Lingwood & Burlingham Parish Council

1-million-trees-A5_final_WEB

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday evening, 8^th November (7:30 pm) at The Margaret Harker Hall in Blofield.  We are privileged to hear from Jonathon Carrie of Norfolk Hedge Baskets who will be telling us about “Making baskets using hand-cut materials from the Norfolk Countryside”. Perhaps our worries about what to give friends for Christmas will be answered!

The members competition will be “a Christmas wreath using only natural materials”.  Please support the £1 bring and buy stall and perhaps remember to bring along your own tea/coffee mug!

Guests are very welcome to attend any of the Club’s meetings – £2:50 per meeting.  This will be the last meeting of the current year.  Our AGM will be the first meeting in 2024 – Wednesday evening, 13^th March, so do please note the date in your new diary!  If you would like to know more about the Club, do please contact the secretary: [email protected] or phone (01603) 715804.  Club website: www.blofieldgardeningclub.org.uk

 

Postwick Park and Ride Sept 2023

“The Earth on Fire” – an introduction to volcanoes, where they are, how they work and their effects on life and landscape. The Blofield branch is very pleased to be offering this four week course to be led by Charles Lewis.  It will run on Tuesday mornings at The Court House, 28 Yarmouth Road, Blofield, NR13 4JU starting on 7^thNovember (10 am – 12 noon).  Enrolment can be on-line at www.wea.org.uk.  Put “Blofield” in the search box and you should be taken to the courses being held at Blofield for the next two terms.  You can enrol by phone if preferred: 0300 303 3464.  Please quote the course code: Q00010678.  The fee for the course is £33.60 (free if on certain benefits).

 

If you have any queries on this or other WEA matters, do please contact the secretary via e-mail: [email protected] or by ‘phone: 01603 537029.

 

2023 11 Earth on fire poster

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner has launched his public consultation into the proposed budget for policing for 2024/25.

Norfolk residents are being asked whether the PCC should increase the police precept of council tax for the coming year.

The PCC has a statutory duty to set the police budget and, with this responsibility, make the decision on how much residents of Norfolk should pay towards the policing element of their council tax.

PCC Giles Orpen-Smellie will be engaging with the public over a twelve-week consultation period that will run until 5pm, Friday 24 November.

Engagement events across the county will take place to give Giles the opportunity to hear from residents about which areas of policing and services should be a priority for his spending plans over the next financial year.

Following discussions with Norfolk’s Chief Constable, Paul Sanford, it has become clear that additional funding is needed to maintain the quality of policing being delivered.

To help inform Giles’ spending proposals, the consultation will ask Norfolk residents two questions which are based on the six pillars outlined in the PCC’s Police, Crime and Community Safety Plan for Norfolk. The first asks residents to rank their priorities in order of importance.

The second question asks residents whether they would be prepared to pay more to ensure their police force continues to tackle these priorities in the future.

In the consultation documentation published this week, Giles said: “Every pound the constabulary spends is precious, and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) agree that Norfolk Constabulary is ‘Outstanding’ at delivering value for money.

“Sometimes, however, achieving value for money alone does not mean the constabulary can meet all the growing demands placed on it or make the necessary investments required to ensure services meet expectations, such as call times for 101 calls.

“To meet increased demands and costs, the law currently allows me to raise the policing element of council tax by just short of £10 a year (£9.99) for a Band D property. However, an increase of £10 would still leave the constabulary short of £3.9 million for 2024/25 against current spending plans.

“As in previous years, I am aware and concerned about the pressures on household budgets and the impact an increase in council tax could have for many. However, I am also conscious of the need to maintain the service Norfolk Constabulary currently provides to you, your loved ones, and local communities.

“The decision I must make is not straightforward or easy and involves balancing several complex factors, including your views.

“To do this, I have decided that, during this year’s consultation, we must have an open and frank conversation about the funding challenges that policing faces.

“I would specifically like to hear which areas of policing and services you think should be priorities in my spending plans, and if you are prepared to pay more to ensure these are protected in the future.”

Have Your Say Now

Free Mental Health Training for the Community

 

A5 mindful town flyer – (low res)

Jerome Mayhew MP