired to sell ones own possessions.

Tables will be limited though. Full booking details available from Ed Heigham on 869723. Please note, no commercial businesses.

YOU CAN HELP

As on previous occasions, it is asked that, without changing your shopping habits, if you are offered those vouchers from the High Street supermarkets please pass them onto any of the following groups in Tollesbury, the County Primary School (collection boxes in the School foyer), Tollesbury Pre-School or Tollesbury Guides - the children will be delighted carriers of these slips of paper.

MOBILE LIBRARY THE service's next visit to Tollesbury will be on April 30th.